HAT SQUAD TVXOHOF TRIBUTE - ALAN THICKE

And so after the high of inducting Kirk Douglas into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame as himself in tribute of his 100th birthday - and while he was still alive - Toobworld Central is back to inducting a member of the League of Themselves as a memorial.....

From the LA Times:

Alan Thicke, an actor best-known for helping set a template for parenting ideals in the ’80s sitcom “Growing Pains,” has died. He was 69.

His death was confirmed with the Times on Tuesday evening by the publicist of his son, pop-soul singer Robin Thicke. The Times spoke with Robin Thicke on Tuesday evening.  He confirmed that Thicke suffered a heart attack while playing hockey with his son Carter, and that one of the last things he said was a compliment to his son on a nice shot.

In putting together this tribute, I was actually shocked to see how many times Mr. Thicke actually played his fictional televersion in TV shows set in the main Toobworld (as well as a couple in other TV dimensions, like the Tooniverse.)  I was never a fan of 'Growing Pains', but his character of Jason Seaver is now on the fast track for inclusion in the Hall of Fame next year.  (Personally, my favorite Alan Thicke character was talk show host Dennis Dupree in 'Hope & Gloria'.)

Herewith are most of the credits (with summaries from the IMDb) which made Alan Thicke eligible for membership as himself:

'Hangin' with Mr. Cooper'
- The Presentation (1992) 

Mark is hired as a substitute teacher, but his roommate Robin must teach him how to control his students. Alan Thicke guest stars.

O'BSERVATION: The odd thing is that Mark Cooper knew Jason Seaver.  How come he didn't notice the resemblance between Seaver and Thicke'

• "Lamb Chop's Chanukah and Passover Surprise"
• "Lamb Chop's Special Chanukah"
• "Lamb Chop and the Haunted Studio"

O'BSERVATION: In three different TV specials, Thicke got the chance to act with two other members of the Hall of Fame - Lamb Chop and Shari Lewis.  (He's seen here with Shari Lewis and Charley Horse.)

'Just Shoot Me!'
- The Boys in the Band (2002) 
Alan Thicke brings out Jack's competitive side. Maya gets upset when Jack drags her into it.

'Joey'
- Joey and the Poker' 

Alex teaches Joey fake poker rules to keep him away from a girl. Joey then plays along those rules at "Celebrity Poker Showdown", and gets into trouble.

O'BSERVATION: Also playing themselves in the tournament:

• Dave Foley
• Phil Gordon
• Louie Anderson
• Coolio
• Cindy Margolis

'Sex, Love & Secrets' 
A drama chronicling the lives of twentysomethings in the hip L.A. neighborhood of Silverlake.
- Protection (2005) ... Sitcom Dad

O'BSERVATION: My thinking is this - Alan Thicke in the real world was an actor (among other talents, like writing theme songs), so shouldn't his televersion be as well?  He certainly was an actor when appearing with Robin Sparkles in her music video and in her TV series.  Therefore, I think it's safe to assume this "Sitcom Dad" was played by Alan Thicke.

"Nobody's Watching" (TV Movie)
Two best friends challenge the WB to let them create a new sitcom - they're surprised when they're left to live on a sound stage and have their every move recorded while working on the project.   It is revealed that famous television fathers, such as Uncle Phil from 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air', were Will's father figures growing up; when he first meets Alan Thicke, who played the father on 'Growing Pains', he accidentally calls him 'Dad'. ('Nobody's Watching' is a US television program that was never broadcast. It originated with and was written by the creator of Scrubs, Bill Lawrence, as well as Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan, writers for Scrubs and Family Guy.)

''Til Death'
- Circumdecision (2008) 
Eddie tries to talk Kenny out of getting circumcised because it would mean that he has to go a musical theatre series with Joy if he does.

O'BSERVATION: I'm assuming that Alan Thicke was appearing in that musical theater presentation.

'Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!'
- Snow (2009) ... Dr. Alan Thicke

'Star-ving'
- Stealing Alan Thicke (2009) 

David Faustino plays himself as a struggling actor in this very entertaining web series. Great cameos and several appearances by former 'Married with Children' cast members.

Hot Package
- Pilot (2013)
A deconstruction of entertainment news shows set in a parallel universe. Host Derrick Beckles and co-hosts Anastasia Roark and Pat O'Brien give you the latest entertainment news and celebrity gossip. In reality though, all of their information is sourced from found footage taken from obscure TV shows and movies, old videotapes and DVDs, the Internet, and other places. The show also features in-depth interviews with little-known people in the entertainment industry. [The series was developed as a delivery system for obscure film and television clips. Derrick decided to use an entertainment news show as the framework.]

'How I Met Your Mother'

- Sandcastles in the Sand (2008) 
Barney makes it his mission to find Robin Sparkles' second music video which Robin had never mentioned previously even existed.

- The Rough Patch (2009)

After Barney and Robin hit a rough patch in their relationship, Lily devises the perfect plan to break them up, calling in help from Robin's famous friend, Alan Thicke.

- Glitter (2010)

Just before Barney turns off the 'Space Teens' video the first time, the math problems Alan Thicke poses is 23 times 3. The answer, of course, is 69, further fueling the joke that 'Space Teens' is porn.

- P.S. I Love You (2013)
Robin's past as a Canadian pop star is revisited when Barney uncovers the lost episode of a music documentary series in which she was featured as Robin Sparkles.
User Review:
Another episode about Robin Sparkles! Love those. And it is a good story. Of course I especially liked Barney getting obsessed about Robin's teenage obsession and travel to Canada. All those Tim Horton's and doughnuts and "aboots" are wonderful. And I like how it went, with Barney fighting Alan Thicke. That fighting scene in the hall with Alan Thicke holding Barney down in the hall while eating a doughnut is just priceless.

- The Rehearsal Dinner (2013)

'The Stanley Dynamic' (2014)
- The Stanley Band
- The Stanley Grown Up
Twin brothers Larry and Luke Stanley are like any other twins you might know, except one twist - Luke is an animated cartoon.

O'BSERVATION: I think this may belong in a Borderland, where an alt. Toobworld is blended with the Tooniverse.

'The Jack and Triumph Show'

Jack McBrayer and Triumph are down on their luck and move in as room mates.
- The Commercial (2015)
UNCENSORED. Triumph tricks Jack into filming a commercial in Irkutsk, Siberia - a foreign land where "Triumph's Boy" is still wildly popular.

O'BSERVATION: Because of this role, if not others, it has to be accepted that Alan Thicke portrayed Justin Seaver's life in the televersion of 'Growing Pains'.  Both the TV series and the 2000 TV reunion movie were mentioned.  (Thicke himself mentioned "The Growing Pains Movie".)

'Grandfathered'
- Jimmy's 50th, Again (2016) 

When Jimmy has trouble admitting that he's 51, he throws himself a second 50th birthday party. The party triggers flashbacks of where he was a year ago, showing Jimmy what a difference his family has made in his life.
'This Is Us'
- Pilot (2016) 

The stories of different people and their connection to each other: A young expectant couple, an overweight woman finally dealing with her problem, a successful businessman, and a disillusioned Hollywood actor.  

O'BSERVATION: That would be Kevin, with the "model good looks", who gets a lucrative lead role in a mindless sitcom called "Man-ny".  The role often requires him to be shirtless.  I expect this is where Alan Thicke was involved.

Finally, Alan Thicke also made an appearance in the Tooniverse:

'American Dad!'
- Permanent Record Wrecker (2014)

Thicke was only 3 x 23 years old; he could have expected to have had many more years ahead of him in which to play not only other TV characters but to also spoof his own image some more.  But it wasn't in the script, I guess.

Good night and may God bless......