Boxing legend George Foreman died March 21 last year. It was my decision to hold off his deserved induction into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame so that he could get this monthly showcase for February. George Foreman certainly deserved to represent Black History Month.
GEORGE FOREMAN
From ESPN:
"Big" George Foreman, one of the most influential and recognizable boxers of all time, died Friday, his family announced on his social media account. He was 76.
Foreman, who won an Olympic gold medal in 1968, was a two-time heavyweight champion and Hall of Fame boxer.
He is perhaps best known for the historic Rumble in the Jungle bout with Muhammad Ali in 1974 in Zaire, a fight Foreman lost in an upset via eighth-round knockout. It's arguably the most famous fight of all time, and the "When We Were Kings" film that chronicled the fight won an Oscar for best documentary feature.
Foreman made history yet again later in his career. He fought five more times after he lost the heavyweight championship to Ali at age 25, including a fifth-round TKO victory over Joe Frazier (whom he stopped in two rounds to first win the title) and a fifth-round knockout of Ron Lyle in a classic slugfest.
After that fifth fight at 28, Foreman shockingly announced his retirement and began a career as an ordained minister in his native Texas.
Foreman was retired for 10 years. He returned to boxing in 1987 at age 38 and mounted arguably the most impressive sports comeback ever.
At first, Foreman padded his record with easy wins. One of them was a second-round knockout of Gerry Cooney. But in 1991, Foreman proved this comeback was for real when he pushed the great Evander Holyfield to the brink in a classic heavyweight title fight at age 42. Though he was unsuccessful in his bid to become a two-time heavyweight champion, Foreman was undeterred.
Five fights later, after a loss to Tommy Morrison, Foreman accomplished the unthinkable.
Down on the scorecards in another title fight, Foreman landed a two-punch combination that laid Michael Moorer down for the count of 10 in 1994. At 45 years, 299 days old, Foreman was once again the heavyweight champion of the world, the oldest man to hold boxing's greatest prize (and also the oldest champion ever, a record that stood for 20 years).
Foreman went on to have a successful career as an HBO boxing analyst. But his greatest success outside the ring was yet to come.
The same year that Foreman defeated Moorer, he launched his eponymous grill, which went on to sell more than 100 million units worldwide. In 1999, he sold the commercial rights to the George Foreman grill for $138 million.
As a member of the League of Themselves, George Foreman’s appearances on these shows locked in his candidacy for joining the TVXOHOF:
HOLLYWOOD SQUARES
12 Episodes (1973-75)
O'Bservation:
I'm surprised that I haven't been able to find a picture of him in one of the boxes on this game show.
SANFORD AND SON
THE DIRECTOR (1976)
Starstruck Fred assumes the director's chair when the champ George Foreman comes to star in a play for Lamont's theater workshop.
Elroy:
Godzilla and George Foreman.
Fred G. Sanford:
Now that would be a fight.
Elroy:
Godzilla would knock him out.
Fred G. Sanford:
No way. George would win blindfolded.
Elroy:
Oh, yeah? How about King Kong?
Fred G. Sanford:
Blindfolded!
Elroy:
Esther?
Fred G. Sanford: [Wincing]
The only way he could beat Esther IS blindfolded.
GOOD SPORTS
LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU'RE HAPPY (1991)
As a guest on their talk show, Foreman talks about his upcoming fight with Gayle and Bobby. But he also talks about his faith.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
UNCHAINED MALADY(1992)
At home: Tim receives a chain letter with the instructions that it be sent forward to 10 people within 24 hours or else something bad will happen. Tim doesn't buy into that and disregards the letter, despite Jill's warnings. Randy breaks his new bike and has to figure out how to explain that to his parents.
In ‘Tool Time’: Tim is late because his car battery had been dry and someone had parked in his space on the parking lot. He tells Al about the letter and he also warns Tim of the consequences. Turns out he sent Tim the letter and then later found a $20 bill on the street and won a shovel in a radio contest... and Lisa asks if she can stay the night at Al's place because the heating at her place does not work. Even after he accidentally dyes his hands green, Tim refuses to believe in the chain letter's curse because George Foreman himself is coming to make an appearance in ‘Tool Time’.
THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW
HANK'S CONTRACT (1992)
S. 20 E. 09 (1994)
FAMILY FOREMAN
6 Episodes (2008)
A short-lived reality series. I'm adding it as flavor to the full tally of his fictional televersion.
And making him a multidimensional….
THE TOONIVERSE
KING OF THE HILL
BOXING LUANNE (2003)
George Foreman:
Hey, Maybe there's something you can do for me. How would feel about carrying my grill in your shop?
Hank Hill:
Oh, huh... sorry. We have a strict policy about that, no novelty grills.
George Foreman:
NOVELTY GRILL?
Hank Hill:
Yeah, you know, no offense, but your grill is kinda like an iron.
George Foreman:
YOU'RE CALLING MY GRILL AN IRON? I've been hit below the belt before, but nothing like this.
Hank Hill:
I think it's a great product for dieters and little girls who want to play barbeque. But you can't compare it to a propane powered grill.
George Foreman:
FIGHT'S ON!
Hank Hill:
WHAT? No.
George Foreman:
I said ‘Fight's On!’ What's the matter? SMELLING ALL THAT PROPANE CAUSED YOU BRAIN DAMAGE?
[yelling in front of a crowd of people]
George Foreman:
THAT'S WHAT IT DOES, YOU KNOW!
Hank Hill: [also talking to the crowd]
NO, THAT IS NOT ACCURATE. Those studies were done on sick monkeys. And at least my grill isn't sold in... housewares.
George Foreman:
I respect that you wanna protect your niece. You know, I didn't want my daughter to become a boxer. Neither did Muhammad. But Joe Frazier, on the other hand, he had his baby girl boxin' in the crib.
Then there are those times when his existence is verified in various Toobworlds because his name is mentioned.
Among these would be:
WHEN BILLIE BEAT BOBBY (2001 TV MOVIE)
BECKER - JAKE’S JAUNT (2001)
FRASIER - ROZ IN THE DOGHOUSE (1995)
GOOD TIMES - J.J. BECOMES A MAN [PART 2: J.J. GETS ARRESTED] (1974)
- THE MAN I MOST ADMIRE (1974)
THE JOHN LARROQUETTE SHOW - AN ODD CUP OF TEA (1995)
THE OFFICE - THE INJURY (2006)
SUPERNATURAL - PHANTOM TRAVELER (2005)
- LUCIFER RISING (2009)
Zachariah: "The Apocalypse." Poor name, bad marketing, puts people off. When all it is, is Ali/Foreman, on a slightly larger scale, and we like our chances. When our side wins - and we will - it's Paradise on Earth! What's not to like about that?
- SLICE GIRLS (2012)
Dean Winchester: Lydia's handing this kid who's calling her mommy over to these two women, right? But this is not a baby. No, no, this kid's got to be 5. And same name -- Emma.
Sam Winchester: You know, George Foreman named all his sons George.
Dean Winchester: Are you deliberately messing with me?
THE X-FILES - AUBREY (1995)
CSI - ENDING HAPPY (2007)
MODERN FAMILY - FINALE, PART 2 (2020)
THE YOUNG OFFENDERS - EPISODE 3.5 (2020)
BETTER OFF TED - RACIAL INSENSITIVITY (2009)
GLEE - GRILLED CHEESUS (2010)
Finn Hudson: It all started a week ago. I was super hungry, and my mom was gone, so I busted out the George Foreman. It wasn't making the cool grill marks it used to after I tried to use it to dry my shoes, but when it comes to grilled cheese, I'm not that fancy. And when I pulled the sandwich out, I saw the face of God... Literally. I had made a Grilled Cheesus.
THE BIG BANG THEORY - THE ROBOTIC MANIPULATION (2010)
Penny: So, um, Amy, what about you? Do you date much?
Amy Farrah Fowler: Once a year. It's a deal I made with my mother in exchange for her silence on the matter, as well as the occasional use of her George Foreman Grill that seals in the flavor without the fat.
WHITE COLLAR - GLOVES OFF (2012)
BIG SKY - WHERE THERE’S SMOKE, THERE’S FIRE (2022)
BONES - THE CHEAT IN THE SHEET (2013)
FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS - THEORETICAL HERPES (2025)
AMERICAN CRIME STORY - THE RACE CARD (2016)
EMPIRE - MORE THAN KIN (2016)
THE PUNISHER - CROSSHAIRS (2017)
Lewis and his dad watch a recording of Ali vs Foreman on TV. Lewis's dad mentions that the Muhammad Ali fight he was watching was from 1974.
THE CARMICHAEL SHOW - LOW EXPECTATIONS (2017)
MacGYVER - SKULL + ELECTROMAGNET (2017)
BULL - THANKSGIVING (2017)
BOB’S BURGERS - CHEER UP, SLEEPY GENE (2018)
RAMY - DUDE, WHERE’S MY COUNTRY? (2019)
From those references, Foreman picked up another credit for the Tooniverse, and several others for alternate Toobworlds.
Finally, here are some other members of the League of Themselves with Big George….
Johnny Carson
Classic TV Inductee 2007
Jay Leno
Classic TV Inductee 2010
Donald Trump
April Fool Inductee 2009
[Had to share the month with three others]
Welcome to the Hall, Mr. Foreman. Make yourself at home…."Big" George Foreman, one of the most influential and recognizable boxers of all time, died Friday, his family announced on his social media account. He was 76.
Foreman, who won an Olympic gold medal in 1968, was a two-time heavyweight champion and Hall of Fame boxer.
He is perhaps best known for the historic Rumble in the Jungle bout with Muhammad Ali in 1974 in Zaire, a fight Foreman lost in an upset via eighth-round knockout. It's arguably the most famous fight of all time, and the "When We Were Kings" film that chronicled the fight won an Oscar for best documentary feature.
Foreman made history yet again later in his career. He fought five more times after he lost the heavyweight championship to Ali at age 25, including a fifth-round TKO victory over Joe Frazier (whom he stopped in two rounds to first win the title) and a fifth-round knockout of Ron Lyle in a classic slugfest.
After that fifth fight at 28, Foreman shockingly announced his retirement and began a career as an ordained minister in his native Texas.
Foreman was retired for 10 years. He returned to boxing in 1987 at age 38 and mounted arguably the most impressive sports comeback ever.
At first, Foreman padded his record with easy wins. One of them was a second-round knockout of Gerry Cooney. But in 1991, Foreman proved this comeback was for real when he pushed the great Evander Holyfield to the brink in a classic heavyweight title fight at age 42. Though he was unsuccessful in his bid to become a two-time heavyweight champion, Foreman was undeterred.
Five fights later, after a loss to Tommy Morrison, Foreman accomplished the unthinkable.
Down on the scorecards in another title fight, Foreman landed a two-punch combination that laid Michael Moorer down for the count of 10 in 1994. At 45 years, 299 days old, Foreman was once again the heavyweight champion of the world, the oldest man to hold boxing's greatest prize (and also the oldest champion ever, a record that stood for 20 years).
Foreman went on to have a successful career as an HBO boxing analyst. But his greatest success outside the ring was yet to come.
The same year that Foreman defeated Moorer, he launched his eponymous grill, which went on to sell more than 100 million units worldwide. In 1999, he sold the commercial rights to the George Foreman grill for $138 million.
HOLLYWOOD SQUARES
12 Episodes (1973-75)
O'Bservation:
I'm surprised that I haven't been able to find a picture of him in one of the boxes on this game show.
SANFORD AND SON
THE DIRECTOR (1976)
Starstruck Fred assumes the director's chair when the champ George Foreman comes to star in a play for Lamont's theater workshop.
Elroy:
Godzilla and George Foreman.
Fred G. Sanford:
Now that would be a fight.
Elroy:
Godzilla would knock him out.
Fred G. Sanford:
No way. George would win blindfolded.
Elroy:
Oh, yeah? How about King Kong?
Fred G. Sanford:
Blindfolded!
Elroy:
Esther?
Fred G. Sanford: [Wincing]
The only way he could beat Esther IS blindfolded.
GOOD SPORTS
LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU'RE HAPPY (1991)
As a guest on their talk show, Foreman talks about his upcoming fight with Gayle and Bobby. But he also talks about his faith.
UNCHAINED MALADY(1992)
At home: Tim receives a chain letter with the instructions that it be sent forward to 10 people within 24 hours or else something bad will happen. Tim doesn't buy into that and disregards the letter, despite Jill's warnings. Randy breaks his new bike and has to figure out how to explain that to his parents.
In ‘Tool Time’: Tim is late because his car battery had been dry and someone had parked in his space on the parking lot. He tells Al about the letter and he also warns Tim of the consequences. Turns out he sent Tim the letter and then later found a $20 bill on the street and won a shovel in a radio contest... and Lisa asks if she can stay the night at Al's place because the heating at her place does not work. Even after he accidentally dyes his hands green, Tim refuses to believe in the chain letter's curse because George Foreman himself is coming to make an appearance in ‘Tool Time’.
HANK'S CONTRACT (1992)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
6 Episodes (2008)
A short-lived reality series. I'm adding it as flavor to the full tally of his fictional televersion.
And making him a multidimensional….
THE TOONIVERSE
BOXING LUANNE (2003)
George Foreman:
Hey, Maybe there's something you can do for me. How would feel about carrying my grill in your shop?
Hank Hill:
Oh, huh... sorry. We have a strict policy about that, no novelty grills.
NOVELTY GRILL?
Hank Hill:
Yeah, you know, no offense, but your grill is kinda like an iron.
George Foreman:
YOU'RE CALLING MY GRILL AN IRON? I've been hit below the belt before, but nothing like this.
Hank Hill:
I think it's a great product for dieters and little girls who want to play barbeque. But you can't compare it to a propane powered grill.
George Foreman:
FIGHT'S ON!
Hank Hill:
WHAT? No.
George Foreman:
I said ‘Fight's On!’ What's the matter? SMELLING ALL THAT PROPANE CAUSED YOU BRAIN DAMAGE?
[yelling in front of a crowd of people]
George Foreman:
THAT'S WHAT IT DOES, YOU KNOW!
Hank Hill: [also talking to the crowd]
NO, THAT IS NOT ACCURATE. Those studies were done on sick monkeys. And at least my grill isn't sold in... housewares.
George Foreman:
I respect that you wanna protect your niece. You know, I didn't want my daughter to become a boxer. Neither did Muhammad. But Joe Frazier, on the other hand, he had his baby girl boxin' in the crib.
Then there are those times when his existence is verified in various Toobworlds because his name is mentioned.
Among these would be:
WHEN BILLIE BEAT BOBBY (2001 TV MOVIE)
BECKER - JAKE’S JAUNT (2001)
FRASIER - ROZ IN THE DOGHOUSE (1995)
GOOD TIMES - J.J. BECOMES A MAN [PART 2: J.J. GETS ARRESTED] (1974)
- THE MAN I MOST ADMIRE (1974)
THE JOHN LARROQUETTE SHOW - AN ODD CUP OF TEA (1995)
THE OFFICE - THE INJURY (2006)
SUPERNATURAL - PHANTOM TRAVELER (2005)
- LUCIFER RISING (2009)
Zachariah: "The Apocalypse." Poor name, bad marketing, puts people off. When all it is, is Ali/Foreman, on a slightly larger scale, and we like our chances. When our side wins - and we will - it's Paradise on Earth! What's not to like about that?
- SLICE GIRLS (2012)
Dean Winchester: Lydia's handing this kid who's calling her mommy over to these two women, right? But this is not a baby. No, no, this kid's got to be 5. And same name -- Emma.
Sam Winchester: You know, George Foreman named all his sons George.
Dean Winchester: Are you deliberately messing with me?
THE X-FILES - AUBREY (1995)
CSI - ENDING HAPPY (2007)
MODERN FAMILY - FINALE, PART 2 (2020)
THE YOUNG OFFENDERS - EPISODE 3.5 (2020)
BETTER OFF TED - RACIAL INSENSITIVITY (2009)
GLEE - GRILLED CHEESUS (2010)
Finn Hudson: It all started a week ago. I was super hungry, and my mom was gone, so I busted out the George Foreman. It wasn't making the cool grill marks it used to after I tried to use it to dry my shoes, but when it comes to grilled cheese, I'm not that fancy. And when I pulled the sandwich out, I saw the face of God... Literally. I had made a Grilled Cheesus.
THE BIG BANG THEORY - THE ROBOTIC MANIPULATION (2010)
Penny: So, um, Amy, what about you? Do you date much?
Amy Farrah Fowler: Once a year. It's a deal I made with my mother in exchange for her silence on the matter, as well as the occasional use of her George Foreman Grill that seals in the flavor without the fat.
WHITE COLLAR - GLOVES OFF (2012)
BIG SKY - WHERE THERE’S SMOKE, THERE’S FIRE (2022)
BONES - THE CHEAT IN THE SHEET (2013)
FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS - THEORETICAL HERPES (2025)
AMERICAN CRIME STORY - THE RACE CARD (2016)
EMPIRE - MORE THAN KIN (2016)
THE PUNISHER - CROSSHAIRS (2017)
Lewis and his dad watch a recording of Ali vs Foreman on TV. Lewis's dad mentions that the Muhammad Ali fight he was watching was from 1974.
THE CARMICHAEL SHOW - LOW EXPECTATIONS (2017)
MacGYVER - SKULL + ELECTROMAGNET (2017)
BULL - THANKSGIVING (2017)
BOB’S BURGERS - CHEER UP, SLEEPY GENE (2018)
RAMY - DUDE, WHERE’S MY COUNTRY? (2019)
From those references, Foreman picked up another credit for the Tooniverse, and several others for alternate Toobworlds.
Finally, here are some other members of the League of Themselves with Big George….
Johnny Carson
Classic TV Inductee 2007
Jay Leno
Classic TV Inductee 2010
Donald Trump
April Fool Inductee 2009
[Had to share the month with three others]
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