From the BBC Online:
Rock group Status Quo have filmed a cameo appearance on Coronation Street in which they will play themselves. Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt will appear in three episodes of the long-running ITV soap.
The first of the episodes will be screened in September when character Les Battersby comes face to face with his rock idols.
The storyline is being kept secret but producers revealed the band would later play at Les and Cilla's wedding.
Status Quo will be seen drinking in the Rovers Return before going to a gig, when they are spotted by young Chesney.
When Les discovers the band were there but sees a blacked-out people carrier driving away, he thinks he has lost his chance to meet the duo.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4738901.stm
I'm not too familiar with 'Coronation Street', and I don't have a clue about the music for Status Quo. But I always welcome the chance to trumpet real-life celebs in Toobworld's League of Themselves.
For the most part, their appearance will only link 'Coronation Street' to a wide selection of pop music shows and talk shows. But there's also 'Live Aid', and as a Television event, surely that counts for something.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Tuesday, August 2, 2005
RAINEY MEN
With so many roles which he contributed to the roster of Toobworld, there was bound to be some interesting possibilities for links to be found in the work of Ford Rainey.
I pulled a few examples from his list of credits at the IMDb.com. Upon further investigation, there was at least one which turned out to be a near-miss. Nevertheless, I thought it would be worthy of mention.....
A] LINCOLN LOGS
"Captains and the Kings" (1976) (mini) TV Series .... Abraham Lincoln
"The Time Tunnel" playing "Lincoln" in episode: "The Death Trap" (episode # 1.12) 2 December 1966
Our American Heritage: Shadow of a Soldier (1960) (TV) .... Abraham Lincoln
In my recent essay about Wyatt Earp, I said that I usually toss off excess historical portrayals into alternate dimension. And the example I used was Abraham Lincoln.
I haven't given it much thought as to which portrayal of Honest Abe I'd prefer to be the official one for the main TV Universe. At least I do know that Dann Florek's tele-version from 'The Secret Files Of Desmond Pfeiffer' should be relegated as far away as possible, to the same alternate dimension where you'd find 'That's My Bush!'.
But based on the above trio of appearances by Mr. Rainey as our 16th President, I'd say he has a pretty good lock on being the official face for Lincoln in the TV Crossover Hall of Fame. (Although I do like using that faux Lincoln from an episode of 'Star Trek'.)
B] LINEAR LINEAGE
Tele-genetics are more powerful than the genetics of the Real World. Despite the dilution of DNA that should occur with each succeeding generation, many characters in different generations of the same family might still resemble each other.
Usually we're only talking about going back no farther than to one's grandfather (i.e. in the case of Felix Unger's grandpa on 'The Odd Couple'). But as we'll see with the 'Doctor Who' episode "The Long Game", it could stretch out thousands of generations.
Here are a few examples of possible family ties between characters played by Ford Rainey:
1]
"The Manhunter" (1974) TV Series .... James Barrett (1974-75)
"How the West Was Won" playing "Rancher Barrett" in episode: "The Rustler" (episode # 1.2) 22 January 1979
(Great-Grandfather to James?)
2]
"Cannon" playing "Mr. Taylor" in episode: "Hounds of Hell" (episode # 3.3) 26 September 1973
"Bonanza" playing "Judge Taylor" in episode: "A Home for Jamie" (episode # 13.13) 19 December 1971
(Probably four generations separate these two men.)
3]
"Little House on the Prairie" playing "Dr. Burke" in episodes:
"I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away: Part 1" (episode # 4.21) 6 March 1978
"Four Eyes" (episode # 2.2) 17 September 1975
"The F.B.I." playing "Burke" in episode: "The Swindler" (episode # 5.3) 28 September 1969
(I get this feeling that Dr. Burke would be disappointed in how his great-great grandson turned out...........)
C] UN-NAMED RESOURCES
Ford Rainey's career is full of nameless sheriffs, lawyers, doctors; characters that could easily be blended into one person.
Here are two examples:
1]
"Night Gallery" playing "Sheriff" in episode: "The Phantom Farmhouse" (episode # 2.16) 20 October 1971
"The Immortal" playing "Sheriff Billy" in episode: "The Return" (episode # 1.12) 17 December 1970
2]
"Storefront Lawyers" playing "Judge Carp" in episode: "Yesterday Is But a Dream" (episode # 1.21) 31 March 1971
"Storefront Lawyers" in episode: "Hostage" (episode # 1.17) 24 February 1971
There is such a short span between those two episodes that I have to figure Rainey played Judge Carp in the episode "Hostage" as well.
D] MIRROR, MIRROR MILFORD
"Amerika" (1987) (mini) TV Series .... Will Milford
"The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" playing "Milford" in episode: "The People Against Dr. Chapman" (episode # 2.4) 6 December 1970
Since "Amerika" took place in an alternate dimension, - and the classic evil mirror universe at that! - I don't see any reason why we can't consider both of the men named "Milford" to be the same individual, separated by the dimensional vortex.
E] THE SUPREMES
Here's that example that fell through:
J. Edgar Hoover (1987) (TV) .... Harlan Fisk Stone
Gideon's Trumpet (1980) (TV) .... 2nd Supreme Court Justice
Thanks to my brother Bill, I found out that Harlan Stone was a Supreme Court Justice. He was appointed by Calvin Coolidge in 1925 and served until his death in 1946.
But the case of Gideon v. Wainwright wasn't heard by the Court until the mid-60s. In fact, the original crime for which Clarence Earl Gideon was convicted took place in 1961.
Not even Toobworld chronology can be twisted that much, especially since both cases must adhere for the most part to the history of the Real World.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
I pulled a few examples from his list of credits at the IMDb.com. Upon further investigation, there was at least one which turned out to be a near-miss. Nevertheless, I thought it would be worthy of mention.....
A] LINCOLN LOGS
"Captains and the Kings" (1976) (mini) TV Series .... Abraham Lincoln
"The Time Tunnel" playing "Lincoln" in episode: "The Death Trap" (episode # 1.12) 2 December 1966
Our American Heritage: Shadow of a Soldier (1960) (TV) .... Abraham Lincoln
In my recent essay about Wyatt Earp, I said that I usually toss off excess historical portrayals into alternate dimension. And the example I used was Abraham Lincoln.
I haven't given it much thought as to which portrayal of Honest Abe I'd prefer to be the official one for the main TV Universe. At least I do know that Dann Florek's tele-version from 'The Secret Files Of Desmond Pfeiffer' should be relegated as far away as possible, to the same alternate dimension where you'd find 'That's My Bush!'.
But based on the above trio of appearances by Mr. Rainey as our 16th President, I'd say he has a pretty good lock on being the official face for Lincoln in the TV Crossover Hall of Fame. (Although I do like using that faux Lincoln from an episode of 'Star Trek'.)
B] LINEAR LINEAGE
Tele-genetics are more powerful than the genetics of the Real World. Despite the dilution of DNA that should occur with each succeeding generation, many characters in different generations of the same family might still resemble each other.
Usually we're only talking about going back no farther than to one's grandfather (i.e. in the case of Felix Unger's grandpa on 'The Odd Couple'). But as we'll see with the 'Doctor Who' episode "The Long Game", it could stretch out thousands of generations.
Here are a few examples of possible family ties between characters played by Ford Rainey:
1]
"The Manhunter" (1974) TV Series .... James Barrett (1974-75)
"How the West Was Won" playing "Rancher Barrett" in episode: "The Rustler" (episode # 1.2) 22 January 1979
(Great-Grandfather to James?)
2]
"Cannon" playing "Mr. Taylor" in episode: "Hounds of Hell" (episode # 3.3) 26 September 1973
"Bonanza" playing "Judge Taylor" in episode: "A Home for Jamie" (episode # 13.13) 19 December 1971
(Probably four generations separate these two men.)
3]
"Little House on the Prairie" playing "Dr. Burke" in episodes:
"I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away: Part 1" (episode # 4.21) 6 March 1978
"Four Eyes" (episode # 2.2) 17 September 1975
"The F.B.I." playing "Burke" in episode: "The Swindler" (episode # 5.3) 28 September 1969
(I get this feeling that Dr. Burke would be disappointed in how his great-great grandson turned out...........)
C] UN-NAMED RESOURCES
Ford Rainey's career is full of nameless sheriffs, lawyers, doctors; characters that could easily be blended into one person.
Here are two examples:
1]
"Night Gallery" playing "Sheriff" in episode: "The Phantom Farmhouse" (episode # 2.16) 20 October 1971
"The Immortal" playing "Sheriff Billy" in episode: "The Return" (episode # 1.12) 17 December 1970
2]
"Storefront Lawyers" playing "Judge Carp" in episode: "Yesterday Is But a Dream" (episode # 1.21) 31 March 1971
"Storefront Lawyers" in episode: "Hostage" (episode # 1.17) 24 February 1971
There is such a short span between those two episodes that I have to figure Rainey played Judge Carp in the episode "Hostage" as well.
D] MIRROR, MIRROR MILFORD
"Amerika" (1987) (mini) TV Series .... Will Milford
"The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" playing "Milford" in episode: "The People Against Dr. Chapman" (episode # 2.4) 6 December 1970
Since "Amerika" took place in an alternate dimension, - and the classic evil mirror universe at that! - I don't see any reason why we can't consider both of the men named "Milford" to be the same individual, separated by the dimensional vortex.
E] THE SUPREMES
Here's that example that fell through:
J. Edgar Hoover (1987) (TV) .... Harlan Fisk Stone
Gideon's Trumpet (1980) (TV) .... 2nd Supreme Court Justice
Thanks to my brother Bill, I found out that Harlan Stone was a Supreme Court Justice. He was appointed by Calvin Coolidge in 1925 and served until his death in 1946.
But the case of Gideon v. Wainwright wasn't heard by the Court until the mid-60s. In fact, the original crime for which Clarence Earl Gideon was convicted took place in 1961.
Not even Toobworld chronology can be twisted that much, especially since both cases must adhere for the most part to the history of the Real World.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
TIP O' THE HAT SQUAD: FORD RAINEY
For me, Ford Rainey was a character actor who best epitomizes that Joni Mitchell lyric: You don't know what you've got till it's gone.
He was a solid, dependable actor; one who could fit into both contemporary stories and tales of the wild West (and even a few tales set in possible futures.) His sharp, patrician features served him well on both sides of the law in the nearly 170 guest appearances he made.
Like John Fiedler, Ford Rainey had so many characters in the Toobworld registry that after a while certain patterns emerged that could forge those hypothetical links I'm so fond of. I've collected most of them for a separate essay celebrating his Toobworld contributions.
My personal favorite of his guest appearances was his reclusive billionaire Prescott Wilson. Rainey played Wilson in the political intrigue arc on 'Wiseguy' back in 1989, which also featured Norman Lloyd as the manipulative General Masters.
Prescott Wilson was the type of role perfect for Toobworld machinations. As I've often done in essays about Doctor Miguelito Loveless, Wilson is the type of character that can be cited as an influence behind the scenes in many different TV series.
Ford Rainey was 96 years old and was active in Toobworld right up to about a year and a half ago. And I'd like to tip my Toob top hat to his memory in thanks for the many great roles he created to fill out the surplus population of Toobworld.
TV SERIES
"Days of Our Lives" (1965) TV Series .... Frank Evans #2 (1977-1978)
"The Bionic Woman" (1976) TV Series .... Jim Elgin (1976-1977)
"The Manhunter" (1974) TV Series .... James Barrett (1974-75)
"Search" (1972) TV Series .... Dr. Barnett #1 (1972)
"The Richard Boone Show" (1963) TV Series .... Regular
"Window on Main Street" (1961) TV Series .... Lloyd Ramsey
TV MINI-SERIES
"Amerika" (1987) (mini) TV Series .... Will Milford
"Backstairs at the White House" (1979) (mini) TV Series .... Navy Secretary
"Captains and the Kings" (1976) (mini) TV Series .... Abraham Lincoln
TV RECURRING ROLES
"The King of Queens" playing "Mickey" in episodes:
"American Idle" (episode # 6.10) 3 December 2003
"Bed Spread" (episode # 5.25) 19 May 2003
"Connect Four" (episode # 5.9) 18 November 2002
"Arthur, Spooner" (episode # 5.1) 23 September 2002
"Do Rico" (episode # 3.1) 2 October 2000
"Soft Touch" (episode # 2.22) 1 May 2000
"Art House" (episode # 1.24) 10 May 1999
"Ned and Stacey" playing "Nate" in episodes:
"Where My Third Nepal Is Sheriff" (episode # 2.11) 27 January 1997
"Fifteen A-Minutes" (episode # 2.8) 6 January 1997
"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Eric" (episode # 2.7) 5 January 1997
"Scenes From a Muffin Shop" (episode # 2.13) 1997
"Loganberry's Run" (episode # 2.6) 29 December 1996
"Computer Dating" (episode # 2.4) 15 December 1996
"The Muffins Take Manhattan" (episode # 2.3) 1 December 1996
"Best of Luck on Future Projects" (episode # 2.22)
"The Skyward's the Limit" (episode # 2.14)
"Sex, Lies, and Commercials" (episode # 2.12)
"Wiseguy" playing "Prescott Wilson" in episodes:
"Day Nine" (episode # 3.12) 20 December 1989
"Day Seven" (episode # 3.11) 13 December 1989
"Matlock" playing "Judge Donald Powell" in episodes:
"The Mayor: Part 2" (episode # 3.9) 7 February 1989
"The Mayor: Part 1" (episode # 3.8) 31 January 1989
"Falcon Crest" playing "Paolo Bellini" in episodes:
"Unholy Alliance" (episode # 5.24) 4 April 1986
"Law and Ardor" (episode # 5.21) 28 February 1986
"Little House on the Prairie" playing "Dr. Burke" in episodes:
"I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away: Part 1" (episode # 4.21) 6 March 1978
"Four Eyes" (episode # 2.2) 17 September 1975
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Collins" in episodes:
"The Biggest Game in the West" (episode # 2.19) 3 February 1972
"The Man Who Broke the Bank at Red Gap" (episode # 2.17) 20 January 1972
"The Long, Hot Summer" in episodes: "The Twisted Image: Parts 1 & 2" (episode # 1.4 & 1.5) 7 October & 14 October 1965
"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" playing "President" in episodes:
"Doomsday" (episode # 1.19) 18 January 1965
"Hail to the Chief" (episode # 1.16) 28 December 1964
"Hot Line" (episode # 1.9) 9 November 1964
TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"ER" playing "Army Armstrong" in episode: "Power" (episode # 5.20) 6 May 1999
"Picket Fences" in episode: "Heart of Saturday Night" (episode # 4.6) 27 October 1995
"China Beach" playing "Owen" in episode: "Through and Through" (episode # 4.15) 16 July 1991
"Moonlighting" playing "Judge" in episode: "In 'N Outlaws" (episode # 5.11) 23 April 1989
"Newhart" playing "Mr. Hinton" in episode: "Tell a Lie, Get a Check" (episode # 3.1) 15 October 1984
"Remington Steele" playing "Adam" in episode: "Small Town Steele" (episode # 2.17) 28 February 1984
"St. Elsewhere" playing "Doc Bogert" in episode: "In Sickness and in Health" (episode # 2.13) 8 February 1984
"M*A*S*H" playing "Coogan" in episode: "Dreams" (episode # 8.22) 18 February 1980
"Charlie's Angels" playing "Mr. Harkins" in episode: "Angels on the Street" (episode # 4.8) 7 November 1979
"How the West Was Won" playing "Rancher Barrett" in episode: "The Rustler" (episode # 1.2) 22 January 1979
"The Waltons" playing "Judge" in episode: "The Moonshiner" (episode # 7.3) 12 October 1978
"Barnaby Jones" playing "Carmine Sandell" in episode: "Deadly Homecoming" (episode # 6.13) 22 December 1977
"Baa Baa Black Sheep" playing "General Muncie" in episode: "The War Biz Warrior" (episode # 1.12) 4 January 1977
"Sara" (episode # 1.9) 9 April 1976
"The Streets of San Francisco" playing "Haggard Mellon" in episode: "Trail of Terror" (episode # 4.8) 30 October 1975
"Petrocelli" in episode: "Shadow of Fear" (episode # 2.1) 10 September 1975
"The Rockford Files" playing "Manny Tolan" in episode: "Counter Gambit" (episode # 1.17) 24 January 1975
"Gunsmoke" playing "Storekeeper" in episode: "Thirty a Month and Found" (episode # 20.5) 7 October 1974
"Cannon" playing "Raymond Wheelock" in episode: "Voice From the Grave" (episode # 4.3) 25 September 1974
"Doc Elliot" in episode: "The Touch of God" (episode # 1.3) 23 January 1974
"Mannix" playing "Reverend Walker" in episode: "Desert Run" (episode # 7.6) 21 October 1973
"Barnaby Jones" playing "Andrew Mills" in episode: "The Day of the Viper" (episode # 2.4) 7 October 1973
"Cannon" playing "Mr. Taylor" in episode: "Hounds of Hell" (episode # 3.3) 26 September 1973
"The Rookies" playing "Warden Mason" in episode: "Deadly Cage" (episode # 2.3) 24 September 1973
"Kung Fu" playing "Jacob Sterne" in episode: "Superstition" (episode # 1.12) 5 April 1973
"The Rookies" playing "Ellis" in episode: "Point of Impact" (episode # 1.18) 5 February 1973
"Mannix" playing "Lachlan" in episode: "To Kill a Memory" (episode # 6.7) 29 October 1972
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Teshmacker" in episode: "Bushwack!" (episode # 3.5) 21 October 1972
"Bonanza" playing "Judge Taylor" in episode: "A Home for Jamie" (episode # 13.13) 19 December 1971
"Night Gallery" playing "Sheriff" in episode: "The Phantom Farmhouse" (episode # 2.16) 20 October 1971
"Cannon" playing "Farmer" in episode: "Country Blues" (episode # 1.4) 5 October 1971
"Bonanza" playing "Judge Simms" in episode: "Fallen Woman" (episode # 13.2) 26 September 1971
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Father" in episode: "Never Trust an Honest Man" (episode # 1.14) 15 April 1971
"Storefront Lawyers" playing "Judge Carp" in episode: "Yesterday Is But a Dream" (episode # 1.21) 31 March 1971
"Storefront Lawyers" in episode: "Hostage" (episode # 1.17) 24 February 1971
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Warren Epps" in episode: "Exit from Wickenburg" (episode # 1.3) 28 January 1971
"The Young Lawyers" playing "Judge Salke" in episode: "Legal Maneuver" (episode # 1.16) 20 January 1971
"The Immortal" playing "Sheriff Billy" in episode: "The Return" (episode # 1.12) 17 December 1970
"The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" playing "Milford" in episode: "The People Against Dr. Chapman" (episode # 2.4) 6 December 1970
"Mannix" playing "Dr. Linkram" in episode: "The World Between" (episode # 4.8) 7 November 1970
"The Young Lawyers" playing "Wycoff" in episode: "The Alienation Kick" (episode # 1.4) 12 October 1970
"The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" playing "District Attorney Douglass" in episode: "The Shattered Image" (episode # 1.8) 15 February 1970
"The Mod Squad" in episode: "A Town Called Sincere" (episode # 2.17) 27 January 1970
"Mary Tyler Moore" playing "Doctor" in episode: "Mary Midwife" (episode # 7.1) 1970
"Daniel Boone" playing "Jonas" in episode: "Hannah Comes Home" (episode # 6.12) 25 December 1969
"The F.B.I." playing "Burke" in episode: "The Swindler" (episode # 5.3) 28 September 1969
"Bonanza" playing "Capt. Arnholt" in episode: "The Deserter (II)" (episode # 10.24) 16 March 1969
"The Virginian" playing "Amos Wardlow" in episode: "The Land Dreamer" (episode # 7.20) 26 February 1969
"Judd for the Defense" playing "Ed Samuelen" in episode: "Between the Dark and the Daylight" (episode # 2.18) 7 February 1969
"The Guns of Will Sonnett" playing "Sheriff Chafee" in episode: "Meeting in a Small Town" (episode # 2.10) 6 December 1968
"Daniel Boone" playing "John Gist" in episode: "The Patriot" (episode # 5.10) 5 December 1968
"Mannix" playing "Roscoe Bell" in episode: "Edge of the Knife" (episode # 2.7) 9 November 1968
"The Wild Wild West" playing "Admiral Charles Hammond" in episode: "The Night of the Kraken" (episode # 4.6) 1 November 1968
"The Virginian" playing "Marcus Van Owen" in episode: "The Hell Wind" (episode # 6.21) 14 February 1968
"The F.B.I." playing "Greer" in episode: "The Legend of John Rim" (episode # 3.12) 31 December 1967
"Dundee and the Culhane" in episode: "The Catch a Thief Brief" (episode # 1.13) 13 December 1967
"The Wild Wild West" playing "Pa Garrison" in episode: "The Night of the Iron Fist" (episode # 3.14) 8 December 1967
"Bonanza" playing "Gabriel Bingham" in episode: "Check Rein" (episode # 9.12) 3 December 1967
"Mannix" playing "Sam Nash" in episode: "Huntdown" (episode # 1.9) 18 November 1967
"The Invaders" playing "General Jonathan Blaine/Invader" in episode: "Summit Meeting: Part 1" (episode # 2.9) 31 October 1967
"Run for Your Life" playing "General Andrew Douglas" in episode: "The Company of Scoundrels" (episode # 3.6) 18 October 1967
"The Guns of Will Sonnett" playing "Doc Sales" in episode: "A Bell for Jeff Sonnett" (episode # 1.2) 15 September 1967
"Cimarron Strip" playing "Marshall Tillman" in episode: "The Legend of Jud Starr" (episode # 1.2) 14 September 1967
"The Invaders" playing "George Grundy" in episode: "Panic" (episode # 1.13) 11 April 1967
"The Virginian" playing "Sheriff" in episode: "Requiem for a Country Doctor" (episode # 5.18) 25 January 1967
"Bonanza" playing "Judge Wyllitt" in episode: "Black Friday" (episode # 8.19) 22 January 1967
"The F.B.I." playing "Harry Fortier" in episode: "Passage into Fear" (episode # 2.16) 8 January 1967
"The Iron Horse" playing "Ross" in episode: "A Dozen Ways to Kill a Man" (episode # 1.15) 19 December 1966
"Insight" playing "Father Reisch" in episode: "Thunder Over Munich" 18 December 1966
"The Time Tunnel" playing "Lincoln" in episode: "The Death Trap" (episode # 1.12) 2 December 1966
"The Wild Wild West" playing "Hellfire Simon" in episode: "The Night of the Flying Pie Plate" (episode # 2.6) 21 October 1966
"The Fugitive" playing "Oliver Corman" in episode: "Ten Thousand Pieces of Silver" (episode # 4.5) 11 October 1966
"The Fugitive" playing "Lieutenant Wynn" in episode: "Echo of a Nightmare" (episode # 3.19) 25 January 1966
"Get Smart" playing "Professor Sontag" in episode: "Weekend Vampire" (episode # 1.14) 18 December 1965
"Slattery's People" playing "Anson Holbrook" in episode: "The Hero" (episode # 2.7) 5 November 1965
"The Big Valley" playing "Murdoch" in episode: "Heritage" (episode # 1.6) 20 October 1965
"The Virginian" playing "Claypool" in episode: "The Awakening" (episode # 4.5) 13 October 1965
"The Wackiest Ship in the Army" in episode: "The Day the Crew Paced the Deck" (episode # 1.4) 10 October 1965
"Perry Mason" playing "Dr. Fisher" in episode: "The Case of the Fatal Fortune" (episode # 9.2) 19 September 1965
"Lost in Space" playing "The President" in episode: "The Reluctant Stowaway" (episode # 1.1) 15 September 1965
"Bonanza" playing "Sam Cane" in episode: "The Debt" (episode # 7.1) 12 September 1965
"Slattery's People" playing "Daniel Ralston" in episode: "Question: What Time Is the Next Bandwagon?" (episode # 1.25) 9 April 1965
"Rawhide" playing "Colonel Hart" in episode: "The Retreat" (episode # 7.23) 26 March 1965
"The Virginian" playing "Marshal Floyd Buckman" in episode: "Legend for a Lawman" (episode # 3.24) 3 March 1965
"Dr. Kildare" playing "Walter Untermeyer MD" in episode: "A Miracle for Margaret" (episode # 4.22) 25 February 1965
"Lassie" playing "Boone Sawyer" in episode: "The Old Man in the Forest" (episode # 11.22) 14 February 1965
"Gunsmoke" playing "Hode Embry" in episode: "Song for Dying" (episode # 10.21) 13 February 1965
"The Virginian" playing "County Prosecutor" in episode: "Two Men Named Laredo" (episode # 3.17) 6 January 1965
"Profiles in Courage" in episode: "Richard T. Ely" (episode # 1.4) 6 December 1964
"Mr. Novak" in episode: "Born of Kings and Angels" (episode # 2.9) 1 December 1964
"The Outer Limits" playing "D.A. Thomas Coyle" in episode: "I, Robot" (episode # 2.9) 14 November 1964
"Daniel Boone" playing "Matawa" in episode: "My Brother's Keeper" (episode # 1.3) 8 October 1964
"Perry Mason" playing "Randolph Cartwell" in episode: "The Case of the Paper Bullets" (episode # 8.2) 1 October 1964
"Perry Mason" playing "Harry Trilling" in episode: "The Case of the Ugly Duckling" (episode # 7.30) 21 May 1964
"The Nurses" playing "Walter Cooper" in episode: "Show Just Cause Why You Should Weep" (episode # 2.2) 3 October 1963
"The Untouchables" playing "Captain Roy Gunther" in episode: "Line of Fire" (episode # 4.29) 14 May 1963
"Bonanza" playing "Luke" in episode: "Mirror of a Man" (episode # 4.27) 31 March 1963
"The Virginian" playing "Sheriff Sam Roebuck" in episode: "The Small Parade" (episode # 1.21) 20 February 1963
"The Wide Country" playing "Mike Callahan" in episode: "The Bravest Man in the World" (episode # 1.11) 6 December 1962
"Empire" playing "Josh" in episode: "Pressure Lock" (episode # 1.10) 4 December 1962
"The Untouchables" playing "Julius Chavis" in episode: "Come and Kill Me" (episode # 4.9) 27 November 1962
"Rawhide" playing "Chief Broken Bow" in episode: "Incident of the Dogfaces" (episode # 5.7) 9 November 1962
"Perry Mason" playing "Russell Durham" in episode: "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle" (episode # 6.7) 8 November 1962
"Stoney Burke" playing "Frank Hughes" in episode: "The Mob Riders" (episode # 1.5) 29 October 1962
"Gunsmoke" playing "Tate Gifford" in episode: "The Search" (episode # 8.1) 15 September 1962
"Bonanza" playing "John Clarke" in episode: "Blessed Are They" (episode # 3.30) 22 April 1962
"Checkmate" playing "Paul O'Neill" in episode: "A Brooding Fixation" (episode # 2.22) 14 March 1962
"The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor" playing "John Lester" in episode: "Pandora's Box" (episode # 3.16) 2 February 1962
"Dr. Kildare" playing "Andy Meadows MD" in episode: "The Lonely Ones" (episode # 1.7) 9 November 1961
"The Brothers Brannagan" playing "Raymond McKeever" in episode: "The Hunter and the Hunted" (episode # 1.39) 15 July 1961
"Rawhide" playing "Sheriff" in episode: "Incident of the Wager on Payday" (episode # 3.30) 16 June 1961
"Bonanza" playing "Colonel Tyson" in episode: "Sam Hill" (episode # 2.34) 3 June 1961
"The Tall Man" playing "Sheriff Brady" in episodes:
"The Lonely Star" (episode # 1.5) 8 October 1960
"Forty-Dollar Boots" (episode # 1.2) 17 September 1960
"Frontiers of Faith" in episode: "Acres of Diamonds" 20 April 1958
"Goodyear Television Playhouse" playing "Walt" in episode: "The House" (episode # 6.17) 8 September 1957
"Robert Montgomery Presents" in episode: "Crisis at Sand Cave" (episode # 8.20) 21 January 1957
"Kraft Television Theatre" in episode: "Drop on the Devel" (episode # 8.39) 22 June 1955
"Danger" in episode: "The Piano" (episode # 5.34) 26 April 1955
"Studio One" playing "Sam Forrest" in episode: "The Broken Spur" (episode # 7.22) 14 February 1955
"Ramar of the Jungle" playing "Mailpouch" in episode: "Mark of the Bola" (episode # 1.14) 18 July 1953
"Cowboy G-Men" playing "Matt Sloan, Moss' Partner" in episode: "Bounty Jumpers" (episode # 1.10) 22 November 1952
TV MOVIES
Marshal Law (1996) (TV) .... Old Timer
There Was a Little Boy (1993) (TV) (uncredited) .... Father Ramirez
J. Edgar Hoover (1987) (TV) .... Harlan Fisk Stone
Who Is Julia? (1986) (TV) .... The Commentator
Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice (1982) (TV) .... Beatrice's Father
Gideon's Trumpet (1980) (TV) .... 2nd Supreme Court Justice
Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter (1979) (TV) .... Mr. Meecham
Friendly Fire (1979) (TV) .... Hamilton
A Family Upside Down (1978) (TV) .... Mr. Case
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln (1976) (TV) .... Ninnian
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe (1976) (TV) .... The Judge
Babe (1975) (TV) .... Dr. Tatum
Medical Story (1975) (TV) .... Dr. Patterson
Strange New World (1975) (TV) .... Sirus
The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd (1974) (TV) .... Mr. Suggs
The Stranger Who Looks Like Me (1974) (TV) .... Mr. Gilbert
Key West (1973) (TV) .... Prescott Webb
Linda (1973) (TV) .... Police Chief Vernon
A Howling in the Woods (1971) (TV) .... Bud Henshaw
The Andersonville Trial (1970) (TV) .... Court-martial board member
My Sweet Charlie (1970) (TV) .... Treadwell
D.A.: Murder One (1969) (TV) .... Dr. Ellis Anders
Our American Heritage: Shadow of a Soldier (1960) (TV) .... Abraham Lincoln
TV CLASSICS
Our Town (1977) (TV) .... Joe Stoddard
"Hallmark Hall of Fame" playing "Menteith" in episode: "Macbeth" 28 November 1954
BCnU.....
Tele-Toby
He was a solid, dependable actor; one who could fit into both contemporary stories and tales of the wild West (and even a few tales set in possible futures.) His sharp, patrician features served him well on both sides of the law in the nearly 170 guest appearances he made.
Like John Fiedler, Ford Rainey had so many characters in the Toobworld registry that after a while certain patterns emerged that could forge those hypothetical links I'm so fond of. I've collected most of them for a separate essay celebrating his Toobworld contributions.
My personal favorite of his guest appearances was his reclusive billionaire Prescott Wilson. Rainey played Wilson in the political intrigue arc on 'Wiseguy' back in 1989, which also featured Norman Lloyd as the manipulative General Masters.
Prescott Wilson was the type of role perfect for Toobworld machinations. As I've often done in essays about Doctor Miguelito Loveless, Wilson is the type of character that can be cited as an influence behind the scenes in many different TV series.
Ford Rainey was 96 years old and was active in Toobworld right up to about a year and a half ago. And I'd like to tip my Toob top hat to his memory in thanks for the many great roles he created to fill out the surplus population of Toobworld.
TV SERIES
"Days of Our Lives" (1965) TV Series .... Frank Evans #2 (1977-1978)
"The Bionic Woman" (1976) TV Series .... Jim Elgin (1976-1977)
"The Manhunter" (1974) TV Series .... James Barrett (1974-75)
"Search" (1972) TV Series .... Dr. Barnett #1 (1972)
"The Richard Boone Show" (1963) TV Series .... Regular
"Window on Main Street" (1961) TV Series .... Lloyd Ramsey
TV MINI-SERIES
"Amerika" (1987) (mini) TV Series .... Will Milford
"Backstairs at the White House" (1979) (mini) TV Series .... Navy Secretary
"Captains and the Kings" (1976) (mini) TV Series .... Abraham Lincoln
TV RECURRING ROLES
"The King of Queens" playing "Mickey" in episodes:
"American Idle" (episode # 6.10) 3 December 2003
"Bed Spread" (episode # 5.25) 19 May 2003
"Connect Four" (episode # 5.9) 18 November 2002
"Arthur, Spooner" (episode # 5.1) 23 September 2002
"Do Rico" (episode # 3.1) 2 October 2000
"Soft Touch" (episode # 2.22) 1 May 2000
"Art House" (episode # 1.24) 10 May 1999
"Ned and Stacey" playing "Nate" in episodes:
"Where My Third Nepal Is Sheriff" (episode # 2.11) 27 January 1997
"Fifteen A-Minutes" (episode # 2.8) 6 January 1997
"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Eric" (episode # 2.7) 5 January 1997
"Scenes From a Muffin Shop" (episode # 2.13) 1997
"Loganberry's Run" (episode # 2.6) 29 December 1996
"Computer Dating" (episode # 2.4) 15 December 1996
"The Muffins Take Manhattan" (episode # 2.3) 1 December 1996
"Best of Luck on Future Projects" (episode # 2.22)
"The Skyward's the Limit" (episode # 2.14)
"Sex, Lies, and Commercials" (episode # 2.12)
"Wiseguy" playing "Prescott Wilson" in episodes:
"Day Nine" (episode # 3.12) 20 December 1989
"Day Seven" (episode # 3.11) 13 December 1989
"Matlock" playing "Judge Donald Powell" in episodes:
"The Mayor: Part 2" (episode # 3.9) 7 February 1989
"The Mayor: Part 1" (episode # 3.8) 31 January 1989
"Falcon Crest" playing "Paolo Bellini" in episodes:
"Unholy Alliance" (episode # 5.24) 4 April 1986
"Law and Ardor" (episode # 5.21) 28 February 1986
"Little House on the Prairie" playing "Dr. Burke" in episodes:
"I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away: Part 1" (episode # 4.21) 6 March 1978
"Four Eyes" (episode # 2.2) 17 September 1975
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Collins" in episodes:
"The Biggest Game in the West" (episode # 2.19) 3 February 1972
"The Man Who Broke the Bank at Red Gap" (episode # 2.17) 20 January 1972
"The Long, Hot Summer" in episodes: "The Twisted Image: Parts 1 & 2" (episode # 1.4 & 1.5) 7 October & 14 October 1965
"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" playing "President" in episodes:
"Doomsday" (episode # 1.19) 18 January 1965
"Hail to the Chief" (episode # 1.16) 28 December 1964
"Hot Line" (episode # 1.9) 9 November 1964
TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"ER" playing "Army Armstrong" in episode: "Power" (episode # 5.20) 6 May 1999
"Picket Fences" in episode: "Heart of Saturday Night" (episode # 4.6) 27 October 1995
"China Beach" playing "Owen" in episode: "Through and Through" (episode # 4.15) 16 July 1991
"Moonlighting" playing "Judge" in episode: "In 'N Outlaws" (episode # 5.11) 23 April 1989
"Newhart" playing "Mr. Hinton" in episode: "Tell a Lie, Get a Check" (episode # 3.1) 15 October 1984
"Remington Steele" playing "Adam" in episode: "Small Town Steele" (episode # 2.17) 28 February 1984
"St. Elsewhere" playing "Doc Bogert" in episode: "In Sickness and in Health" (episode # 2.13) 8 February 1984
"M*A*S*H" playing "Coogan" in episode: "Dreams" (episode # 8.22) 18 February 1980
"Charlie's Angels" playing "Mr. Harkins" in episode: "Angels on the Street" (episode # 4.8) 7 November 1979
"How the West Was Won" playing "Rancher Barrett" in episode: "The Rustler" (episode # 1.2) 22 January 1979
"The Waltons" playing "Judge" in episode: "The Moonshiner" (episode # 7.3) 12 October 1978
"Barnaby Jones" playing "Carmine Sandell" in episode: "Deadly Homecoming" (episode # 6.13) 22 December 1977
"Baa Baa Black Sheep" playing "General Muncie" in episode: "The War Biz Warrior" (episode # 1.12) 4 January 1977
"Sara" (episode # 1.9) 9 April 1976
"The Streets of San Francisco" playing "Haggard Mellon" in episode: "Trail of Terror" (episode # 4.8) 30 October 1975
"Petrocelli" in episode: "Shadow of Fear" (episode # 2.1) 10 September 1975
"The Rockford Files" playing "Manny Tolan" in episode: "Counter Gambit" (episode # 1.17) 24 January 1975
"Gunsmoke" playing "Storekeeper" in episode: "Thirty a Month and Found" (episode # 20.5) 7 October 1974
"Cannon" playing "Raymond Wheelock" in episode: "Voice From the Grave" (episode # 4.3) 25 September 1974
"Doc Elliot" in episode: "The Touch of God" (episode # 1.3) 23 January 1974
"Mannix" playing "Reverend Walker" in episode: "Desert Run" (episode # 7.6) 21 October 1973
"Barnaby Jones" playing "Andrew Mills" in episode: "The Day of the Viper" (episode # 2.4) 7 October 1973
"Cannon" playing "Mr. Taylor" in episode: "Hounds of Hell" (episode # 3.3) 26 September 1973
"The Rookies" playing "Warden Mason" in episode: "Deadly Cage" (episode # 2.3) 24 September 1973
"Kung Fu" playing "Jacob Sterne" in episode: "Superstition" (episode # 1.12) 5 April 1973
"The Rookies" playing "Ellis" in episode: "Point of Impact" (episode # 1.18) 5 February 1973
"Mannix" playing "Lachlan" in episode: "To Kill a Memory" (episode # 6.7) 29 October 1972
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Teshmacker" in episode: "Bushwack!" (episode # 3.5) 21 October 1972
"Bonanza" playing "Judge Taylor" in episode: "A Home for Jamie" (episode # 13.13) 19 December 1971
"Night Gallery" playing "Sheriff" in episode: "The Phantom Farmhouse" (episode # 2.16) 20 October 1971
"Cannon" playing "Farmer" in episode: "Country Blues" (episode # 1.4) 5 October 1971
"Bonanza" playing "Judge Simms" in episode: "Fallen Woman" (episode # 13.2) 26 September 1971
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Father" in episode: "Never Trust an Honest Man" (episode # 1.14) 15 April 1971
"Storefront Lawyers" playing "Judge Carp" in episode: "Yesterday Is But a Dream" (episode # 1.21) 31 March 1971
"Storefront Lawyers" in episode: "Hostage" (episode # 1.17) 24 February 1971
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Warren Epps" in episode: "Exit from Wickenburg" (episode # 1.3) 28 January 1971
"The Young Lawyers" playing "Judge Salke" in episode: "Legal Maneuver" (episode # 1.16) 20 January 1971
"The Immortal" playing "Sheriff Billy" in episode: "The Return" (episode # 1.12) 17 December 1970
"The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" playing "Milford" in episode: "The People Against Dr. Chapman" (episode # 2.4) 6 December 1970
"Mannix" playing "Dr. Linkram" in episode: "The World Between" (episode # 4.8) 7 November 1970
"The Young Lawyers" playing "Wycoff" in episode: "The Alienation Kick" (episode # 1.4) 12 October 1970
"The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" playing "District Attorney Douglass" in episode: "The Shattered Image" (episode # 1.8) 15 February 1970
"The Mod Squad" in episode: "A Town Called Sincere" (episode # 2.17) 27 January 1970
"Mary Tyler Moore" playing "Doctor" in episode: "Mary Midwife" (episode # 7.1) 1970
"Daniel Boone" playing "Jonas" in episode: "Hannah Comes Home" (episode # 6.12) 25 December 1969
"The F.B.I." playing "Burke" in episode: "The Swindler" (episode # 5.3) 28 September 1969
"Bonanza" playing "Capt. Arnholt" in episode: "The Deserter (II)" (episode # 10.24) 16 March 1969
"The Virginian" playing "Amos Wardlow" in episode: "The Land Dreamer" (episode # 7.20) 26 February 1969
"Judd for the Defense" playing "Ed Samuelen" in episode: "Between the Dark and the Daylight" (episode # 2.18) 7 February 1969
"The Guns of Will Sonnett" playing "Sheriff Chafee" in episode: "Meeting in a Small Town" (episode # 2.10) 6 December 1968
"Daniel Boone" playing "John Gist" in episode: "The Patriot" (episode # 5.10) 5 December 1968
"Mannix" playing "Roscoe Bell" in episode: "Edge of the Knife" (episode # 2.7) 9 November 1968
"The Wild Wild West" playing "Admiral Charles Hammond" in episode: "The Night of the Kraken" (episode # 4.6) 1 November 1968
"The Virginian" playing "Marcus Van Owen" in episode: "The Hell Wind" (episode # 6.21) 14 February 1968
"The F.B.I." playing "Greer" in episode: "The Legend of John Rim" (episode # 3.12) 31 December 1967
"Dundee and the Culhane" in episode: "The Catch a Thief Brief" (episode # 1.13) 13 December 1967
"The Wild Wild West" playing "Pa Garrison" in episode: "The Night of the Iron Fist" (episode # 3.14) 8 December 1967
"Bonanza" playing "Gabriel Bingham" in episode: "Check Rein" (episode # 9.12) 3 December 1967
"Mannix" playing "Sam Nash" in episode: "Huntdown" (episode # 1.9) 18 November 1967
"The Invaders" playing "General Jonathan Blaine/Invader" in episode: "Summit Meeting: Part 1" (episode # 2.9) 31 October 1967
"Run for Your Life" playing "General Andrew Douglas" in episode: "The Company of Scoundrels" (episode # 3.6) 18 October 1967
"The Guns of Will Sonnett" playing "Doc Sales" in episode: "A Bell for Jeff Sonnett" (episode # 1.2) 15 September 1967
"Cimarron Strip" playing "Marshall Tillman" in episode: "The Legend of Jud Starr" (episode # 1.2) 14 September 1967
"The Invaders" playing "George Grundy" in episode: "Panic" (episode # 1.13) 11 April 1967
"The Virginian" playing "Sheriff" in episode: "Requiem for a Country Doctor" (episode # 5.18) 25 January 1967
"Bonanza" playing "Judge Wyllitt" in episode: "Black Friday" (episode # 8.19) 22 January 1967
"The F.B.I." playing "Harry Fortier" in episode: "Passage into Fear" (episode # 2.16) 8 January 1967
"The Iron Horse" playing "Ross" in episode: "A Dozen Ways to Kill a Man" (episode # 1.15) 19 December 1966
"Insight" playing "Father Reisch" in episode: "Thunder Over Munich" 18 December 1966
"The Time Tunnel" playing "Lincoln" in episode: "The Death Trap" (episode # 1.12) 2 December 1966
"The Wild Wild West" playing "Hellfire Simon" in episode: "The Night of the Flying Pie Plate" (episode # 2.6) 21 October 1966
"The Fugitive" playing "Oliver Corman" in episode: "Ten Thousand Pieces of Silver" (episode # 4.5) 11 October 1966
"The Fugitive" playing "Lieutenant Wynn" in episode: "Echo of a Nightmare" (episode # 3.19) 25 January 1966
"Get Smart" playing "Professor Sontag" in episode: "Weekend Vampire" (episode # 1.14) 18 December 1965
"Slattery's People" playing "Anson Holbrook" in episode: "The Hero" (episode # 2.7) 5 November 1965
"The Big Valley" playing "Murdoch" in episode: "Heritage" (episode # 1.6) 20 October 1965
"The Virginian" playing "Claypool" in episode: "The Awakening" (episode # 4.5) 13 October 1965
"The Wackiest Ship in the Army" in episode: "The Day the Crew Paced the Deck" (episode # 1.4) 10 October 1965
"Perry Mason" playing "Dr. Fisher" in episode: "The Case of the Fatal Fortune" (episode # 9.2) 19 September 1965
"Lost in Space" playing "The President" in episode: "The Reluctant Stowaway" (episode # 1.1) 15 September 1965
"Bonanza" playing "Sam Cane" in episode: "The Debt" (episode # 7.1) 12 September 1965
"Slattery's People" playing "Daniel Ralston" in episode: "Question: What Time Is the Next Bandwagon?" (episode # 1.25) 9 April 1965
"Rawhide" playing "Colonel Hart" in episode: "The Retreat" (episode # 7.23) 26 March 1965
"The Virginian" playing "Marshal Floyd Buckman" in episode: "Legend for a Lawman" (episode # 3.24) 3 March 1965
"Dr. Kildare" playing "Walter Untermeyer MD" in episode: "A Miracle for Margaret" (episode # 4.22) 25 February 1965
"Lassie" playing "Boone Sawyer" in episode: "The Old Man in the Forest" (episode # 11.22) 14 February 1965
"Gunsmoke" playing "Hode Embry" in episode: "Song for Dying" (episode # 10.21) 13 February 1965
"The Virginian" playing "County Prosecutor" in episode: "Two Men Named Laredo" (episode # 3.17) 6 January 1965
"Profiles in Courage" in episode: "Richard T. Ely" (episode # 1.4) 6 December 1964
"Mr. Novak" in episode: "Born of Kings and Angels" (episode # 2.9) 1 December 1964
"The Outer Limits" playing "D.A. Thomas Coyle" in episode: "I, Robot" (episode # 2.9) 14 November 1964
"Daniel Boone" playing "Matawa" in episode: "My Brother's Keeper" (episode # 1.3) 8 October 1964
"Perry Mason" playing "Randolph Cartwell" in episode: "The Case of the Paper Bullets" (episode # 8.2) 1 October 1964
"Perry Mason" playing "Harry Trilling" in episode: "The Case of the Ugly Duckling" (episode # 7.30) 21 May 1964
"The Nurses" playing "Walter Cooper" in episode: "Show Just Cause Why You Should Weep" (episode # 2.2) 3 October 1963
"The Untouchables" playing "Captain Roy Gunther" in episode: "Line of Fire" (episode # 4.29) 14 May 1963
"Bonanza" playing "Luke" in episode: "Mirror of a Man" (episode # 4.27) 31 March 1963
"The Virginian" playing "Sheriff Sam Roebuck" in episode: "The Small Parade" (episode # 1.21) 20 February 1963
"The Wide Country" playing "Mike Callahan" in episode: "The Bravest Man in the World" (episode # 1.11) 6 December 1962
"Empire" playing "Josh" in episode: "Pressure Lock" (episode # 1.10) 4 December 1962
"The Untouchables" playing "Julius Chavis" in episode: "Come and Kill Me" (episode # 4.9) 27 November 1962
"Rawhide" playing "Chief Broken Bow" in episode: "Incident of the Dogfaces" (episode # 5.7) 9 November 1962
"Perry Mason" playing "Russell Durham" in episode: "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle" (episode # 6.7) 8 November 1962
"Stoney Burke" playing "Frank Hughes" in episode: "The Mob Riders" (episode # 1.5) 29 October 1962
"Gunsmoke" playing "Tate Gifford" in episode: "The Search" (episode # 8.1) 15 September 1962
"Bonanza" playing "John Clarke" in episode: "Blessed Are They" (episode # 3.30) 22 April 1962
"Checkmate" playing "Paul O'Neill" in episode: "A Brooding Fixation" (episode # 2.22) 14 March 1962
"The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor" playing "John Lester" in episode: "Pandora's Box" (episode # 3.16) 2 February 1962
"Dr. Kildare" playing "Andy Meadows MD" in episode: "The Lonely Ones" (episode # 1.7) 9 November 1961
"The Brothers Brannagan" playing "Raymond McKeever" in episode: "The Hunter and the Hunted" (episode # 1.39) 15 July 1961
"Rawhide" playing "Sheriff" in episode: "Incident of the Wager on Payday" (episode # 3.30) 16 June 1961
"Bonanza" playing "Colonel Tyson" in episode: "Sam Hill" (episode # 2.34) 3 June 1961
"The Tall Man" playing "Sheriff Brady" in episodes:
"The Lonely Star" (episode # 1.5) 8 October 1960
"Forty-Dollar Boots" (episode # 1.2) 17 September 1960
"Frontiers of Faith" in episode: "Acres of Diamonds" 20 April 1958
"Goodyear Television Playhouse" playing "Walt" in episode: "The House" (episode # 6.17) 8 September 1957
"Robert Montgomery Presents" in episode: "Crisis at Sand Cave" (episode # 8.20) 21 January 1957
"Kraft Television Theatre" in episode: "Drop on the Devel" (episode # 8.39) 22 June 1955
"Danger" in episode: "The Piano" (episode # 5.34) 26 April 1955
"Studio One" playing "Sam Forrest" in episode: "The Broken Spur" (episode # 7.22) 14 February 1955
"Ramar of the Jungle" playing "Mailpouch" in episode: "Mark of the Bola" (episode # 1.14) 18 July 1953
"Cowboy G-Men" playing "Matt Sloan, Moss' Partner" in episode: "Bounty Jumpers" (episode # 1.10) 22 November 1952
TV MOVIES
Marshal Law (1996) (TV) .... Old Timer
There Was a Little Boy (1993) (TV) (uncredited) .... Father Ramirez
J. Edgar Hoover (1987) (TV) .... Harlan Fisk Stone
Who Is Julia? (1986) (TV) .... The Commentator
Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice (1982) (TV) .... Beatrice's Father
Gideon's Trumpet (1980) (TV) .... 2nd Supreme Court Justice
Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter (1979) (TV) .... Mr. Meecham
Friendly Fire (1979) (TV) .... Hamilton
A Family Upside Down (1978) (TV) .... Mr. Case
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln (1976) (TV) .... Ninnian
The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe (1976) (TV) .... The Judge
Babe (1975) (TV) .... Dr. Tatum
Medical Story (1975) (TV) .... Dr. Patterson
Strange New World (1975) (TV) .... Sirus
The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd (1974) (TV) .... Mr. Suggs
The Stranger Who Looks Like Me (1974) (TV) .... Mr. Gilbert
Key West (1973) (TV) .... Prescott Webb
Linda (1973) (TV) .... Police Chief Vernon
A Howling in the Woods (1971) (TV) .... Bud Henshaw
The Andersonville Trial (1970) (TV) .... Court-martial board member
My Sweet Charlie (1970) (TV) .... Treadwell
D.A.: Murder One (1969) (TV) .... Dr. Ellis Anders
Our American Heritage: Shadow of a Soldier (1960) (TV) .... Abraham Lincoln
TV CLASSICS
Our Town (1977) (TV) .... Joe Stoddard
"Hallmark Hall of Fame" playing "Menteith" in episode: "Macbeth" 28 November 1954
BCnU.....
Tele-Toby
SUNDRY O'BSERVATIONS
Calloo Callay!
Elisabeth Sladen will return to 'Doctor Who' next season as her character of Sarah Jane Smith, intrepid companion to both the Third and Fourth Doctor.
Even if you don't count the charity special 'Dimensions In Time', she did appear as Sarah Jane in 'K-9 And Company', so she is eligible for entry in the TV Crossover Hall of Fame.
I think K-9 and Brigadier General Lethbridge-Stewart are also qualified for eventual entry into the Hall.
~~~~~~
Even when I go to the movies, I can't turn off the Toobworld-obsessed portion of (what's left of) my mind.
My brother and I went to see "The Fantastic Four" Saturday night here in Winsted, and as soon as Stan Lee showed up as Willy Lumpkin the mailman, I began to wonder if his appearances in other Marvel-based films were as Willy as well.
The guy dodging debris in both "Spiderman" movies was unnamed, so it may as well be Willie. And as far as the hot dog salesman goes in "X-Men'? Maybe Willy needed to make a little extra money on the side.
And that same argument could be applied to Stan Lee's appearance as a security guard (with Lou Ferrigno!) in 'The Hulk'. My Dad was a mailman and he took on a few extra jobs now and then.
But the movies aren't my bailiwick. And there's no reason even to think much about 'The Fantastic Four' in the TV Universe, as all of its incarnations have been located in the Tooniverse.
~~~~~~~~
And the crossovers are happening over in the world of comic strips too. Since 'Blondie' had been adapted into a TV series, I figured I'd pass this info along as well......
From the New York Daily News:
Dean Young, "Blondie's" writer (and son of Chic Young, the strip's creator, who died in 1973) has arranged for the strip's All-American stars to celebrate a 75th-anniversary party on Sept. 4 in the pages of its 2,300 client newspapers.
Leading up to that moment will be an unprecedented three-month story line; there'll also be a month-long post-party cruise to Hawaii.
In the comic-strip world, this is the party against which all others will one day be measured. At various points, the Bumsteads will join and be visited by dozens of characters from other strips, including "For Better or for Worse," "Gasoline Alley," "Beetle Bailey," "Hagar the Horrible" and "Curtis."
They'll also get a congratulatory phone call from President Bush and the First Lady, and while Dagwood naturally manages to fumble it, Young says he got a warm letter of thanks from the real-life White House.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The new comedy on Showtime, 'Weeds', has added a new location to the geography of Toobworld: Agrestic, California. Maybe it's just up the highway from Fairview which can be found in 'Desperate Housewives'.
~~~~~~~~~~
I love when TV shows make predictions that come true. In a way, Toobworld influences the Real World rather than the other way around. The one example that comes to mind is DC Fontana's claim in an episode of 'Star Trek' that the first moon landing flight would take place on a Wednesday.
Writer/producer Bryce Zabel trumpets one of his own from 'Dark Skies' in which there was a tenth planet newly discovered. And now Cal Tech is backing that up.
Here's the story:http://bztv.typepad.com/newsviews/2005/07/dark_skies_ahea.html
~~~~~~~~~~
I re-watched the Slitheen Family two-parter on 'Doctor Who'. And I think my new buddy Words Say Nothing was right - it's probably June of 2006 when the episode takes place. Nobody was walking around with the heavy winter clothing you'd expect if it was set in March.
And UNIT does show up in the episode, although fleetingly and on a video monitor. The Doctor does recognize the people in the scene, but none of the quartet look like any of the UNIT officers with whom we're familiar.
~~~~~~~
I haven't added them yet to that list of recommended links off to the left, but here's a few blogs that I think might be of interest to others interested in the Toobworld philosophy.
SIFTIN'
http://siftin.blogspot.com/
NEWS! - VIEWS! - SCHMOOZE!
http://bztv.typepad.com/newsviews/
POP CULTURE JUNK MAIL
http://pcjm.blogspot.com/
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Elisabeth Sladen will return to 'Doctor Who' next season as her character of Sarah Jane Smith, intrepid companion to both the Third and Fourth Doctor.
Even if you don't count the charity special 'Dimensions In Time', she did appear as Sarah Jane in 'K-9 And Company', so she is eligible for entry in the TV Crossover Hall of Fame.
I think K-9 and Brigadier General Lethbridge-Stewart are also qualified for eventual entry into the Hall.
~~~~~~
Even when I go to the movies, I can't turn off the Toobworld-obsessed portion of (what's left of) my mind.
My brother and I went to see "The Fantastic Four" Saturday night here in Winsted, and as soon as Stan Lee showed up as Willy Lumpkin the mailman, I began to wonder if his appearances in other Marvel-based films were as Willy as well.
The guy dodging debris in both "Spiderman" movies was unnamed, so it may as well be Willie. And as far as the hot dog salesman goes in "X-Men'? Maybe Willy needed to make a little extra money on the side.
And that same argument could be applied to Stan Lee's appearance as a security guard (with Lou Ferrigno!) in 'The Hulk'. My Dad was a mailman and he took on a few extra jobs now and then.
But the movies aren't my bailiwick. And there's no reason even to think much about 'The Fantastic Four' in the TV Universe, as all of its incarnations have been located in the Tooniverse.
~~~~~~~~
And the crossovers are happening over in the world of comic strips too. Since 'Blondie' had been adapted into a TV series, I figured I'd pass this info along as well......
From the New York Daily News:
Dean Young, "Blondie's" writer (and son of Chic Young, the strip's creator, who died in 1973) has arranged for the strip's All-American stars to celebrate a 75th-anniversary party on Sept. 4 in the pages of its 2,300 client newspapers.
Leading up to that moment will be an unprecedented three-month story line; there'll also be a month-long post-party cruise to Hawaii.
In the comic-strip world, this is the party against which all others will one day be measured. At various points, the Bumsteads will join and be visited by dozens of characters from other strips, including "For Better or for Worse," "Gasoline Alley," "Beetle Bailey," "Hagar the Horrible" and "Curtis."
They'll also get a congratulatory phone call from President Bush and the First Lady, and while Dagwood naturally manages to fumble it, Young says he got a warm letter of thanks from the real-life White House.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The new comedy on Showtime, 'Weeds', has added a new location to the geography of Toobworld: Agrestic, California. Maybe it's just up the highway from Fairview which can be found in 'Desperate Housewives'.
~~~~~~~~~~
I love when TV shows make predictions that come true. In a way, Toobworld influences the Real World rather than the other way around. The one example that comes to mind is DC Fontana's claim in an episode of 'Star Trek' that the first moon landing flight would take place on a Wednesday.
Writer/producer Bryce Zabel trumpets one of his own from 'Dark Skies' in which there was a tenth planet newly discovered. And now Cal Tech is backing that up.
Here's the story:http://bztv.typepad.com/newsviews/2005/07/dark_skies_ahea.html
~~~~~~~~~~
I re-watched the Slitheen Family two-parter on 'Doctor Who'. And I think my new buddy Words Say Nothing was right - it's probably June of 2006 when the episode takes place. Nobody was walking around with the heavy winter clothing you'd expect if it was set in March.
And UNIT does show up in the episode, although fleetingly and on a video monitor. The Doctor does recognize the people in the scene, but none of the quartet look like any of the UNIT officers with whom we're familiar.
~~~~~~~
I haven't added them yet to that list of recommended links off to the left, but here's a few blogs that I think might be of interest to others interested in the Toobworld philosophy.
SIFTIN'
http://siftin.blogspot.com/
NEWS! - VIEWS! - SCHMOOZE!
http://bztv.typepad.com/newsviews/
POP CULTURE JUNK MAIL
http://pcjm.blogspot.com/
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Monday, August 1, 2005
O'BSERVATIONS: "THE OWNER OF THE INTERNET"
"Dalek" takes place underneath the Utah desert in 2012. The subterranean facility is a private museum of alien artifacts owned by Henry Van Statten.
Van Statten boasted that he owned the Internet, and when Rose scoffed at the idea, because "nobody owns the Internet", he was secure enough in the claim that he preferred everbody to keep on thinking that way.
Apparently he's so rich and powerful that he can even control the outcome of presidential elections. It looks as though he chose the last President (whoever is elected in 2008), but now doesn't like what his money bought him. As to who the nexT President should be, Van Statten leaves the choice up to the whims of his staff - should the next one be Republican or Democrat?
So who was Henry Van Statten, and how was he able to make a claim to a title that even Bill Gates has yet to secure (despite all his attempts)?
Who was the "Owner Of The Internet"?
I have an idea where he might have been working behind the scenes in the TV Universe before, but as usual, it's all hypothetical. (It's my favorite word for the week.) I can't prove this, and yet at the same time it can't be disproved.
That's the fun of Toobworld.
Let's start with Henry Van Statten's age. If we assume that he's the same age as the actor who portrays him, (Corey Johnson), then Van Statten is 39 in 2012.
So he was born in 1973, (Corey Johnson was born in 1966), and he would have been about 25 in 1998, more than old enough to have established himself as a computer genius. Hell, never mind what we see in the Real World, Toobworld has several times established the premise of teenaged hackers screwing up the system.
And as one would expect in Toobworld, there would be forces out there who would take notice of such geniuses and ensnare them into their organizations.
Such an organization would have been a shadowy group known as the Praetorians who were going to take over the world through control of computer systems.
One of the stumbling blocks in their way was a woman named Angela Bennett, who discovered one of their plots. They erased her existence (as far as computers go) in order to easier erase her totally. But she stayed one step ahead of them, thanks to an email contact known only as The Sorceror.
Eventually we met Sorceror... and found he was no more than just a skateboarding kid named Jacob Resch. (As for that voice of Sorceror, I think Jacob took audio recordings of an actor named Simon Ferguson and fed them into the computer to reconstitute into a computerized voice for the system.)
But Jacob had to get his inside info from somewhere, and that's where Henry Van Statten comes in.
As we saw in "Dalek", Van Statten was ambitious and ruthless in getting what he wanted. And he would never have stood in the background and let Mr. Trelawney grab all the glory as the leader of the Praetorians. By working from the inside using treachery, and by helping Angela Bennett through Jacob Resch, it's my belief Van Statten was able to rise to the leadership of the Praetorians and then used his power to take control of the Internet.
And that's how things stood when we officially met him in Utah in 2012.
Shows cited for this essay:
'Doctor Who'
'The Net'
'Over The Top'
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Van Statten boasted that he owned the Internet, and when Rose scoffed at the idea, because "nobody owns the Internet", he was secure enough in the claim that he preferred everbody to keep on thinking that way.
Apparently he's so rich and powerful that he can even control the outcome of presidential elections. It looks as though he chose the last President (whoever is elected in 2008), but now doesn't like what his money bought him. As to who the nexT President should be, Van Statten leaves the choice up to the whims of his staff - should the next one be Republican or Democrat?
So who was Henry Van Statten, and how was he able to make a claim to a title that even Bill Gates has yet to secure (despite all his attempts)?
Who was the "Owner Of The Internet"?
I have an idea where he might have been working behind the scenes in the TV Universe before, but as usual, it's all hypothetical. (It's my favorite word for the week.) I can't prove this, and yet at the same time it can't be disproved.
That's the fun of Toobworld.
Let's start with Henry Van Statten's age. If we assume that he's the same age as the actor who portrays him, (Corey Johnson), then Van Statten is 39 in 2012.
So he was born in 1973, (Corey Johnson was born in 1966), and he would have been about 25 in 1998, more than old enough to have established himself as a computer genius. Hell, never mind what we see in the Real World, Toobworld has several times established the premise of teenaged hackers screwing up the system.
And as one would expect in Toobworld, there would be forces out there who would take notice of such geniuses and ensnare them into their organizations.
Such an organization would have been a shadowy group known as the Praetorians who were going to take over the world through control of computer systems.
One of the stumbling blocks in their way was a woman named Angela Bennett, who discovered one of their plots. They erased her existence (as far as computers go) in order to easier erase her totally. But she stayed one step ahead of them, thanks to an email contact known only as The Sorceror.
Eventually we met Sorceror... and found he was no more than just a skateboarding kid named Jacob Resch. (As for that voice of Sorceror, I think Jacob took audio recordings of an actor named Simon Ferguson and fed them into the computer to reconstitute into a computerized voice for the system.)
But Jacob had to get his inside info from somewhere, and that's where Henry Van Statten comes in.
As we saw in "Dalek", Van Statten was ambitious and ruthless in getting what he wanted. And he would never have stood in the background and let Mr. Trelawney grab all the glory as the leader of the Praetorians. By working from the inside using treachery, and by helping Angela Bennett through Jacob Resch, it's my belief Van Statten was able to rise to the leadership of the Praetorians and then used his power to take control of the Internet.
And that's how things stood when we officially met him in Utah in 2012.
Shows cited for this essay:
'Doctor Who'
'The Net'
'Over The Top'
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
WYATT IN DEADWOOD
Producer David Milch reportedly is thinking about adding the character of Wyatt Earp to the cast of 'Deadwood', his HBO series that takes a semi-historical look at life in the Black Hills of Dakota back in the 1870s..
Mary Kopco, director of the Adams Museum and House, said Earp spent a winter in Deadwood in 1875 or 1876.
"Milch will take a real historical figure and make some dramatic changes and really explore different personality types of them as a larger-than-life person," Kopco said.
For Toobworld, Hugh O'Brian IS Wyatt Earp. He played the role in the TV series 'The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp', as a guest in the series 'Guns Of Paradise'/'Paradise', in 'Gambler 4: The Luck Of The Draw', and in a TV movie that blended scenes from his old TV show with new footage.
When it comes to historical figures, our criteria has a lot of leeway. Sometimes when there's an overflow of portrayals of a particular historical character, say Abe Lincoln or JFK, it's easier just to ship 'em out to an alternate TV dimension.
But in this case, I don't want to lose either the Hugh O'Brian Earps or the 'Deadwood' series. So I'm willing to find some loopy splainin to reconcile the two visions of Earp into one person.
So far, Milch is just thinking about adding the character. This might be a moot point in the end.
But if I was to cast the role, and try to keep it all in alignment with Hugh O'Brian's work, I'd get George Eads away from 'CSI' long enough to play the role. I've always thought Eads would be perfect as a descendant of O'Brian's Earp (Toobworld has plenty of them!) and there's just enough similarity in their square-jawed features to pull it off.
Just sayin', is all.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Mary Kopco, director of the Adams Museum and House, said Earp spent a winter in Deadwood in 1875 or 1876.
"Milch will take a real historical figure and make some dramatic changes and really explore different personality types of them as a larger-than-life person," Kopco said.
For Toobworld, Hugh O'Brian IS Wyatt Earp. He played the role in the TV series 'The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp', as a guest in the series 'Guns Of Paradise'/'Paradise', in 'Gambler 4: The Luck Of The Draw', and in a TV movie that blended scenes from his old TV show with new footage.
When it comes to historical figures, our criteria has a lot of leeway. Sometimes when there's an overflow of portrayals of a particular historical character, say Abe Lincoln or JFK, it's easier just to ship 'em out to an alternate TV dimension.
But in this case, I don't want to lose either the Hugh O'Brian Earps or the 'Deadwood' series. So I'm willing to find some loopy splainin to reconcile the two visions of Earp into one person.
So far, Milch is just thinking about adding the character. This might be a moot point in the end.
But if I was to cast the role, and try to keep it all in alignment with Hugh O'Brian's work, I'd get George Eads away from 'CSI' long enough to play the role. I've always thought Eads would be perfect as a descendant of O'Brian's Earp (Toobworld has plenty of them!) and there's just enough similarity in their square-jawed features to pull it off.
Just sayin', is all.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Sunday, July 31, 2005
WHITHER "OVER THERE"?
In several of the reviews for 'Over There', mention was made of the fact that this drama about the War in Iraq is probably the first to be actually made and broadcast during the war it depicts.
As an example, here is what Alessandra Stanley, Queen of the Obscure References had to say in her New York Times article:
"Until now, television shows also dramatized fighting from a safe remove: series about World War II like "The Rat Patrol" and "Hogan's Heroes" were made in the 1960's. (The true horrors of war were veiled even in dramas, like "Combat!," also made in the 60's and now on DVD and in reruns on cable.) The antiwar comedy "M*A*S*H" began in 1972 before the Vietnam War was over, but it was set in Korea. "China Beach," a dark-edged series about nurses in Vietnam, went on the air in 1988."
There are built-in hazards to making 'Over There' a contemporary look at the war. And one of those problems is something I hope we're all rooting for.....
"The top military commander in Iraq set a tentative timetable for 'fairly substantial' U.S. troop reductions by next spring - if Iraqi forces are able to pick up the slack.
Gen. George Casey said drawing down the 135,000 U.S. troops in Iraq will also depend on establishing an Iraqi constitution by October and successful elections in December.
'If the political process continues to go positively, if the developments with [Iraqi] security forces continue to go as [they are] going, I do believe we will still be able to make fairly substantial reductions after these elections - in the spring and summer of next year,' he said in Baghdad.
At a joint news conference with visiting Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari welcomed Casey's words, saying, 'We desire speed in that regard.' "
- from several news sources
So if the troops do start coming home sooner than Bochco might hope - for a long-running series, that is, I suppose the series could then focus on the post-traumatic stress the returning soldiers might experience.
Or they could be spun-off into other series......
I've only seen the pilot episode so far, same as most folks. And most of the characters so far seem to be kind of cliched.
But Erik Palladino is a cool actor, (I thought it was a mistake to lose him from 'Joan Of Arcadia'), and I like what he has to offer as Sgt. Scream in this show.
I could see him become a tough cop with lingering emotional problems; sort of an upgrade to the idea from 'Blind Justice'.
But Bochco blew it with that show, and 'NYPD Blue' was 86'd last season. So perhaps Sgt. Scream could be farmed out to one of the procedurals. 'CSI: NY', 'Law & Order', 'The Closer', 'Cold Case', or 'Wanted'.
The sergeant doesn't seem the type to have been an FBI agent before being called into service, so I don't think he'd be part of 'Without A Trace' or 'The Inside' - oops, sorry. As much as I liked that show, it's already been cancelled.
I suppose Bochco could go all out and create a gimmick show like 'The A-Team' and 'Broken Badges'. He could
keep the entire squad together back in the States and they fight crime under their war nicknames of "Angel", "Double-Wide", "Mrs. B", "Dim", and "Beau" - and all led by Sgt. Scream.
I can see it now: "The Scream Team".
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
As an example, here is what Alessandra Stanley, Queen of the Obscure References had to say in her New York Times article:
"Until now, television shows also dramatized fighting from a safe remove: series about World War II like "The Rat Patrol" and "Hogan's Heroes" were made in the 1960's. (The true horrors of war were veiled even in dramas, like "Combat!," also made in the 60's and now on DVD and in reruns on cable.) The antiwar comedy "M*A*S*H" began in 1972 before the Vietnam War was over, but it was set in Korea. "China Beach," a dark-edged series about nurses in Vietnam, went on the air in 1988."
There are built-in hazards to making 'Over There' a contemporary look at the war. And one of those problems is something I hope we're all rooting for.....
"The top military commander in Iraq set a tentative timetable for 'fairly substantial' U.S. troop reductions by next spring - if Iraqi forces are able to pick up the slack.
Gen. George Casey said drawing down the 135,000 U.S. troops in Iraq will also depend on establishing an Iraqi constitution by October and successful elections in December.
'If the political process continues to go positively, if the developments with [Iraqi] security forces continue to go as [they are] going, I do believe we will still be able to make fairly substantial reductions after these elections - in the spring and summer of next year,' he said in Baghdad.
At a joint news conference with visiting Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari welcomed Casey's words, saying, 'We desire speed in that regard.' "
- from several news sources
So if the troops do start coming home sooner than Bochco might hope - for a long-running series, that is, I suppose the series could then focus on the post-traumatic stress the returning soldiers might experience.
Or they could be spun-off into other series......
I've only seen the pilot episode so far, same as most folks. And most of the characters so far seem to be kind of cliched.
But Erik Palladino is a cool actor, (I thought it was a mistake to lose him from 'Joan Of Arcadia'), and I like what he has to offer as Sgt. Scream in this show.
I could see him become a tough cop with lingering emotional problems; sort of an upgrade to the idea from 'Blind Justice'.
But Bochco blew it with that show, and 'NYPD Blue' was 86'd last season. So perhaps Sgt. Scream could be farmed out to one of the procedurals. 'CSI: NY', 'Law & Order', 'The Closer', 'Cold Case', or 'Wanted'.
The sergeant doesn't seem the type to have been an FBI agent before being called into service, so I don't think he'd be part of 'Without A Trace' or 'The Inside' - oops, sorry. As much as I liked that show, it's already been cancelled.
I suppose Bochco could go all out and create a gimmick show like 'The A-Team' and 'Broken Badges'. He could
keep the entire squad together back in the States and they fight crime under their war nicknames of "Angel", "Double-Wide", "Mrs. B", "Dim", and "Beau" - and all led by Sgt. Scream.
I can see it now: "The Scream Team".
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Friday, July 29, 2005
FEAR OF A BLACK TV LAND
Back in February, I wrote about the idea that there might be an alternate TV dimension in which characters we know of as being white are instead black. An Earth Prime-Time-BET.
And then, back in May, Suits made sure that it wouldn't become a standard practice.....
[Sun May 22,10:34 AM ET ]
A black Huck Finn and a white Jim might be OK for a high school production of Mark Twain's classic tale — but those performances had to be edited out of a C-Span talent show after the copyright holder objected to the cross-casting.
Jay Frisby, a black student who played Huck, and Nick Lehan, a white student who played Jim, taped their performance of the song "Muddy Water" for 'Close Up', a weekly show that highlights high school excellence.
When the program aired Friday, the two Glenelg Country School seniors were introduced, but viewers were told that 'Close Up' could not show their performance because of "copyright restrictions."
Lehan and Frisby had played the roles of Jim and Huck in the school's production of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" without complaint. But when the show's executive producer asked for the right to air the students' performance, permission was denied.
Bert Fink, a spokesman for R&H Theatricals — the Rodgers & Hammerstein organization, which holds the license to the play — said his organization is not against cross-casting in general.
"But when you're dealing with a theatrical work and race or ethnicity is a key factor, many authors or playwrights feel strongly that ethnicity has to be reflected in the actors who portray the characters," he said.
"In the books, Jim is a runaway slave. He is clearly in the novel an African-American man. And Huck is a free white man — that is central to the story. To ignore that component or to comment on it by switching is not faithful to the story."
Frisby's father, Washington attorney Russell Frisby, said he was appalled by the decision.
"The only rationale for it is that someone in New York believes Huck Finn can't be played by an African-American. I thought we were past the days of 'whites only' clauses," the elder Frisby said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050522/ap_en_tv/theater_mark_twain_race/nc:763
And then, back in May, Suits made sure that it wouldn't become a standard practice.....
[Sun May 22,10:34 AM ET ]
A black Huck Finn and a white Jim might be OK for a high school production of Mark Twain's classic tale — but those performances had to be edited out of a C-Span talent show after the copyright holder objected to the cross-casting.
Jay Frisby, a black student who played Huck, and Nick Lehan, a white student who played Jim, taped their performance of the song "Muddy Water" for 'Close Up', a weekly show that highlights high school excellence.
When the program aired Friday, the two Glenelg Country School seniors were introduced, but viewers were told that 'Close Up' could not show their performance because of "copyright restrictions."
Lehan and Frisby had played the roles of Jim and Huck in the school's production of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" without complaint. But when the show's executive producer asked for the right to air the students' performance, permission was denied.
Bert Fink, a spokesman for R&H Theatricals — the Rodgers & Hammerstein organization, which holds the license to the play — said his organization is not against cross-casting in general.
"But when you're dealing with a theatrical work and race or ethnicity is a key factor, many authors or playwrights feel strongly that ethnicity has to be reflected in the actors who portray the characters," he said.
"In the books, Jim is a runaway slave. He is clearly in the novel an African-American man. And Huck is a free white man — that is central to the story. To ignore that component or to comment on it by switching is not faithful to the story."
Frisby's father, Washington attorney Russell Frisby, said he was appalled by the decision.
"The only rationale for it is that someone in New York believes Huck Finn can't be played by an African-American. I thought we were past the days of 'whites only' clauses," the elder Frisby said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050522/ap_en_tv/theater_mark_twain_race/nc:763
Thursday, July 28, 2005
"COLUMBO", "THE FUGITIVE"
We've seen with TV episodes like "Trials And Tribble-ations" on 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' that old clips inserted into new shows can become part of a new scenario.
I'm not sure this actually should be of any significance or not, but I did find it interesting. The following posts come from the excellent website which celebrates 'Columbo', The Ultimate Lieutenant Columbo Site:
Subject: Columbo/The Fugitive
Name: Headache2112
Date Posted: Apr 13, 05 - 4:09 PM
Message: This was pretty weird. This past Sunday, I decided to watch "A Friend In Deed". If you watch that episode, we first encounter the Commish at his "club". The establishing shot of the club is that of a spanish-style building (spanish type arches). The building has a circular drive in front of it and cars parked in front. This shot goes past very quickly.
After watching the episode, I decided to get my tapes of "The Fugitive" out of the bin they've been sitting in for the past six years. I have all the episodes on about 25 VHS tapes I taped off the A&E network about 14 years ago.
I chose a tape at random and popped it into my VCR. I can't recall the title of the episode right now, but it featured Jack Lord as a weasel who with some forced help, plans to kill his wheel-chair bound wealthy wife and frame Dr. Kimble for the murder.
Anywho, I pop in the tape and the episode begins. The first thing I see? The same spanish-style building with the spanish type arches and the circular driveway and cars parked out in front.
No, this isn't much of anything. I realize that. I just thought it was pretty weird that I just happened to choose these two episodes to watch, one after the other and both featured the exact same building. "The Fugitive" episode was a color episode, so that means it was from 1967. "A Friend In Deed" was long after that.
Of little more interest, Halperin's club seen in "Deed" was not the true interior of that spanish-style building. "The Fugitive" episode was actually filmed on location, and we follow David Janssen and Jack Lord from the outside of the building right into the lobby of the building.
I didn't see Columbo's car parked anywhere near the building though in the "Fugitive" episode!
Subject: Re: Columbo/The Fugitive
Name: Headache2112
Date Posted: Apr 13, 05 - 4:48 PM
Message: The title of the "Fugitive" episode was "Goodbye My Love".
Subject: Re: Columbo/The Fugitive
Name: Headache2112
Date Posted: Apr 15, 05 - 5:10 PM
Message: About those clips from "A Friend In Deed" and "The Fugitive". I checked it out thoroughly. It's somewhat interesting. The clip used in "Deed" (which goes by in about 4 seconds) is indeed from "The Fugitive". But interestingly enough, it's not the "exact" same clip.
At the beginning of the "Fugitive" episode, we see a Cadillac pulling around the circular drive and stopping in front of the entrance to the spanish-style-arched building. And that's it. The scene changes to the interior of the building.
Interestingly enough, the clip from "Columbo/Deed" follows on immediately from the point the "Fugitive" scene ended!
The Cadillac is stopped in front of the spanish-style-arched building. A guy wearing a light blue jacket gets out of the Cadillac and walks around the front of the car to the passenger side. That is where the "Columbo" scene ends.
But get this, that guy wearing the light blue jacket? Guess who that is? DAVID JANSSEN!
I know this, because back in the "Fugitive" episode, even though we didn't see the driver get out of the Cadillac, when the action switches to the interior of the spanish building, Janssen (as Dr. Richard Kimble) enters the building and is wearing that light blue jacket. The character is employed at that club (a golf course club) and one of his jobs is to valet park the golfer's cars.
So isn't that interesting? Now we can indeed say that David Janssen did in fact appear in an episode of "Columbo"! (But no, he's too far from the camera to be seen clearly. And because he is, it could just be a stand-in.)
Subject: Re: Columbo/The Fugitive
Name: cassavetes45
Date Posted: Apr 15, 05 - 5:27 PM
And as far as the clips are concerned...Wow! that is something else...so of course I had to go to the video tape!! And this time I wasn't standing in the kitchen, I put the tape on in my living room, because we have a 51 incher and I wanted to see it better...and there was the guy with the light blue jacket!! Amazing! I would tend to think that it was a stand-in..only for the reason that the guy had a bit of a spring to his step...and Janssen never really revealed that side of himself to me. For me, he has always followed the motto.."Slow and Steady, Wins The Race."
~~~~~~~
As for me, I was all set to whip up a few hypotheticals to deal with this trivial information. Perhaps, after "the running stopped", Dr. Kimble and his new wife retired to the sunny climes of California. Perhaps he then became a member of the same club to which Police Commissioner Mark Halperin belonged.
But then I figured, ah, let it go. I've already got Dr. Kimble linked to the TV Universe through one of his last episodes, in which he passed the U.N.C.L.E. headquarters located in Seattle. Lt. Columbo's connections include a hypothetical concerning the robot Double-M7 ("Mind Over Mayhem") and tele-versions of certain celebrities playing themselves.
And yet... it would be nice to have that direct link as well........
At any rate, that bit of trivial info adds another layer of interest for the 'Columbo' episode, which would probably be found in my top five faves.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
For those who are interested in visiting The Ultimate Lieutenant Columbo Site, here's the URL:
http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/
It's a fantastic site!
I'm not sure this actually should be of any significance or not, but I did find it interesting. The following posts come from the excellent website which celebrates 'Columbo', The Ultimate Lieutenant Columbo Site:
Subject: Columbo/The Fugitive
Name: Headache2112
Date Posted: Apr 13, 05 - 4:09 PM
Message: This was pretty weird. This past Sunday, I decided to watch "A Friend In Deed". If you watch that episode, we first encounter the Commish at his "club". The establishing shot of the club is that of a spanish-style building (spanish type arches). The building has a circular drive in front of it and cars parked in front. This shot goes past very quickly.
After watching the episode, I decided to get my tapes of "The Fugitive" out of the bin they've been sitting in for the past six years. I have all the episodes on about 25 VHS tapes I taped off the A&E network about 14 years ago.
I chose a tape at random and popped it into my VCR. I can't recall the title of the episode right now, but it featured Jack Lord as a weasel who with some forced help, plans to kill his wheel-chair bound wealthy wife and frame Dr. Kimble for the murder.
Anywho, I pop in the tape and the episode begins. The first thing I see? The same spanish-style building with the spanish type arches and the circular driveway and cars parked out in front.
No, this isn't much of anything. I realize that. I just thought it was pretty weird that I just happened to choose these two episodes to watch, one after the other and both featured the exact same building. "The Fugitive" episode was a color episode, so that means it was from 1967. "A Friend In Deed" was long after that.
Of little more interest, Halperin's club seen in "Deed" was not the true interior of that spanish-style building. "The Fugitive" episode was actually filmed on location, and we follow David Janssen and Jack Lord from the outside of the building right into the lobby of the building.
I didn't see Columbo's car parked anywhere near the building though in the "Fugitive" episode!
Subject: Re: Columbo/The Fugitive
Name: Headache2112
Date Posted: Apr 13, 05 - 4:48 PM
Message: The title of the "Fugitive" episode was "Goodbye My Love".
Subject: Re: Columbo/The Fugitive
Name: Headache2112
Date Posted: Apr 15, 05 - 5:10 PM
Message: About those clips from "A Friend In Deed" and "The Fugitive". I checked it out thoroughly. It's somewhat interesting. The clip used in "Deed" (which goes by in about 4 seconds) is indeed from "The Fugitive". But interestingly enough, it's not the "exact" same clip.
At the beginning of the "Fugitive" episode, we see a Cadillac pulling around the circular drive and stopping in front of the entrance to the spanish-style-arched building. And that's it. The scene changes to the interior of the building.
Interestingly enough, the clip from "Columbo/Deed" follows on immediately from the point the "Fugitive" scene ended!
The Cadillac is stopped in front of the spanish-style-arched building. A guy wearing a light blue jacket gets out of the Cadillac and walks around the front of the car to the passenger side. That is where the "Columbo" scene ends.
But get this, that guy wearing the light blue jacket? Guess who that is? DAVID JANSSEN!
I know this, because back in the "Fugitive" episode, even though we didn't see the driver get out of the Cadillac, when the action switches to the interior of the spanish building, Janssen (as Dr. Richard Kimble) enters the building and is wearing that light blue jacket. The character is employed at that club (a golf course club) and one of his jobs is to valet park the golfer's cars.
So isn't that interesting? Now we can indeed say that David Janssen did in fact appear in an episode of "Columbo"! (But no, he's too far from the camera to be seen clearly. And because he is, it could just be a stand-in.)
Subject: Re: Columbo/The Fugitive
Name: cassavetes45
Date Posted: Apr 15, 05 - 5:27 PM
And as far as the clips are concerned...Wow! that is something else...so of course I had to go to the video tape!! And this time I wasn't standing in the kitchen, I put the tape on in my living room, because we have a 51 incher and I wanted to see it better...and there was the guy with the light blue jacket!! Amazing! I would tend to think that it was a stand-in..only for the reason that the guy had a bit of a spring to his step...and Janssen never really revealed that side of himself to me. For me, he has always followed the motto.."Slow and Steady, Wins The Race."
~~~~~~~
As for me, I was all set to whip up a few hypotheticals to deal with this trivial information. Perhaps, after "the running stopped", Dr. Kimble and his new wife retired to the sunny climes of California. Perhaps he then became a member of the same club to which Police Commissioner Mark Halperin belonged.
But then I figured, ah, let it go. I've already got Dr. Kimble linked to the TV Universe through one of his last episodes, in which he passed the U.N.C.L.E. headquarters located in Seattle. Lt. Columbo's connections include a hypothetical concerning the robot Double-M7 ("Mind Over Mayhem") and tele-versions of certain celebrities playing themselves.
And yet... it would be nice to have that direct link as well........
At any rate, that bit of trivial info adds another layer of interest for the 'Columbo' episode, which would probably be found in my top five faves.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
For those who are interested in visiting The Ultimate Lieutenant Columbo Site, here's the URL:
http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/
It's a fantastic site!
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
IMMERSED IN "MORSE"
Kevin Whately is to reprise his Inspector Morse role in a new spin-off show for ITV.
Filming on 'Lewis' is due to begin this month - three years after the death of actor John Thaw who played Morse.
In the two-hour film, Whately reprises his role of Robbie Lewis, with his very own sidekick, Det Sgt James Hathaway.
Whately said it would be "very strange" returning to the role. He appeared alongside Thaw in the popular drama for 13 years.
He said: "I know it's going to be strange returning to the character of Lewis without John, but Morse's spirit pervades a great new script and I am looking forward to filming it and to seeing what has happened in Lewis' life and career."
Michele Buck, controller of Granada Drama, London, said Inspector Morse was a "television institution" that came to a natural end with the death of Morse in 2000.
He said: "I am delighted that Kevin has agreed to return as Lewis in a terrific story, which will re-unite many of the team behind Morse, and which will have the same high production values."
Five years after the death of Morse, Lewis - who is now an inspector - returns to the Thames Valley police and the university city of Oxford.
Lewis is joined by Cambridge graduate Det Sgt James Hathaway, played by Laurence Fox, and reporting to new boss Chief Supt Jean Innocent.
Also reprising her Morse role in the drama will be Clare Holman, who was introduced as pathologist Laura Hobson in the 1995 film "The Way Through The Woods" and subsequently appeared in four Morse films.
The last 'Inspector Morse' - "The Remorseful Day" - was broadcast in November 2000.
In the episode, Morse collapsed in an Oxford college quad and later died in hospital.
John Thaw died in February 2002 at the age of 60 after suffering from cancer.
So both Inspector Lewis and Laura Hobson will be two-thirds of the way towards qualifying for the TV Crossover Hall of Fame.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Filming on 'Lewis' is due to begin this month - three years after the death of actor John Thaw who played Morse.
In the two-hour film, Whately reprises his role of Robbie Lewis, with his very own sidekick, Det Sgt James Hathaway.
Whately said it would be "very strange" returning to the role. He appeared alongside Thaw in the popular drama for 13 years.
He said: "I know it's going to be strange returning to the character of Lewis without John, but Morse's spirit pervades a great new script and I am looking forward to filming it and to seeing what has happened in Lewis' life and career."
Michele Buck, controller of Granada Drama, London, said Inspector Morse was a "television institution" that came to a natural end with the death of Morse in 2000.
He said: "I am delighted that Kevin has agreed to return as Lewis in a terrific story, which will re-unite many of the team behind Morse, and which will have the same high production values."
Five years after the death of Morse, Lewis - who is now an inspector - returns to the Thames Valley police and the university city of Oxford.
Lewis is joined by Cambridge graduate Det Sgt James Hathaway, played by Laurence Fox, and reporting to new boss Chief Supt Jean Innocent.
Also reprising her Morse role in the drama will be Clare Holman, who was introduced as pathologist Laura Hobson in the 1995 film "The Way Through The Woods" and subsequently appeared in four Morse films.
The last 'Inspector Morse' - "The Remorseful Day" - was broadcast in November 2000.
In the episode, Morse collapsed in an Oxford college quad and later died in hospital.
John Thaw died in February 2002 at the age of 60 after suffering from cancer.
So both Inspector Lewis and Laura Hobson will be two-thirds of the way towards qualifying for the TV Crossover Hall of Fame.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
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