DECEMBER 2023 TVXOHOF - IT'S A WONDERFUL CROSSOVER PART ONE

A few years ago, the Television Crossover Hall of Fame inducted at least 12 televersions of the TV shows we watch here in the Trueniverse, but which definitely existed in Toobworld.  (As is the case with the huma-# er, the living members of the TVXOHOF, all they needed were three other TV series verifying their existence in Earth Prime-Time.)

But we’ve never inducted a movie into the Hall before… and that ends this month.  And considering it’s December, with its holiday season, there was only one movie which was the perfect choice to be the first film to be granted the “honor”….

“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”

From Wikipedia:
"It's a Wonderful Life" is a 1946 American Christmas supernatural drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra. It is based on the short story and booklet "The Greatest Gift" self-published by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1943, which itself is loosely based on the 1843 Charles Dickens novella "A Christmas Carol". The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams in order to help others in his community and whose thoughts of suicide on Christmas Eve bring about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Oddbody (Henry Travers). Clarence shows George all the lives he touched and what the world would be like if he did not exist.

Theatrically, the film's break-even point was $6.3 million, about twice the production cost, a figure it did not come close to achieving on its initial release. Because of the film's disappointing sales, Capra was seen by some studios as having lost his ability to produce popular, financially successful films. Although "It's a Wonderful Life" initially received mixed reviews and was unsuccessful at the box office, it became a Christmas classic after its copyright expired in 1974 following a lack of renewal and it entered the public domain, which allowed it to be broadcast without licensing or royalty fees.

Today, "It's a Wonderful Life" is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time and among the best Christmas films. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made. It was No. 11 on the American Film Institute's 1998 greatest movie list, No. 20 on its 2007 greatest movie list, and No. 1 on its list of the most inspirational American films of all time.

Capra revealed that it was his favorite among the films he directed and that he screened it for his family every Christmas season. It was one of Stewart's favorite films.

In 1990, "It's a Wonderful Life" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being deemed as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

An interesting bit of trivia regarding those TV series which were inducted into the Hall – Due to script references, usually delivered as punchlines, they could be radically different from the shows which we saw here on Earth Prime.  Perhaps the most famous of these would be the casting of Joey Tribbiani as Dr. Drake Ramoray in ‘Days Of Our Lives’ for an extended story arc on ‘Friends’.  It’s a shrug-worthy splainin that the televersion of those shows had episodes which were just not available to us on the other side of the Fourth Wall.

But I don’t think that can be applicable to the televersions of movies, as their finished prints should be locked in without alterations… unless George Lucas gets his mitts on them and changes them for the worse.  The only place to find such alterations to movies in the mutliverse of the TV Universe would be in the alternate dimension of Skitlandia, the sketch comedy Toobworld.  (Probably the best example of that ties into our December inductee – the lost ending to “It’s A Wonderful Life” as seen in the December 20, 1986 edition of ‘Saturday Night Live’ hosted by William Shatner.)

I can’t confirm this, but I think “It’s A Wonderful Life” could be the most cited movie in all of Toobworld; not too shabby for something which usually only gets trotted out for seasonal references.  Maybe one of the few flicks which could rival that claim might be the original “Star Wars” or at least the entire franchise.

Here are the most important qualifications for “It’s A Wonderful Life” to be eligible for inclusion – scenes of the movie actually being watched by fictional (to us) TV characters.  (I have included inserts of the scenes being watched when the image is not too clear.)

"The Twilight Zone" Button, Button (TV Episode 1986)

The film is playing on television but Norma Lewis turns it off.

O'Bservation - This was my favorite story in the first TV reboot of 'The Twilight Zone'.

"Cheers" Christmas Cheers (TV Episode 1987)

Everyone watches the final scene on the bar's TV.

O’Bservation – They all claim it’s sappy hokum.  Of course, moments later they’re all reaching for the tissues.

"Hard Time on Planet Earth" Stranger in a Strange Land (TV Episode 1989)

Jesse watches the movie on TV. The scene where Jimmy returns to his family is shown.

O’Bservation – This time, Jesse and his robotic Jiminy Cricket - known as Control - are the insert.

"Parker Lewis Can't Lose" Lewis and Son (TV Episode 1992)

It plays on a TV in the video store.

O’Bservation – This was the most inventive use of the movie I’ve found so far, which had nothing to do with the Christmas season.  As his customers are preparing to flee Mondo Video for the competition, Mr. Lewis mirrors the action in that scene as it plays out on the store TV.

"Roseanne" It's No Place Like Home for the Holidays (TV Episode 1992)

Darlene and David watch the movie on TV.

"Beverly Hills, 90210" It's a Totally Happening Life (TV Episode 1992)

The Walsh family is watching the film on TV.

O’Bservation – The following two episodes of ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ are not available in their streaming options, probably because the music rights could not be secured.  This was not an issue with the 1992 episode, which had a distinct IAWL resonance with two angels reviewing the lives of the characters and eventually taking action to alter the course of their futures a la Clarence.

"Beverly Hills, 90210" Somewhere in the World It's Christmas (TV Episode 1993)

Erica watches the film on television.

"Beverly Hills, 90210" Nine Yolks Whipped Lightly (TV Episode 1999)

Dylan watches the ending at the After Dark.

"Men Behaving Badly" Gift of Jami (TV Episode 1997)

Brenda and the guys are watching It's a Wonderful Life on TV.

O’Bservation – Too cheap probably to use an actual clip; the music we hear was most likely generic and had no relation to the movie.  Of course, I could be wrong.  It's not unheard of.

"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" The Alma Matter (TV Episode 1993)

A fragment of this film is shown in this episode

"Melrose Place" Oy! to the World (TV Episode 1995)

Allison is watching the movie on TV….

“Allison, you are in no condition to watch ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’!” 

O'Bservation - I don't know who that is in the picture.  She said that line.

Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas (Video 1996)

1] Elmo is watching the movie as he tries to stay awake to see Santa.
2] Ernie and Bert are surprised to hear their names are used by characters in the movie when they see it on a tiny TV at the electronics shop.

"JAG" Answered Prayers (TV Episode 2001)

Featured on the TV while Bud and Mikey are talking.

"One Tree Hill" Songs to Love and Die By (TV Episode 2006)

“It's a Wonderful Life” is playing on the TV set in Haley's hospital room.

O'Bservation - Not that she was in any condition to watch it....

"MacGyver" Bullet + Pen (TV Episode 2017)

This movie is playing in the police station.

"Happy!" When Christmas Was Christmas (TV Episode 2017)

Clips are shown.

"EastEnders" Episode dated 23 December 2019 (TV Episode 2019)

Mo, Kat, Kush, and Tommy watch the film while they're barricaded in the house.

O’Bservation - At a critical moment in the film, the power gets cut to drive them out of the house.

"Ted Lasso" Carol of the Bells (TV Episode 2021)

Ted watches it on TV Christmas morning as he drinks because he misses his son Henry back in the States.

"Hawkeye" Partners, Am I Right? (TV Episode 2021)

It’s playing on the TV at a safe house, after "the Blip".

"Designing Women" The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire Twentieth Century: Part 1 (TV Episode 1990)

Charlene watches it on TV.

O’Bservation – Yet another TV series episode missing from the roster at Amazon!  I don’t know whether it’s because of music rights or they just don’t want to lock in to a holiday….

"The King of Queens" Food Fight (TV Episode 2002)

Arthur is watching this classic and says he wishes George Bailey would have never been born.

O'Bservation - We never see the movie, but at least in this case, we hear the soundtrack.  Everybody is gathered at the Bailey house to help George and they all start singing a Christmas carol.

"EastEnders" - Episode #1.2944 (TV Episode 2005)

The Slaters watch the film. Little Mo mentions the film to Alfie.

O'Bservation - I was lucky I found that other 'EastEnders' clip.  But that was part of a major plot development.  Couldn't expect lightning to strike twice.

"My So-Called Life" Pilot (TV Episode 1994)

A clip from the film is shown.

"The Sopranos" To Save Us All from Satan's Power (TV Episode 2001)

It comes on when Tony turns the TV on after coming home from dinner.

As I find screen grabs for those missing examples, I will add them in.

This won’t be the only blog post today celebrating the gift of having “It’s A Wonderful Life” in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.  What kind of a Christmas would it be with just one present?

Merry Christmas, you old movie featuring a Building & Loan!

And welcome to the Hall!

PS
These posts are dedicated to my sister, Leah.  It’s her favorite movie.  It’s taken her years, but she’s won me over into enjoying it as well.

“Miracle On 34th Street” is still my favorite Christmas movie though….

NOVEMBER, 2023 TVXOHOF - CHARLES PHILIP ARTHUR GEORGE AKA CHARLES III

For most of the quarter century plus during which I’ve been the Curator of Toobworld and Director of the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, most of the inductees into the TVXOHOF for the month of November (which has been the main showcase for political crossovers and those newsmakers and newsmen who have met the requirements for membership) have been Americans.  Many of them have been the multidimensional Presidents of the United States.

But because of the events of May 6^th of this year, there was only one real choice for the November “candidate”, a different world leader….

CHARLES III

From Wikipedia:
Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms.

Charles was born in Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and became heir apparent when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, acceded to the throne in 1952. He was created Prince of Wales in 1958 and his investiture was held in 1969. He was educated at Cheam School and Gordonstoun, and later spent six months at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia. After earning a history degree from the University of Cambridge, Charles served in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976.

In 1981, he married Lady Diana Spencer. They had two sons, William and Harry. Charles and Diana divorced in 1996, after they had each engaged in well-publicized extramarital affairs. Diana died as a result of injuries sustained in a car crash the following year. In 2005, Charles married his long-term partner, Camilla Parker Bowles.

As heir apparent, Charles undertook official duties and engagements on behalf of his mother. He founded the Prince's Trust in 1976, sponsored the Prince's Charities, and became patron or president of more than 800 other charities and organizations. He advocated for the conservation of historic buildings and the importance of architecture in society. In that vein, he generated the experimental new town of Poundbury.

An environmentalist, Charles supported organic farming and action to prevent climate change during his time as the manager of the Duchy of Cornwall estates, earning him awards and recognition as well as criticism; he is also a prominent critic of the adoption of genetically modified food, while his support for alternative medicine has been criticized. He has authored or co-authored 17 books.

Charles became king upon his mother's death on 8 September 2022. At the age of 73, he became the oldest person to accede to the British throne, after having been the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales in British history.

His coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023.

Since he was only crowned this year, all of his appearances as his own televersion listed here, as well as most of the references to him and his status, reflect the decades he spent as the Heir Apparent.  It will be interesting to see if he will have enough time to exert any cultural influence in the scripts of future television programs as his mother had for seventy years.  After all, her reign coincided with early years of the medium and just about all of the fictional TV series which were considered current to the timeline of the real world knew no other monarch but Elizabeth II.  No matter what year a TV show represented in the latter half of the 20^th Century, it always felt up-to-date with any mention of Her Royal Nibs (despite the presence of modern vehicles and appliances and the like.)  With Charles now His Royal Majesty, all of those previous series are time-locked into a specific time period.

Well, that’s enough out of me maundering on….

Here are the three TV appearances by then-Prince Charles which establish the existence of his televersion:

JACKANORY

THE OLD MAN OF LOCHNAGAR (1984)

O’Bservation – The Prince was the Storyteller on the show once, to read the children's book he had written - "The Old Man Of Lochnagar".  It could be that his televersion served in that function for the televersion of the program as well.  We know it existed in Earth Prime-Time because it was referenced in such shows as ‘Bergerac’, ‘The Young Ones’, ‘Sykes’, and ‘Are You Being Served?’.

CORONATION STREET

EPISODE 1.4945 (2000)
This episode was recorded and transmitted live to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the live broadcast of the series' very first episode on 9 December 1960.

Audrey enjoys a royal encounter.
At the hospital, Vera is critical but stable, having had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics. Tyrone and Maria convince Jack to go home and rest, as he has been at Vera's bedside all night, but when Martin advises them that Jack shouldn't stay away very long, Tyrone panics and phones Curly to ask him to fetch Jack. While speaking on the phone to Tyrone in The Kabin, Curly is overheard by Norris, who assumes from Curly's half of the conversation that Vera has died.

Meanwhile, Audrey brags to Rita about her upcoming lunch date with Prince Charles, who is visiting Weatherfield to open a new planning office at the Town Hall.  At the Rovers, Natalie tells Liz that she is spending the day with the brewery, who are going to show her around other pubs. Emily has been told that Vera has died and has come to offer her sympathies. Jack and Curly race to the hospital, where they are relieved to learn that there has been no change in Vera's condition.

At the Rovers, the "news" about Vera spreads, putting a dampener on the spirits of the protesters. Curly later puts the record straight in the Rovers. Just as everybody celebrates the fact that Vera hasn't died, Audrey arrives from her lunch with Prince Charles.

O'Bservation - From what I've been led to believe, Prince Charles visited Vera Duckworth in the hospital.

EASTENDERS

EPISODE 1.6497 (2022)
As the residents of Albert Square celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, Mick's guests-of-honour leave everyone speechless.  (This episode was dedicated to Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee and featured the special appearances of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.)

Thanks to archival footage, many famous people can have their presence confirmed in Toobworld, and Charles is no exception.

SHAMELESS

THREE BOYS (2011)
Sheila Jackson watched The Royal Wedding TV Special on her living room TV.

THE GOLDBERGS

THE FACTS OF BLEEPING  LIFE (2014)
Beverly Goldberg also watched the Royal Wedding on TV, which then inspired her to renew her vows with her husband Murray.

O’Bservation – If I get one more example of TV characters watching the Royal Wedding in 1981, I can induct that broadcast into TVXOHOF wing for the televersions of TV shows, as is the case with shows like ‘Star Trek’, ‘Hollywood Squares’, ‘Kaw & Order’, and ‘Saturday Night Live’.  Who knows?  Maybe ‘Doctor Who’ might even have the Time Lord attend it or at least watch it himself.  (Hell, I might be tempted to accept a photoshopped picture of one of the Incarnations in attendance!)

There are plenty of other TV shows which have made references to Prince Charles, thus verifying his existence in Toobworld.  Here are a few examples:

DYNASTY
THE HONEYMOON (1981)
Cecil Colby:
You can't not like Jeff. He's bright enough, he's good looking, caring.
Quite a catch, some would say. Sort of a Denver version Prince of Wales.

THE POWERS OF MATTHEW STARR
WINNING (1982)
Matthew Star:
Look, I just want to belong. I'm tired of being an outsider.
And you know what they say about teamwork and competition and all that stuff.
That's good for future leaders!
Walt Shepherd:
Ah, ah, ah, just one moment! I decide what is best for this future leader.
Matthew Star:
Alright, would you agree what's good for one is good for another?
Well, Prince Charles of England, when he was my age, he played soccer and rugby!
He learned how to fly planes, played polo, chased girls with reckless abandon!
And I'll give all that up... for football.

AIRWOLF
ECHOES FROM THE PAST (1984)
In an example of life imitating television, this episode has a fake news report talking about the divorce of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in July of 1984. In reality, they did get divorced in August, 1996.  (Shades of the movie "36 Hours.")

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
HUNTIN’, SHOOTIN’, & FISHIN’ (2003)
Following a promotion for Prince Charles' biscuits Eddy becomes obsessed with the high life and pays thirty thousand pounds for a weekend at a country house for herself and Patsy, though they soon get bored as there is nothing glamorous to do.

SUITS
WAR (2013)
Louis jokingly calls Nigel "Prince Charles" when they are at the bar.

Here are other episodes which mentioned Prince Charles in some way, but I have yet to find out the details….

7^TH HEAVEN
ANYTHING YOU WANT (1996)

THE A-TEAM
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE (1983)

BIRDS OF A FEATHER
1] WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE MAJORCA (1991)
2] PUPPY LOVE (1994)
3] STAND BY YOUR MAN (1997)

THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW
BOBBIE GENTRY & SCOEY MITCHELL (1969)

KAVANAGH QC
BLOOD MONEY (1997)

MY HERO
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO LUNCH (2000)

SHELLEY
FULLY FURNISHED (1980)

TAXI
MR. PERSONALITIES (1981)

TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS
ON THE BLOB (2002)

THE VICAR OF DIBLEY
COMMUNITY SPIRIT (1994)

GAVIN & STACEY
EPISODE 1.3 (2007)
EPISODE 1.6 (2007)

WAKING THE DEAD
ANGER MANAGEMENT: PART 2 (2004)

THE INBETWEENERS
THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARDS (2009)

10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU
LIGHT MY FIRE (2009)

BENIDORM
EPISODE 3.6 (2009)

PSYCH
SHAWN RESCUES DARTH VADER (2011)

THE CARRIE DIARIES
FRIGHT NIGHT (2013)

THE NEW NORMAL
THE GOLDIE RUSH (2013)

HART OF DIXIE
A GOOD RUN OF BAD LUCK (2014)

BLAUMACHER
BLASEHASE (2017)

FRESH OFF THE BOAT
LIAR LIAR (2018)

O’Bservation – I know there are episodes of ‘Veep’ and ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’ which mentioned the Prince, but as they take place in alternate Toobworlds, I’m just going to ignore them.

And speaking of alt-Toobworlds, there are at least eight of those TV planets who have their own distinctive Charles III, including Toobstage (with Tim Pigott-Smith as “King Charles III”) and Skitlandia – with Charles’ face changing from Dana Carvey to Seth Meyers to Beck Bennett on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and Craig Ferguson when he was hosting ‘The Late Late Show’.

Here are the TV movies which are responsible for bringing those other Toobworlds to life.

• “The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana”
• “Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story”
• “Charles & Diana: Unhappily Ever After”
• “Diana: Her True Story”
• “Princess in Love”

And finally there’s the Toobworld known as “Crownworld”.  Over the course of his televersion life on that world, he has been portrayed by four different actors in ‘The Crown’.

I’m sure His Majesty will find better ways to ring out the year, but a membership in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame isn’t too shabby….

Welcome, King Chuck!

MONDAY MEMORIAL TVXOHOF TRIBUTE - SALUTING SUZANNE SOMERS

I understood that Suzanne Somers epitomized the dumb blonde archetype to heights which Carol Wayne could only dream about.  But until I started chronicling the list of TV shows in which she made appearances as a member of The League of Themselves, I never realized how much of an icon she was as Suzanne, not just as Chrissy.

SUZANNE SOMERS

From Wikipedia:
Suzanne Marie Somers (née Mahoney; October 16, 1946 – October 15, 2023) was an American actress, author, singer, businesswoman and health spokesperson. She played the television roles of Chrissy Snow on 'Three's Company' (1977–1981) and Carol Foster Lambert on 'Step by Step' (1991–1998).

Somers later wrote several books, including two autobiographies, four diet books and a book of poetry. Her book "Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones" (2006) about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and the Wiley protocol, controversial treatments for menopausal women, was heavily criticized. Her book "Knockout" (2009), which promoted alternative cancer treatments, was criticized by the American Cancer Society.

In 1991 a two-hour biographical film of Somers, starring the actress herself, entitled "Keeping Secrets", based on her first autobiography of the same title, was broadcast on ABC. The movie chronicled Somers' troubled family life and upbringing, along with her subsequent rise to fame.

After divorcing [her first husband] in 1968, Somers worked as a prize model on 'The Anniversary Game', a game show hosted by Alan Hamel. Although he was already married, they began dating; she had an affair with him that led to an abortion. They married in 1977.

From CNN:
Suzanne Somers, the actress who lit up the small screen on “Three’s Company” and one of TV’s most iconic fitness pitch-women, has died, according to a statement provided to CNN from her longtime publicist R. Couri Hay.

She was 76.

“Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of October 15th. She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years,” Hay wrote in a statement shared on behalf of the actress’ family.

She passed away the day before her birthday....

Here are the shows in which she appeared as herself, qualifying her to be inducted into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame:

THE ANNIVERSARY GAME (1968)
She was the model/presenter for two years.

BILLY
THE PRIZE (1979)
Billy and his date attend the Mortician's Ball where the young lady wins trip tickets to Hollywood. Billy assumes he will go and get an opportunity to meet his fantasy woman Suzanne Somers.

KEEPING SECRETS (1991 TV movie)
The FILM Autobiography of actress and entrepreneur Suzanne Somers with all the trials and tribulations that made her who she is today.

SISTERS
MOVING PICTURES (1993)
A TV movie on the sisters unites Alex with her romantic idol (Patrick Duffy); guests Suzanne Somers, John Schneider.

THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW
LARRY LOSES INTEREST (1993)
Larry begins to lose interest in his show and throws his interest into a potential film project.

FULL HOUSE
LOVE ON THE ROCKS (1994)
When she starts hanging out with Kimmy and her new boyfriend (who can't keep their hands off of each other), DJ realizes that she and Steve have really cooled off. So when Steve goes on a class trip to Los Angeles, DJ contemplates whether or not the two of them have a future as a couple. Meanwhile, after Joey pulls a prank on the rest of the family, they make a plan to have the last laugh.

THE NAKED TRUTH
STAR AND COMER COLLIDE!  GIANT BUGS INVADE! (1995)
Nora throws a party to introduce her old friends to her new ones, but hoards of uninvited guests attend and Camilla butts heads with Suzanne Somers.

And of course, there are all the Thighmaster infomercials….

Ms. Somers is a multidimensional in the greater TV Universe….

THE TOONIVERSE

THE SIMPSONS
THE DAY THE VIOLENCE DIED (1996)
Bart and Lisa meet a vagabond who claims to be the creator of Itchy from "Itchy and Scratchy."  (In his script, John Swartzwelder randomly paired David Brinkley and Suzanne Somers together as the parade commentators. The producers were unable to get Brinkley to play his part, so he was instead voiced by Harry Shearer. However, they were successful in getting Somers to voice herself.)

Good night and may God bless Suzanne Somers.  Welcome to the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.