Monday, October 10, 2011

TVXOHOF, 10/2011 - BASIC BELACK (IN MEMORIAM)

In the New York Times obituary for actress Doris Belack, who passed away at the age of 85, two roles are given special mention - her soap opera producer in the movie "Tootsie", and the judge she played in ten episodes of 'Law & Order'.

Judge Margaret Barry deserves to be inducted into the TV Crossover Hall Of Fame because she meets the basic requirement for membership - besides presiding over those court cases in the 'Law & Order' mothership, she also appeared in two episodes of the spin-off 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'. That makes her second required appearance.

And although it was never acknowledged as being part of the franchise, 'New York Undercover' was a Dick Wolf production which had several small connections to 'Law & Order'. Judge Margaret Barry's appearance in the episode "Catharsis" was one of those links, even if she was never identified by name.

And that makes three.

Ms. Belack played a Judge Venezia in an episode of 'Cosby'. Had her character gone nameless, we might have included her as well.

(It should be noted that in her first appearance, in the episode "Happily Ever After", her nameplate displayed the name "Barrie Morton". But then, all of the judges in that episode had that same nameplate. Whoever was the court bailiff that day wasn't firing on all cylinders.)

'Law & Order'
Happily Ever After (23 October 1990)
The Torrents of Greed: Part 1 (12 February 1991)
Cradle to Grave (31 March 1992)
Golden Years (5 January 1994)
Old Friends (25 May 1994)
Wannabe (15 March 1995)
Girlfriends (1 May 1996)
Denial (8 October 1997)
Venom (18 November 1998)
School Daze (16 May 2001)

'New York Undercover'
Catharsis (1999) … Judge

'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
Closure: Part 2 (3 November 2000)
Pique (4 May 2001)

Her Honor is not the intended inductee to represent October; that will be revealed next weekend. But in the past, I've always mentioned how certain minor characters deserved to be inducted after the actor passes away and then never get around to paying them such a tribute. I don't want to make the mistake ever again.

Toobworld Central salutes you, Justice Barry, and Doris Belack as well. 

Good night and may God bless.

BCnU......

No comments: