AS SEEN ON TV: PRESIDENT PAUL ROUDEBUSH

I don't care who you vote for*, I just want you to get out there tomorrow and exercise that right for which others gave their lives so you could do so.....

PRESIDENT PAUL ROUDEBUSH

AS SEEN IN:

"Vanished"

CREATED BY:

Fletcher Knebel

PORTRAYED BY:

Richard Widmark

TV DIMENSION:

Earth Prime-Time/MOTW

From the IMDb.com:

A movie about the sudden disappearance of a top Presidential adviser. Grilled by the media, the President's press secretary reveals very little, simply because he knows very little. But the chief executive himself has more information than he's willing to make public; the FBI has proof that the vanished adviser was homosexual, and subject to blackmail. Written by Ørnås

From the blog "Shatner's Toupee":

Vanished is a 1971 made-for-TV political thriller starring Richard Widmark as fictional US president Paul Roudebush and featuring a slew of supporting star character actors from that era, including Larry Hagman, Tom Bosley, E.G. Marshall, Murray Hamilton, Betty White - and, of course, William Shatner, who plays relentless and intrepid reporter Dave Paulick.

The movie, directed by Buzz Kulik, was originally aired in two parts (each 90 around minutes, plus commercials), making it the first ever mini-series.

From Jack Jacoby at TCM.com:

Richard Widmark plays the President of the U.S., in this, the very first made for TV movie "mini series" released in 1971. Widmark is solid and received an Emmy nomination for his performance in this political thriller.

"Vanished" takes place in the alternate TV dimension known as Earth Prime-Time/MOTW. The line of succession for the President of the United States is vastly different from that found in the main Toobworld and in the real world. It consists of Presidents - dating back to at least the 1930s - who can only be found in TV movies, one-off specials, and a few mini-series.

For the most part, they all line up pretty logically, even if most of them were one-term Presidents......

Somebody should get this forgotten classic into the DVD market!

BCnU!

*  I lied.  I do care who you vote for.......

FERNWOOD ELECTION UPDATE - ER, BACKDATE

One last set of videos before the election.....

"WEST WING" 2012

This took place in an alternate TV dimension, but it still makes for an interesting sequel.....

HOMER VOTES 2012

I think most of Team Toobworld knows where I stand on the election. (Here's a clue: it wouldn't be for this guy.......) But the important thing is to get out to vote, even if you don't agree with me.

In the meantime, here's some fun from the Tooniverse:

BLIPVERTS: PAIR O' DOCS

It's time to pay the bills......

Dr. Frasier Crane was inducted into the freshman class of the TV Crossover Hall of Fame (March, 1999) for being Emmy-nominated for three different TV series ('Cheers', 'Wings', and of course, 'Frasier'). He also appeared in an episode of 'The John Larroquette Show' and so this just adds to his membership tally......

BCnU!

TOOBWORLD THEATER: "MICHAEL SHAYNE"

From Wikipedia:

Brett Halliday stopped writing the Shayne novels after "Murder and the Wanton Bride" in 1958.

AS SEEN ON TV: MICHAEL SHAYNE

MICHAEL SHAYNE

AS SEEN IN:

'Michael Shayne'

CREATED BY:

Brett Halliday

PORTRAYED BY:

Richard Denning

TV DIMENSION:

Earth Prime-Time

From Wikipedia:

Michael Shayne is a fictional private detective character created during the late 1930s by writer Brett Halliday. The character appeared in a series of 12 films starring Lloyd Nolan, a radio series under a variety of titles between 1944 and 1953, and later in 1960-1961 in a 32 episode NBC television series starring Richard Denning in the title role.

The books were typically very well plotted, with Shayne always gathering the suspects at the end and explaining the crime and naming the murderer. Shayne was initially married in the novels, his wife being Phyllis Shayne, who was a somewhat limited character, and was often out of town. Dresser "killed her off" when he sold the movie rights to the series. In the book "Blood on the Black Market", the comedy aspect of the earlier novels disappears, and Shayne is forced to deal with his wife's death.

In 1960, the 32-episode Michael Shayne television series began. Richard Denning, formerly of the series 'Mr. and Mrs. North', played Michael Shayne. Patricia Donahue originated the role of Lucy Hamilton, Shayne's secretary. She was replaced by Margie Regan after more than half of the 32 episodes had been shot.

Herbert Rudley played Lieutenant Will Gentry of the Miami Police Department and Jerry Paris played reporter Tim Rourke of the fictitious Miami Tribune. Gary Clarke, later of 'The Virginian', played Dick Hamilton, Lucy's younger brother (this character does not appear in Halliday's books).

William Link and Richard Levinson wrote a number of episodes of the series, including "This Is It, Michael Shayne", which was based on Halliday's novel of that name. Julie Adams, who had previously worked with Richard Denning in "Creature from the Black Lagoon", guest starred in this episode. Beverly Garland guest starred in the episode "Murder and the Wanton Bride." She and Denning had previously starred in the Roger Corman feature film "Naked Paradise" (1957).

Garland and Denning later costarred with Vincent Price in "The House of the Seven Gables" segment of the film "Twice-Told Tales" (1963). Warren Oates, Joan Marshall and David White guest starred in the episode "Murder Round My Wrist." Margie Regan played a nurse in this episode, while Patricia Donahue was still playing Lucy Hamilton.

The hour-long series ran at 10pm Fridays on NBC. Its competition was CBS's 'The Twilight Zone' with Rod Serling and ABC's 'The Detectives' with Robert Taylor and 'The Law and Mr. Jones', starring James Whitmore, Conlan Carter, and Janet De Gore. The series can still be seen on the Detective Channel of TV4U.Com.

BCnU!

WORLDWIDE RANTS

I'm not letting the last weekend before the election slip by without some political content.

Here's my favorite speech from the Democratic National Convention:

THE STAYLONGERS

One of the great crossover promos from the Cartoon Network which helped gain induction into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame for Michael Ouweleen.....

"DOCTOR WHO" VIDEO - DAMAGED IN DELIVERY

Look-see what detritus washed up after Hurricane Sandy......