TVXOHOF TRIBUTE - BOB UECKER DOESN'T MISS THE TAG

Bob Uecker:

“Remember, fans.

This exciting moment is brought to you by Month Old Franks.

The hot dogs with experience.”

From WTMJ4:
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers and broadcasting legend Bob Uecker passed away Thursday at the age of 90, the Brewers announced.

“Today, we take on the heaviest of burdens. Today, we say goodbye to our beloved friend, Bob Uecker," a statement from the Brewers said.

“Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss. He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; his presence warmed every room and he had a way of welcoming all of us into his world as if we were lifelong friends.

“Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words.

“There is no describing the impact Ueck had on so many, and no words for how much he was loved. We are left with a giant void in our hearts, but also remember the laughter and joy he brought to our lives throughout the years.”

It would have been just a matter of time for “Ueck” to enter the Television Crossover Hall Of Fame; eventually he would have been a lock for an April berth.  I’m sorry it was spurred by his passing.

BOB UECKER

From Wikipedia:
Robert George Uecker (January 26, 1934 – January 16, 2025), better known as Bob Uecker, was an American professional baseball catcher and sportscaster who served as the primary broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB) for 54 seasons.

Uecker signed with his hometown Milwaukee Braves in 1956, spending several years in the minor leagues with various affiliate clubs before making his major league debut in 1962.

As a backup catcher, he played for the Milwaukee Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves from 1962 to 1967. He won a World Series with the Cardinals in 1964.

After retiring, Uecker started a broadcasting career and served as a play-by-play announcer for Milwaukee Brewers radio broadcasts from 1971. Uecker became known for his self-deprecating wit and became a regular fixture on late night talk shows in the 1970s and 1980s, facetiously dubbed "Mr. Baseball" by TV talk show host Johnny Carson.

He hosted several sports blooper shows and had an acting career that included his role as George Owens on the television program 'Mr. Belvedere' and as play-by-play announcer Harry Doyle in the film "Major League" and its two sequels.

Uecker was honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame with its 2003 Ford C. Frick Award in recognition of his broadcasting career.

After retiring as a player, Uecker became a broadcaster, starting with WSB-TV in Atlanta. In 1971, he began calling play-by-play for the Milwaukee Brewers' radio broadcasts. Uecker's tenure as a Brewers broadcaster (54 seasons) was the second-longest continuous tenure with one team among active Major League Baseball announcers prior to his death, trailing only Kansas City Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews (1969–present).

During his Brewers tenure, Uecker mentored Pat Hughes, Jim Powell, Cory Provus and Joe Block, all of whom became primary radio announcers for other MLB teams. For several years he also served as a color commentator for network television broadcasts of Major League Baseball, helping call games for ABC in the 1970s and early 1980s and NBC (teaming with Bob Costas and Joe Morgan) in the 1990s. During that time, he was a commentator for several League Championship Series and World Series. He also called the 1982 World Series locally for the Brewers on WISN in Milwaukee.

He made some 100 guest appearances on Johnny Carson's 'Tonight' Show. Most of his wisecracks poked fun at himself. He once quipped, "Sporting goods companies would pay me not to endorse their products."

Uecker hosted 'Saturday Night Live' on October 13, 1984. The episode also featured musical performances by Peter Wolf.

Uecker appeared in a series of Miller Lite commercials starting in the 1980s. In one commercial from that decade, Uecker was seen preparing to watch a baseball game when an usher informs him he is in the wrong seat. Uecker pompously remarks, "I must be in the front row", which became another of his catchphrases. The punch line was that Uecker's seat was actually in the nosebleed section.

Since then, the farthest seats from the action in some arenas and stadiums have been jokingly called "Uecker seats". There is a section of $1 seating called the "Uecker seats" at American Family Field, which is an obstructed-view area in the upper grandstand above home plate where the stadium's roof pivot comes together (in reference to one of his Miller Lite commercials).

Another of Uecker's catchphrases from the aforementioned Miller Lite 'front row' commercial is, "He missed the tag!" which he yells with confidence from his seat in the top row of the upper deck of the stadium, far away from the action.

He made cameo appearances as himself in episodes of the sitcoms 'Who's the Boss?', 'D.C. Follies', and 'LateLine'. He was the voice of the "head of Bob Uecker" in the 'Futurama' episode "A Leela of Her Own".

Here are the shows which qualify Mr. Baseball as a member of the TVXOHOF as a multidimensional League of Themselves member:

According to IMDb, Uecker made at least five appearances in Miller Lite blipverts, which rocketed him to prominence as a League of Themselves member.

MILLER LITE
[TASTES GREAT, LESS FILLING]

O'Bservation:
In one of these commercials, Bob got to work with an actor with whom I became friends late in his life, John Finnegan (appearing as the usher.  Mr. Finnegan certainly knew how to work those red jackets and caps, as seen in these screencaps from 'McCloud' and 'The Adventures of Ellery Queen' respectively.) 

That was more exciting for this Toobworld Curator than the fact that Uecker got to work with John Goodman in one of his earliest roles.

[Goodman's the guy in the red sweater]

• BOB UECKER (1982)
• SOFTBALL GAME (1983)
• FIRST LITE BEER CAMPING TRIP (1985)
• THE FIRST LITE BEER OPEN (1986)
• THE CASE OF THE MISSING CASE (1986)

O’Bservation:

In that last commercial, Rodney Dangerfield peels off his mask to reveal he is really Bob Uecker, who thought he was at a costume party.

VARIOUS WRESTLING EVENTS (1980S)

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (October 13, 1984)
(Musical guest – Peter Wolf)

O’Bservation:
As with any episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’, any sketches in which Uecker appeared as fictional characters (The Little League Coach, The Police Officer) became part of Skitlandia.  But as himself, as the host of the episode, Uecker adds to his tally for membership.  

One thing which helped in that regard is that he was the anchor for Weekend News Update, rather than a cast member.

HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (1986)

WHO’S THE BOSS?
THE UNNATURAL (1986)

O’Bservation:
Uecker showed up to watch the game, but he got forced to sit at the top of the stands.  He looked for the silver lining though – he said if the field had been moved, he'd be in the front row.

D.C. FOLLIES
OLLIE NORTH RAISES MONEY WITH “ADOPT-A-CONTRA” SCHEME (1987)

Bob Uecker wanted to run for President.

O’Bservation:
This is not an alternate Toobworld.  Puppets are alive.  They are spirits which inhabit shells of various forms and they take on qualities of that puppet shell.

LATELINE
PEARCE’S NEW BUDDY (1998)

Ueker to Mike Dukakis:
“Mike, if you don’t want to be considered a loser, I’d 86 the shirt.”
“But hey!  What’s wrong with being a loser?  It got me a big house.”

Meanwhile, over in the Tooniverse….

FUTURAMA
A LEELA OF HER OWN (2002)

Trivia from IMDb:
When Bob Uecker is announcing the Red Sox / Mets game, he states "and that's with three E's". The Red Sox famously lost Game Six of the 1986 World Series to the NY Mets on an error when a ground ball went between first baseman Bill Buckner's legs. That play meant the game was concluded with the Red Sox having 3 errors (abbreviated 3 E).

Hank Aaron was reluctant to be in this episode, but agreed when he found out Bob Uecker had agreed.

Bob Uecker says "I've never seen anything this bizarre, and I've seen Mr. Belvedere naked! Woo!" Bob Uecker was an actor in a show called 'Mr. Belvedere'.

PUPPY DOG PALS
TAKE ME OUT TO THE PUG GAME (2017)

O’Bservation:
Uecker was the voice of the announcer at the local ball park who introduces the legendary Teddy Peppercorn to the crowd.  

The announcer wasn’t named, but why couldn’t it have been Uecker appearing as himself?  If Teddy Peppercorn was that much of a baseball legend, shouldn’t he be presented by somebody worthy of the job?

TEEN TITANS GO!
BBRBDAY (2017)

Robin isn't invited to Beast Boy's birthday party, so he decides to throw his own party with special guest Bob Uecker.

THE BORDERLANDS

SPRINGFIELD OF DREAMS:
THE LEGEND OF HOMER SIMPSON (2017)

O’Bservation:
In a dimension straddling the Tooniverse and some live-action Toobworld, this is chronicled.

Bob Uecker died on January 16th.  I could have posted this tribute to the Inner Toob at any point since then, even on that day.  But as his birthday was just ten days later, I decided to share it today.  Everybody deserves to get something for their birthday, even if it is just a little tip of the baseball cap like this “honorific.”

Welcome to the Hall, Mr. Uecker.  Feel free to sit in the front row.  The TVXOHOF is a concept of the mind, so every seat can be in the front row.

 

ADDENDUM - RICHARD SIMMONS

We've got two interesting additions to the tally for Richard Simmons, who was a memorial tribute last year in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.

First up is an interesting frame-grab from an appearance on Rosie O'Donnell's talk show.  (She was trying to guess his identity.)

Talk shows, except for certain situations ('The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson', 'The Merv Griffin Show', 'The View'), carry no weight towards the qualifications of an inductee.  But they can add flavor, as this photo illustrates.

And then we have a reference to Mr. Simmons, not an actual appearance.  I've come to accept that a reference to a person, even if they are not seen, is proof that a television of that person does exist in Toobworld.

FRIENDS
THE ONE IN VEGAS PART 1

Phoebe:
What the hell took you so long?
Monica:
Okay, you can NOT tell Chandler. Okay? That I ran into Richard.
Phoebe:
Which Richard?
Monica:
THE Richard.
Phoebe:
Richard Simmons?! Oh my God!
Monica:
Noo! My ex-boyfriend Richard! Y'know the tall guy, moustache?
Phoebe:
Oh! Okay, that actually makes more sense. So how was it?
Monica:
It was, it was really nice. We started talking and I-I ended up having lunch with him.
Phoebe:
That is so weird! I had a dream that you'd have lunch with Richard.
Monica:
Really? Phoebe: But again, Simmons. Go on.

[LATER]

Chandler:
Ohh that's the worst thing that can happen on an anniversary ever!
Phoebe: (Just joining them)
Oh good! All right, so you decided to tell him about the Richard thing.
Chandler:
What-what Richard thing?
Phoebe:
Oh no.
Chandler:
What Richard thing?
Phoebe: (To Monica under her breath)
Simmons! Go with Simmons!

TVXOHOF REMEMBERS - DR. MONICA QUARTERMAINE

Something new which I hope won’t be utilized very often over the coming year in the Inner Toob blog – posts to mark the passing of the members of the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.

And unfortunately, with 2025 barely underway, we already have news to share.

From ABC News:
The "General Hospital" family has lost one of their own.

Leslie Charleson, who played Monica Quartermaine on the iconic soap opera for nearly five decades, from 1977 to 2023, died recently at the age of 79.

Frank Valentini, executive producer of "General Hospital," shared a statement about Charleson's death to the show's official Instagram account on Jan. 12.

"It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson," Valentini wrote. "Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew."

Dr. Monica Quartermaine was inducted in September of 2018 for the following appearances:

GENERAL HOSPITAL
2079 Episodes
(1977-2023)

PORT CHARLES
27 Episodes
(1997-2001)

GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT
2 Episodes
(2008)

DIAGNOSIS MURDER
PHYSICIAN, MURDER THYSELF
(1997)

In all but that last entry, Ms. Charleson portrayed Monica Quartermaine.  But for that ‘Diagnosis Murder’ episode, she was credited only as “New Doctor”.  So why couldn’t she have shown up at Community General as Dr. Quartermaine?

Even if some Crossover Powers That Be struck that off her credentials, she more than covers the basics to qualify with the other three series.  Three series is the minimum needed to be worthy of the “honor”.  But not many in the Hall now can lay claim to having played the role 2,108 times!

As Red Skelton would say, good night and may God bless, Ms. Charleson.  Thank you for sharing Monica with us all these years.

TVXOHOF - JANUARY 2025: THE FIRST CROSSOVER OF THE YEAR IS A DOG

 
WELCOME TO 2025!

Enjoy it while you can….

Each year, the Television Crossover Hall of Fame inducts at least a dozen TV characters, as well as members of the League of Themselves, one every month, who have connected at least three TV series and/or commercials and TV movies into a connected universe.  And each of those months has a theme which I, as a curator of Toobworld, try to follow.

We kick off each year’s class with the January theme of Classic TV.  For this year, I was having a tough time thinking of a person who was a great, splashy showcase to begin the tally.

And that’s when I realized that I needed to readjust the perspective of my thinking….

DOG

From Wikipedia:
Higgins (December 12, 1957 – November 11, 1975) was an American dog actor, one of the well-known animal actors during the 1960s and 1970s. He is most remembered for his roles in the original "Benji" film, and the uncredited dog from 'Petticoat Junction', two of the most popular roles he played during a 14-year career in show business.

In 1960, animal trainer Frank Inn found the dog at the Burbank Animal Shelter as a puppy. He was believed to be a mix of Miniature Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, and Schnauzer.

As an actor, Higgins first came to national attention as the uncredited dog who played the character of "Dog" on the television sitcom 'Petticoat Junction' for six of the show's seven seasons, from 1964 to 1970, appearing in 149 episodes. He guest-appeared on the television sitcom 'Green Acres' with Eva Gabor in 1965 and also made a guest appearance on the television sitcom 'The Beverly Hillbillies'.

Due to his work in 'Petticoat Junction', Higgins received a PATSY Award in 1966 in the television category, and he was cover-featured on an issue of TV Guide magazine.

Higgins was able to convey a broad range of emotions through his facial expressions. Inn, who trained thousands of animals of many species during his lifetime, told reporters that Higgins was the smartest dog he had ever worked with and noted that during his prime years in television, he learned one new trick or routine per week and retained these routines from year to year, making it possible for him to take on increasingly varied and complex roles. Higgins's tricks included yawning and sneezing on cue.

O'Bservation:

The IMDb says that Dog was in 174 episodes, not just 149.  I'm not going to bother counting them; I'll just make note of both totals.

“Higgins” was his actual name.  If he had a name in Hooterville, we never learned it.  Basically, he was just “Dog”.  (That’s right; Lt. Frank Columbo wasn’t the first to have a four-legged companion by that “name”.)

Here are the shows which justify Dog's membership in the Hall....

PETTICOAT JUNCTION
174 Episodes (1964-1970)

First Episode:
BETTY JO’S DOG (1964)
Last Episode:
BETTY JO’S BUSINESS (1970)

O’Bservations:
Some of the episodes actually centered around Dog, like when he ended up on trial as an accused chicken killer.  Many times he was the “partner-in-crime” to Uncle Joe Carson.  

‘Petticoat Junction’ had a deep bench to draw from for stories, so it’s nice to see that Higgins’ acting skills were recognized to carry a few plotlines.

GREEN ACRES
LISA THE HELPMATE (1965)

LISA HAS A CALF (1965)

O'Bservation:
In a later episode (UNCLE FEDOR), Higgins appears as a dog known as "Killer" but that could be a ploy by Fedor to convince Mr. Douglas that he really is in danger.  I have not been able to track down the episode to learn more.

"AMEN!"

THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
THE THANKSGIVING SPIRIT (1968)
CHRISTMAS IN HOOTERVILLE (1968)

HEY!
Somebody is missing....

O’Bservation:

Higgins appeared in ten episodes of 'The Beverly Hillbillies', but he was only “Dog of Hooterville” in his last two appearances in Season Seven.  In the earlier episodes, he had names like JoJo or Wilbur or just was never addressed by name.  But he was playing a different dog on the other side of the country, in Beverly Hills.  (If anything, he could have been the same dog seen in two episodes of ‘Lassie’, which also took place in California.)

One final note from Wikipedia:

Higgins died at age 17, just a month short of his 18th birthday. Inn had the dog's body cremated and saved the ashes in an urn on his mantelpiece. He then wrote a Christian poem in memory of Higgins called “My Gift to Jesus”. Inn died in 2002 and requested that Higgins's ashes be buried in his coffin with him. Inn is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Welcome to the TVXOHOF, Dog.  Maybe most humans will remember you for your last role of Benji, but for me, it’s your nameless mutt in Hooterville who stands tall.

You'll find Mr. Ed and Lassie here to keep you company.  I was going to say your old pal Uncle Joe Carson was here as well.  I thought for sure I had inducted him years ago!  Oh well....  At least I have somebody to include next January....

But in the meantime, maybe Sam Drucker can play fetch with you....

(I couldn't think of a better freeze frame to serve as the finale, since Dog was the last cast member to be seen each week during the credits as he chased the Cannonball down the tracks to the Junction... Petticoat Junction.)