THE TOOBWORLD TIMELINE: NOVEMBER 8, 1964

Here's another small difference that separates Toobworld from the Trueniverse:

In an episode of 'The Rogues', flights to Europe were delayed by one day due to the possibility of Hurricane Dolly making landfall somewhere on the Eastern seaboard.

"Two Of A Kind" ran on my Dad's 35th birthday, November 8, 1964, which is where I'm going to keep this episode on the Toobworld timeline, just outside the final date for hurricane season (normally November 6).

There have been several Hurricane Dollys in the past (2008 and 2014 being the most recent) but none that occurred in 1964.....

From Wikipedia:

• 1953's Hurricane Dolly - A strong storm that weakened rapidly before passing over Bermuda.
• 1954's Hurricane Dolly - Small storm that stayed far from land.
• 1968's Hurricane Dolly - Moved up the east coast of the United States but did not hit land.

There was one particular factor from that episode which demands that this Hurricane Dolly remain in 1964:

The rock band known as The Praying Mantises.

Just based on the look of them, we know the Praying Mantises were influenced by the Beatles, who arrived at JFK for the first time in February, 1964.  The popular rock music of the era in the mid 1950s was more suited to the sounds of Bill Haley and The Comets and Buddy Holly.  Had the Praying Mantises arrived on the scene a decade before the Beatles, the rock and roll landscape would have been unrecognizably divergent from that of the Trueniverse.  Plus, the impact of the Beatles would have been lessened.  Yet thanks to TV shows like 'Dark Skies', we know how powerful that first appearance by the group was.

The Praying Mantises were probably an American rip-off of the sound and the look of the Beatles rather than the other way around.  And since it would have taken a few months to get a group together and a tour of Europe prepared, that's another reason for the episode to remain in November of 1964.

As for 1968, that would have been too late, and all because of the Praying Mantises again.  Their look would have been passe by then and instead the psychedelia phase of rock and roll would have been in full swing.  Yet look at the kids dancing at that luau-themed party held in the mansion of an Italian countess just outside of New York City.  They were still under the influence of the Beach Boys and the "Beach Blanket" movies that were popular at the box office.

So even though it only happened in Toobworld, there was a Hurricane Dolly in 1964.

And that's the way it was, Sunday, November 8, 1964.  Fifty years ago today.

A tip of the hat to you, Dad.....

BCnU!

TV-GPS: "RICHARD DIAMOND, PRIVATE DETECTIVE" IN "TWIN PEAKS"

'RICHARD DIAMOND, PRIVATE DETECTIVE'

"PICTURE OF FEAR"

July, 1957: While on a fishing vacation, Diamond has a date with a beautiful woman who is being pursued by two mysterious hunters who she photographed earlier. They will stop at nothing to get the film, sensing danger Diamond offers his assistance.

(IMDb)

When this series began, Richard Diamond was living and working in New York City.  But early in 1959, Diamond moved to Los Angeles.  

But it's the location of this particular episode that's of interest to this televisiologist.  That's because Diamond spent his vacation in the resort town of Twin Peaks!

No mention of its home state is made by the private eye or the people he was involved with, so that makes it easier to claim it was Twin Peaks, Washington, just like with the location in the eponymous series which debuted 33 years later.

O'Bviously we didn't meet any younger versions of the 'Twin Peaks' character in this episode, but that's okay.  Twin Peaks, Washington, may have been a small town, but it was large enough to have more characters than ever seen in the show.  But who knows?  Maybe the waiter at the restaurant* and the state trooper - the only residents seen in the episode - had surnames like Martell, Packard, Jennings, Hurley, Briggs or Horne.  Otherwise, the four main characters were all from out of town.

And we didn't see the Great Northern Lodge, but we did see the Twin Peaks Lodge and Resort.  Again, that vacation spot may have existed in the series; we just never saw it.  (An example of the Khan-Chekov Encounter.)

We got to see Black Lake though, even if it went unnamed.  But it was a lake in Twin Peaks, so it must have been Black Lake.  I doubt that we were anywhere near the shoreline where Pete Martell found Laura Palmer dead, wrapped in plastic.  But not a problem - that must have happened on that far shore.....

All in all, this is an unofficial link between 'Twin Peaks' and 'Richard Diamond, Private Detective'.  I doubt David Lynch even saw this episode!  But it works and should be acceptable, especially as Twin Peaks is a fictional location.  This gives it more heft than claiming 'Taxi' and 'Naked City' must be connected because both take place in New York City.

I'm dedicating this post to the memory of my Dad, born on this date in 1929.  He would have loved to have gone fishing at this place.....

BCnU!

* Not the RR Diner or the Wind River Drive-Through.....

A THEORY OF RELATEEVEETY: GONET GIRLS

'MIDSOMER MURDERS'

"SINS OF COMMISSION"

'SILK'

"S3E2"

In 2004, Causton Police Inspector Tom Barnaby investigated a series of murders at the 12th annual Maplin Literary Prize festival in the village of Midsomer-St. Michael's.  The Maplin Prize was endowed in memory of local author Conor Maplin, who passed away in 1992 at the age of 70.

His widow, somewhat younger than he was, was Grace Maplin and she was one of the executors/trustees for the endowment.  Despite the crimes committed during that festival weekend, Grace was still able to see the awards ceremony to its successful - if highly controversial - conclusion.

From this point on, it's all Toobworldian conjecture.....

For the Maplin Prize festival the following year, Grace invited her sister Christine to travel to Midsomer-St. Michael's and attend the ceremonies.  It would be a chance for them to catch up, since Christine spent most of her time pursuing a career in jurisprudence in London.  

In Toobworld, there is no such thing as coincidence, and yet "by chance", Christine took the train from London on which she met a cousin to Inspector Barnaby who was also traveling to Causton in Oxfordshire in order to visit his cousin Tom.  (This cousin was not John Barnaby, however.)

Barnaby's cousin and Grace Maplin's sister Christine hit it off and ended up spending most of that 2005 weekend with each other rather than with the family members they were supposed to be visiting.  

By the end of the year, they were married.

The Barnabys reside in London where Christine Barnaby is a sitting judge in Chambers.

O'Bservations:

Stella Gonet played Grace Maplin and Judge Christine Barnaby.....

BCnU!

THE UNSEEN - RIMPELLS & SPLICKETT

'COMMUNITY'

"BONDAGE AND BETA MALE SEXUALITY"

While driving Britta Perry home, Professor Ian Duncan thought to cheer her up by playing a recording by the comedy team of Rimpells and Splickett.  According to Duncan, they were the British equivalent of Laurel & Hardy.  In his opinion, their humor aged well, but it didn't quite translate for an American audience.

I think he would have been better off trying to make the case for a comparison with Abbott & Costello, who were successful in all three media - films, radio, and television.  Not that Rimpels & Splickett were successful in Toobworld.  If they had been, how come we haven't heard of them in some other show?  (Remember to think inside the box's reality, folks....)

Not that it would have made any difference....  Britta didn't get the humor at all, even after Professor Duncan tried to explain the joke about Cambridge vs. Oxford.....

BCnU!

PERRY MASON & JIM ROCKFORD

DON "HI HO" SILVER:

"Well, as Perry Mason used to say..."

BETH DAVENPORT:

"Oh, brother...."

DON SILVER:

"See you in court."

'The Rockford Files'

"The Attractve Nuisance"

This is pretty easy to splain away.  Don Silver, a seedy ambulance chaser, wasn't making any references to Perry Mason, the television character.  The televersion of Mason was famous, getting his picture in newspapers and on the news for years.  It would be easy to assume Silver was quoting the real lawyer.

As for Silver using the past tense ("used to say"), Mason by this point in time (early 1978), Mason had already accepted the judgeship in Colorado and so moved away from L.A.

BCnU!

TVXOHOF, 11/2014-B: JOHN ADAMS AGAIN

As this is a Tuesday, I may as well go with a "two-fer" for the Television Crossover Hall Of Fame.  Remember, "What I Say, Goes" since this is the 15th anniversary.

Back in 2009, when the Hall was celebrating its tenth anniversary, John Adams was inducted into the Hall for his many portrayals in so many different TV shows and specials.  (The only one not included would be that by Burgess Meredith in "Land Of The Three".  It's the Toobworld contention that he was a butler to the president who had gone a bit mad in his retirement.)

It was the performance by Paul Giamatti in the mini-series that snared the official portrayal of our nation's second president.  

At that end of that blog post making the announcement, I mentioned another actor noted for the role:

William Daniels is probably the best known John Adams from the movie universe, recreating the role he originated in the Broadway production of '1776'. However, he also got the chance to play the role twice on television. I may be wrong on this (It's not uncommon!), but I believe his performance in 'The American Revolution' was as a voice-over. Still, the TV movie "The Rebels" completes the multi-verse position for John Adams as played by William Daniels.

So Daniels played John Adams in three different fictional universes - Toobworld, the Cineverse, and WorldStage.  Offhand, the only other TVXOHOF multiversals whom I can think of who pulled off that trifecta would be Cecily and Gwendoline Pigeon of 'The Odd Couple' fame.  (They were inducted in 2002 when we were celebrating duos.)

So even though John Adams is already inducted as a "pan-dimensional being" for the Toobworld Dynamic, I'd like to acknowledge William Daniels for making Adams a multiversal.

Welcome to your own place in the Hall, Sir!

BCnU! 

TVXOHOF, 11/2010-A: PRESIDENT JONATHAN HAYES

Today is the Midterm elections, which is arguably the more important of the election cycle, moreso than those years in which we elect a President.  Toobworld Central urges you to get out and vote - even if you vote against the ideals I support (but you'd be a fool to do so.)  It's important that you get out there and exercise a freedom others died to protect and which many around the world envy.

Now on to the Toobstuff!

November is traditionally the month in which we induct someone of a political nature into the Television Crossover Hall Of Fame - a President, a politician, a newsmaker or a newscaster.  And even in this year in which we are celebrating the Hall's 15th anniversary with the theme of "What I Say, Goes", I see no reason why that should be any different.

What makes this year's entry different is that our new member is a fictional President of the United States from the Movie Of The Week Toobworld.  (No fancy name for that dimension yet.)  There is quite a line of succession for this world, stretching back to at least the 1930s (although only seen on our TV screens in 1972) with President John P. Wintergreen.  (Apparently, with the way everybody would sing out with their feelings, Wintergreen's term in office was bedevilled by the demon Sweet.)

In this dimension, Jonathan Hayes was the President of the United States as the world entered a new millennium, and his presidency (with its various crises) was depicted in three TV Movies:

"First Daughter" (1999)
A domestic terrorist group make an unsuccessful attempt on the life of US President Jonathan Hayes and the group's leader, is subsequently captured. Some members of the group manage to evade capture and continue with terrorist activities. Eight weeks later, believing the threat is past, the President organizes an outdoors activity trip for his teenage daughter, Jess, who has grown tired of the public life and constant Secret Service supervision.

Unbeknownst to the hikers, during their trip they are seen by members of the domestic terrorist group who have been hiding out in the same woods to evade capture. One of the group recognises Jess, and identifies her as the daughter of President Hayes. They quickly form a plan to kidnap Jess in order to negotiate the release of Smith. They ambush the hikers, kill one of the bodyguards, and kidnap Jess.

"First Target" (2000)
Secret Service Agent Alex McGregor is charged with protecting President Jonathan Hayes who is facing problems with a powerful group represented by his Vice-President of the United States, and entrepreneur Senator Jack "J.P." Hunter who helped him win the election. The conspirators intend to assassinate the President while in Seattle to inaugurate a cable wire transportation system.

"First Shot" (2002)
After an explosion at an army base that kills several soldiers, President Jonathan Hayes attends a memorial service and is shot while speaking.

As I said, all of these take place in the same dimension, even though the main character - Secret Service agent Alex MacGregor - is played by Darryl Hannah in the second movie.  Mariel Hemingway played the role in the other two.  O'Bviously a quantum leaper stepped in to correct the original timeline which had been interfered with by some temporal interloper.

Welcome to the Hall, Mr. President!

BCnU!

MUNCH MUNCH!

Did any of you find this in your Halloween haul a few days ago?

'The Saint'

"The Persistant Patriots"

This product, only to be found in Toobworld of course, was allegedly the product Mary was going to be promoting in the photo shoot interrupted by Simon Templar.  

"Munch - The Candy Bar They'd Do Anything To Get"

The televersion precursor for "What would you do for a Klondike bar?" perhaps?

I'm going to declare this a Theory of Relateeveety connection to Detective John Munch.  "Munch" was not only the activity connected to the chocolate, but the name of the family who manufactured it - just as is the case with the Hershey bar.

I doubt there's any close genealogical connection between the branches of the family however.  But if John Munch ever did appear in any of the foreign adaptations of the 'Law & Order' shows in the UK or France, or even in Russia, the excuse could have been that he was visiting family over there.

Tenuous, but I'm liking it for the Toobworld Dynamic!

BCnU!

VIDEO SUNDAY - "CARMEN"

'THE GEORGE BURNS AND GRACIE ALLEN SHOW'

"GEORGE AND GRACIE GO TO THE OPERA"

George and Gracie went to see a production of "Carmen" with several of their friends.  The local opera reviewer, Mrs. Quigley, dropped off the tickets and tried to explain the plot to Gracie......

MRS. QUIGLEY:

"Carmen" is the name of the opera.

GRACIE ALLEN:
Oh really. I thought it was the name of the girl that Mr. Vanderlip was taking. Can you believe I would make a mistake like that?

MRS. QUIGLEY:
Frankly yes. Perhaps this might help you a little bit.  Carmen, you see, is a gypsy girl who works in the cigarette factory.

GRACIE ALLEN:
Oh please. Let's not gossip about her anymore.  Let's talk about the one in the opera.

MRS. QUIGLEY:
But this is the story of the opera!  This Carmen is a gypsy girl who loves Don Jose.

GRACIE ALLEN:
Well why shouldn't she? It's a beautiful town. Everybody loves San Jose!

MRS. QUIGLEY:
It's Don Jose. They're sweethearts for a while then Carmen's love for him grows cold

GRACIE ALLEN:
Well if you think it grows cold in San Jose you ought to live in Pismo beach!

MRS. QUIGLEY:
Mrs. Burns, Don Jose is Carmen's lover.  But she leaves him for Escomilio.

GRACIE ALLEN:
I hope she gets a round-trip ticket. That sounds colder than Pismo!

From Wikipedia:

["Carmen"] was written [by Georges Bizet] in the genre of opéra comique with musical numbers separated by dialogue.  It tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is seduced by the wiles of the fiery Gypsy, Carmen. José abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts from his military duties, yet loses Carmen's love to the glamorous toreador Escamillo, after which José kills her in a jealous rage. The depictions of proletarian life, immorality and lawlessness, and the tragic death of the main character on stage, broke new ground in French opera and were highly controversial. 

The star of that production was Risë Stevens who often played the role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.  (But I think Ms. Stevens journeyed to Los Angeles to perform there this time.)  Although she didn't appear in the episode, only mentioned, this would still count towards Ms. Stevens presence in Toobworld as a member of the League of Themselves.

From Wikipedia:

Above all, [Risë Stevens] was especially celebrated for her Carmen. She had an enormous personal triumph at the Metropolitan in the role in the famousTyrone Guthrie production in 1951, becoming the Carmen of her generation. Her RCA Victor recording of the opera, conducted by Fritz Reinerand co-starring Jan Peerce, Robert Merrill and Licia Albanese, became a best seller and has never been out of print in some format.

To give you an idea of the performance that George and Gracie saw, here are three selections from "Carmen" starring Risë Stevens:

This last selection is probably one of the most famous pieces of music from the world of opera......

BCnU!