THE CONE OF SILENCE WILL FALL

With its storyline about two different TV dimensions - Earth Prime-Time and "Over There" - 'Fringe' has introduced us to a couple of characters who (so far) don't have counterparts in the other dimension.

One of those is Lincoln Lee, the new tactical leader of Fringe Division "Over There".

When Frank didn't know if he should tell Lincoln that he was going to propose to Olive Dunham that weekend, Lincoln promised he could keep a secret:

"I have my own cone of silence when it comes to secrets."

Of course, he immediately spilled the beans to Liv.....
So, based on what he said, there must have been an "Over There" version of CONTROL, the spy agency. (Here at Toobworld Central, we just won't entertain the idea that Lincoln was talking about the TV show 'Get Smart'.)

It's unknown if CONTROL still exists "Over There", but it may have been absorbed into Fringe Division - much like many of the intelligence communities in the United States of the Trueniverse were combined under the leadership of Homeland Security.

At the very least, the technology used by CONTROL - specifically the cone of silence - was functional "Over There." (And considering the advanced stage fo their development, it was also quite practical unlike in Earth Prime-Time.)

We could extrapolate from that reference point to consider the existence of other 'Get Smart' fixtures - like the existence of KAOS, the country Caronia, shoe phones. But I think that - as it is in Earth Prime-Time - CONTROL Agent #86 (Maxwell Smart) most likely passed away......

BCnU!

MEETING AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME....

Bonnie Franklin recently appeared in an episode of 'Hot In Cleveland', playing opposite Valerie Bertinelli - who played her daughter on 'One Day At A Time'. It was an in-joke, not a Zonk, and did no damage to the cohesive integrity of the TV Universe. (No, that would come later in the episode with an over-elaborate reference to Agnes Moorehead on 'Bewitched'.)

But it was another case in which the doppelgangers of other TV characters who were connected in the past will also eventually connect with each other.

What I did find interesting about it was that it was basically under the radar, publicity-wise. I found mentions of it at David Bianculli's blog and in Mark Dawidziak's column. (Of course, I didn't try very hard to find other examples. Just too lazy.)

But even so, there was a big difference between this and the publicity blitz over the reunion in that same series between Betty White and Mary Tyler Moore. It was being trumpeted in the press months before it happened! Still, I hope the 'Hot In Cleveland' producers continue this trend, and it looks like we'll only need ¼ of the team to be matched up soon. That's because Peri Gilpin is supposedly booked to appear in an episode of the show and that will be the 'Frasier' reunion for Jane Leeves.

As for Wendie Malick, how about Brian Benben from 'Dream On' or Laura San Giacomo from 'Just Shoot Me'? If they want to keep it an estrogen-fest, then perhaps Dennie Dillon from 'Dream On' instead of Benben - her caustic sense of humor would be a good match against that of Betty White's Elka......

A big thanks to my dear friend, Michael Cleary, for insisting I watch the Bonnie Franklin episode. (I have to confess I'm not a fan of the show.)

BCnU!

BURKE'S ZONK

When a TV show mentions another TV show AS a TV show, even though they should be sharing the same TV dimension, that's what we all a Zonk (from 'Let's Make A Deal!')

One way to disable those Zonks is to claim that those mentioned TV shows were based on actual events. A lot of the subjects in those TV shows were based on newsworthy events - for example, 'Gilligan's Island'. When they were eventually rescued in the mid-1970's, I'll bet there were plenty of producers vying for their story. 'The Brady Bunch' may not have seemed newsworthy, but a blended family of a widower with three boys and a widow with three daughters (the youngest one in curls) would be a good human interest story.

Some of these TV shows based on TV shows/"real life" were produced while the original TV shows were on the air. 'Lost' inspired several references during its six year run, but that was set mostly in the past so that's a ready-made excuse.

The best example with visuals up to now was seeing Kramer of 'Seinfeld' working as a secretary in the TV adaptation of the life of 'Murphy Brown' (which starred Candice Bergen, who bore an amazing resemblance to the newswoman.) But I've now found what may be the oldest example of this form of Zonk-disabler - and it comes from within the referenced TV series!

At the end of the "Who Killed Cynthia Royal?" case in 'Burke's Law', Captain Amos Burke shared a TV dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and succotash with a "Sweet Young Thing". (That's how she was listed in the credits!)

And the TV show chosen by that Sweet Young Thing in the back of Burke's Rolls Royce? That Gene Barry was cast as Amos Burke means the millionaire detective had more than one doppelganger in Toobworld. There was also Snooky Martinelli, a wealthy playboy who would soon be the late Snooky Martinelli; and there was also Gene Bradley, a movie star who worked undercover for the government on missions located near the shooting locations for his films. For a while, 'The Adventurer' Gene Bradley would use "Amos Burke" as his alias, which I covered in the blog some time back.

And of course, the characters played by Gene Barry in such shows as 'The Name Of The Game', 'Our Miss Brooks', and guest spots in shows like 'Columbo' were also look-alikes for the millionaire police captain. BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: MICHELLE MALKIN

Something quick because we have a lot of other stuff to get to today.....

MICHELLE MALKIN

AS SEEN ON:
'Saturday Night Live'

AS PLAYED BY:
Nasim Pedrad

From Wikipedia:
Michelle Malkin (née Maglalang; born October 20, 1970) is an American conservative blogger, political commentator, and author. Her weekly, syndicated column appears in a number of newspapers and websites nationwide. She has been a guest on MSNBC, Fox News Channel, C-SPAN, and national radio programs. Malkin has written four books.

No Valentines heading her way from Toobworld Central.....

BCnU!

AS STEWIE WOULD SAY: "CREAM OF HWEAT"

Finally, here's a blipvert to pay the bills.... as if!

BCnU!

SUPER BOWL BLIPVERTS: "HOUSE" CALL

This was an in-house blipvert for FOX - literally, given the main character!

I have no problem with considering this as part of the 'House' storyline, so I'm calling it.....

Get it? House call? Ehhh, never mind......

BCnU!

THE STORY OF "O"

Speaking of TV superheroes, here's a recent blipvert from DirecTV:

I think that may be the same big City which was home for the superheroes Bat Manuel, Captain Liberty, the Tick, and Arthur as the Moth, as seen in the TV series 'The Tick'.

I'm not sure what happened to that quartet which would be keeping them from saving the City from such villainous scum, but they certainly don't appear in this commercial. Perhaps they had already been captured?

At any rate, the City is doomed because this guy has DirecTV. Thanks a lot, DirecTV!

But who is he, exactly?

I'm guessing, based on his emblem, that his name begins with an "O" - Omni-Man? Obsidian? Obelisk? No, they're already established in the comics. Omega Man? No, that's the name of a Charlton Heston movie. Captain Olfactory? Gus on 'Psych' already has a super-sniffer. What if it's a zero? It can't be Captain Z-Ro, however - that Time Lord had a totally different look back in the 1950's. (Perhaps it could be his grandson?)

The Oligarch? It has pozz'bilities, and Glenn Beck would hate it! (Mostly because it would be a reminder that he doesn't know how to spell the word.)

Well, whoever he is, and however this turned out, I'm going to link it to 'The Tick' for the time being......

BCnU!

THE KING OF SKITLANTIS

Recently, Inner Toob took a look at Aquaman's place in the main Toobworld, and we acknowledged that his traditional appearance does exist in the Tooniverse.

But thanks to my friend Tay Mueller, I learned that the Superhero King of the Sea can be found in Skitlandia as well!

Thanks, Tay!

B-Sea-nU!

"TELL HER ABOUT IT"

If I hadn't already featured Will Jordan as Ed Sullivan for the Sunday "As Seen On TV" video showcase back in 2009, then I would have used this video to do so. Because who better than the man who owned Sunday night TV for so many years....?

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: PEE-WEE HERMAN

Pee-Wee Herman recently brought his Playhouse to Broadway, and it was recorded for broadcast on HBO. But here's how Pee-Wee looked in Skitlandia:

PEE-WEE HERMAN

AS SEEN IN:
'MadTV'

AS PLAYED BY:
Jim Carrey

And here's a bit of a tease preview for that Pee-Wee Herman on Broadway special which will be coming to HBO on March 19:

I think my Uncle Skippy went through that process everyday to choose the proper bow-tie.....

BCnU!