TVXOHOF, MARCH 2026 - HANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

 

Later this year, Tom Hanks turns 70 years old.  Now, he may have two Academy Awards, so much success on screen and behind the scenes, and Rita Wilson as his wife, BUT!  I have one thing he hasn't got - membership in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.

Today, that oversight will be corrected.

By the power invested in me (by me), I hereby declare that as a member of the League of Themselves,

TOM HANKS

is hereby declared a member of the TVXOHOF!

Okay, so it's not as cool as membership in the Five-Timers' Club of SNL, but 'twill serve.

From Wikipedia:

Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, he is one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide, and is regarded as an American cultural icon.

Hanks is ranked as the fourth-highest-grossing American film actor. His numerous awards include two Academy Awards, seven Emmy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards; he has also been nominated for five BAFTA Awards and a Tony Award. He received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2002, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2014, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2020.

Hanks rose to fame with leading roles in the comedies "Splash" (1984), "The Money Pit" (1986), "Big" (1988), and "A League of Their Own" (1992). He won two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor, playing a gay lawyer suffering from AIDS in "Philadelphia" (1993), then the title character in "Forrest Gump" (1994).

His breakthrough television role was a co-lead in the ABC sitcom 'Bosom Buddies' (1980–1982). He has hosted 'Saturday Night Live' ten times and launched a production company, Playtone, which has produced various limited series and television movies, including From the 'Earth to the Moon' (1998), 'Band of Brothers', 'John Adams' (2008), 'The Pacific', 'Game Change' (2012) and 'Olive Kitteridge' (2015).

That's his life here in Earth Prime-Time.  But as for his televersion, these are some of the appearances which differentiate him from the real Tom Hanks.  Also included are references to Hanks which verify his existence on several Toobworlds.  And as you will see, that means he is a multi-dimensional....

THE NAKED TRUTH
BALD STAR IN HOT OIL FEST! (1995)
Nora is anxious to get a job at a respectable publication, but during the interview she catches Tom Hanks in a very compromising situation.

THE NANNY
YOU BETTE YOUR LIFE (1997)
Maxwell Sheffield:
Good idea, C.C., putting Tom at our table.
Fran Fine:
So who's Tom, and does he have a Cruise, Hanks or Selleck after his name?

MOVIE STARS
21 Episodes (1999-2000)
Reese Hardin and his wife Jacey Wyatt lived next door to Hanks in Malibu.

POPULAR
BOOTY CAMP (2000)
The sergeant forces a recruit to watch "Philadelphia."

LIFE WITH BONNIE
WHAT IF? (2002)
On her wedding anniversary, Bonnie dreams she's married to Tom Hanks after she names him as her ideal fantasy.

WILL & GRACE
STEAMS LIKE OLD TIMES (2005)
Larry and Ellen come over to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Game Night Spectacular.  ("Big", "Splash", and "Philadelphia" come up during game night.)
&
THE MOURNING SON (2006)
Jordan Truman:
The last time I saw Grandpa, we played baseball in the backyard. Well, we played "A League of their Own". He was Tom Hanks, I was everybody else.

PSYCH
DIS-LODGED (2008)
Shawn says he lived in an airport for a month and Gus replies "That was Tom Hanks in 'The Terminal'."

PARTY DOWN
PRECIOUS LIGHTS PRE-SCHOOL AUCTION (2010)
The producer mentions the movie "Turner and Hooch".  The wife of Leonard Stiltskin, an agent, is auctioning lunch with Tom Hanks.
Stiltskin:
What the hell are we auctioning?
Mrs. Stiltskin:
Lunch with Tom Hanks.
~~~~
Casey:
When we met you said you and Tom are close--
Stiltskin:
I was trying to get into your pants.  Hanks hasn't talked to me since I put him in "Turner and fucking Hooch".
~~~~
Stiltskin:
I made a promise to myself - that I would support my daughter Escapade's dreams.  And Tom Hanks would love Escapade.
~~~~~
You're not gonna get a grand for that shit-box.  I think you need to set the bar a little bit lower.  You're never gonna get Hanks; R Kelly maybe, if he's available--
~~~~
Okay wait a second, bidding on the Hanks lunch?   I heard Stiltskin say that he can't make the Hanks lunch happen, so he's gonna outbid anyone who tries to win it.
~~~~
?1: You once told me you'd drink two pints of ape sperm to play Pebble Beach with Tiger Woods.
?2: Yeah, but that's sports. Sports are cool.  Tom Hanks is a grown man who wears eyeliner and plays make believe.

30 ROCK
100: PART 2 (2011)
When Hank Hooper threatens to cancel "TGS", Jack convinces him to allow Liz and company the chance to do their 100th episode. To produce the best show possible, however, Liz must deal with less-than-ideal working conditions.
Tom Hanks is singing Billy Joel's "My Life", which was the theme song to his breakout TV series Bosom Buddies (1980).

HOT IN CLEVELAND
I LOVE LUCCI: PART ONE (2011)
Melanie:
You lost your L.A. driving privileges when you flipped off Tom Hanks.
Elka:
Forrest Gump drives like a soccer mom.

COMMUNITY
PILLOWS AND BLANKETS (2012)
Britta:
If you want, I can read it in the documentary.  That is, unless you get Tom Hanks.
Narrator:
We tried to get Tom Hanks, but he's too expensive.

THE MINDY PROJECT
PILOT (2012)
Mindy is watching "You've Got Mail" in a flashback when she was in High School.
&
IN THE CLUB (2012)
1] Baron Davis says "Splash" is his favorite Tom Hanks romantic comedy.
2] Amar'e Stoudemire says "Sleepless In Seattle" is his favorite Tom Hanks romantic comedy.
3] Josh says "Apollo 13" is his favorite Tom Hanks romantic comedy.
4] Danny Granger says "You've Got Mail" is his favorite Tom Hanks romantic comedy.

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
THE SLUMP (2013)
Boyle refers to "Turner & Hooch".

NCIS
BLAST FROM THE PAST (2015)
"Big" is mentioned in dialogue by Bishop.
McGee:
He's like a teenage boy living in a 50-something-year-old's body.
Bishop:
Hmm. Tom Hanks in "Big."
McGee:
Hah. Tony would be proud you actually saw that one.
Bishop:
Well, half of it.

MULANEY
FRENCH ROAST (2015)
John is faced with a dilemma when he is asked to roast Lou. (Hanks sent a polite text message to get out of it.)

FRESH OFF THE BOAT
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN (2017)z
O'Bservation: Hoping to break it to her Dad that she is gay, Nicole sets up a movie night to show "A League Of Their Own".
Marvin:
"That Tom Hanks isn't half bad either."

GRACE AND FRANKIE
THE LODGER (2018)
Frankie mentions "Larry Crown" is bad even though Tom Hanks played in it.

UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT
KIMMY DISRUPTS THE PARADIGM! (2018)
Jacqueline mentions Tom Hanks shooting Nazis in "Saving Private Ryan".

BULL
A REDEMPTION (2018)
Bull jokes that in "A League Of Their Own", Tom Hanks said, "There's no crying in trial science".
Benny responds to Bull that Tom Hanks said something about chocolate, and not trial science in "Forrest Gump".

BOOMERANG
GAME NIGHT (2019)
During game night, "Forrest Gump" is used as a substitute for Tom Hanks' name.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
THE FALLOUT (2019)
The narrator (Ron Howard):
"Reminds me of how Hanks walked around like Jim Lovell for a year."  
(Howard directed the movie "Apollo 13.")

KIMMY VS. THE REVEREND (2020 TV movie)
Hanks is referenced.

THIS IS US
FORTY: PART ONE (2020)
1] Tom Hanks got it.
2] Hanks got the corona?
1] Hanks got the corona.
2] Oh, I got to call Kate.

(News of Tom Hanks getting covid and the death of George Floyd are mentioned as happening at about the same time. In reality Tom Hank's found out he got covid in March of 2020 and George Floyd died in May 2020.)

SUPERSTORE
ESSENTIAL (2020)
(The news of the NBA suspending play and the news that Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson had contracted the Coronavirus are presented as occurring simultaneously. The NBA suspended play on March 11, 2020, while Hanks and Wilson's diagnosis was made public on the 12th.)

9-1-1
TREASURE HUNT (2021)
Hollis Harcourt:
"Gutted in Glendale". It's my next novel. I've been working on it for two years. Huge advance. Already sold the movie rights. Tom Hanks wants to star. He loves these, uh, blood and treasure stories. Mine is gonna be like The Da Vinci Code, only bigger.

AMERICAN AUTO
COMMERCIAL (2022)
Katherine and the team re-shoot a commercial to make it more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community.  Katherine mentions Tom Hanks playing a gay character in "Philadelphia".

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY
CANDY ZOMBIES (2022)
Janine
Chesley Sullenberger shouldn't have had a movie before Harriet Tubman.
Gregory (dressed as Sully):
Tom Hanks couldn't play her.

TOON IN WITH ME
DOG DAY MORNING (2023)
Bill mentions Hooch, the dog in the film; image shown of Tom Hanks and Hooch.

O'Bservation: "Big" Picture is from another episode in which they discussed boardwalk fortune teller machines.  Good enough for me.

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING
BLOW-UP (2024)
Rudy Thurber:
Mr. Spielberg movie.... "Catch Me If You Can". I play an agent in Tom Hanks' office.
Oliver:
Oh!
Rudy Thurber:
At the 1:07 mark, you can see me in the far right cubicle making a phone call.
Oliver:
Really?
Rudy Thurber:
Yeah, and then he got up and walked to the bathroom! But Leo DiCaprio had it cut. Too threatened. Also, I kept looking in the lens.

From alternate Toobworlds....
CASTLE
A CHILL GOES THROUGH HER VEINS (2009)
CASTLE:
Sometimes, when I'm trying to figure out how a character of mine does something, I will walk the crime scene. This one time, I was trying to figure out how to throw someone off the Empire State Building, and that movie 'Sleepless in Seattle' had just come out. So many lonely women approached me, thinking I was their Tom Hanks. I got laid--
BECKETT:
Castle....
&
GET A CLUE (2013)
The team investigates the ritual murder of a woman. Symbols on the woman's body and the items left in her apartment seem reminiscent of "The Da Vinci Code".

VEEP
FUNDRAISER (2012)
SELINA
You think they'll hear tomorrow?
MIKE
They might not hear. What if Tom Hanks dies?
ANNA
What?
MIKE
Just a for-instance - what if Tom Hanks dies? That's all that will be on the news for like a week. When Phil Spector was convicted we couldn't get anything in the papers for two days.  
&

VEEP (2019)
Mike McLintock:
We will have more coverage of the funeral of President Selina Meyer. But first, as someone who served with President Meyer for over two decades, I feel I'd be remiss if I did not offer my own heartfelt eulogy to a president who many feel was very underrated and deserved m...

I'm sorry. Breaking news. I've just been told that four-time Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks has died at the age of 88. The star of such Hollywood films as "Big," "Forrest Gump," "Philadelphia" and "Philadelphia 2" passed away in his Bel Air home after a long illness, surrounded by his loving family. Husband of actress Rita Wilson and father of four children, Hanks was often considered the finest actor of his generation, an American everyman who could leap effortlessly between comedy and drama, and moved audiences both young and Old. Today the world mourns the loss of this towering and beloved figure. Let's take a look at the storied career of Tom Hanks, American icon.

SUPERGIRL
DREAM WEAVER (2021)
They are playing a celebrity variation of either 'Password' or '$10,000 Pyramid'

Kelly Olsen:
Um... typewriters?
Alex Danvers:
Tom Hanks?

From Skitlandia....

MAD TV
Episode 1.1 (1995)
A sketch that combines "Forrest Gump" and "Pulp Fiction".

And over in the Tooniverse....

FAMILY GUY

DEATH HAS A SHADOW (1999)
The family is watching "Philadelphia" in a theater, where everybody except Peter is crying.

Peter Griffin:
I got it!  It's the guy from 'Big'. Tom Hanks, that's it! Aw, funny guy, Tom Hanks. Everything he says is a stitch.
Tom Hanks:
I have AIDS.
[Peter starts laughing uncontrollably]

MAD
DA GRINCHY CODE
Christmas will be ruined in Whoville unless Tom Hanks can solve Da Grinchy Code.   Tom Hanks, Nicolas Cage & Harrison Ford team up to solve the mystery of the Whoville present heist.

BLESS THE HARTS
MIRACLE ON CULPEPPER SLIMS BOULEVARD (2019)
Wayne Edwards says all that is missing from the party is "The Polar Express".  But when the Polar Express crashes, Wayne exclaims, "Oh, my Lord! Tom Hanks! No!"

BOB'S BURGERS
THE HANDYMAN CAN (2020)
Teddy says he sees Reggie crying about his gazebo like Tom Hanks when he loses his volleyball in "Castaway".

CLOSE ENOUGH
HANDY/BIRTHDAZE (2021)
Randy ends up on a desert island.  He fails to name the movie "Castaway", but he does mention "Big".

SOLAR OPPOSITES
ENDAMAME DUFFEL BAG (2022)
A picture of Tom Hanks in "The Polar Express" is inside Korvo the train.

THE SIMPSONS
BART'S BIRTHDAY (2024)
&

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE (2007)

This is one time when one could say "It couldn't happen to a nicer guy."  But I'm sure there are others who are wondering what he did wrong to deserve this "honor".

Welcome to the Hall, Tom Hanks!  
(A warning to his televersion in the 'Veep' dimension:
Just be careful, 18 years from now.  There will be a target on your back when you turn 88 years old....)

TVXOHOF, FEBRUARY 2026 - GEORGE FOREMAN

 

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)

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

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….