THE 2024 TOOBITS AWARDS (BETTER LATE THAN NEVER?)

My memory is slipping....
 

2024­­ TOOBITS AWARDS

It's that time of year again, when we all make lists and think back over the past year, in whatever field of interest concerns us, and chronicle the high points and the lows.  For the past few years I've been presenting this compilation as an awards show, the Toobits, which of course celebrates my two bits about Toobworld.

As it is with any such list you'll find in TV columns across the country these last few weeks, these are my opinions.  You're welcome to your own and I hope you'll share them, but I'm sticking to my weapons of choice.  (It could be you won't find something that was a favorite of yours because I just never got around to seeing it.  There's only so much time in the world - even for a do-nothing-else-anyway sort like me! - and I've only got the two eyes, even if they do operate independently of each other at times.)

Unlike the Emmy Awards which will just keep handing out trophies to some shows forever, only shows, characters and what-not that debuted in 2024 can be considered.  (And by "debuted", I mean that which I first came in contact with in 2024. It could be a few years old, but if it's my first time seeing it, it's new.)  

This year’s list of older shows which were new to me:

• ‘Ted Lasso’
• ‘Bergerac’
• ‘Slow Horses’
• ‘Schmigadoon’
• ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’
• ‘Queens of Mystery’
• ‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’
• ‘Holding’
• ‘Ghosts’ (UK)
• ‘Ten Percent’

This one-time-only rule includes characters who have been recast; those are still the same characters who already exist in Toobworld.  (But there were a few notable appearances that deserved honorable mention, and they get it.  Maybe; I can't remember.)

So without further ado, let's have at it:

BEST NEW TV SHOW
IMPORT
‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’

DOMESTIC
‘Ted Lasso’

I’m late to the party.  Did all three seasons early in 2024, thanks to a three month freebie deal when I got a new phone.  This show earned my highest accolade – I want to live inside it.

WORST NEW TV SHOW
‘Monsieur Spade’

I only saw the first episode but based on comments from others, especially professionals whom I trust, I saved five hours of my life which was put to better use with naps.

BEST TV MOVIE
“Unfrosted”

BEST ADAPTATION FROM ANOTHER UNIVERSE (aka MEDIUM)
MOVIE TO TV
‘Ted’, the prequel to the two movies.

I never got around to seeing the movies, so I decided to watch the whole franchise in chronological order.

BEST COMMERCIAL
“Polar Insurance” for NJM

WORST COMMERCIAL
72Sold

I thought this commercial for a realtor business was local to Connecticut; it looked that cheap.  But apparently it’s an international corporation.  The problem with the blipvert – for me, at least – is that it makes my skin crawl to watch the company’s founder address the camera.  As he talks, his hands bounce along from one side to the other, punctuating every word he says as though he’s some kind of orchestral conductor.  And as he continues, his voice synchs up with his hands to become sing-song in rhythm.

BEST “SLICE OF LIFE” COMMERCIAL
Instacart – “We’re Here”

A sister comes to her brother’s rescue when he’s spiraling downwards because his girlfriend broke up with him.

WORST COMMERCIAL SERIES
CMO NOW

I think these are being produced by CNBC so it’s probably why I see them only on MSNBC.  Deadly dull interviews with people in business which don’t even pretend to be interesting.

BEST PILOT EPISODE
‘Elsbeth’ – “Pilot” (What else do they call pilot episodes nowadays?)

BEST EPISODE, ANY GENRE
‘Doctor Who’ – “73 Yards”

BEST RECURRING STORYLINE
‘Elsbeth’ 

Looks like we’ll have to wait until 2025 for the storyline to continue as she tangles with a murderous judge.  It looks like he could be her Moriarty and it makes sense this would be dragged out – the judge is being played by Carrie Preston’s husband, Michael Emerson.

BEST HOLIDAY EPISODE
‘Beyond Paradise’ – “Christmas Special”

BEST HOLIDAY TV MOVIE
“Dear Santa”

Jack Black knocked it out of the nine circles of Hell when a kid writes a letter to Santa but addresses it to Satan by mistake.  I was surprised to find a Farrelly movie could choke me up at the end.

BEST HOLIDAY SPECIAL
“An Almost Christmas Special”

The only downside for me was that upon hearing Natasha Lyonne’s voice as a pigeon, all I could think was: “When is ‘Poker Face’ coming back?” But otherwise, the animation was distinctive and charming and the guest voices were just right.

WORST EPISODE
‘Doctor Who’ – Space Babies’

I enjoy Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and I trust RTD.  He certainly proved he got his sea legs with the three specials with David Tennant and Catherine Tate returning.  But I think he’s focusing on certain goals over storylines.  The second episode, “The Devil’s Chord,” was good, but the script needed more clarity.  Overloading with interesting special effects couldn’t disguise that.  But that first episode was just dumb.

WORST SERIES/SEASON CONCLUSION
‘So Help Me Todd’ – ‘The Tooth Is Out There’

I enjoyed this series, even if there were episodes which were too frenetic, illogical, silly and Todd was too stupid at times.  I liked the bourgeoning relationship Todd was developing with the girl from the gift shop.  (I was beginning to fear that she was going to be revealed as the Big Bad.)  But no matter how much I might enjoy a show, it will lose a fan if the show gets cancelled with a cliffhanger!  I don’t mind season ending cliffhangers, but don’t use one if you know your series is on the bubble.  It should never be a bargaining chip.  I didn’t mark this as the Worst Series Finale… yet.  There is talk of shopping the show to another network.  But if that falls through, I will adjust the category and find another candidate for this category.

BEST EPISODE TITLE
“Ejectile Dysfunction” – ‘Ted’

What can I say?  I’m 15 years old forever.

BEST HISTORICAL RECREATION
The 1966 Black & White Ball, ‘Feud’ – “Truman Capote vs. The Swans”

BEST HISTORICAL REVISION
“Unfrosted”

BEST SENSE OF ONE'S OWN HISTORY
‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’

Characters who seemed to be one-shots would often return, sometimes several seasons later.  The town of Brokenwood has a deep roster of residents to draw from.  And sometimes they later get killed… or kill.

Runner-Up
‘Death In Paradise’ – “S.13 E.01”

I can’t let it slip past without noting that Camille Bourday returned for a transatlantic video call… right when she went into labor!  And we got to see flashbacks to the very first episode featuring DI Richard Poole, DI Charlie Hulme, Duane and DS Thompson.

BEST BLEND OF TOOBWORLD AND REAL WORLD HISTORY
‘Bud Light Genie’

After the commercial was over – in which the genie took his friends to the Super Bowl – they were all seen actually at the Super Bowl!

BEST BLEND OF TOOBWORLD AND REAL WORLD CELEBRITY
‘Ten Percent’

• Kelly MacDonald
• Helena Bonham Carter
• Dominic West
• Ellie Corrin
• Himesh Patel

BEST CLASSIC TV EXPERIENCE

Lots of them, thanks to my streaming platforms!

• ‘Hetty Wainthrop Investigates’
• ‘Bergerac’
• ‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’
• ‘The Invisible Man’

BEST CROSSOVER
‘What We Do In The Shadows’ with ‘True Blood’

Alexander Skarsgard showed up in one of the last episodes as Eric Northman (or so it is assumed.)  This puts WWDITS into Nosferatoob, the Toobworld where ‘True Blood’ took place.  It also means WWDITS took place before ‘True Blood’, if only due to the mousiness of Skarsgard in his cameo.

BEST TRIVIAL CROSSOVER
Richmond Green – ‘Ted Lasso’ & ‘Ten Percent’

Real locations really don’t matter in the long run and shouldn’t count as a peg to hang a crossover on.  Otherwise, every TV series situated in New York City is automatically connected and where’s the sport in that?  But having finished ‘Ted Lasso’ a few weeks into the new year and then watching the pilot episode for ‘Ten Percent’, it was exciting to see that Ted’s overseas home address of Richmond Green – a London neighborhood which I never heard of before – should be identified as the home address for the main character of ‘Ten Percent’.  (I've never seen the UK in person, probably never will, so it might as well be fictional.)

BEST INTER-DIMENSIONAL CROSSOVER
‘Family Guy’ & ‘Ted’

The fact that Seth MacFarlane created both shows made a crossover like this possible.  In the episode about Ted and John renting a porno, one of the movies they got was “Genital Hospital”.  This was the name of the porno Chris Griffin was watching in the Tooniverse.

BEST THEORETICAL CROSSOVER OF THE YEAR
‘Doctor Who’ & ‘The Wild, Wild West’

I have a theory that Morris Gibbon, UNIT’s child genius, is lying about how he got that way.  Unless we learn more, confirmable, information about his past, I’m leaving the door open that he is actually Dr. Miguelito Quixote Loveless.

SKITLANDIA
TIE
Target & ‘Saturday Night Live’
Target Lady
&
Capital One & ‘Saturday Night Live’
The NPR Ladies & Samuel L Jackson

BEST CROSSOVER WITH A DIFFERENT MEDIUM
‘Doctor Who’ - “Joy To The World” + ‘Dr. No’
Sylvia Trench was the first Bond Girl.  And we saw the character on the Orient Express in the 2024 Christmas special.

BEST EXPANSION OF THE TV UNIVERSE
TIE
The birth of Camille Bourdey’s baby – ‘Death In Paradise’
&
Introduction of Teddy Tascione – ‘Elspeth’

BEST IN-JOKE
‘Ghosts’ (UK), “The Grey Lady”

An “Okudagram”-style reference to some of the show’s creatives behind the scenes.

From the IMDb:
Suggested Profiles shown on the photographer's computer are for Matthew Mulot (Juggler/Mime Artist) and Amelia Tyler (Creator of Things). This is a shout-out to series producer Matthew Mulot and assistant art director Amy Tyler.

BEST RECASTAWAY
OVERALL
The Greek gods, ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’

I used this same reasoning when ‘Hercules: The Legendary Journeys’ was on the air nearly thirty years ago – With the great powers at their disposal, those demi-gods could transform their appearances to acclimate themselves to the world around them.  In the first season of this series, that included Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hephaestus, Ares, Dionysus, Chiron, Medusa, Nereid, and my favorite, Hermes.

FEMALE
Mathilda Stone, ‘The Queens of Mystery’
From Olivia Vinall to Florence Hall

If I hadn’t seen it mentioned in the IMDb, I never would have known that the central character of this “cozy” mystery series was replaced at the beginning of Season Two.

MALE
John Bennett, ‘Ted’
From Mark Wahlberg to Max Burkholder

Aging is an acceptable splainin for recasting and that holds true when recasting to do a story from the character’s youth.  The TV show ‘Ted’ is a prequel to John Bennett’s high school years and they needed somebody younger because make-up can only do so much.  (Sorry, Marky Mark.)

WORST RECASTAWAY
Kris Kringle, Target commercials

I will give this a break with a splainin to do – Kris is next generation from the previous Santa.  So it’s more a theory of “relateeveety” than it is a recastaway.  What the heck, it was Christmas when I wrote this.

BEST NEW MALE CHARACTER
DOMESTIC
Dr. Alec Mercer, ‘The Irrational’

IMPORT 
Detective Max Arnold, ‘The Chelsea Detective’

BEST NEW FEMALE CHARACTER
‘Harry Wild’

BEST PERMANENT CROSSOVER (The John Munch Award)
Elsbeth Tascioni, ‘The Good Wife’ to ‘The Good Fight’ to ‘Elsbeth’

Runner-Up:
Sam Hanna, from ‘NCIS: LA’ to ‘NCIS: Hawai’i’
(I'm not sure 12 episodes can count as a permanent placement)

BEST NEW SUPPORTING FEMALE CHARACTER
Drama
Stella Hart, ‘Ten Percent’

Comedy
Susan Bennett, ‘Ted’

If I have no memory of seeing Alanna Ubach in any other project before she started playing the mother in this prequel to the “Ted” movies, that’s no slight against her talent.  Apparently, she’s quite the chameleon, disappearing into her characters.  Susan Bennett is something of a mousy housewife, but everybody thought that of Edith Bunker as well.  It’s the tremulous quaver in her voice that makes her so distinctive.  She’s brilliant!

BEST NEW RECURRING FEMALE CHARACTER
Mrs. Jane Marlowe, ‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’

I KNOW the show has been around for years!  I’m only just catching up to it.  Give it a rest.

BEST NEW CHARACTER ADAPTED FROM ANOTHER MEDIUM
Percy Jackson, ‘Percy Jackson and The Olympians’

BEST NEW CAST ENSEMBLE
Drama
‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’

Comedy
‘Ted Lasso’

I only began watching these series earlier in the year.  And both of them share the same reason why I chose them for their ensemble casts.  Both shows have deep rosters to draw upon.  No character is just a fleeting bit part in ‘Ted Lasso’ – the team bus driver, the pub regulars, the old “Wanker” guy in the street – all of them keep coming back and even provide some insight into their backgrounds.  As for ‘Brokenwood Mysteries’, the show brings back characters even after many seasons have passed.  And it doesn’t offer “the illusion of change”; those characters grow – some become the murderers, others die.  It’s near as TV real life can get.

BEST INTRODUCTION OF A CHARACTER
FEMALE
Judy Maxon, ‘So Help Me, Todd’

She was a bright spot in the last five episodes (even if she might have been the Big Bad.)  It didn’t hurt that she was a new face… to me.  (I didn’t watch ‘Glee’.)

MALE
Teddy Tascione, ‘Elspeth’

BEST ADDITION TO AN EXISTING CAST
MALE
Trent Krimm, ‘Ted Lasso’

BEST HISTORICAL CHARACTER
Truman Capote ‘Feud’ – “Truman Capote vs. The Swans”

BEST CHARACTER ADAPTATION
Dionysus, ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’

I was tempted to go with Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hermes, because Hermes is my favorite character from the Greek myths.  And… because it’s Lin-Manuel Miranda.  But Jason Mantzoukis had a lot of fun as Dionysus and that demi-god had found a groove which must have suited him for the last 50 years.

BEST NEW CHILD CHARACTER
Morris Gibbon, ‘Doctor Who’

Introduced as one of UNIT’s science advisors, he is only 13.  As he explained, a passing asteroid somehow accelerated his genius.  (But until proven otherwise, I’m going to think he’s Dr. Loveless in disguise.)

BEST NEW COMMERCIAL CHARACTER
The Polar Insurance Snowman in the winter NJM commercial.

BEST NEW NARRATOR
Ian McKellan, ‘Ted’

This is a new category, based on getting Sir Ian to say the Best Monologue Toobits.  (Scroll.  You’ll find it.)

CHARACTER MOST DESERVING TO BECOME A REGULAR
Kahu Taylor, ‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’

The Maori actor was brought in when the character of Jared Morehu was missing for awhile.  Unfortunately, the showrunners don’t seem to know what to do with him.  The reasons he had connections to a case never felt convincing, and their attempts to develop a relationship between him and Detective Kristin Sims were awkwardly written.  But he was an engaging personality.

BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES APPEARANCE
COMEDY
Bradley Cooper, ‘Abbott Elemenatry’

The episode was shown right after the Oscars, so it was a nice tie-in for Cooper who had been nominated for “Maestro”.  And at least his presence made some sense; he does have ties to the area.

BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES MUSICAL APPEARANCE

This is a new category.  I’m not interested in appearances on talk shows, variety programs, concert specials, or music videos (unless the performer is appearing as their fictional televersion(s) in a fictional storyline.)  This category is for a member of the League of Themselves who appears as their fictional televersion performing in a fictional setting.

Tami Neilsen, ‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’

The episode – “Good As Gold” – featured Tami Neilsen’s music prominently throughout the episode, which was capped off by her appearance at the local bar with her band to perform for a line dancing celebration.

BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES APPEARANCE IN A COMMERCIAL
Larry Bird, “Bird In The Attic” (All-State Insurance)
LL Cool J, “Chance Encounter” (Progressive Insurance)

BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES APPEARANCE IN SKITLANDIA
Former South Carolina Governor/UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, ‘Saturday Night Live’ S.49, E.11

‘SNL’ has a history of bringing in the real candidates during the presidential campaigns.  But if I’m not mistaken, they usually wait for the final runs to the White House.  But when faced with the prospect of “Drumpf” getting to run again, the Powers That Be at ‘SNL’ probably figured they had to strike while they had a chance, even a slim one.  And they gave Haley a lot of ammo to work with in attacking him.  (But their version of Drumpf did more damage to himself than she could.)

WORST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES APPEARANCE (ANY PLATFORM)
Jay-Z, The Grammy Awards

In accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Jay-Z said:
"[Beyoncé] has more Grammys than anyone and never won album of the year. Some of you will feel like you were robbed. Some of you will get robbed. Some of you don't belong in the category! Sorry ... when I get nervous, I tell the truth!"

To me, it sounded like ungracious sour grapes to me.  Boo hoo hoo.  At least when it came to attacking Taylor Swift, at least it was a veiled slam, unlike when Kanye West tried to steal the spotlight from her.  I’m not a fan of Swift’s, but I can’t see why these guys take it out on her; she didn’t manipulate the vote.  She just put out a record the Academy liked better.  You guys just end up looking like bullies.  I’m surprised Jay-Z didn’t cap it off by punching host Trevor Noah in the mouth.

I won’t be surprised if Jay-Z is never given a chance to appear on the Grammy stage again….

BEST CHARACTER RETURN SPECIAL AWARDS
Tony DiNozzo, ‘NCIS’

Throughout the poignant tribute to the passings of both David McCallum and his character of Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, we saw flashbacks to his relationships with the characters still on the series.  But we also saw the return of Michael Weatherly for a quick cameo at the end as he showed up in D.C. to attend the memorial service.  (I’m just sorry Mark Harmon couldn’t do the same.)

‘Death In Paradise’
During the thirteenth season, we saw several former actors return as their characters for quick visits over several episodes:

Camille Bourday
Not only did we get to see her return in an online cameo within the episode, but Camille brought a new character into the world.

J.P. Hooper
As a favor to the Commissioner, the former Detective Sergeant (now the supervisor of the police training academy for the islands) joined him in Jamaica to persuade the police chief there to hire Marlon Pryce.

Duane
Sadly, it was short-lived.  After the next Christmas episode, he was gone.

BEST CHARACTER RETURN
Drama:
Tania Stokes, ‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’

The character appeared in episodes 1 and 4 in Season 1, and returned one last time in the sixth episode of Season 7.  It made for a touching coda for her character.

Sitcom:
The Dutch Pilot, ‘Ted Lasso’

I don’t know why people think ‘Ted Lasso’ would be returning for a fourth season.  The series was wrapped up beautifully at the end of the third season, with the Dutch Pilot providing closure for Rebecca’s storyline.

WORST CHARACTER RETURN
Sutekh, ‘Doctor Who’

The difference in look isn’t much as a Zonk.  It’s problematic in that apparently Osirans were still humanoid in basic form, no matter how powerful they became.  But locked away in a time tunnel, he must have fully realized the godhood he always believed he had.  Why he picked a big doggy to become though….

But then there are all the logic flaws of having Sutekh wrapped around the TARDIS for all those decades (centuries?).  He didn’t have a problem falling into the liquid energy core of Davros’ mothership?  He was okay watching the Doctor making love to River Song for 24 years?  It was a gobsmack on first viewing but upon further reflection, it just didn’t make sense.

BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES RETURN:
No question.  Jon Stewart on ‘The Daily Show’.  Unfortunately, it’s only on Monday nights.  But better than nothing.

BEST NEW ALIEN(S)
Apartments.com 4 Super Bowl

They may have looked alike, but if aliens follow Terran humor stereotypes, it was easy to figure out who was the male in that couple.

BEST NEW ALIEN VILLAIN
The Maestro, ‘Doctor Who’ – “The Devil’s Chord’

BEST EXIT FOR A CHARACTER
TOOBWORLD
Mrs. Jane Marlowe, ‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’

Brokenwood’s busybody & gossip, but still a pleasurable character, Mrs. Marlowe showed up at the end of the Season 7 episode “Here’s To You, Mrs. Robinson”.  She was on just long enough to say goodbye in the pub rather than listen to Gina spout her Russian poetry.  Knowing the circumstances of it being her last episode, it was a sweet little goodbye speech.  As of this writing (February), she is still with us, so if ‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’ ever does come back for a tenth season, I’m sure they will continue to treat Mrs. Marlowe as being alive, just not on our TV screens.

BEST EXIT FOR A LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES MEMBER
Carl Weathers, FanDuel Super Bowl Commercial

Very Moving.  I’m sure they had to scramble to edit that blipvert so that it remained tasteful and yet keep him involved.  And what if Gronk had made the field goal? How would that have played out?

BEST DEATH SCENE
Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, ‘NCIS’

SADDEST DEATH
George Cooper, Sr., ‘Young Sheldon’ 

BEST NEW CHARACTER NAME
Hat, ‘Ghosts’ (UK)

Hat was a caveman whom Robin knew when he was alive thousands of years ago, and it appeared he may have been responsible for Hat’s death.  The other ghosts thought Robin was making up the story of his friendship with Hat,KI mostly based on that being such a ridiculous name.  But as Robin pointed out, this was long before there was such a thing as hats….

BEST NEW ALIAS
Robin, ‘Ghosts’ (UK)

When he was alive as a caveman, his name was “Ro”.  Over time as a ghost, it evolved into Rogh, probably thanks to Sir Humphrey Bone.  I’m not sure why it finally became “Robin”

WORST ALIAS
“The Chemist” – ‘The Equalizer’ (3/17/24)
Other uses
The Blacklist
American Horror Story

BEST SPEECH/MONOLOGUE
“John kept his promise. For the next two years. Then, within five minutes of discovering the internet, he pulled on his penis so hard, it damn near came off. That didn't deter him from masturbating four more times before going to a local urgent care, where he waited eight hours in line behind dozens of other men who had also nearly pulled their penises off after discovering the internet. And now, today, anyone you talk to has jerked off within the last 20 minutes. This is Ian McKellen, reminding you: don't shake anyone's hand. Good night.”
The Narrator, ‘Ted’

The best reason this won out?  The narrator was Sir Ian Frickin' McKellan!

BEST NEW TOOBWORLD LOCATION
World
Ste. Vincente, France, ‘Madame Blanc Mysteries’

The third season started in February, but I only discovered it this year.

BEST NEW FICTIONAL BOOK
“The Richmond Way” (from 'Ted Lasso')

BEST NEW FICTIONAL PODCAST
“Psycho Bitch Sluts Who Kill” – ‘Elsbeth’

BEST SERIES MARATHON
‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’

WORST TV EXPERIENCE
2024 Election Returns

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT IN A NETWORK
In January 2024, Peacock stopped the live streaming of ‘Morning Joe’, perhaps due to pressure from major cable companies.  They said they would repeat it the next day, but who wants day-old news?  And even then, it only ran 45 minutes.

BEST CRITIQUE BY AN ONLINE COMMENTER
PROFESSIONAL
From Lee Goldberg, author and television producer
Re: ‘Monsieur Spade’

“The finale of MONSIEUR SPADE, with the ridiculous deus ex machina appearance of Alfre Woodard, was hugely disappointing...and didn't make any sense. The series was 6 wasted hours of my life.”

BEST ANALYSIS BY AN ONLINE COMMENTER
AMATEUR
From the Movie and Entertainment Sphere:

Does Star Trek offer an explanation for why people can't just go back in time and stop bad things from happening before they happen?

“City on the Edge of Forever” gave a very clear picture of how dangerous it was to alter the timeline in any way, even with a good cause.

Two episodes in season one of The Original Series deal with time travel. In “Tomorrow is Yesterday,” a freak accident causes the Enterprise to pick up a guy from the 1960s, and fear of contaminating the timeline is strong enough that initially Kirk is prepared to essentially hold the man prisoner for the rest of his life, despite him having a family. They change their minds when Spock realizes their prisoner’s son is critical to human history—he mans the first Earth-Saturn flight—but hasn’t yet been born, so to preserve the timeline, they have to return their prisoner to Earth and scrub all the evidence of the Enterprise ever having been there. So yes, it addresses the timeline as being important, but not in a way that carries a great impact.

“My story is interesting, but imagine if instead of a military pilot, I were a beautiful woman caring for the poor and promoting peace. Think it might have more punch?”
“Hmmmm, tell me more about you being a beautiful woman.”

“City,” however, puts it in a much starker light. McCoy jumps through a time portal. Okay. But the landing party then tries to make contact with the Enterprise, and it is not there. No time has passed for the rest of the landing party, but as soon as McCoy jumped through, he unmade the timeline that allowed the Federation, the Enterprise, and all of them to exist. They’re okay because they’re chatting with a sentient time machine and are in some sort of temporal bubble, but are trapped forever, completely alone, because of a change in the timeline. It’s bleak, it’s sudden, it’s perfect.

"Captain, I've lost contact with the ship. I was talking to them. Suddenly, it went dead. No static; just nothing."

"Kirk to Enterprise. Scotty."

"Nothing wrong with the communicator, sir."

"Your vessel, your beginning. All that you knew is gone."

And the rest of the episode builds on it. They know the importance of restoring the timeline. They also learn that the only way for it to be restored is to allow the brutal death of an innocent, strong, intelligent woman with whom they agree. Edith Keeler is right about everything. She’s so right that if she exists, she’ll bring about peace and harmony and good things for everyone (until her actions lead to doom). Set in an era when censorship and propaganda were the languages of the day, Kirk and Spock see a person speaking truth with enough conviction and erudition that she can unite people and prevent horrors, but they have to ensure her voice is silenced. They have to un-prevent the killing of a woman whose life would have led a peace movement that launched negotiations between the US and the Axis powers instead of war. She was a good person. But the peace she would bring would allow the Nazis to get the bomb first and conquer the world. McCoy, the doctor, had saved the life of an innocent woman. Noble! Good! The right thing for the right reasons! And they had to stop it from happening.

So yes, 'Star Trek' makes a very poignant argument for not going through time to prevent bad things. From season one of TOS, we see that even doing the right things for the right reasons is wrong when it comes to temporal meddling. Other times, Kirk’s crew will decide the good of the one can outweigh the good of the many, but when it comes to time travel, the good of one has to be sacrificed, and it’s miserable.

And so ends this look back - only two months late - at my picks for the 2024 highlights in the Universe of Toob.

TVXOHOF, MARCH 2025 - HERCULES (AKA KEVIN SORBO)

With March, the Television Crossover Hall of Fame gets at least one member of the League of Themselves into its ranks.

This year, it's a little bit different - the character was the real person and the League of Themselves member was the fictional character, not just the fictional television of a real-world person.

HERCULES

AKA

KEVIN SORBO

From Wikipedia:
Kevin David Sorbo (born September 24, 1958) is an American actor. He had a starring role in two television series: as Hercules in 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' (1995–1999.)

In 1993, Sorbo received his breakthrough leading role as the ancient greek demigod Hercules in a series of five television films that aired as part of Universal Television's Action Pack.

The first film to premiere was "Hercules and the Amazon Women", which aired in April 1994, the others following later in the year. The ratings success of the films paved the way for the commission of the television series 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys', which started airing in syndication from January 1995 and ran for six seasons. The series made Sorbo an international star and was one of the highest rated syndicated television shows at the time.  The show was filmed in New Zealand.

The success of the show spawned the popular spin-off series 'Xena: Warrior Princess' starring Lucy Lawless, who was introduced in a three-episode arc in the first season of Hercules. This allowed several characters from both shows to make crossover appearances. In 1998, a spin-off direct-to-video, animated film titled "Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus" was released with both Sorbo and Lawless voicing the characters.

'Hercules' was canceled midway through the filming of Season Six, of which only eight episodes were produced. The final episode aired in November 1999.  Although it was not revealed at the time, health issues reduced Sorbo's abilities to perform the physically demanding role during the later seasons. Sorbo made his final appearance as Hercules on 'Xena', in the Season Five episode "God Fearing Child", which aired in February 2000.

Here are the reasons why Hercules (aka Kevin Sorbo) is now in the TVXOHOF.  Usually a list like this is in broadcast order, and for the most part, it is.  However, this list should be seen also as a timeline in the honoree's life, the first half in the Age of Legend and the second part in the last few years of the 20th Century onward into the new millennium.

HERCULES AND THE AMAZON WOMEN (1994)

From the IMDb:
Hercules and Iolaus take time out from Iolaus' wedding preparations, to help a distant village under attack from "monsters". When they reach their destination, they find the monsters are in fact Amazonian women who are controlled by Hera.

HERCULES AND THE LOST KINGDOM (1994)

From the IMDb:
Hercules comes to the aid of a young woman who is seeking the lost city of Troy. He leads her to a camp of refugees from the city, which has been taken over by Hera's Blue Priests. Hercules helps the refugees take back the city.

HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS
- HERCULES AND THE CIRCLE OF FIRE (1994)

From the IMDb:
Hercules and Deianeira go in search of fire to save the world from cold. All the world's fires are fast going out. Hercules' father, Zeus, is on hand to help (and sometimes hinder) the two.

HERCULES IN THE UNDERWORLD (1994)

From the IMDb:
A woman asks Hercules for his help because a hole leading to the underworld has opened up in her village. Hercules wants to help her, despite knowing that she comes from a group of women notorious for leading men to their doom.

HERCULES IN THE MAZE OF THE MINOTAUR (1994)

From the IMDb:
Hercules has settled down with his wife and children, but misses the good old days travelling around having exciting adventures. One day, he is persuaded out of his farming retirement to help a distant village which is being attacked.

HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS
111 EPISODES (1995-1999)

From the IMDb:
Hercules is half-man, half-god and a hero of fantastic strength. After his malevolent stepmother, Hera, kills his wife and children, he wanders about Earth with mortal best friend Iolaus, fighting evil and trying to overcome his loss.

XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
PROMETHEUS (1998)

From the IMDb:
Prometheus is chained by Hera and humanity loses all the gifts that received from the titan, including the fire and the ability to heal. Xena and Gabrielle join forces with Hercules and Iolaus to free Prometheus, but Xena and Hercules know it is a suicide mission: the one who uses the only sword that can break Prometheus' chains will instantly die. Mission accomplished. Xena and Hercules exchange a kiss as do Iolaus and Gabrielle.

XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
GOD FEARING CHILD (2000)

From the IMDb:
When Zeus learns that Xena's unborn child is part of a prophecy that foretells Zeus's demise, he launches an attack against the pregnant warrior princess, prompting Hercules to fly to her rescue.

O'Bservation:
The following episode of 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' explains why we're celebrating Hercules and Kevin Sorbo as one person....

HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS
YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A HERCULES (1998)

From the IMDb:
Kevin Sorbo doesn't show up for filming in New Zealand after an earthquake hits Los Angeles, and the rest of the staff frantically tries to either locate him or find a replacement.

From the "Hercules" wiki:
Strife says Ares' idea to cause the earthquake was "a stroke of genius." Ares says he knew his brother would not put the show above saving innocent lives. Ares says that his brother's "legendary journeys" will soon be over and he can watch Millennium in peace. They hear a voice from the doorway and look to see Hercules in a suit. Ares says he is pathetic for pretending to be a mortal called "Kevin Sorbo". He mentions that his father, Zeus, thinks poorly of actors, with Hercules asking him when he cared about what Zeus thinks. He then says, "The world isn't ready for the truth." Ares swears they will meet again and he and Strife vanish.

Hercules unfreezes everyone and they are glad to see him, he tells them he was stuck in traffic, because "after all I'm only human." As everyone leaves to get the show in production, a news report by Mary Contrary states that an unknown figure has prevented a lot of casualties in the earthquake that happened.

CHEERS
LICENSE TO HILL (1992)

O'Bservation:
Mostly, unknown at the time, Sorbo appeared as a bar patron.  But nothing says that he couldn't have been the televersion of Kevin Sorbo (the human alias for Hercules.)

DON'T TRUST THE B IN APARTMENT 23
THE WEDDING... (2012)

From the IMDb:
Even Chloe is impressed by model pupil June's progress after lessons in New York-styled assertive attitude, but now feels somewhat threatened when June steps into the limelight with James. However, the cocky act shrivels when June is invited to her former fiancé Steven's wedding. James agrees to play along after Chloe gets them in at the arm of Hercules star Kevin Sorbo, whom she made believe it's a benefit for his mother's disease, MS.

And that's all I have to say about Mr. Sorbo. 

TVXOHOF - FEBRUARY FRIDAY FAREWELL FOR ROBERTA FLACK

We’re closing out Black History Month with a sad tribute, a memorial induction….

From Billboard:
Roberta Flack, the beloved, Grammy-winning 1970s singer best known for such hits as “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly” died on Monday (Feb. 24, 2025) at 88. At press time a statement from Flack’s spokesperson revealed that she died peacefully, with no official cause of death available.

“We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, Feb. 24, 2025,” read the statement. “She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”

A master of the “quiet storm” style, Flack’s effortless, soothing vocals soon became a staple of R&B and pop radio, leading to a two-decade run of chart hits.

An activist and philanthropist, Flack remained a teacher at heart. She established the Roberta Flack Foundation in 2010 to help young people fulfill their dreams through education and mentorship.

ROBERTA FLACK

From Wikipedia:
Roberta Cleopatra Flack (February 10, 1937 – February 24, 2025) was an American singer and pianist known for her emotive, genre-blending ballads that spanned R&B, jazz, folk, and pop and contributed to the birth of quiet storm. Her commercial success included the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", and "Feel Like Makin' Love". She became the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years.

Flack frequently collaborated with Donny Hathaway, with whom she recorded several hit duets, including "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You". As one of the defining voices of 1970s popular music, she remained active in the industry, later finding success with duets such as "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" with Peabo Bryson (1983) and "Set the Night to Music" with Maxi Priest (1991). Across her decades-long career, she interpreted works by songwriters such as Leonard Cohen and members of the Beatles. In 2020, Flack received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

O’Bservation:
I can’t say if I would have thought of checking her credits on IMDb had she not died.  But it would likely have happened because I’m always afraid I won’t have enough candidates for the February Induction berth in years to come (which hopefully I have.)  At the same time, she probably would have come to mind because she fits the kind of cameo appearance of a celebrity in soap operas – a singer who comes to whatever fictional town which is the location of the series, in order to perform at some kind of gala.

Here are the appearances which qualified her inclusion into the TVXOHOF.  I’m sorry I didn’t think of inducting her while she was still here, not that I’m deluding myself that any of the actors & celebrities honored here ever learn of it.

We’ll start this off with an appearance she made on THE late night talk show, one which is a member of the TVXOHOF.

THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON
(Seen here July, 1978)

O'Bservation:
Between 1970-1984, Ms. Flack appeared on the talk show nine times.

ANOTHER WORLD
1] EPISODE NOVEMBER 17 (1983)

Louise Mandrell & Roberta Flack entertain at a fund-raiser for Abel Marsh's eye clinic held at the Warehouse Club.

“Making Love”
Written by Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach and Bruce Roberts
Performed by Roberta Flack

2] EPISODE NOVEMBER 18 (1983)

Conclusion of Louise Mandrell & Roberta Flack entertaining at a fund-raiser for Abel Marsh's eye clinic.

“I'm the One”
Written by William Eaton, Ralph MacDonald and William Salter
Performed by Roberta Flack

THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE (1988)

From the Macy's Parade Wiki:
Flack sang "Oasis" from her first solo album at the 62nd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while riding Macy's own Watering Can.

O’Bservation:
I’m adding this because the parade will be inducted later this year….

GUIDING LIGHT
EPISODE MAY 1, 1992 (1992)

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
Written by Ewan MacColl
Performed by Roberta Flack

LOVING
EPISODE 1.2516 (1993)

NEW YORK UNDERCOVER

CHECKMATE (1996)

A mob hit man's widow poses as a police officer to carry out a murder of a fellow crook in Williams and Torres' precinct.

“Killing Me Softly”
Music by Charles Fox and lyrics by Norman Gimbel
Performed by Roberta Flack

Good night and may God bless, Ms. Flack.

TVXOHOF - AL TRAUTWIG [A BIRTHDAY MEMORIAL TRIBUTE]

Normally, sports reporters wouldn’t make it into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame just for doing their job.  But if an excerpt of their onscreen reporting is seen on a television set belonging to a fictional character, even if it’s a fictional sports event, that would count as part of the sportscaster’s qualifications to be inducted into the Hall.  (This was the case for Vin Scully.)  If they appear just as a regular member of the League of Themselves in an “ordinary” slice of life (like Bob Uecker), then they could become a Hall member as well.

But this may be a special situation….

From ESPN:
Al Trautwig, one of the most recognizable sports broadcasters in New York and a fixture at numerous international sporting events for more than three decades, has died. He was 68.

Trautwig's son, Alex, told The Associated Press his father died Sunday at his home on Long Island from complications of cancer.

Trautwig was part of MSG pre- and postgame broadcasts of the NBA's Knicks, NHL's Rangers and Major League Baseball's Yankees. He also worked 16 Olympics, the Indianapolis 500, the Tour de France and the US Open tennis tournament and won four national Emmy Awards and more than 30 in New York.

"Al was a staple on MSG Networks' Knicks, Rangers and Yankees coverage for more than 30 years, and his passion for the teams he covered was undeniable," MSG said in a statement. "He leaves behind one of the great legacies in New York sports broadcasting history. Our thoughts and prayers are with Al's family and friends."

For many fans watching games on TV in New York, Trautwig's voice was often the first they heard. With a natural storytelling style, he used his pregame introductions to make big games at Madison Square Garden or Yankee Stadium feel even bigger, while rarely needing to raise the level of his voice.

MSG Networks studio analyst Alan Hahn, who called Trautwig a friend, mentor and a career resource of support, said the accomplished sportscaster "was a skilled host who knew how to make every game feel like something you don't want to miss."

"We lost a legendary voice in sports. But we lost a lot more than that," Hahn wrote in a series of social media posts. "Al Trautwig had an amazing voice and knew how to use it the way a tenor could bring depth and intensity to a song. ... He loved sports and had incredible versatility from baseball to basketball and hockey. And that's not even counting his incredible work at the Olympics."

Trautwig only had one appearance as his fictional televersion.  But even though that cameo was only in one episode, it was in a powerhouse series in the foundation of the TV Universe, with plenty of other shows in that franchise linked to it.  I think that with the “Empire of the Wolf” behind him, it is enough to bring several of his of sportscasting appearances along for the ride.  Along with a movie!

It’s likely that it could be argued that many of his appearances in so many sports presentations could be included, even if there isn’t any evidence that he showed up in fictional TV shows to back that claim up.  But the odds are likely that there are a few TV characters who watched those sporting events during which Trautwig appeared – Oscar Madison of ‘The Odd Couple’ and Arliss Michaels from ‘Arli$$’ to name just two. Both men might have even known his televersion.

But I still have enough verified televersions of some of those sporting events for which he would have appeared on TV sets in Toobworld.  And so we’re honoring him today.  An important day, as it turns out….

AL TRAUTWIG

From Wikipedia:
Alan "Al" Trautwig (February 26, 1956 – February 23, 2025) was an American sports commentator who worked with MSG Network, ABC, NBC, NBC Sports Network, and USA Network. He most recently did pre-game and post-game shows for the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, as well as fill-in play-by-play for both teams.

From Caleb Bouchy on X:
If you watched Arena Football during our NBC era in the early 2000s, you definitely saw his face. Al was the lead studio host for the AFL on NBC from 2003-2006. One of the best to ever do it.

The following screencaps are from a video produced by USA Today:

Here are the shows which qualify him for membership in the TVXOHOF:

In 1994, Trautwig hosted his own eponymous talk show, so I’m including that in his tally.

THE AL TRAUTWIG SHOW (1994 -?)

Here is that one appearance by his fictional televersion….

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
AMERICAN DISGRACE (2014)

From the IMDb:
A basketball legend is accused of raping multiple women, but exactly what role did the powerful CEO of the sports apparel company who had a contract with him play in the situation?

Basketball superstar Shakir "The Shark" Wilkins announces his partnership with the Orion Bay clothing line, owned by billionaire Orion Bauer and his daughter Cordelia. But the SVU intervenes when Orion press rep Carla Cannon tells reporters she was raped by Wilkins. When more women come forward, Benson and Detective Carisi disagree on the authenticity of each woman's story, and Barba takes a shaky case to court. Meanwhile, the case takes Rollins to her former precinct in Atlanta, where ex-colleagues bring up old memories.

From a 'Law & Order' Wiki:
Over the course of his career, Trautwig won four national Emmy Awards, 28 New York Emmys and a New York State Sportscaster of the Year Award.

He covered 16 Olympic games for NBC, ABC and CBS and began his career calling New York Apollo soccer games in 1978 for Adelphi's student-run radio station WBAU before broadcasting their matches on WMCA radio after graduating.

VANCOUVER 2010: XXI OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
CONNECTION:
30 ROCK
In one episode, Jack Donahy mentioned that NBC would be covering that event. 

O'Bservation:
So, in this case, it was a projection of Trautwig appearing on Toobworld TVs in that near future.

CALGARY 1988: XV OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
CONNECTION:
MONDAY NIGHT MAYHEM
One of the characters mentioned the Olympics for that year.

O’Bservation:
This would suggest that Al Trautwig was a multidimensional.  “Monday Night Mayhem” can be found in the alt-Toobworld dimension of Toobworld-Toobworld, which is founded on the TV movies and certain TV show episodes which show the behind the scenes activities which would lead to the production of TV shows.

But the 1988 Winter Olympics still has a presence in the main Toobworld.  However, TV characters had to go to the movie theaters to make its presence legitimate.  

There is a movie which gave the 1988 Jamaican bobsled team a “Cineversion” in the main Toobworld – similar to televersions, but these are real world people who are seen as movie characters.

COOL RUNNINGS (1993)

This movie will not be absorbed into Earth Prime-Time, as the real world version already existed there, as seen on TV.  But even so, this is a movie which qualifies for membership in the TV Crossover Hall of Fame… as a movie, in much the same way as "The Wizard of Oz" and "It's A Wonderful Life" have.

And with these shows, there are characters within them who have seen that movie, in which Al Trautwig appeared as himself:

• 30 ROCK
• KING OF QUEENS
• NYPD BLUE
• NIGHT COURT
• ONE TREE HILL
• DERRY GIRLS
• SUBURGATORY
• AWKWAFINA IS NORA FROM QUEENS
• ALMOST ROYAL

So having seen the movie, they've seen Trautwig.  As far as I'm concerned, that's like an unspoken reference.  So that counts as nine more connections.  

Al Trautwig died three days before his birthday.  Today is that day.  So I’m offering up this tribute as a remembrance for that occasion.

Good night, Mr. Trautwig, and may God bless.

TVXOHOF: FEBRUARY, 2025 - DETECTIVE FRANK PEMBERTON

Every year, the Television Crossover Hall of Fame celebrates the Black History Month of February with a TV Character (or a League of Themselves member) of Color is welcomed into the Hall. 

This year is no different....

DETECTIVE FRANK PEMBLETON

From Wikipedia:
Francis Xavier "Frank" Pembleton is a fictional homicide detective on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Emmy Award–winning actor Andre Braugher. He is a primary character of the show through the first six seasons. Although the show featured an ensemble cast, Pembleton would become the fan favorite and is often identified as the show's signature character.

He is based on Baltimore Police Department Detective Harry Edgerton, who, like Pembleton, was an eccentric New York–born African American detective in the BPD homicide unit featured in David Simon's book "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets". The character also appeared in the 'Law & Order' episode "Charm City".

Pembleton was born into a Catholic family in New York City on July 1, 1961. It was implied that he had siblings, but they never appear on the show. He was educated first in a Catholic elementary school and then in a Jesuit high school, a reference to Braugher attending a Jesuit school, St. Ignatius College Prep, in Chicago. Frank later said that "the Jesuits taught me how to think," which comes up on the show from time to time.

He knows Latin and Greek and is well-versed in Catholic theology. He met his future wife, Mary, on the Great Lawn in Central Park shortly after graduating from the police academy when he was 24. He claims that he knew as soon as he met her that she was "the one." They were married in 1986.

In October 1988, Frank and Mary moved to Baltimore because Frank wanted to be a detective and felt there was no room for advancement in the NYPD. The move caused a permanent rift between him and his in-laws, since he had moved "their little girl" so far from home. He loved working in Baltimore, however, and Mary got a job as a lobbyist and often took trips to Washington, D.C. where her family lives.

He had become a homicide detective by 1989.

Frank and Mary, once settled in their careers, decided to have a family. They were forced to see a variety of fertility specialists before Mary was able to become pregnant. They had two children, a daughter Olivia (born 1996) and a son, Frank Jr.

Frank was the only detective to maintain a marriage — the others either never married, had their spouses die, or got divorced. Frank and Mary's did go through some rough times, owing to Frank's incredible drive for work. Even after marriage counseling, Mary felt that he had become too detached from his family. She was also bothered when he lost his faith, especially when he denied Olivia a baptism for many months. Mary left for a couple of months while pregnant with Frank, Jr. but eventually came back. She was happy that he quit the force in the Season 6 finale.

From the first episode right through to the movie finale, references are made to Pembleton's reputation as a "legend" in terms of his skills as a detective; he is especially skilled in interrogation, and he is depicted as a master of getting confessions from suspects in "the Box." Through a mixture of sympathy, confusion and fear, Pembleton almost always gets a suspect to crack. At the same time, he often fails to endear himself to his fellow detectives, who resent his black-and-white attitude toward the job and his arrogant demeanor.

These are the three separate appearances which guaranteed Pembleton membership in the TVXOHOF:

HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET
100 Episodes (1993-98)

LAW & ORDER
CHARM CITY (1996)

HOMICIDE: THE MOVIE (2000)

The World lost Andre Braugher just over a year ago. 

Many times, it has been the position of Toobworld Central that even if the actor passed away, their character(s) would live on in Toobworld.  (Unless of course that character lived in the past or had otherwise already died.)  I would have considered Tony Soprano to still be alive had it not been that James Gandolfini had died.  I doubt anybody could see Tony Soprano be recast in modern times.  

The same holds true with Frank Pembleton and Andre Braugher.  I have no problem thinking that Pembleton died after a relapse with another stroke and heart attack.  Sadly, there was no hope to have seen the detective again with Braugher gone.  And I can't be the only one who would reject any other actor assaying the role.

So these 101 episodes and a TV movie would be the only collection of Pembleton's appearances in Earth Prime-Time.  And luckily that collection is made of three segments, making him qualified for membership in the Hall.

Welcome to the TVXOHOF, Detective Pembleton.