TVXOHOF, 03/01/2015 - A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY SALUTE

For 2015, the Television Crossover Hall of Fame will be all about TV characters from Great Britain.  But when I announced that plan, I also stipulated that others might still be included based on special circumstances, as in a membership worthy candidate dying.

But I think the TVXOHOF should not just pay tribute upon a death, but also celebrate a life well lived.

Which is why this special induction is being held - today Robert Conrad turns 80 years old.

The star of 'The Wild, Wild West', 'Hawaiian Eye', 'Black Sheep Squadron', 'James Michener's Centennial' and at least half a dozen other TV series is already represented in the Hall with the membership of Secret Service agents James West and Artemus Gordon, both inducted in 2002.  But today we're going to celebrate the man himself.

Perhaps his best known "televersion" is from the 1977 blipvert for Eveready batteries, which was a source of great amusement in spoofs by comedians like Johnny Carson......

But the best example of his life in Toobworld occurred in an episode of 'Just Shoot Me'.  Publisher Jack Gallo published his autobiography in which he claimed to have kicked Robert Conrad's ass in a fight.  Conrad showed up at the offices of Blush Magazine in order to set the record straight.....

So there we have 2/3 of the requirements for membership in the TVXOHOF.  As for the final example, Robert Conrad showed up for an appearance on the UBS talk show 'America 2Night' (hosted by Barth Gimble with Jerry Hubbard as his sidekick.)  However, Conrad had sustained a back injury earlier in the day while doing a stunt and he had over-medicated.  This left him in a lethargic state and he ended up passing out on the couch during the show.

And that's all it takes.

Thank you, Robert Conrad, for all the entertainment you've given us over the years.

BCnU!