COLUMBO MEETS THE DOCTOR - AI STYLE

 

I haven't found many, but there are a few good photoshops out there of Lieutenant Columbo meeting the Doctor.  But greedy bastid that I am, I wanted more.

So I turned to AI.  It's not a perfect system, but I've made a few good examples... as well as a few howlers....

Enjoy....

Columbo and the TARDIS

Columbo meets Himself
Thanks to a temporal glitch?

Suggestive of the Seventh Incarnation,
But is that Columbo or a Goodfella?

Suggestive of the Fourth Incarnation,
But is Paul Reiser playing Columbo?

Columbo & the Twelfth Incarnation?

Not sure....

Columbo with the Tenth & Twelfth Incarnations

What if Anthony Hopkins had been the Doctor?

I suppose it suggests Tom Baker,
But he looks like Lyle Lovett.

What if Ian McShane was the Doctor?
Or is it Christopher Walken?

Another Tom Baker possibility,
But I think he looks like Tom Jones.

Maybe inspired by Rowan Atkinson in
"The Curse Of Fatal Death"?

I think David Tennant inspired both.

Columbo and some alien, perhaps?

I have since moved on to a much better AI program and maybe I'll make up a few examples before this blog-A-thon is over....

WILL WE EVER SEE THE INCARNATIONS BEFORE DELGADO?

When Roger Delgado joined ‘Doctor Who’ on a recurring basis as the Master, he was in the last incarnation provided him by the built-in restrictions of regeneration.  After that, his mummified yet living self took over a humanoid alien named Tremas and eventually exterminated by the Daleks.  The Doctor was able to secure the Master’s ashes and was bringing them back to Gallifrey, but the spirit of the Master was still powerful, mostly fueled by hate and anger.  It took over the body of a human in San Francisco before eventually being defeated by the Doctor yet again.  (That time by the Eighth Incarnation.

So desperate to triumph was the Ruling Council of Gallifrey in the Time War with the Daleks, that they granted a new cycle of regenerations to the Master in order to secure his alliance.  Instead, he fled to the farthest distance of Time and Space to hide.  There he took the name Yana.  He eventually remembered who he was, but was only able to revel in his villainy for about five minutes before he was forced to regenerate.  That time as Prime Minister Harold Saxon back in the 21st Century.

Although he finally did die, his followers resurrected him to once again attempt to take over the Earth.  Eventually he became a she and “Missy” could have found something of a rehabilitation, but once again the “Saxon Master” resurfaced, which led to both their deaths.

I like to think that when Sacha Dhawan arrived on the scene as the Master, he was one of the original incarnations who preceded Delgado.  That would still leave ten incarnations we need to see.      

If the show wants to live up to the standard set by Steven Moffat in its depiction of Time as being a wibbly-wobbly ball instead of always being linear, we need to see past incarnations of the Master appear in the current timeline for the Doctor (now in his fifteenth incarnation.

So I’m putting this out to you – who would you like to see playing those former incarnations of the Master?  Send me your casting suggestions!*

Here are a few whom I would like to see as the Master:

• Adrian Lester
• Judi Dench
• Billy Boyd
• Benedict Cumberbatch
• James Lance
• Nonso Anozie
• Cillian Murphy
• Laurence Fox
• Emma Thompson

As you can see, for the most part, I favor the cold, calculating and reserved villain type.  I’ve had enough of maniacal madman supplied by Sacha Dhawan and John Simm.
So let me know whom you would like to see!

*Treat it as though you really were casting the part of the Master; don’t send me theoretical suggestions which could never have happened because the actor you’re espousing is pushing up daisies!  So no Laurence Olivier or Peter O’Toole or Ronnie Corbett! 

THE MEDDLING MONK... IN OIL

 

This painting is "A Good Drink", by Eduard von Grützner (Oil on panel) from 1897–1897.

But could it be that the Galifreyan trickster known as the Meddling Monk posed for this a few years before the dawn of the 20th Century?

Why would the Monk have been whiling away the time in Germany by posing for the artist in 1897?  We know he enjoyed disrupting the timeline of the Earth, marking him as a renegade Time Lord. (In his own mind, I believe that he truly thought he was doing so for the greater good.)

Maybe his own Tardis was acting wonky and he arrived too early for the event which he planned to alter in History.  So he was biding his time until the right moment to strike by amusing himself as a model for Mr. von Grützner.

I've looked through the events of the German timeline for 1897, and one jumped out at me as being an interesting choice for a 'Doctor Who' timeline.

October 29 - The birth of Joseph Goebbels. 

Maybe the Monk thought that by causing Goebbels' death as a newborn infant, he could prevent much of the carnage to come.  Perhaps Goebbels would have been the first such victim, with Hitler on his hit list as well.

This possible plot line is reminiscent of the 'Doctor Who' episode "The Fires of Pompeii", in which he sadly had to stop the Pyroviles' plan to prevent the eruption of Mount Vesuvius so that History could play out as intended.

In this case, the Doctor and his Companion would have to make it possible for the Baby Goebbels to survive and eventually grow up to become the chief propagandist for the Nazis in control of Germany, until his scheduled death in May of 1945, as abhorrent as that was to their sense of justice.

As depicted in the painting, the subject doesn't look like the actor who portrayed the Monk, Peter Butterworth.  But in his own personal timeline, he could have sat for von Grützner centuries after we last saw him sparring with the Doctor.  As such, the years had not been kind....

Or maybe he had regenerated.  I expect - and hope - that soon the 'Doctor Who' series will bring back the Monk to be an adversary for the Doctor.

My dream casting for the choice of actor?  Kris Marshall.

Or the difference in appearance could just be artistic license.

TEN CHARACTERS WHO SHOULD RETURN IN THE NEW RTD ERA

 

This is a pretty good list, and there were even two - Mia and Yuri - whom I had forgotten about it.

"OBSESSION" - A "COLUMBO" SUBSTITUTE

While Lt. Columbo was supposedly inspired by a literary character (Porfiry Petrovich in CRIME AND PUNISHMENT), that doesn’t mean he could fit into any literary setting.  I think many of us wish Peter Falk never bought the rights to the Ed McBain novels which became the basis for NO TIME TO DIE and UNDERCOVER.  But there were stories out there which could have been easily adapted as COLUMBO vehicles and there would have been no discernible change in tone, as was the case with the McBain episodes.

"Oh, just one more thing...."

I’ve written in the past of a movie from the 1940s entitled THE VELVET TOUCH starring Rosalind Russell and Leon Ames as the two most necessary components to any COLUMBO case – the murderer and victim, respectively.  And as the substitute for Lt. Columbo, there is Captain Danbury (no first name given) of the New York Police Department, played by Sidney Greenstreet.  (Also in the cast are Leo Genn and Claire Trevor and for a COLUMBO kick, Mike Lally as a Sardi’s waiter!)  I’ll just add that there are several touchstones which should remind you of the TV series – Captain Danbury’s deference to the murderer, his hesitancy in using a folding chair (i.e., Abigail Mitchell’s antique), the use of “Just one more thing” (albeit by the murderer.)  The only thing missing was a dog!

That’s not the case with my latest addition to the COLUMBO Substitutes, OBSESSION, which was marketed in the United States as THE HIDDEN ROOM (which I think is a better title.)

Here are the basics which would mark it worthy to be a COLUMBO adaptation – a wealthy, haughty, and imperious psychiatrist is fed up with his wife’s string of affairs, so he devises an elaborate plot for getting rid of the next one.  He plans to kidnap the fellow, an American, and keep him prisoner in a secret location to mentally torture him until he tires of the game and is ready to dispatch his victim (in a most gruesome manner.)  

But about forty minutes into the film, the police inspector shows up, regarding a different case altogether, that of the aforementioned dog.  (The story was originally a novel entitled A MAN ABOUT A DOG.)  

Inspector Finsbury would have made for a wonderful guide for the Rumpled One on his trip to London; they would have had so much in common with each other as they discussed their methods.

In a rare leading role, Robert Newton played the psychiatrist with a reserved demeanor, which was not what he was known for in his most famous role as Long John Silver, but it’s in keeping with the kind of murderer who made the mistake of dismissing the Lieutenant as an inferior.  

Phil Brown was the intended victim, the American lover of the wife who was played by Sally Gray.  (Audiences today will know Brown better as Luke Skywalker’s Uncle Owen in STAR WARS IV: A NEW HOPE.)  And as Inspector Finsbury, there’s Naunton Wayne, perhaps best known as half of the Charters & Caldicott team first introduced in THE LADY VANISHES (a variation of which can be seen in his other famous movie, DEAD OF NIGHT.)

Finally there’s Monty, the counterpart to Dog.  While much of my summary is a spoiler non-spoiler due to the COLUMBO framework, I don’t want to give anything away about Monty….

As I was watching the film, I fantasized about the casting, had it been adapted for COLUMBO.  And as I usually do, I thought in terms of the show’s original NBC run in the 1970s.  James Mason would have been perfect as Dr. Riordan, and maybe James Farentino as the lover.  For Mrs. Riordan, I’d like to play within the established set-up for the series – bring back an actress who had already been in a COLUMBO episode.  In this case, I think Susan Howard would have been perfect.  

Obviously Peter Falk as the Lieutenant would replace Inspector Finsbury entirely.  And no matter who they got for the dog Monty (Higgins AKA Benji passed away in 1975 so he was too old for what would be an active role), it would be that canine who could be the catalyst for Dog to save the day!

Okay, just over 700 words, too late to make a long story short.  But if you’re a COLUMBO fan and you’re looking for something in the same vein, I would recommend those two movies – THE VELVET TOUCH & OBSESSION (AKA THE HIDDEN ROOM.)

And if you know of any movies which could be considered Falkless versions of COLUMBO, bring them to my attention!

TVXOHOF TRIBUTE 2021 - PHYLLIS LINDSTROM

 

From CNN:

Cloris Leachman, the acclaimed actress whose one-of-a-kind comedic flair made her a legendary figure in film and television for seven decades, has died, according to a statement from her longtime manager and representatives. She was 94.

"It's been my privilege to work with Cloris Leachman, one of the most fearless actresses of our time. There was no one like Cloris," said a statement from her manager, Juliet Green. "With a single look she had the ability to break your heart or make you laugh 'til the tears ran down your face. You never knew what Cloris was going to say or do and that unpredictable quality was part of her unparalleled magic."

Leachman died Wednesday of natural causes in Encinitas, California, according to the statement.

During her extensive career, Leachman, who was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2011, earned 22 Emmy nominations and eight Primetime Emmy awards and one Daytime Emmy Award.

Two of her statues were won for playing what was arguably her most iconic role -- cunning landlady Phyllis Lindstrom. The character originated on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and later received a spin-off series.

When Georgia Engel died, I mourned the fact that I didn’t induct Georgette Franklin Baxter into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame while she was still alive (not that she would ever have seen it.)  But I thought she had so many more years ahead of her.

In this case, I kept delaying the induction of Phyllis Lindstrom because I thought Cloris Leachman would never die.  She was indomitable, giving us strong performances right up until the end; she was on ‘Dancing With The Stars’, for Judith Christ’s sake!

And so here we are with the inevitable -  a Memorial TVXOHOF Tribute….

PHYLLIS LINDSTROM

From Wikipedia:
Phyllis Lindstrom, nee Sutherland, portrayed by Cloris Leachman, is a fictional character on the television sitcom “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and subsequent spin-off, “Phyllis”.

Phyllis Lindstrom (born in 1931 in San Francisco) is Mary Richards' snobbish, self-absorbed and interfering friend and downstairs neighbor in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. She married dermatologist Dr. Lars Lindstrom in 1955; Phyllis frequently mentions and quotes Lars, but he is never seen by the audience. (Lars was also the name of Cloris Leachman's husband-to-be on the 1962 Laramie episode titled "Trial by Fire".)

It is later revealed to Mary and another friend and neighbor Rhoda Morgenstern, that the Lindstroms manage the large Minneapolis boarding house in which they all live. Mary also develops a close relationship with Phyllis's daughter Bess.

Rhoda and Phyllis maintain an adversarial but talkative relationship. Phyllis had actively prevented Rhoda from switching apartments to the newly vacated apartment she had earmarked for Mary that Mary ultimately took.

Phyllis was a recurring character in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, appearing in a total of 35 episodes. She was in 12 of 24 episodes for season 1, 12 of 24 episodes for season 2, 4 of 24 episodes for season 3, 3 of 24 episodes for season 4, 3 of 24 episodes for season 5, and one episode in season 7.

In season 4 opener "The Lars Affair", Phyllis clashes with Sue Ann Nivens who hosts ‘The Happy Homemaker’ on WJM-TV, after Sue Ann and Lars have an affair. The second meeting of Phyllis and Sue Ann was in episode "Phyllis Whips Inflation", Phyllis's final appearance in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” before moving to her spin-off series. Colleagues attempt to prevent their accidentally meeting at the studio; when they do it is played off as a joke and the self-centered Phyllis plaintively asks Sue Ann if there are any jobs available on her show.

"I'll kill you...."

Phyllis appeared in the first two episodes of fellow “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” spinoff “Rhoda”.  (O'Bservation - Phyllis forgot to pick up Rhoda and bring her to the wedding.)

Phyllis (and Rhoda) return for one scene in the final episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. This was Phyllis's only return to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” after the spinoff.

In 1975 Leachman left “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to star in spin-off series “Phyllis”. In the spin-off Phyllis and Bess relocate to Phyllis's hometown San Francisco after the death of Lars.

Phyllis and Bess live with Lars' mother Audrey, as well as Audrey's new husband, Judge Jonathan Dexter. Phyllis's major nemesis is Jonathan's mother, Sally (Judith Lowry), a sharp-tongued, irritable, impatient woman known as Mother Dexter. Mother Dexter gets along well with Bess.

Mary Tyler Moore appears in two episodes as Mary Richards: one in season 1 and one in season 2.

After Barbara Colby was murdered,
the role of Julie Erskine was recast with Liz Torres.
Toobworld splainin?
Plastic surgery  

In the first season, Phyllis works at Erskine Photography Studio. In the second and last season the series was retooled with Phyllis switching to work as administrative assistant for a city supervisor.

Here are the TV shows which qualify Phyllis to join her friends from WJM in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame….

The Mary Tyler Moore Show
35 episodes (1970-1977)

Rhoda

- Rhoda's Wedding Parts I & II (1974)

Phyllis

48 episodes (1975-1977)

I like to think that in her life after cancellation, Phyllis Lindstrom eventually remarried; I’m not sure if it was to her boss, Dan Valenti, although they did have a flirty rapport at times… when she wasn’t driving him crazy.  

(Thinking in sitcommish terms, maybe they could have established that the character played by Carmine Caridi in one episode of the first season – Vince – was Dan’s twin brother.  Maybe she could have married him, giving Caridi a larger role(s) and giving a whole new level to Phyllis’ life during prime-time.)

In the years since her sitcom went off the air, I imagine Phyllis became a doting, if overbearing, grandmother to any children whom her daughter Bess might have had.  (By this point in the Toobworld timeline, she could even be a great-grandmother by now!)

It's a shame Ms. Leachman didn’t appear in any other TV sitcoms as Phyllis, even if those shows weren’t produced by the MTM company.  And the crossover wouldn’t have to be with another sitcom; it’s happened before – ‘Alice’ & ‘The Dukes Of Hazzard’, ‘The Associates’ & ‘The Paper Chase’, and the biggest of all, ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ & ‘Lou Grant’.

If she  stayed in the San Francisco area, it would have been fun to see Phyllis Lindstrom show up in an episode of 'Dharma & Greg', 'Hooperman', 'Suddenly Susan', and 'Full House', with a return guest appearance in 'Fuller House''!

There’s only one person left from WJM-TV (Channel 12) who needs to be inducted into the TVXOHOF.  My plan is to take care of that next January as our Classic TV Crossover showcase….

In the meantime, welcome to the Hall, Mrs. Lindstrom.  I'm sure we'll find a way to con people - I mean, convince them - to come to the induction ceremony....

  And good night and may God bless, Cloris Leachman....