MEMORIAL TVXOHOF TRIBUTE - MR. BURT REYNOLDS

From the L.A. Times:
In the mid-1960s, Burt Reynolds had begun landing starring roles in films such as “Navajo Joe,” “100 Rifles,” “Sam Whiskey,” “Shark!,” “Impasse” and “Skullduggery.” They generally were the kind of movies that he joked “they show in prisons and airplanes because nobody can leave.”

That self-deprecating charm became his trademark and endeared him to the masses, turning him into Hollywood’s wisecracking, good-ol’ boy and a box-office champ in the late 1970s and early ’80s.

Reynolds, who also starred in ["Smokey And The Bandit", "Deliverance", "The Longest Yard", and] “The Cannonball Run” and made pop-culture history as Cosmopolitan magazine’s first nude male centerfold, died Thursday in Jupiter, Fla., of cardiopulmonary arrest, according to his agent, Erik Kritzer. Reynolds was 82.  


 Also, Burt Reynolds was such an icon that during the first Gulf War, the Iraquis hoped to cause psychological damage on the American soldiers by dropping leaflets which read:

'Your wives are back at home having sex with Bart Simpson and Burt Reynolds.' "


 Most of the obituaries I saw online mostly dealt with the movies Burt Reynolds starred in.  But he had an incredible body of work when it came to starring roles in television.

QUINT ASPER
‘GUNSMOKE’
Reynolds played a blacksmith who was part Comanche for fifty episodes. 

BEN FRAZER
‘RIVERBOAT’
As the first mate on the first vessel in Toobworld to bear the name “Enterprise”, Reynolds didn’t last long because of his clashes with star Darren McGavin.

DETECTIVE JOHN HAWK
‘HAWK’
Once again Reynolds played a man with a Native American background, this time in the “present day” (the 1960s) as a detective working with the NYC DA’s office.

LT. DAN AUGUST
‘DAN AUGUST’
Set in the town of San Luisa, California, August was sometimes forced to investigate the people he grew up with.

‘B.L. STRYKER’
After his movie stardom began to cool down, Reynolds returned to TV in this rotating series about a private eye in south Florida with an all-star collection of co-stars.

WOOD NEWTON
‘EVENING SHADE’
A year later, Reynolds landed his longest lasting TV role and one for which he’ll have a lasting legacy in syndication.  He played a former NFL star now coaching a high school team in his home town for this sitcom.

And there were other roles he did on TV which were notable – a Brando-like actor named Rocky Rhodes in an episode of ‘The Twilight Zone’; he provided the voice of the owner of Strickland Propane in the animated series ‘King of the Hill’; and I think he was supposed to be God in the form of Burt Reynolds in an episode of ‘The X-Files’.  And over in Skitlandia, not only did he play a sleazy version of himself but Norm MacDonald immortalized himself by playing Burt “Turd Ferguson” Reynolds on ‘Saturday Night Live’.

But I think his greatest contribution to the world of Toob was appearing as himself in a variety of sitcoms with at least one hour-long drama tossed in.  And those guest star roles kicked off with the best…..


The Golden Girls 
Ladies of the Evening 
Dorothy, Rose, and Blanche win tickets to attend a post-premiere movie party with Burt Reynolds. However, a hitch in their plan occurs when they are mistaken for prostitutes. 

Rose Nylund: 
There's a story in the paper about the party tonight.
Blanche Devereaux: 
Really?
Rose Nylund: 
You won't believe who's gonna be there. Dom DeLuise.
Dorothy Petrillo-Zbornak, Blanche Devereaux: 
Wow!
Rose Nylund: 
Loni Anderson.
Dorothy Petrillo-Zbornak, Blanche Devereaux: 
Wow!
Rose Nylund: 
Charles Nelson Reilly.
[Absolutely no reaction from Blanche and Dorothy. She tries again]
Rose Nylund: 
Charles Nelson Reilly.
Dorothy Petrillo-Zbornak: [Unimpressed] 
Wow. Who else?
Rose Nylund: 
John Forsythe.
Blanche Devereaux: 
Mr. John Forsythe. Oh my God! He's just the sexiest man in television. 

O’Bservation:  All of those actors named provided the voices in Burt Reynolds’ animation movie “All Dogs Go To Heaven”.

Rose Nylund: 

[Answers the phone] 
Hello. What? I'm one of the winners of the Publisher's Clearing House? 
Ed McMahon wants to see me right away? 
I should leave my Burt Reynolds ticket on the dresser before I go?
[Realization dawns for Dorothy and she races to the door connecting their two hotel rooms]
Dorothy Petrillo-Zbornak: 
Ma, get off the phone!








[The girls are shocked to see Burt Reynolds at their door]

Burt Reynolds: 
Hello.
Burt Reynolds: 
Sophia around?
Sophia Petrillo: 
Oh, hi, Burt!
Burt Reynolds: 
How about a little lunch?
Sophia Petrillo: 
Listen, if you're buyin', how about a big lunch?
Burt Reynolds: Great.
Blanche Devereaux: 
My god. You're Mr. Burt Reynolds.
Burt Reynolds: 
I hope so. Otherwise, I got the wrong underwear on.
Burt Reynolds [to Sophia]:
These the roommates you told me about?
Sophia Petrillo: 
Yeah.
Burt Reynolds: 
Which one's the slut?
Dorothy Petrillo-Zbornak, Blanche Devereaux, Rose Nylund: 
I am!





Three of Burt’s movies were mentioned in the episode:

“Starting Over”
“Deliverance”

“Cannonball Run”






Beverly Hills, 90210 
She Came in Through the Bathroom Window 
After a mix up, Ginger can't deliver on her tour promises, including a meet and greet with Burt Reynolds. So, Steve, Ginger and Dylan set out in search of Burt Reynolds who may be able to help the tour guide.  Ginger seems to have been conned by her boss, but who is really a con artist herself, using all of them in her latest scam. The search for Mr Reynolds leads Dylan, Steve and Ginger to a movie studio where they end up as extras in a mouth wash commercial, and then all of them get arrested for driving in Brandon's car after Ginger steals it.  

Burt just happened to show up where the tour ended up and saved the day.  As you’ll see in this clip, Burt’s televersion may have “interacted” with a fictional character’s mother. (And she is in a select subset of fictional characters who appeared in real Hollywood movies.)



The Larry Sanders Show 
The Grand Opening 





Burt moved in next door to Larry Sanders – not in the big house, in the guest house.  He couldn’t afford the big house because of the divorce he was going through with Loni Anderson.  Larry prevailed on him to guest host his show for him that night because sidekick Hank Kingsley had caused Martin Mull to quit after one show.  Burt did it because the money was apparently good enough.  





But when he gently ribbed Hank about the concept of his new restaurant venture, Hank went dark, muttering about Burt’s movies (“Smokey and the Bandit”, “The Cannonball Run”.)  Burt was sure that Hank was about to have a complete mental breakdown so he quit quest-hosting as well.

Hope & Gloria 
Sisyphus, Prometheus and Me 
No clue yet on what he did in this one, but I'm sure it was somehow connected to the TV show within the show.  But I’ll keep looking!

Cybill
The Cheese Stands Alone






Jeff’s band got a gig at a rodeo bar in West Hollywood where he was introduced by Burt Reynolds.  Jeff had been Burt’s stunt double for which he got set on fire, jumped out of helicopters, and never got paid for “Cannonball Run”.  By this point in his timeline, the televersion of Burt was still not over his divorce from Loni Anderson. (He said he didn't recognize Jeff's ex-wife, Cybill Sheridan, because of this problem he'd been having with blondes.)
















Maryanne:
Some fun, huh?
Cybill:
Are you insane? 
We’re going to get killed!
Maryanne:
Oh, come on!
Western bar, hard liquor, Burt Reynolds….
It’s not like you weren’t expecting it!
 
Emeril
The Sidekick








After Jerry spontaneously walks onto Emeril's show, their banter is such a hit that Trish insists he appears regularly... but problems quickly arise when Jerry becomes an egomaniac.  Jerry invited his friend Burt Reynolds to appear on the show and the staff all thought he was a professional lookalike.  It’s apparent from his dialogue that Burt’s televersion was still feeling the ramifications from his divorce.  (He was hoping to be able to take some food home with him, his excuse being that it was too lonely to cook for one at home.  I think it was due to the settlement leaving him in the poor house.)

In Sanity, Florida
(Series Regular)



Apparently, the televersion of Burt Reynolds eventually retired from making movies and moved to the small town of Sanity, Florida, where music had been outlawed over 90 years previously.  There he became one of the regulars at the local store/post office.



Checkers Opponent:
Why don't you move like when that Bandit was chasing you, Burt?
Burt Reynolds:
I was the Bandit, being chased by Gleason.
Old Codger:
I thought Smokey was that Alaska hockey coach.
Harris:
Didn't you shoot him with a bow and arrow?
Graham:
No, that was "Cannonball Run".
Harris:
Oh!
Burt Reynolds:
You guys have memorized my films.
That's amazing.  I'm very touched.
But you have no idea what you're talking about.

In a later episode, Harris the storekeeper wanted to close up shop, but Burt was settled in comfortably, playing checkers against himself, and showing no sign of leaving.  Harris finally gave up and gave Burt the keys to lock up himself.






Harris Smith:
I appreciate that, Coach.
Burt Reynolds:
No problem.
Harris:
I called you 'Coach' there.
Burt:
You can call me anything you like.
Harris:
Can I call you Gator?
Burt:
If you like....
Doesn't make me go faster.
Harris:
B.L.?  
Burt:
[Laughs]
Harris:
I'm going to go now.
Burt:
Okay.
Harris:
"Dan August" was amazing....!
[Harris leaves.]
Burt:
Strange boy….

O'Bservation: Burt Reynolds died in Florida here in 
the Real World, probably in Jupiter, 
where he had lived for decades.  
But in Toobworld, I suspect he passed away 
in the town of Sanity....

But wait!  There’s more!






Toobworld doesn’t just use actual appearances to qualify a member of the League of Themselves.  It’s not only “as seen on TV” but also “unseen on TV”.  When fictional TV characters mention a person from the Real World, that verifies that they have a televersion in Toobworld.  (Quick example: Donald Meek was cited by Grace Wheeler in the ‘Columbo’ episode “Forgotten Lady”.  As far as I can tell, he was never portrayed as a fictional character in a TV show and he died in 1946 without ever appearing in any TV show, let alone as himself.  But now we know he did exist in Toobworld with that mention by Ms. Wheeler.) 

So the televersion of Burt Reynolds was mentioned in even more shows than he actually appeared in as himself.  And it only makes sense – Burt Reynolds was an icon who symbolized the celluloid hero of the 1970s.  It’s like that old cliché – the male TV characters wanted to be him; the fictional women wanted to be with him.

Here are the examples I’ve found in which other TV characters recognized Burt Reynolds as one of their own in Toobworld.  Those with no other information listed other than the title, I’m still working on.

Wonder Woman
A Date With Doomsday
Mrs. Thrip (a computer dating client): 
Ask for Burt Reynolds and you get Gabby Hayes. 

The Ranch 
Better as a Memory 
Mentioned in dialogue by Colt Bennett when talking about meeting Burt Reynolds at a gas station: 

"I rolled up and I said, 'Hey, Bandit. Watch out for them smokies.' He gave me the double-gun fingers, and then hopped in his car and sped off. Run on, Bandit, run. Man, Burt Reynolds has the best mustache ever." 

Breaking Bad 
Confessions 
Jesse:
It's like “Hooper”. You ever see “Hooper”? 
Walt:
Oh, hey, man, Burt Reynolds. Good movie. 
But he jumped out of a helicopter, not a train. 
Jesse:
Well, whatever, man. It's a good movie.

O’Bservation: According to that episode of ‘Cybill’, it was actually stuntman Jeff Robbins who jumped out of the helicopter.

Community
Contemporary Impressionists 
A partygoer says that Pierce looks like Burt Reynolds's character in "Boogie Nights."  

Masquerade 
Diamonds 
Mr. Lavender: 
Nice driving! Burt Reynolds couldn't have done it better.  

My Boys 
Dirty Little Secrets 
Andy Franklin:
Are there any decent bars in this area?
Brendan Dorff:
Hey, you know we could go to Plush.
I was there the other night
and a couple of cute little Kitty Kats
recognized me from the Bachelor article.
Andy:
When did you become Burt Reynolds?

Gimme a Break! 
Do or Diet 

That '70s Show 
Donna's Panties 
Kitty Foreman:
There's nothing sexier than a man who cooks. 
Unless that man is Burt Reynolds.
Then I don't give a darn what he's doing.
He's just sexy!

Three's Company 
Extra, Extra 

Three's Company 
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow 

The Goldbergs 
Family Takes Care of Beverly 
Future Adam:
It was October 31, 1980-something - 
the year my grandfather, A. K. A. Burt Reynolds, 
threw the most epic Halloween bash his condo building had ever seen.

Banacek If Max Is So Smart, Why Doesn't He Tell Us Where He Is? 
Thomas Banacek: 
You sure it wasn't just a dream?
Wanda: 
It couldn't have been. 
Burt Reynolds wasn't in it.

The Love Boat 
Isaac's Teacher/Seal of Approval/The Successor 

Three's a Crowd 
King for a Day 
Jack Tripper mentioned “Deliverance” when he serves dinner to the man who looks like Burt Reynolds at Jack's Bistro.  

Bob Gratton, ma vie/My Life 
Le golf 

O’Bservation: Being a Quebecois show, the dialogue is all in French.  But the reference has something to do with Burt Reynolds in connection to golf carts.

Psych 
Lock, Stock, Some Smoking Barrels and Burton Guster's Goblet of Fire 






Shawn mentions Burt Reynolds as he wears the red Bandit jacket from “Smokey And The Bandit II”.  

Henry Spencer:
Take off that ridiculous hat. 
Shawn Spencer:
Yep. Overkill. 
Henry:
And the jacket. 
Shawn:
I can't. It's signed by Burt Reynolds, 
and it matches my gloves.

Psych 
Mr. Yin Presents 
Burton Guster:
Our clues are gonna be found in Hitchcock films.
"Mary":
That's very good, Gustus.
Shawn Spencer:
Okay, we've got a lot of cinema to cover.
Gus and I'll take the "Cannonball Run" series.
Mary, you take "Hooper" through "Stroker Ace".
Gus:
Those are Burt Reynolds movies.
Shawn:
Well, we really have our work cut out for us then.

The Littlest Hobo 
Lucky
Jodie:
See what you did, Lucky?
You and your dumb bets!
Why don’t you listen to me?
You’re not Burt Reynolds, you know….
[to the dog]
He’s always doing stuff like that;
Ever since he got the cassette of 
“Hooper” the stuntman.

Hart of Dixie 
Miracles 
Joel Stephens:
Lavon, it is so great of you to let us use your kitchen. 
Thank you so much. 
Lavon Hayes:
Well, it's my first Hanukkah. 
And plus Burt Reynolds loves fried potatoes, so….  

White Collar 
Need to Know
Peter was trying to keep his mustache a secret from Neal.

Neal Caffrey
Peter, how could you keep this from me?
Agent Jones:
I'm sorry, boss. He needed to know.
Peter Burke:
Neal….
I expected more Magnum, P. I.
And less "Super Mario.
Peter:
Come on.
It's more Burt Reynolds.

Two and a Half Men 
On Vodka, on Soda, on Blender, on Mixer!
Burt Reynolds becomes a marketable brand name….

Brooke:
So, I have you down for the total bro-zilian wax.
Walden Schmidt:
Yeah, I wasn't really sure which one to choose.
It was either that or the Butt Reynolds.

Two and a Half Men 
Run, Steven Staven! Run! 
Walden Schmidt:
I miss her.
Berta:
Oh, boo-hoo-hoo.
I miss waking up next to Burt Reynolds.
What?  It happened.

Dexter 
Smokey and the Bandit 
This episode has multiple references to, and is named after, the movie starring Burt Reynolds.  Ronny Cox, the guest star, worked with Burt Reynolds in ‘Deliverance”. 

Detective Dave Batista:
In high school, that was my dream car.
Dexter Morgan:
Didn't Smokey drive one of those?
Or was it the Bandit?
Det. Batista:
Burt Reynolds.

The Jeffersons 
Rich Man's Disease 
As she had done since he was a little boy, Mother Jefferson took 
Lionel to the annual Easter show at Radio City Music Hall.

Mother Jefferson:
This year the stage show was called 
"The Glorious Easter Pageant"
and Burt Reynolds was wonderful.
Louise:
Oh?  And what did Burt Reynolds play?
The Easter Bunny?
Lionel:
No, no no no.
See, he was in the movie.
Mother Jefferson:
Oh!  Was Burt Reynolds in the movie too?


O'Bservation: This episode was first broadcast in March of 1975, 
the Easter season.  So the Burt Reynolds movie which would 
be part of the Music Hall Easter Program had to be 
"At Long Last Love".  The movie was a tribute to the musicals
of the 1930s.  Starring with Reynolds were Cybill Shepherd,
Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennan, and John Hillerman.


Significant Mother
 
Suffering & Succotash 

Modern Family 
Tableau Vivant
Phil Dunphy: 
[about Maxine the waitress] 
Second best hugger in the world, after Mister Burt Reynolds. Story to follow.  

How I Met Your Mother 
The Burning Beekeeper 
Lily’s Dad:
Lily, I promise I won't ruin your party.
I'll be charming and convivial.
A regular Burt Reynolds.

The Goldbergs 
The Circle of Driving 

Grace and Frankie 
The Coup 
Sol:
Yes, I remember you. 
You're the quiet one.
The one who threw paint on Burt Reynolds' fur coat.

Vega$ 
The Games Girls Play 

Three's Company 
The Matchbreakers 

Marsha Whitehead:

That’s exactly the type of shirt
Burt Reynolds always wears.
Ralph Furley:
Well, Burt probably saw me wearing it.

How I Met Your Mother 
The Naked Man 
Barney Stinson:
Okay, big question: 
What pose will you display your "Naked Man" in? 
Ted Mosby:
Huh. Wow,that is a big question. 
I hadn't really thought about it. 
Barney:
I was thinking the "Superman." 
Ted:
Uh,what about the "Captain Morgan"? 
Barney:
How about the "Oops, I didn't see you there"? 
Ted:
The Thinker? 
Barney:
What about the Heisman? 
Ted:
Mr. Clean? 
Barney:
The Burt Reynolds.







Baretta This Ain't My Bag 

Mimi: I want to see that movie!


Baretta:

Now why would you want to watch Burt Reynolds,

When you could be dancing in the dark with Prince Valentino?


Adam-12 
Van Nuys Division: Pete's Mustache 


When he came back from vacation, Pete Malloy was sporting a mustache.


Officer Jim Reed:Since when did you decide you wanted to look like Groucho Marx?


Officer Pete Malloy:

You know, Burt Reynolds has a mustache too.

Officer Reed:

Sorry, Partner. I call them the way I see them.


My Boys 


Welcome Back, Kalla Fötter 

Brendan:

Dude, I could totally rock a 'stache. 
Like Burt Reynolds.

Mike:

Me too.

Kenny:

You? 

More like Debbie Reynolds.


Burt Reynolds was such an entrenched icon in Toobworld, that he was seen in other dimensions of the greater TV Universe……



THE TOONIVERSE


The Simpsons


Days Of Wine And D’Ohses








Bart and Lisa were trapped on a mountaintop by a wildfire. There were no fire trucks available to rescue them and put out the fire because they were being used on Burt Reynolds new movie “Fireball & Mudflap”,  




Kent Brockman interviewed Burt about the movie.  
Burt's opinion? 
“Garbage.”


Archer


The Man from Jupiter










 Archer is stunned to learn that his mother is dating his man crush - Burt Reynolds. As Archer and Burt bond, they soon discover that they have more in common than once thought.


THE STOP MOTION DIMENSION


Robot Chicken


Gold Dust Gasoline













And finally, back in the main Toobworld, I think when God needed to walk among the mortals on Earth Prime-Time (the one that He didn’t create) in order to guide the destinies of those involved in a numerology/serial killer case, He chose to appear as Mr. Burt Reynolds.



The X-Files

Improbable

... Mr. Burt














Some of the blipverts in which Burt Reynolds appeared show that he was a serlinguist, able to talk directly to the audience from the Trueniverse.  And some added to his personal history:














Perhaps his most famous movie role was the Bandit from the “Smokey and the Bandit” movie.  Did you know that Bandit exists in the greater TV Universe as well as in the Cineverse?  He can be found in one of the Borderlands, one of those dimensions which are like Venn Diagrams – the two universes overlap to create a new dimension. 







In this case, Bandit from the Cineverse is meeting the televersion of George Clooney in a coffee blipvert, creating a Borderland.  So with this variation of Bandit appearing in the TV Universe, added with all of the references to “Smokey And The Bandit” as a movie starring Mr. Burt Reynolds, I decided to use that iconic photo of the Bandit to represent the Icon in the TV Crossover Hall of Fame collection for 2018.


And that’s what we’re doing here with this memorial tribute.  As a member of the League of Themselves, Burt Reynolds is well-established as being a resident of Earth Prime-Time.  And so this is a memorial induction into the Hall of Fame. 



Welcome to the Hall, Mr. Burt.  Good night and may God bless…..






TOOBNOTE:
My apologies for the look of the post; there are a lot of technical problems which 
only reverted back no matter how often I tried to fix it.  I guess that'll serve me right 
for writing it up on three different programs.  Burt deserved better and I'm sorry 
that I couldn't deliver that.