Sunday, December 25, 2022

THE TVXOHOF CHRISTMAS HONORS LIST - EARTHA KITT


I apologize.  I was sick for Christmas, and just couldn’t work up the energy to do the annual Christmas Honors induction into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.

I don’t want to waste any more time excoriating myself for being late so… ON WITH THE SHOW, THIS IS IT!

EARTHA KITT

Ms. Kitt is represented in the Hall of Fame already, but as an actress.  I conflated three of her characters into one when we did the superhero theme year.  But this time she is entering as a member of the League of Themselves.  And you should all know the reason why Ms. Kitt was chosen as the Christmas honoree….


Here are the shows which qualified Ms. Kitt for membership:

HOLLYWOOD SQUARES
(1966-68)
36 episodes






THE NANNY
A PUP IN PARIS
(1996)

At a nightclub in Paris, Broadway producer Maxwell Sheffield and Fran Fine, his children’s nanny, saw a performance by Eartha Kitt. The song she sang she performed was “C'est si bon” (Music by Henri Betti, Lyrics by André Hornez.)

O’Bservation – At one point, Fran referred to Eartha Kitt as Catwoman, the character she portrayed in the 1966 series ‘Batman’.  This is NOT a Zonk, as the exploits of the Dynamic Duo in Toobworld would be a natural draw for the interest of TV producers.  Eartha Kitt was cast because of her resemblance to the cat burglar Tina “Angel” Mara who took on the persona of the Catwoman when the original one died (and before she was replaced by the goddess Bastet.)

JEOPARDY!
(1996)

O'Bservation - Ms. Kitt appeared appeared as a celebrity contestant.


OZ
MEDIUM RARE
(2001)

O’Bservations - "Up Your Ante," a game show, was one of the TV shows watched by the prisoners.  It was hosted by Gordon Elliott, with Don Pardo as his announcer, Eartha Kitt as the resident celebrity champ and John Carpenter looking to dethrone her.  At least, I think that was the game plan.

When she was introduced, Eartha Kitt was described as "Purrrfect."  As mentioned earlier, this reference to ‘Batman’ is not a Zonk!

Here is the transcript of her appearance, at least as much as we saw.



DON PARDO:
Live, from Burbank Studios in Burbank, California, it's time to play "Up Your Ante." And here's your host, Gordon Elliot.
ELLIOT:
Hello, and welcome to "Up Your Ante." And let's meet our first contestant tonight, Mr. John Carpenter. Now let's meet our star. Joining us this evening, the lovely, the divine, the purr-fect Miss Eartha Kitt.  Eartha, thank you so much for being here. The category is "Style and Fashion", take a look at this photograph. Can you tell me what kind of beard this man is wearing?
Carpenter:
I think I need a hint.
Elliot:
Eartha?
Kitt:
Well, I can give you a hint: It can also be called a "Rob Petrie."
Elliot:
Oh.
Carpenter:
"Rob Petrie?"


The prisoners thought they had the answer....

Morales:
Come on, just say it, just say, 'goatee.'
Beecher:
He could say goatee, but he'd be wrong.
Busmalis:
That's not a goatee?
Beecher:
Van Dyke.
Hoyt:
Van Dyke?
Beecher:
"Rob Petrie?" You get it?
Hoyt:
No. Who's Rob Petrie?


HOLLYWOOD SQUARES
October 06-10, 2003

Ms. Kitt was a multidimensional.  She appeared as herself in several alternate Toobworlds - the Tooniverse, Skitlandia, and the interface Borderland.

First up, the Tooniverse....





THE SIMPSONS
ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPRINGFIELD
(2010)

O’Bservation - Eartha Kitt recorded her lines shortly before her death in 2008, more than a year before the episode aired.

And she was portrayed by T'Keyah Crystal Keymah in Skitlandia....


IN LIVING COLOR
(She's seen here having coughed up a hairball, yet another 'Batman' reference.)

And finally, that Borderland....



SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST
BATMANTIS

O'Bservation -
This might not actually be a separate dimension, but just a way for the people of Earth Prime-Time to converse with the citizens of the Tooniverse.  So Ms. Kitt was interviewed by the space superhero, Space Ghost.

Welcome to the Hall, Ms. Kitt.

Thank you for the sexiest Christmas song!





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