Dame Maggie Smith, one of Britain’s best-known actresses whose long career ranged from starring opposite Laurence Olivier in “Othello” on stage and screen, to roles in “Harry Potter” and “Downton Abbey,” has died, her sons announced in a statement shared by their publicist Clair Dobbs.
She was 89.
“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end,” the statement reads. “She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.”
O’Bservation:
Before 'Downton Abbey', Dame Maggie was better known for her work in the theatre and in the movies. She had very few credits on the small screen, mostly “Plays of the Week”, an adaptation of “David Copperfield”, a few TV movies, and only one other fictional character in a TV series, and that was a one-off episode. (But she also appeared in three episodes of ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ as herself, so that’s saying something.)
So for her to be eligible for membership in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, one might think it had be due to her playing herself, making it a League of Themselves technicality.
And one would be wrong.
VIOLET CRAWLEY
From the ‘Downton Abbey’ wiki: Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (b. 1842 - 1928), was the matriarch of the Crawley Family by her marriage to the late Earl of Grantham and a relative of the MacClare Family via her niece and goddaughter, Susan MacClare, Marchioness of Flintshire. She is the mother of Robert Crawley, the 7th Earl of Grantham, and of Lady Rosamund Painswick, and the grandmother of Robert and his wife Cora's three daughters: Mary, Edith, and Sybil. Through her granddaughters she has five great-grandchildren: Mary's children, son George, and daughter Caroline, Sybil's daughter Sybbie, Edith's children, daughter Marigold and son Peter.
Born in 1842, Violet was the daughter of a Baronet and had at least one sister, the mother of her niece and goddaughter, Susan MacClare, Marchioness of Flintshire, and one aunt. While she was born into the aristocracy, her family was relatively impoverished and she brought almost no money with her upon marriage. When she married the Earl of Grantham sometime before 1860, she brought her upper class blood but little money into her marriage. After her wedding, she was "pursued" by Lord Hepworth's father.
At some point as a young girl in the 1850s and 1860s Violet wore "the bustle, the crinoline, and the leg of mutton sleeve."
Violet gave birth to two children, a son and heir, Robert and a daughter, Rosamund. Not following in their mother's footsteps, her children married into money rather than nobility. The Countess was against Robert's engagement and marriage to the American heiress Cora Levinson, in 1889, but did reap the benefits of her fortune.
Violet visited Russia, where she met Prince Igor Kuragin, at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg in 1874. Violet later reveals to Isobel they fell madly in love and attempted to elope. They planned to leave on his yacht, but were intercepted by Kuragin's wife, who had discovered their romance. She pulled Violet out and sent her back to her own husband.
Born 1842 Died 1928 (aged 86) Downton Abbey, Yorkshire
Marital status Widow of Patrick Crawley, 6th Earl of Grantham
Residence Dower House, Downton, Yorkshire
Title Dowager Countess of Grantham
It was special circumstances which gained her entry into the Hall: the Dowager Countess was so powerful a character, that it took two forms of the media to contain her and gain her the three separate titles to qualify....
DOWNTON ABBEY 52 episodes 2010 – 2015
That was followed by two theatrically released movies which I have removed from the Cineverse and placed on Earth Prime-Time….
DOWNTON ABBEY (2019)
DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA (2022)
This was not a special dispensation just because I liked the character so much. There has been precedent for this situation, with various movies absorbed into the TV Universe.
Welcome to the TVXOHOF, Countess. Good night and may God bless, Dame Maggie.
Phil Donahue, the groundbreaking daytime talk show host of “The Phil Donahue Show,” has died. He was 88.
He died [08/18/2024] “peacefully after a long illness,” his family said in a statement shared with The Times. “Today” broke the news of the host’s death. Donahue was a contributor to the NBC morning show.
Donahue was known for bringing the audience into the talk-show format, engaging with them just as he did with the notable and eclectic list of guests on the show, including anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, musical star Dolly Parton and groundbreaking comedian Richard Pryor. By Dawn Burkes Los Angeles Times
PHIL DONAHUE
From Wikipedia: Phillip John Donahue (December 21, 1935 – August 18, 2024) was an American media personality, writer, film producer and the creator, and host of The Phil Donahue Show. The television program, later known simply as Donahue, was the first popular talk show to feature a format that included audience participation. The show had a twenty-nine–year run on national television that began in Dayton, Ohio, in 1967 and ended in New York City in 1996.
Donahue's shows often focused on issues that divide liberals and conservatives in the United States, such as abortion, consumer protection, civil rights and war issues. His most frequent guest was Ralph Nader, for whom Donahue campaigned in 2000. Donahue also briefly hosted a talk show on MSNBC from July 2002 to March 2003. Donahue was one of the most influential talk show hosts and was often referred to [as] the "king of daytime talk". Oprah Winfrey has said, "If it weren't for Phil Donahue, there would never have been an Oprah Show". In 1996, Donahue was ranked #42 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.
Here is the tally of shows which gets Donahue into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame as a member of the League of Themselves:
DONAHUE
1967-1995 5863 episodes
O’Bservation:
If it weren’t for his pioneering talk show which made such a cultural impact, none of these other shows would have existed to guarantee Donahue a seat at the TVXOHOF table.
There is one episode of ‘Donahue’ which I wanted to mention. In 1986, Donahue gathered four of the cast members from ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ – Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Jim Nabors, and George Lindsey. (Their characters of Andy, Barney, Gomer, and Goober are all in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.) They were there to look back on that series and to promote the upcoming TV reunion movie.
The reason I wanted to single it out was because earlier this year, Don Knotts was inducted into the TVXOHOF as a member of the League of Themselves. So I thought it might be nice to show the televersions of Donahue and Don Knotts together onscreen.
At any rate, here are the other shows which fleshed out Donahue’s telefictional persona….
CAPTAIN KANGAROO AND FRIENDS (1985)
SESAME STREET
SNUFFY FINALLY MEETS BIG BIRD’S FRIENDS (1985)
Big Bird is determined to prove to the adults that Mr. Snuffleupagus is real.
L.A. LAW SPLATOON (1991)
[Abigail Perkins is appearing on the ‘Donahue’ show. Back at the offices, Ann Kelsey, Arnie Becker, and Cara Jean “CJ” Lamb are watching her on TV.]
Phil Donahue: I'd like you to meet Miss Abigail Perkins. Miss Perkins is an attorney with the firm here in Los Angeles, McKenzie Brackman Cheney Kuzak and Becker. Two years ago, Miss Perkins was attacked by a deranged client who had a lead pipe. You defended yourself using a hand gun, you shot the guy. And you killed him. It should be said, however, that you did not have a carry permit, did you Miss Perkins?
Abby Perkins: No, they are impossible to get. Responsible citizens are not allowed to carry firearms. Which means that if I had been attacked on the street instead of in my office, I would probably be dead.
Ann Kelsey: I thought she wasn't going to do this.
Cara Jean 'C.J.' Lamb: Something must have changed her mind.
Phil Donahue: 8,000 people are killed in this country every year with a handgun. Many of them are children, shot accidentally.
Abby Perkins: That's appalling. So is selling guns to people with criminal records or a history of mental illness. I support gun registration, waiting periods, and background checks, but to say that no one....
Professor Henry Bennett: Passing out pistols is contemptible.
Abby Perkins: I'll tell you what's contemptible: our government cannot stop the drug wars. Our government cannot stop rising crime. Our government cannot stop the guns from getting to the gangs, and they want to pass laws to stop them from getting to you and me.
Professor Henry Bennett: So you just arm everyone and become a society of violence?
Abby Perkins: We already are a society of violence. All I'm saying is it's time to let the good people fight back.
Phil Donahue: Lawyers who kill, and we'll be back in just a moment.
BLOSSOM
SEX, LIES, AND TEEN-AGERS (1991)
Nick is disturbed by Blossom's increasing interest in sex, while after sneaking off to a make-out party with Six and two boys, guilty Blossom dreams discussion-show host Phil Donahue has her in a segment on "Women Who Lie to Their Parents".
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Episode #1116 (1991)
WHO’S THE BOSS? TONY MICELLI, THIS YOUR LIFE (1992)
After meeting a famous baseball player, Tony dreams about what could have been if he'd made it in the Majors.
ELLEN ELLEN: A HOLLYWOOD TRIBUTE PART 2 (1998)
A parody of the career of Ellen DeGeneres, celebrating her 75 years in show business.
Donahue was a multi-dimensional. He had at least three incarnations in Skitlandia, and all in the same show. That’s the nature of a world inspired by sketch comedy.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Phil Donahue showed up several times over the course of the late night classic’s history. In the beginning, he resembled Joe Piscopo. Later, he and Phil Hartman could have been mistaken for brothers. And finally, Darrell Hammond assumed the mantle.
I'll find more, but here's a picture of Donahue with two other members of the TVXOHOF - Carrie Fisher and her Mom, Debbie Reynolds. (With them is Carrie's daughter, Billie Lourd.)
And another, with Johnny Carson....
Someday, I hope to find more pictures for this tribute.
Peter Marshall, the velvety-voiced host who presided over NBC’s celebrity-filled game show The Hollywood Squares for 16 years, died [August 15]. He was 98.
Marshall, an accomplished singer who also was a leading man on Broadway and one-half of a popular comedy team before embarking on his game-show gig, died of kidney failure at his Encino home, his family announced.
The pride of West Virginia hosted some 6,000 episodes of The Hollywood Squares from 1966 through 1981, winning four Daytime Emmy Awards. Marshall often worked just one day a week, when he taped five shows. “It was the easiest job I ever had, and I never rehearsed,” he said. Mike Barnes The Hollywood Reporter
PETER MARSHALL
From Wikipedia: Ralph Pierre LaCock (March 30, 1926 – August 15, 2024) better known by his stage name Peter Marshall, was an American game show host, television, radio personality, singer, and actor. He was the original host of 'The Hollywood Squares' from 1966 to 1981 and has almost fifty television, movie, and Broadway credits.
Marshall was given his stage name by John Robert Powers. Powers had chosen the last name Marshall for Peter's sister (who later chose to use Joanne Dru instead), and Peter adopted it early in his career and paired it with an anglicized version of his middle name.
Although Marshall occasionally worked in film and television, he could not find regular work in the industry until his friend Morey Amsterdam recommended him to fill in for Bert Parks (who emceed the pilot) as the host of the game show 'The Hollywood Squares' in 1966.
BLOOPER FRAMEGRABS
Though Marshall did not initially want the job, he took it in order to ensure that rival comic Dan Rowan would not get it. Marshall's grudge stemmed back to when he and Noonan had written material for Rowan and Martin, but Rowan had shown virtually no respect to Noonan when Noonan fell terminally ill in the mid-1960s (as opposed to Dick Martin, who was fully supportive of Noonan's fight). He expected to spend 13 weeks as host, then return to Broadway, but ultimately hosted for 15 years and more than 5,000 episodes. The show was canceled in 1980, but production continued in syndication into 1981.
Marshall was the host of his own short-lived syndicated music and comedy series, 'The Peter Marshall Variety Show', which aired during the 1976–1977 season in markets in the United States.
In 2002, he returned to the new version of 'The Hollywood Squares' as a panelist during a Game Show Week hosted by Tom Bergeron. Marshall occupied the prestigious center square. For one day that week, Marshall took his old position at the podium to host while Bergeron was the center square.
Marshall won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host four times. In 2006 he received the annual Bill Cullen Award for Lifetime Achievement, from the non-profit organization, Game Show Congress. On October 13, 2007, Marshall was one of the first inductees into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.
Here are the shows which garnered him entry into the TVXOHOF, beginning with the most important entries for the man as a member of the League of Themselves:
‘HOLLYWOOD SQUARES’
1966-2002
Approx. 2,029 episodes in all incarnations, including one week in the version hosted by Tom Bergeron in which Marshall was one of the guest squares.
‘STORYBOOK SQUARES’
1969-1977 46 episodes
O’Bservation:
In most cases in which game shows are a factor, they usually serve just as flavoring. But it’s not just the sheer volume of episodes. The televersion of ‘Hollywood Squares’ is part of the TV Universe – spoofed in sketch comedy shows, characters watching the show, even a few seen appearing in it. In fact, ‘Hollywood Squares’ is part o the Television Crossover Hall of Fame already. And besides, it’s because of his hosting duties on the show that he got the opportunity to make other appearances which qualified him for this (ahem!) “honor”.
‘THE PETER MARSHALL SHOW’
1977 Unknown number of episodes
O'Bservation: According to the IMDb, there was only one episode; maybe that was the pilot. (The guests were Marlo Thomas, Alice Ghostley, Michael McKean & David L. Lander [probably as Lenny and Squiggy], and the Pointer Sisters.)
BUT! There is this video on YouTube which shows Marshall performing on the show with soap opera legend Bill Hayes.
I found more videos. These had to be from other episodes, probably more than one:
And a search online has revealed other celebrities who guest-starred on the variety show. I don’t know how many episodes there were for his variety show, but there was more than just the one. It looks like it lasted maybe the usual 13 weeks.
And here are the other shows which fatten up his tally:
From Kliph Nesteroff's CLASSIC TELEVISION SHOWBIZ
‘THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW’ 1960
O’Bservation:
He appeared as part of the comedy team he had with Tommy Noonan.
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON Peter Marshall, George Jessel Episode aired Nov 30, 1966
O’Bservation: Several times in his online presence, Marshall made reference to the fact that he appeared on ‘Tonight’ 11 times, but never with Johnny. Cryptically, he would add that someday he would tell the story of why Carson never wanted to be hosting when Marshall would be a guest. But they did make one appearance together; after that, the rest were all with guest hosts, mostly with John Davidson, but also with Joey Bishop, MacLean Stevenson, David Brenner, David Letterman, and TVXOHOF members Don Rickles and Joan Rivers. I don’t know if he ever did tell the story, but I would love to know the reason why.
Also with Sly Stone
‘THE MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW’
9 Episodes (1966-1978)
O'Bservation: Talk shows don't normally count towards inclusion, but the televersion of 'The Mike Douglas Show' is part of the TV Universe thanks to its reference in a 'Seinfeld' episode. So I’m counting this.
‘ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN’
1] JACK BENNY (1972)
References: The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) Mentioned by its host, Peter Marshall.
True Grit (1969) Peter Marshall jokes that John Wayne will play a porter at an airport wearing an eyepatch in "True Grip"
2] STEVE LAWRENCE, STEVE ALLEN, PETER MARSHALL (1972)
‘AMERICA 2-NIGHT’
FIGHTING FRIGHT (1978) The staff sends an invitation to the wrong Peter Marshall to appear on the show.
'CHiPs'
1] ROLLER DISCO PART 2 (1979) Ponch and Jon continue pursuing the roller skating smash and grab thieves. Jon helps a famous musician who is exhausted and disillusioned. Meanwhile, Ponch is running out of time to find celebrities for the CHP Skate with the Stars charity.
2] THE GREAT 5K STAR RACE AND BOULDER WRAP PARTY: PART 2 (1980) Attempts are made to remove a large boulder which is putting Milton Berle's home in danger. The CHP fundraiser is a success with plenty of celebrities participating.
‘THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’ S1.E2645 (1997)
‘SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH’
FIRST KISS (1997) As Sabrina and Harvey grow closer, her aunts reveal that when a witch kisses a mortal for the first time, the mortal turns into a frog. Unable to stop herself, however, Sabrina kisses Harvey, and must find a way to change him back.
Game Show Host:
Please welcome Sabrina Spellman! [the audience applauds and Sabrina appears from behind the flower-decorated gold curtain wearing a pink dress and pink hair band] Sabrina Spellman: What is this? Game Show Host: Part one of your test! It's the True Love Game! Sit down. [Sabrina takes a seat] Game Show Host: Would you like to meet your three Harveys? Sabrina Spellman: Harveys? I *like* this game! Game Show Host: [to the three Harveys sitting on stools around a sight-proof screen] Gentleman, let's give your best hellos to Sabrina! Harvey #1: [nervously] H-h-hey Sabrina! Harvey #2: [classy] Hey Sabrina! Harvey #3: [friendly greeting] Hey Sabrina! Sabrina Spellman: Hi Harveys! Game Show Host: How well do you know the person you *think* you're in love with? Let's find out and here are the questions. [the Game Show Host gives Sabrina question cards] Sabrina Spellman: All right. Um... this question is for Harvey number 2: If I were a Princess trapped in a tower, how would you rescue me? Harvey #2: Well, the thought of you makes me walk on air so I'd float right up and whisk you away. Sabrina Spellman: That's sweet. And Harvey number one, what would you do? Harvey #1: Blow up the tower. Sabrina Spellman: OK. Um... this question's for Harvey number 3: Describe Harvey number one's best and worst feature. Harvey #3: Well he has really nice sideburns. Harvey #1: Thanks man. You too. Harvey #2: Hey! What about me? Harvey #1: They're OK. Game Show Host: Come on guys. Let's just go on, please. Sabrina Spellman: OK. This question is for all of you: What'd your favorite type of triangle? [to the Game Show Host] Sabrina Spellman: These questions don't tell me anything! Game Show Host: Nobody said the test would be easy. Sabrina Spellman: Harvey number one, your triangle? Harvey #1: Obtuse. Sabrina Spellman: And why? Harvey #1: I don't know. Sabrina Spellman: Harvey number two? Harvey #2: Scalene. Definitely scalene. Sabrina Spellman: And Harvey number three, what's your favourite kind of triangle? Harvey #3: Equilateral. I like that isometrical. Sabrina Spellman: That's him! That's my Harvey! Harvey number three! Game Show Host: That's right Sabrina! And you passed Part one! Sabrina Spellman: Woo-hoo!
O'Bservation:
Marshall is listed in the credits as "Game Show Host", so why can’t he be as himself? The fact that he was operating in a magical otherworld and was thus probably a warlock doesn’t negate the possibility that he was still Peter Marshall.
Remember, this is the televersion of Peter Marshall – the one from Earth Prime-Time, not from Earth Prime. So it’s possible, just possible, that he could be a warlock. It wouldn’t be the first warlock who played himself on TV whom we lost this year; back in June, Willie Mays died, whose abilities as a warlock in Toobworld had been revealed in an episode of ‘Bewitched’.
(And don’t get me started on Dennis Rodman is an alien and there’s a robot version of Jack Benny. Not to mention that the televersions of Dick Van Patten and Jean Claude Van Damme died years before they did in real life!)
Peter Marshall with League of Themselves members who are also in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame
JOAN RIVERS
ALEX TREBEK
ED McMAHON
BIG BIRD
BOB HOPE
BOB NEWHART
BETTY WHITE
Welcome to the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, Mr. Marshall. I’m sure you’ll find so many members who occupied the squares when you were at the helm….
As the Trickster once said, "Reality is boring, that's why I change it whenever I can."
I'm just "The Man Who Viewed Too Much", and "Inner Toob" is a blog exploring and celebrating the 'reality' of an alternate universe in which everything that ever happened on TV actually takes place.
Most of my theories about the TV Universe come from thinking inside the box and thus can't be proven. But I've never been one to shy away from a tall tale.....
Remember: "The more you watch, the more you've seen!"
