VIDEO SATURDAY - SATURDAY SUPERHEROES

There were many times in the past when Inner Toob celebrated the televersions of superheroes and their rogues' galleries of foes on Saturdays.  So during this month when we're showcasing soap operas, I figured this would be the best day to look back at that time when a soap opera had their own superhero storyline.  A soaperhero if you will.  Or won't.

Until next time......

FRIDAY HALL OF FAMER - DR. MONICA QUARTERMAINE

For this week's Friday Hall of Famer, we're celebrating another soap opera character during this month's showcase - Dr. Monica Bard Quartermaine, a cardiologist and former Chief of Staff at General Hospital in Port Charles, New York.

On August 18th, Leslie Charleson celebrated her 41st year in the role of Monica, making her the longest-running actress on the series.

From Wikipedia:
Monica Quartermaine is a fictional character from 'General Hospital', an American soap opera on the ABC network, played continually since August 17, 1977 by longtime soap opera actress Leslie Charleson. She is a cardiologist at the eponymous hospital, and widow of physician Alan Quartermaine. The role was originated by Patsy Rahn in 1976, who played the role until showrunners replaced her with Charleson.  Charleson's tenure with the serial is one of the longest in American soap operas.

Monica becomes Chief of Staff at General Hospital following the death of her husband, Alan. Her various affairs, primarily with fellow doctors Jeff Webber and his older brother Rick Webber, as well as her quarrels with husband Dr. Alan Quartermaine and their dysfunctional family, were all major stories on the show throughout the late 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

With the returns of Denise Alexander (Lesley Webber), Genie Francis (Laura Spencer), and Kin Shriner (Scott Baldwin), Monica remains the fourth oldest character on General Hospital and Charleson is the show's most tenured performer. 

As you might expect, being a part of 'General Hospital' for over forty years means that Dr. Monica Quartermaine has an incredibly rich history, too long to deal with it here.  But if you're interested in a summary of everything she has endured over the years, even from before she first showed up on the show, click here.

You can also learn more about Monica at the 'General Hospital' wiki.

So we do have a recastaway dilemma with the fact that Patsy Rahn originated the role, but that lasted only a year.  Leslie Charleson is immortalized in the role after all this time.  Recastaways are common in the soap operas and there could be all sorts of reasons for that, even alien impersonation, but mostly plastic surgery is cited to keep the soaps relatively grounded in a form of reality.

I'm thinking that at some point following her divorce from Dr. Jeff Webber in 1977, Monica got a bit of a nip/tuck to refresh her look and give herself a new start in Life.  

However, in 2018 - after Leslie Charleson injured her leg and had to be sidelined for over two months and Patty McCormack assumed the role during the interim - I'm going with some sort of supernatural splainin for the change in appearance, which was not noticeable to those around her.  The late James E. Reilly can take the blame for that after shaking up 'Days Of Our Lives' with such storylines and then creating the soap opera 'Passions' to give his wild imagination free rein.

Here are the credits for Dr. Monica Quartermaine (as played by Ms. Charleson) which qualified her for membership in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame:

'General Hospital'
688 episodes (so far!)

'Port Charles'
- Episode #1.1 (1997)

'Diagnosis Murder'
- "Physician, Murder Thyself" (1997)
... New Doctor

'General Hospital: Night Shift'
- Past and Presence: Part 2 (2008)
- Truth and Consequences (2008)

You probably noticed that I included a 'Diagnosis Murder' episode which falls outside of the GH purview.  Here's the splainin as to why I included it:

In 1997, Dr. Monica Quartermaine was yet again on the outs with her husband Alan Quartermaine and for most of the year she wasn't even seen at General Hospital.  I think she went to Los Angeles to test the waters there but unfortunately she met another doctor at Community General by the name of Dr. Michael.  The problem was that he was the spitting image of her estranged husband.  (Here in the Trueniverse, both roles were played by Stuart Damon.)

Seeing it as a sign, Monica moved back to Port Charles where she resides to this day.

I also suggested that Dr. Quartermaine was possessed by a bad seed and looked like that demonic spirit to the Trueniverse audience.  And there's a reason why it happened to be found in her past.  Not her personal past, but that of one of her ancestors....

'Kung Fu'

- "One Step to Darkness" (1975) 
... Amy Starbuck

Kwai Chang Caine enters the spirit world to exorcise a demon and save a woman from the horrors of drug addiction.  

My splainin - It took nearly a century, but that demon returned to seek revenge on the Starbuck family.  After she was free of the demonic influence, Amy and her husband, Captain Roy Starbuck (who was the younger brother of the first mate on that ill-fated whaling voyage aboard the Pequod) had a child who began the lineage which led to Monica Bard.  And that DNA strain of Amy Starbuck repeated with Monica.

So there you have it, my salute to Dr. Monica Quartermaine which I feel more than ably qualifies her for membership in the TVXOHOF.

By the way, Monica Bard was born on May 4, 1950.  So I have no qualms in gracing her with "May the Fourth be with you, Monica!"

But I probably should be ashamed.....

Welcome to the Hall, Doctor!

THURSDAY'S THEORY OF RELATEEVEETY: LUKE WALTON

On August 30th, 2006, Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Luke Walton showed up in Genoa City, Wisconsin.  There he  played a game of one-on-one basketball with Neil Winters.  According to Peter Bergman, who plays Jack Abbott on 'Young & The Restless', "Walton was a nervous wreck. Even if you're an actor, soaps are difficult because we work at a quick pace."

O'Bviously, the LA Lakers exist in Toobworld, even if you dismissed the telecasts of their games on TV.  They were mentioned on 'The Big Bang Theory' once, as an example:

'THE BIG BANG THEORY'
"THE LOCOMOTIVE MANIPULATION"  

Leonard:
Got you a little something, too. 
Penny:
Aw. Jewelry? Oh, my God. Lakers tickets?! 
Leonard:
It gets better. 
Instead of me, you can take someone
who will actually enjoy it. 
Penny:
Aw! You are the best boyfriend ever. Thank you. 
Leonard:
Seriously, please don't make me go.

Luke Walton has another appearances as himself in a TV show - he was a celebrity guest contestant on an episode of 'Wheel of Fortune' during its "NBA Week 1" in 2005.

'Wheel of Fortune' exists in Toobworld, thanks to so many references to it in other TV shows.  Clips from the game show can be seen in over ten different series while over forty TV shows mention it as being a part of their characters' lives.  'The Goldbergs' and Dustin from 'Stranger Things' even have the home version board game!  But best of all, characters from the following shows actually appeared on 'Wheel of Fortune':

• '227'
• 'Gimme A Break'
• 'LA Law'
• 'The A-Team'

(The mother of a main character on 'Til Death' only got so far as the try-outs; she got a nice coffee maker for the effort.)

Even more impressive, Nina Van Horn (of 'Just Shoot Me') saw her name used as the solution to a puzzle on the show.

So all of those shows can connect to 'Young & The Restless' through Luke Walton being on 'Wheel of Fortune'.

This is a Thursday Theory of Relateeveety, soap opera style, and I'm using Luke Walton not because he can make a connection via family, but through his other family - his teammates.

As with the televersion of Luke Walton being accepted as part of the Lakers, that would hold true for his teammates.
From 2005 to 2007 (the years key to that appearance on 'Young & The Restless'), Luke Walton was on the Lakers team with Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom.  And because of his association with those two players, his appearance on 'Young & The Restless' could be linked to the TV shows they appeared in as themselves.

So, because of Kobe Bryant being on the same team with Luke Walton, 'Young & The Restless' can be connected to:

• 'Modern Family'
• 'Sister, Sister'
• 'Hang Time'
• 'Bette'
• 'Arli$$'
• 'In The House'

And also to 'The View', which is considered "reality" being a talk show.  It is still incorporated into Toobworld because a character from 'SportsNight' appeared as a guest on the show.

As for Lamar Odom, he can link 'Young & The Restless' through his teammate to 'Entourage' and 'Arli$$' like Kobe did as well.

So there's that.

As Lt. Columbo would say, just one more thing: Luke Walton's number as a Lakers star was "4", part of the Valenzetti sequence number.....

Until next time....

WIKI TIKI WEDNESDAY - A CASE OF SORAS

From Wikipedia:

Soap opera rapid aging syndrome (SORAS) is the practice of accelerating the age of a television or film character (usually a child or teenager) in conflict with the timeline of a series and/or the real-world progression of time. This allows for, for instance, storylines around a pregnancy and birth to be relatively quickly followed by storylines around the travails of that child as a teenager or young adult.  This is usually accomplished by recasting the actor playing the part, although in some cases the character is not shown onscreen, only mentioned, until after they have been "rapidly aged".

The process originated (and is most commonly used) in daytime soap operas, though it is also sometimes used in prime time shows. On sitcoms, a newborn infant character is sometimes aged quickly into a kindergartner, for greater comic potential, as was done with the character Chrissy Seaver on 'Growing Pains' in 1990.

The term was coined by Soap Opera Weekly founding editor-in-chief Mimi Torchin in the early days of the magazine, which began publishing in 1989. It is now widely used in the soap opera media and is sometimes used as a verb as well ("the character was SORASed"). Torchin has jokingly called it "my one greatest contribution to the world of soap operas."

The practice of rapidly aging characters dates back to the early years of television soap opera. In 'As the World Turns', Tom Hughes was born onscreen in 1961. By 1970, he had been to college and fought in the Vietnam War. Subsequent recasting exhibited a reverse phenomenon, keeping him in his 30s for 20 years, with Tom hitting his 40s in the 1990s. Dan Stewart, born onscreen on 'As the World Turns' in 1958, reappeared as a 26-year-old doctor in 1966.

The 1993 secret history storyline on 'All My Children' established that lead character Erica Kane had been raped immediately before the series' 1970 debut. In this retcon, Erica represses all memory of the assault until 16-year-old Kendall Hart, the child conceived during the rape and put up for adoption by Erica, appears in 1993. Viewer reaction to the discrepancy created by Erica having a 16-year-old daughter as the result of a 24-year-old rape prompted the series to immediately adjust Kendall's age to 23.

On 'The Young and the Restless', Billy Abbott was born in 1993 but was age 16 by 1999.

Further examples can be found in the Australian soap opera 'Neighbours'. In 2001, newlyweds Libby Kennedy and Drew Kirk gave birth to son Ben. Ben returned in 2007 as an eight-year-old. The primary reason for this was that a child actor playing the part of Mickey, age 11 at the time, had a younger brother whom the producers wanted to cast in the show. It was much easier for the writers to write storylines for an eight-year-old than a six-year-old. Now, when referenced, the show states than Ben's year of birth is 1999.

Examples in British soaps include Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) in 'EastEnders', who was seen celebrating his 18th birthday in 1988 and his 21st two years later in 1990, as producers wanted the character to be older due to his love triangle storyline with wife Cindy (Michelle Collins) and Simon Wicks (Nick Berry). Liv Flaherty (Isobel Steele) in 'Emmerdale' was aged by four years - her mother Sandra Flaherty (Janet Bamford) was pregnant in 2006, but when Liv first appeared in 2016 she was 14 years old and her year of birth had been changed to 2002.

Here's a story from Soap Hub chronicling some of the major examples... and why it could backfire.

And here's another look at the "ailment"....

My Mom watched 'General Hospital' (being a nurse) but then switched over to 'The Young & The Restless'.  Sometimes I watched it with her and while not an avid viewer, I was conversant in the storylines because of my reading all the news stories about TV as well as plot summaries which were published.  And it was the SORAS treatment of Nick Newman which first brought the situation to my attention.

From Wikipedia:
[Nick Newman] was born onscreen in 1988 as the second child of super-couple characters Victor and Nikki Newman. Portrayed by a set of twins and later two child actors for his first six-year period, the writers of the series decided to rapidly age the character to a teenager in the summer of 1994. That June, Joshua Morrow began portraying Nick, and has remained in the role to present time.

Here's how it was splained away:

From the 'Young & The Restless' wiki:
At the age of 10, Nick was sent to a boarding school in Switzerland and returned a teenager in 1994. 

For Toobworld, I think there must be a hidden story about that boarding school in Switzerland.  What other experiments do they perform on their students?  Were they given promicin which spurred the development of super-powers?  If you're a fanficcer out there, I think this Swiss boarding school causing SORAS in their students would be a good plotline for a story involving any number of TV shows - 'The Avengers', 'Doctor Who', 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.', even 'The Prisoner'.  The late Mikkos Cassadine of 'General Hospital' might have financed it.  And while you're at it, have a go at that promicin angle from 'The 4400' while you're at it....

If you write up something about it, let me know.  I'd like to read it.

Until next time...... 

TWO FOR TUESDAY - THE TWO LAWRENCE BERRAS

A guy named Roger Cormier wrote up a list of interesting cameos over the years and it's what made me decide I could get a month's worth of material out of the genre.  But I think it'll be a one-time thing.

Anyway, I'm going to quote Mr. Cormier again (first did it on Saturday re: the B-52s) in this Two for Tuesday story about Yogi Berra on 'General Hospital'.

YOGI BERRA
'GENERAL HOSPITAL'
(AUGUST 16, 1963)
As his All-Star playing days were winding down, Berra was already well known for his affable public persona and his tendency to utter malapropisms. In 1963, the Yankee - and Yogi - supporting 'General Hospital' producers approached the catcher about making a cameo appearance as a brain surgeon. Despite the paltry $150 paycheck, Berra agreed, because he liked the idea of his family seeing him act.

The producers helped convince him to take the trip to Los Angeles by insisting it was easy and that he wouldn't have to say anything. Once Yogi arrived, though, he was given some lines to read. Berra had no trouble with them and got a speaking part as Dr. Lawrence P. Berra. 

Recounting the experience in his book, "When You Come To The Fork In The Road, Take It!", Berra was typically self-effacing: 

"And I once was a brain surgeon—no kidding—in a 'General Hospital' episode, in the early '60s. Those were the days before the soaps got sexy."

United Press International observed that the catcher handled his three lines without a hitch.

"Lawrence" is Yogi Berra's actual first name, and he is not a brain surgeon in the real world, O'Bviously.  It was established on the 'The Phil Silvers Show' that his televersion was exactly as he was in the Trueniverse - a catcher for the New York Yankees:

So how do we reconcile this?

There are two Lawrence Berras in Toobworld.

Okay, fine.  Yogi was christened Lorenzo Berra.  But even so, both Lawrence and Lorenzo were identical cousins who were named after the same ancestor - at least in Toobworld.

Toobworld has seen fictional characters being related to real celebrities in the past.  Here's my usual list of examples:

• Sammy - Bryant Gumbel ('The Nanny')
• Dina - Joan Rivers ('Z Rock')
• Vera Louise Gorman - Art Carney ('Alice')
• Detective Megan Russert - NBC reporter Tim Russert ('Homicide: Life On The Street')  

So this would be no different.

I think with cousin Lawrence, who became a brain surgeon, his family came over from Italy several generations earlier than Yogi's.  Yet the DNA strand that they share remained strong enough to repeat at the same time.

So while Lorenzo "Yogi" Berra was on the road playing baseball, Dr. Lawrence Berra was visiting the hospital in Port Charles, New York.  Two Larry Berras for Two for Tuesday.

He was only seen that one time, so I have no idea whether or not Dr. Berra is still alive.....

Until next time......

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.