TVXOHOF, MEMORIAL TRIBUTE - DAME AGATHA CHRISTIE

On this day, fifty years ago, Agatha Christie passed away.

From Wikipedia:
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan (née Miller; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976), was an English author known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers, particularly in the mystery genre.

A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime"—a nickname now trademarked by her estate—or the "Queen of Mystery". She wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery “The Mousetrap”, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott.

In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. She is the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.

Christie's first published book, “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”, was released in 1920 and introduced the detective Hercule Poirot, who appeared in 33 of her novels and more than 50 short stories.

Over the years, Christie grew tired of Poirot, much as Doyle did with Sherlock Holmes.  By the end of the 1930s, Christie wrote in her diary that she was finding Poirot "insufferable", and by the 1960s she felt he was "an egocentric creep".

Thompson believes Christie's occasional antipathy to her creation is overstated, and points out that "in later life she sought to protect him against misrepresentation as powerfully as if he were her own flesh and blood". Unlike Doyle, she resisted the temptation to kill her detective off while he was still popular. She married off Poirot's "Watson", Captain Arthur Hastings, in an attempt to trim her cast commitments. 

Miss Jane Marple was introduced in a series of short stories that began publication in December 1927 and were subsequently collected under the title “The Thirteen Problems.”   Marple was a genteel, elderly spinster who solved crimes using analogies to English village life.  

Christie said, "Miss Marple was not in any way a picture of my grandmother; she was far more fussy and spinsterish than my grandmother ever was", but her autobiography establishes a firm connection between the fictional character and Christie's step-grandmother Margaret Miller ("Auntie-Grannie") and her "Ealing cronies".  Both Marple and Miller "always expected the worst of everyone and everything, and were, with almost frightening accuracy, usually proved right". 

Marple appeared in 12 novels and 20 stories.

Christie had a heart attack and a serious fall in 1974, after which she was unable to write.  

Christie never wrote a novel or short story featuring both Poirot and Miss Marple.  In a recording discovered and released in 2008, Christie revealed the reason for this: "Hercule Poirot, a complete egoist, would not like being taught his business or having suggestions made to him by an elderly spinster lady. Hercule Poirot – a professional sleuth – would not be at home at all in Miss Marple's world."

O’Bservation:
Toobworld Central does accept the photo of David Suchet and Joan Hickson as Poirot and Miss Marple to be part of the main Toobworld, just an adventure never seen by the audience in the Trueniverse.

In addition to Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Christie also created amateur detectives Thomas (Tommy) Beresford and his wife, Prudence "Tuppence" Beresford (née Cowley), who appear in four novels and one collection of short stories published between 1922 and 1974. Unlike her other sleuths, the Beresfords were only in their early twenties when introduced in “The Secret Adversary,” and were allowed to age alongside their creator.  She treated their stories with a lighter touch, giving them a "dash and verve" which was not universally admired by critics. Their last adventure, “Postern of Fate, was Christie's last novel. 

The television adaptation “Agatha Christie's Poirot” (1989–2013), with David Suchet in the title role, ran for 70 episodes over 13 series. It received nine BAFTA award nominations and won four BAFTA awards in 1990–1992. The television series “Miss Marple” (1984–1992), with Joan Hickson as "the BBC's peerless Miss Marple", adapted all 12 Marple novels. The French television series “Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie” (2009–2012, 2013–2020), adapted 36 of Christie's stories.

There have been at least fourteen incarnations of Hercule Poirot in the Great Mosaic of the Television Universe, including in the Tooniverse, Skitlandia, a Cineverse Borderland, and of course in the main Toobworld, Earth Prime-Time, with David Suchet being accepted as the primary Poirot due to the number of episodes to his credit.

As for Miss Marple, she can be found in at least eight Toobworlds, including the Tooniverse and Skitlandia.  For Earth Prime-Time, Joan Hickson is recognized as the premiere Jane Marple.

Other Christie staples, like Tommy and Tuppence Beresford plus “Bundle” Brent, can be found in several alternate Toobworlds as well.

And so, on the anniversary of her passing, Toobworld Central recognizes Dame Agatha’s contributions to the expansion of the TV Universe as a Creator.

JANUARY SIX - REMEMBERING SHERLOCK HOLMES ON HIS BIRTHDAY (COMIC BOOK UNIVERSE)

For several years now, Toobworld Central has celebrated Sherlock Holmes on what many Sherlockians/Holmesians consider to be his birthday.  (Although there is some disagreement - click here.)  

And because I count myself among that original (and more respectable) group of January Sixers, the TVXOHOF continues that tradition today....

From the FB page, “The Crossover Universe” (April 25, 2025)
By Jess Nevins:

I'm more than a little surprised that nobody ever caught this one, from the Zatara story in ACTION COMICS #21 (on-sale date Dec 24, 1939).

(Holmes' name doesn't come up in the rest of the story, and nothing more is made of Zatara being in Holmes' old stomping grounds).

There have been many movie and TV appearances by Sherlock Holmes over the last century, and unless they are played by the same actor, each of those productions need to be shuttled off to separate fictional universes.

New pastiches of the Holmes Mythos appear weekly in story form, whether as short stories or novels, and for the most part they can be treated as existing in the same universe.  (There are a few tales too outlandish to be reconciled with the established canon.)  

As they all exist in the mind of the reader, it is their imagination which blends the portrayals together.  (And while Sir Arthur Conan Doyle defined the appearance of Holmes with words, it was Sidney Paget who first provided the artistic template upon which every fan builds their mental vision of the Great Detective.

The overall comic book universe is not my bailiwick; I’m a Toobworld Curator (mostly retired).  But it’s my contention that for the most part, any Sherlock Holmes story illustrated for comic books belongs in the same dimension as the others, no matter the different styles of artwork.  It’s the story which remains key; the artwork merely illustrated that story for the reader.

What I especially liked about this fleeting mention of Holmes in a story about Zatara is that it can be shared by so many Sherlock Holmes stories in comic books, no matter if their storyline is too contradictory to the greater output of stories.  Most of that is due primarily to Holmes only being mentioned, and the statement about him is probably considered to be an established fact by many fans.

So, what Jess Nevins has brought up is not only a damned good crossover (I will have to check my books by Win Scott Eckert and Sean Lee Levin to see if Zatara is considered part of the Wold Newton Universe.  I’ll get back to you before this is posted; I’m writing it in April of 2025), but it could be a nexus point for so many Sherlock Holmes stories in the Greater Metafictional Universe for all media, including Toobworld.

TVXOHOF TRIBUTE (FRIDAY FAREWELL) - JACK JONES

From TVLine:

Grammy-winning singer Jack Jones, the voice behind the iconic theme song for The Love Boat, died Wednesday following a battle with leukemia. He was 86.

Jones was known primarily as a pop singer, with hits that included “Lollipops and Roses,” “Wives and Lovers,” “The Race Is On,” “The Impossible Dream” and “Call Me Irresponsible.”

He was also a variety show staple in the ’60s and ’70s, having performed on 'The Ed Sullivan Show', 'The Andy Williams Show', 'The Carol Burnett Show', 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', 'The Dick Cavett Show' and 'The Steve Allen Show'.

But it was the theme song from the opening title sequence of ABC’s 'The Love Boat', which aired from 1977-1986, which made Jones something of a pop culture icon.

If it weren’t for his connection to that theme song, we might not be here today….

JACK JONES

From Wikipedia:

John Allan Jones (January 14, 1938 – October 23, 2024) was an American singer and actor.

Jones was primarily a straight-pop singer (even when he recorded contemporary material) whose forays into jazz were mostly of the big-band/swing variety. He won two Grammy Awards and received a total of five nominations.

Jones continued to perform concerts around the world and in Las Vegas. His recordings include "Lollipops and Roses", "Wives and Lovers", "The Race Is On", "The Impossible Dream", and "Call Me Irresponsible".

Between 1973 and 1978, Jones hosted “The Jack Jones Show”, directed by Stanley Dorfman, produced and broadcast by the BBC.

He sang the opening theme for the television series “The Love Boat” (1977–1985), and appeared in a 1980 episode with his father Allan.

Jones played himself in the episode "The Vegas Show" of “It's a Living”.  He also appeared in the Chris Elliot television show “Get a Life” on Fox.

THE JOEY SHOW

JOEY, JACK JONES, AND THE GENIE (1964)
After Joey has Jack Jones on his show and admires his talent, he precedes to have a fantasy dream that night. In it Ellie is a genie and grants Joey's wish to be a pop singer pursued by fanatical young fans. 

(Jack also appears in the dream as the Music Genie.)

O'Bservation:
Ed McMahon was also in that dream, appearing as himself.  McMahon is already in the TVXOHOF.

THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM

THE JACK JONES SHOW (1965)
Jack Jones sings two songs. Jack Benny plays the role of a school principal, and Jack Jones plays the role of a schoolteacher in the show's sketch.

THE JACK JONES SHOW (1973-1978)

From the BBC

IT’S A LIVING

THE VEGAS SHOW PART 1 (1987)
Sonny pesters singer Jack Jones into getting him a gig in Las Vegas. Howard gets jealous when Nancy makes a date with Jack Jones who invites her to go to Vegas with him.

ZONK – Jack Jones mentions ‘The Jeffersons’

GET A LIFE

PILE OF DEATH (1990)
To save his childhood park, Chris raises money by trying to break the world record for having things piled on you.  (This caused a traffic jam in which Jack Jones got stuck.  In order to move things along, he performed for the crowd to raise the money needed.)

NIGHT COURT

DAY COURT (1990)
When the staff shifts to day hours, Roz become unbearably perky. Christine also feels a personality change is in order.  Mac and Dan discover that the cafeteria is a nightclub during the day where Jack Jones is the headliner.

BUDDY FARO
PILOT (1998)
Top LA private eye Buddy Faro mysteriously vanished in 1978. Twenty years later, his niece hires not-so-top investigator Bob Jones to find him. This involves a trip to Mexico, plenty of gunfire, and sleazy underworld figures at every step.  (Jones is seen performing in a nightclub.)

CRUISE OF THE GODS (TV Movie 2002)

Andy (Brydon) is a struggling actor who has never quite reached the success of his first role as Romak in sci-fi series “Children Of Castor”. When he finds himself as a hotel porter he decides it time to go on that fan-club cruise he's been putting off for a while. Whilst there he meets Nick (Coogan), his co-star from the TV series. Nick is now a Hollywood success starring in “Sherlock Holmes...In Miami”. This is the story of the cruise and the surprising events that happen along the way.  

O'Bservation:

While at the bar, Andy talks, somewhat disparagingly, about Jack Jones, whose fan club is also on board that cruise.  He asks the guy sitting next to him if he was on the cruise for that reason.

It turns out that it was Jones himself he was talking to and he never realized it.)

Also, here are some other members of the TV Crossover Hall of Fame, who, like Jack Jones, were inducted as members of the League of Themselves:

Jack Jones & Milton Berle

Jack Jones & Andy Williams

Jack Jones & Dean Martin

Jack Jones & Tony Bennett

Jack Jones with Steve Larence & Ed McMahon

I have to admit that this was not one of those times where I kept putting off someone’s induction into the TVXOHOF until it was too late; Jack Jones was never on my radar.  But it has become common practice for me to check the resumes of celebrities known for their membership in the League of Themselves when it comes to television appearances.  

And as I referenced earlier, his rendition of the theme to ‘The Love Boat’ probably is the reason why his fictional televersion appeared as often as he did.  

(In the early days of his career, he made appearances as actual characters in such shows as ‘The Rat Patrol’, ‘Police Woman’, ‘McMillan & Wife’, and ‘The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries’, and even ‘The Love Boat’ with his dad, Alan Jones… none of which would have qualified him for this ::ahem!:: high honor.)

We may not have been expecting you, Jack Jones, but welcome aboard!

THE HAT SQUAD 2023 - ACTORS & PERSONALITIES

 

ACTORS & PERSONALITIES

ACTORS
Kelly Monteith ('Kelly Monteith', 'Kelly Monteith's BBC Memories', 'The Real Geezers of Beverly Hills-Adjacent', 'Brit Flix', 'The Hollywood Squares', 'Tonight Show' [35])
Jacques Sereys ('Au theatre ce soir', 'Palace', 'The Gravy Train', 
Massimo Turci (Italian voice actor)
J. Patrick McNamara ('Orleans', 'The Big Easy', 'It's Garry Shandling's Show')
Miiko Taka ('Shogun', 'TheWild, Wild West', 'I Spy', 'The F.B.I.', 'Hawaiian Eye')
Wyllie Longmore ('Coronation Street', 'Floodtide', 'Casualty', 'Blue Murder')
Thomas Hellberg ('Redereit')
Sam Schacht ('Law & Order', 'Edge Of Night', 'The Equalizer', 'Kojak', N.Y.P.D.')
Earl Boen ('L.A. Law', 'It's A Living', 'Santa Barbara', 'The Law and Harry McGraw', 'Who's The Boss?', 'Clifford The Big Red Dog', 'The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad The Sailor', 'Zorro', 'Bruno the Kid', 'Bonkers')
Annette McCarthy ('Twin Peaks', 'Baywatch', 'Riptide', 'Ohara', 'Magnum P.I.')
Michael Levin ('Ryan's Hope', 'All My Children', 'N.Y.P.D.', 'The Equalizer')
Adam Rich ('Eight Is Enough', 'Code Red', 'Dungeons & Dragons')
Julian Sands ('Jackie Chan Adventures', '24', 'Crossbones', 'Lipstick Jungle', 'Will')
Eve Pearce ('Take The High Road', 'Lytton's Diary', 'Yes, Honestly', 'Coronation Street', 'Z Cars', 'Crown Court', 'Funland', 'Taggart', 'Brookside')
Les Brown Jr. ('The Young Marrieds', 'The Baileys of Balboa', 'Lassie') 
David S. Howard ('Law & Order', 'Guiding Light')
Dorothy Tristan ('Gunsmoke', 'Kojak', 'The Waltons', "Griffin & Phoenix')
Carole Cooke ('The Lucy Show', 'Here's Lucy', 'Cagney & Lacey', 'Kojak', 'Dynasty')
Al Brown ('The Wire', 'The Hustler', 'H:LOTS', 'L&O: SVU')
Ben Masters ('Passions', 'Heartbeat', 'Another World', 'Muggsy', 'Murder, She Wrote', 'Pensacola: Wings of Gold')
Robbie Knievel ('Kick Buttkowski: Suburban Daredevil', 'Hawaii Five-0', 'CHiPs')
Ralph Osorio ("Sharknado: The Second One")
Yoshio Yoda ('McHale's Navy' & its 2 movies, 'Love, American Style')
Gina Lollabrigida ('Falcon Crest', 'The Love Boat', 'La romana', 'Deceptions') 
David Crosby ('Chicago Hope', 'The Simpsons', 'Ellen', 'Flying Blind', 'Roseanne')
Wally Campo ('Bram and Alice', 'First Monday', 'Berrenger's', 'The Fall Guy') 
Tim Barlow ('Doctor Who', 'Inside Victor Lewis-Smith', 'Derek', 'Sherlock', 'The New
Pope', 'The Alienist', 'The Bill', 'Poldark', 'Dixon Of Dock Green', 'Grange Hill')
Jeff Savage ('landlord', 'The Cars That Made America')
Lee Whitlock ('Shine On, Harvey Moon', 'The Bill', 'Casualty', 'Grange Hill')
Lance Kerwin ('Salem's Lot', 'James At 16', 'The Family Holvak', 'Insight')
Everett Quinton ('The Louise Log', 'Miami Vice', 'Guiding Light', Nurse Jackie')
Annie Wersching ('24', 'Bosch', 'Timeless', 'Star Trek: Picard')
Shirley Dynevor ('Crown Court', 'Family Solicitor', "Rogue Male")
Sylvia Syms ('At Home With The Braithwaites', 'The Jury', 'Ruth Rendell Mysteries', 'My Good Woman', 'The Saint', 'Peak Practice', 'Collision', 'EastEnders')
Lisa Loring ('The Addams Family', 'As The World Turns', 'The Pruitts of Southampton')
Cindy Williams ('Laverne & Shirley', 'Happy Days', 'Getting By', 'Normal Life', 'Laverne & Shirley In The Army', 'Just Like Family', 'Strip Mall', "The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' Brooklyn Heights", '8 Simple Rules', 'Drive', 'Sami')
Melinda Dillon ('Space', 'Insight', 'Heartland', 'The Twilight Zone', 'Bonanza', 'The Jeffersons', 'The Defenders', 'Picket Fences', 'The Client', "A Christmas Story")
Charles Kimbrough ('Murphy Brown', 'Another World', 'Kojak', 'Ally McBeal', "Company", "Sunday In The Park With George", 'Dinosaurs!', 'Spenser: For Hire')
Patti Love ('Warrior Queen', 'Middlemarch', 'Grange Hill', 'The Bill')
Cody Longo ('Days Of Our Lives', 'Hollywood Heights')
Sandra Seacat ('Enlightened', 'Under The Banner Of Heaven', "Nobody's Child")
Raquel Welch ('Date My Dad', 'Welcome To The Captain', 'American Family', 'Spin City', 'C.P.W.', 'Mork & Mindy', 'The Hollywood Palace', 'Seinfeld', 'Bewitched', 'The Virginian', 'McHale's Navy', 'CSI: Miami', '8 Simple Rules', 'Lois & Clark')
Stella Stevens ('Santa Barbara', 'Flamingo Road', 'General Hospital', 'Strip Mall', 'Adventures Beyond Belief', 'The Love Boat', 'Fantasy Island', 'Newhart', 'Ben Casey', 'Bonanza', 'Johnny Ringo', 'Dream On', 'Hec Ramsey', 'Banacek')
Richard Belzer (TVXOHOF founding member as Detective John Munch, the Crossover King - 'Homicide: Life On The Streets', 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit', 'The Wire', 'The Beat', 'The X-Files', 'The Simpsons', 'Arrested Development')
Barbara Bosson ('Hill Street Blues', 'Murder One', 'Cop Rock', 'Hooperman')
Julian Christopher ('Upload', 'The Magician', 'Smallville', 'When Calls The Heart')
Tom Sizemore ('Robbery Homicide Division', 'Twin Peaks', 'Barbee Rehab', 'Shooter', 'Dr. Vegas', 'China Beach', 'The Red Road', 'Hawaii Five-0')
Gordon Pinsent ('The Red Green Show', 'Babar', 'Due South', 'The Forest Rangers', 'Power Play', 'Republic of Doyle')
Topol ('The Winds of War' & 'War And Remembrance', 'Queenie', 'SeaQuest 2032')
Lance Reddick ('The Wire', 'Bosch', 'Lost')
Stuart Hodes ("Cinderella", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Appalachian Spring")
Terry Norris ('Bellbird', 'Cop Shop', 'Homicide', 'Jack Irish', 'Bloom', 'Bobby Dazzler')
Paul Grant ("Return of the Jedi", "Willow" - both with Toobworld connections)
Peter Hardy ('McLeod's Daughters', 'Sweat', 'Stingers', 'Snowy', 'Neighbours')
Ignacio Lopez Tarso ('Amores con Trampa', 'La Malquerida', 'The One Who Couldn't Love', 'Vivan Los Ninos!', 'Angela', 'Imperio de Cristal', 'Senda de Gloria', 'El Derecho de Nacer')
Robert Blake ('Baretta', 'Hell Town', 'The Richard Boone Show', 'Broken Arrow', 'Naked City')
Topol ('The Winds of War', 'War and Remembrance', 'Queenie', 'SeaQuest 2032')
Grant Bridger ('Radio Waves', 'Gather Your Dreams', 'Hercules', 'Xena')
Bob Goody ('Crime Traveller', 'Smith and Goody', 'The Bill', 'The Ghost Hunter', 'EastEnders')
Tom Sizemore ('Robbery Homicide Division', 'Dr. Vegas', 'China Beach', 'Crash', 'Twin Peaks', 'Hawaii Five-0', 'The Red Road', 'Shooter')
Ted Donalson ('Matinee Theatre', 'The Silent Service', 'Front Row Center') 
Len Birman ('Generations', 'Police Surgeon', 'Festival', 'Rocket Robin Hood', 'Quest')
Zia Mohyeddin ('The Hidden Truth', 'Secret Agent', 'Orlando', 'Jackanory', 'Jewel In The Crown', 'Shalom Salaam', 'Tickle on the Tum', 'King of the Ghetto', 'Gangsters') 
Javier Lopez ('La carabina de Ambrosio', La Güereja y algo más, 'A Christmas Carol')
Barbara Young ('Family Affairs', 'Coronation Street', 'Last of the Summer Wine')
Lee Whitlock ('The Bill', 'EastEnders', 'Casualty')
Ricou Browning ('Flipper', 'Sea Hunt', the legendary Gill Man)
Michael Lerner ('Clueless', 'Courthouse', 'Glee', 'Matumbo Goldberg', 'The Rockford Files', 'Starsky and Hutch', 'Hill Street Blues', 'Melba') 
Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage!, 'Ally McBeal', 'Not Only, But Also')
Murray Melvin ('Starhunter', 'Starhunter Redux', 'Oscar's Orchestra')
Eileen Saki ('M*A*S*H', 'CHiPs', 'Good Times', 'The Greatest American Hero')
Jung Chae-Yul ('Zombie Detective', 'Devil's Runway')
Jacklyn Zeman ('General Hospital', 'The Bay', 'One Life To Live', 'Misguided')
Bill Saluga ("You Can Call Me Ray", 'Playboy's Really Naked Truth', 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', 'Hollywood Squares', 'Mad About You', 'Designing Women', 'Seinfeld')
Jim Brown ('Soul Food', 'CHiPs', 'T.J. Hooker', 'I Spy', 'Between Brothers')
Helmut Berger ('Dynasty', 'Fantomas', "Victory at Etebbe", 'The Betrothed')
Hugh McGuire
Ray Stevenson ('Rome', 'Das Boot', 'Vikings', 'Reef Break', 'Black Sails', 'Dexter')
Ed Ames ('Daniel Boone', 'McCloud', 'Kodiak', 'The Starlost')
Paul Geoffrey 
George Logan (Dear Ladies', 'Hinge & Bracket')
George Maharis ('Route 66', 'The Most Deadly Game', 'Search for Tomorrow')
Peter Oliphant ('The Dick Van Dyke Show', 'The Donna Reed Show')
Peter Simonischek ('HeliCops', 'Lenz Oder Die Freiheit', 'Bella Block', 'Universum')
John Beasley ('Everwood', 'Soul Man', 'Shots Fired', 'Brewster Place')
Patricia Dainton ('Sixpenny Corner'
Pat Cooper ('Seinfeld', 'It's A Living', 'Vega$', 'Throb', 'Charlie's Angels', 'L.A. Law')
Michael Batayeh ('Breaking Bad', 'Sleeper Cell', 'JAG', 'Touch', 'Jessie')
Elizabeth Hubbard ('The Doctors', 'As The World Turns')
Treat Williams ('Everwood', 'Chesapeake Shores', 'Chicago Fire', 'Blue Bloods', 'Good Advice', 'Heartland', 'Brothers & Sisters', 'Against The Wall', 'White Collar', 'American Odyssey')
Glenda Jackson ('Elizabeth R', 'Z Cars', 'Carol & Company', 'Morecombe & Wise')
Paxton Whitehead ('Marblehead Manor', 'Simon', 'Liberty! The American Revolution', 'Mad About You', 'Ellen', 'Dinosaurs!', 'The Naked Mind', 'The West Wing', 'Knight Errant Limited')
Frederic Forrest ('Quo Vadis/', 'Die Kinder', '21 Jump Street', 'Lonesome Dove')
Angela Thorne ('Three Up, Two Down', 'To The Manor Born', 'Farrington of the F.O.', 'Noah's Ark', 'The Bagthorpe Saga', 'Emmerdale Farm', 'Ballet Shoes')
Frankie Hough ('Wire In The Blood', 'Merseybeat', 'Heartbeat', 'Where The Heart Is')
Dodie Heath ('The Twilight Zone', 'Alfred Hitchcock Hour', 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', 'Lawman', 'Riverboat', 'Outlaws', 'The Untouchables', 'Colt .45')
Nicholas Coster ('Santa Barbara', 'Secret Storm', 'Another World', 'Our Private World',  'The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo', 'The Bay', 'As The World Turns', 'The Facts Of Life', 'One Life To Live', 'Ryan's Four')
Alan Arkin ('The Kominsky Method', '100 Centre Street', 'Harry', 'BoJack Horseman', 'St. Elsewhere', 'Sesame Street', 'Captain Kangaroo', 'Busting Loose')
Meg Johnson ('Emmerdale Farm', 'Coronation Street', 'Brookside')
Jeffrey Carlson ('All My Children')
Andrea Evans ('One Life To Live', 'Passions', 'The Bold & The Beautiful', 'The Young & The Restless', 'The Bay')
Jimmy Weldon (Host & voice of 'Webster Webfoot', voice of Yakky Doodle')
John Nettleton ('If It Moves, File It', 'Yes, Minister'/'Yes, Prime Minister', 'Her Majesty's Pleasure', 'The New Statesman', 'Z Cars', 'The Happy Apple')
George Armstrong ('Grange Hill', 'Tucker's Luck', 'The Bill', 'Just William')
Nick Benedict ('Days Of Our Lives', 'Tribes', 'Santa Barbara', 'All My Children')
Jane Birkin ('Armchair Theatre', 'Red Fox', 'Armchair Mystery Theatre')
Carlin Glynn ('Mr. President', 'A Woman Named Jackie', 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent')
Pamela Blair ('Ryan's Hope', 'Loving', 'All My Children', 'Another World')
Inga Swenson ('Benson', 'Soap', 'North & South: 1&2', 'Doctor, Doctor', 'Bonanza')
Paul Ruebens ('PeeWee's Playhouse', 'Murphy Brown', 'The Blacklist', 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow', 'Mosaic', 'Gotham', 'American Dad!', 'Pickle and Peanut')
Angus Cloud ('Euphoria', 'The Perfect Woman')
Mark Margolis ('Breaking Bad'/'Better Call Saul', 'The Equalizer',  'Oz', 'Waterfront', 'Santa Barbara')
Sharon Farrell ('The Young & The Restless', 'Hawaii Five-0', 'Saints & Sinners')
Shelley Smith ('The Associates', 'For Love and Honor', 'Simon and Simon')
Ron Cephas Jones ('This Is Us', 'Truth Be Told', 'Luke Cage', 'Mr. Robot')
Lea Garcia ('Selva de Padra', 'Xica da Silva', 'Mild Poison', 'Sunshine', 'Baile de Mascaras', 'Law and Crime', 'Desire', 'Bandidos de Falange', 'Rising Sun')
Gayle Hunnicutt ('Dallas', ''The Golden Bowl', 'Fall of Eagles', 'The Man Without A Face', 'A Woman of Substance', 'Fantomas')
Arleen Sorkin ('Days Of Our Lives', 'Duet'/'Open House', 'Gotham Girls'
Michael McGrath ("Monday Night Mayhem", 'Madam Secretary', 'Mathnet')
Dick Curtis ('Motormouse and Autocat', 'The Ray Stevens Show', 'The Jonathan Winters Show', 'The Dick Van Dyke Show', 'The Odd Couple', 'Captain Nice')
Jango Edwards ('Tohuwabohu', 'Galeria Oberta', 'Collaricocoshow', 'Suite 215')
David McCallum ('The Man From U.N.C.L.E.', 'N.C.I.S.', 'Sapphire & Steel')
Michael Gambon ('Maigret', 'The Borderers', 'The Other One',  'Fortitude', 'The Singing Detective', 'Fearless', 'The Challengers', 'Eyeless In Gaza', 'Luck', 'Emma') 
Cal Wilson ('Kitty Is Not A Cat', 'The Wedge', 'Street Legal', 'Flatmates')
Phyllis Coates ('The Adventures of Superman', 'This Is Alice', 'The Duke')
Mark Goddard ('Lost In Space', 'The Detectives', 'Johnny Ringo', 'Many Happy Returns', 'General Hospital', 'One Life To Live', 'The Doctors', 'Barnaby Jones')
Piper Laurie ('Twin Peaks', 'Skag', 'Traps', "Inherit The Wind", "Rainbow", 'Frasier')
Suzanne Somers ('Three's Company', 'Step By Step', 'She's The Sheriff', Thighmaster infomercials)
Lara Parker ('Dark Shadows' & movie spinoffs, 'Washington: Behind Closed Doors', 'One Life To Live', 'Jessica Novak', 'Galactica 1980', 'Quincy, M.E.', 'Switch', 'Kojak')
Evan Ellingson ('24', 'CSI: Miami', 'Titus', 'Complete Savages', 'General Hospital')
Janet Landgard ('The Donna Reed Show', 'My Three Sons'
Richard Roundtree ('Shaft', 'Outlaws', 'Generations', 'Being Mary Jane', 'Family Reunion', 'Diary of a Single Mom', 'Rescue 77', 'Soul Food', 'Cherish The Day', '413 Hope Street', 'Buddies', 'Heroes', 'A.D.', 'Star', 'Desperate Housewives', 'Roc')
Peter White ('Love Is A Many Splendored Thing', 'All My Children', 'The Colbys', 'Sisters', 'Dallas')
Tim Woodward ('Wings', 'Murder City', 'Holding On', 'Crossroads', 'Mr. Selfridge')
Johnny Ruffo ('Home And Away', 'The X Factor', 'Dancing With The Stars', 'Neighbors')
Conny Van Dyke ('Police Woman', 'Sunshine', 'Ironside', 'Nakia', 'Adam-12')
Richard Moll ('Night Court', 'Mighty Max', 'Batman: The Animated Series',  '100 Deeds For Eddie McDowd', 'The Legend of Calamity Jane')
Joanna Merlin ('Law & Order: Special Victims Unit', 'Law & Order', 'New York Undercover', 'Another World') 
Matthew Perry ('Friends', 'The Odd Couple', 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip', 'Boys Will Be Boys', 'Go On', 'Home Free', 'Sydney', 'Mr. Sunshine', 'The Good Wife'/'The Good Fight', 'Ally McBeal', and 'The West Wing')
Tyler Christopher ('General Hospital', 'Days Of Our Lives', 'The Lying Game', 'Into The West', TVXOHOF for 3 made for TV disaster movies)
Shirley Jo Finney ("Wilma", 'Hill Street Blues', 'Lou Grant', 'CBS Schoolbreak Special', "Uncle Tom's Cabin", 'Police Story', 'Mork & Mindy', 'Amen', 'Night Court')
Joss Ackland ('Jackanory', 'Crusoe', 'Above and Beyond', 'Sherlock Holmes')
Suzanne Shepherd ('The Sopranos', 'Blue Bloods', 'Ed')
Peter Spellos ('American Dreams', 'Planetes', 'Transformers: Robots In Disguise')
Annabel Giles ('Chuck Finn')
Lawrence Steven Meyers ('The Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys')
Frances Sternhagen ('The Doctors', 'Cheers', 'Sex And The City', 'The Closer')
Dean Sullivan ('Brookside', 'Doctors', 'Crime Stories')
Sheila Smith ('Charlie's Angels')
Benjamin Zephaniah ('Peaky Blinders', 'EastEnders', 'The Bill', 'Zen Motoring')
Brigit Forsyth ('The Practice', 'Still Open All Hours', 'Tom, Dick, and Harriet', 'Boon', 'Doctor Who') 
Andrea F. Friedman ('Life Goes On', 'The Division', 'Family Guy', 'Baywatch', 'ER')
Ryan O'Neal ('Peyton Place', 'Empire', 'Bones', 'Miss Match', 'Good Sports')
Shirley Anne Field ('Santa Barbara', 'Buccaneer', 'Where The Heart Is', 'Madson')
Ellen Holly ('One Life To Live', 'Guiding Light', 'In The Heat Of The Night')
Jack Hogan ('Combat!', 'Sierra', 'Jake and the Fatman', 'Adam 12', 'Hawaii Five-0')
Maurice Hines ('Cosby', 'The Equalizer', 'Love, Sidney')
Steve Halliwell ('Emmerdale', 'Coronation Street')
Camden Toy ('Buffy, The Vampire Slayer', 'The Bay', 'Goodnight, Burbank')
Andre Braugher ('Homicide: Life On The Street', 'Brooklyn 9-9', 'The Good Fight')
James McCaffrey ('Rescue Me', 'Viper', 'Beautiful People', 'Swift Justice', 'As The World Turns', 'She's Gotta Have It', 'Suits', 'Revenge', 'New York Undercover')
Lee Sun-kyun ('Coffee Prince', 'Payback', 'Golden Time', 'Miss Korea', 'Pasta')
Tommy Smothers ('The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', 'My Brother The Angel')
Mike Nussbaum ('The Commish', 'Brooklyn Bridge', 'The X-Files')
Mbongeni Ngema ('Gold Diggers', 'Keeping Company with Sondheim', 'Everyman')
Tom Wilkinson ('First Among Equals', 'The Full Monty', 'The Kennedys', 'Belgravia', 'John Adams', 'Spyship', 'Watership Down', 'Martin Chuzzlewitt', 'Underbelly')
Shecky Greene ('Combat!', 'The Fall Guy', 'Mad About You', 'Roseanne')
Ana Ofelia Murguia ('El Amor De Mi Vida', 'Mozart In The Jungle', 'El Abuelo y Yo')
Vinie Burrows ('Producers' Showcase', 'Camera Three')
Cindy Morgan ('Falcon Crest', 'Bring 'Em Back Alive', 'CHiPs', 'Matlock', 'Hunter')
Sajid Khan ('Maya', 'The Big Valley', '1857 Kranti', 'It's Happening')

PERSONALITIES

Country Boy Eddie (C&W variety show host)
Kajsa Thoor (Swedish TV presenter)
Lisa Marie Presley (Singer/actress, daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley)
Patrick Grimlund (Swedish TV presenter)
C.J. Harris ('American Idol')
Arthur Duncan ('The Betty White Show', 'The Lawrence Welk Show', 'Columbo')
Marisol Malaret (Miss Universe, television host)
Mark Russell (Musical Political Satirist)
Harry Lorayne (Master of Total Recall)
Keith Nale ('Survivor')
Len Goodman ('Strictly Come Dancing', 'Dancing With The Stars') 
Judith Miller ('Antiques Roadshow' - BBC original)
Tina Turner
Rolf Harris 
Anna Hays ('Bling Empire')
Astrud Gilberto (Many variety/talk shows, and "Girl From Ipanema" used in shows)
CoCo Lee (Infinity and Beyond 2022', 'The Running Man', 'Sheng Lin Zhi Wang', 
Michael Parkinson ('Parkinson', 'Parkinson: Masterclass', 'Give Us A Clue')
Carole Duvall (How-to crafter on TV)
Bob Barker ('The Price Is Right', 'Beat The Clock', 'Martial Law', 'How I Met Your Mother'
Ahmo Hight (Fitness Instructor)
Mike Yarwood (British impressionist)
Michael Chiarello (Chef, Food Network)
David Berglas (Magician:)
Robbin Bain (NBC's 'Today' Girl, 'To Tell The Truth')
Cilly Dartell ('Hart van Nederland')
Bobby Rivers ('Sunday Brunch with Bobby Rivers', 'Good Day New York', 'The Sopranos', 'News 4 New York')
Selma Archerd ('Kolchak, 'Tattletales', 'The Love Boat')

NEWS & SPORTS
Nate Thayer ('The Most Evil Men and Women in History' - Pol Pot)
Bernard Kalb (CBS Evening News, NBC News, 'Reliable Sources')
Julie Wilcox (WVEC, WNYT)
Billy Packer (CBS, NBC basketball analyst)
Tim McCarver (MLB catcher and sports commentator for Fox Sports)
Dick Davies (ITV's 'World of Sport')
John Motson (BBC FIFA football commentator)
Gloria Maria (Brazilian tele-journalist 'Love & Sex', 'Fantastic', 'Atlas Horas')
Leslie Swick Van Ness (WGEM anchor, talent acquisitions Quincy Media)
Gail Christian (NBC, KNBC, PBS correspondent)
Tony Valdez (KTTV anchor & reporter)
John Roland (WNEW-WNYW anchor)
Frank Field (WNBC weatherman)
Don Kennedy
Elise Finch (NYC meteorologist)
Max Gomez (Medical correspondent for WCBS, WNBS, WNEW, KYW)
Felicia Taylor (CNBC news reporter, Rod Taylor's daughter)
Mike Enriquez (Filipino newscaster - 'Saksi', '24 Oras', 'Imbestigador')
Ivor Robson (Voice of the British Open, 41 years straight)
Arnold Diaz ("Shame On You" segments for WCBS, WPIX, WNYW, & ABC News)
Betty Rollin (TV news correspondent for NBC & PBS, portrayed by Mary Tyler Moore in the TV movie adaptation of her book "First You Cry".)
Pablo Guzman (WCBS reporter)
Emily Matson ('Erie News Now' anchor)


PERSONAL
Tim O'Brien (My brother, Fox News 61 - he once appeared in a report extolling the joys of Hammonasset Beach  His name is in orange because he so loved the Broncos.)  

A LITTLE BIRTHDAY GREETING FOR MR. HOLMES

 

I saw this meme back on Holy Thursday and I knew where it belonged - posted here on January 6, the generally acknowledged but not officially recognized birthday for the great detective.

Of the three movies listed here for Sherlock Holmes, only one is located in one of the alternate Toobworlds - "Enola Holmes".

As for the two movies set in the MCU, they do have links to alternate Toobworlds, mostly thanks to the 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'  As for Henry Cavill as Supes, DC Comics was first of the two mega corporations to embrace the multiverse, especially with the crossover event "Crisis on Multiple Earths".  (I'm not going to get into who has handled the multiverse better, however.)

One day I'll have to finally make a decision on which Toobworld Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes belongs.  We know it can't be Earth Prime-Time - Jeremy Brett holds that honor!  (I'm leaning towards Cumberbatch appearing as the spirit of Brett's Holmes, trapped in Limbo where he welcomes new Dr. Watsons who share common traits with his original companion by that name.)

TVXOHOF - APRIL 2023: THE 12TH PRECINCT OF THE NYPD

I couldn’t think of a good candidate for the traditional April Fool’s Day induction for the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.  Took me nine days to finally come up with something at least unique for the month’s latest member.

And so….

12TH PRECINCT

NYPD

Every so often a location does get inducted into the TVXOHOF.  They include places which can only be found in Toobworld – the Montecito Casino and Hotel, St. Eligius Hospital, Hooterville, Mayberry, Altair IV, and Fernwood, Ohio.  There have been a few Real World locations as well, beginning with the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.  Other locations which can be found here in the Trueniverse include Las Vegas, the Playboy Mansion, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, The White House, and the OK Corral.

The 12th Precinct is a multi-dimensional location.  It might even be multiversal if it exists in movies or literature.  But you won’t find it anywhere in the five boroughs of New York City.  For safety concerns, the NYPD doesn’t allow real precincts to be cited in movies and TV shows.

The most famous appearance by the 12th Precinct is in ‘Barney Miller’, where it is the main setting.  Here are other places where the 12th Precinct showed up in Earth Prime-Time, the main Toobworld:

• ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’
• ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’
• ‘CSI: NY’

As you can see, that’s four TV series which covers the minimum requirement, plus one.

But wait!  There’s more!

Back in 2011, Vincent Audette wrote to me:

“This precinct is the home of TV's 'McCloud', 'Barney Miller', 'The Unusuals', 'Can't Hurry Love', 'Castle' and 'The Beat'.”

Of those, ‘Castle’ is one of the series which makes the 12th Precinct a multi-dimensional location and I’ll be getting to that later.

As for the others….

‘McCLOUD’ – This “fish out of water” cop show had the Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud from Taos, New Mexico, on loan to the NYPD to learn new techniques.  He worked out of the 27th Precinct, but there was always some interaction with other precincts.  So the 12th Precinct may have been cited or actually shown up in at least one episode.

‘THE UNUSUALS’ – I don't remember if I ever saw this short-lived series.  But one of my old blog posts says I was really enjoying it.   No matter; I found it available online.  I will be watching for any references to the Ol’ One-Two.  But the detectives in the Second Squad worked out of the 2nd Precinct according to the episode summary on the IMDb.

‘CAN’T HURRY LOVE’ – In three episodes of this one-season sitcom, the main character dated an NYPD detective, including the episode which was included in the Elizabeth Taylor crossover event, “Taylor-Made Monday”.  He may have been working at the 12th Precinct.

‘THE BEAT’ - Despite its pedigree behind the scenes, and an appearance by Crossover King Detective John Munch, this series about patrolmen had a very short run, with only a few of the produced episodes ever getting broadcast.  But the two patrolmen could have been working at the 12th.

Here are the shows which I can definitely say establish the 12th Precinct as existing in the main Toobworld:

‘BARNEY MILLER’ (Duh.  O’Bviously.)
Most famously, the 12th, originally located on East 6th Street in Greenwich Village, was the home of 'Barney Miller' and his squad of detectives, throughout the run of the series.  But that original building is now home to the Theodore Roosevelt Police Commissioner Museum as seen in the 3-episode finale.  (Its lamp outside that original building will be the emblem for all of its representations in other series.)

‘LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT’
“INTERNAL AFFAIRS”
Detective Brian Cassidy was forced to infiltrate a corrupt precinct whose officers were suspected of raping young women during their shifts.  Ed Tucker later investigated the entire precinct for kickbacks, extortion and rape.  

“GAMBLER’S FALLACY”
It is later mentioned that a dirty cop from the 12th that was previously thought to have committed suicide was actually killed by Anton Nadari.

‘LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT’
“MONSTER”
Detectives Robert Goren and Alexandra Eames visited the precinct during their investigation into the death of Laura Dietrich.  (Hopefully no relation to Detective Arthur Dietrich of 'Barney Miller', but then again - it is a small world.)

‘CSI: NY'
I am not sure if the 12th Precinct worked most closely, if intermittently, with the crime lab, or if it was the regular precinct throughout the series.

ALTERNATE TOOBWORLDS

‘CASTLE’
Detective Kate Beckett is working out of the 12th Precinct. (It was embossed on the elevator doors in "Always Buy Retail".)  The backdrop against which the events of Castle are seen, this is home to Beckett, Esposito, and Ryan and permanent playground to Rick Castle. The 12th has had two captains so far whilst Castle has been running loose, Roy Montgomery and Victoria Gates.

In 2015, Captain Gates was promoted, and Beckett was assigned as the new precinct commander in "XY".

What keeps ‘Castle’ out of the main Toobworld is that New York City had a different mayor than the one established for Earth Prime-Time.  That mayor must always be the same as the one from the Real World.

BLUE BLOODS
Jameson Reagan was formerly assigned to this precinct, along with Eddie Janko-Reagan.  Before he died, Joseph Reagan, also worked at the 12th Precinct.

The same reason why ‘Castle’ is out of the main Toobworld can be applied to ‘Blue Bloods’ – because the mayor was different from the one in the Real World.

'ELEMENTARY'
"THE BEST WAY OUT IS ALWAYS THROUGH"
Detective Marcus Bell of the 11th Precinct was dating Detective Shauna Scott of the 12th Precinct.  What Bell didn't know was that Scott was also working for the Internal Affairs Bureau....

Since the series is about the Sherlock Holmes of the modern age in a world in which Arthur Conan Doyle never took credit for the stories about a similarly named consulting detective in the Victorian era (of which there is no mention in 'Elementary'), I've placed the show in the same TV dimension as 'Sleepy Hollow'.  For that series, Washington Irving apparently never wrote about Ichabod Crane who - like Sherlock - exists in the modern age (although he did begin life in the Colonial period.)

‘24’
“DAY 8: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM”
When Victor Aruz went to Jack Bauer with information about a possible threat against President Omar Hassan, he contacted CTU New York. The Special Agent in Charge, Brian Hastings, told Jack to take Victor to the 12th Precinct where he would have him picked up. However, when Jack was en route to the precinct, he was ambushed by Red Square assassins.

This exclusion goes beyond different mayors.  It goes to the top, with a slew of fictional Presidents when it should be the same one as in the Real World.

So…. Four series in the main Toobworld, four in alternate Toobworlds.

And that ain’t all!

Thanks to shows like ‘Primeval’ and the mega-crossover event for all the DC superhero shows (plus a few others), not to mention TV shows which focused on time travel like ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘The Time Tunnel’, the timeline for Earth is always being revamped.  Perhaps it has happened so much that the Earths depicted in the alternate Toobworlds mentioned here have been changed so that they have been brought into alignment with Earth Prime-Time and no longer exist as different Earths.  That is, if the shows are no longer on the air and thus unable to contradict this theory.

So ‘Castle’ could be blended back into the main Toobworld if we assume it now has a back-story which eliminates the show’s mayor and all the episodes he was involved with.  (There is precedent for this – ‘Primeval’ caused the appearance of Ford Rainey as the POTUS in episodes of ‘Lost In Space’ (voice only) and ‘Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea’ to be replaced by whoever was the actual President at the time.

If we apply the same scenario to ‘Elementary’, now it is in a world in which Conan Doyle at least served as the literary agent for Dr. Watson.  This means that the entire series of ‘Elementary’ no longer exists.

‘Blue Bloods’ is still in production, so for the time being, we, as the TV PTB, have a hands-off policy in effect.

And finally, I think it saves a lot headaches to keep ‘24’ in its own TV dimension.  Too many presidents to contend with.

Welcome to the TVXOHOF, 12th Precinct!

Thanks to:
Vince Audette
Brad Mengel
Brett McKee

One final O'Bservation....

I was just starting to add the pictures to the post when I realized I did have a candidate for the Hall following the very loose tradition of April's Fool. Considering who he is, I should have thought of him almost immediately.

I'll save him for next year....