AS SEEN ON TV: COLONEL KAPPLER

Continuing with the showcase of historical figures from the 1983 TV movie "The Scarlet And The Black", today's "As Seen On TV" spotlights Colonel Herbert Kappler, the Gestapo SS officer in charge of security during the occupation of Rome in 1943 until the end of the war. Once Kappler was imprisoned after the war ended, his only visitor was Msgr. O'Flaherty, his opponent regarding the search for escaped prisoners of war. Msgr. O'Flaherty visited once a month, every month, and by 1959 he baptized Colonel Kappler into the Catholic faith.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

YES, THE MINISTER IS GOING DUTCH

Because of the eventual turn of events within 'Yes, Minister' - to the point where the show was re-titled as 'Yes, Prime Minister' - I've always thought that perhaps the series should be located within the same alternate TV dimension as our own 'Spin City', perhaps even sharing the same world as our 'Hail To The Chief' and 'Mr. President'.

The format of the show has been sold to Turkey, India, and now to The Netherlands, where the main character - the power behind the throne, so to speak - has been refashioned to be a woman. And there will be a Moroccan assistant private secretary as a character as well.

"The themes that form the basis of the series are still very much relevant: Bureaucratic red tape, political deal-making and the closed ranks in the civil service." said Pita de Leeuw, head of drama production at Dutch broadcaster VPRO.

The idea that the theme of the original series is being repeated around the world is nothing new in greater Toobworld. There are several versions of 'The Office' being produced globally, and the same is true for the 'Ugly Betty' format. We can go back to 'All In The Family' taking 'Til Death Us Do Part' as its inspiration, probably even further.

There's no way I could keep track of the dramatic series produced in Holland, India, or Turkey, so I don't know whether the leaders of their respective countries are referenced in any of their other programs. (This is usually the standard I use as to whether or not an American series can remain in Earth Prime-Time.) So I'm just going to assume that these other versions of 'Yes, Minister' will exist in the same alt. Toobworld as the original.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

FOR GOD AND CETI

A question for the writers of 'Supernatural' and 'Reaper', and any other show that delves into the lore of angels:

Even if it's not seen on the screen, do they consider there to be life on other planets? Does the Heavenly Host take any interest in the intelligent life on those other worlds?

This week, 'Supernatural' seemed to suggest that God isn't even paying attention any more to the grand scheme of things on Earth. Could He have moved on to a new plaything, say the planet of Ork or Melmac, and has tossed aside our 'Big Blue Marble'?

It's certainly not like the Vatican isn't ready for the revelation that there are other intelligent life forms out there. Last year, Vatican chief astronomer Father Jose Gabriel Funes was interviewed by the L'Osservatore Romano newspaper in which he said there is a certain possibility of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, and that such a possibility "doesn't contradict our faith."

"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere? Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'?
It would still be part of creation," he said.

So, even though horror and science fiction rarely mix, maybe 'Reaper' and 'Supernatural' should remember that God's not going to be so focused on just the Earth or its billions of souls....

Just sayin', is all....

BCnU!
Toby O'B

THE HAT SQUAD: JADE GOODY

Jade Goody, the controversial reality TV star who brought her terminal cancer battle before the cameras, has died in the United Kingdom at the age of 27.

After gaining her initial fame as a member of the 'Big Brother' (UK) house in its third series (I believe she made it to the Final Four), Jade created a wildstorm of negative publicity over her racist feud with a Bollywood actress while they were competing in 'Celebrity Big Brother'. Jade later apologized and appeared on the Indian version of 'Big Brother' ('Bigg Boss') to make amends.

It was there - on camera - that she learned that she had cervical cancer.

Returning home, Jade Goody decided to make her battle a public one, and used her notoriety to spread the word about the disease in order to help others. At the same time, she parlayed these appearances to make enough money to provide for her two small boys after she passed away.

Even her wedding in her final months became fodder for the reality TV cameras.......

Among her most prominent appearances on television are:

"Bigg Boss" (2008)

"You Can't Fire Me, I'm Famous" (2007)

"Celebrity Big Brother" (2007)

"Jade's P.A." (2006)

"Just Jade"(2006)

"The Weakest Link"
- Celebrity Reality TV Special (2006)

"Stars in Their Eyes"
- 2006 Celebrity Special 1 (2006)

"Big Brother's Efourum"(2 episodes, 2005-2006)

"Jade's Salon" (2005)

Death of Celebrity (2005)

UK Radio Aid (2005)

I'll Do Anything to Get on TV (2005)

"Big Brother Panto" (2004)

"Hell's Kitchen"(2004)

"Back to Reality"(2004)

2003 TV Moments (2004)

"Liquid News" (7 January 2004)

"Astounding Celebrities"

"Wife Swap"
- Celebrity Wife Swap (2003)

"Tabloid Tales" (2003)

"Boys and Girls"

"Celebrity Driving School" (2003)

The New Jade Dance Workout (2003) (V)

"Big Brother" (2002/Series III)

She made her first appearance on TV in 1988, when she was just a child, in an episode of 'London's Burning'.

Plus, there were the many talk show appearances with Ant and Dec, Richard and Judy, Anne Robinson, Graham Norton, Paul O'Grady, Kelly Osbourne, Davina McCall, and many others.In the end, for all of her outrageous behavior, Jade's influence on young women across Great Britain to get tested for cervical cancer was phenomenal. Doctors referred to it as "the Jade Goody Effect", and Prime Minister Gordon Brown even lauded her for her efforts.

Her life - born of drug-addicted parents; the father gone early from her life; the mother losing an eye and a limb due to a motorcycle accident; a relationship with a famous TV presenter that produced her two sons; the reality shows; the racism charge; the cancer; and marriage a month before her death to a man who once beat a teenager with a golf club - is surely material for a TV mini-series; a TV movie at least.

And it would bring her life full circle in front of the camera - from a reality TV star to a tele-version of herself in Toobworld.

I never saw anything that Jade Goody did, but she still deserved my respects for what she accomplished by the end.

BCnU.....
Toby O'B

THE HAT SQUAD: BETSY BLAIR

Betsy Blair, once nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "Marty" and once married to Gene Kelly, before moving to London because of the Hollywood blacklist, has died at the age of 85. This picture is from a movie she made that was based on the story of Othello ("All Night Long"). But it has Patrick McGoohan in it as well (as the Iago-like character), so I'm running it as an example of the connections that run through the obituary tally each year. (McGoohan passed away back in January.)

After moving to London, Ms. Blair continued to act even as she gained her degree to become a speech therapist. Eventually she came back to America on occasion to create more characters for Toobworld.

Good night, and may God bless....

TV MINI-SERIES

"Scarlett" (1994) .... Sister of Mercy

TV SEQUELS

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair (1988) .... Grace Simpson

TV MOVIES

Suspicion (1987) .... Lady McLaidlaw

GUEST-STARRING ROLES
"thirtysomething" .... Marjorie Warren

- Payment Due (1989)

- No Promises (1989)

"Tales of the Unexpected" .... Mrs. Wilbur

- Vengeance Is Mine Inc. (1980)

"BBC Play of the Month"

- The Wings of the Dove (1979) .... Susan Stringham

- Summer and Smoke (1972) .... Mrs. Winemiller

- Death of a Salesman (1966) .... Linda

"Shades of Greene" .... Bobbie

- The Blue Film (1975)

"ITV Play of the Week"

- Come Back Little Sheba (1965)

"ITV Television Playhouse"

- The Ponyman (1958)

"Goodyear Television Playhouse"

- A Will to Live (1957)

Othello (1955) .... Bianca

"The Ford Theatre Hour"

- The Married Look (1950)

"Kraft Television Theatre"

- The Luck of Guldeford (1950)

"The Philco Television Playhouse"

- The Charmed Circle (1950)

BCnU.....

Toby O'B

AS SEEN ON TV: MONSIGNOR HUGH O'FLAHERTY

Since we tapped into "The Scarlet And The Black" for yesterday's "As Seen On TV", we might as well continue in that vein...... This is Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, who became known as "the Pimpernel of the Vatican". He was the leading force behind a scheme to smuggle out of Rome over 4,000 Allied POWs who escaped from the Nazis.

In order to do so, the Irish priest eventually had to adopt disguises to elude the Nazis himself, as there was a standing order to capture him should he step out of the diplomatic safety of the Vatican territory. This order finally became one of assassination, no matter where the chance arose. Among his disguises were a cart-pusher, a Gestapo SS officer, a nun (top row), a street-sweeper, a one-eyed peddler, and a mailman (bottom row).

BCnU!
Toby O'B

SEE KING TUT? NO, SEEKING TUTT.....

I'll have to check at the Paley Center for Media to see if they have a copy of that 'Colgate Theatre' episode. It sounded like something I'd enjoy....

Based on a character created by Arthur Cheney Train and written by Ellis Marcus and Harold Swanton, "Strange Counsel" was a pilot for a proposed series starring Walter Brennan as lawyer Ephraim Tutt. Mr. Tutt was probably the 'Matlock' of his day, with 'Hawkins On Murder' as an intermediate series about crafty old lawyers.

In "Strange Counsel", Tutt's client was a young woman who believed that somebody had tampered with her late grandfather's will. Vera Miles played the client.

'Colgate Theatre' burned off the pilot by broadcasting it on September 10, 1958.

Now I'm in the mood for some city slicker Walter Brennan.... If the Paley Center doesn't have that episode, maybe they'll have something from 'The Tycoon' or even 'To Rome, With Love'.....

BCnU!
Toby O'B

AS SEEN ON TV: POPE PIUS XII

Another Lenten Sunday, and so I thought it would be appropriate to showcase another of the Church's Holy Fathers.....

This week, we have Pope Pius XII, "As Seen On TV" in a TV movie from 1983 called "The Scarlet And The Black". The movie starred Gregory Peck as Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty and Christopher Plummer as SS Colonel Herbert Kappler. And co-starring as Pius is Sir John Gielgud.
I wish I had the photo of my father standing next to the real Pius XII, just to make the comparison... and to show off, of course.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

BRACKEN'S TOOBWORLD

Here's another theory of "relateeveety" that's a bit easier to sell.....


For the first season of 'Bracke's World' (something of a prime time soap opera about the people who worked - and loved - at the Century movie studio), we never saw John Bracken, the absolute ruler of the studio. (We did get to hear his voice however, via speakerphone and intercom, and it was provided by Warren Stephens.) By the second season, we finally got to see John Bracken, but he was played by Leslie Nielsen.

The Toobworld reasoning for the vocal recasting? Bracken's voice was distorted by the audio technology of the day.


Around the same time, both in real time and in the Toobworld timeline, the IMF was working to expose a major drug ring in a 'Mission: Impossible' episode entitled "Flip Side". One of the major players was Mel Bracken, a record producer who was also the major supplier for the drug ring in Los Angeles.

It's the contention of Toobworld Central that Mel was probably the nephew of John Bracken, who got him a job in the music industry by pulling a few strings. But no amount of influence was going to save Mel from the IMF!

BCnU!
Toby O'B

THE NATE NATE SHOW

When "The Bounty Hunter" Josh Randall was introduced to the real world in an episode of 'Trackdown', he was hunting for an outlaw named Nate Phillips (played by George N. Neise).

More than half a century later in the Toobworld timeline, George Weiss played a Nate Phillips in an unsold pilot that was burned off as an episode of 'Colgate Theatre'. "Strange Counsel" (AKA "Mr. Tutt") was based on a series of stories about Ephraim Tutt, a country lawyer working in Manhattan (although his tele-version worked out of a small upstate New York town.)

I suppose it's a common enough name to be duplicated in families without connections to each other. I have such a name (There were three of us in my homeroom!), which is why I go by my initials, making me "Toby".

But this being Toobworld, where the wildest of coincidences are commonplace, I'd like to think that the outlaw Nate Phillips out West could have been either the grandfather or grand-uncle of the Nate Phillips back East.

And who's to say tain't so?

BCnU!
Toby O'B