TOOBWORLD'S 4TH ANNIVERSARY CLIP SHOW

I'm just back from vacation and all day long I kept thinking there was something about the 24th of August that was of import. I just couldn't remember what that was.

And then I visited my blogging buddy Mercurie's "A Shroud of Thoughts" (link to the left, comrades!) and as he celebrates his 1,000th post, it suddenly struck me - August 24th, 2004 was the debut of "Inner Toob", the blog version of my old "Tubeworld Dynamic" website celebrating the alternate reality of the TV Universe.

So here's my first post about Toobworld (although not the inaugural post):

http://toobworld.blogspot.com/2004/08/toobs-world-is-toobworld.html

And here's a re-working (from August 25th, 2004) of my TwD intro to "splain" the method to my madness:

http://toobworld.blogspot.com/2004/08/born-to-re-run.html

BCnU!
Toby O'B

PS
By the way, you can blame the Little Buddy, Sean, for this being inflicted upon you......

BRAITHWAITE'S FOR NO PULLMAN

Gaaagh. That pun was exceptionally painful!

The concept of "identical cousins" from 'The Patty Duke Show' has come in handy all through Toobworld in splainin' away how so many characters can look alike and yet not have similar names. (O'Bviously the concept of casting the same actor over and over again can't enter into it!)

Now that I'm back from vacation, I'm catching up on those shows I couldn't watch from my holiday haven. And that includes 'New Tricks', the police procedural from England which has been airing since 2003. In charge of these older cops working on cold cases is Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman. And she's the spitting image of several other British women in Toobworld: Viv Meadows ('To Have And To Hold'), Janet Deasey ('Demob'), Debbie Ryan ('Hope & Glory'), and Alison Braithwaite ('At Home With The Braithwaites').

It's Mrs. Braithwaite on whom we'll be focusing.

It could be that Alison and Sandra are cousins with different family surnames. (I'm not sure what Alison's maiden name is; something about the name of the trust she established with her lottery winnings makes me think it could be Crowther.)

What's interesting about this pozz'bility (as Mushrat might say) is that if they are related, then during the investigation into the GS "Bank Robbery", Sandra might have mentioned one of Alison's in-laws. In discussing the case from 1987, she brought up the chief investigating detective on the case, DCI Braithwaite. (We never got to see him during the "Bank Robbery" episode because he died since the case faded into the cold case file.)

By the way, I don't know if we ever saw Alison's upper left arm during 'At Home With The Braithwaites', but we did see Sandra's in that episode "Bank Robbery". When the actress Amanda Redman was almost two years old, she scalded herself by pulling a pot off the stove which accounts for that horrible scarring. Not every character she plays has to be considered as having that scarred tissue, so long as we don't see it.
It would be like Peter Falk and his glass eye - Lt. Columbo has one now in his later years, thanks to a tossed-off comment in the 25th anniversary movie. But his portrayal of lawyer Daniel J. O'Brien might as well have had two real eyes in 'The Trials Of O'Brien' for all that they were mentioned on the show.

But if it has been visible in her many other series, it raises a question as to how so many women in Toobworld who look exactly alike could have the same scar?

I'm not ready to tackle that one and I'm open to hear of any pozz'ble theories......

BCnU!
Toby O'B

TO CATCH A PHRASE

When 'Extras' returned for its second season, over a year had passed since Andy Millman (Ricky Gervais) had sold the idea for his sitcom to the BBC. So even though the second season premiere aired in September of 2006 and dealt with the events leading up to the premiere of the show within a show, "When The Whistle Blows", it was showing us what had already taken place in Toobworld. (And probably at least half a year or more before the 'Extras' episode aired.)

If so, the catch-phrase "Are you havin' a laugh?" was probably already becoming part of the pop culture scene in England. This could be why Linda McIntyre used it while talking to Detective Gerry Standing in May of 2006 ('New Tricks' - "Bank Robbery").

Or it could just be a coincidence, and that phrase was more common than I expected; that Andy Millman was just cashing in on something already in public use.

What do I know?

BCnU!
Toby O'B

THE HAT SQUAD: ISAAC HAYES

While I was on vacation, Isaac Hayes died. He'll be best remembered overall as a musician, especially for the theme from "Shaft" for which he won an Oscar. I think it would have to rank up there as one of my top ten favorite songs; it really gets into my fingertips! (You know, for drumming on desktops.)

But he also acted in the movies, like in "I'm Gonna Get You, Suckah" and "Escape From New York".

It's for his Toobworld appearances, however, that we're saluting Hayes, however. For me, his best TV role was as Gandolph Fitch, the prison cellmate of Jim Rockford. As seen in three episodes of 'The Rockford Files', Gandy was always on the verge of breaking the "Rockfish" even as Jimbo tried to help him out. I think one of the episodes, in which he teamed up with a con artist friend of Rockford's whom he called Gabby, was probably intended to be a pilot for a series featuring the two characters. ("Gabby and Gandy.... sounds like a puppet show!")

But I know for most everybody else, it will be his voice as Chef on nearly 140 episodes of 'South Park' for which Isaac Hayes will be best remembered in Televsion. He also played Chef in the 'South Park' movie and in video games as well. However, the character was killed off - brutally! - when Hayes jumped ship and bad-mouthed the show because they finally attacked his "religion", Scientology. [Yes, that's right. I put the word "religion" in quotes.]
Here is the list of characters Isaac Hayes contributed to the citizenry of Toobworld:

RECURRING ROLES
"The Rockford Files" .... Gandolph Fitch

- Second Chance (1977)
- Just Another Polish Wedding (1977)

- The Hammer of C Block (1976)

"Stargate SG-1" .... Tolok
- 200 (2006) TV episode (voice) .... Teal'c PI Announcer
[Not having seen the episode, I can't say whether or not this could also have been Tolok.]

- Threads (2005)

- Reckoning: Part 2 (2005)

- Reckoning: Part 1 (2005)

"Girlfriends" .... Eugene Childs

- The Wedding (2003)

- Blood Is Thicker Than Liquor (2003)

"The Hughleys" .... The Man

- Miracle on 135th and Avalon (1999)

- Daddy's Going to Hell (1999)

GUEST ROLES

"Fastlane" .... Detective Marcus

- Pilot (2002)

"The Education of Max Bickford" .... 'Night Train' Raymond

- Save the Country (2002)

"Sliders" .... The Prime Oracle

- Obsession (1996)

"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" .... Minister

- The Wedding Show (Psyche!) (1995)

"Tales from the Crypt" .... Samuel
- Revenge Is the Nuts (1994)

"American Playhouse" .... Prophet

- Hallelujah (1993)

"Miami Vice" .... Holiday

- Child's Play (1987)

"Hunter" .... Jerome 'Typhoon' Thompson

- The Return of Typhoon Thompson (1986)

"The A-Team" .... C.J. Mack

- The Heart of Rock N' Roll (1985)

THE TOONIVERSE

"South Park" .... Chef (137 episodes, 1997-2006)

TV MOVIES
Anonymous Rex (2004) (TV) .... Elegant Man
Book of Days (2003) (TV) .... Jonah Parks
Soul Survivors (1995) (TV) .... Vernon Holland
Acting on Impulse (1993) (TV) .... Detective Stubbs

Hammer, Slammer, & Slade (1990) (TV) .... Hammer
[This sounds like a pilot movie.... And thanks to my buddy Hugh, I now know it was a spin-off from "I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka".]
Betrayed by Innocence (1986) (TV) .... Frank Moreno

THE LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES
Isaac Hayes links all of these shows together by appearing as the fictional televersion of himself:

"That '70s Show"

- Spread Your Wings (2006)

"The Bernie Mac Show"

- The Music Mac (2005)

"Veronica's Closet"

- Veronica's New Year (1999)

So long to the Hammer of C Block.....

BCnU.....
Toby O'B

I'LL TAKE MANHATTAN (MAGAZINE)

Just before I left for vacation, I caught an episode of 'Just Shoot Me' in which Jack Gallo was vying to get a higher placement on the Top 100 List in Magazine Publishing, to be featured in Manhattan Magazine. (Because of his wheeling and dealing, he ended up knocked off the list and replaced by his own photographer, Elliot DeMauro.)

Manhattan Magazine is not found only in 'Just Shoot Me' when it comes to Toobworld. The following series also featured the mag:

'My Sister Eileen'

'How To Marry A Millionaire'

and 'Studio One'. In their episode "The Laugh Maker", Art Carney played a writer for Manhattan Magazine who was sent out to Hollywood to profile a top TV comedian (played by Jackie Gleason).

So Manhattan Magazine can join the ranks of fictional TV publications that can link together enough shows to qualify for entry into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame. Among other magazines and newspapers would be Playpen, the NY Ledger, the L.A. Tribune, the L.A. Sun, and the National Inquisitor.

BCnU!
Toby O'Brien

TODAY'S TWD: HAIL, ZEMENIA!

In this past week's episode of 'Monk' ("Mr. Monk Falls In Love"), the murder victim turned out to be a notorious war criminal hiding out in America as a cab driver. He was known as "The Butcher of Zemenia", and was accused of ethnic cleansing atrocities in his homeland.

In Toobworld, the ethnic cleansing war crimes of the real world fall under the category of atrocities that were committed during the Eugenics Wars of the 1990s as established in 'Star Trek'. Whether the Butcher of Zemenia was one of these "supermen" is unknown; more likely, he was working for an enhanced human like Khan Noonian Singh.

Based on the dialect, the customs, and the clothing of those in the episode who were of Zemenian heritage, it's suggested that Zemenia was a Balkan state that probably was long under the domination of the Soviet Republic. But it could be that it was one of several small states that were joined together as the UCR, from an episode of 'Mission Impossible'.

It was never stated as to what "UCR" stood for in the show, but it could have been "United Communist Republics", a small off-shoot of the USSR.

Here are a few other nations that could have been part of such a confederation:

Argonia ("The Adventures Of Superman")

Boldavia ("Night Court")

Boravia ("Danger Man")

Drublegratz ("The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.")

Povia ("Mission: Impossible")

Tavilia ("The Amazing Spiderman")

There's always a possibility that Leyla Zlatavich might return in a future episode of 'Monk', even though it seemed as though her heart was hardened against Adrian by the end. If so, perhaps we might learn more about the land of Zemenia, and from there we could conjecture some more about what part it plays on Earth Prime-Time......

BCnU!
Toby O'B

TODAY'S TWD NEWS: REEGE FOR THE STARS!

In the second episode of the next season of 'How I Met Your Mother', Regis Philbin will be appearing as himself. Apparently, the gang runs into the talk show host at a NYC burger place that means a lot to Marshall.

Because of this League of Themselves appearance, Regis can now be the link between 'How I Met Your Mother' and the following shows in which he also appeared as himself, but in a fictional setting (unlike his many game show/talk show credits):

"All My Children"

"One Life to Live"

"Primetime Glick" - Regis Philbin/Russell Crowe

"The Famous Jett Jackson" - New York

"LateLine" - Pearce on Conan

"Caroline in the City" - Caroline and the Sandwich

"Style and Substance" - A Recipe for Disaster

"Second Noah" - Diving In

"Soul Man - Grabbed by an Angel

Marry Me (1997 TV movie)

"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" - I, Stank Hole in One

"Hope & Gloria" - Listen, Sister

"Women of the House" - Dear Diary

"The Cosby Mysteries" - Big Brother Is Watching

"The Larry Sanders Show" - Like No Business I Know

"Seinfeld" - The Opposite

[Now, it could also be that Reege was appearing as himself in the episode "The Chaperone", also from 1994. He did an uncredited voice-over as the Miss America Pageant announcer, but I think Regis himself would have taken that gig....]

"Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" - May I Ride with You

"Mad About You" - The Man Who Said Hello

[His wife Joy Philbin appeared with him also in that episode.]

"Number 96" - Chick Hits It Big

Regis also appeared as himself in other TV dimensions:

"Spin City"

- The Bone Collectors

- How to Bury a Millionaire

- Radio Daze

And in the Tooniverse, he connects these animated series:

"Lilo & Stitch: The Series" - Drowsy: Experiment #350

"The Simpsons"

- Old Yeller Belly

- Treehouse of Horror IX

[Actually, in "Treehouse of Horror IX, Regis appeared live action, but a vortex in space brought him into contact with characters from the Tooniverse.]

"Family Guy" - Family Guy Viewer Mail #1

I think Regis qualifies for the mega-induction special for next year's anniversary of the TV Crossover Hall of Fame!

BCnU!
Toby O'B

PS:
Note that picture with this post? I'm back at Toobworld Central, baby! No longer hobbled by dial-up! "Inner Toob" will resume with regular postings by tomorrow!

TODAY'S TWD: TOONING BUFFY

In a reverse from the 'Scooby Doo' story, plans for an animated version of 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' may be revived. Years ago there were scripts written for such a project, and it would have been a combination of humor and action but minus the angst from the live action series.

The actress who supplied Buffy's voice for the video games would be doing the same for the cartoon. But Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, and Anthony Stewart Head were ready to continue their roles in the Tooniverse.

It sounds like a project that the Cartoon Network should really chase after for its Adult Swim block, doesn't it?

If you want to see what the animated 'Buffy' would have looked like, check out this clip at YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnUvZP7-5LM

BCnU!
Toby O'B

TODAY'S TWD NEWS: MERLIN

The BBC will be making a new version of the Arthurian legend, but this time Merlin will be the same age as Arthur Pendragon. Merlin will be shown learning how to control his powers even as he helps Arthur to prepare for kingship.

Among the many actors to be in the production are John Hurt, Richard Wilson, and Michelle Ryan (but not as the 'Bionic Woman').

This tweaking of the established legend will place this new version of Merlin's story in an alternate dimension. I'm not sure which portrayal of Merlin should be considered canon in Toobworld, but I would think that since the mini-series starring Sam Neil would have the inside edge. Its coverage of Merlin's life was extensive and covered much of the material in the legends.

As for other portrayals of Merlin in episodes of TV shows, it could be said that the difference in his appearance from that of Sam Neil could be attributed to magic. If it's the whole legend that's portrayed in TV movies or mini-series, then most likely those versions are in alternate dimensions just like this new one.

When it comes to the many variations of Mark Twain's story about "The Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court", it could be said that each version begins on Earth Prime-Time (including those with Dyan Cannon and Keshia Knight Pulliam), but by traveling back in Time each "Connecticut Yankee" creates an alternate dimension.

And as poor a sitcom as 'Mr. Merlin' was, I see no problem with Barnard Hughes' portrayal of Max Merlin to be a VERY much older Merlin once played by Sam Neil......

BCnU!
Toby O'B

TODAY'S TWD NEWS: SCOOBY TOOB

Scooby Doo and his human co-horts riding the Mystery Machine are long-time residents of the Tooniverse. And they've been integral in linking many other animated series and bringing real-life celebrities to animated life.

The Scooby Gang also now exists in the movie universe as well, thanks to two movies starring Sarah Michelle Geller, Freddie Prinze, Linda Cardellini, and Matthew Lillard.

Those actors won't be involved in the next installment which will become part of Toobworld as a direct-to-TV/DVD movie to be shown on the Cartoon Network (even though it will be live action). Not that it matters, as this can stand alone as the representative for the TV Universe.

It's going to be a prequel called "Scooby Doo: In The Beginning" and will be about the Scooby Gang solving mysteries together for the first time (finding out who's been haunting their high school).

BCnU!
Toby O'B