TVXOHOF TRIBUTE (FRIDAY FAREWELL) - JACK JONES

From TVLine:

Grammy-winning singer Jack Jones, the voice behind the iconic theme song for The Love Boat, died Wednesday following a battle with leukemia. He was 86.

Jones was known primarily as a pop singer, with hits that included “Lollipops and Roses,” “Wives and Lovers,” “The Race Is On,” “The Impossible Dream” and “Call Me Irresponsible.”

He was also a variety show staple in the ’60s and ’70s, having performed on 'The Ed Sullivan Show', 'The Andy Williams Show', 'The Carol Burnett Show', 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', 'The Dick Cavett Show' and 'The Steve Allen Show'.

But it was the theme song from the opening title sequence of ABC’s 'The Love Boat', which aired from 1977-1986, which made Jones something of a pop culture icon.

If it weren’t for his connection to that theme song, we might not be here today….

JACK JONES

From Wikipedia:

John Allan Jones (January 14, 1938 – October 23, 2024) was an American singer and actor.

Jones was primarily a straight-pop singer (even when he recorded contemporary material) whose forays into jazz were mostly of the big-band/swing variety. He won two Grammy Awards and received a total of five nominations.

Jones continued to perform concerts around the world and in Las Vegas. His recordings include "Lollipops and Roses", "Wives and Lovers", "The Race Is On", "The Impossible Dream", and "Call Me Irresponsible".

Between 1973 and 1978, Jones hosted “The Jack Jones Show”, directed by Stanley Dorfman, produced and broadcast by the BBC.

He sang the opening theme for the television series “The Love Boat” (1977–1985), and appeared in a 1980 episode with his father Allan.

Jones played himself in the episode "The Vegas Show" of “It's a Living”.  He also appeared in the Chris Elliot television show “Get a Life” on Fox.

THE JOEY SHOW

JOEY, JACK JONES, AND THE GENIE (1964)
After Joey has Jack Jones on his show and admires his talent, he precedes to have a fantasy dream that night. In it Ellie is a genie and grants Joey's wish to be a pop singer pursued by fanatical young fans. 

(Jack also appears in the dream as the Music Genie.)

O'Bservation:
Ed McMahon was also in that dream, appearing as himself.  McMahon is already in the TVXOHOF.

THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM

THE JACK JONES SHOW (1965)
Jack Jones sings two songs. Jack Benny plays the role of a school principal, and Jack Jones plays the role of a schoolteacher in the show's sketch.

THE JACK JONES SHOW (1973-1978)

From the BBC

IT’S A LIVING

THE VEGAS SHOW PART 1 (1987)
Sonny pesters singer Jack Jones into getting him a gig in Las Vegas. Howard gets jealous when Nancy makes a date with Jack Jones who invites her to go to Vegas with him.

ZONK – Jack Jones mentions ‘The Jeffersons’

GET A LIFE

PILE OF DEATH (1990)
To save his childhood park, Chris raises money by trying to break the world record for having things piled on you.  (This caused a traffic jam in which Jack Jones got stuck.  In order to move things along, he performed for the crowd to raise the money needed.)

NIGHT COURT

DAY COURT (1990)
When the staff shifts to day hours, Roz become unbearably perky. Christine also feels a personality change is in order.  Mac and Dan discover that the cafeteria is a nightclub during the day where Jack Jones is the headliner.

BUDDY FARO
PILOT (1998)
Top LA private eye Buddy Faro mysteriously vanished in 1978. Twenty years later, his niece hires not-so-top investigator Bob Jones to find him. This involves a trip to Mexico, plenty of gunfire, and sleazy underworld figures at every step.  (Jones is seen performing in a nightclub.)

CRUISE OF THE GODS (TV Movie 2002)

Andy (Brydon) is a struggling actor who has never quite reached the success of his first role as Romak in sci-fi series “Children Of Castor”. When he finds himself as a hotel porter he decides it time to go on that fan-club cruise he's been putting off for a while. Whilst there he meets Nick (Coogan), his co-star from the TV series. Nick is now a Hollywood success starring in “Sherlock Holmes...In Miami”. This is the story of the cruise and the surprising events that happen along the way.  

O'Bservation:

While at the bar, Andy talks, somewhat disparagingly, about Jack Jones, whose fan club is also on board that cruise.  He asks the guy sitting next to him if he was on the cruise for that reason.

It turns out that it was Jones himself he was talking to and he never realized it.)

Also, here are some other members of the TV Crossover Hall of Fame, who, like Jack Jones, were inducted as members of the League of Themselves:

Jack Jones & Milton Berle

Jack Jones & Andy Williams

Jack Jones & Dean Martin

Jack Jones & Tony Bennett

Jack Jones with Steve Larence & Ed McMahon

I have to admit that this was not one of those times where I kept putting off someone’s induction into the TVXOHOF until it was too late; Jack Jones was never on my radar.  But it has become common practice for me to check the resumes of celebrities known for their membership in the League of Themselves when it comes to television appearances.  

And as I referenced earlier, his rendition of the theme to ‘The Love Boat’ probably is the reason why his fictional televersion appeared as often as he did.  

(In the early days of his career, he made appearances as actual characters in such shows as ‘The Rat Patrol’, ‘Police Woman’, ‘McMillan & Wife’, and ‘The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries’, and even ‘The Love Boat’ with his dad, Alan Jones… none of which would have qualified him for this ::ahem!:: high honor.)

We may not have been expecting you, Jack Jones, but welcome aboard!

TWO FOR TUESDAY TVXOHOF TRIBUTE - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON

This has been a hard week and not just for the Television Crossover Hall of Fame....

From CNN:
Los Angeles AP —
Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and A-list Hollywood actor, has died.

Kristofferson died at his home in Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday, family spokesperson Ebie McFarland said in an email. He was 88.

McFarland said Kristofferson died peacefully, surrounded by his family. No cause was given.

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON

From Wikipedia:
Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American country singer, songwriter, and actor.

Kristofferson was a pioneering figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a more raw, introspective style.

He released his debut album "Kristofferson" in 1970. Among his songwriting credits are "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night", all of which became hits for other artists. Kristofferson was also a member of the country music supergroup the Highwaymen between 1985 and 1995. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

During the 1970s, Kristofferson also embarked on a successful career as a Hollywood actor. He became known for his roles in "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973), "Blume in Love" (1973), "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1974), and "A Star Is Born" (1976); for the latter, he earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. His acting career waned somewhat following his role in the box office bomb "Heaven's Gate" (1980), but he continued to act in films such as "Stagecoach" (1986), "Lone Star" (1996), and the "Blade" film trilogy (1998–2004).

Kristofferson will be remembered for so many great songs, especially “Me And Bobby McGee”, no matter which gender you prefer for Bobby.  But there were so many movies which would have made somebody unfamiliar with his career think that he had studied acting and trod the boards to hone his craft.

But when it came to his work in television, I’ve looked through his credits and I was surprised I had never even heard of most of them.  He played Sam Houston and Abe Lincoln?  Why didn’t I know this?

But when it comes to his televersion in the League of Themselves, there may not be many in the collection, but they are cherce.

THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW (1971-1973)
S8 E187 (SINGERS & SONGWRITERS)
S9 E17  (SINGERS & SONGWRITERS)
S10 E215 (CANNES)

O’Bservation:
More than most other talk shows, ‘The Merv Griffin Show’ has a televersion, thanks to an episode of ‘Seinfeld’.  I hope to find some pictures from any of his appearances with Merv.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1976)
He hosted and was one of the musical guests (along with his wife at the time, Rita Coolidge)

THE MUPPET SHOW (1978)
Once again he was teamed up with Rita Coolidge.

JOAN RIVERS AND FRIENDS SALUTE HEIDI ABROMOWITZ (1988)

O'Bservation:
Like many of the guests in this salute to Joan Rivers' "friend" Heidi, Kristofferson appeared as a talking head with his reminiscences of her.

THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW
ARTHUR'S CRISES (1994)
Although Arthur is having an affair, Larry worries that he is being courted for another job.

BIG DREAMS & BROKEN HEARTS:
THE DOTTIE WEST STORY (1995)

From Wikipedia:
"Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story" is a 1995 American television biopic about the life of country music singer Dottie West portrayed by Michele Lee. Bill D'Elia directed the film which was shot in Nashville, TN, between July 11 and August 4, 1994. The film first aired on January 22, 1995, on CBS.

The movie chronicles the life and rise to fame of country music singer Dottie West (Lee).

In addition to Kenny Rogers, country singers Larry Gatlin and Loretta Lynn (close friends of West's) portrayed themselves, [O’Bservation: also Chet Atkins & Kristofferson] and Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson also provide narration. West's family, including her children (Mo, Kerry, Shelly, Dale) helped with the making of the movie.

O’Bservation:
Kristofferson was again a talking head with this production.  Kristofferson not only played himself, but Tony Higgins portrayed his younger televersion.

THE LIFE AND HARD TIMES OF GUY TERRIFICO (2005)

"The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico" is a Canadian mockumentary film released in 2005. Written and directed by Michael Mabbott, the film stars Matt Murphy, a musician previously associated with the bands The Super Friendz and The Flashing Lights, as Guy Terrifico, a country singer long rumored to have died three decades earlier, but now re-emerging from his disappearance and releasing a new album.

O'Bservation:
Once again, Kristofferson was a talking head.  He revealed that after thirty years, he had not forgotten that Terrifico owed him fifty bucks.

Welcome to the Hall.  I’m sorry it took so long….

“Good night and may God bless.” 

TVXOHOF'S TUESDAY TRIBUTE - PETE ROSE, THE HITS KING

Stringellow Hawke:

You and Pete Rose, you're gonna live forever.

Dominic Santini:

Ah, come on, nobody lives forever.

“Airwolf”

From WLWT:
CINCINNATI —
Cincinnati Reds legend and Major League Baseball's all-time hit leader Pete Rose has died at the age of 83, according to multiple reports and the team.

Rose, a Cincinnati native, played 19 seasons with the Reds and collected an MLB-record 4,256 hits in his career.

The Associated Press confirmed with a spokesperson in Clark County, Nevada that Rose died on Monday. Rose's cause of death was not released on Monday.

One of the most recognizable Cincinnati sports figures of all time, Rose's legendary career took a complicated turn after he was permanently banned from baseball amid allegations that he gambled on games while playing and managing for the Reds.

Rose's career is certainly Hall-of-Fame worthy.

A member of Cincinnati's Big Red Machine, Rose is the all-time MLB leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and singles (3,215). Noted for his all-around ability and enthusiasm, he was referred to as Charlie Hustle — taking home three World Series titles, one MVP award, two Gold Gloves and a Rookie of the Year award (1963), among dozens of other accolades.

It took me a while, but I’ve learned that I should always check the TV credits for sports figures when they die; they just might be eligible for inclusion in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, thanks to their League of Themselves televersions.  And that’s how, after his passing, I found that Rose did qualify for membership….

PETE ROSE

From Wikipedia:
Peter Edward Rose Sr. (April 14, 1941 – September 30, 2024), nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1963 to 1986, most prominently as a member of the Cincinnati Reds lineup known as the Big Red Machine for their dominance of the National League in the 1970s. He was successful playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, where he won his third World Series championship, and had a brief stint with the Montreal Expos. He managed the Reds from 1984 to 1989.

Rose was a switch hitter, and is MLB's all-time leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), singles (3,215) and outs (10,328).  He won three World Series championships, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Glove Awards, and the Rookie of the Year Award. He made 17 All-Star appearances in an unequaled five positions (second baseman, left fielder, right fielder, third baseman, and first baseman). He won two Gold Glove awards when he was an outfielder, in 1969 and 1970.

In August 1989 (his last year as a manager and three years after retiring as a player), Rose was penalized with permanent ineligibility from baseball amidst accusations that he gambled on baseball games while he played for and managed the Reds; the charges of wrongdoing included claims that he bet on his own team.

In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame formally voted to ban those on the "permanently ineligible" list from induction, after previously excluding such players by informal agreement among voters. After years of public denial, he admitted in 2004 that he bet on baseball and on the Reds. The issue of his election to the Hall of Fame remains contentious throughout baseball.

Following his death in 2024, Rose became the first player to die while still ineligible since William D. Cox's death in 1989.

At least this is one Hall of Fame in which the Hit King is allowed to join.

Unfortunately, I haven’t found any pictures from these episodes in which he appeared, and with some of them, I couldn’t find descriptions of what his televersion did while with those fictional characters.  But if I do find any, they will go into his eventual photo gallery in the TVXOHOF FB page.

Here are the credits which qualified the televersion of Pete Rose to join.  

AIRWOLF
MIND OF THE MACHINE (1984)

MARELLA:

Some of the major-league baseball teams are using similar techniques to profile the perfect swing.

DOMINIC:

I read about that. Pete Rose will live forever.

O'Bservation:
References are just as much proof that somebody exists in Earth Prime-Time as do actual appearances.

KOOL-AID COMMERCIAL (1986)

O'Bservation:
Yeah.  TV commercials count as part of the TV Universe.  In fact, I think the Kool-Aid Guy might even show up in the TV Crossover Hall of Fame....

THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR
COURTING DISASTER   (1990)

GOOD SPORTS
THE CINCINNATI KIDS (1991)

ARLI$$
TRUTH AND RESPONSIBILITY (1997)

In the Season Two finale, Arliss has vengeance on his brain after he is slandered by a sports talk-show host.

VERONICA'S CLOSET
VERONICA'S SLIDING DOORS (1999)

Inspired by the movie Sliding Doors, this episode shows what happens to everyone when they have to go somewhere by plane. But because of an incident, they have to take a different flight which turns out to be a nightmare for them while we see what would have happened if they caught the earlier flight.

BETWEEN BROTHERS
FANTASY CAMP/HOME BOYZ OF SUMMER (1999)

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (2003-2019)
(Recurring Joke)

A still of Rose running to second base is used as a metaphor for George Michael Bluth's relationship with his cousin.

PSYCH
WHO YA GONNA CALL? (2006)

Shawn Spencer claims that the "spirit of Pete Rose" contacted him.

O’Bservation:
Another reference.  Pete Rose exists for Shawn to at least have heard of him.  (If not for knowing that "the Hit King" was still alive at the time.)

Rose proved to be multidimensional….

SKITLANDIA

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

O'Bservation:

Besides being mentioned on ‘Weekend New Update’ by Chico Escuela, Pete Rose (as played by Phil Hartman) visited “Rain Man” (as played by Dana Carvey) at the care facility where he was living to get him to use his savant abilities for some gambling assistance.

Finally, there's at least one other member of the League of Themselves in the Hall who was on hand to welcome Charlie Hustle.....

Goodnight and may God bless….