Today marks the 103rd anniversary of William Hartnell's birth.....
KING MONGKUT
AS SEEN IN:
'Anna And The King'
AS PLAYED BY:
Yul Brynner
From Wikipedia:
Klao Chao Yu Hua (or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut (18 October 1804 – 1 October 1868), was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868. He was one of the most revered monarchs of the country.
Outside of Thailand he is best-known as the King in the play and film "The King and I", based on the 1956 film "Anna and the King of Siam" - in turn based on the writing of Anna Leonowens about her six years at his court.
In his reign, the pressure of Western expansionism was felt for the first time in Siam. Mongkut embraced Western innovations and initiated the modernization of Siam, both in technology and culture—earning him the epithet "The Father of Science and Technology" in Siam.
Mongkut was also known for his appointment of his brother, Prince Chutamani, as vice-king. Prince Chutamani was crowned in 1851 as King Pinklao. Mongkut himself assured that Pinklao should be respected with equal honor to himself.
Mongkut's reign was also the time when the power of the House of Bunnak reached the zenith and became the most powerful noble family of Siam. 
In 1862, on recommendation by Tan Kim Ching in Singapore, an English woman named Anna Leonowens, whose influence was later the subject of great Thai controversy, was hired. It is still debated how much this affected the worldview of one of his sons, Prince Chulalongkorn, who succeeded to the throne. Her story would become the inspiration for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The King and I", as well as the Hollywood movies of the same title, which, because of their incorrect historical references and supposedly disrespectful treatment of King Mongkut's character, were for some time banned in Thailand as the Thai government and people considered them to be lèse majesté (an illegal insult to the king or monarchy).
It's that time of year again, when we all make lists and think back over the past year, in whatever field of interest concerns us, and chronicle the high points and the lows. For the past few years I've been presenting this compilation as an awards show, the Toobits, which of course celebrates my two bits about Toobworld.
I'll just say that it happens right after this shot. It's just a shame that the promos for the new season give it all away......
Even if they weren't on the same network, this would have been a natural. And that's due more to the characters than the story, which is why we also have this category:
Even though the shows were across the country from each other, there was a logical reason for 1TH characters to show up on 'Life Unexpected' - to play at a concert sponsored by the radio station where an LU character worked.
There was a dead Dalek in the background in the Veridian Dynamics basement. It's probably the same one that would be later sold to Henry Van Statton, seen in the 'Doctor Who' episode "Dalek"......
COMEDY
(My only complaint on that one was the episode title. To keep it close to the general theme of school-related titles, I would have called it "Christmas Break". That would also tie in to Abed's break from reality.....)
