SATURDAY COMICS: REMEMBERING MR. SOLO

So the election last week wasn't enough bad news (for me); the world also lost Leonard Cohen, Leon Russell, and Robert Vaughn. And with Vaughn's death, Toobworld lost the chance to revisit with some great TV characters like Albert Stoller, Harry Rule, Morgan Wendell, and General Hunt Stockwell. 

But it truly is a sad Toobworld to know that Napoleon Solo of UNCLE no longer walks among our televersions.

During the past month, Ye Olde Toobmeister has been showcasing various TV characters as seen in the comic book universe - Sgt. Bilko, Honey West, Maverick, Car 54, and the Prisoner.  

So today, using that same theme, we do our best to honor UNCLE agent Napoleon Solo as he looked in the comic book world:

(All of these pages are random selections.)

If there is an alternate dimension for comic books that is similar to TV's Skitlandia, these incarnations of Solo might be found within......

Solo and Kuryakin kept being updated in the comic book universe as the years passed.....

And if there are international dimensions to the comic book universe:

Perhaps best of all for this crossover lover....

Good night and may God bless. Open Channel D.....

MISSING LINKS -- SARAH DOOLEY, THE DEATH JUNKIE

'LAW & ORDER'

"MURDER BOOK"
[Episode aired 23 February 2007]

Sarah Dooley ran a website/blog called "Death Junkie", which was a good description for her as well.

Sarah Dooley:

"I collect stuff, you know? Related to serial killers, famous murderers."

Nina Cassady:

"I get the idea." 

The computer technician for the 27th Precinct posted a fake ad seeking an autographed copy of "If I Did It" by former professional baseball player J.P. Lange.  Lange got away with murdering his wife, acquitted by a jury, but was now being investigated for the murder of his publisher.  The autographed copy being sought had been stolen from a restaurant where the victim had been accosted by Lange.  The detectives were hoping to find some evidence that could tie Lange to her later murder.

But it's Sarah Dooley who interests me.  And to the point where I think someday she may even find herself inducted into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, just for that five minute appearance in the episode.

No other details are mentioned regarding her blog or her memorabilia collection.  Since real people from the "Trueniverse" are often cited by fictional characters - and often on this show! - it wouldn't be inconceivable that she had "tchotchkes" that were somehow connected to killers like Ted Bundy, Aileen Wuornos, David Berkovitz, and the Boston Strangler.

But being a Toobworldling, she may have also collected autographs and souvenirs from serial killers as seen only on TV, and perhaps even communicated with some of them while they were in prison.

  

Nobody can prove she didn't do so, am I right?  So it's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble that Sarah is the "Missing Link" between all of these horrific killers.  And as such, I will one day make her the Inductee on my Birthday Honors List for the TVXOHOF.

I'm not saying she actually does have items from this list of TV serial killers, but then again.....

In compiling this list, I only chose those serial killers who had been active up to the point at which the episode took place.  I'm thinking that would be January - February of 2007.

So let's take a look through my idea of her morbid mementos.....

André DiMera, 'Days Of Our Lives'
The Salem Stalker
2004

Diego Alcazar, 'General Hospital'
The Text Message Killer
2007-2008

Clifford Banks, 'Murder One'
The Street Sweeper
1997

Kevin Greer, 'CSI'
The Blue Paint Killer
2002-2005

Caleb, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'
2003

Windom Earle, 'Twin Peaks'
1990

Gormogon, 'Bones'
The Widow's Son Killer
2007

Joey Henderson, 'Shortland Street'
The Ferndale Strangler
2007

Richard Hillman, 'Coronation Street'
2001-2003

Chris Keller, 'Oz'
1998-2003

Spike Lester, 'Passion'
2005-2007

Toby Mills, 'Hollyoaks'
2001-2003

Natalie Davis, 'CSI'
The Miniature Killer
2005-2009

Arthur Mitchell, 'Dexter'
The Trinity Killer
Thirty Years

Soraya Montenegro, 'Maria de la Barrio'
1995-96

Norman Bates, 'Psycho'
1960-

O'Bservation: Yes, he started out in a movie that got a sequel over twenty years later.  But he showed up in a TV movie, once again played by Anthony Perkins.

Sarah Dooley won't be inducted any time soon.  Maybe someday when I'm feeling the entire slate of new members should be given over to the Dark Side....

BCnU!

THEORY OF RELATEEVEETY - SHAW NUFF!

'THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR'

& 

'THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW'

"CONVICTS AT LARGE"

"THE SONG FESTERS"

In late November, early December of 1962, three women convicts escaped from the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh.  They were Jalene Naomi, Sally and their ringleader was the fearsome Big Maude Tyler.  They wound up just outside Mayberry where they took Deputy Barney Fife and Floyd Lawson the barber hostage.

There was a reason why Big Maude wanted to reach Mayberry, which she may have not revealed to Jalene Naomi and Sally: she was hoping to contact her older sister, Eleanora Poultice.  Mrs. Poultice, a widow, was a music teacher who also tutored with singing lessons at her home.  Big Maude Tyler was probably hoping she could get Eleanora to give her enough money - and a change of clothes - so that she could elude capture and get far enough away.

After they were recaptured by Sheriff Andy Taylor, with help from Barney, it was decided that the trio should not be allowed to share the same prison again - just in case they plotted to break out a second time.  Sally could have been transferred to Elliott Bay Penitentiary near Seattle, while Big Maude was sent up to the Litchfield Correctional Facility in the Northeast.*  And as for Jalene Naomi, she may have been kept behind at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh.

Big Maude never got a reunion with her sister which was probably considered a blessing by Eleanora Poultice.  For the next two years she did her best to continue her life in Mayberry as a music teacher, but I think her past eventually caught up to her.  I blame that snooty Clara Edwards for finding out the truth about Eleanora's relationship to Big Maude.  And then she made sure all of the women in the church choir quickly learning about it.

Filled with the shame only a small-town resident could know, Mrs. Poultice moved away from Mayberry which left her students - like Barney Fife - without a tutor.  

Her humiliation may have been so great that she felt no choice but to change her name.  I can't say why she chose "Martha Grant" as the name with which she would start her new life - perhaps "Grant" had been her maiden name.  Maybe her mother's name had been Martha Grant and so she found it easier to assume her mother's identity.

The new Martha Grant also hoped that she could lose herself even more by moving to New York City.  In a city in which there were eight million stories, a minor character could easily disappear.  Instead of returning to her former profession, Martha took a position as the housekeeper for a young woman with two small children, Candace and Jonathan.  Carolyn Muir was a freelance writer, perhaps with an eye to writing a novel, and so the thought of moving to a more secluded area where she could give free reign to her writing muse.  And she realized that her children would most likely thrive in such an environment.  

"Martha Grant" was also more than happy for such a move, four years after abandoning her life in Mayberry.  By going with the Muir family, she would be even more secluded at Gull Cottage on the Maine coast.  For Martha, hopefully there would be no way for Big Maude to track her down.

Their last names are different, but I think that's easily splained away.  Of the two, I think it was Big Maude who had once been married; probably to some low-life.  For alls I know, however, there may have been a Mr. Grant in Martha's life, once upon a time.  And that would be why she chose the name.

This will cause nightmares: the thought of Reta Shaw moaning in the dark: "Ohhhhh, Mr. Grant!"

BCnU!

O'Bservation:

I'm still not convinced that Litchfield is located in New York.  There is a real one there, but I think it's the Litchfield of Connecticut.  That's my prejudice of course, as I'm a Nutmegger at heart.  I guess I'll have to run a search for "Litchfield" in the scripts for 'Orange Is The New Black'.

AS UNSEEN ON TV: MICHAEL BILLINGTON

From Wikipedia:

Michael Keith Billington OBE (born 16 November 1939) is a British author and arts critic. Drama critic of The Guardian since October 1971, he is "Britain's longest-serving theatre critic" and the author of biographical and critical studies relating to British theatre and the arts; most notably, he is the authorized biographer of the playwright Harold Pinter (1930–2008).

I'm always interested in the fictional lives of real people as depicted on TV, but also in movies like "The Player" and in books - the Toby Peters mysteries by Stuart Kaminsky, for instance.

Sometimes the famous person doesn't even have to show up onscreen to be accepted into the TV Universe.  One such case is Mr. Billington, whose birthday is today.  He was name-checked in a story from both BookWorld and Toobworld......

Again, from Wikipedia:
In fiction, Billington's name was introduced in Death of a Hollow Man by Caroline Graham, later adapted as for the Midsomer Murders television mystery series, in which DCI Tom Barnaby coaxes deluded local director, and double murderer, Harold Winstanly into accompanying him to the police station by suggesting Michael Billington and journalists from various respectable publications would be waiting to discuss his work.

It proved to be a very "Sunset Boulevard" moment.  (Perhaps Barnaby had seen the movie and remembered that final scene....)

DCI Barnaby: 

And we'd like you to come along with us.
Harold Winstanly: 

What? Now? 

Barnaby: 

Yes.
Winstanly:
Oh, no, it's impossible.
I'm casting Vanya tonight.
Scofield will be here in a minute.
I've offered him Serebryakov.
Barnaby:

But, Harold, the press are waiting.
Winstanly:
That moron on the Causton Echo?
Barnaby:
No, no, no, the real press Times, Guardian Michael Billington.
Winstanly:

Michael Bill--#  Tom, is this true?
Barnaby: 
Oh, yes! 

Winstanly:

I must have my hat.
Thank you.
I knew this would happen, Tom.
I knew they'd remember me.....

Here's what Michael Billington though about the public image of the theatre critic. 

Happy birthday, Mr. Billington!

TWO FOR TUESDAY NEWS DAY - "CITIZEN KHAN"

From Wikipedia:
'

Citizen Khan' is a family-based British sitcom produced by the BBC and created by Adil Ray now in its fourth series. It is set in Sparkhill, East Birmingham, described by its lead character, a Pakistani Muslim Mr. Khan (Adil Ray), as "the capital of British Pakistan". 

'Citizen Khan' follows the trials and tribulations of Mr. Khan, a loud-mouthed, patriarchal, self-appointed, cricket-loving community leader, and his long suffering wife (played by Shobu Kapoor) and daughters Shazia (Maya Sondhi 2012–2014, Krupa Pattani 2015–) and Alia (Bhavna Limbachia). 

The first name of Mrs. Khan is Razia; however, Mr. Khan's first name is never revealed.

I've never seen the show; but I'd like to give it a test run for a few episodes

TUESDAY NEWS DAY
(TWO FOR TUESDAY)
PART ONE

For the fifth season of 'Citizen Khan', there will be several members of the League of Themselves appearing in the Britcom. 

In the season premiere alone there will be cricketers Moeen Ali and Matthew Vaughan (the former captain of the England team) and Jonathan Agnew of the sports show 'Test Match Special'. So this will probably create a Toobworld version of that show. 

But probably the biggest draw for the English audience will be seeing Mr. Khan meeting Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. 

This series opener sees Mr Khan having to bare all after forgetting his wedding anniversary, which includes a chance meeting with Mayor Khan.

Another League of Themselves member to show up later in the season will be Baroness Warsi, a member of the House of Lords. (She'll be showing up at "a Muslim fun day at the Mosque".)

Other guest stars include Harry Enfield, Niky Wardley, Ricky Grover, and Lynda Baron. But I think they'll be playing other characters rather than themselves. 

BCnU!

TUESDAY NEWS DAY
(TWO FOR TUESDAY)
PART TWO

It looks like the British sitcom 'Citizen Khan', about a Pakistani family in Birmingham, will be staging "a 'Peaky Blinders' tribute on the streets of Birmingham". 

If it's a reference to the TV show, it could be a Zonk. (Of course, the standard splainin for Zonks about "historical" shows ('Downton Abbey', 'Gunsmoke', 'Combat!', etc.) is that the references are about a show based on a true story.)

Perhaps that might be the way they'll go - the tribute will be to the "actual" family of ne'er-do-wells from the 1920s. Doubtful, but who knows?

BCnU!

TOOBWORLD - THE MISSING ADVENTURES

There have been plenty of examples over the decades of "Life Beyond The Screen" from various TV shows.  That is, mentions of characters and events that are not seen during the actual show, but are mentioned in some way.

The best example of something having happened off-screen in a TV show can actually be found in a movie.....

Out of the airlock steps a tall masked figure. 

A moment of suspense as Terrell and Chekov watch, terrified. 

The mask is peeled back.

                                           CHEKOV
                                     (aloud despite himself)
                             Khan!

                   KHAN is startled by the recognition; comes over and
                   examines Chekov and Terrell.

                                           KHAN
                                     (to Terrell)
                             I don't know you.
                                     (to Chekov)

                             But you. I never
                             forget a face. Mister Chekov,
                             isn't it?
                                     (wonderingly)
                             I never thought to see your face
                             again.

[From "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"]

But the thing is, when Khan Noonian Singh showed up in the 'Star Trek' TV episode "Space Seed", Pavel Chekov was nowhere to be seen by the audience.  In fact, Walter Koenig had not even been hired yet to play the role.

So we have to accept that the "Khan-Chekov Principle" was something that happened off-screen.

Except for the shows in which succeeding episodes pick up right where the previous one ended, it can be suggested that there is plenty of room between episodes for adventures to happen.  In fact, even with those other shows there are plenty of chances between scenes and during the commercial breaks for small moments to happen that could be referred to later.  And that was the case with the Khan-Chekov Principle.  You must have been in the bathroom when that happened.....

Here are two other examples, from my second favorite TV show of all time:

'THE PRISONER'

"IT'S YOUR FUNERAL"

Yet another Number two is retiring to make way for a successor,who will receive the hand-over at a ceremony. Number Six hears that a bomb made by the Watch-maker is to be detonated at the ceremony, killing the retiring Number two and, with the Watch-maker's daughter, goes to warn him. However it turns out that the intended victim is somebody else altogether and their death could spell calamity for the whole village. Number Six must stop this plan. 

This episode contains more No. 2s than any other - not only can one see Andre Van Gyseghem's retiring No. 2, and the scheming Derren Nesbitt as his "heir presumptive", but two others - albeit given only a line each.

Here are those two mystery Numbers Two:

Since I was a kid watching this show (I caught most of the summer run on CBS in 1968.), I always assumed that these two actors were meant to represent the Numbers Two played by Leo McKern in 'Chimes Of Big Ben' and Mary Morris in 'Dance Of The Dead'.  Not much concern was given over to recasting back then because nobody conceived that there would ever be a future in which there would be a home video market or even syndication.  The thinking back then was basically "one and done" with one rerun perhaps.  (This is why we kept seeing things like the Ricardos' apartment number and Ethel's maiden name always changing in 'I Love Lucy'.)

So I just figured these appearances were too quick to even bother with hiring Mr. McKern and Ms. Morris and transporting them to the set location.

But that was before I began thinking inside the Box, within the "reality" of Toobworld.

Instead, consider this: these are two new Number Twos who tried - and failed! - in their attempts to break Number Six.  Whatever their plots were, we just never got to see them play out.

There are seventeen episodes of 'The Prisoner' that were filmed.  But unofficially, there were nineteen attempts to get information... information... information... out of Number Six.  We just never got to see two of those plots.

By the way, neither of those actors are identified in the episode's end credits so there's no way I could conflate other roles they played their Numbers Two, either before or after their appearances.  (I have done such wish-craft in the past for the Numbers Two played by Derren Nesbitt and Clifford Evans.  And with my favorite Number Two, played by Leo McKern, I gave him a few family members.  (I'm sure you can guess who I chose for his twin brother!)

BCnU!

(Thanks to Femton Breedley)

POST ELECTION TOASTED

I would have preferred to have shared the TV adaptation of this musical from back in the early seventies, but in this drumpfunk I'm in since the results early Wednesday morning, I'll take anything.

The other videos in this collection will follow, one after the other.

That TV presentation had the following cast:

Carroll O'Connor... John P. Wintergreen
Cloris Leachman... Mary Turner
Jack Gilford... Alexander Throttlebottom
Michele Lee... Diana Devereaux

Among the other cast members:
Jim Backus... Senator Robert F. Lyons
David Doyle... Francis X. Gilhooley
Herb Edelman... Louis Lippman
Paul Hartman... Chief Justice
Jeannine Riley... Hotel Chambermaid
Jesse White... Matthew Fulton
Ted Knight... Ted Baxter (uncredited)

From the IMDb:

Carroll O'Connor stars as John P. Wintergreen, a Presidential candidate who campaigns with the slogan 'Wintergreen: The Flavour Lasts'. After the election, he and his wife Mary settle into the White House. O'Connor's singing voice is well-suited to the material, and he clearly relishes this opportunity to demonstrate that his acting range doesn't stop with Archie Bunker. Jack Gilford is perfectly cast as Alexander Throttlebottom, the guided tour.

This TV special heavily abridges the original Broadway libretto, cutting out most of the pointed satire about 1930s politics, and retaining only the most generic gags about politicians. A few new jokes have been inserted. For example, when Gilford takes a roll call of the Senate, the senator from Alaska hugs himself as if he is freezing.

I saw this when it was broadcast on CBS back in 1972, but I don't remember how they fit Ted Baxter into the production.  I'm assuming that he was used to introduce the show, calling upon his skills as a Serlinguist to talk to the Trueniverse audience.

I hope you enjoy it, no matter who you voted for......

From left to right:

Jesse White, Jim Backus, Michelle Lee, Jack Gilford, 

Carroll O'Connor, Cloris Leachman, Paul Hartman

(To me, Backus looks more like Herb Vigran.)

BCnU!