TVXOHOF, IN MEMORIAM 2014 - CASEY KASEM

Probably the best-known radio personality in America for decades, as well as being known as the voice of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo cartoons, Casey Kasem passed away on Sunday at the age of 82.

Much has been made and will be made about the turmoil within his family over his care the last few years, but Toobworld Central would like to focus instead on his career in Earth Prime-Time today.  And that's why Casey Kasem has been fast-tracked into the Television Crossover Hall Of Fame in the League of Themselves wing.

[Mr. Kasem played a major role in making the entire cast of the Scooby-Doo cartoons a cultural touchstone with his vocal contributions as Shaggy.  One day Shag and all of his fellow travelers in the Mystery Machine will be inducted into the Tooniverse section of the Hall.....]

Because he was the go-to voice across America for the weekly countdown of the Top 40 music hits of the day, Kasem was also in demand for his presence on TV shows because of that distinctive voice.  He served as the Master Of Ceremonies in some of these appearances, or stepped in to do a live presentation of his radio format tailored to a particular audience.  And it's because of his special guest appearances as himself in these shows that we can forge the link between usually un-connected shows like 'Alf' and 'Matt Houston'.

Here's a run-down of the shows which qualified Casey Kasem for membership in the Hall of Fame.

We'll begin in 1983.....

'Matt Houston'
"Target: Miss World"

Kasem was credited as "Master of Ceremonies", but as that hosting gig usually involves a celebrity I think it's safe to assume that he was playing himself.

'My Two Dads'
"I'm Dreaming of a Holiday Episode"

Casey Kasem may have appeared in a dream sequence about Joey and Michael still living together and getting older and older.  But if so, that doesn't negate Kasem's presence in Toobworld for this.  It just means that he was well enough known in the "reality" of Earth Prime-Time to supply the fodder for the dreamscape.

'Saved by the Bell' 
"Rockumentary"
"Dancing to the Max"

'Amen'
"Ernie and the Sublimes"

'ALF'
"Make 'em Laugh"

Kasem definitely was in a dream sequence for this show, as Alf dreamt what Life would have been like had he been a famous comedian.  At one point he shared the stage with Casey Kasem at the People's Choice Awards.

'The People Next Door'
"Happy Birthday, Baby"

As the main character in this sitcom could make the denizens of his imagination become reality, it's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble that Casey Kasem was a living figment from Walter Kellogg's mind.

'The Martin Short Show'
"The Steve Martin Show"

Although it often felt as though it was firmly entrenched in Skitlandia, 'The Martin Show' is part of Earth Prime-Time.  There just happened to have been a TV show being produced within that TV show.

With these next two shows, Casey Kasem was appearing as his Skittish self:

'Saturday Night Live'
with Rosie O'Donnell as host

and musical guestJames Taylor 

Casey Kasem was also played by Dana Carvey in one episode, and - because of the nature of Skitlandia - both portrayals were of the "real" Casey Kasem in that TV dimension.....

 

'The Ben Stiller Show'

"A Few Good Scouts"
"With Colin Quinn"

And the only reason I mention this appearance from the Cineverse is because the Ghostbusters have a presence in the Tooniverse.  And who knows?  Maybe one day they'll be found in Earth Prime-Time.

Actually, there is another reason.  We are celebrating "Little Big Screen" aka "Toobworld Goes To The Movies" all year long.....

"Ghostbusters" 

Casey Kasem (as heard on the radio):

"Still making headlines all across the country, the Ghostbusters are at it again. This time at the fashionable dance club, The Rose. The boys in gray slugged it out with a pretty pesky poltergeist, then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance. This is Casey Kasem. Now on with the countdown."

Despite how popular they could be, most other radio personalities remain rooted in that particular universe borne of Mankind's aural imagination.  But Casey Kasem was a true multiversal - the Radio Universe, the Cineverse, the Tooniverse, Skitlandia, and Earth Prime-Time.  He deserves to be in the Television Crossover Hall Of Fame.

I'm just sorry it took his death to prompt me into action....

Instead of my usual sign-off of "BCnU!" or even of "Good night and may God bless....", I thought it only right to let Mr. Kasem have the "honors":

"Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!"