"TRUE BLOOD" - SEASON FOUR FINALE SNEAK PEEK

Because of all the vacation time I've had over the last month and a half, I'm way behind on my 'True Bloo' viewing. But I do plan to catch up over the next few days.

And because I was away from Toobworld Central, I didn't get to keep you up to date on the previews for each episode of the show.

So, I'm back - just in time for the fourth season finale.

Here are three video clips to get you ready for what's going down in Bon Temps, Louisiana.....

 

 

 

Enjoy! I'll catch up directly, son......

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: PIER ANGELI

PIER ANGELI

AS SEEN IN:
"James Dean: Race With Destiny"

AS PLAYED BY:

Carrie Mitchum

From Wikipedia:
Pier Angeli (June 19, 1932 – September 10, 1971) was an Italian-born television and film actress. Her American cinematographic debut was in the starring role of the 1951 film "Teresa", in which she won a Golden Globe Award. Twenty years later, she had been chosen to play a part in "The Godfather", but died before filming began.

She had romantic relationships with actors Kirk Douglas and James Dean before going on to marry Vic Damone.

Born Anna Maria Pierangeli in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. Her twin sister is the actress Marisa Pavan.

Angeli made her film debut with Vittorio de Sica in "Domani è troppo tardi" (1950), after being spotted by director Léonide Moguy and Vittorio de Sica. She was discovered by Hollywood, and MGM launched her in her first American film, "Teresa" (1951). Directed by Fred Zinnemann, this film also saw the joint debuts of Rod Steiger and John Ericson. Reviews for her performance in the film compared her to Greta Garbo, and she won the Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actress.

For a short time, Angeli also had a romantic relationship with James Dean, however, under pressure from her domineering mother, she broke off the relationship and went on to marry singer and actor Vic Damone (1954–1958). Her marriage to Damone ended in divorce, followed by highly publicized court battles for the custody of their one son, Perry Farinola.She died of a barbiturate ovedose at the age of 39, which was ruled accidental but which was probably a suicide.
BCnU!

GAME OF THE NAME: FROM PIONEERS TO PILGRIMS

Back in the early 90's, there was a hard-luck baseball team in the American League called The Pioneers. They were owned by Mitzi Balzer and may have been connected to a city in Ohio.

Nearly twenty years later, it's the opinion of the governing body at Toobworld Central (ahem) that the team resurfaced. Only this time, it had been relocated to Boston and was under new ownership.

And now the Pioneers were known as the Pilgrims.

Recently (as far as the Toobworld timeline is concerned), Detective Jane Rizzoli - along with her friend, medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles - investigated the murder of a coach for the Pilgrims who was killed in the team's locker room. Eventually a team player was killed as well.

The Pilgrims were Boston's second major league team - at least in Toobworld - and had a good shot at the pennant. This doesn't seem likely if the team had originally been the hapless Pioneers, but in the real world the Yankees were able to turn around their fortunes after George Steinbrenner bought the team. The same could hold true for the Pioneers/Pilgrims.

The current owners of the team were Phil and Geena Young, and the team was at the center of contention in their divorce proceedings. I'm thinking it's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble, that they didn't so much as buy the team from Mitzi Balzer as Geena may have inherited it. She could have been Mitzi's grandaughter by a son or daughter never mentioned on the series. (As Geena Young's maiden name was never mentioned, we could go either way with the family tree.) 

Geena Young is questioned by Detectives Rizzoli and Korsak
(Korsak is wearing a Pilgrims jersey)

Since the Red Sox were already in the American League, the Pilgrims must have ended up in the National League after their purchase and move.

This is pure conjecture on the part of Toobworld Central, something to tidy up the TV Universe by creating a connection to a long-forgotten sitcom. But since it's unlikely that it will ever be proven wrong, and the rules governing Toobworld are more lax than with other TV crossover sites, we're going to rule this a hit. 

Rizzoli and Isles watch a Pilgrims baseball game

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: JACK WARNER

Jack Warner died on this date in 1978.......

JACK WARNER

AS SEEN IN:
"James Dean: Race With Destiny"

AS PLAYED BY:
Mike Connors

From Wikipedia:
Jack Leonard "J.L." Warner (August 2, 1892 – September 9, 1978), born Jacob Warner in London, Ontario, Canada, was a Canadian-born American film executive who was the president and driving force behind the Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Warner's 45-year career was longer than that of any other traditional Hollywood studio mogul.

As co-head of production at Warner Bros. Studios, he worked with his brother, Sam Warner, to procure the technology for the film industry's first talking picture. After Sam's death, Jack clashed with his surviving older brothers, Harry and Albert Warner. He assumed exclusive control of the film production company in the 1950s, when he secretly purchased his brothers' shares in the business after convincing them to participate in a joint sale of stocks.

Although Warner was feared by many of his employees and inspired ridicule with his uneven attempts at humor, he earned respect for his shrewd instincts and toughmindedness. He recruited many of Warner Bros.' top stars and promoted the hard-edged social dramas for which the studio became known. Given to quick decision making, Warner once commented, "If I'm right fifty-one percent of the time, I'm ahead of the game."

Jack Warner responded grudgingly to the rising popularity of television in the late 1940s. Initially, he tried to compete with the new medium, introducing gimmicks such as 3-D films, which soon lost their appeal among moviegoers. In 1954, Warner finally engaged the new medium, providing ABC with a weekly show, 'Warner Bros. Presents'. The studio followed up with a series of Western dramas, such as 'Maverick', 'Bronco', and 'Colt .45'.

Within a few years, Warner, accustomed to dealing with actors in a high-handed manner, provoked hostility among emerging TV stars like James Garner, who filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. over a contract dispute. He was angered by the perceived ingratitude of television actors, who evidently showed more independence than film actors, and this deepened his contempt for the new medium. Following his deal with ABC, Warner also made his son, Jack Jr., head of the company's new television department.
During this period, Warner showed little foresight in his treatment of the studio's cartoon operation. Animated characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig, while embraced by cartoon lovers, "were always stepchildren at Warner Bros." As biographer Bob Thomas wrote, "Jack Warner...considered cartoons no more than an extraneous service provided to exhibitors who wanted a full program for their customers."

In 1953, during a rare meeting between the Warners and the studio's cartoon makers, Jack confessed that he didn't "even know where the hell the cartoon studio is", and Harry added, "The only thing I know is that we make Mickey Mouse," a reference to the flagship character of a competing company, Walt Disney Productions. Several years later, Jack sold all of the 400 cartoons Warner Bros. made before 1948 for $3,000 a piece. As Thomas noted, "They have since earned millions, but not for Warner Bros."

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: J. EDGAR HOOVER

J. EDGAR HOOVER

AS SEEN IN:
"Robert Kennedy And His Times"

AS PLAYED BY:
Ned Beatty

From Wikipedia
J. Edgar Hoover has been portrayed many times in film and on stage. Some notable portrayals include:

In the 1971 Woody Allen movie "Bananas", J. Edgar Hoover was portrayed by actress Dorothi Fox

Broderick Crawford and James Wainwright portrayed Hoover in the Larry Cohen film "The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover" (1977).

Hoover was portrayed by actor Dolph Sweet in the TV miniseries "King" (1978).

Hoover was portrayed by actor Ernest Borgnine in the TV-movie "Blood Feud" (1983), as well as in "Hoover" (2000).

Hoover was portrayed by actor Vincent Gardenia in the TV-movie "Kennedy" (1983).

Hoover was portrayed by actor Jack Warden in the TV-movie "Hoover vs. The Kennedys" (1987).

Hoover was portrayed by actor Treat Williams in the TV-movie "J. Edgar Hoover" (1987).

Hoover was portrayed by actor Kevin Dunn in the movie "Chaplin" (1992).

Hoover was portrayed by actor Pat Hingle in the TV-movie "Citizen Cohn" (1992).

Hoover was portrayed by actor Richard Dysart, both in the TV-movie "Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair" (1993) and in Mario Van Peebles' 1995 film "Panther".

Hoover was portrayed by actor Bob Hoskins in the Oliver Stone drama "Nixon" (1995).

Hoover was portrayed by actor David Fredericks in two episodes of 'The X-Files', as well as on its sister show 'Millennium'.

Hoover was portrayed by actor Billy Crudup in the Michael Mann film "Public Enemies" (2009).

Hoover was portrayed by actor Enrico Colantoni in the TV-movie "The Kennedys" (2011).

Hoover is to be portrayed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio in the Clint Eastwood film "J. Edgar" (2011).

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

AS SEEN IN:
"The Strange Case Of Conan Doyle"

AS PLAYED BY:
Douglas Henshall

From Wikipedia:
In 1890 Conan Doyle studied ophthalmology in Vienna, and moved to London in 1891 to set up a practice as an ophthalmologist. He wrote in his autobiography that not a single patient crossed his door. This gave him more time for writing, and in November 1891 he wrote to his mother: "I think of slaying Holmes ... and winding him up for good and all. He takes my mind from better things." His mother responded, "You may do what you deem fit, but the crowds will not take this lightheartedly."

In December 1893, in order to dedicate more of his time to more "important" works—his historical novels— Conan Doyle had Holmes and Professor Moriarty apparently plunge to their deaths together down the Reichenbach Falls in the story "The Final Problem". Public outcry, however, led him to bring the character back in 1901, in The Hound of the Baskervilles. In "The Adventure of the Empty House", it was explained that only Moriarty had fallen; but since Holmes had other dangerous enemies—especially Colonel Sebastian Moran—he had arranged to also be temporarily "dead". Holmes ultimately was featured in a total of 56 short stories and four Conan Doyle novels, and has since appeared in many novels and stories by other authors.

It is at this point in the movie when Conan Doyle decided to be rid of his greatest character......

BCnU!

"DOCTOR WHO" THEME - A CAPELLA

It feels like a long time since I featured a 'Doctor Who' video......

This kid shows a lot of talent and did such a good job that it came to the attention of the Grand Moff himself. I'm hoping it lead to bigger and better things in his future....

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: ETHEL KENNEDY

Labor Day weekend marks the end of summer, so who can we find to throw a pool party....?

ETHEL KENNEDY

AS SEEN IN:
"RFK"

AS PLAYED BY:
Marnie McPhail

From Wikipedia:
Ethel Skakel Kennedy (born April 11, 1928) is the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, who served as Attorney General of the United States and a United States Senator for the state of New York.

Ethel Skakel was born in Chicago on April 11, 1928 to Ann Brannack, a Roman Catholic of Irish descent, and George Skakel, a Protestant of Dutch descent. Ethel was raised as a Catholic in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her father was the founder of the very successful Great Lakes Carbon Corporation, now a division of SGLCarbon. She attended the all-girls Greenwich Academy in Greenwich, as well as the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan. In September 1945, Ethel began her collegiate education at Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart (then located in Manhattan), where she became friends and roommates with Jean Kennedy. Skakel later married Kennedy's brother, Robert F. Kennedy.

In contrast to John and Jackie Kennedy, Robert and Ethel held many get-togethers at their home. Whether it was a pool party or a formal dinner party, the guest list was impressive and eclectic. Journalist Roger Mudd remembers meeting John Lennon at one such party. Other notable invitees included the Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, entertainer Judy Garland, dancer Rudolf Nureyev and historian Arthur Schlesinger, who found himself thrown into the pool fully clothed where Ethel was also already swimming fully clothed.

The Kennedy children added to the wild atmosphere at Hickory Hill. Notoriously, Robert Jr. had a zoo in the basement. It was not unusual to see reptiles, a seal, an anteater, miniature ponies and even an elephant on the grounds. Jackie found the children so wild that she did not allow Caroline and John Jr. to play with their cousins.


BCnU!

AL BUNDY'S LABOR DAY

Thanks to J.r. Klink for pointing this out....

BCnU!

LET'S PARTY DOWN AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL!

Since it's Labor Day, I figured I'd let other people do the work for me.

Like my British blogging buddy Rob Buckley, for instance, who brought this clip to my attention......

(Rob's blog - the fourth most popular in Great Britain - can be found as a link to the left.  "The Medium Is Not Enough".  I highly recommend it.....)

So we have the caterers from 'Party Down' appearing in a fifteen minute long series called 'Children's Hospital'.

So what if the ties are blue and not pink as in the series? That means nothing. The owner of the catering company may have changed the style. It may have been a request from the people throwing the party.

Not everybody from the cast could be shown in the clip - some of them are now working as regulars on 'Children's Hospital' in other roles.

Definitely a contender for the Toobits Awards at the end of the year....

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: CESAR CHAVEZ

Taking note of Labor Day...

 

CESAR CHAVEZ

AS SEEN IN:

"RFK"

AS PLAYED BY:

Jacob Vargas

From Wikipedia:

César Estrada Chávez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW).

A Mexican American, Chávez became the best known Latino civil rights activist, and was strongly promoted by the American labor movement, which was eager to enroll Hispanic members. His public-relations approach to unionism and aggressive but nonviolent tactics made the farm workers' struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. By the late 1970s, his tactics had forced growers to recognize the UFW as the bargaining agent for 50,000 field workers in California and Florida. However, by the mid-1980s membership in the UFW had dwindled to around 15,000.

Chavez was a charismatic, gifted speaker who inspired Latinos to band together and devote themselves to the farmworkers' movement. Claiming as his models Emiliano Zapata, Gandhi, Nehru, and Martin Luther King, he called on his people to "Make a solemn promise: to enjoy our rightful part of the riches of this land, to throw off the yoke of being considered as agricultural implements or slaves. We are free men and we demand justice."

After his death he became a major historical icon for the Latino community, and for liberals generally, symbolizing militant support for workers and for Hispanic power based on grass roots organizing and his slogan "Sí, se puede" (Spanish for "Yes, it is possible" or, roughly, "Yes, it can be done"). His supporters say his work led to numerous improvements for union laborers. His birthday, March 31, has become César Chávez Day, a state holiday in three US states. Many parks, cultural centers, libraries, schools, and streets have been named in his honor in cities across the United States.

BCnU!

SONDHEIM AND GILBERT & SOLOMON

I went to see Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" at the Marriott Marquis theater Thursday night. It was my second time seeing the show, the first time being at the Paper Mill Playhouse back in 1998.

I'm also working on a massive project about 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' for a blogathon hosted by "Thrilling Days Of Yesteryear" to celebrate that classic sitcom's fiftieth anniversary.

And yet, even with that occupying a good chunk of what's left of my mind, it wasn't until two days later that I realized two of the main characters are a couple named Buddy and Sally......

(These are the younger "ghosts" of Buddy and Sally - Lora Lee Gayer as Young Sally and Christian Delcroix as Young Buddy in "Follies" at the Kennedy Center earlier this year. Danny Burstein and Bernadette Peters are playing the older versions in the current Broadway revival.....)

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: CASEY ANTHONY

CASEY ANTHONY

AS SEEN IN:
Taiwanese animated "news" story

AS PLAYED BY:
n/a

BCnU!