Sunday, July 17, 2022

THERE'S A HOFF IN THE HOF! [TVXOHOF BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE INDUCTION] JULY 17, 2022


Today is the 70th birthday of David Hasselhoff, “The Hoff”.  And I thought it would make a nice birthday present to him (as if he would ever see this!) to induct him into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame as a member of the League of Themselves.  (Especially since his buddy K.I.T.T. was inducted two weeks ago as the July 2022 showcase.)


THE HOFF

From Wikipedia:
David Michael Hasselhoff (born July 17, 1952), nicknamed "The Hoff", is an American actor, singer, producer, television personality, and businessman. He has set a Guinness World Record as the most watched man on TV. Hasselhoff first gained recognition on ‘The Young and The Restless’ (1975–1982), playing the role of Dr. Snapper Foster. His career continued with his leading role as Michael Knight on ‘Knight Rider’ (1982–1986) and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in ‘Baywatch’ (1989–2000). He also produced ‘Baywatch’ from the 1990s until 2001 when the series ended with ‘Baywatch Hawaii’.


Hasselhoff has also worked as a talent show judge on television shows such as ‘America's Got Talent’ (2006–2009) and ‘Britain's Got Talent’ (2011).

He was a celebrity cast member on the eleventh season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ which increased in ratings by 36% from the previous year and served as a judge on NBC's ‘America's Got Talent’ from 2006 to 2009. In 2011, he joined the ‘Britain's Got Talent’ judging panel, as the additional fourth judge.


Hasselhoff appeared as a contestant on season 11 of ‘Dancing with the Stars’. His professional dance partner was Kym Johnson. On September 21, 2010, they were the first couple eliminated from the competition.

Hasselhoff became a judge on ‘Britain's Got Talent’ in 2011 alongside Amanda Holden, Michael McIntyre and Simon Cowell. However, Hasselhoff was axed after only one series on the show and was replaced by David Walliams.


On February 24, 2014, he opened his own 10-week talk show in Sweden on TV3, in English. A similar show was later recorded in Finland, premiering on Sub on April 2, 2015.


On New Year's Eve he performed again at the Brandenburg Gate, arriving late because his plane was diverted to Hannover.

Hasselhoff and his daughters, Taylor-Ann and Hayley, starred in a reality series on A&E called ‘The Hasselhoffs’. The series launched on December 5, 2010, and focused on Hasselhoff's attempts to resuscitate his career and launch his daughters onto the Hollywood stage.  (On December 10, 2010, A&E confirmed in a statement that, after airing just two episodes, ‘The Hasselhoffs’ had been canceled.)


In 2014, UK channel Dave announced that it had commissioned ‘Hoff the Record’, a sitcom series in which Hasselhoff plays a fictionalized version of himself. The series started airing on June 18, 2015.

Here are the shows in which Hasselhoff either appeared as himself or was mentioned by TV characters in other shows which verify the existence of his televersion in Earth Prime-Time… and perhaps in other TV dimensions as well.


The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
- Episode dated 26 September 1983

O’Bservations:
So far, this show – and ‘The View’ – are the only talk shows which have had their televersions inducted into the TVXOHOF.  It wasn’t just that they were often mentioned in other shows, but they were fictionalized in the storyline of episodes as well.  That’s why they’re both included.


However, TVXOHOF member Johnny wasn't hosting that night.  Fellow hall member Joan Rivers had the honors.  (Hasselhoff was in good company - Carson wasn't there for the one chance to be with the Beatles.)


Santa Barbara
- Episode #1.32 (1984)


Diff'rent Strokes
- Hooray for Hollywood: Part 1 (1984)
- Hooray for Hollywood: Part 2 (1984)


Kids Incorporated
- School's for Fools (1984)


Moone Boy
- Another Prick in the Wall (2012)

O’Bservation:
The series takes place in Northern Ireland in 1989.  The Hoff was seen at the Berlin Wall as it comes down.


The Muppets:
She Drives Me Crazy (1994 Music Video short)


Saturday Night Live
- John Turturro/Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1994)

O’Bservation:
As the anchor of “Weekend News Update” on the long-running sketch show, MacDonald spent weeks setting up The Hoff’s appearance on the show.  Every WNU had one story about Hasselhoff in connection to how the fans worship him in Germany.  All of these screenshots leading up to the pay-off would end with: “Which once again proves my theory that the Germans love David Hasselhoff."





It culminated with this 1994 episode....


Norm MacDonald:
In other entertainment news, one of the world’s biggest stars just completed a whirlwind three week world tour. Tonight he’s agreed to come to Update to tell us about it. Ladies and gentlemen, David Hasselhoff!
David Hasselhoff:
Thank you! Thank you very much! [laughs at all the applause] My recent world tour was an incredible experience. I went to twenty-one countries in just fifteen days and I’ve got some amazing stories to tell. In Japan, for instance-instance, I was invited to the state dinner at the Emperor’s Palace. What I didn’t know was the emp–
Norm MacDonald:
Hey! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hang on a second. Did you just say Japan?
David Hasselhoff:
Yes, I did.
Norm MacDonald:
Yeah, well, no offense, you know, but I don’t think anybody cares about Japan. Why don’t you, ah, why don’t you focus on the countries where you’re, you know, you’re popular?
David Hasselhoff:
Oh. Well, in China we had an incredible experience. The entire cast of “Baywatch” was invited to the Great Wall where hundreds of thousands of Chinese people were chanting in unison, ”Baywatch, Ba–”
Norm MacDonald:
Whoaaaaa, whoaaa. Wait, wait. Chinese people?
David Hasselhoff:
Yes, of course.
Norm MacDonald:
Look, why don’t we skip China? In fact, rule out all of Asia.
David Hasselhoff:
Okay, okay. Well, I mean, what do you want to hear about? I mean, I’ve got some great stories from all over the world.
Norm MacDonald:
Oh, yeah? I was thinking, you know, ah, some place where you’re especially popular, you know, like in, uh, Europe.
David Hasselhoff:
Oh! Well, in Italy–
Norm MacDonald:
Northern Europe, Northern Europe!
David Hasselhoff:
Oh, I got you. I got you. Okay. I got you. There’s one country that they absolutely love me — Norway.
Norm MacDonald:
Norway?! What, are you crazy?!  They like everybody in Norway! Nobody gives a damn about Norway! What the hell’s wrong with ya?
David Hasselhoff:
Look, ah, what’s going on here? I’ve never seen you like this.
Norm MacDonald:
Well, ahhhh, to tell you the truth, you know, I didn’t want to be the one to bring it up but, uh, what about Germany? I mean, how do the- how do the Germans feel about ya?
David Hasselhoff:
Well, on this trip, we actually didn’t stop in Germany–
Norm MacDonald:
I don’t care about your stupid trip!! Look, just tell me how you would characterize– in one sentence — the way Germans feel about you.
David Hasselhoff:
Well, I’ve always been fortunate to get a very positive response from the Germans–
Norm MacDonald:
Oh, my God! This is no time for false modesty! We’re runnin’ late, we gotta wrap this thing up! Do Germans love you?
David Hasselhoff:
Well, “love” is an awfully strong word…
Norm MacDonald: [hand to head]
Oh, listen, David, uh… Let’s say a guy had a theory, all right?
David Hasselhoff:
All right.
Norm MacDonald:
A theory that he’s devoted several years of his life to. And let’s say he has a lot of evidence to back up this theory of his.
David Hasselhoff:
All right.
Norm MacDonald: [puts a large pile of documents, file folders, etc., on desk — Hasselhoff is stunned]
Now, don’t you think it would just be common courtesy to help that guy out, you know, and not – not ruin his life?
David Hasselhoff:
Listen, I don’t know what you want me to say here, pal.
Norm MacDonald:
Oh my God, here, I’ll write it down.
[searches his pockets for a pencil, finds one, scribbles something on a piece of paper and gives it to David]
Here! Say this!
David Hasselhoff: [puzzled, reads from paper]
”Germans love me.”
[Camera pans quickly from Hasselhoff to a beaming MacDonald who addresses the camera.]
Norm MacDonald:
Which once again proves my theory: Germans love David Hasselhoff!
[Cheers and applause.]
And that’s the news! See you next time.  Thank you, David. [fusses with his pile of documents]
David Hasselhoff: [waves good-bye]
Auf wiedersehen! [?], meine liebe! Auf wiedersehen! Auf wiedersehen!


O'Bservation:
You are missed, Norm.

Very Important Pennis
- Very Important Pennis: Part 2 (1996)

Action
- Mr. Dragon Goes to Washington (1999)


Just Shoot Me!
- The Burning House (2002)


The Kumars at No. 42
- Episode #6.6 (2005)


Meet the Hasselhoffs
- Episodes #1.1 - #1.6 (2009)

The Hasselhoffs
- Hoff the Record (2010)
- Addiction (2010)

Attack of the Show!
- Original Series Finale (2013)


Newsreaders
- F- Dancing, Are You Decent? (2014)
- Band Names-R-Us; Put Me in Coach (2014)
- Jellyfish Sting Clinic; David Hasselhoff (2015)


Unusually Thicke
- The Thickenator (2014)
- Walk of Shame (2014)


NCIS: Los Angeles
- Blame It On Rio (2015)

O’Bservation:
The suspect was hoping to get cosmetic surgery so that he would look like The Hoff.  (The doctor did say the photo was just a guideline....)


Hoff the Record
- The Abduction (2015)
- The United Nations (2015)
- The Movie (2015)
- The Horror (2016)
- Finance (2016)
- Wedding (2016)
- Divorce (2016)
- Rehab (2016)


The View
- David Hasselhoff/View Your Deal (2016)


Nightcap
- The Show Must Go On: Part 1 (2017)


Young Sheldon
- Cowboy Aerobics and 473 Grease-Free Bolts (2021)

TOONIVERSE

Close Enough
- So Long Boys/Clap Like This (2020)

BORDERLANDS


The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

O’Bservation:
This exists in both the Cineverse and in a Borderland which combines live-action with animation.

SpongeBob SquarePants
- SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout (2019)

ALT. TOOBWORLDS

The West Wing
- 20 Hours in L.A. (2000)

Welcome to the TVXOHOF, Hoff!

Happy birthday!



Wednesday, July 6, 2022

TVXOHOF, CENTENNIAL TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM SCHALLERT - MARTIN LANE


William Schallert was born July 6, 1922, which marks today as his centenary.  And to mark the anniversary of his 100 years, (we lost the hardest-working man in television in May of 2016), I thought it was time to honor him with an induction into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.  I thought it could even have been a double induction, bringing his teacher Leander Pomfritt from ‘The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis’ in as well.  But Mr. Pomfritt only appeared in the TV series and one of the TV reunion movies, not both.

MARTIN LANE

From Wikipedia:
Martin Lane was not the only role he played on ‘The Patty Duke Show’; Schallert also had a dual role as Kenneth Lane, Cathy Lane’s globe-trotting father and Martin’s twin, in three season 1 episodes "The House Guest" (1963), "The Christmas Present" (1963) and "Auld Lang Syne" (1964.)  He also appeared as Uncle Jed in the season 3 episode "A Visit from Uncle Jed" (1966.)

From the IMDb:
Martin Lane, Schallert's character on The Patty Duke Show (1963), was ranked #39 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue]. 

Here are the four credits for which William Schallert gets into the TVXOHOF as Martin Lane:


‘The Patty Duke Show’
1963 - 1966
104 episodes



‘Roseanne’
- "Shower the People You Love with Stuff" (1995)
... Martin Lane (uncredited)

IMDb Synopsis - D.J.'s old bedroom is being converted into a nursery for the new baby. After discovering that a new baby crib is out of her price range, Roseanne schemes up a baby shower in hopes of getting at least forty $10.00 gifts, that she can exchange for the $400.00 crib. This plan threatens to backfire when the gifts are mostly homemade, or are otherwise non-exchangeable. After being unable to work together to paint the nursery without squabbling, Roseanne reassigns Becky and Darlene to throw the baby shower instead, but the girls are still at each other's throats because Darlene refuses to pull her weight, sticking Becky with all the work. Roseanne gets David to throw a "guy" baby shower for Dan with the men at his shop, hoping for even more exchangeable gifts, but that backfires as well.

Trivia from IMDb:
Alicia Goranson and Sarah Chalke both appeared at the end of this episode in a spoof of ‘The Patty Duke Show’ (1963). The song made fun of the fact that the role kept switching hands between the two actresses. This sequence was cut from the DVD release and replaced with title cards on a black background.

Connection:
‘The Patty Duke Show’ (1963) 
A skit at the end of the episode spoofs the theme song of "Patty Duke Show, The" (1963) playing on the resemblance between Sarah Chalke and Alicia Goranson. On ‘The Patty Duke Show’, one actress plays two characters (cousins), whereas on Roseanne, two actresses play the same character.

William Schallert: Martin Lane from ‘The Patty Duke Show’ (1963), during the black and white spoof scene at the end, which is [reminiscent] of ‘The Patty Duke Show’ (1963) intro.



“The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights”
(1999 TV Movie)

Synopsis from the IMDb:
The original cast members from the classic television series resurrect their characters, including Patty Duke in her legendary dual role as identical cousins Patty and Cathy Lane. This time the family reconvenes in New York in order to surprise Patty, and end up battling her old arch-nemesis Sue Ellen, who is intent on having the high school torn down.


And finally....

Social Security Public Service Announcement


O'Bservation:
When Patty Lane turned 65, she applied for Social Security online, with her family there to cheer her on.


Welcome to the Hall, Martin Lane! Patty and Cathy and the New York Chronicle are there to greet you already.

I’m sorry you weren’t still around for this “honor”, Mr. Schallert, but it’s still a nice addendum to your television immortality.

And who knows?  Maybe Martin Lane is still alive in Toobworld.  (He just might share family genetics with Admiral Hargrade….)

Monday, July 4, 2022

FOURTH OF JULY TVXOHOF - THE TAIL O' THE PUP

It is estimated that 150 million hot dogs will be eaten today on the Fourth of July.  And the center of attention will be at Coney Island….

From Wikipedia:
The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual American hot dog competitive eating competition. It is held each year on Independence Day at Nathan's Famous Corporation's original, and best-known restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City.

However, in Toobworld, we have to look to the West Coast for the center of hot dog activity.  In Los Angeles, there is the Tail O’ The Pup….

From Wikipedia:
Tail O’ the Pup was an iconic Los Angeles, California hot dog stand actually shaped like a hot dog. Built in 1946, the small, walk-up stand has been noted as a prime example of "programmatic" or "mimetic" novelty architecture. It was one of the last surviving mid-20th century buildings that were built in the shapes of the products they sold.

The City of Los Angeles in 2006 declared Tail O’ the Pup to be a cultural landmark.

Blake's grandson Jay Miller and his wife Nicole inherited the Pup in 2017. After a failed attempt to have it reopened in a partnership with Killer Shrimp, the structure was donated to the Valley Relics Museum.

The 1933 Group purchased the structure in 2018 with plans to restore the stand to its original appearance, find a new location, and reopen it.

It is eligible for membership in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, with appearances in at least three different series.  There may be more, but these three are all that’s needed to be inducted:


COLUMBO
MURDER BY THE BOOK


THE ROCKFORD FILES
BACKLASH OF THE HUNTER


ADAM-12
TEAMWORK

Just a little trifle to celebrate the Fourth.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!


Friday, July 1, 2022

TVXOHOF JULY, 2022 - K.I.T.T.

No-one says 'Good morning' to me?
What am I, chopped liver?”
K.I.T.T.
‘Diff’rent Strokes’

July has always been something of an amorphous month when it came to inducting candidates into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.  Mostly it has been the showcase for detectives, but it’s also been something of a catch-can.  This year, it’s a little of both….

K.I.T.T.
[KNIGHT INDUSTRIES TWO THOUSAND]

From Wikipedia:
KITT or K.I.T.T. is the short name of two fictional characters from the adventure franchise 'Knight Rider'. While having the same acronym, the KITTs are two different entities: one known as the Knight Industries Two Thousand, which appeared in the original TV series 'Knight Rider', and the other as the Knight Industries Three Thousand, which appeared first in the two-hour 2008 pilot film for a new 'Knight Rider' TV series and then the new series itself. In both instances, KITT is an artificially intelligent electronic computer module in the body of a highly advanced, very mobile, robotic automobile: the original KITT as a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, and the second KITT as a 2008–2009 Ford Shelby GT500KR.

During filming, KITT was voiced by a script assistant, with voice actors recording KITT's dialog later. David Hasselhoff and original series voice actor William Daniels first met each other six months after the series began filming. KITT's evil twin is KARR, whose name is an acronym of Knight Automated Roving Robot. KARR was voiced first by Peter Cullen and later by Paul Frees in seasons one and three, respectively, of the NBC original TV series 'Knight Rider'. A 1991 sequel film, "Knight Rider 2000", is centered on KITT's original microprocessor unit transferred into the body of the vehicle intended to be his successor, the Knight Industries Four Thousand (Knight 4000), voiced by Carmen Argenziano and William Daniels. Val Kilmer voiced KITT in the 2008–2009 'Knight Rider' series.

In the original series' history, K.I.T.T. was conceived and designed by the late Wilton Knight, a brilliant but eccentric billionaire and the founder of the "Foundation for Law and Government", (commonly shortened to "FLAG") and its parent Knight Industries.

K.I.T.T.'s main cybernetic processor was first installed in a mainframe computer used by the United States government in Washington D.C. However, Wilton saw better use for "him" in the Foundation's crime-fighting crusade and eventually the system was installed in the vehicle. K.I.T.T. was in fact the second vehicle built by Knight Industries with an artificial intelligence. His predecessor was K.A.R.R., the Knight Automated Roving Robot. K.A.R.R. was programmed for self-preservation, but this proved to be dangerous to the Foundation's interests. K.A.R.R. was later deactivated and placed in storage while K.I.T.T. was given to his new operator Michael Knight (the new identity of Michael Long).

Unlike K.A.R.R., K.I.T.T. is programmed primarily to protect Michael and all human life at all costs. This is made clear in the pilot episode when Michael asks Devon Miles if K.I.T.T. will protect anyone driving it. Devon's answer is that K.I.T.T.'s primary function is the preservation of human life, and Michael's in particular.

O’Bservation:
The TVXOHOF is only inducting the Knight Industries Two Thousand and not the upgrades or KARR.  But as the shows and TV movies are all connected, I will include the six degrees of separation for the crossovers.


K.I.T.T. not only exists in Toobworld, but also in the tele-version show based on the “real” car.  So, there are two K.I.T.T.s to be inducted.  There is the “real” AI car which we see in the TV series, which means the one to be found in the main Toobworld.  And then there is the fake K.I.T.T. who stars in the TV series as it is seen in Toobworld.


From Wikipedia:
KITT has a front- scanner bar called the Anamorphic Equalizer. The device is a fibre-optic array of electronic eyes. The scanner can see in all visual wavelengths, as well as X-ray and infrared. Its infrared Tracking Scope can monitor the position of specific vehicles in the area within 10 miles. The scanner is also KITT's most vulnerable area. Occasionally, the bar can pulse in different patterns and sweep rapidly or very slowly.

Glen A. Larson, the creator of both ‘Knight Rider’ and ‘Battlestar Galactica’ has stated that the scanner is a nod to the 'Battlestar Galactica' characters, the Cylons, and even used the iconic Cylon eye scanner audio to that effect. He stated that the two shows have nothing else in common and to remove any fan speculation, stated in the Season One 'Knight Rider' DVD audio-comments, that he simply reused the scanning light for KITT because he liked the effect.


That would have been a great crossover, even in deep background!  But I’ll respect the creator’s decree….  (I just wish he did consider the possibility that Wilton Knight did incorporate Cylon tech into K.I.T.T.)

But there have been crossovers which qualify the car for inclusion…..

Here are the two lists:

THE REAL K.I.T.T.


KNIGHT RIDER
86 episodes
1982-1986


KNIGHT RIDER
MOUTH OF THE SNAKE
(April 8, 1984)
From the IMDb:
Michael and Kitt join forces with an agile freelance agent called David Dalton to investigate the death of a government agent near the Mexican border. Dalton leads the investigation and stays close to Joanna St. John in order to protect her.

The last episode produced for the second season, this show is well-known due to its apparent lack of Michael and K.I.T.T. Here they are relegated to the background chasing missiles across the country; the real story is Dalton's, giving David Hasselhoff time away to prepare for his wedding to actress Catherine Hickland.

O’Bservation:
There was a “spin-off” movie a year later, but it feels more like a prequel as Dalton really was on his own.  (That TV movie gets its own category for it serves to disable a Zonk regarding the two K.I.T.T.s….)

Here's a roundabout connection to ‘Star Trek’:


TEAM KNIGHT RIDER
APOCALYPSE MAYBE
May 5, 1998
There is a connection to 'Star Trek' because Dr. Jackson Roykirk, who invented the earthquake machine that was defeated by Team Knight Rider, was also the doctor who invented the Nomad robot that was defeated by the Enterprise crew.

That connects to 'Star Trek' through this episode:

STAR TREK
THE CHANGELING

(1967)
The episode features a character called Professor Jackson Roykirk.


KNIGHT RIDER [TV Movie]
February 17, 2008
The Montecito Resort and Casino from ‘Las Vegas’ appears in the 2008 “Knight Rider” film.


SUPERNATURAL
CHANGING CHANNELS
November 9, 2009
'Knight Rider' is parodied.

O’Bservation:
The parody in that alternate reality must be based on their own version of the real AI car.  So K.I.T.T. would be a multidimensional.

It should be no surprise that K.I.T.T. would be catnip to producers looking for new ideas to churn out as TV shows.  But it was also a lure for TV commercials during the 1980s and even later.  For the most part, I think Blipvert K.I.T.T. is the real deal; it has to be if it’s William Daniel’s voice is coming through the modulator.  

And that is especially true when K.I.T.T. joined Robbie, B-9, Twiki, WOPR, Commander Data and other AIs at the GE laboratories testing site from throughout the Toobworld timeline.  When K.I.T.T. finally left the GE labs, it might have been teleported to a different location.  But there could have been a glitch in the programming; how else to explain how the car wound up in Hungary?











You get the idea....

And now for the Televersion of K.I.T.T.

THE FAKE K.I.T.T.


DIFF’RENT STROKES
- HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD PART 1 (1984)
- HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD PART 2 (1984)
This episode has an appearance of Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) and K.I.T.T.  However the voice of K.I.T.T. is NOT provided by William Daniels who plays K.I.T.T. on Knight Rider. Instead, instead it is played by Jim Ward.

O’Bservation -
This is an appearance by Hasselhoff and the “stunt car” from the Toobworld version of K.I.T.T.’s adventures.


THE NICK AND JESSICA VARIETY HOUR
[2004]
K.I.T.T. appeared on stage and sang a duet with Nick Lachey during the one hour special.

O’Bservation:
As was the case with its appearance on the studio lot in the ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ two-parter, this is the TV star K.I.T.T. with a different voice.


AMERICA’S GOT TALENT
First season
2006
From the 'Knight Rider' Wiki:
K.I.T.T. was reunited with David Hasselhoff in a season 1 episode of the variety show/talent show America's Got Talent, on which Hasselhoff was a judge. A performer brought a replica of K.I.T.T. onto center stage as scenery during her burlesque act.

O’Bservation:
The performer was Michelle L’Amour, but there is no indication in the IMDb as to what episode it was.


JUMP IN MY CAR (music video)
Not only was this another Toobworld replica with Hasselhoff, but it was right hand drive since it was made in Australia.

THE BIG BANG THEORY
THE CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLE AMPLIPHICATION

September 30, 2010
‘Knight Rider’ is mentioned in this ‘Big Bang Theory’ episode.


Sheldon-bot:
I don’t understand why you’re not enjoying this. Together, in this car, with my enhanced capabilities, we’re like 'Knight Rider'.
Leonard:
Except in 'Knight Rider', the car isn’t a yammering sphincter.
Sheldon-bot:
You mock the sphincter, but the sphincter is a class of muscle without which human beings couldn’t survive. There are over 50 different sphincters in the human body. How many can you name?
Leonard:
I was wrong, this is exactly like 'Knight Rider'.


NCIS: LOS ANGELES
BLAME IT ON RIO
October 19, 2015
Crossover with ‘NCIS’


O’Bservation:
Both Tony DiNozzo and Marty Deeks mention the show based on the real car, and the fugitive, who was seeking to get off-the-books cosmetic surgery.  He wanted to look like David Hasselhoff and he bought a T-shirt celebrating it.

DiNozzo
Of course!  Michael Long!
Deeks
That's right.
DiNozzo
Detective Lieutenant Michael Arthur Long. He was shot in the face.
Deeks
He was rescued by billionaire Wilton Knight and was the primary field agent for the Foundation of Law and Government.
DiNozzo
FLAG.
Deeks
FLAG.
Sam
What? What are you two talking about?
Nell
'Knight Rider', starring David Hasselhoff.
Deeks
The Hoff. Don't you dare hassle him.
Nell
'80s TV show with a talking car.
Eric
A.K.A. KITT. And the Knight Industries Two Thousand was a little more than a talking car.
DiNozzo
Oh, yeah.
Callan
Do you ever get the feeling we're working alone here?
Sam
Every single day.

And here is the special recognition for
CODE OF VENGEANCE [TV Movie]
June 30, 1985
[“Code of Vengeance” was a spin-off of 'Knight Rider'.]

O’Bservation:
This TV movie disables the Zonk of K.I.T.T. being a reality in Toobworld at the same time it is known as a TV series by TV characters in other shows.

Here’s how it works:


I’m sticking with my belief that this is a prequel to the ‘Knight Rider’ episode "Mouth Of The Snake"; so this has to take place less than two years earlier, when the televersion of ‘Knight Rider’ began getting broadcast.  That’s because at one point, Willard was in his home watching a ‘Knight Rider’ episode.  (Although dialogue was heard, it doesn’t have to match up with the actual episode from the Trueniverse; Toobworld has often twisted the facts about actual episodes of other TV show.)

Dalton wouldn’t have known Willard had been watching that show, so there would be no reason for him to be surprised upon meeting a real-life TV character two years later.  But at least it establishes there is no Zonk in having both versions of a character at the same time in the same dimension.



Welcome to the TVXOHOF, K.I.T.T.!  I’m not sure, but you may be the first Hall of Fame member to reside in the garage.

"It's over, Knight Rider."
Marty Deeks
'NCIS: Los Angeles'

Monday, June 6, 2022

TVXOHOF BIRTHDAY HONORS LIST - WAREHOUSE 13 (THE LOCATION, NOT THE SHOW)


Usually when I’m inducting a TV series into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, it is the show’s televersion which is watched by the fictional characters of other TV series.  But this year with my version of the “Birthday Honors List”, it may seem like I’m inducting the show but it’s not the title; it’s the actual location….


WAREHOUSE 13

From Wikipedia:
Warehouse 13 is an American science fiction television series that originally ran from July 7, 2009, to May 19, 2014, on the Syfy network, and was executive produced by Jack Kenny and David Simkins for Universal Cable Productions. Described as "part The X-Files, part Raiders of the Lost Ark and part Moonlighting", the show's blend of science fiction, comedy and drama is said to have borrowed much from the American-Canadian horror television series Friday the 13th: The Series (1987–1990). The program follows a team of field agents who retrieve artifacts that have become charged with energy that can give them dangerous powers if misused. Once retrieved and neutralized, the objects are stored in Warehouse 13, the latest in a line of storehouses with infinite capacity that have served this purpose for millennia.

The series follows U.S. Secret Service Agents Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) and Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) when they are assigned to the secretive Warehouse 13 for supernatural artifacts. It is located in a barren landscape in South Dakota, and they initially regard the assignment as punishment. As they go about their assignments to retrieve missing artifacts and investigate reports of new ones, they come to understand the importance of what they are doing. In episode 4 of the first season, they meet Claudia Donovan (Allison Scagliotti), who is searching for her missing brother; in season 2, she joins the team as their technology expert. In episode 1 of season 3, Steve Jinks (Aaron Ashmore), an Agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives comes aboard.

The series posits that there have been a dozen incarnations of the warehouse before the present-day 13th in South Dakota. Warehouse 1 was built between 336–323 BC on the orders of Alexander the Great as a place to keep artifacts obtained by war. After Alexander died, the warehouse was moved to Egypt, establishing the practice of locating the warehouse in the most powerful empire of the day, under the reasoning that it will be best defended there. Egypt's Ptolemaic rulers appointed a group of people, known as the Regents, to oversee the warehouse and act as its first "agents" and collectors of artifacts. Warehouse 2 lasted until the Roman conquest of Egypt. Other warehouses throughout history include: Warehouse 3 in Western Roman Empire (Italy), Warehouse 4 in Hunnic Empire until the death of Attila the Hun, Warehouse 5 in Byzantine Empire, Warehouse 6 in Cambodia under the Khmer Empire, Warehouse 7 in the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan, Warehouse 8 in Germany during the Holy Roman Empire (1260–1517), Warehouse 9 in the Ottoman capital of Constantinople until the death of Suleiman the Magnificent, Warehouse 10 in Mughal Empire (India), Warehouse 11 in the Russian Empire under the Romanov Dynasty (the 1812 Napoleonic War with Russia was an attempt to seize control of Warehouse 11), and Warehouse 12 in the United Kingdom from 1830 until 1914. It was during the time of Warehouse 11 that the Regents began to employ agents to gather and protect artifacts. This practice continued under Warehouse 12, with British agents traveling further and further searching for artifacts to add to the collection.

The next move brought the warehouse to South Dakota in the United States. Unlike previous warehouses, which were placed in the centers of their empires, Warehouse 13 was located in a remote area of South Dakota to hide it. The first Warehouse 13 was built in 1898, but the structure burned down because of an insufficient understanding of how to safely store artifacts. The move to the rebuilt and current Warehouse 13 occurred in 1914 at the onset of World War I. The warehouse was designed by Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and M. C. Escher, while the warehouse's expansion joints were created by Albert Einstein.

Originally, artifacts are items connected to some historical or mythological figure or event. Each artifact has been imbued with something from its creator, user, or a major event in history. Some are well known: Studio 54's Disco ball; Lewis Carroll's looking glass, which contains an evil entity called "Alice" that can possess other people's bodies (Myka in Season 1 episode "Duped"), leaving their minds trapped in the mirror; and Edgar Allan Poe's pen and a volume of his writing, which can make whatever the user writes a reality. Some are not: Lizzie Borden had a mirrored compact that today compels users to kill their loved ones with an axe; Marilyn Monroe owned a brush that now turns its user's hair platinum blonde, which Myka once used on herself while under the influence of W. C. Fields' juggling balls that induce drunkenness and blackouts. Others may have humorous effects, such as Ivan Pavlov's bell, which will call any dog to you but causes excessive drooling for 24 hours, and a magic kettle that grants wishes but produces a ferret if the wish is impossible. The artifacts react with electricity and can be neutralized by immersion in a mysterious purple goo or placed inside a neutralizing reflective bag, both produced by Global Dynamics, a research laboratory from Warehouse 13's sister show, Eureka. Artie has also mentioned that ingesting neutralizer will make you "see things". During episode 43 (season 4), Mrs. Frederic shows Claudia an artifact being created—a silver bracelet worn by an ordinary person who exhibits extraordinary courage.

These are just a few of the examples of artifacts which might have come from other TV series.  The trick in searching through the massive artifact list at the wiki is to determine which have authenticated connections and which were created by visitors to the site.  The following summaries are from the Warehouse 13 Wiki….


ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S TOP HAT
When worn, the hat fills the user with the desire to see all African-American people 'freed from the service of their masters', though the definitions of slave and master are rather loosely defined. The wearer will make attempts to step between a black and white person under the excuse of liberating them, regardless of the actual amount of 'liberation' needed. It would seem the hat is either unaware of changes in slavery and racial discrimination laws or is simply unable to change its nature.  Later referenced by Pete Lattimer to Steve Jinks as imbuing the wearer with the overwhelming urge to free nearby African-American people, believing them to be slaves, an impulse which apparently got Pete into hot water with Mrs. Frederic.

TV EPISODE MENTION: First mentioned in a behind-the-scenes video.  I don’t know in which episode Pete made the reference.
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS: ‘The Time Tunnel’, ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘Captains and the Kings’



BRUTUS’ DAGGER
Makes you have the compelling desire to kill your closest friends and confidantes. Person will try persuasion, coercion and conspiracy to finish the task if necessary. The user will then experience tremendous waves of guilt and anguish that can push them to the brink of life and insanity.

TV EPISODE MENTION:  None found so far, but along with the other 22 blades used to kill Caesar, it is listed in the wiki and was too good to pass up because of the connections.
O’Bservation - It would also be multidimensional due to the inclusion of productions of the Shakespeare play, which are all situated in the dimension of Toobstage, unless the production retains its theatrical motif.
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS: ‘Rome’, Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, ‘Xena, Warrior Princess’


BABE RUTH’S BASEBALL BAT
Makes objects fly like projectiles.  It is mentioned in the episode “Mild Mannered” as a possible source of the artifact energies.  Alters density to send objects that it strikes flying for the equivalent length of a home run. Surface area and weight appear to have little effect, as the bat seems to only provide more force with unusually shaped objects.

TV EPISODE MENTION: “Mild Mannered”
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS: “Babe Ruth”


PERRY COMO’S GOLD RECORD
Like the song it contains, the record is intended to sooth the listener and brighten the atmosphere. It does this by sucking some of the stress from the immediate area into itself. When the record is played, it releases all of the stress and turmoil it has collected.

Artie collected the record after it was played in tribute at Perry Como's funeral. During the ceremony, several attendees suffered from migraines, backaches, alopecia, and full-blown panic attacks. After it was neutralized the artifact was taken back to the Warehouse. In an attempt to reduce tension in the office, Mrs. Frederick instructed Artie to hang the record on the wall.

TV EPISODE MENTION: "A Touch of Fever".  
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS: ‘The Perry Como Show’


AGATHA CHRISTIE'S TYPEWRITER
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, DBE (born Miller; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English crime novelist, short story writer, and playwright. Agatha Christie’s typewriter predicts crimes 24 hours in advance but has a limited range and never mentions butlers.

It was first seen in "Pilot", and its effects briefly mentioned on the Syfy site.

TV EPISODE MENTION: “Pilot”
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS: “Agatha And The Truth Of Murder”


ADOLF HITLER'S MICROPHONE
Orders or statements spoken into the microphone are broadcast over a large space, and have an large amount of influence over those that hear it. Commands or even ideas heard by the listeners will be accepted as true and they will be acted upon immediately. Disturbingly, the darker and more hostile the speech, the more influential it will be. The more the microphone is used, the more power-mad the user becomes, adding a further sinister twist to this unpleasant artifact.

O'Bservation - Contributing to Hitler's overall evil, other factors would include that he was one of the creatures from 'Grimm' and not even the real Hitler anyway.  (He was drowned as an infant and his father took a gypsy baby to replace it as seen in 'The Twilight Zone' continuation.)  Plus, he was often replaced by other men who had fallen foul of a genie whenever they wished to have ultimate power, as seen in the original 'Twilight Zone'.

TV EPISODE MENTION: Mentioned in a podcast with Allison Scagliotti.  (But too good to pass up!)
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS: ‘Grimm’


AL CAPONE'S MACHINE GUNS
These Tommy guns were wielded by Capone's men during the events of the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929, where they shot and killed seven members of a rival gang. Due to their impressive firepower, it is believed Capone lent these guns to his men specifically for the job.

When held, the guns unleash a wild storm of bullets when the trigger is so much as touched. The guns don't stop until either the round is empty or all targets are dead. Noted not to work when separated and, in fact, will not fire at all. Accompanying the guns is a pair of ammo belts that, if worn at the same time, provide the guns with infinite ammunition.

Attracted to the most valuable or high-profile targets. Will curve around worthless drivel to hit anything with a large net worth. Failing that, it shoots at whatever would get the biggest buzz for being shot, such as a rival figure in violent fashion. Otherwise, they just spread uncontrollably in their immediate path.

TV EPISODE MENTION: "Endless Terror"
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS: ‘Boardwalk Empire’



ALBERT EINSTEIN'S COMB
By combing it through your hair, it sparks the brain into understanding or conceptualizing concepts that seemed impossible or confusing. Each use seems to spark new understandings, though the static energy released makes hair impossible to tame.

Overuse via addiction to knowledge is possible and attempting to process too much can fry the brain or allow the static to ignite.

TV EPISODE MENTION: "Burnout".
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS: ‘Doctor Who’ both in the Classic series (with the Seventh Incarnation) and in “Nu-Who” (with the Eleventh Incarnation.)





B.F. SKINNER'S DIPPY BIRD
During WWII, B. F. Skinner tried to train pigeons to operate bombs. The pigeon would be inserted into a missile with a lens in it. The bird would peck at the target through a screen, thereby guiding the missile. The program was eventually cancelled. This artifact came about as the result of his training and possibly his reinforcement psychology.

Makes pigeons line dance in time with the birds bobbing. Agents are unsure if it works on other birds or only pigeons.

TV EPISODE MENTION: "13.1".
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS: ‘Ted Lasso’, ‘Mad Men’, ‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Arrested Development’.  It is a multidimensional artifact as it also appeared in ‘The Simpsons’, and ‘American Dad’.


BILL TODMAN'S PENNY ANTE MACHINE
This "Penny Ante" board was used in the game show, "The Price is Right." Contestants were given three pennies, and were then showed an item with four possible prices. Contestants would need only one penny left to win the game, and if they lost all three pennies after guessing incorrectly, they lost. The machine has four buttons, each of which either lead to a "YES" or a "NO" sign.

When someone presses one of the buttons on the machine, it will turn on and play the classic "Penny Ante" game. The machine compels the player to guess the price of the item that is displayed. Sometimes, the people who are compelled to play the game guess wrong, and as a result they lose one penny. However, there is a 50% chance that the player will have one penny left and win the game. If the player loses, they will be temporarily unable to read prices correctly. If money is not inserted into the machine, then it will compel people to play with it, even if they don't touch the buttons.

TV EPISODE MENTION: As seen on Leena's list in "Parks and Rehabilitation", it requires an extra two cents added to it at regular intervals to keep it 'happy'.
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS: Where else?  ‘The Price Is Right’!


ANNETTE FUNICELLO'S BEACH BALL
Encompassing that "beach party" atmosphere, this ball is known to seek out fun times by the sea. And if it can't find any, it's more than content to make its own. Whenever the ball lands on a solid surface, it transmutes it into fine beach-quality sand. The effects have a bit of a splash zone, but don't affect living organisms. It does, however, affect clothing, and being hit by the ball has a habit of leaving the poor victim in their undergarments. Perfect for a quick dip in the waves.

The ball has yet to be collected. It never stays in the same place for long, and whenever it does it is usually at a beach party where its effects go mostly un-noticed. Reports first surfaced in the early 70s around Florida and continued until the ball was last seen at a 1985 Spring Break rave.

O’Bservation – Something had to happen to trigger one particular beach ball into becoming an artifact.  It could be that one of them appeared in all five of the official Frankie & Annette Beach movies, all of which have been referenced in other TV series.  (A whole episode of ‘Full House’ was dedicated to the genre.)

TV EPISODE MENTION: "3...2...1".
TV SHOW CONNECTIONS:
“Beach Party” – ‘Batman’
“Muscle Beach Party” – ‘WKRP In Cincinnati’
“Bikini Beach” - ‘The Tonight Show’ (with Don Rickles as the guest, talking about being in the third movie – both the talk show and Rickles are in the Hall)
“Beach Blanket Bingo” (This is the movie which has had the most references, which I think is largely due to the title.) – ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’, ‘Here’s Lucy’, ‘The Bob Newhart Show’, ‘Silver Spoons’, ‘California Dreams’, ‘Roseanne’, ‘NCIS’, ‘Veronica Mars’, ‘Last Man Standing’, ‘Masters Of Sex’, ‘The Tonight Show’ (again, because Don Rickles was the guest, talking about being in the third movie.  Both the talk show and Rickles are in the Hall)
“How To Stuff A Wild Bikini” – ‘Sabrina The Teenage Witch’, ‘Mama’s Family’

And ‘Full House’, ‘Gilmore Girls’, & ‘Mork & Mindy’ for the overall genre.

So there you have it – my Birthday Honors Inductee, with more than enough examples to qualify “America’s Attic” for inclusion in the TVXOHOF.

Happy birthday to me....