Wednesday, November 20, 2024

TVXOHOF, NOVEMBER 2024 - HENRY KISSINGER


Every November, the Television Crossover Hall of Fame is dedicated to Newsmakers and News Reporters.  Many of those are Presidents of the United States.  Several journalists have been inducted, beginning with a fictional one.

And then there are those who are world leaders, and sometimes, even a few notorious inductees.

Not that I’m suggesting anything….

Alexis:  
Henry, hello.
Henry Kissinger:  
Hello, Alexis, good to see you.
Alexis:  
Good to see you.  
I haven't seen you since Portofino.  
It was fun.

HENRY KISSINGER
(As seen in the Pink Floyd video)

From Wikipedia:
Henry Alfred Kissinger (May 27, 1923 – November 29, 2023) was an American diplomat and political scientist who served as United States Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977 and National Security Advisor from 1969 to 1975, in the presidential administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.


Born in Germany, Kissinger emigrated to the United States in 1938 as a Jewish refugee fleeing Nazi persecution. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he attended Harvard University, where he excelled academically.

He later became a professor of government at the university and earned an international reputation as an expert on nuclear weapons and foreign policy. He acted as a consultant to government agencies, think tanks, and the presidential campaigns of Nelson Rockefeller and Nixon before being appointed as national security advisor and later secretary of state by President Nixon.


Here are the shows which qualified him for membership in the TVXOHOF:


THE DEAN MARTIN CELEBRITY ROAST OF BOB HOPE (1974)

Kissinger appeared in a pre-recorded message from Washington, D.C.

O’Bservation:
I count these as fictional presentations because every so often somebody would show up as a fictional character.  (Most famous of these was Peter Falk as Lt. Frank Columbo to roast Frank Sinatra.)  Foster Brooks was there as himself, but in his drunk persona.

DYNASTY
CAROUSEL
(1983)

Parts of this program were filmed in October 1982 at the real-life Carousel Ball, an annual event that benefited the Children's Diabetes Foundation of Denver, and famously featured cameos by former President Gerald Ford and his wife and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Each received the standard $330 union payment for their appearances.

O’Bservation:
All three are now members of the TV Crossover Hall of Fame.


BROTHER’S KEEPER
POLITICALLY IMPOLITE (1999)

Porter is invited to appear on ‘Politically Incorrect’, not realizing he'll have to share the spotlight with Bobby.

O’Bservation:
This episode provides a fictional televersion of ‘Politically Incorrect’, so that show gets absorbed into Toobworld.


THE COLBERT REPORT
6 episodes (2006-2014)

O’Bservation:
Since Stephen Colbert was playing his fictional televersion, I’m treating this as I did with the “Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of Bob Hope”.

ALTERNATE TOOBWORLDS
FOR ALL MANKIND


From Wikipedia:
"For All Mankind" is an American science fiction drama television series created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi and produced for Apple TV+. The series dramatizes an alternate history depicting "what would have happened if the global space race had never ended" after the Soviet Union succeeds in the first crewed Moon landing ahead of the United States. The title is inspired by the lunar plaque left on the Moon by the crew of Apollo 11, which reads, in part, "We Came in Peace for All Mankind".

The series stars an ensemble cast. The series features historical figures, played by actors or appearing through archival footage, including astronauts and NASA officials as well as American presidents and other politicians.


O’Bservation:
Kissinger appeared in two episodes, both in archival footage.


1] HE BUILT THE SATURN V (2019)

President Richard M. Nixon:
“I have been informed by Dr. Kissinger that, thanks to our recent military operations, we may be within reach of an honorable peace with the North Vietnamese. I have instructed him to begin negotiations with Lê Ðuc Tho so that we may focus our efforts and resources on the new challenges facing our nation. And on this momentous day, as Apollo 12 readies to begin the search for the location of the first American lunar base, I commit that we will do whatever it takes.”

2] RUPTURE (2019)

MUSIC VIDEO TOOBWORLD


BRAIN DAMAGE/ECLIPSE – Pink Floyd (1973)

O’Bservation:
Kissinger is seen twice in a collection of clips featuring world leaders of the day, including Nixon, Brezhnev, Mao, Elizabeth II, Pope Paul VI, Golda Meir, Harold Wilson, Idi Amin, Indira Gandhi, and Gerald Ford.  It’s a shame they didn’t use a video of him with animation added in as they did with some of the others.


BORDERLANDS

O’Bservation:
This particular Borderland is a TV dimension which combines actual footage with material added in by the regular cast.  I don’t have a name for that Toobworld yet.  But “Not The Nine O’Clock News” would share this dimension.


NOT NECESSARILY THE NEWS
2 episodes (1983, 1984)


In one episode, he presented a proposal for a new movie to an agent.

O’Bservation:
When Kissinger and Stuart Pankin’s agent are sharing the camera shot, it’s a double for Kissinger seen from the back of his head.


SKITLANDIA

O'Bservation:
First John Belushi played Kissinger during the first five years of the show.  From 1979 on, Al Franken was the former Secretary of State.


SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
MADELINE KAHN AS HOST (1976)

From ONE SNL A DAY:
FINAL DAYS
the final days of Richard Nixon’s (DAA) administration were stormy
— I really like the format of the sketch, showing multiple scenes by going back-and-forth between Nixon’s wife writing in the diary to Nixon in the Oval Office.
— All-in-all, an excellent sketch and among some of the best political satire the show has ever done.




NORMAN LEAR AS HOST (1976)

From ONE SNL A DAY:
PEACE TALKS
Henry Kissinger (JOB) uses song while mediating Rhodesian negotiations
— I think I remember seeing this sketch before. Doesn’t this have a scene toward the end with John and some other guys crouching on the table while bickering like kids, or singing in a drunken manner, or something like that?
— Ah, there’s John crouching on the desk, like I had remembered. However, my memory of it was a little fuzzy, getting some of the sketch details mixed together.
— Hilarious ending.
— Overall, I liked this sketch a lot. The silliness of it appealed to me, and the performances were fun.



PAUL SIMON AS HOST (1976)

From ONE SNL A DAY:
BABA WAWA AT LARGE
Henry Kissinger (JOB) talks about his career
— Some of John’s deadpan facial reactions are pretty funny.
— Baba Wawa: “Have you any final words for the Amewican pubwic?” Kissinger: “(bluntly) No.”



RICHARD DREYFUSS AS HOST (1978)

From ONE SNL A DAY:
THE DAVID SUSSKIND SHOW
momma’s-boy celebrities & their mothers
— First time we’ve seen John’s Kissinger impression in a long time.
— I like the concept of these celebrities having mothers who are similar to them.



TED KNIGHT AS HOST (1979)

From ONE SNL A DAY:
COLD OPENING
from Panama, Shah Pahlevi (BIM) celebrates Christmas with friends
— Haha, we get the debut of Al Franken’s Henry Kissinger impression, which I remember he would later do quite a number of times in the mid-late 80s era. Franken’s impression is a lot more accurate than the one Belushi used to do, and is really funny.



CHEVY CHASE AS HOST (1980)

From ONE SNL A DAY:
COLD OPENING
while visiting Gerald Ford (CHC), Henry Kissinger (ALF) plays it safe
— The return of Franken’s funny Henry Kissinger impression.
— Loved Franken’s monotone “Oh, yes” after the applause finally stopped.



BRUCE DERN AS HOST (1983)

From ONE SNL A DAY:
SATURDAY NIGHT NEWS
prominent figures express their sorrow over Buckwheat’s death
— At first, I thought the pre-taped segment of celebrities addressing Buckwheat’s death was genuine footage filmed specifically for SNL, when the segment started with Charlton Heston and Henry Kissinger. I was about to say “Wow, SNL is REALLY fully committed to this Buckwheat premise”, but then the next two tribute clips were from President Reagan and the Pope, making it obvious that these are all just unrelated clips taken out of context to make it seem like they’re talking about Buckwheat.


O’Bservation:
This sketch could actually share the same TV dimension as ‘Not The Nine O’Clock News’ and ‘Not Necessarily The News’ as it mixes actual footage with the sketch elements.


TONY DANZA AS HOST (1986)

From ONE SNL A DAY:
LYNDON LA ROUCHE THEATRE
Henry Kissinger (ALF) & host conspire
— A lot of funny lines during Randy’s intro, especially his mention of “the evil homosexual Henry Kissinger” as well as “the most evil man of the 20th century: Walter Mondale.”
— Good use of Al Franken, and nice to see his Kissinger impression back from season 5.
— Amusing interactions between Al and Tony.
— Overall, a pretty fun sketch with a lot of silly humor. Felt uncharacteristic for this season.





BRONSON PINCHOT AS HOST (1987)

From ONE SNL A DAY:
NIGHTLINE
Henry Kissinger (ALF) & others discuss “Amerida” plausibility
— Very nice way to carry over the Amerida storyline into a separate sketch. Very rare for SNL to do something like this.
— Good to see Al Franken back as Henry Kissinger.
— I got a big laugh from Al’s Kissinger concluding that the Amerida concept “was just stupid”.
— Good random part with the Nightline secret word.



ANGIE DICKINSON AS HOST (1987)

From ONE SNL A DAY:
THE ASSIMILATED JEW’S HANUKKAH
Henry Kissinger (ALF) touts record album
— Another good use of Al Franken’s Kissinger impression.
— The “Assimilated Jews Hanukkah” record title was worth a laugh.
— I’m enjoying this premise of Hanukkah-ized classic Christmas songs.
— Okay, this is starting to kinda run out of steam after the joke was established. Still fairly funny, though.


THE KISSINGER PUPPETS
as seen in:



SPITTING IMAGE

D.C. FOLLIES

O’Bservation:
It’s my contention that these take place in Earth Prime-Time, just like ‘Sesame Street’, ‘Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood’, ‘Captain Kangaroo’, ‘The Muppet Show’, ‘Pinwheel’, etc.etc. etc.

If the spirits which inhabit puppet shells and take on the characteristics of their bodies, then if they can be washing machines and rogue cheeses, why can’t they wear puppet shells resembling celebrities and then take on their characteristics?


I’m sure there are plenty of references to Dr. Kissinger in conversations between fictional characters in other shows which would verify the existence of Kissinger in the main Toobworld.  If I’m not mistaken, this would be one, from an episode of ‘Barney Miller’:


But for now, these examples make my point for his inclusion, my personal feelings aside.  ‘Twill serve….

Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Dr. Kissinger.


Well, that's rude....

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Weekend Update: Bill Walton on LeBron James and the Lakers - SNL

TVXOHOF TRIBUTE - REMEMBERING BILL WALTON ON HIS BIRTHDAY


From CBS Sports
[Cameron Salerno]


Former UCLA star Bill Walton, who blossomed at UCLA in the early 1970s under legendary coach John Wooden, died at the age of 71 after a prolonged battle with cancer, the NBA announced Monday. Walton, a three-time Naismith Award winner and a two-time national champion, is considered one of the greatest college basketball players ever.


After a historic college career at UCLA, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Walton with the No. 1 pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. Walton became a two-time NBA champion (1977 and 1986) and won NBA MVP in 1978. He retired from the NBA after the conclusion of the 1987-88 season.


Walton became a fixture on college basketball broadcasts after his playing career ended by serving as a color commentator at CBS, NBC and ABC/ESPN. While Walton was known for witty humor on Pac-12 basketball broadcasts, he helped call NBA games for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Sacramento Kings.

It would be nice if the TVXOHOF could make it through a full year without a single memorial tribute induction.  But it will not be this year for sadly, Prime Time marches on.

It took me a few days to look into Bill Walton’s “life” as a televersion in Toobworld; it never occurred to me that there would even be the minimum necessity of three TV show appearances of Walton as a League of Themselves member.  So I was surprised that he covered the spread.  (I probably didn’t use that phrase correctly.  What do I know?)

Anyway, Bill Walton qualifies for membership in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, so this is my way of remembering him on my birthday….

BILL WALTON

From Wikipedia:
William Theodore Walton III (November 5, 1952 – May 27, 2024) was an American professional basketball player and television sportscaster. He played college basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego / Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Walton rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the starting center for coach John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins. The 6-foot-11-inch (2.11 m) Walton won three consecutive national college player of the year awards (1972–1974), while leading UCLA to NCAA championships in 1972 and 1973 and an 88-game winning streak.


After being selected as the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA draft, Walton led the Portland Trail Blazers to the team's first NBA championship in 1977, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. The following season, Walton was the 1978 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Walton's professional career, however, was significantly hampered by foot injuries, requiring numerous surgeries (Walton underwent 37 orthopedic surgeries in his lifetime).

Walton played in 468 out of 1,148 regular season games across his 14-year NBA career. After his MVP season, Walton sat out the 1978–79 season and was then signed by the Clippers, for whom he played four injury-plagued seasons. His career was rehabilitated during two seasons with the Celtics at the end of his career. Playing as a backup center behind Robert Parish, Walton earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in the 1985–86 season, winning his second NBA championship. He was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.


After retiring from the NBA, Walton overcame stuttering and embarked on a second career as a sportscaster, working both as a studio analyst and color commentator with several networks and teams. He earned an Emmy Award in 1991.


Walton was a fan of the Grateful Dead, as a self-described "Deadhead", and often mentioned them in his broadcasts. He hosted several podcasts and satellite radio programs featuring the music of the Grateful Dead.


After his retirement as a player, Walton became a basketball color commentator. Walton worked for CBS (1990), NCAA on CBS (1991), NBC (1990–2002), the Los Angeles Clippers (1990–2002) and ABC/ESPN (2002–2009). After 19 years working in broadcasting, he left ESPN in November 2009, as the result of back problems, which dated back to an injury he suffered in college at UCLA. Following surgery on his back, Walton returned to broadcasting as a part-time commentator for the Sacramento Kings for 2010–11 and 2011–12. In July 2012, ESPN and the Pac-12 Network announced that Walton would return to full-time broadcasting as a game analyst for Pac-12 conference basketball coverage.


Walton's 2003 TV series ‘Bill Walton's Long Strange Trip’ aired on ESPN with Walton as subject and star.

While broadcasting a Washington–Oregon January 2019 game with Dave Pasch, Walton mentioned he had appeared in the motion picture “Ghostbusters”. “Ghostbusters” was filmed in 1984 and Pasch questioned Walton about his claim throughout the game as to the specifics of his appearance and character, but Walton refused to provide more details. [Research validated Walton's claim.]

O'Bservation:
More on that later....

In 2001, Walton received an Emmy Award for "Best Live Sports Television Broadcast".


O'Bservation:
I think he deserved a special commendation for popping a cupcake with a burning candle in his mouth!

Here are the appearances which guarantee Bill Walton’s televersion a place on the court out back of the Hall*….

‘THE SENTINEL’
“THREE POINT SHOT”
(1997)
Sandburg meets his hero Orville Wallace, legendary Cascade Jags basketball player, when Wallace is suspected in the killing of his confrontational fellow player, Dwight Rossman.


'PACIFIC BLUE' (1997)
"SANDMAN"
The men of Pacific Blue compete in the AVP Miller Lite Open.

O’Bservation:
Walton was at the match, but in his opinion, the only chance the Pacific Blue cops had was to arrest the other team.


'INSIDE SCHWARTZ’
“PILOT” (2001)

O'Bservation:
Walton was one of several sports figures who appeared as dream versions of themselves, serving as Schwartz's inner dialogues.

'ONE ON ONE'
"HE GOT GAME... AGAIN"
(2002)
Flex plays in a charity basketball tournament with some big-time ballers.


'LESS THAN PERFECT'
"LOVE STINKS (SOMETIMES)" (2004)
Will tries to use former NBA player Bill Walton to intimidate Carl into trading a player on his fantasy team.

Among his appearances in “reality” TV shows, three should be singled out:


‘SHARK TANK’
From Wikipedia: Walton appeared in the premiere of the third season in the reality TV show Shark Tank on January 20, 2012, where he helped to sell the "Clean Bottle", a water bottle that unscrews at both ends for easier cleaning.

‘WHEEL OF FORTUNE’
1] SUPERSTARS OF SPORTS

S10 E165 (May, 1993)
Walton was one of three celebrity contestants, probably playing for various charities.  The other two were Dick Butkus and Phil Esposito.
2] NBA WEEK 1
S21 E51 (2003)
For his return as a contestant, Walton faced off against Michael Finley and Allan Houston.
3] NBA WEEK 1
S23 E 36 (2005)
Third time's a charm!  Walton had to play against Richard Jefferson AND his own son, Luke Walton!

(Not from the show)

(The total winnings of this NBA Week were matched and donated to charity for Hurricane Katrina relief, with a minimum of $100,000.)

‘JEOPARDY!’
NOVEMBER 03, 2005

According to the IMDb, Walton gave out a clue to the question during the game.  But he also was the answer in two other episodes!






Meanwhile… over in the Tooniverse....


'AMERICAN DAD!'
“SHAKEDOWN STEVE” (2021)
Steve and Jeff try to bond as brothers while the rest of the family visits an escape room.


O’Bservation:
Bill Walton was considered the biggest Deadhead and not just because of his height.

He is even represented in Skitlandia!


‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’
FEBRUARY 25, 2023

O'Bservation:
James Austin Johnson got a free shot at Walton's expense when he appeared during the Weekend News Update as Bill Walton.  Michael Che wanted to know if Walton thought the Lakers had a chance in the playoffs, but the Big Red Deadhead’s vision was off in the future.  Walton just happened to catch it that night from his hotel room in Oregon and he was grokking it.

Now… getting back to that reference to “GHOSTBUSTERS”….


Bill Walton wasn’t kidding.  He shows up, off in the background, during the end credits.  I’m giving this an honorary mention since that movie inspired a Tooniverse series and enough references in other TV series to qualify it for consideration to be inducted into the Hall of Fame – Movie Televersions – like “It’s A Wonderful Life” was last Christmas.
And so it came to pass... on Halloween!

As Red Skelton used to say, “Good night and may God bless,” Bill Walton.  I’m glad I checked to see if you qualified.

What a long strange trip it’s been…. 



* All plot summaries, unless otherwise noted, were from the IMDb.