THE MAYBERRY TELE-FOLKS DIRECTORY

Those townsfolk of Mayberry whom we "knew" and who are still alive (as are the actors who played them) include:

• ANDY TAYLOR (Andy Griffith)
• OPIE TAYLOR (Ron Howard)
• GOMER PYLE - Jim Nabors
• THELMA LOU FIFE* (Betty Lynn)
• SAM JONES (Ken Berry)
• MIKE JONES (Buddy Foster)
• WARREN FERGUSON (Jack Burns)
• DEAN DARLING (Dean Webb)
• RODNEY DARLING (Rodney Dillard)
• DOUG DARLING (Doug Dillard)

(Sometimes also known as Jebbin, Ward, and Frankie. The fourth brother, Othor/Mitch Darling, passed away.)

• CHARLENE DARLING WASH (Maggie Peterson)
• DUD A. WASH (Hoke Howell)

(At one point, Dud was the victim of an early "Quantum Leap" experiment in which either a sailor named Gilligan replaced Dud in his life due to some catastrophe typical of that clumsy oaf, or maybe it was Maynard G. Krebs' "expanded" consciousness took over Dud's life.)

Some of them may have moved away, but I'm sure they - like many of us - carry a little bit of Mayberry in their hearts.

BCnU!

* I'd like to think Barney did the right and finally married Thelma Lou.....

TVXOHOF - 05/2012(A): GOOBER PYLE

There will always be people living in Mayberry, North Carolina, over in Toobworld. But those that we actually "knew".....?

The population dropped by one the other day with the passing of George Lindsey, who played Goober Pyle on 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'Mayberry RFD', and then returned over a decade later to the character with the 1980s TV reunion movie "Return To Mayberry".

'Gomer Pyle, USMC' got "A Visit From Cousin Goober" when he was stationed at Fort Henderson, and he traveled to Greenwood, North Carolina, with Howard Sprague and Emmett Clark to visit Mayor Andy Sawyer, the identical cousin of Andy Taylor (as seen in 'The New Andy Griffith Show'.)

Lindsey also played Goober Pyle on the syndicated variety show 'Hee Haw' (sort of a cornpone 'Laugh-In'). So this places a Goober doppleganger in the sketch comedy dimension of Skitlandia.

And my fellow crossoverist Robert Wronski has pointed out that the actor was listed in the credits for "Take This Job And Shove It" as "Man At Gas Station". Robert's theory is that this could be considered as a movie version of Goober. If so, for the Toobworld Dynamic he'd be the Goober of the Cineverse.

So that gives Goober Pyle more than enough credits to join Andy & Opie, Aunt Bee, and Barney Fife (who just joined last month!) in the TV Crossover Hall of Fame. And as is our tradition now here at Toobworld Central, when such an actor passes away, we induct their character right away.

"You're one of us now, Goob.
One of us... one of us.... one of us...."

So welcome to the Hall of Fame, Goob.

Good night and may God bless......

AS SEEN ON TV: SEVEN LITTLE MONSTERS

"SEVEN LITTLE MONSTERS"

CREATED BY:

Maurice Sendak

VOICED BY:

Sean Cullen ... Five & Others
Dwayne Hill ... Three
Debra McGrath ... Mama
Colin Mochrie ... Two
Michele Scarabelli ... Six
Joanne Vannicola ... One

From the IMDb.com:

This children animated series follow seven little monsters, whom are apparently not little but big ones, in their adventures on learning about life. And each monsters' name is an number, 1-7.

• One, the eldest of all of them, as well as the most athletic and yet to be the tattletale of the siblings.
• Two, the most helpful out of the monster with a long nose.
• Three, the most dramatic of the seven, and usually seen taking on a different persona in each episode.
• Four, the middle child who is the epitome of rambunctious angst in his family.
• Five, the childish sibling who does weird things with his tongue. He usually seen with Four.
• Six, who is the resident ballerina, and believes she's the most beautiful monster.
• And the youngest, Seven, who can unscrew his head. Despite his frightful appearance as well as be the youngest, he is the tallest amongst his siblings and is the most gentle as well. 

By rocknrollunderdawg

Today's ASOTV post is dedicated to the memory of Maurice Sendak, who passed away yesterday at the age of 83.

Good night and may God bless.......

AS SEEN ON TV: THE WIZARD OF OZ

THE WIZARD OF OZ

CREATED BY:

L. Frank Baum

VOICED BY:

Carl Banas

('The Tales Of The Wizard Of Oz')

Daws Butler

('Off To See The Wizard')

From Wikipedia:

The Wizard of Oz, known during his reign as The Great and Powerful Oz, is the epithet of Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs, a fictional character in the Land of Oz, created by American author L. Frank Baum.

The Wizard of Oz is the title character of the first book. In that book, the characters journey to him for assistance with their problems. It is later revealed that he is a humbug circus performer named Oscar Dibbs from Omaha, Nebraska; and that he had usurped Ozma's throne with the assistance of Mombi. The Wizard later returns to Oz in the fourth book and later learns real magic from Princess Ozma.

Two for Tuesday!

BCnU!

TDVDS@50: NEWS-TIME

In that same debut episode of 'The Rogues', another publication appeared which I could use to make a connection with 'The Dick Van Dyke Show'.

And a good thing too, since I need a post about the greatest sitcom ever for this month!

A picture of a reclusive millionaire was featured in an issue of News-Time magazine (August 23, 1964 edition). But the photo was replaced in a particular copy of the magazine with that of cousin Alex Fleming, posing as the millionaire.

 

News-Time is the same magazine which sent a reporter to write about Alan Brady. Only, Laura Petrie made it look as though Rob was the true genius of the show.

Both issues were published in 1964 (as far as Toobworld is concerned.) The cover story on Alan Brady came out at the beginning of the year, while the issue featuring "Colin Lassiter" was dated August 23.  By the time of the August edition, the masthead for the magazine had a change in its font - probably to boost sales.

(August is the eighth month of the year. 8-23...... There are two numbers from the 'Lost' sequence again.....)

And I realize it's probably just me, but doesn't the cover photo of Alan Brady look like Glenn Close......?

If it didn't before, I think this might be something you now can't "un-see".....

BCnU!

CHRONICLE OF MISSING LINKS III

With that first episode of 'The Rogues', I found a link that could be made to several other TV series, but primarily to 'The Patty Duke Show'.

The headline of the most recent edition of the New York Chronicle (Paris edition) - as of September, 1964 - nearly threw the latest scheme by the Fleming-St. Clair family for a loop.

Patty Lane's father (and Cathy Lane's uncle) Martin Lane was the editor of the NY Chronicle around that same time.

I wrote about the Chronicle here.

BCnU!

REGARDING "THE ROGUES"

My latest series for lunch hour viewing at work is a ten episode compilation of 'The Rogues'. It's the story of an international family of swindlers, led by David Niven, Gig Young, and Charles Boyer, with Robert Coote and Gladys Cooper providing backup from the British base of operations.  It sets the standard for later shows like 'Leverage' and 'Hustle'.

When I was much younger and reading all my books on TV history, 'The Rogues' was one of those shows I always wished I had the chance to see.  (Back in 1964, my family was primarily a CBS family......)  So this is another reason I love the DVD age which is always in search of TV nuggets like this!

I started off with "The Personal Touch", and it felt like the series launch that it was. (I'm so accustomed to every pilot episode simply being called "Pilot", which I detest!) All of the principles appeared (although Boyer was a voice-over), but check out this guest cast:

Walter Matthau

Dina Merrill

Alfred Ryder

John Dehner

With a great supporting cast of characters:

Marcel Hillaire

John Banner

Dabbs Greer

Johnny Silver

And so far, the episodes are maintaining that level of quality.

BCnU!

STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO

There was one other comment in that 'Grey's Anatomy' thread that spoke to my televisiological O'Bsessions:

As a San Franciscan, I can tell you one flaw in the "rush me to the Boards" plotline. Taxis are ALLOWED in the bus lane. It's for both Taxis and Buses. That whole part about "that lanes for buses" was poorly researched. Come on, writers!
GrlJam

As Muskie Muskrat would say in those old 'Deputy Dawg' cartoons - It's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble, that traffic regulations in Tele-Frisco could be different from those in the San Francisco of the real world.....

BCnU!

THE CRAIG LIST

Normally I don't read the comment threads attached to various reviews and recaps I read online. I don't mind learning what various critics and columnists may think about a particular episode, but I don't want to be influenced any farther than that when it comes to the posts I may write about the same subject.

But then I read this in the Entertainment Weekly recap of the latest episode of 'Grey's Anatomy' ("Let The Bad Times Roll"):

In Cristina's neck of the woods, she found herself sitting opposite none other than Mr. Feeny. (Well, technically, it was guest star William Daniels -- but let me have my moment.)

It didn't surprise me - I've found a lot of online reviewers nowadays suffer from amnesia when it comes to any television program that was broadcast before 1990. It should have obvious to anyone who writes about the medium with any authority that Daniels was supposed to suggest that he was appearing as Dr. Mark Craig from the classic crossover series 'St. Elsewhere'!

So before I scribbled out my own castigating comment, I decided to surf the responses - using "Craig" as my search term so I wouldn't have to read all the dreck about the sex scene in the bathroom, the dying old friend, and Meredith's vomit marathon. (As you can see, I wasn't entirely successful.)

And thankfully, most EW readers rallied to the cause:

Note to reviewer. It may not have been nice for Christina to be yelling at Mr, Feeny but in a past life, he was a doctor as well. Please check out a classic show: St. Elsewhere.
Jeff Geller

I did love that William Daniels was one of the examiners. Not because of Boy Meets World - I never watched that show - but because of his years on St. Elsewhere.
Jennifer

Actually, Christina was being tested by Dr. Mark Craig from St. Elsewhere. And William Daniels did a wonderful job with the verbal smackdown at the early end to the exam.
Deborah

Yeah, it kinda makes me sad seeing all the references to Mr. Feeny everywhere when Daniels portrayed what I assume to be TVs original Cardio God.
KA

Having William Daniels as an examiner was a classy nod to St. Elsewhere, the first "realistic" hospital show that paved the way for ER and Grey's. I'm only sorry Daniels didn't get a chance to answer to "Dr. Craig" one more time.
JaneC

Thank heaven someone else is old enough to understand the beauty of the casting of William Daniels. Dr. Craig was St. Elsewhere's Christina! The same kind of arrogant, ambitious, talented doctor that we love/hate with Christina.
Guest

Even if the recapper didn't pick up on the obvious reference to the two-time winner of the Cushing Left Anterior Decending Artery award winner, some EW editor should have set the young buck straight. It would be like Don Knotts guesting on some series and referring to him as the landlord on Three's Company, instead of Deputy Barney Fife.
RockGolf

I agree. Yeah--the "Boy Meets World" reference(s) by EW staff is cute (and a fair pop-cultural callback) but this is "Grey's Anatomy", Christina Yang and Dr. MARK CRAIG from "ST. ELSEWHERE"...i.e. the most appropriate stunt casting of the entire series! Focusing on the Mr. Feeny aspect more than acknowledging the pure awesomeness of this historic television cardio god connection is *almost* like the young Twitter twits in Twitterverse questioning the significance of a Johnny Depp cameo in the new "21 Jumpstreet".
Nic

St. Elsewhere ended almost 25 years ago and the cast of the show are not primarily remembered for their roles on it. Considering 18-49 is the demographic both shows aimed for the VAST majority of people watching Grey's would have been too young or not even alive to watch it. Referencing Mr. Feeny isn't being disrespectful to the in joke about St. Elsewhere. Most viewers know Mr. Feeny and most would never have heard of Dr. Craig. It was a great connection to make for those who got it, it is just that it is a very dated reference.
LisaP

The importance of William Daniels was not that he was Mr. Feeney -- but that he played Dr. Mark Craig in St. Elsewhere and was chief of cardiology.
Fan of St. Elsewhere

I think the intelligence and irony of his casting is lost of probably 80% of Grey's viewership. St. Elsewhere was on between 1982-1988, most of the viewers weren't even born yet, or were old enough to appreciate a show like that.
Eva

Seeing William Daniels (one of my favorite actors from St. Elsewhere) made my night. Ed Begley Jr. (Erhlich) should've made a cameo!
Lucey

MR. FEENY!
AND OH MY GOD....before everyone attacks me, I know he was also on St. Elsewhere. Doesn't mean I can't have some love for Mr. Feeny.
K8910

I can't believe you didn't recognize that the Doctor who was testing Cristina was none other than arrogant surgeon Mark Craig, from the 1980s show St. Elsewhere. Google him . . . I'll wait . . .
Smarty

St. Elsewhere went off the air in 1988 (I googled). I can guarantee I was not watching hospital dramas when I was 10. I guarantee there are a lot of younger viewers that have never watched that show and know him best as Mr. Feeny. I'm not even that young, I'm 34 but the first hospital drama I watched was ER in 94.
Dianne

Exactly! I was 5 when it went off the air. All these grumpy OLD ppl commenting today
Melizaberry

Sad for you. I'm two years younger than you and distinctly remember St. Elsewhere watching. Great show! You missed out.
Kelly

Absolute casting genius to have William Daniels play an examiner for Christina's cardiac boards. He is supposed to be a respected heart surgeon (hence running Christina's board examination). Daniels played Dr. Craig on St. Elsewhere, who was a, wait for it, heart surgeon!! The fact that the recapper focused on his stint on 'Boy Meets World' shows us the writer's depth. Oy.
BQuick, BConcise, BSeated

Cristina's interrogator was not Mr. Feeny. It was Dr. Mark Craig from St. Elegius Hospital in Boston. And it was always perfectly all right to be rude to Dr. Craig. He was an obnoxious surgeon--the generational equivalent of Cristina Yang--and when people were rude to him it made him a better man. Oh, I hope Shonda brings William Daniels back next season, as Dr. Craig! He and Cristina are a riot together!
Anewman

I hope they bring him back as a patient who specifically asks for Yang because "in my 25 years of board certifications, you're the first person not to back down when you were right. Cardiac surgery is war. What you did took balls the size of cannons. That's why I want you on this procedure."
RockGolf

The minute Mr. Feeny showed up, I paused the show and did Eric's Feeny call. Might have scared my neighbors a little, but so worth it.
Laura

NO! NO! NO! That wasn't Mr Feeny! That was Dr. Mark Craig from St Eligius Hospital in Boston, developer of the Craig 9000 artificial heart and two-time winner of the Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery award.

Get it right, Ehrlich!
RockGolf

Mr. Feeney. Really? How about Dr. Mark Craig, cocky Dr from hell from St. Elsewhere? Does that make a little more sense?
I Didn't Think I Was THAT Old!

William Daniels played the one of the top doctors in Boston on St. Elsewhere years ago and I don't know who Mr. Feeney is but as soon as I saw him I figured that was why they chose him for the role, because he has "MD" credibility with lots of folks who remember the series ( as I do!) Whatever reason they chose him, it was a pleasure to see him again -- he's a fabulous actor
SandyPo

I salute everybody who tried to set the record straight, especially RockGolf. 

Down with the Feenyians!

BCnU!

THE "GREY'S ANATOMY" - "ST. ELSEWHERE" CROSSOVER

'GREY'S ANATOMY'

"LET THE BAD TIMES ROLL"

Thanks to a head's-up warning from Brent McKee, blogmaster of "I Am A Child Of Television" (Link is to the left, Team Toobworld!), I watched the latest episode of 'Grey's Anatomy' on Hulu......

Watching the previews at the end of tonight's "Grey's Anatomy" offered a huge possible X-over. Next week the various residents will be doing their surgical board exams. This includes Christina who is of course a heart surgeon. It appears that one of her board examiners is played by William Daniels! And of course William Daniels played Mark Craig on "St. Elsewhere"!! Naturally we'll know more next week, but I'm sure we can all see the implications here.

It was a good tip! As you can see from the following frame grabs, the character played by William Daniels was not identified by name:

From TVRage.com

From the "Grey's Anatomy" Wiki

So for all intents and purposes, I believe he was playing Dr. Mark Craig - older, quieter, but no less acerbic. And that he - as a "cardio god" (as one commenter at the Entertainment Weekly recap described him) - was in charge of Dr. Cristina Yang's three sessions made his identification as Dr. Mark Craig even stronger.

The "boards" were conducted in San Francisco, with doctors flown in from all over the country to examine each applicant (not just those residents from Seattle Grace). So there's no obstruction to Dr. Craig flying in from Cleveland to take part. (I'm assuming he was still in Cleveland - by the end of 'St. Elsewhere' in 1988, his wife had taken a post in the city and so he reluctantly agreed to move with her.

By the way, I'm one of those crossoverists who does not subscribe to the Westphallian Universe Theory- the belief that all of the 'St. Elsewhere' series took place in the mind of an autistic boy. For me, the dream-world began as Tommy Westphall was looking out the window and he began imagining a world in which Dr. Auschlander was still alive (and his grandfather to boot), while his father, Dr. Donald Westphall, was now a construction worker.

So this appearance by Dr. Craig was the real deal.

This just may be the top crossover of the year, but I don't mind listing it as the Best Theoretical Crossover for Toobits Awards consideration.  It also puts Dr. Craig in contention for the TV Crossover Hall Of Fame.....

Thanks, Brent!  I never would have seen this had it not been for you.  'Grey's Anatomy' just isn't my cuppa (although I had no complaints about watching the bathroom sex scene!)

BCnU!