CLASSIC CROSSOVER COMMERCIALS

My thanks to TV Series Finale for pointing out this Crossover Classic!

Maxwell Smart, Jed Clampett, (Willy) Gilligan, and Grandpa Munster are already in the TV Crossover Hall of Fame. June Cleaver and Eddie Haskell are eligible......

BCnU!

THREE TIMES THE HONOR

In the Wold Newton Universe, there were three Moriarty brothers and all of them named James. Hewing closer to "home," George Foreman has five children, all named George.

So the concept of several siblings sharing the same name is not without precedent, which is why Toobworld Central is proposing this theory of relateeveety.....

THE TRIPLETS FITZHARRIS

October 5, 1932
London

British barrister Sir Barnaby Fitzharris, Esq. (who may have been sharing chambers with a Horace Rumpole back then) and his wife Katherine became the parents of triplets - all girls and all identical. Unfortunately, Katherine died during childbirth. and so her husband decided to bestow variations on the name "Katherine" to their baby girls in memory of his late wife.
('New Tricks', 'Rumpole Of The Bailey')

CATHERINE
Catherine was the first out of the gate, as it were, and she was given the most traditional spelling of the name (although she preferred the nickname of "Cathy"). When she came of age, Cathy met and fell in love with an African farmer named Gale who was on holidays in London. She moved back to his African farm where she learned various skills that would help her make it on her own in the world, including self-defense. This came in handy when Mr. Gale was killed on the farm.

Cathy Gale remained in Africa a few more years before finally returning to England in order to pursue a PhD in anthropology. It was while she was working as the curator for a London museum that she found a new direction in life - as an unofficial operative for BritishIntelligence, working in tandem with top professional John Steed.

Eventually Dr. Cathy Gale left government employ, presumably to return to her former life as a museum curator. However, she may have still been involved in some kind of skullduggery - Steed would later get a Christmas card from Cathy who was in Fort Knox for some reason.

It has been suggested in the fictional universe based on literature that Cathy became involved with one of Steed's other former associates, Dr. David Keel. This could mean that eventually she remarried; she might even have had children.
Of the three sisters, only Cathy seems likely to have ever had children. And if so, it's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble, that her continuation of the family line culminated with Professor Sarah Lasky, who sadly died in 2986 - a victim of a poison dart from her sentient plant creations, the Vervoids. (Cathy Fitzharris Gale (Keel?)'s family tree may have merged with that of the same Lasky lineage that produced another Professor Lasky centuries earlier - Jeremiah Lasky of California University.)
('The Avengers', 'Doctor Who', 'Saved By The Bell - The College Years')


KATHRYN
The next to be born a few minutes later was given a cute variation of "Katharine" as her name, but she apparently wanted nothing to do with it. Even with its unique spelling, she may have found it too plain for her overly-dramatic personality. When she sought a career in the theatre, Kathryn assumed the stage name of Lillian Stanhope. She married a fellow actor a few years older than herself named Nicholas Frame. (Frame, by the way, was a stage name as well. His real name was Nicholas Nelson and he was the twin brother of Admiral Harriman Nelson of the Nelson Oceanographic Institute.)

When their careers hit a lull, Frame and Stanhope used a variation on the "badger game" to hoodwink Sir Roger Haversham into thinking he had a "special relationship" with Lillian. It was all a pretense, however, in order to get him to reopen his theatre and finance their production of the Scottish Play. When he found out that he had been duped, Sir Roger flew into a rage and threatened to expose their scheme. As Sir Roger struggled with Nicholas, Lillian threw a heavy ashtray (It may have been a jar of cold cream) and clobbered the producer, killing him. She and Nicholas took his body out of the theatre in an old trunk and arranged it at his home to look as though he fell down the stairs.

Their scheme might have worked had it not been for that meddling Lt. Columbo, a police detective visiting from Los Angeles. And then they only made matters worse for themselves when Sir Roger's butler discovered the truth and decided to blackmail Nicholas and Lillian.

They played along with Tanner at first, but then Frame murdered him and made it look like suicide. (Had they just come clean before, they might have only faced manslaughter charges.)

When Columbo finally found the "proof" that they had killed Sir Roger, Nicholas Frame went off the deep end; he probably ended up in a prison-like asylum. Although she hadn't meant to kill Sir Roger, Lillian Stanhope was complicit in covering up the crime and was an accessory in the murder of the butler Tanner. She may still be serving time for those crimes, but I think it more likely that she was released at least a decade ago and is now living in seclusion in her later years... perhaps under her original name of Kathryn Fitzharris in order to avoid notoriety.
('Columbo', 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea')

KATARINA
The last of the FitzHarris triplets to make her debut into the world got a foreign variation on the name, but it was probably for naught. She also resorted to a nickname - that of Kitty.

Growing up, it looked as though Kitty would likely follow her father Sir Barnaby into law and take up the wig. In fact, she would often give her father a unique perspective on his cases and offer advice on how he should proceed on some legal point. (It all sounds like it couldhave been the making of an early sitcom along the lines of 'My Little Margie'.)

But Kitty had her head and heart turned by an older man, at least ten years her senior, Bertie Campbell. They married and embarked on a lucrative TV career as the hosts of a cooking show on the BBC.

Unfortunately for Kitty, Bertie proved to be a closet homosexual, at a time when it was still considered a punishable offense. Not that Kitty ever had to face humiliation in divorce proceedings - soon after she discovered her husband being serviced by their male assistant, Bertie died of a heart attack that may have been aggravated by asthma.
Kitty Campbell rallied and continued with the show on her own, parlaying her success into a line of successful cookbooks and several restaurants. But when she was under consideration for the Queen's Honors list to become a Dame in 2005, her former assistant (Binky Baxter) claimed that she had murdered her husband Bertie. The Unsolved Crimes and Open Case Squad (known as UCOS) took the charge seriously and investigated. And although the circumstantial evidence was strong, they couldn't definitively prove that Kitty Campbell was a murderer.

But UCOS would not be foiled - they let the information fall into the hands of the tabloid press which ran with the story. Kitty Campbell vowed to fight the charges, and with her knowledge of the Law, I'm fairly certain she was able to "beat the rap." However, it was more than likely her name was quietly withdrawn from consideration to become a Dame of the British Empire.
('New Tricks')

Of course, it's pure conjecture that these three TV characters were sisters, but I hope I presented a solid argument for it being so. And if not solid, at least entertaining. And if not entertaining.. screw it. I got paid almost 70 bucks to write it!

Cathy Gale - Yesterday & Today

BCnU!

ROSE'S TURN

As Jack lay dying at the end of 'Lost', a plane full of the Island ordeal survivors flew overhead in the Ajira jet to escape back to the mainland - Lapidus, Sawyer, Kate, Claire, Richard, and Miles. Nine were left behind on the Island - Hurley, Ben, Desmond, Rose, Bernard, Cindy and the kids, and you can't forget Vincent. (Come on - is there anybody who didn't well up when Vincent lay down beside Jack to keep him company as he crossed over? And wouldn't you have liked to have seen him in the church as well?)

Of course, I think the Island number quickly dwindled down to five once Desmond took Cindy and the kids back to civilization on board his boat, the Elizabeth. And within two years, I believe the Island tally was reduced by one more.

Jack's father Christian told his son that many of those gathered in the church didn't die for many years after Jack. But that wouldn't have held true for Rose.....

When she landed on the Island, Rose was suffering from terminal cancer. But something about the Island, Jacob's magic perhaps, beat back the Big C into remission. And she knew that should she ever leave the Island, it would kill her.

But I think it killed her anyway. Remember, when Desmond shut off the access to the energy of the Golden Light, a lot of its benefits were discontinued - Not-Locke's invulnerability, Richard's immortality, and if Jin and Sun had survived the submarine attack, there never would have been any more Kwon Kids to keep Ji Yeon company.

We have to add the healing powers enjoyed by Rose. I think within two years, her cancer would have come raging back; and without the proper facilities or medical experts to treat her, her chances may have been even less.

As for Bernard, I think he would have carried on, still staying on the Island even without Rose. I believe she would have insisted on that; no taking a quick way out to join her for ol' Bernie. And for a few years more, he had the steadfast and loving Vincent by his side, until the loyal Lab also passed away a few years later.

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: JOE KENNEDY, JR.

Our "As Seen On TV" showcase for Memorial Day....

JOE KENNEDY, JR.

AS SEEN IN:
"Young Joe, The Forgotten Kennedy"

AS PLAYED BY:
Peter Strauss

From Wikipedia:
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy, Jr. (July 25, 1915 – August 12, 1944) was an American bomber pilot during World War II. He was the eldest of nine children born to Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Sr., and Rose Elizabeth (née Fitzgerald) Kennedy.

The elder brother of future U.S. President John F. Kennedy, he had been expected to become the family's political standard-bearer, especially after his father's political exile for apparent defeatism during the advent of World War II. However, he was killed in action, and the task fell to his brother John.

BCnU.....

MEMORIAL DAY, 2010: JOSEPH CARTWRIGHT

For Memorial Day in Toobworld, we remember a particular TV character who died in military service. (At least we try to do so - last year I was on vacation and away from a computer. But in 2008, we honored the memory of General Frank Savage from '12 O'Clock High'.)

First off, a quick reminder of the origins of Memorial Day from Wikipedia:

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 31 in 2010). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War), it was expanded after World War I.

That expansion is why we're remembering Little Joe Cartwright of 'Bonanza' today.....



"Little Joe" Cartwright died on July 1, 1898, leaving behind a son Benjamin and a daughter Sara.

BCnU.......

TOOBNOTE: This is the only picture I have of Michael Landon in uniform (from an episode of 'Cheyenne'). But he's far too young in this picture for it to be 1898, and the uniform is not even the right one for the Battle of San Juan Hill. The picture on the right would be closer to how Little Joe would have looked in 1898, approximately 56 years old.

TELE-QUICKIE: SPRINGFIELD TRIFLE

Last Sunday, 'The Simpsons' did their best to draw viewers away from the series finale of 'Lost'.......
BCnU!

"LOST" FLASHBOOK

Did anybody else get a "Lord Of The Flies" Piggy vibe when this happened in the series finale of 'Lost'?

BCnU!

JANE MARPLE AND AUNT ETHEL

No, not the character from 'Sanford & Son'! Honestly.....

In the main Toobworld, Miss Jane Marple was portrayed by the late Dame Joan Hickson. She was a very staid, quiet woman who had a keen eye when it came to human behavior.

But that doesn't mean she was influenced by anyone in her family to become that way while growing up.

Joan Hickson played another Agatha Christie character in Toobworld who was not as... reserved as Miss Marple. She was more likely to be drinking a martini rather than tea.....

In the adaptation of "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?", Mrs. Ethel Rivington was a friend of the late John Savage. And we can see from her behavior that she may have been a bit of a lush. She more than likely kicked up her heels quite a few times as a younger woman.

The story takes place in the mid to late 1930's, so Mrs. Rivington wouldn't so much be an identical cousin as she may have been Miss Marple's lookalike auntie. Why not?

BCnU!

DEAD DROP

The website Mania has a morbid list of the 20 most unexpected deaths of TV characters over the years. Check it out......

Personally, I would have found room on that list to include Rosalind Shays' trip down the elevator shaft on 'L.A. Law'.

[Thanks to Bill Crider for pointing this out!]

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: ANTHONY EDEN

ANTHONY EDEN

AS SEEN IN:
'Edward & Mrs. Simpson'

AS PLAYED BY:
Hugh Fraser

From Wikipedia:
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC (12 June 1897 – 14 January 1977) was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957. He was also Foreign Secretary for three periods between 1935 and 1955, including during World War II.

Eden's worldwide reputation as an opponent of appeasement, a 'Man of Peace', and a skilled diplomat was overshadowed in the second year of his premiership by his handling of the Suez Crisis of 1956, which critics across party lines regarded as a historic setback for British foreign policy, signalling the end of British predominance in the Middle East.

In the post-war years, Eden was a protagonist of the change in British policy on war criminal trials, which was perhaps best symbolised by his signature under the pardon conceded to the German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring on 24 October 1952.

He is generally ranked among the least successful British Prime Ministers of the twentieth century, although two broadly sympathetic biographies (in 1986 and 2003) have gone some way to redressing the balance of opinion.

BCnU!