TVXOHOF TRIBUTE - JAMES CAAN, MULTIDIMENSIONAL (1940-2022)

From Wikipedia:

James Edmund Caan (March 26, 1940 – July 6, 2022) was an American actor known for his film and television performances. He was nominated for several entertainment industry honors, including for an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978.

After early roles in Howard Hawks's "El Dorado" (1966), Robert Altman's "Countdown" (1967) and Francis Ford Coppola's "The Rain People" (1969), he came to prominence playing Sonny Corleone in Coppola's "The Godfather" (1972) – a performance which earned him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He reprised his role in "The Godfather Part II" (1974).

Caan gained acclaim for his portrayal of Brian Piccolo in the 1971 television movie "Brian's Song" for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie nomination. Caan received Golden Globe Award nominations for his performances in the drama "The Gambler" (1974), and the musical "Funny Lady" (1975). He continued to receive significant roles in feature films such as "Cinderella Liberty" (1973), "Rollerball" (1975), "A Bridge Too Far" (1977), "Comes a Horseman" (1978), and "Chapter Two" (1979).

His work after 1980 was more sporadic, with performances including "Thief" (1981), "Gardens of Stone" (1987), "Misery" (1990), "Honeymoon in Vegas" (1992), "Bottle Rocket" (1996), "Eraser" (1996), "Mickey Blue Eyes" (1999), "The Yards" (2000), "City of Ghosts" (2002), "Dogville" (2003), "Elf" (2003), and "Get Smart" (2008).

From Deadline:
The 82-year-old Caan died this month of a heart attack and coronary artery disease, according to the death certificate signed by his doctor.

His family announced his death earlier in July on the actor’s official Twitter account.

“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6,” the tweet reads. “The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

In Toobworld, Caan didn’t have that many characters, as his movie career – even during his later lean years – kept him as a strong presence in the Cineverse.  Along with the aforementioned Brian Piccolo, what comes to mind for me would be the ‘Las Vegas’ casino owner who was possibly “connected” (and who crossed over to an episode of ‘Crossing Jordan’); his former baseball player helping his daughter with a Little League team in ‘Back In The Game’; a Chicago mob boss in 1950s Miami in a handful of episodes of 'Magic City'; and among his guest star roles, my favorite was Rupert of Rathskellar in a two-part spoof of “The Prisoner of Zenda” on ‘Get Smart’.

Ed Deline from ‘Las Vegas’ came the closest to fulfilling the requirements for membership in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, but fell short by one episode.  (An appearance in the ‘Law & Order’ franchise was all that was needed.)

However, there is a way for me to tip my cap to “The Godfather” capo, saluting his standing in the League of Themselves….

JAMES CAAN

Three separate shows, commercials, or TV movies are needed to qualify new members in the TVXOHOF.  As himself, Caan qualifies by being a multidimensional.

EARTH PRIME-TIME

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

(1972 episode)
... Guest Performer

NewsRadio

- Movie Star (1996)
... James Caan

ALTERNATE TOOBWORLDS

TOOBWORLD-TOOBWORLD

The Offer

- Kiss the Ring (2022)
... “James Caan”
- Crossing That Line (2022)
... “James Caan”

[Damian Conrad-Davis portrayed Caan.]

O’Bservation:
Toobworld-Toobworld was an alternate dimension created for the spate of TV movies which dealt with the behind-the-scenes look at the making of certain TV shows from the real world.  Among them: ‘Gilligan’s Island’, ‘Dynasty’, ‘Mork & Mindy’, ‘Steptoe & Son’, and ‘American Dreams’ (about the world of ‘American Bandstand’.)  While there are televersions of those shows referenced in the main Toobworld, those are based on the lives of the characters as real people.  The world of Toobworld-Toobworld (or Toobworld’s Toobworld) doesn’t allow for that.  It’s all fictional, just as it is in Earth Prime, AKA the Real World.  Toobworld-Toobworld has been expanded to include TV movies or series which deal with the making of real movies as well, such as “Mank,” “RKO 281,” and in keeping with the Orson Welles theme, “The Night That Panicked America” and ‘Studio One’ – “The Night America Trembled” regarding the “War Of the Worlds” radio broadcast.

THE TOONIVERSE

Family Guy

He's Too Sexy for His Fat (2000)

O’Bservation:
Depicted, but producer Danny Smith provided his voice.

The Simpsons

- All's Fair in Oven War (2004)
... James Caan (voice)

From the IMDb:

In the final scene, James Caan parodies his death scene from “The Godfather” (1972).

Family Guy

- Something, Something, Something, Dark Side (2009)
... James Caan (voice)

O’Bservation:
Caan played himself in Peter Griffin’s recounting of “Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back.”  (“I’ll be your friend if you let me kick your ass.”)

Good night and may God bless, Mr. Caan.

And welcome to the Hall…..

TVXOHOF, AUGUST 2022 - GOLDIE

August is the month in which the Television Crossover Hall of Fame celebrates the TV Western.  For 2022, we’re featuring something a little different and without making a big deal out of the induction….

GOLDIE

From myfriendflicka.dom -
Some have suggested that this horse that was ridden by Jack Kelly in the ‘Maverick’ TV series which ran from 1957 to 1962 was our Goldie.  Kelly played Bart Maverick, starting with the eighth episode of the series.  In the storyline, Bart--in desperate need of transportation--purchased the horse (coincidently named Goldie) from a passer-by in the episode "Betrayal."  Just a few episodes later, he gave Goldie to a young admirer in the episode "The Lass With the Poisonous Air."

The shows which qualify this distinctive horse just make the bare minimum requirements for membership.  But I would not be surprised if Goldie was featured in other shows….                                                                                                         

‘Maverick’

- ‘Betrayal’
- ‘The Lass With The Poisonous Air’

- 'Hadley's Hunters'

- "Duel At Sundown"

O'Bservation - In this shot, we now have four members of the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.  In order of induction: Bart Maverick, Bret Maverick, John Wesley Hardin, and now Goldie!

O'Bservation: There are O'Bviously more team-ups between Bart and Goldie.

‘Sugarfoot’

‘F Troop’

In my interpretation of the Toobworld timeline, Goldie is the same horse throughout, changing ownership as the years passed.  Corporal Randolph Agarn, in the years immediately following the American Civil War, was perhaps Goldie's first saddlemate.

Welcome to the TVXOHOF, Goldie!

THERE'S A HOFF IN THE HOF! [TVXOHOF BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE INDUCTION] JULY 17, 2022

Today is the 70th birthday of David Hasselhoff, “The Hoff”.  And I thought it would make a nice birthday present to him (as if he would ever see this!) to induct him into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame as a member of the League of Themselves.  (Especially since his buddy K.I.T.T. was inducted two weeks ago as the July 2022 showcase.)

THE HOFF

From Wikipedia:
David Michael Hasselhoff (born July 17, 1952), nicknamed "The Hoff", is an American actor, singer, producer, television personality, and businessman. He has set a Guinness World Record as the most watched man on TV. Hasselhoff first gained recognition on ‘The Young and The Restless’ (1975–1982), playing the role of Dr. Snapper Foster. His career continued with his leading role as Michael Knight on ‘Knight Rider’ (1982–1986) and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in ‘Baywatch’ (1989–2000). He also produced ‘Baywatch’ from the 1990s until 2001 when the series ended with ‘Baywatch Hawaii’.

Hasselhoff has also worked as a talent show judge on television shows such as ‘America's Got Talent’ (2006–2009) and ‘Britain's Got Talent’ (2011).

He was a celebrity cast member on the eleventh season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ which increased in ratings by 36% from the previous year and served as a judge on NBC's ‘America's Got Talent’ from 2006 to 2009. In 2011, he joined the ‘Britain's Got Talent’ judging panel, as the additional fourth judge.

Hasselhoff appeared as a contestant on season 11 of ‘Dancing with the Stars’. His professional dance partner was Kym Johnson. On September 21, 2010, they were the first couple eliminated from the competition.

Hasselhoff became a judge on ‘Britain's Got Talent’ in 2011 alongside Amanda Holden, Michael McIntyre and Simon Cowell. However, Hasselhoff was axed after only one series on the show and was replaced by David Walliams.

On February 24, 2014, he opened his own 10-week talk show in Sweden on TV3, in English. A similar show was later recorded in Finland, premiering on Sub on April 2, 2015.

On New Year's Eve he performed again at the Brandenburg Gate, arriving late because his plane was diverted to Hannover.

Hasselhoff and his daughters, Taylor-Ann and Hayley, starred in a reality series on A&E called ‘The Hasselhoffs’. The series launched on December 5, 2010, and focused on Hasselhoff's attempts to resuscitate his career and launch his daughters onto the Hollywood stage.  (On December 10, 2010, A&E confirmed in a statement that, after airing just two episodes, ‘The Hasselhoffs’ had been canceled.)

In 2014, UK channel Dave announced that it had commissioned ‘Hoff the Record’, a sitcom series in which Hasselhoff plays a fictionalized version of himself. The series started airing on June 18, 2015.

Here are the shows in which Hasselhoff either appeared as himself or was mentioned by TV characters in other shows which verify the existence of his televersion in Earth Prime-Time… and perhaps in other TV dimensions as well.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

- Episode dated 26 September 1983

O’Bservations:
So far, this show – and ‘The View’ – are the only talk shows which have had their televersions inducted into the TVXOHOF.  It wasn’t just that they were often mentioned in other shows, but they were fictionalized in the storyline of episodes as well.  That’s why they’re both included.

However, TVXOHOF member Johnny wasn't hosting that night.  Fellow hall member Joan Rivers had the honors.  (Hasselhoff was in good company - Carson wasn't there for the one chance to be with the Beatles.)

Santa Barbara

- Episode #1.32 (1984)

Diff'rent Strokes

- Hooray for Hollywood: Part 1 (1984)
- Hooray for Hollywood: Part 2 (1984)

Kids Incorporated

- School's for Fools (1984)

Moone Boy

- Another Prick in the Wall (2012)

O’Bservation:
The series takes place in Northern Ireland in 1989.  The Hoff was seen at the Berlin Wall as it comes down.

The Muppets:

She Drives Me Crazy (1994 Music Video short)

Saturday Night Live

- John Turturro/Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1994)

O’Bservation:
As the anchor of “Weekend News Update” on the long-running sketch show, MacDonald spent weeks setting up The Hoff’s appearance on the show.  Every WNU had one story about Hasselhoff in connection to how the fans worship him in Germany.  All of these screenshots leading up to the pay-off would end with: “Which once again proves my theory that the Germans love David Hasselhoff."

It culminated with this 1994 episode....

Norm MacDonald:

In other entertainment news, one of the world’s biggest stars just completed a whirlwind three week world tour. Tonight he’s agreed to come to Update to tell us about it. Ladies and gentlemen, David Hasselhoff!
David Hasselhoff:
Thank you! Thank you very much! [laughs at all the applause] My recent world tour was an incredible experience. I went to twenty-one countries in just fifteen days and I’ve got some amazing stories to tell. In Japan, for instance-instance, I was invited to the state dinner at the Emperor’s Palace. What I didn’t know was the emp–
Norm MacDonald:
Hey! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hang on a second. Did you just say Japan?
David Hasselhoff:
Yes, I did.
Norm MacDonald:
Yeah, well, no offense, you know, but I don’t think anybody cares about Japan. Why don’t you, ah, why don’t you focus on the countries where you’re, you know, you’re popular?
David Hasselhoff:
Oh. Well, in China we had an incredible experience. The entire cast of “Baywatch” was invited to the Great Wall where hundreds of thousands of Chinese people were chanting in unison, ”Baywatch, Ba–”
Norm MacDonald:
Whoaaaaa, whoaaa. Wait, wait. Chinese people?
David Hasselhoff:
Yes, of course.
Norm MacDonald:
Look, why don’t we skip China? In fact, rule out all of Asia.
David Hasselhoff:
Okay, okay. Well, I mean, what do you want to hear about? I mean, I’ve got some great stories from all over the world.
Norm MacDonald:
Oh, yeah? I was thinking, you know, ah, some place where you’re especially popular, you know, like in, uh, Europe.
David Hasselhoff:
Oh! Well, in Italy–
Norm MacDonald:
Northern Europe, Northern Europe!
David Hasselhoff:
Oh, I got you. I got you. Okay. I got you. There’s one country that they absolutely love me — Norway.
Norm MacDonald:
Norway?! What, are you crazy?!  They like everybody in Norway! Nobody gives a damn about Norway! What the hell’s wrong with ya?
David Hasselhoff:
Look, ah, what’s going on here? I’ve never seen you like this.
Norm MacDonald:
Well, ahhhh, to tell you the truth, you know, I didn’t want to be the one to bring it up but, uh, what about Germany? I mean, how do the- how do the Germans feel about ya?
David Hasselhoff:
Well, on this trip, we actually didn’t stop in Germany–
Norm MacDonald:
I don’t care about your stupid trip!! Look, just tell me how you would characterize– in one sentence — the way Germans feel about you.
David Hasselhoff:
Well, I’ve always been fortunate to get a very positive response from the Germans–
Norm MacDonald:
Oh, my God! This is no time for false modesty! We’re runnin’ late, we gotta wrap this thing up! Do Germans love you?
David Hasselhoff:
Well, “love” is an awfully strong word…
Norm MacDonald: [hand to head]
Oh, listen, David, uh… Let’s say a guy had a theory, all right?
David Hasselhoff:
All right.
Norm MacDonald:
A theory that he’s devoted several years of his life to. And let’s say he has a lot of evidence to back up this theory of his.
David Hasselhoff:
All right.
Norm MacDonald: [puts a large pile of documents, file folders, etc., on desk — Hasselhoff is stunned]
Now, don’t you think it would just be common courtesy to help that guy out, you know, and not – not ruin his life?
David Hasselhoff:
Listen, I don’t know what you want me to say here, pal.
Norm MacDonald:
Oh my God, here, I’ll write it down.
[searches his pockets for a pencil, finds one, scribbles something on a piece of paper and gives it to David]
Here! Say this!
David Hasselhoff: [puzzled, reads from paper]
”Germans love me.”
[Camera pans quickly from Hasselhoff to a beaming MacDonald who addresses the camera.]
Norm MacDonald:
Which once again proves my theory: Germans love David Hasselhoff!
[Cheers and applause.]
And that’s the news! See you next time.  Thank you, David. [fusses with his pile of documents]
David Hasselhoff: [waves good-bye]
Auf wiedersehen! [?], meine liebe! Auf wiedersehen! Auf wiedersehen!

O'Bservation:

You are missed, Norm.

Very Important Pennis
- Very Important Pennis: Part 2 (1996)

Action
- Mr. Dragon Goes to Washington (1999)

Just Shoot Me!

- The Burning House (2002)

The Kumars at No. 42

- Episode #6.6 (2005)

Meet the Hasselhoffs

- Episodes #1.1 - #1.6 (2009)

The Hasselhoffs
- Hoff the Record (2010)
- Addiction (2010)

Attack of the Show!
- Original Series Finale (2013)

Newsreaders

- F- Dancing, Are You Decent? (2014)
- Band Names-R-Us; Put Me in Coach (2014)
- Jellyfish Sting Clinic; David Hasselhoff (2015)

Unusually Thicke

- The Thickenator (2014)
- Walk of Shame (2014)

NCIS: Los Angeles

- Blame It On Rio (2015)

O’Bservation:
The suspect was hoping to get cosmetic surgery so that he would look like The Hoff.  (The doctor did say the photo was just a guideline....)

Hoff the Record

- The Abduction (2015)
- The United Nations (2015)
- The Movie (2015)
- The Horror (2016)
- Finance (2016)
- Wedding (2016)
- Divorce (2016)
- Rehab (2016)

The View

- David Hasselhoff/View Your Deal (2016)

Nightcap

- The Show Must Go On: Part 1 (2017)

Young Sheldon

- Cowboy Aerobics and 473 Grease-Free Bolts (2021)

TOONIVERSE

Close Enough
- So Long Boys/Clap Like This (2020)

BORDERLANDS

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

O’Bservation:
This exists in both the Cineverse and in a Borderland which combines live-action with animation.

SpongeBob SquarePants
- SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout (2019)

ALT. TOOBWORLDS

The West Wing
- 20 Hours in L.A. (2000)

Welcome to the TVXOHOF, Hoff!

Happy birthday!