So without further ado, let's have at it:
BEST NEW TV SHOW
DRAMA
‘The Orville’
Yes, a lot of it is comedy - it’s by Seth McFarlane, how could it not be? But it’s mostly a rousing and moving space opera on a par with ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Babylon 5’. My only concern is whether I can keep it in the dimension of the main Toobworld. It appears that it takes place in the same time period as the two aforementioned series; something’s gotta give.
COMEDY
‘Great News’
It’s from Tina Fey so there’s a guarantee and Andrea Martin makes the most of her role as Carol.
WORST NEW TV SHOW
‘Class’
This might have been acceptable had it not been a spin-off from ‘Doctor Who’.
BEST TV MOVIE
“Psych: The Movie”
It was great to see the old gang back to tie up a few loose ends. Hopefully, we can get periodic updates on the characters, with a bit more participation by Lassie next time.
It was great to see the old gang back to tie up a few loose ends. Hopefully, we can get periodic updates on the characters, with a bit more participation by Lassie next time.
WORST TV MOVIE
“Sharknado 5” - By now it should be a given If it’s a “Sharknado” movie, it’s bad.
BEST MINI-SERIES
‘Remember Me’
This came out in the UK back in 2014 and I don’t remember ever seeing it listed on my PBS stations when I lived in NYC. But it’s playing now (July 2017) and I’m enjoying this ghostly tale, especially for the chance to see Michael Palin and Mark Addy.
This came out in the UK back in 2014 and I don’t remember ever seeing it listed on my PBS stations when I lived in NYC. But it’s playing now (July 2017) and I’m enjoying this ghostly tale, especially for the chance to see Michael Palin and Mark Addy.
BEST DOCUMENTARY
“Tour De Pharmacy”
Okay, Best Mockumentary - Supposedly about the 1982 Tour de France with an all-star cast (varying degrees) that works in fictional family members, fictional Muppets, fictional instructional cartoons, and soft porn masquerading as a fictional Finnish credit card commercial.
BEST ONLINE TV
‘Frankie Drake’ webisodes
Taking place about 15 years after ‘The Murdoch Mysteries’ follows a female private investigator in Toronto in the 1920s. Two major characters from “The Murdoch Mysteries” appeared in the “series” to help kick it off.
Taking place about 15 years after ‘The Murdoch Mysteries’ follows a female private investigator in Toronto in the 1920s. Two major characters from “The Murdoch Mysteries” appeared in the “series” to help kick it off.
BEST COMMERCIAL
Spectrum - “Evil Commute” franchise
The Grim Reaper, a Mad Scientist, a demon, a mummy, a werewolf, and a ventriloquist dummy. These guys are fun to hang out with!
The Grim Reaper, a Mad Scientist, a demon, a mummy, a werewolf, and a ventriloquist dummy. These guys are fun to hang out with!
BEST EPISODE, ANY GENRE
‘Twin Peaks: The Return’ - “Part 8”
What an acid trip this was!
What an acid trip this was!
BEST BLEND OF GENRES
‘Mozart In The Jungle’ - “Not Yet Titled”
This was actually two genres in one - a dramady and a documentary film.
BEST TWO-PART EPISODE
“Great Balls of Fire Parts 1 & 2” - ‘Murdoch Mysteries’
“Great Balls of Fire Parts 1 & 2” - ‘Murdoch Mysteries’
I’ve always said that TV is a teaching tool and I never even heard of the Great Toronto Fire before this. They did an excellent job in blending fiction with fact and all the main characters in the show were well served, especially Constabe Henry Higgins. (When is he finally going to meet George Bernard Shaw? If it’s 1905, the show is fast approaching the period during which Shaw wrote “Pygmalion”.)
BEST SERIES RETURN
‘Twin Peaks’
We waited 25 years for this and Lynch & Frost haven’t disapponted - so long as you accept the pace they’re setting.
BEST SEASON FINALE
‘Doctor Who’ - “The Doctor Falls”
The show would probably carner this with just the threat of regeneration. But add in the First Doctor, even as a recastaway (but one with a history), and it’s a winner. (I’m just hoping the Christmas special will give me a good splainin for the difference in the First Doctor’s looks.
The show would probably carner this with just the threat of regeneration. But add in the First Doctor, even as a recastaway (but one with a history), and it’s a winner. (I’m just hoping the Christmas special will give me a good splainin for the difference in the First Doctor’s looks.
BEST SERIES FINALE
‘Grimm’ - “The End”
A rarity these days - a very satisfying conclusion to a long-running series with such a rich mythology. And it had a peek at the future, 20 years down the road in Toobworld with the promise of 20 years of fanfic adventures ahead of us and who knows what else lies ahead for all of the characters after Earth Prime-Time syncs up with Earth Prime (if we make it that far!)
A rarity these days - a very satisfying conclusion to a long-running series with such a rich mythology. And it had a peek at the future, 20 years down the road in Toobworld with the promise of 20 years of fanfic adventures ahead of us and who knows what else lies ahead for all of the characters after Earth Prime-Time syncs up with Earth Prime (if we make it that far!)
BEST CLIFFHANGER
‘Legends of Tomorrow’ - “Aruba”
The promise of a 2017 Los Angeles over-run with T-Rexes and Allosaurs and Velociraptors guarantees that I’ll be checking in next season! (But if they don’t show me a triceratops, I’ll be angry!)
WORST SERIES RETURN
‘Will & Grace’
Sorry, I love the two leads, but Just Jack and Karen get on my nerves.
Sorry, I love the two leads, but Just Jack and Karen get on my nerves.
WORST SEASON FINALE
‘Mozart In The Jungle’
‘Mozart In The Jungle’
Maybe it’s because I binged Season Three, but it was only two days ago from this writing and I can’t remember how it ended.
WORST SERIES CONCLUSION
‘Broadchurch’
This could have been so incredible, as it was for the first season. (I don’t even want to think about the second season.) I was expecting the death of DI Alec Hardy - they certainly gave off enough clues that he was heading down that road. And the revelation of who the killer was should have been somebody totally unexpected and heart-wrenching. And with such a history behind those rapes, it should have been somebody around since the show began, not a colorless character only introduced this season. Who would I have chosen? Arthur Darvill’s character Reverend Paul Coates. That would have been a gut-wrencher!
This could have been so incredible, as it was for the first season. (I don’t even want to think about the second season.) I was expecting the death of DI Alec Hardy - they certainly gave off enough clues that he was heading down that road. And the revelation of who the killer was should have been somebody totally unexpected and heart-wrenching. And with such a history behind those rapes, it should have been somebody around since the show began, not a colorless character only introduced this season. Who would I have chosen? Arthur Darvill’s character Reverend Paul Coates. That would have been a gut-wrencher!
The whole thing just makes me worried about the future of ‘Doctor Who’ under Chibnall…..
BEST SPIN-OFF
‘Young Sheldon’
So glad the format is different from ‘The Big Bang Theory’. It’s more like ‘The Wonder Years’. And it’s great to see the formative years and family life for Sheldon Cooper. The kid playing the role is fantastic.
So glad the format is different from ‘The Big Bang Theory’. It’s more like ‘The Wonder Years’. And it’s great to see the formative years and family life for Sheldon Cooper. The kid playing the role is fantastic.
WORST SPIN-OFF
‘Star Trek: Discovery’
It’s ‘Star Trek’ in name only. It doesn’t have the look, it doesn’t have the feel needed for Roddenberry’s vision. ‘The Orville’ even with its dick jokes comes closer to being a true ‘Star Trek’ And those Klingons? They look like humanoid bugs now. Not my ‘Star Trek’....
It’s ‘Star Trek’ in name only. It doesn’t have the look, it doesn’t have the feel needed for Roddenberry’s vision. ‘The Orville’ even with its dick jokes comes closer to being a true ‘Star Trek’ And those Klingons? They look like humanoid bugs now. Not my ‘Star Trek’....
BEST SEQUEL
‘THE GOOD FIGHT’
The only problem is, it debuted on CBS but only the first episode was shown on the broadcast network. The rest of the season would only be available on their online platform CBS All-Access. I can wait until it’s available on Netflix or dumped back onto the network during the summer rerun season.
The only problem is, it debuted on CBS but only the first episode was shown on the broadcast network. The rest of the season would only be available on their online platform CBS All-Access. I can wait until it’s available on Netflix or dumped back onto the network during the summer rerun season.
BEST REMAKE
There wasn’t one this year.
WORST REMAKE
‘Dynasty’
Just one big blerg which tarnishes the memory of the over-the-top eighties phenom. And I didn’t even like that one!
Just one big blerg which tarnishes the memory of the over-the-top eighties phenom. And I didn’t even like that one!
BEST ONE SEASON WONDER
‘Downward Dog’
It took me awhile to get in tune with the dog’s vocal style and attitude, but once I treated it like trying to relate to an alien race, it worked for me. Plus in a way it supports my theory that dogs in Toobworld that all dogs are reincarnated humans.
It took me awhile to get in tune with the dog’s vocal style and attitude, but once I treated it like trying to relate to an alien race, it worked for me. Plus in a way it supports my theory that dogs in Toobworld that all dogs are reincarnated humans.
BEST NEW SERIES TITLE
‘Kevin (Probably) Saves The World’
I checked out the first episode and it didn’t speak to me but I do like the title. There’s something whimsical about it.
I checked out the first episode and it didn’t speak to me but I do like the title. There’s something whimsical about it.
WORST SERIES TITLE
‘Class’
BORRRRRING! You’re the latest spin-off from ‘Doctor Who’, for (jack)Lord’s sake! You should have a title that stirs excitement. ‘Coal Hill’ would have been better!
BEST NEW EPISODE TITLE (TIE)
“CAMELOT/3000” & “Helen Hunt” - ‘Legends of Tomorrow’
A nice fake-out attempt to make comic book geeks think that the TV show was going to incorporate DC’s early experiment in direct market titles. But instead of visiting the reincarnated souls of the characters from the Camelot legend, the Legends first visited the year 3000 before going back in Time to the court of King Arthur.
WORST NEW EPISODE TITLE
“Part 8” - ‘Twin Peaks’
Odd that the best episode of any TV show this year should also have the worst title. The only thing that will help me remember such a generic and boring title will be that “8” is one of the numbers in the Valenzetti Equation from ‘Lost. But when you think about what happened in this episode, what could possibly be a good title? (Actually, Jeff Jensen of EW, who was the guide to all things ‘Lost’, kept insisting in his review of “Part 8” to call it “Gotta Light?” And that works on several levels.)
BEST HISTORICAL RECREATION
‘I’m Dying Up Here’
I have a Facebook friend who lived during those times and knew the LA comedy scene and she says it wasn’t true. But “true” is for documentaries. I felt this 70s Los Angeles felt as real as the one seen in shows like ‘The Rockford Files’.
I have a Facebook friend who lived during those times and knew the LA comedy scene and she says it wasn’t true. But “true” is for documentaries. I felt this 70s Los Angeles felt as real as the one seen in shows like ‘The Rockford Files’.
BEST SENSE OF ONE'S OWN HISTORY
‘Doctor Who’
Could there be any doubt? Let’s look at what came back this season: Mondas, Mondasian Cybermen, the Master before Missy, Alpha Centauri, Queen Victoria, the visions of so many companions, and of course the return of John Simm’s Master and the First Doctor.
BEST EXAMPLE OF LIFE DURING PRIME-TIME
Life-Alert, “Home Alone”
Are you like me? Someone who thought the Life-Alert commercial of “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” was funny? Well, have I got a blipvert for you! Now a daughter and grand-daughter visit Mom only to find her dead on the floor! Cracks me up every time.
Are you like me? Someone who thought the Life-Alert commercial of “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” was funny? Well, have I got a blipvert for you! Now a daughter and grand-daughter visit Mom only to find her dead on the floor! Cracks me up every time.
BEST CLASSIC TV EXPERIENCE
IMPORT
‘The Three Musketeers’ (1966)
I’m a big fan of the story and the whole swashbuckling genre, and I’ll watch anything with Brian Blessed in it. (Yes, even “Phantom Menace”!) Plus Jeremy Brett as D’Artagnan gave me an excellent theory of relateeveety!
DOMESTIC
‘Barney Miller’
When my life situation changed in the Fall of 2016, I found that daily reruns of this great show (which I was not able to watch very much when it first aired due to my life situation back then) relieved me of the “homesickness” I had for my job. The oddities who entered the squad room were not all that different from the people who used to approach my desk at work.
When my life situation changed in the Fall of 2016, I found that daily reruns of this great show (which I was not able to watch very much when it first aired due to my life situation back then) relieved me of the “homesickness” I had for my job. The oddities who entered the squad room were not all that different from the people who used to approach my desk at work.
PART TWO
BEST CROSSOVER SINGLE EPISODE
“Duet” - ‘The Flash’
It wasn’t just the return of ‘Supergirl’ to Comix Toobworld-DC2, but also Malcolm Merlyn of ‘Arrow’ and Martin Stein of ‘Legends of Tomorrow’. Good choices for guest stars since it was a musical.
BEST CROSSOVER MULTIPLE EPISODES
‘Supergirl’ & ‘Arrow’ & ‘The Flash’ & ‘Legends of Tomorrow’
“Crisis On Earth X”
See the next entry.
BEST CROSSOVER MULTIPLE EPISODES
‘Supergirl’ & ‘Arrow’ & ‘The Flash’ & ‘Legends of Tomorrow’
“Crisis On Earth X”
See the next entry.
BEST CROSSOVER PLOTLINE
‘Supergirl’ & ‘Arrow’ & ‘The Flash’ & ‘Legends of Tomorrow’
“Crisis On Earth X”
All of the cast members from all four shows versus the Nazis of Earth X, sent to capture Supergirl for her heart.
“Crisis On Earth X”
All of the cast members from all four shows versus the Nazis of Earth X, sent to capture Supergirl for her heart.
BEST HISTORICAL CROSSOVER
‘Legends of Tomorrow’:
“The Fellowship of The Spear”
“Aruba”
World War I on the battlefield, with J.R.R. Tolkien
BEST HOLIDAY CROSSOVER
BEST TRIVIAL CROSSOVER
The names of S. Foreman, R.D. Pink, and C. Oswald on the memorial tribute board in the hallway at Coal Hill Academy in the first episode of ‘Class’
BEST MULTIDIMENSIONAL CROSSOVER
‘Supergirl’ & ‘Arrow’ & ‘The Flash’ & ‘Legends of Tomorrow’
“Crisis On Earth X”
All of the cast members from all four shows PLUS the return of Captain Cold and Eobard Thawne and the introduction of The Ray, with doppelgangers of Arrow and Supergirl.
“Crisis On Earth X”
All of the cast members from all four shows PLUS the return of Captain Cold and Eobard Thawne and the introduction of The Ray, with doppelgangers of Arrow and Supergirl.
BEST MULTIVERSAL CROSSOVER
‘Legends of Tomorrow’ & ‘Vixen - The Movie’
‘Legends of Tomorrow’ & ‘Vixen - The Movie’
The Tooniverse is more than just another TV dimension. It takes in almost all of the cartoons made for feature film distribution.
BEST THEORETICAL CROSSOVER OF THE YEAR
‘Imaginary Mary’ with ‘Moone Boy’ & ‘Supernatural’
It’s because those other two shows assert that not only do imaginary friends exist, but that they interact with each other.
BEST COMMERCIAL/SERIES CROSSOVER
EARTH PRIME-TIME
‘The Late Show with Steven Colbert’
&
Xyzal
BEST CROSSOVER WITH A DIFFERENT MEDIUM
GEICO & “The Guardians Of The Galaxy”
Ford Echo Sport & “The Guardians Of The Galaxy”
Sure, they’re both day-dreams but even so….
Sure, they’re both day-dreams but even so….
BEST THEORETICAL CROSSOVER WITH A DIFFERENT MEDIUM
Progressive Insurance & ‘Robot Chicken’
The stop-motion photography and style of models are reminiscent of Seth Green’s long-running series on Adult Swim.
The stop-motion photography and style of models are reminiscent of Seth Green’s long-running series on Adult Swim.
BEST TOONIVERSE CROSSOVER
‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ with ‘Schoolhouse Rock’
Bill, the Health Care Bill, was interviewed by Colbert and then tried to kill himself when he found out what a monster he was.
BEST ONLINE CROSSOVER
‘Frankie Drake’ webisodes
Thomas Brackenreid and Inspector Watts from ‘The Murdoch Mysteries’ showed up
Thomas Brackenreid and Inspector Watts from ‘The Murdoch Mysteries’ showed up
PART THREE
BEST CROSSOVER CHARACTER FOR THE YEAR
Retired Inspector Thomas Brackenreid, ‘The Frankie Drake Mysteries’
Visiting from ‘The Murdoch Mysteries’ fifteen years after the current season, the best thing about seeing the Inspector is that we’re guaranteed he survives the eventual finale of the original series.
Retired Inspector Thomas Brackenreid, ‘The Frankie Drake Mysteries’
Visiting from ‘The Murdoch Mysteries’ fifteen years after the current season, the best thing about seeing the Inspector is that we’re guaranteed he survives the eventual finale of the original series.
BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES APPEARANCE CROSSOVER
Joe Buck
‘Brockmire’
“Tour de Pharmacy”
Buck has his detractors but he does a great job in poking fun at himself.
BEST TRIVIAL CROSSOVER CHARACTER
Francis Armitage - ‘Doctor Who’ & ‘Class’
Head teacher at Coal Hill School - Unfortunately, he’ll never get the chance to qualify for the TVXOHOF.
BEST COMMERCIAL CROSSOVER CHARACTER
Nigel the Owl of Xyzal appeared on ‘Late Night with Stephen Colbert’
Nigel the Owl of Xyzal appeared on ‘Late Night with Stephen Colbert’
BEST RECASTAWAY
The Man From Another Place, ‘Twin Peaks’
That strange, dancing little person, “The Arm” had prophesied twenty-five years ago that the next time Cooper saw him, he would not look the same. Couldn’t get more different than going from a midget to a talking Brain Tree!
That strange, dancing little person, “The Arm” had prophesied twenty-five years ago that the next time Cooper saw him, he would not look the same. Couldn’t get more different than going from a midget to a talking Brain Tree!
WORST RECASTAWAY
Mr. Mxyzptlk, ‘Supergirl’
I think he should have looked as he does in the comic books. It was done before in the series ‘Superboy’. But here he wasn’t a Zrffian imp, just a Brit git.
I think he should have looked as he does in the comic books. It was done before in the series ‘Superboy’. But here he wasn’t a Zrffian imp, just a Brit git.
BEST HISTORICAL RECASTAWAY
MALE
Albert Einstein, ‘Genius’
Albert Einstein, ‘Genius’
FEMALE (TIE)
Bette Davis
Joan Crawford, both for ‘The Feud’
Bette Davis
Joan Crawford, both for ‘The Feud’
BEST NEW MALE CHARACTER
DRAMA
Hooten, 'Hooten and the Lady'
COMEDY
Jim Brockmire, ‘Brockmire’
Jim Brockmire, ‘Brockmire’
BEST NEW FEMALE CHARACTER
DRAMA
Bill Potts, ‘Doctor Who’
It just doesn’t seem right that she’s limited to just the one season. Thankfully she’ll be in the Christmas special and I hope she gets to see the Doctor regenerate.
COMEDY
Carol, ‘Great News’
I’ve already mentioned what a pistol Andrea Martin is in this role. What more do you want from me?
SPECIAL CATEGORY
‘Imaginary Mary’
It’s definitely not a very good show, but I’m all for imaginary friends come to life. And she’s got an interesting design to her.
WORST NEW CHARACTER
Pope Pius XIII (Lenny Belardo), ‘The Young Pope’
I don’t even want to make a theoretical connection to some other alternate Toobworld like that in ‘The West Wing’ or ‘The Royals’. This guy was detestable and not interesting to watch.
BEST NEW MALE SUPPORTING CHARACTER
DRAMA
Yaphet, ‘The Orville’
As with the show, Yaphet is played for laughs. But with excellent CGI and the vocal contributions of Norm McDonald, Yaphet has been shaped into a real personality. Mostly a jerk one, but still….
As with the show, Yaphet is played for laughs. But with excellent CGI and the vocal contributions of Norm McDonald, Yaphet has been shaped into a real personality. Mostly a jerk one, but still….
COMEDY
Larry Henderson, ‘Trial & Error’
With John Lithgow, how could it fail? He carried off the balancing act between believability and farce with aplomb. And he was the one thing that kept me interested for the finale.
BEST NEW SUPPORTING FEMALE CHARACTER
DRAMA
COMEDY
BEST NEW RECURRING MALE CHARACTER
Abe Leonard, ‘Designated Survivor’
Abe was a Pulitzer winner (in that Toobworld) who an old school schlub of a reporter. His first appearance was about a week after the death of Jimmy Breslin and the combination was a reminder of the glory days of journalism, before they were maligned as the “lying media”.
Abe was a Pulitzer winner (in that Toobworld) who an old school schlub of a reporter. His first appearance was about a week after the death of Jimmy Breslin and the combination was a reminder of the glory days of journalism, before they were maligned as the “lying media”.
BEST NEW RECURRING FEMALE CHARACTER
Alessandra, “La Fiamma”, ‘Mozart In The Jungle’
Considering she almost killed Rodrigo on live global TV, they took the story as far as they could, but while she was on, Monica Bellucci stole the spotlight from the Venetian setting.
BEST RECASTAWAY ADAPTED FROM ANOTHER MEDIUM
The Monkey King, ‘The Librarians’
The ability of demi-gods to alter their physical appearance was already well-established, so there was no Zonk here. Besides, the case could always be made that this Monkey King was the latest to assume the title from his father.
BEST CROSSOVER CHARACTER FROM ANOTHER MEDIUM
The Ray, ‘The Flash’ & ‘Legends of Tomorrow’
A great introduction for Russell Tovey’s superhero who will move over to his own animated series.
A great introduction for Russell Tovey’s superhero who will move over to his own animated series.
BEST NEW CAST ENSEMBLE
The Evil Characters in the Spectrum commercials
The Grim Reaper, the Mummy, the Evil Scientist, the Wolfman, the Vampire, the Demon, and Gary the Ventriloquist Dummy
WORST NEW CAST ENSEMBLE
‘Class’
The kids of this show are high school students at Coal Hill. However the actors are all about 25 years old and they look it!
BEST ADDITION TO AN EXISTING CAST
Bill Potts, ‘Doctor Who’
Ralph Dibny, ‘The Flash’
Bill Potts, ‘Doctor Who’
Ralph Dibny, ‘The Flash’
WORST ADDITION TO AN EXISTING CAST
Inspector Mallory, ‘Father Brown’
I’m sure Jack Deam is a very good actor in other roles, but he really puts me off as Mallory - with the way he smirks and sneers the epithet “Padre”. Look at the files, you schmuck. Father Brown runs rings around you as a detective.
BEST NEW GUEST APPEARANCE
FEMALE
Senator Julia Rombauer, ‘Designated Survivor’
The oncoming threat of early onset Alzheimer’s was perfectly played by Linda Purl.
MALE
BEST HISTORICAL CHARACTER
Albert Einstein, ‘Genius’
WORST HISTORICAL CHARACTER
Ben Franklin, ‘Makin’ History’
BEST HISTORICAL CHARACTER REVISION
William Shakespeare, ‘Will’
It’s utterly daft, but still believable even with the Baz Luhrmann embellishments.
WORST HISTORICAL CHARACTER REVISION
Eliot Ness, ‘Timeless’
I never could wrap my head around the way this show kept changing history, and this too-short guest appearance by Mischa Collins is a good example. By this point in the series, they had already created so many divergent timelines, they were far from the original Earth Prime-Time and so this had no effect on the TV Ness we all know from ‘The Untouchables’.
BEST NEW ALIEN CHARACTER
Darullo, ‘The Orville’
Miss Quill, ‘Class’
BEST NEW ALIEN RACE
The Pink Petals, ‘The Class’
Something quite different from the usual; and with no explanation of who they were or where they came from. And that’s good enough when sci-fi should be exploring the unknown.
WORST “NEW” ALIEN RACE
The Klingons, ‘Star Trek: Discovery’
Yeah I know the Klingons have been around since the beginning of ‘Star Trek’, but have you seen these guys? They look like Kevin Spacey in “A Bug’s Life” only black. I won’t be happy with them until some type of retcon is produced. “Oh, did we say Klingon? We meant Tlingon. Our bad.”
Something quite different from the usual; and with no explanation of who they were or where they came from. And that’s good enough when sci-fi should be exploring the unknown.
WORST “NEW” ALIEN RACE
The Klingons, ‘Star Trek: Discovery’
Yeah I know the Klingons have been around since the beginning of ‘Star Trek’, but have you seen these guys? They look like Kevin Spacey in “A Bug’s Life” only black. I won’t be happy with them until some type of retcon is produced. “Oh, did we say Klingon? We meant Tlingon. Our bad.”
BEST NEW "CHILD" CHARACTER
‘Young Sheldon’ Cooper
This kid is good. We get to see the nascent mannerisms of Sheldon and he imitates the older Sheldon while still making the role his own.
This kid is good. We get to see the nascent mannerisms of Sheldon and he imitates the older Sheldon while still making the role his own.
BEST NEW PUPPET CHARACTER
Julia, ‘Sesame Street’
The long-running children’s show introduced a Muppet with autism to help others understand the condition and to reach out to their autistic viewers.
Honorary Mention:
Huey Black of ‘Sesame Street’
(At least as seen in the mockumentary “Tour de Pharmacy”)
Huey Black of ‘Sesame Street’
(At least as seen in the mockumentary “Tour de Pharmacy”)
CHARACTER MOST DESERVING TO BECOME A REGULAR
Erica - ‘Doctor Who’
I almost felt as though Moffat was introducing a Chibnall character so that they could easily bring her in to the fold. Rachel Denning was marvelous in the role and deserving to be a Companion.
Ralph Dibny, ‘The Flash’
But I think he’ll be scooped up by ‘Legends of Tomorrow’
I almost felt as though Moffat was introducing a Chibnall character so that they could easily bring her in to the fold. Rachel Denning was marvelous in the role and deserving to be a Companion.
Ralph Dibny, ‘The Flash’
But I think he’ll be scooped up by ‘Legends of Tomorrow’
CHARACTER(S) MOST DESERVING TO GET THEIR OWN SPIN-OFF
Bill Potts & Heather, ‘Doctor Who’
Definitely they’ll be starring in plenty of fanfic!
Definitely they’ll be starring in plenty of fanfic!
BEST NEW COMMERCIAL CHARACTER
Gary The Ventriloquist Dummy, ‘Spectrum’
WORST NEW COMMERCIAL CHARACTER
Mr. Stevens, 2018 Audi Q5
“The FBI calls Mr. Stevens a brave man after he's provided them with a testimony that they say will save lives. They give him a new identity to protect him in the aftermath. He is advised to become invisible and drive an inconspicuous SUV, but he chooses to take his chances in the 2018 Audi Q5.” Which means Stevens doomed people to their death by not testifying.
BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES APPEARANCE IN A SERIES
Monica Bellucci, ‘Twin Peaks’
It was an appearance in a dream by FBI chief Gordon Cole, but it means that she does exist as her own televersion in Toobworld.
BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES APPEARANCE IN A COMMERCIAL
Melissa McCarthy, for Kia Niro
She blew away the competition in that Super Bowl commercial. Had that not been around, Susan Lucci might have had a chance with her appearances in those Progressive Insurance soap opera spoofs.
She blew away the competition in that Super Bowl commercial. Had that not been around, Susan Lucci might have had a chance with her appearances in those Progressive Insurance soap opera spoofs.
BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES APPEARANCE IN A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
The cast of the musical adaptation of “A Christmas Story” dedicating the production to the first responders of the California wildfires.
BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES APPEARANCE IN SKITLANDIA
Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Ed Helms, Rob Corddry - Reunion of ‘The Daily Show’ cast on ‘Late Night With Stephen Colbert’ (S2 E145) And there was the added bonus of current ‘Daily Show’ host Trevor Noah in the opening sketch riffing on Baby Groot’s big scene in ‘The Guardians Of The Galaxy, Volume 2’.
Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Ed Helms, Rob Corddry - Reunion of ‘The Daily Show’ cast on ‘Late Night With Stephen Colbert’ (S2 E145) And there was the added bonus of current ‘Daily Show’ host Trevor Noah in the opening sketch riffing on Baby Groot’s big scene in ‘The Guardians Of The Galaxy, Volume 2’.
BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES CROSSOVER IN A COMMERCIAL
George Clooney and the Muppets in the Nespresso blipvert
BEST TELEVERSION
(SKITLANDIA - TIE)
Sean Spicer & Jeff Sessions, ‘Saturday Night Live’
SPECIAL CATEGORY
President Trump, ‘The President Show’
I don’t know whether this counts as Skitlandia, Doofus Toobworld, or what……
BEST CHARACTER RETURN
FBI Agent Dale Cooper, ‘Twin Peaks’
FBI Agent Dale Cooper, ‘Twin Peaks’
And we’re getting at least two other versions of Cooper, Dirty Cooper and Dougy Jones.
Honorary:
The Master, ‘Doctor Who’
I knew John Simm was coming back this season. I knew he was coming back in the two-part finale. Still wasn’t prepared and was caught off-guard by “Mr. Razor”. Well played, Mr. Simm, and kudos to the make-up department.
Skitlandia:
Sulu of ‘Star Trek’ played by Akira Yoshimura
The SNL production designer has played the helmsman four times since 1976, the last time in 1994. However, his return did highlight the fact that SNL has never had a cast member of Asian heritage.
The SNL production designer has played the helmsman four times since 1976, the last time in 1994. However, his return did highlight the fact that SNL has never had a cast member of Asian heritage.
Tooniverse:
Just A Bill from ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ on ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert’
O’Bservation:
I never considered the return of the First Doctor in ‘Doctor Who’, in case you were wondering. Since a recastaway was involved, it rendered him ineligible.
I never considered the return of the First Doctor in ‘Doctor Who’, in case you were wondering. Since a recastaway was involved, it rendered him ineligible.
BEST CHARACTER RETURN IN A CROSSOVER
Just A Bill from ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ on ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert’
BEST LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES RETURN
The former cast of ‘The Daily Show’ on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’
BEST ALIEN RETURN
The Mondasian Cybermen, ‘Doctor Who’
Upgrade them all you like. The originals are still the creepiest. I just wish at least one of them still had the speech inflections we heard from the very first one.
BEST NEW ALIEN VILLAIN
Zerstörer, ‘Grimm’
BEST NEW MALE VILLAIN
The Landlord, ‘Doctor Who’’
Of course, the fact that he was played by David Suchet played a large role in that, but he infused the Landlord with nuances which suggested an old man whose maturity was stunted because of the tragedy in his life. (Still, I would so love to have seen Suchet as Hercule Poirot with the Doctor.)
The Landlord, ‘Doctor Who’’
Of course, the fact that he was played by David Suchet played a large role in that, but he infused the Landlord with nuances which suggested an old man whose maturity was stunted because of the tragedy in his life. (Still, I would so love to have seen Suchet as Hercule Poirot with the Doctor.)
BEST HISTORICAL VILLAIN
Richard Topcliffe, ‘Will’
BEST NEW FEMALE VILLAIN
Lucia Morell, ‘Father Brown’
She was so vile, you might find yourself actually cheering her demise.
PART FOUR
BEST EXIT FOR A CHARACTER
Lady Olenna Tyrell, ‘Game of Thrones’
What a classy exit for the Queen of Thorns! And Dame Diana Rigg deserved nothing less. Besides, we got to see her grisly demise as Mrs. Gillyflower in an episode of ‘Doctor Who’ so that was enough.
BEST DEATH SCENE
Eobard Thawne, ‘Legends Of Tomorrow’
SADDEST DEATH SCENE
Martin Stein, ‘Legends of Tomorrow’
WORST (GRISLIEST) DEATH SCENE
Detective Hank Griffin, ‘Grimm’
Thanks to the cosmic reset button, it was undone. But even so, I didn’t know that going in.
MOST SURPRISING DEATH SCENE
Alex Kirkman, ‘Designated Survivor’
Did not see that coming!
Thanks to the cosmic reset button, it was undone. But even so, I didn’t know that going in.
MOST SURPRISING DEATH SCENE
Alex Kirkman, ‘Designated Survivor’
Did not see that coming!
FUNNIEST DEATH SCENE
Margaret Henderson, ‘Trial & Error’
Death by Owl with an all-too-brief appearance by Andie MacDowell as Margaret.
FIRST MAJOR TV CHARACTER TO DIE
Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, ‘EastEnders’
It feels as though the British soaps are always the first to kill off a major character every year. But I don’t think anybody epected it to be a two-fer.
It feels as though the British soaps are always the first to kill off a major character every year. But I don’t think anybody epected it to be a two-fer.
MOST DESERVING TO DIE
Eobard Thawne, ‘Legends Of Tomorrow’
BEST NEW CHARACTER NAME
Zerstörer, ‘Grimm’
WORST NEW CHARACTER NAME
Captain Ed Mercer, ‘The Orville’
It just lies there. Does nothing for me.
BEST NEW ALIAS
Miss Quill, ‘Class’
The real name for the Rhodrian Andra’ath
The real name for the Rhodrian Andra’ath
BEST DISGUISE
Mr. Razor, ‘Doctor Who’
It was masterful!
WORST ZONK [VISUAL]
The Mayor of New York City, ‘Mozart In The Jungle’
Danny Glover is a great actor, and I thought he was great in the role. However, there are three TV series which have established Bill De Blasio as the current NYC mayor in Earth Prime-Time, in keeping with Earth Prime. I love this show and don’t want to lose it from the main Toobworld. So it looks like quantum leaping will be called into play to splain it all away.
BEST MOVIE REFERENCE
The call-back to “Empire Strikes Back” during ‘Late Night with Stephen Colbert’ while talking to Just A Bill.
BEST LINE
"The things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful." - Ben Platt, The Tony Awards
“The stars turn, and a time presents itself.” - Margaret the Log Lady, ‘Twin Peaks’
“You got that right, Kid Show Thing.” - Mark Wahlberg, AT&T commercial
“I have something to say here. Donald Trump, if you’re watching: First of all, you’re a bad President. Please resign.” - Steven Colbert, ‘Late Night With Steven Colbert’
BEST EXCHANGE OF DIALOGUE
Nardole:
Why is she here?
The Doctor:
Because she isn’t anywhere else.
‘Doctor Who’
BEST SPEECH/MONOLOGUE
DRAMA
‘Doctor Who’ and Peter Capaldi gave it everything he had.
“Winning? Is that what you think it’s about? I’m not trying to win. I’m not doing this because I want to beat someone … or because I hate someone or because I want to blame someone. It’s not because it’s fun. God knows it’s not because it’s easy. It’s not even because it works because it hardly ever does. I do what I do because it’s right! Because it’s decent. And above all, it’s kind. It’s just that. Just kind. If I run away today, good people will die. If I stand and fight, some of them might live … maybe not many, maybe not for long. Hey, maybe there’s no point in any of this at all, but it’s the best I can do, and I will stand here doing it until it kills me. You’re going to die, too, someday. When will that be? Have you thought about it? What would you die for? Who I am is where I stand. Where I stand is where I fall.”
COMEDY
I give you Jim ‘Brockmire’, calling his last Major League Baseball game in 2007:
“You know, folks, the great Vin Scully once told me that the only way to call a baseball game is to keep your eyes open and to tell the truth. As Ibanez swings and misses at a fastball, 0 and 1.
“You know, folks, the great Vin Scully once told me that the only way to call a baseball game is to keep your eyes open and to tell the truth. As Ibanez swings and misses at a fastball, 0 and 1.
Folks, here's the truth: Today is the 20th anniversary of the very first time that I told my lovely wife Lucy that I loved her. And ever since that day, as many of you know, I've signed off every single game the exact same way, with a message to her. Lucy, put supper on the stove, my dear, because this ball game is over, as Pedro delivers a slider into the dirt. Count even, 1 and 1.
Any-hoos, I had some time at the ball park this afternoon to reflect upon this wonderful anniversary as Ibanez slashes one foul into the right side. And I decided to go on home and surprise my wife Lucy with some gardenias. They're her favorite flower…..
Please imagine my surprise when I opened my front door to find about a half-dozen naked folks sprawled out in my living room, engaged in what can only be described as a desperate and a hungry account of a love-making, and right in the center of it all was my wi-# My wife, Lucy. She was wearing a strap-on, and she was plowing our neighbor, Bob Greenwald, and folks, I do mean right in the ass. Fastball misses. Just low. Count goes full 3 and 2.
Hey, for you kids at home, a strap-on is a belt with a dildo on it that mommies use to penetrate daddies as Ibanez strikes out on a high fastball. That'll bring Clark up to bat. Clark having himself a heck of an afternoon with two doubles. Bob Greenwald. Bob Greenwald! I mean, that two-faced S.O.B.! I hosted his kid's Bar Mitzvah. I hosted his kid's Bar Mitzvah!
Here's the kicker. Here's what kills me. My wife Lucy has the stones, she has the unmitigated gall to turn to me and tell me that she is a sexual astronaut. I mean, what is that? What does that even mean? I mean, granted, Bob Greenwald's ass might be as big as the goddamn moon. That does not mean that my wife has been to outer space, okay? And that is a deep fly ball to right center field. - That one is way back there! That's either out of here or lost inside my wife's big, fat, cheating vagina!”
[‘Brockmire’]
[‘Brockmire’]
BEST ZONK LINE
"Hey, Wally, can you reverse the polarity on the neutron flow?" - Cisco, ‘The Flash’
To many, that will just be a shout-out to ‘Doctor Who’ - Jon Pertwee is famous for saying that quite often during his tenure as the Third Incarnation of the Doctor. But it is O’Bviously something that can actually be done because Cisco didn’t say it as a joke - Cisco doesn’t joke around when it comes to his techno-babble. And Wally agreed to do it, so he understood what needed to be done. (What makes a Zonk good is the ability to splain it away.)
BEST ZONK DIALOGUE
QUILL: Look at you all. The cream of the crop. High achievers. No wonder this country only exports ‘Downton Abbey’.
APRIL: I like ‘Downton Abbey’.
TANYA: Of course you like it. It's a bunch of white people being nice to each other.
RAM: You'd watch it if Idris Elba were in it.
(‘Class’)
"Hey, Wally, can you reverse the polarity on the neutron flow?" - Cisco, ‘The Flash’
To many, that will just be a shout-out to ‘Doctor Who’ - Jon Pertwee is famous for saying that quite often during his tenure as the Third Incarnation of the Doctor. But it is O’Bviously something that can actually be done because Cisco didn’t say it as a joke - Cisco doesn’t joke around when it comes to his techno-babble. And Wally agreed to do it, so he understood what needed to be done. (What makes a Zonk good is the ability to splain it away.)
BEST ZONK DIALOGUE
QUILL: Look at you all. The cream of the crop. High achievers. No wonder this country only exports ‘Downton Abbey’.
APRIL: I like ‘Downton Abbey’.
TANYA: Of course you like it. It's a bunch of white people being nice to each other.
RAM: You'd watch it if Idris Elba were in it.
(‘Class’)
The reason I chose that is because mentions of ‘Downton Abbey’ are Zonk-proof. It’s a TV show based on historical fact. We see the actual events, while those in Toobworld see a recreation (which featured Freddie Thornhill in one episode.)
WORST ZONK DIALOGUE
And from the same episode:
QUILL: No, wait. Wait. You can't seriously expect these juveniles to deal with whatever is going to come through these tears in space and time?
RAM: Through the what?
APRIL: It's like the Hellmouth.
TANYA: Or that town in ‘Once Upon A Time’.
CHARLIE: Or ‘The Vampire Diaries’.
RAM: You watch ‘Vampire Diaries’?
CHARLIE: Everyone is very attractive.
RAM: Yes, it's true.
(‘Class’)
This dialogue tries to have it both ways. The mention of the Hellmouth has no attribution with it, so we can assume April is referring to an actual Hellmouth. Because she calls it “The Hellmouth” it could be the one from Sunnydale, California, which would probably be widely publicized by now. Or it could be a new one perhaps only recently exposed and maybe even located somewhere in Great Britain. But then they have to go ruin things by dragging Storybrooke into it. I pretty much had that worked out with regards to all the recastaways so that ‘Once Upon A Time’ could exist in the main Toobworld, but they had to refer to the title. Why couldn’t they just say Storybrooke and leave it at that? (No worries on ‘The Vampire Diaries’ - that’s to be found in Nosferatoob and not the main Toobworld.)
BEST NEW COINED WORDS
“Repultrigued” - a combination of “repulsed” and “intrigued” (from “The Climb”)
“I'm telling you, we are living in the age of repultrigue.”
And from the same episode:
QUILL: No, wait. Wait. You can't seriously expect these juveniles to deal with whatever is going to come through these tears in space and time?
RAM: Through the what?
APRIL: It's like the Hellmouth.
TANYA: Or that town in ‘Once Upon A Time’.
CHARLIE: Or ‘The Vampire Diaries’.
RAM: You watch ‘Vampire Diaries’?
CHARLIE: Everyone is very attractive.
RAM: Yes, it's true.
(‘Class’)
This dialogue tries to have it both ways. The mention of the Hellmouth has no attribution with it, so we can assume April is referring to an actual Hellmouth. Because she calls it “The Hellmouth” it could be the one from Sunnydale, California, which would probably be widely publicized by now. Or it could be a new one perhaps only recently exposed and maybe even located somewhere in Great Britain. But then they have to go ruin things by dragging Storybrooke into it. I pretty much had that worked out with regards to all the recastaways so that ‘Once Upon A Time’ could exist in the main Toobworld, but they had to refer to the title. Why couldn’t they just say Storybrooke and leave it at that? (No worries on ‘The Vampire Diaries’ - that’s to be found in Nosferatoob and not the main Toobworld.)
BEST NEW COINED WORDS
“Repultrigued” - a combination of “repulsed” and “intrigued” (from “The Climb”)
“I'm telling you, we are living in the age of repultrigue.”
BEST NEW PHRASE
“Bunghole in Time” (from ‘Class’)
BEST MUSICAL EPISODE
“Duet” episode of ‘The Flash’
“Bunghole in Time” (from ‘Class’)
BEST MUSICAL EPISODE
“Duet” episode of ‘The Flash’
BEST MUSICAL MOMENT
‘Madam Secretary’ - Using the opening number from “Company”
BEST DREAM SEQUENCE
‘The Flash’ - “Duet”
Flash and Supergirl were trapped in a dream dimension by the Music Meister, who seems to be a combination of Sweet the Demon and the Dream Lord.
BEST NEW TOOBWORLD LOCATION
World
USA
‘Midnight, Texas’
BEST NEW ALIEN LOCATION
The Other Side, ‘Grimm’
BEST NEW ALTERNATE TV DIMENSION
‘The Orville’
I’d love to keep this in the main Toobworld, but unfortunately it’s set in the same time period as ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Babylon 5’.
I’d love to keep this in the main Toobworld, but unfortunately it’s set in the same time period as ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Babylon 5’.
BEST NEW FICTIONAL COUNTRY
BEST MAKE-UP
The Kinoshobe, ‘Grimm’|
BEST FIGHT SCENE/BEST ACTION SEQUENCE
“Crisis on Earth X” (in the ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ finale)
BEST NEW FICTIONAL BOOK
“Killing My Career” by Bill O’Reilly
(‘The Late Show with Steven Colbert’)
Couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy. And no reason to feel sorry for him - Bleeper got 25 million dollars in severance.
BEST NEW FICTIONAL MOVIE
“They All Were Witnesses” - a mockumentary from ‘9JKL’
BEST NEW FICTIONAL TV SHOW
‘The Breakdown’ on MMN, as seen in ‘Great News’
BEST NEW FICTIONAL SONG
“It's called "Happy Toes," and it was written during World War I by Cornelius "Eight Fingers" Gimble.” - Sam Dresden, ‘You’re The Worst’
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
DOMESTIC
‘The Father Dowling Mysteries’
IMPORTED
‘The Doctor Blake Mysteries’
BEST/WORST ADAPTATION FROM ANOTHER UNIVERSE (aka MEDIUM)
“A Christmas Story”
This would have been better had it not been a musical.
This would have been better had it not been a musical.
BEST MOVIE THAT SHOULD BE A TV SHOW
BEST BOOK THAT SHOULD BE A TV SHOW
The Sheriff Dan Rhodes series of books by Bill Crider
I read my first one last summer - “Survivors Will Be Shot Again” and have two more from the series after that. They appear to be easy-going in nature and my only fear is that they would be hyped up for ratings. But there are plenty of niche networks where the pace would fit in.
I read my first one last summer - “Survivors Will Be Shot Again” and have two more from the series after that. They appear to be easy-going in nature and my only fear is that they would be hyped up for ratings. But there are plenty of niche networks where the pace would fit in.
PART FIVE
So without further ado, let's have at it:
BEST REALITY MOMENT
The mix-up of envelopes at the Oscars. “La La Land” was announced as the winner, but “Moonlight” actually won.
MOST EXCITING REALITY PROGRAM
The LI Super Bowl between NE Patriots & Atlanta Falcons
Patriots won in dramatic overtime come from behind victory, baby!
BEST BINGE-WATCHING EXPERIENCE
COMEDY
‘Mozart In The Jungle’ Season Three (Domestic)
DRAMA
‘Stranger Things 2’
WORST TV EXPERIENCE
Trump’s response to the Charlottesville debacle
WORST PRODUCT PLACEMENT
Microsoft Surface as seen in the “Stretched” extended scenes connected to ‘The Flash’
BEST CRITIQUE BY AN ONLINE COMMENTER
PROFESSIONAL
And then there’s Peter Capaldi. That speech! That grand speech he gives to the two Masters! If that doesn’t deserve to go viral, then I don’t know what does. That’s the speech we need for today, delivered with passion and vulnerability in the same episode that dares to name Donald Trump an inevitability. Throughout this entire episode he’s regenerating, and Capaldi makes us feel it in every line, every gesture, every step he takes. I do not know how he can possibly top his performance here at Christmas, but damn I hope he gives it everything, assuming he’s got more to give. Of course he does — the man’s been a revelation. I dig Tennant. I groove on Smith. I love Peter Capaldi. He has without a doubt been my Doctor for this new incarnation of Doctor Who that’s wrapping up its tenth season, and we have been nothing short of fortunate to have been blessed with his talents.
- Ross Ruedigger, Vulture
- Ross Ruedigger, Vulture
MY BEST O'BSERVATION OF A TV SERIES
This is the first show I'm watching - so far as I know - in which the actors playing high school students are already a quarter century old. Not for me shows like '90210' which did the same thing.
Once they lost me on that believability, it was hard to then accept the rest of their premise.
The need to have actors skilled enough to handle the material clashed with their stubbornness in keeping this DW-connected via Coal Hill Academy. If they made these young people students at St. Cedd's, both needs could have been reconciled.
Aside from that, it's bogged down by its need to drench the show in teen angst. I've seen comparisons to the Scoobies, but no matter how dark it got, 'Buffy' kept a light tone.
The basic concept - I like. Miss Quill has potential. And the reasons to keep them together were well-planned. But it lacks too much to make it appointment toobing.....
BEST CONTRIBUTION TO TOOBWORLD
HONORARY MENTION
Norman Stanton, ‘Grimm’
Even with the series heading to its conclusion in a shortened season, they still found the time to tell a story that is affecting more of my friends and family every day - even if we’re not Wesen. And elderly shape-changer suffering from Alzheimer’s (and thus becoming a danger to himself and others) was given a painless coup de grace from the Wesen version of Dr. Kevorkian.
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