ZONK!
On the most recent episode of 'House', Dr. Foreman revealed that as a kid, he was known as "Rerun", from the TV show.
We're supposed to be able to make the connection that he was referring to Fred Berry's portrayal of the character on 'What's Happenin'?'
But since the show wasn't mentioned, and we want to avoid poking yet another hole in the integrity of the TV Universe, I suggest we just assume there was another TV show in which there was a character named "Rerun".
There's always the cartoons based on the comic strip "Peanuts". Rerun was the younger brother to Lucy and Linus.....
~~~~~~~~~~~
REAL 2 REEL
As revealed in this past episode of 'Blind Justice', Detective Jim Dunbar's former partner was working out of the 77th Precinct. In the Real World, that precinct gained some notoriety a few years back for illegal activities. Most of the officers at that time were reassigned or forced out in disgrace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
FAMILY TIES
There's always the chance we may one day meet the parents of private investigator Harlan Judd on the new ABC series 'Eyes'. So I won't go too far out on a limb of that family tree with the suggestion that perhaps Harlan Judd is a nephew to Texas defense attorney Clinton Judd, once seen in his own show 'Judd For The Defense'. (As well as in a crossover with 'Felony Squad'.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES
I'm not sure if it was teen queen Mallory or Schuyler, (Quite frankly, I couldn't tell them apart.), but one of them appeared on the Howard Stern radio show and all he wanted to talk about was her ass.
('Jake In Progress')
Also on the same series, Jake Phillips hired Neil Sedaka to serenade the girl he was trying to win back, although it was Jon Secada that she was really into. The ploy still worked, however, and all Sedaka wanted in return was one last Rolling Stone cover.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TV TELEVISION
Two new TV series grace the airwaves and can be seen on any TV set provided you live in the TV Universe:
'Forensic Team International' which starred Ryan Henderson until he rashly quit to make movies just as
'Forensic Team Underwater' was about to hit the air and make the first series even more popular.
('Jake In Progress')
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Thursday, March 31, 2005
TIP O' THE HAT SQUAD
JOHNNY COCHRAN, JR.
Arguably America's most famous criminal lawyer, Johnnie Cochran Jr., died Tuesday. The attorney, best known for defending O.J. Simpson against double murder charges, was 67. MSNBC reported Cochran's death early Tuesday afternoon.
"He had had a brain tumor and he had gone through a long process of dealing with it," attorney Rikki Klieman, legal analyst for NBC's Today show and wife of Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton, told the cable network.
Cochran had been ill for years with a rare brain disorder that caused his tumor, per reports. He died at his home in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles of the inoperable brain tumor, according to his brother-in-law, Bill Baker.
During the early morning hours Tuesday before his death was announced, Lifetime showed an old episode of 'The Nanny' in which Milton Berle appeared as Fran's Uncle Manny, a lawyer. He was supposed to be defending her in a court case, during which he pointed out that her dress appeared to be too "snug".
"There you have it, Your Honor," Uncle Manny said to the judge. "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
After making such a splash with the televised proceedings at the OJ Simpson murder trial, Cochran went on to make an impression on the fictional side of Toobworld as well.
Here are a list of his credits in which he portrayed himself:
Pete Rose on Trial (2003) (TV) .... Defense attorney
Jim Brown All American (2002) .... Himself (Attorney)
CHiPs '99 (1998) (TV) .... Himself
The Trial of O.J. Simpson (1995) (TV) (as Johnnie Cochran) .... Himself
"First Monday" playing "Himself" (as Johnnie Cochran) in episode: "The Price of Liberty" (episode # 1.3) 25 January 2002
"JAG" playing "Himself" in episode: "JAG TV" (episode # 6.5) 31 October 2000
"The Hughleys" playing "Himself" (as Johnnie Cochran) in episode: "The Truth Shall Set Me Free" (episode # 3.5) 9 October 2000
"The Hughleys" playing "Himself" (as Johnnie Cochran) in episode: "Dog Eat Dog" (episode # 1.16) 9 February 1999
"Arli$$" playing "Himself" (as Johnnie Cochran) in episode: "His Name Is Arliss Michaels" (episode # 3.13) 30 August 1998
"Family Matters" playing "Himself" in episode: "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (episode # 9.13) 16 January 1998
In addition, he also was portrayed at least once in at TV movie:
Ving Rhames (Johnnie Cochran)
. . . American Tragedy (2000) (TV)
[I'm not sure if comedy sketches on variety shows count, but the Reverend Al Sharpton played Cochran on 'Saturday Night Live' in which he rode a roller coaster with Michael Jackson as they discussed the singer's child molestation case.]
There was also a short film regarding the troubled life of Todd Bridges, but this may have been a theatrical release:
Shashawnee Hall (Johnnie Cochran)
. . . Building Bridges (2000)
In just a decade, Cochran certainly made a deep impact on Toobworld, between his appearances as himself in TV shows and the countless variations on his most famous quote:
"If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
And without Johnny Cochran to lead the way, we never would have had TV Crossover Hall of Fame contender Jackie Childs, from 'Seinfeld' and Honda commercials.
As a member of the League of Themselves, Johnny Cochran will one day be inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame himself.....
Arguably America's most famous criminal lawyer, Johnnie Cochran Jr., died Tuesday. The attorney, best known for defending O.J. Simpson against double murder charges, was 67. MSNBC reported Cochran's death early Tuesday afternoon.
"He had had a brain tumor and he had gone through a long process of dealing with it," attorney Rikki Klieman, legal analyst for NBC's Today show and wife of Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton, told the cable network.
Cochran had been ill for years with a rare brain disorder that caused his tumor, per reports. He died at his home in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles of the inoperable brain tumor, according to his brother-in-law, Bill Baker.
During the early morning hours Tuesday before his death was announced, Lifetime showed an old episode of 'The Nanny' in which Milton Berle appeared as Fran's Uncle Manny, a lawyer. He was supposed to be defending her in a court case, during which he pointed out that her dress appeared to be too "snug".
"There you have it, Your Honor," Uncle Manny said to the judge. "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
After making such a splash with the televised proceedings at the OJ Simpson murder trial, Cochran went on to make an impression on the fictional side of Toobworld as well.
Here are a list of his credits in which he portrayed himself:
Pete Rose on Trial (2003) (TV) .... Defense attorney
Jim Brown All American (2002) .... Himself (Attorney)
CHiPs '99 (1998) (TV) .... Himself
The Trial of O.J. Simpson (1995) (TV) (as Johnnie Cochran) .... Himself
"First Monday" playing "Himself" (as Johnnie Cochran) in episode: "The Price of Liberty" (episode # 1.3) 25 January 2002
"JAG" playing "Himself" in episode: "JAG TV" (episode # 6.5) 31 October 2000
"The Hughleys" playing "Himself" (as Johnnie Cochran) in episode: "The Truth Shall Set Me Free" (episode # 3.5) 9 October 2000
"The Hughleys" playing "Himself" (as Johnnie Cochran) in episode: "Dog Eat Dog" (episode # 1.16) 9 February 1999
"Arli$$" playing "Himself" (as Johnnie Cochran) in episode: "His Name Is Arliss Michaels" (episode # 3.13) 30 August 1998
"Family Matters" playing "Himself" in episode: "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (episode # 9.13) 16 January 1998
In addition, he also was portrayed at least once in at TV movie:
Ving Rhames (Johnnie Cochran)
. . . American Tragedy (2000) (TV)
[I'm not sure if comedy sketches on variety shows count, but the Reverend Al Sharpton played Cochran on 'Saturday Night Live' in which he rode a roller coaster with Michael Jackson as they discussed the singer's child molestation case.]
There was also a short film regarding the troubled life of Todd Bridges, but this may have been a theatrical release:
Shashawnee Hall (Johnnie Cochran)
. . . Building Bridges (2000)
In just a decade, Cochran certainly made a deep impact on Toobworld, between his appearances as himself in TV shows and the countless variations on his most famous quote:
"If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
And without Johnny Cochran to lead the way, we never would have had TV Crossover Hall of Fame contender Jackie Childs, from 'Seinfeld' and Honda commercials.
As a member of the League of Themselves, Johnny Cochran will one day be inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame himself.....
NYPD BLURRED
Last week's 'Blind Justice' exemplified why Toobworld is basically the Real World, but with TV flourishes like talking horses, reincarnated automobiles, and food that can sing and dance.
The murder suspect threatened to go to Commissioner Kelly and have him come down hard on the cops doing the interrogation. This means that the police commissioner for NYC in Toobworld is the same as it is here in our world, Raymond W. Kelly.
[That is, unless some other show with better tele-credentials - like 'Law & Order' perhaps? - comes along and proclaims some fictional character to be the NYPD commissioner.]
Whenever possible, Toobworld should hew closely to the real events and personalities of our world. If George W. Bush is the President of the United States in the Real World, then he's the POTUS for shows like 'Whoopi!', TV movies like 'DC 9/11: Time of Crisis', and even for his own sitcom ('That's My Bush!'). This means that shows like 'The West Wing' and '24' must be relegated to alternate TV dimensions.
'NYPD Blue', the predecessor for the 'Blind Justice' timeslot, followed the same line of thinking when it came to the police commissioner. In fact, Howard Safir, who was commissioner at one time, even made an appearance on the show, playing himself.
[Raymond W. Kelly appeared as himself in a special about 'NYPD Blue' and its tenth anniversary on the air. Since that's basically a Zonk!, we'd rather disregard it.]
Darryl F. Gates, the former police commissioner, portrayed himself on several episodes of 'Hunter'. But in Toobworld, at least one of his predecessors in the job was fictional, and a murderer to boot - Mark Halperin on an episode of 'Columbo'.
I'm not sure if the NYC police commissioner has ever been mentioned, let alone portrayed, on 'Law & Order' or any of its franchise spinoffs. But as a matter of necessity, they do have to use a fictional District Attorney rather than the Real World's Robert Morgenthau. At least with the first DA, Adam Schiff, the show acknowledged the fact that Morgenthau is older than dirt by having Schiff be the same.
And now for something completely different, during the last few years the latest DA is a conservative red-stater from the South, Arthur Branch. But the show may also have anticipated the outcome of this year's election by having a woman as the interim DA, Nora Lewin. [It's possible Judge Leslie Crocker Snyder may beat Robert Morgenthau for the job come November. And then he can go on TV as well - either playing himself on some show, or as Pruneface in a revival of 'Dick Tracy'......]
The last two Real World mayors of New York City have made appearances on 'Law & Order' as themselves: Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg. And yet the producers fictionalized the governor of Connecticut to blend the troubles of former Ct. governor John Rowland with those of former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey for a storyline.*
They did so at a time when both Real World governors had plenty of face time on the TV and should have been accepted as part of Toobworld [if only for their "Come to our state!" promos when they were in office].
The producers had to bring in a governor from another state for the storyline set in New York City. God forbid they instead fictionalized NY's governor! Don't want to insult Borin' George Pataki and rile him up enough to make it.... uncomfortable to film in the City......
They should have made the state Delaware. When was the last time any political figure from that state gained national awareness?
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
*Long time readers of this blog might remember how much I hated that 'Law & Order' episode, "Gov Luv". It bothered me so much that I finally decided that it should be banished from Toobworld entirely and stand alone as an example of what the show must be like in the evil mirror universe. Because that sure as hell wasn't the Jack McCoy I'd want in Earth Prime-Time.....
The murder suspect threatened to go to Commissioner Kelly and have him come down hard on the cops doing the interrogation. This means that the police commissioner for NYC in Toobworld is the same as it is here in our world, Raymond W. Kelly.
[That is, unless some other show with better tele-credentials - like 'Law & Order' perhaps? - comes along and proclaims some fictional character to be the NYPD commissioner.]
Whenever possible, Toobworld should hew closely to the real events and personalities of our world. If George W. Bush is the President of the United States in the Real World, then he's the POTUS for shows like 'Whoopi!', TV movies like 'DC 9/11: Time of Crisis', and even for his own sitcom ('That's My Bush!'). This means that shows like 'The West Wing' and '24' must be relegated to alternate TV dimensions.
'NYPD Blue', the predecessor for the 'Blind Justice' timeslot, followed the same line of thinking when it came to the police commissioner. In fact, Howard Safir, who was commissioner at one time, even made an appearance on the show, playing himself.
[Raymond W. Kelly appeared as himself in a special about 'NYPD Blue' and its tenth anniversary on the air. Since that's basically a Zonk!, we'd rather disregard it.]
Darryl F. Gates, the former police commissioner, portrayed himself on several episodes of 'Hunter'. But in Toobworld, at least one of his predecessors in the job was fictional, and a murderer to boot - Mark Halperin on an episode of 'Columbo'.
I'm not sure if the NYC police commissioner has ever been mentioned, let alone portrayed, on 'Law & Order' or any of its franchise spinoffs. But as a matter of necessity, they do have to use a fictional District Attorney rather than the Real World's Robert Morgenthau. At least with the first DA, Adam Schiff, the show acknowledged the fact that Morgenthau is older than dirt by having Schiff be the same.
And now for something completely different, during the last few years the latest DA is a conservative red-stater from the South, Arthur Branch. But the show may also have anticipated the outcome of this year's election by having a woman as the interim DA, Nora Lewin. [It's possible Judge Leslie Crocker Snyder may beat Robert Morgenthau for the job come November. And then he can go on TV as well - either playing himself on some show, or as Pruneface in a revival of 'Dick Tracy'......]
The last two Real World mayors of New York City have made appearances on 'Law & Order' as themselves: Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg. And yet the producers fictionalized the governor of Connecticut to blend the troubles of former Ct. governor John Rowland with those of former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey for a storyline.*
They did so at a time when both Real World governors had plenty of face time on the TV and should have been accepted as part of Toobworld [if only for their "Come to our state!" promos when they were in office].
The producers had to bring in a governor from another state for the storyline set in New York City. God forbid they instead fictionalized NY's governor! Don't want to insult Borin' George Pataki and rile him up enough to make it.... uncomfortable to film in the City......
They should have made the state Delaware. When was the last time any political figure from that state gained national awareness?
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
*Long time readers of this blog might remember how much I hated that 'Law & Order' episode, "Gov Luv". It bothered me so much that I finally decided that it should be banished from Toobworld entirely and stand alone as an example of what the show must be like in the evil mirror universe. Because that sure as hell wasn't the Jack McCoy I'd want in Earth Prime-Time.....
NEWS BLIPS
Alan Young, who played straight man to the talking horse on the classic TV series 'Mister Ed', told SCI FI Wire that a film version of the classic comedy series is in the works. "There are some plans being made about a 'Return to Mister Ed', in which I will probably play a grandfather," Young said in an interview. "It's planned as a feature."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Two members of the 'Law & Order' franchise will do a full crossover during the May Sweeps. (Of course!)
Most likely, 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' will begin the case on a Tuesday night and it will go to court on a Friday night during 'Law & Order: Trial By Jury'.
And an added bonus is that Angela Lansbury will be appearing in the episode.
You don't know how closely I came to tripping up and typing in the name "Jessica Fletcher" instead. Now that would have been a fun crossover event! After all, Mrs. Fletcher probably still teaches at that Manhattan University, even though she is fast approaching her 80th year, God bless her.
[Of course it'll never happen, what with 'Murder, She Wrote' being so closely identified still with CBS. But as always, the Inner Toob isn't concerned with practicalities, just the basic utopian philosophy of the TV Universe.......]
~~~~~~~~
Rock veterans Status Quo are to make a cameo appearance in long-running soap Coronation Street, at the wedding reception of Les Battersby. The band will appear in "more than one" episode of the show in the autumn. Actor Bruce Jones, 52, who plays Battersby in the ITV1 soap, is known to be a fan of the band, which is also popular with his on-screen character. The band will play at Battersby's wedding to barmaid Cilla Brown.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sir Ian McKellan will play author Mel Hutchwright, who is invited to address Weatherfield's book club. Sir Ian will appear for 10 episodes in May. "I am nervous but raring to go," he said. Last year, the 65-year-old said his only remaining ambition was to appear in the soap - after fulfilling his other aim, to play a pantomime dame.
The actor once turned down a role as Elsie Tanner's long-lost nephew because he was intimidated by the prospect of appearing with Coronation Street's regular cast.
He added: "I don't know yet what Mel will look nor sound like, but I'm already studying his lines, as rehearsal time is scarce for the five-times-a-week show."
His character's steamy bodice-ripper, "Hard Grinding", has already featured on the soap. [Look for it on the shelves at the upcoming sitcom bookstore, 'Stacked'.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Following up on last year's "Summer" campaign -- which featured a series of narrative spots about a group of skateboarders -- Coca-Cola and Berlin Cameron/Red Cell, N.Y., have just released "Girl Band," a docu-style campaign about an all-girl teenage rock group. Like "Summer," the new campaign is a fast-paced, voiceover-driven cruise through the lives of the bandmembers as they write songs, get a gig, shop for clothes, shoot a video and try to let a roadie/admirer down easy.
The effort, directed by Park Pictures' Lance Acord, stars an actual high school rock trio from Ithaca, N.Y., called Kievan Rus. As their site explains, they were still called Kiev during the commercial shoot, but it turns out that name was taken. The track from the spots, "Love is Pain," is an adaptation of a song called "Crushing on Anna" -- a tribute to a former member of the band -- with "Anna" changed to "Danny" and another chorus thrown in. The version in the commercial can be downloaded from Coke's site.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Two members of the 'Law & Order' franchise will do a full crossover during the May Sweeps. (Of course!)
Most likely, 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' will begin the case on a Tuesday night and it will go to court on a Friday night during 'Law & Order: Trial By Jury'.
And an added bonus is that Angela Lansbury will be appearing in the episode.
You don't know how closely I came to tripping up and typing in the name "Jessica Fletcher" instead. Now that would have been a fun crossover event! After all, Mrs. Fletcher probably still teaches at that Manhattan University, even though she is fast approaching her 80th year, God bless her.
[Of course it'll never happen, what with 'Murder, She Wrote' being so closely identified still with CBS. But as always, the Inner Toob isn't concerned with practicalities, just the basic utopian philosophy of the TV Universe.......]
~~~~~~~~
Rock veterans Status Quo are to make a cameo appearance in long-running soap Coronation Street, at the wedding reception of Les Battersby. The band will appear in "more than one" episode of the show in the autumn. Actor Bruce Jones, 52, who plays Battersby in the ITV1 soap, is known to be a fan of the band, which is also popular with his on-screen character. The band will play at Battersby's wedding to barmaid Cilla Brown.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sir Ian McKellan will play author Mel Hutchwright, who is invited to address Weatherfield's book club. Sir Ian will appear for 10 episodes in May. "I am nervous but raring to go," he said. Last year, the 65-year-old said his only remaining ambition was to appear in the soap - after fulfilling his other aim, to play a pantomime dame.
The actor once turned down a role as Elsie Tanner's long-lost nephew because he was intimidated by the prospect of appearing with Coronation Street's regular cast.
He added: "I don't know yet what Mel will look nor sound like, but I'm already studying his lines, as rehearsal time is scarce for the five-times-a-week show."
His character's steamy bodice-ripper, "Hard Grinding", has already featured on the soap. [Look for it on the shelves at the upcoming sitcom bookstore, 'Stacked'.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Following up on last year's "Summer" campaign -- which featured a series of narrative spots about a group of skateboarders -- Coca-Cola and Berlin Cameron/Red Cell, N.Y., have just released "Girl Band," a docu-style campaign about an all-girl teenage rock group. Like "Summer," the new campaign is a fast-paced, voiceover-driven cruise through the lives of the bandmembers as they write songs, get a gig, shop for clothes, shoot a video and try to let a roadie/admirer down easy.
The effort, directed by Park Pictures' Lance Acord, stars an actual high school rock trio from Ithaca, N.Y., called Kievan Rus. As their site explains, they were still called Kiev during the commercial shoot, but it turns out that name was taken. The track from the spots, "Love is Pain," is an adaptation of a song called "Crushing on Anna" -- a tribute to a former member of the band -- with "Anna" changed to "Danny" and another chorus thrown in. The version in the commercial can be downloaded from Coke's site.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
"SEIN" FOR THE BLIND
'BLIND JUSTICE' & 'SEINFELD'
[A MISSING LINK]
When Detective Jim Dunbar brought home flowers for his wife in last week's episode of 'Blind Justice', she was initially suspicious. Christie Dunbar figured the flowers were left in the squad room and now her husband was "re-gifting".
Re-gifting - it's a word that either was coined specifically for an episode of 'Seinfeld', or it gained its popularity from that show. Last year it was used in an episode of 'Two And A Half Men', and in both cases the word was given enough of an inflection as to suggest "Guess where we got this from?"
But within the "inner reality" of Toobworld we can't accept that, because 'Seinfeld' and 'Blind Justice' both take place in the same universe.
But we do have a splainin.
Christie Dunbar works for a publishing company. At some point in her career, she either worked with Elaine Benes or their paths would cross often enough in the business circles. They must have become friends, and eventually Elaine must have told her about her own re-gifting experience.
And Elaine probably was privy to Christie's opinion as to whether Jim was sponge-worthy or not.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
[A MISSING LINK]
When Detective Jim Dunbar brought home flowers for his wife in last week's episode of 'Blind Justice', she was initially suspicious. Christie Dunbar figured the flowers were left in the squad room and now her husband was "re-gifting".
Re-gifting - it's a word that either was coined specifically for an episode of 'Seinfeld', or it gained its popularity from that show. Last year it was used in an episode of 'Two And A Half Men', and in both cases the word was given enough of an inflection as to suggest "Guess where we got this from?"
But within the "inner reality" of Toobworld we can't accept that, because 'Seinfeld' and 'Blind Justice' both take place in the same universe.
But we do have a splainin.
Christie Dunbar works for a publishing company. At some point in her career, she either worked with Elaine Benes or their paths would cross often enough in the business circles. They must have become friends, and eventually Elaine must have told her about her own re-gifting experience.
And Elaine probably was privy to Christie's opinion as to whether Jim was sponge-worthy or not.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
FORENSICS FODDER
'CROSSING JORDAN' & 'CSI: MIAMI'
[A MISSING LINK]
My tele-buddy Hugh Davis contacted me with this TV in-joke:
There was a joke in last week's 'Crossing Jordan' where they were going to a conference on forensics and announcing "We're gonna beat Miami this time."
I assume this was an acknowledgement of the ratings war.
That's the way I would read it as well. But I also think it works as a missing link between 'Crossing Jordan' and 'CSI: Miami'. I'm not sure who made the comment, but I'll bet Garrett Macy has had a long-time competition going with Horatio Caine down there in Florida. (Maybe even since their college days together?)
And the idea of a forensics convention is a very general link to an episode of 'Homicide: Life On The Street' in which Dr. Cox attended one and where she related a case that was an urban legend brought to life.
So to speak, considering......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
[A MISSING LINK]
My tele-buddy Hugh Davis contacted me with this TV in-joke:
There was a joke in last week's 'Crossing Jordan' where they were going to a conference on forensics and announcing "We're gonna beat Miami this time."
I assume this was an acknowledgement of the ratings war.
That's the way I would read it as well. But I also think it works as a missing link between 'Crossing Jordan' and 'CSI: Miami'. I'm not sure who made the comment, but I'll bet Garrett Macy has had a long-time competition going with Horatio Caine down there in Florida. (Maybe even since their college days together?)
And the idea of a forensics convention is a very general link to an episode of 'Homicide: Life On The Street' in which Dr. Cox attended one and where she related a case that was an urban legend brought to life.
So to speak, considering......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
THE WB: WATER-BLOGGED
The Who's Roger Daltrey has come aboard the WB Network's untitled mermaid drama pilot. The pilot stars Nathalie Kelley as a mermaid who tries life on land in Miami. Daltrey will play the antagonist on the show.
Oh, that's easy! cried Sir Galahad.....
The 'Charmed' Ones of San Francisco, the three Halliwell Sisters, should make a trip to Miami for some kind of adventure on their show and meet this mermaid. And then the plotline can wrap up on the new series.
None of the other offerings on the WB would work. Easy enough to get the 'Everwood' gang back to New York, but to Miami, and to swim around with a mermaid? Hard enough to picture Roger Daltrey acting with Treat Willliams!
Still and all, I can't shake the image of Dawson standing in his rowboat when the mermaid suddenly flops into the boat.......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Oh, that's easy! cried Sir Galahad.....
The 'Charmed' Ones of San Francisco, the three Halliwell Sisters, should make a trip to Miami for some kind of adventure on their show and meet this mermaid. And then the plotline can wrap up on the new series.
None of the other offerings on the WB would work. Easy enough to get the 'Everwood' gang back to New York, but to Miami, and to swim around with a mermaid? Hard enough to picture Roger Daltrey acting with Treat Willliams!
Still and all, I can't shake the image of Dawson standing in his rowboat when the mermaid suddenly flops into the boat.......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Monday, March 28, 2005
"ANATOMY" OF A MERGER
Actually this is a missed opportunity at a merger between shows, but I just couldn't resist the pun....
'Grey's Anatomy' premiered last night on ABC. Although set in Seattle, I wasn't expecting an in-joke link to 'Frasier' in any way, at least not right out of the starting gate. After all, the first episode was going to deal with the first forty-eight hour shift for the interns and they weren't going to find any time to be listening to KACL talk radio during that period.
But perhaps in some future episode they might make mention of the radio station's call letters. It's such a little thing to ask for.....
However, they did have a chance to make an in-joke connection to another TV series and they let it slide. The other residents were talking about Dr. Meredith Grey and that her mother was the living legend of heart surgeons, Ellis Grey. Among her accomplishments, Dr. Ellis Grey won the Harper Avery Award. Twice.
Fine. But why couldn't she have won it once, and the Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award as well?
The Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award is a prominent national award and we know of two surgeons who've received it.
Dr. Mark Craig of St. Eligius won the award during the 1980s run of 'St. Elsewhere'. And at 'Chicago Hope' Hospital, Dr. Kathryn Austin also was a recipient of the honor during the 1990s.
So it would have been an easy matter for the writer of 'Grey's Anatomy' to have slipped in a reference to the award at this point. It's not like the fact that it was on a competing network should have been a barrier. After all, 'St. Eligius' was on NBC and 'Chicago Hope' was on CBS.
Unlike the attendants and residents on this show, I'll cut the interns some slack. This time. 'Grey's Anatomy' is just starting out and I think it holds lots of promise. I like each of the core members of the cast.
And the finale was a kicker that brought a lump to my throat. (Which was not hard to do as I'm a fan of Kate Burton.)
So, there's hope that in the future we might yet get mention of the Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award on this show. And even better yet, why not mentions of St. Eligius and Chicago Hope as well?
And All Soul's, Manhattan General, Kingdom Hospital, etc etc etc.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
'Grey's Anatomy' premiered last night on ABC. Although set in Seattle, I wasn't expecting an in-joke link to 'Frasier' in any way, at least not right out of the starting gate. After all, the first episode was going to deal with the first forty-eight hour shift for the interns and they weren't going to find any time to be listening to KACL talk radio during that period.
But perhaps in some future episode they might make mention of the radio station's call letters. It's such a little thing to ask for.....
However, they did have a chance to make an in-joke connection to another TV series and they let it slide. The other residents were talking about Dr. Meredith Grey and that her mother was the living legend of heart surgeons, Ellis Grey. Among her accomplishments, Dr. Ellis Grey won the Harper Avery Award. Twice.
Fine. But why couldn't she have won it once, and the Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award as well?
The Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award is a prominent national award and we know of two surgeons who've received it.
Dr. Mark Craig of St. Eligius won the award during the 1980s run of 'St. Elsewhere'. And at 'Chicago Hope' Hospital, Dr. Kathryn Austin also was a recipient of the honor during the 1990s.
So it would have been an easy matter for the writer of 'Grey's Anatomy' to have slipped in a reference to the award at this point. It's not like the fact that it was on a competing network should have been a barrier. After all, 'St. Eligius' was on NBC and 'Chicago Hope' was on CBS.
Unlike the attendants and residents on this show, I'll cut the interns some slack. This time. 'Grey's Anatomy' is just starting out and I think it holds lots of promise. I like each of the core members of the cast.
And the finale was a kicker that brought a lump to my throat. (Which was not hard to do as I'm a fan of Kate Burton.)
So, there's hope that in the future we might yet get mention of the Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award on this show. And even better yet, why not mentions of St. Eligius and Chicago Hope as well?
And All Soul's, Manhattan General, Kingdom Hospital, etc etc etc.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
THE NEW "KOLCHAK"
Sometimes, a pilot is proposed for which I don't want to suggest a crossover. And in the following case, I'm only going to banish it to Earth Prime-Time Delay anyway, where most remakes of old TV shows end up.
ABC is bringing back "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," the '70s series about a Chicago crime reporter who investigates supernatural phenomena. Stuart Townsend ("The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen") will take the lead. And Gabrielle Union (who stars opposite Cedric the Entertainer in the upcoming "Honeymooners" movie) will play Townsend's sidekick and fellow ink-stained wretch.The original series was spun off from the successful TV movie "The Night Stalker." But it lasted only one season on ABC.
Lazy fat bastard that I am, here is a modified reprint of what I posted a week or so ago to Lee Goldberg's blog:
I've seen it reported that Stuart Townsend has been cast as the new Kolchak.
Hoo boy.
After his pretty boy turns in 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' (the whole movie a criminal offense against the comic book series) and in 'Queen Of The Damned', I would have cast him instead as Janos Skorzeny.
But he probably would have turned that down as being too much of "Been There, Done Lestat".
Kolchak should have a rumpled, everyman charm and humor about him; a man not afraid to show his fear in the face of danger and still plow ahead in search of the story.
Years ago, McGavin suggested that since he was "too old and fat" to play the part again, perhaps Nick Nolte might be a good choice. Now, it could be Nolte's too old and frazzled a choice.
But I had two suggestions. Unfortunately, they may both be tied up in other TV projects right now, although the fate for at least one of them might be up in the air.
My picks to play Carl Kolchak?
Either Dennis Leary or Ron Eldard.
Both of them can handle the blend of drama, adventure, and humor and could easily toss off the sarcastic retorts to the authorities blocking his access to a big scoop.
And I could easily buy into either one of them as the bottom-feeding investigative reporter living on the outskirts with a passion for the story. Townsend? Not a chance.
Ah well. I can still dream, and there are always the Darrin McGavin originals still in circulation.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Posted to Lee Goldberg's blog by: Toby O'Brien March 23, 2005 08:22 AM
ABC is bringing back "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," the '70s series about a Chicago crime reporter who investigates supernatural phenomena. Stuart Townsend ("The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen") will take the lead. And Gabrielle Union (who stars opposite Cedric the Entertainer in the upcoming "Honeymooners" movie) will play Townsend's sidekick and fellow ink-stained wretch.The original series was spun off from the successful TV movie "The Night Stalker." But it lasted only one season on ABC.
Lazy fat bastard that I am, here is a modified reprint of what I posted a week or so ago to Lee Goldberg's blog:
I've seen it reported that Stuart Townsend has been cast as the new Kolchak.
Hoo boy.
After his pretty boy turns in 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' (the whole movie a criminal offense against the comic book series) and in 'Queen Of The Damned', I would have cast him instead as Janos Skorzeny.
But he probably would have turned that down as being too much of "Been There, Done Lestat".
Kolchak should have a rumpled, everyman charm and humor about him; a man not afraid to show his fear in the face of danger and still plow ahead in search of the story.
Years ago, McGavin suggested that since he was "too old and fat" to play the part again, perhaps Nick Nolte might be a good choice. Now, it could be Nolte's too old and frazzled a choice.
But I had two suggestions. Unfortunately, they may both be tied up in other TV projects right now, although the fate for at least one of them might be up in the air.
My picks to play Carl Kolchak?
Either Dennis Leary or Ron Eldard.
Both of them can handle the blend of drama, adventure, and humor and could easily toss off the sarcastic retorts to the authorities blocking his access to a big scoop.
And I could easily buy into either one of them as the bottom-feeding investigative reporter living on the outskirts with a passion for the story. Townsend? Not a chance.
Ah well. I can still dream, and there are always the Darrin McGavin originals still in circulation.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Posted to Lee Goldberg's blog by: Toby O'Brien March 23, 2005 08:22 AM
Sunday, March 27, 2005
CROSSOVER OF THE WEEK
'LESS THAN PERFECT' & 'EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION'
I don't kid myself about TV crossovers. I know that at heart their existence can't be attributed to business decisions, not some fantastical vision of a greater TV Universe. Crossovers are made to boost the ratings of at least one of the participants.
In the case of this week's crossover, it was the older show hoping to ride the coat-tails of the newer, more popular series.
And it was a mix of genres, a sitcom linked to a "reality" show. It's been done before: 'Yes, Dear'/'Big Brother', 'Hope & Faith'/'Wife Swap', and 'Good Morning, Miami'/'Queer Eye For The Straight Guy'.
Now, 'Less Than Perfect' has hosted three of the Do-Overlords from 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'.
Claude Casey won a charity raffle grand prize of a free apartment makeover by Tracy Hutson, Michael Moloney and Paul DiMeo (guest starring as themselves). They were hindered more than helped by Claude's friend Owen Kronsky.
The apartment makeover came to represent Claude's concerns that she was losing the qualities in her personality (like innocence and optimism) that kept her from becoming yet another hardened, cynical New Yorker. If the show needed an episode to bow out with as a finale, this could have been the one.
And it may be that this crossover wasn't going to be enough to save the series for another season. Entertainment Weekly has done some sitcom scrying and they think the chances for 'Less Than Perfect' to survive in Toobworld are, well, you know......
I like Sara Rue, but I couldn't make the commitment to this show; too many others on the show are unlikable for me, but it also had very strong competition for my taping time. However, I've heard she's already looking around for a new series, so I'm hoping I'll be able to give that next project more of my attention.
As for 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'? Ugh, no thanks. Not my cuppa. I never would have been so intrigued by the other half of the crossover equation to check out their show. (Not that they needed my eyeballs glued to the tube - it's one of ABC's hottest shows.)
But in this case, it's more than just my general dislike for these so-called "reality" shows. In my Real World life, I had to deal with several of the people connected to the show. And one in particular, one of the three who appeared in this crossover, was a real jerk. The experience left me unable to separate it from the fantasy of Toobworld and so it made the crossover less than perfect for me.
Come on! You know I couldn't resist a second time from using the phrase! I'm only human!
Allegedly.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
I don't kid myself about TV crossovers. I know that at heart their existence can't be attributed to business decisions, not some fantastical vision of a greater TV Universe. Crossovers are made to boost the ratings of at least one of the participants.
In the case of this week's crossover, it was the older show hoping to ride the coat-tails of the newer, more popular series.
And it was a mix of genres, a sitcom linked to a "reality" show. It's been done before: 'Yes, Dear'/'Big Brother', 'Hope & Faith'/'Wife Swap', and 'Good Morning, Miami'/'Queer Eye For The Straight Guy'.
Now, 'Less Than Perfect' has hosted three of the Do-Overlords from 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'.
Claude Casey won a charity raffle grand prize of a free apartment makeover by Tracy Hutson, Michael Moloney and Paul DiMeo (guest starring as themselves). They were hindered more than helped by Claude's friend Owen Kronsky.
The apartment makeover came to represent Claude's concerns that she was losing the qualities in her personality (like innocence and optimism) that kept her from becoming yet another hardened, cynical New Yorker. If the show needed an episode to bow out with as a finale, this could have been the one.
And it may be that this crossover wasn't going to be enough to save the series for another season. Entertainment Weekly has done some sitcom scrying and they think the chances for 'Less Than Perfect' to survive in Toobworld are, well, you know......
I like Sara Rue, but I couldn't make the commitment to this show; too many others on the show are unlikable for me, but it also had very strong competition for my taping time. However, I've heard she's already looking around for a new series, so I'm hoping I'll be able to give that next project more of my attention.
As for 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'? Ugh, no thanks. Not my cuppa. I never would have been so intrigued by the other half of the crossover equation to check out their show. (Not that they needed my eyeballs glued to the tube - it's one of ABC's hottest shows.)
But in this case, it's more than just my general dislike for these so-called "reality" shows. In my Real World life, I had to deal with several of the people connected to the show. And one in particular, one of the three who appeared in this crossover, was a real jerk. The experience left me unable to separate it from the fantasy of Toobworld and so it made the crossover less than perfect for me.
Come on! You know I couldn't resist a second time from using the phrase! I'm only human!
Allegedly.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
I see you, my heart will POM POM TIAO!
Alrighty! This is just a notice yeah? Some of you blogders might already know that my very close friend, Shuyin (aka Birdy) had a website at lalalabom.blogspot.com.
She stopped blogging for some personal reasons, and now that she wants to resume blogging, that particular address is already taken by someone else.
That someone else, I think, read about Shuyin via my site, and therefore chose that nick. Let's face it, how many people will think of an address like "lalalabom"?!
The very traumatized Shuyin is therefore forced to use a very awful variation of her nick, which is lalalaPOM.blogspot.com. Everytime I see that address I have convulsions.
(Let's not go into lalalasom, lalalafom, lalalazom, lalalalom, lalalagom, lalalanom, lalalakom, lalalaoom, lalalarom, lalaladom, lalalahom, lalalavom, lalalacom, lalalatom, lalalawom, and finally, lalalamom jokes. WHAHAHAHAHA!)
I believe Shuyin, during her short-lived stay in the blogosphere, have had quite a fixed identity with her own blogders, who, naturally identify with her nickname.
So, my point is, can the person who is at lalalabom.blogspot.com please give it back to Shuyin?
Pretty please?
P/s: Irrelevant people SHUT THE FUCK UP. It is none of your FUCKING BUSINESS. Please don't bombard the two girls. I am not demanding she gives back the URL. I am merely asking nicely if she could.
She stopped blogging for some personal reasons, and now that she wants to resume blogging, that particular address is already taken by someone else.
That someone else, I think, read about Shuyin via my site, and therefore chose that nick. Let's face it, how many people will think of an address like "lalalabom"?!
The very traumatized Shuyin is therefore forced to use a very awful variation of her nick, which is lalalaPOM.blogspot.com. Everytime I see that address I have convulsions.
(Let's not go into lalalasom, lalalafom, lalalazom, lalalalom, lalalagom, lalalanom, lalalakom, lalalaoom, lalalarom, lalaladom, lalalahom, lalalavom, lalalacom, lalalatom, lalalawom, and finally, lalalamom jokes. WHAHAHAHAHA!)
I believe Shuyin, during her short-lived stay in the blogosphere, have had quite a fixed identity with her own blogders, who, naturally identify with her nickname.
So, my point is, can the person who is at lalalabom.blogspot.com please give it back to Shuyin?
Pretty please?
P/s: Irrelevant people SHUT THE FUCK UP. It is none of your FUCKING BUSINESS. Please don't bombard the two girls. I am not demanding she gives back the URL. I am merely asking nicely if she could.
MY FAVORITE MARTIN
The proposed sitcom of 'Early Bird' for NBC, which is set in a Florida retirement community, put me in mind this week of the passing of Barney Martin, best known in Toobworld for his portrayal of Morty Seinfeld, Jerry's father on 'Seinfeld'. Morty Seinfeld used to be the president of his Florida retirement community until he was forced to resign.
I first saw Barney Martin as one of the onstage Nazis in 'The Producers'. But I really started to take notice of him with his role as Jack Terwilliger, the court clerk in Judge Walter Franklin's Philadelphia courtroom on 'The Tony Randall Show'.
He also did a great imitation of a coffee pot in a classic Maxwell House retromercial. And had Michael Landon's health had not deteriorated and his last project had gone to series, I would have watched it for Martin. (He was playing Landon's dad.)
As Red Skelton would sign off, "Good night and may God bless."
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
I first saw Barney Martin as one of the onstage Nazis in 'The Producers'. But I really started to take notice of him with his role as Jack Terwilliger, the court clerk in Judge Walter Franklin's Philadelphia courtroom on 'The Tony Randall Show'.
He also did a great imitation of a coffee pot in a classic Maxwell House retromercial. And had Michael Landon's health had not deteriorated and his last project had gone to series, I would have watched it for Martin. (He was playing Landon's dad.)
As Red Skelton would sign off, "Good night and may God bless."
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
THE FLORIDA KEY
'EARLY BIRD' & MIAMI-BASED "CLASSICS"
Bill Macy and Larry Hankin have been tapped to play retirees in NBC's comedy pilot "Early Bird." The pilot stars Timm Sharp as a twentysomething who moves into a retirement community.
For this show's crossover possibilities, NBC might be better off bringing back classic characters from their Florida-based sitcoms of old.
'The Golden Girls', for example. I understand Estelle Getty is not doing well in regards to her health, but I'd bet a quick cameo by Dorothy, Blanche, and/or Rose might be feasible.
The daughters of the late Dr. Harry Weston might also pop in for a visit, perhaps keeping in touch with former patients of their dad. Or they could even mention that they were just visiting him, if the Powers That Be wanted to maintain the illusion that the character was still alive, even though Richard Mulligan has passed away.
And NBC could always thumb their network noses at their critics and have constant references to the TV station which was featured prominently in the much-lambasted 'Good Morning, Miami'.
Otherwise they might have to pull out the old stand-by of having one of the 'Early Bird' characters be related to some character from another series. Maybe Larry Hankin's character is the grandfather to Jack on 'Will & Grace'. Or perhaps Clown can leave 'Committed' long enough to visit the retirement community as a possible new home; perhaps even run into his old clown college buddy Binky there.
If they do intend to have a crossover with 'Committed', they better do it soon. That sitcom is on life support and NBC is probably ready to pull the plug.
Strange how that imagery came to mind when talking about a Florida sitcom.....
But as this sitcom sounds like it skews way too old demographically anyway, no matter how young the main character, the advertisers might never go for it.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Bill Macy and Larry Hankin have been tapped to play retirees in NBC's comedy pilot "Early Bird." The pilot stars Timm Sharp as a twentysomething who moves into a retirement community.
For this show's crossover possibilities, NBC might be better off bringing back classic characters from their Florida-based sitcoms of old.
'The Golden Girls', for example. I understand Estelle Getty is not doing well in regards to her health, but I'd bet a quick cameo by Dorothy, Blanche, and/or Rose might be feasible.
The daughters of the late Dr. Harry Weston might also pop in for a visit, perhaps keeping in touch with former patients of their dad. Or they could even mention that they were just visiting him, if the Powers That Be wanted to maintain the illusion that the character was still alive, even though Richard Mulligan has passed away.
And NBC could always thumb their network noses at their critics and have constant references to the TV station which was featured prominently in the much-lambasted 'Good Morning, Miami'.
Otherwise they might have to pull out the old stand-by of having one of the 'Early Bird' characters be related to some character from another series. Maybe Larry Hankin's character is the grandfather to Jack on 'Will & Grace'. Or perhaps Clown can leave 'Committed' long enough to visit the retirement community as a possible new home; perhaps even run into his old clown college buddy Binky there.
If they do intend to have a crossover with 'Committed', they better do it soon. That sitcom is on life support and NBC is probably ready to pull the plug.
Strange how that imagery came to mind when talking about a Florida sitcom.....
But as this sitcom sounds like it skews way too old demographically anyway, no matter how young the main character, the advertisers might never go for it.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Saturday, March 26, 2005
FUCKING, FUCKING STUPID.
If you drop your shoe, for some ludicrous reason, into the MRT track, you DO NOT jump into the track to pick it up.
Understand, children?
IT IS BUT A SHOE.
Even if the train doesn't go bam on you, it is likely walking barefoot on the high voltage tracks will give you a sizzled pancreas, and, if you like that sort of thing, perhaps an afro to go with it.
A friend just lectured me on not seeking to make fun of (nothing funny here though) of the dead, but hey ... leaving behind 4 children and a fiancee who encouraged him to fetch the shoe (!), but is nonetheless pretty grievous, I think he should be pretty much given a good shout by a army general with good lungs for sacrificing his life for a FUCKING shoe. (not to mention the people who were late for work/appointments because of the train delay)
It is not a freak accident, ST.
It is not even an accident.
It is suicide.
(BTW, did the title "Man trying to retrieve shoe hit by train" mean he was trying to retrieve a shoe that was hit by the train? *Guffaws*)
p/s: When I read the article I was irresistably reminded of two movie scenes: 1) The scene in Ice Age where the last do-do birds all dead while jumping over a cliff to get a fallen watermelon and 2) The scene in "Honey I shrunk the kids!" where the kids sat a on giant ant and got it to move by holding a long pole with a biscuit crumb on it and letting the crumb be forever just a short distance from the ant's eyes. I don't know why. The scenes keep flashing.
*Boohoohoo Wendy you are so mean! Tsk! What nonsense. I am trying to educate the public.*
Post-note: Keep in mind I cannot stop people from commenting (actually I can but you people want the comments link there right ...). There will always be unnecessarily mean comments, and I don't have the time to delete them all. I have to state clearly here that the comments do not reflect my thoughts, nor does it mean I approve, or even condone them.
Understand, children?
IT IS BUT A SHOE.
Even if the train doesn't go bam on you, it is likely walking barefoot on the high voltage tracks will give you a sizzled pancreas, and, if you like that sort of thing, perhaps an afro to go with it.
A friend just lectured me on not seeking to make fun of (nothing funny here though) of the dead, but hey ... leaving behind 4 children and a fiancee who encouraged him to fetch the shoe (!), but is nonetheless pretty grievous, I think he should be pretty much given a good shout by a army general with good lungs for sacrificing his life for a FUCKING shoe. (not to mention the people who were late for work/appointments because of the train delay)
It is not a freak accident, ST.
It is not even an accident.
It is suicide.
(BTW, did the title "Man trying to retrieve shoe hit by train" mean he was trying to retrieve a shoe that was hit by the train? *Guffaws*)
p/s: When I read the article I was irresistably reminded of two movie scenes: 1) The scene in Ice Age where the last do-do birds all dead while jumping over a cliff to get a fallen watermelon and 2) The scene in "Honey I shrunk the kids!" where the kids sat a on giant ant and got it to move by holding a long pole with a biscuit crumb on it and letting the crumb be forever just a short distance from the ant's eyes. I don't know why. The scenes keep flashing.
*Boohoohoo Wendy you are so mean! Tsk! What nonsense. I am trying to educate the public.*
Post-note: Keep in mind I cannot stop people from commenting (actually I can but you people want the comments link there right ...). There will always be unnecessarily mean comments, and I don't have the time to delete them all. I have to state clearly here that the comments do not reflect my thoughts, nor does it mean I approve, or even condone them.
Friday, March 25, 2005
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
In other comedy pilot casting news: - Darren Ritchie has landed the male lead opposite Tiffani Thiessen in CBS' untitled Yuspa-Goldsmith comedy pilot, which centers on a young New York couple adjusting to life as new parents.
Setting this show in NYC was a smart move. 'Everybody Loves Raymond' will be gone, but these characters can always crossover to 'Still Standing' if they need any parenting advice for better or worse (depending on whether they talk to Bill or Judy Miller).
And why not have busybody Marie Barone pop in anyway, even though her sitcom home for nine years leaves the airwaves this May? Let's say Doris Roberts did a quick cameo in which she accosts Tiffani Thiessen in the supermarket and gives her unsolicited advice on how to raise her child.
However, never once in the scene does she identify herself as Marie Barone...... Well, is it our fault if we automatically assumed she was appearing as Marie?
In fact, CBS would be smart to base most of its prospective sitcoms in New York City where they can also take advantage of interaction with 'The King Of Queens' as well. Either that, or in Los Angeles so they could ride the coat-tails of 'Two And A Half Men' in a crossover. Since that sitcom is the heir presumptive to the nine o'clock berth on Monday nights once 'Raymond' has left the building, you can't beat that type of promotion.
But a word of advice to CBS - don't leave your new sitcoms adrift in the heartland with no chance of gaining publicity from crossovers. I'm not saying that such a decision is what doomed 'The Center Of The Universe', (Let's face it, that show had plenty of problems!) but it couldn't have hurt.
Here are three other sitcom options being considered by the suits at the Eye Network:
John Leguizamo will play a sports agent in CBS' untitled Diamond-Weisman drama pilot about working parents juggling domestic responsibilities. The actor's character in the pilot is married to a magazine editor.
A sports agent married to a magazine editor? Sure, there are probably just as many magazine editors and sports agents in the major U.S. cities as there are in New York, but the Big Apple fits as the most logical choice for where this couple should live.
Leguizamo might even be able to smooth-talk Ray Romano into making a quick come-back as Ray Barone. Possible scenario? Maybe Ray wants to do an interview with one of the athletes represented by Leguizamo's character, but it's also an interview his wife is trying to snag for her magazine.
Jenna Elfman will have the lead role in CBS' comedy pilot 'Everything I Know About Men'. In the show, based on the BBC's 'According to Bex', Elfman plays an assistant at a marketing firm who, with the help of her friends, tries to figure out how to deal with the men in her life.
The marketing firm could also be found anywhere in the country. And this time, the City of Angels might be the best environment in which to accent Ms. Elfman's disposition.
But we're looking at this for the crossover aspect. And Ms. Elfman already appeared twice on the hit sitcom 'Two And A Half Men'. Now unless she was going to play Frankie again on her own series, it would be awkward if she met either Alan or Charlie and they made no comment about how familiar she looked.
Then again, it could be just as awkard if they do mention it. Witness the scene where Ray Barone met Doug Heffernan who was delivering a package. Doug looked an awful lot like Ray's old pal, Kevin. How come Ray didn't wonder whatever happened to that guy?
Ignoring the resemblance can only lead to script discrepancies. How come 'Frasier' Crane never noticed that a piano tuner hired at 'Cheers' looked exactly like his Dad back in Seattle?
Okay, sure. That 'Cheers' episode was years before they thought of doing the 'Frasier' spinoff or even of casting it. But at some point in that first episode, Frasier should have told his Dad he once saw a guy back in Boston that looked exactly like him.
(If I was in charge of the TV Universe and not just one of the Caretakers, I'd have cast John Mahoney into double duty in that return to Boston episode of 'Frasier'. Have him come in to the reunion party to tune up a piano there as well and have Niles mistake him for his Dad.)
So anyway, it might be better off if Jenna Elfman's proposed sitcom is based in Manhattan.
'Old Christine' stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a divorced mom who tries to keep pace with everyone around her. Clark Gregg will play the woman's ex-husband. Hamish Linklater will play the lead character's brother, and youngster Trevor Gagnon has been cast as her son.
Okay, here's a sitcom that can be situated anywhere in the United States and still perhaps work on its own. But at the same time, a home base on the Left Coast couldn't hurt for that possible crossover with Alan, Charlie and Jake. And there's always New York with a trio of established players.
CBS might even take a big gamble and set the show wherever the hell it is that 'Listen Up!' takes place (I searched all over the internet and couldn't find a clue!) and score a mini-'Seinfeld' reunion between Louis-Dreyfuss and Jason Alexander.
That is, if 'Listen Up!' lasts into its sophomore year, that is.
But then again, there's always New York City. Just like I pictured it.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Setting this show in NYC was a smart move. 'Everybody Loves Raymond' will be gone, but these characters can always crossover to 'Still Standing' if they need any parenting advice for better or worse (depending on whether they talk to Bill or Judy Miller).
And why not have busybody Marie Barone pop in anyway, even though her sitcom home for nine years leaves the airwaves this May? Let's say Doris Roberts did a quick cameo in which she accosts Tiffani Thiessen in the supermarket and gives her unsolicited advice on how to raise her child.
However, never once in the scene does she identify herself as Marie Barone...... Well, is it our fault if we automatically assumed she was appearing as Marie?
In fact, CBS would be smart to base most of its prospective sitcoms in New York City where they can also take advantage of interaction with 'The King Of Queens' as well. Either that, or in Los Angeles so they could ride the coat-tails of 'Two And A Half Men' in a crossover. Since that sitcom is the heir presumptive to the nine o'clock berth on Monday nights once 'Raymond' has left the building, you can't beat that type of promotion.
But a word of advice to CBS - don't leave your new sitcoms adrift in the heartland with no chance of gaining publicity from crossovers. I'm not saying that such a decision is what doomed 'The Center Of The Universe', (Let's face it, that show had plenty of problems!) but it couldn't have hurt.
Here are three other sitcom options being considered by the suits at the Eye Network:
John Leguizamo will play a sports agent in CBS' untitled Diamond-Weisman drama pilot about working parents juggling domestic responsibilities. The actor's character in the pilot is married to a magazine editor.
A sports agent married to a magazine editor? Sure, there are probably just as many magazine editors and sports agents in the major U.S. cities as there are in New York, but the Big Apple fits as the most logical choice for where this couple should live.
Leguizamo might even be able to smooth-talk Ray Romano into making a quick come-back as Ray Barone. Possible scenario? Maybe Ray wants to do an interview with one of the athletes represented by Leguizamo's character, but it's also an interview his wife is trying to snag for her magazine.
Jenna Elfman will have the lead role in CBS' comedy pilot 'Everything I Know About Men'. In the show, based on the BBC's 'According to Bex', Elfman plays an assistant at a marketing firm who, with the help of her friends, tries to figure out how to deal with the men in her life.
The marketing firm could also be found anywhere in the country. And this time, the City of Angels might be the best environment in which to accent Ms. Elfman's disposition.
But we're looking at this for the crossover aspect. And Ms. Elfman already appeared twice on the hit sitcom 'Two And A Half Men'. Now unless she was going to play Frankie again on her own series, it would be awkward if she met either Alan or Charlie and they made no comment about how familiar she looked.
Then again, it could be just as awkard if they do mention it. Witness the scene where Ray Barone met Doug Heffernan who was delivering a package. Doug looked an awful lot like Ray's old pal, Kevin. How come Ray didn't wonder whatever happened to that guy?
Ignoring the resemblance can only lead to script discrepancies. How come 'Frasier' Crane never noticed that a piano tuner hired at 'Cheers' looked exactly like his Dad back in Seattle?
Okay, sure. That 'Cheers' episode was years before they thought of doing the 'Frasier' spinoff or even of casting it. But at some point in that first episode, Frasier should have told his Dad he once saw a guy back in Boston that looked exactly like him.
(If I was in charge of the TV Universe and not just one of the Caretakers, I'd have cast John Mahoney into double duty in that return to Boston episode of 'Frasier'. Have him come in to the reunion party to tune up a piano there as well and have Niles mistake him for his Dad.)
So anyway, it might be better off if Jenna Elfman's proposed sitcom is based in Manhattan.
'Old Christine' stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a divorced mom who tries to keep pace with everyone around her. Clark Gregg will play the woman's ex-husband. Hamish Linklater will play the lead character's brother, and youngster Trevor Gagnon has been cast as her son.
Okay, here's a sitcom that can be situated anywhere in the United States and still perhaps work on its own. But at the same time, a home base on the Left Coast couldn't hurt for that possible crossover with Alan, Charlie and Jake. And there's always New York with a trio of established players.
CBS might even take a big gamble and set the show wherever the hell it is that 'Listen Up!' takes place (I searched all over the internet and couldn't find a clue!) and score a mini-'Seinfeld' reunion between Louis-Dreyfuss and Jason Alexander.
That is, if 'Listen Up!' lasts into its sophomore year, that is.
But then again, there's always New York City. Just like I pictured it.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
SEX, LUDLUM, AND VIDEOTAPE
Last night's episode of 'The O.C.' featured a look at the X-rated video Julie Cooper made when she was younger. (At least, we got to see the cover of it in the promo. I was taping 'Jake In Progress', and the Americanized 'The Office' instead.)
The title of the tape was "Porn Identity". As with most porn films, the title was a play on words in reference to an earlier more famous and mainstream title. (Remember Ursula's work in "Buffay The Vampire Layer" on 'Friends'? Now, there was a Zonk!)
This is a nation of amnesiacs, according to the late Miles Drentell of 'thirtySOMETHING' and 'Once And Again'. For most of the audience that must have been a reference to the Matt Damon movie of a few years back, 'The Bourne Identity'.
But Julie made the movie when she was much younger, so unless it was previously known by a different title and just repackaged to capitalize on the movie, (not unheard of in that industry, I'll wager), then we have to go farther back for the source of that title.
That would be the original bestseller, written by the late novelist Robert Ludlum. It was a hefty book - even in its paperback edition you could do serious damage to somebody if you brought it down hard on their head! And yet it was an amazingly quick read.
(Back in 1987, I had set for myself the goal of reading 100 books in the course of the year. At first I thought it was foolish to tackle 'The Bourne Identity' when I might have squeezed in three books with less of the length. But it was breezy and thrilling and was over before I realized it. And in case you were wondering - yes. I made it to 104 and only stopped because the last book was "Still Life With Woodpecker" by Tom Robbins and I was convinced I would not find a better book with which to finish.)
Anyway....
The Literary Universe - a place Jasper Fforde is having fun with currently, although it has been explored by Fletcher Pratt and L. Sprague deCamp as well as by Marvin Kaye, - is separate from the TV Universe, although there are (as always) exceptions to the rule.
Take for example the hundreds of paperback novels based on the 'Star Trek' series. Many of them are too good to disqualify as having take place in the TV Universe, unseen by the audience. One especially I would lobby to include: "Ishmael" by Barbara Hambly, which was a significant crossover between 'Star Trek' and 'Here Come The Brides', with 'Maverick', 'Bonanza', and 'Have Gun Will Travel' thrown in for good measure.
But with 'The Bourne Identity' we do have to do a bit of splain-dancing, as it was also made into a mini-series starring Richard Chamberlain back in the early 80s. Since it was an espionage thriller, the basic tale of Jason Bourne should never have been revealed to the public, so the makers of Julie Cooper's amateurish video should never have known about what happened. In fact, if it did happen in Toobworld, then even Ludlum's book shouldn't really exist.
Unless.... as far as it matters within the TV Universe, Ludlum based his book on the "true" story of Jason Bourne. By revealing what really happened to such a best-seller as Robert Ludlum, then the tele-version of Bourne ensured his safety. Nobody could kill him out of revenge afterwards without raising more questions. And since the story was now out, there were no more secrets to be protected.
So in the Real World timeline, 'The Bourne Identity' goes like this:
1] Book
2] Mini-series
3] Movie
But in Toobworld:
1] Mini-series (In Toobworld, that's considered "Real Life")
2] Book
3] Movie
And the porno video would have been made between the book and the movie.
Since I didn't see the episode, I have no idea yet whether or not they actually showed scenes from the tape. But I think I know of at least one TV character who's seen it.
I'll bet anything that former FBI agent Fox Mulder had a copy of 'The Porn Identity' in his own personal collection......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
The title of the tape was "Porn Identity". As with most porn films, the title was a play on words in reference to an earlier more famous and mainstream title. (Remember Ursula's work in "Buffay The Vampire Layer" on 'Friends'? Now, there was a Zonk!)
This is a nation of amnesiacs, according to the late Miles Drentell of 'thirtySOMETHING' and 'Once And Again'. For most of the audience that must have been a reference to the Matt Damon movie of a few years back, 'The Bourne Identity'.
But Julie made the movie when she was much younger, so unless it was previously known by a different title and just repackaged to capitalize on the movie, (not unheard of in that industry, I'll wager), then we have to go farther back for the source of that title.
That would be the original bestseller, written by the late novelist Robert Ludlum. It was a hefty book - even in its paperback edition you could do serious damage to somebody if you brought it down hard on their head! And yet it was an amazingly quick read.
(Back in 1987, I had set for myself the goal of reading 100 books in the course of the year. At first I thought it was foolish to tackle 'The Bourne Identity' when I might have squeezed in three books with less of the length. But it was breezy and thrilling and was over before I realized it. And in case you were wondering - yes. I made it to 104 and only stopped because the last book was "Still Life With Woodpecker" by Tom Robbins and I was convinced I would not find a better book with which to finish.)
Anyway....
The Literary Universe - a place Jasper Fforde is having fun with currently, although it has been explored by Fletcher Pratt and L. Sprague deCamp as well as by Marvin Kaye, - is separate from the TV Universe, although there are (as always) exceptions to the rule.
Take for example the hundreds of paperback novels based on the 'Star Trek' series. Many of them are too good to disqualify as having take place in the TV Universe, unseen by the audience. One especially I would lobby to include: "Ishmael" by Barbara Hambly, which was a significant crossover between 'Star Trek' and 'Here Come The Brides', with 'Maverick', 'Bonanza', and 'Have Gun Will Travel' thrown in for good measure.
But with 'The Bourne Identity' we do have to do a bit of splain-dancing, as it was also made into a mini-series starring Richard Chamberlain back in the early 80s. Since it was an espionage thriller, the basic tale of Jason Bourne should never have been revealed to the public, so the makers of Julie Cooper's amateurish video should never have known about what happened. In fact, if it did happen in Toobworld, then even Ludlum's book shouldn't really exist.
Unless.... as far as it matters within the TV Universe, Ludlum based his book on the "true" story of Jason Bourne. By revealing what really happened to such a best-seller as Robert Ludlum, then the tele-version of Bourne ensured his safety. Nobody could kill him out of revenge afterwards without raising more questions. And since the story was now out, there were no more secrets to be protected.
So in the Real World timeline, 'The Bourne Identity' goes like this:
1] Book
2] Mini-series
3] Movie
But in Toobworld:
1] Mini-series (In Toobworld, that's considered "Real Life")
2] Book
3] Movie
And the porno video would have been made between the book and the movie.
Since I didn't see the episode, I have no idea yet whether or not they actually showed scenes from the tape. But I think I know of at least one TV character who's seen it.
I'll bet anything that former FBI agent Fox Mulder had a copy of 'The Porn Identity' in his own personal collection......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"Nudity? Nudity?
What's wrong with nudity?
Beneath our clothes, we all stand naked."
Chico Rodriguez
'Chico And The Man'
What's wrong with nudity?
Beneath our clothes, we all stand naked."
Chico Rodriguez
'Chico And The Man'
GOOD LINKS MAKE FOR GOOD 'NEIGHBORS'
Former 'Dream On' star Brian Benben is set to star in ABC's 'Neighbors', which centers on dueling neighbors (Benben, Lenny Clarke) who have to contend with each other when their wives (Melinda McGraw and Ann Cusack, respectively) and kids become friends. Sarah Steele is set to play the daughter of Clark and Cusack's characters.
ABC had a great year as far as getting great word-of-mouth for two of its dramas, 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Lost', plus for their "reality" show 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' and its insta-spinoff, 'How'd They Do That?'
But when it came to comedy, it was a tragedy. None of their new sitcoms worked, and only 'According To Jim' actually made a significant showing in the ratings - much to the consternation of Entertainment Weekly.
So they really can't take many chances for next season. Which would mean situating this situation comedy geographically close by the location for 'According To Jim'.
It seems logical to me that Jim would hit it off with Lenny's character, although maybe not as lifelong pals. I think someone with a trained ear might hear the Chicago inflections in Jim Belushi's diction and the Boston accent for Clarke.
Still and all, it makes more sense for Jim and Cheryl to have 'Neighbors' than for the sitcom to be banished to Tulsa where they run the risk of residing near 'Rodney'.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
ABC had a great year as far as getting great word-of-mouth for two of its dramas, 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Lost', plus for their "reality" show 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' and its insta-spinoff, 'How'd They Do That?'
But when it came to comedy, it was a tragedy. None of their new sitcoms worked, and only 'According To Jim' actually made a significant showing in the ratings - much to the consternation of Entertainment Weekly.
So they really can't take many chances for next season. Which would mean situating this situation comedy geographically close by the location for 'According To Jim'.
It seems logical to me that Jim would hit it off with Lenny's character, although maybe not as lifelong pals. I think someone with a trained ear might hear the Chicago inflections in Jim Belushi's diction and the Boston accent for Clarke.
Still and all, it makes more sense for Jim and Cheryl to have 'Neighbors' than for the sitcom to be banished to Tulsa where they run the risk of residing near 'Rodney'.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Thursday, March 24, 2005
"COMMITTED" TO AN "AMERICAN CRIME"
Sources said Jennifer Finnigan is set to guest star in Jerry Bruckheimer's drama pilot 'American Crime' in the project's lead role. 'American Crime' centers on a female prosecutor who juggles the world of suburban crime with the challenges of being a new mom.
Finnigan's casting in the pilot as a guest star is said to stem from her obligation to NBC's midseason comedy 'Committed', in which she plays the female lead. WBTV and CBS declined comment on the casting.
This doesn't bode well for the future of 'Committed'. For the record, I liked the show, and I'm a big fan of Ms. Finnigan's work. (When I was forced to watch 'The Bold & The Beautiful' while visiting my Mom, I always enjoyed her portrayal of Bridget.)
But 'Committed' ran opposite 'House', and that would win out for my taping priorities on Tuesday evenings.
Since 'American Crime' is coming from the House of Bruckheimer, it should be pretty easy to slip in a crossover or two with any of the members of the 'CSI' franchise. The only obstacle might be location for the series; being a new mom as well as a prosecutor, she'll be pretty much grounded to wherever she's living and working.
Unless there's something in a case she's handling that would necessitate her traveling to Las Vegas, Miami, or New York City, then the F(orensic) troops of those shows would have to come to her.
And there's always Philadelphia, where she could do the sequel to any 'Cold Case' solved by Detective Lilly Rush.
Except for the fact that casting for this show would then clash with the 'Law & Order' corner of the TV Universe, I'd like to see it based in New York City. I know, it's WAAAAAY over-used, (We need more Chicago and DC shows!), but that way Ms. Finnigan's character could not only interact with the cast of 'CSI: NY', but also with the FBI agents of 'Without A Trace'.
Then they could look into the reasons why a dying clown was hiding out in the closet of Marni Fliss... and why Miss Fliss looked so much like the 'American Crime' prosecutor.
Woops.... crossing borders again.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Finnigan's casting in the pilot as a guest star is said to stem from her obligation to NBC's midseason comedy 'Committed', in which she plays the female lead. WBTV and CBS declined comment on the casting.
This doesn't bode well for the future of 'Committed'. For the record, I liked the show, and I'm a big fan of Ms. Finnigan's work. (When I was forced to watch 'The Bold & The Beautiful' while visiting my Mom, I always enjoyed her portrayal of Bridget.)
But 'Committed' ran opposite 'House', and that would win out for my taping priorities on Tuesday evenings.
Since 'American Crime' is coming from the House of Bruckheimer, it should be pretty easy to slip in a crossover or two with any of the members of the 'CSI' franchise. The only obstacle might be location for the series; being a new mom as well as a prosecutor, she'll be pretty much grounded to wherever she's living and working.
Unless there's something in a case she's handling that would necessitate her traveling to Las Vegas, Miami, or New York City, then the F(orensic) troops of those shows would have to come to her.
And there's always Philadelphia, where she could do the sequel to any 'Cold Case' solved by Detective Lilly Rush.
Except for the fact that casting for this show would then clash with the 'Law & Order' corner of the TV Universe, I'd like to see it based in New York City. I know, it's WAAAAAY over-used, (We need more Chicago and DC shows!), but that way Ms. Finnigan's character could not only interact with the cast of 'CSI: NY', but also with the FBI agents of 'Without A Trace'.
Then they could look into the reasons why a dying clown was hiding out in the closet of Marni Fliss... and why Miss Fliss looked so much like the 'American Crime' prosecutor.
Woops.... crossing borders again.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
HALF HOUR OF DEWULF
Noureen DeWulf has landed one of the two title roles in the WB Network's comedy pilot 'Mindy and Brenda', a New York-set female buddy comedy. Mindy (DeWulf) and Brenda (Virginia Williams) are best friends who look at the world differently.
If The WB's aggressive campaign to launch 'Living With Fran' is any indication, we can expect to see crossovers quite soon for this sitcom.
On April 8th, 'Living With Fran' will debut with two episodes on the same night. That's radical enough, but two of the main characters (including the lead played by Fran Drescher) will also appear on an episode of 'What I Like About You' that night as well.
Being a sitcom based in New York City, then it's likely 'Mindy And Brenda' will run into Fran and/or the Tyler sisters, Holly and Val by November Sweeps. Too bad 'Grounded For Life' was finally, well, grounded; 'Mindy And Brenda' might have paid a visit to the Red Boots bar on Staten Island.
If the show was being made for NBC, then one or the other of these "best friends who look at the world differently" might have been able to find something in common with 'Will & Grace'. Or even a soul-mate in Jennifer Finnigan's portrayal of Marni Fliss in 'Committed' - while there was still a chance........
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
If The WB's aggressive campaign to launch 'Living With Fran' is any indication, we can expect to see crossovers quite soon for this sitcom.
On April 8th, 'Living With Fran' will debut with two episodes on the same night. That's radical enough, but two of the main characters (including the lead played by Fran Drescher) will also appear on an episode of 'What I Like About You' that night as well.
Being a sitcom based in New York City, then it's likely 'Mindy And Brenda' will run into Fran and/or the Tyler sisters, Holly and Val by November Sweeps. Too bad 'Grounded For Life' was finally, well, grounded; 'Mindy And Brenda' might have paid a visit to the Red Boots bar on Staten Island.
If the show was being made for NBC, then one or the other of these "best friends who look at the world differently" might have been able to find something in common with 'Will & Grace'. Or even a soul-mate in Jennifer Finnigan's portrayal of Marni Fliss in 'Committed' - while there was still a chance........
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
UPN "SEINS" CALLOWAY
'THE SHOW WITH AJ CALLOWAY' & UPN'S SITCOMS
UPN has picked up the comedy pilot 'The Show With AJ Calloway', starring the BET personality. The pilot chronicles the life of AJ Calloway, whose stint as the host of a fictitious broadcast network late-night talk show is complicated by old flames, dysfunctional friends and ever-present family members.
By playing his own tele-version, it sounds like AJ Calloway is providing UPN with its own 'Seinfeld'. Of course, that's a high standard to strive for - 'The Drew Carey Show' succeeded with its variant; 'It's Like... You Know' didn't.
UPN comedies seem to aim more often for the lowest common denominator in my opinion. But I freely admit that, since UPN caters to a particular niche of the audience which doesn't include me, my impressions of its programming are based mostly on promos and episode guides.
Even so, my "job" is to help these prime time contenders find their network soulmates to make a connection. It's sort of a "TV-Harmony" dating service.
This fictionalized version of AJ Calloway has plenty of options; it all depends on where the show is located.
If it's in NYC, there could be several opportunities with the 'Girlfriends' - at least one episode for each member of the "sistah-hood". (Maybe he went to school with at least one of them? That's a tried and true cliche. Or better yet - one of them is his third cousin twice removed - from reality.)
Here's a chance to air out a couple of other TV cliches: Out on the Left Coast, perhaps Calloway could seek out his "old college buddy" Robert James, and (due to a misunderstanding) both of them could think the other is out for his job in an episode of 'All Of Us'.
Down in Miami, the DivaStyle company on 'Eve' could be an advertiser on AJ's talk show.
And there's always Baltimore - Calloway might compete with Flex Washington for an interview with some big sports star during 'One On One' or just get his hair cut at Pherenity on 'Cuts'.
As he'll have a national network talk show in Toobworld, AJ Calloway could be situated in any major city and then still travel to any of those other cities during Sweeps Weeks in order to visit those shows.
For example... how about Chicago? That way the producers could try for a major casting coup by snaring Oprah to appear as herself in a "very special episode".
And why not seek the producer of 'Girlfriends' to appear as his most famous character? In case you didn't know, that would be Kelsey Grammer whose most famous character was Dr. Frasier Crane.
'Frasier' has left the building and moved to Chicago in the 'Frasier' finale, and that's where he'd likely meet Mark Craig.
What do you think of the idea?
I'm listening.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
UPN has picked up the comedy pilot 'The Show With AJ Calloway', starring the BET personality. The pilot chronicles the life of AJ Calloway, whose stint as the host of a fictitious broadcast network late-night talk show is complicated by old flames, dysfunctional friends and ever-present family members.
By playing his own tele-version, it sounds like AJ Calloway is providing UPN with its own 'Seinfeld'. Of course, that's a high standard to strive for - 'The Drew Carey Show' succeeded with its variant; 'It's Like... You Know' didn't.
UPN comedies seem to aim more often for the lowest common denominator in my opinion. But I freely admit that, since UPN caters to a particular niche of the audience which doesn't include me, my impressions of its programming are based mostly on promos and episode guides.
Even so, my "job" is to help these prime time contenders find their network soulmates to make a connection. It's sort of a "TV-Harmony" dating service.
This fictionalized version of AJ Calloway has plenty of options; it all depends on where the show is located.
If it's in NYC, there could be several opportunities with the 'Girlfriends' - at least one episode for each member of the "sistah-hood". (Maybe he went to school with at least one of them? That's a tried and true cliche. Or better yet - one of them is his third cousin twice removed - from reality.)
Here's a chance to air out a couple of other TV cliches: Out on the Left Coast, perhaps Calloway could seek out his "old college buddy" Robert James, and (due to a misunderstanding) both of them could think the other is out for his job in an episode of 'All Of Us'.
Down in Miami, the DivaStyle company on 'Eve' could be an advertiser on AJ's talk show.
And there's always Baltimore - Calloway might compete with Flex Washington for an interview with some big sports star during 'One On One' or just get his hair cut at Pherenity on 'Cuts'.
As he'll have a national network talk show in Toobworld, AJ Calloway could be situated in any major city and then still travel to any of those other cities during Sweeps Weeks in order to visit those shows.
For example... how about Chicago? That way the producers could try for a major casting coup by snaring Oprah to appear as herself in a "very special episode".
And why not seek the producer of 'Girlfriends' to appear as his most famous character? In case you didn't know, that would be Kelsey Grammer whose most famous character was Dr. Frasier Crane.
'Frasier' has left the building and moved to Chicago in the 'Frasier' finale, and that's where he'd likely meet Mark Craig.
What do you think of the idea?
I'm listening.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
WIENERS
'Life On A Stick', premiering tonight on FOX, is the story of Laz (Zachary Knighton), a recent high school graduate who works at Yippie, Hot Dogs, a fast-food place in a mall in Seattle.
O Mighty Powers That Be! Please, PLEASE, have somebody in the cast listening to KACL talk radio! You remember the station - it used to be where Dr. Frasier Crane worked.
He's gone on to Chicago, but there's still Bulldog and his sports show, Gil Chesterton and his food critiques..... You don't even need them, just some anonymous announcer citing the call letters and giving the listeners notice of what's coming up.
G'wan, I dare you! You know you want to. What do you have to fear?
It's not like anybody's going to be actually watching......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
O Mighty Powers That Be! Please, PLEASE, have somebody in the cast listening to KACL talk radio! You remember the station - it used to be where Dr. Frasier Crane worked.
He's gone on to Chicago, but there's still Bulldog and his sports show, Gil Chesterton and his food critiques..... You don't even need them, just some anonymous announcer citing the call letters and giving the listeners notice of what's coming up.
G'wan, I dare you! You know you want to. What do you have to fear?
It's not like anybody's going to be actually watching......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
LINKS A "LOT"
'THE LOT' & 'VERONICA MARS'
Gina Gershon has joined the cast of UPN's drama pilot "The Lot," a soap about a group of twentysomething assistants working at a Hollywood studio backlot. Gershon will play an aggressive producer who is the demanding boss of one of the assistants.
My knee-jerk reacton as a die-hard Crossoverite would be to link 'The Lot' to 'The Lot'. It was a short run series on AMC back in 1999 that took a satirical look at the Hollywood studio system of the 1930s.
Even if the new studio is not named Sylver Screen Pictures, so what? A good fanfic writer can always claim that after the studio system was dismantled in the early sixties, Sylver Screen changed hands and its name as well.
But we should be looking at this show's crossover prospects realistically, and that would mean finding another show currently running on UPN.
If it doesn't have to be another drama series, then 'All Of Us' has possibilities. The main character of Robert is connected to the entertainment biz and lives in Hollywood, so it would be logical to see him on the backlots.
But a more interesting link might be made with this year's cult fave (read that as "loved by critics but nobody's watching") 'Veronica Mars'.
Teen private investigator might have to drive up (down?) from Neptune, California, to check out a lead into the murder of her best friend and/or the disappearance of her mother at the studio. And with such a storyline, perhaps a return visit by Harry Hamlin's character would be in order.
Otherwise, the usual suspects from The League of Themselves might be called up for duty. And that would include a few celebs usually associated with other networks, - I'm particularly thinking of Jay Leno here.
Okay, it's UPN. So maybe Kevin Eubanks.
I'm gonna burn for that one......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Gina Gershon has joined the cast of UPN's drama pilot "The Lot," a soap about a group of twentysomething assistants working at a Hollywood studio backlot. Gershon will play an aggressive producer who is the demanding boss of one of the assistants.
My knee-jerk reacton as a die-hard Crossoverite would be to link 'The Lot' to 'The Lot'. It was a short run series on AMC back in 1999 that took a satirical look at the Hollywood studio system of the 1930s.
Even if the new studio is not named Sylver Screen Pictures, so what? A good fanfic writer can always claim that after the studio system was dismantled in the early sixties, Sylver Screen changed hands and its name as well.
But we should be looking at this show's crossover prospects realistically, and that would mean finding another show currently running on UPN.
If it doesn't have to be another drama series, then 'All Of Us' has possibilities. The main character of Robert is connected to the entertainment biz and lives in Hollywood, so it would be logical to see him on the backlots.
But a more interesting link might be made with this year's cult fave (read that as "loved by critics but nobody's watching") 'Veronica Mars'.
Teen private investigator might have to drive up (down?) from Neptune, California, to check out a lead into the murder of her best friend and/or the disappearance of her mother at the studio. And with such a storyline, perhaps a return visit by Harry Hamlin's character would be in order.
Otherwise, the usual suspects from The League of Themselves might be called up for duty. And that would include a few celebs usually associated with other networks, - I'm particularly thinking of Jay Leno here.
Okay, it's UPN. So maybe Kevin Eubanks.
I'm gonna burn for that one......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
VIVA LINKS VEGAS!
'ALL IN' & 'LAS VEGAS'
I thought I might start off with a proposed pilot with plenty of potential.
(Sorry for spitting.....)
Janeane Garofalo has been tapped to star in NBC's comedy pilot "All In," based on the life of poker champ Annie Duke. The casting of Garofalo lifts the contingency off the project, in which Garofalo plays a single mom of three in Las Vegas who is a professional poker player.
A professional poker player.
In Vegas.
On NBC.
Don't wait for the House to fall on you, because the House always wins!
'All In' cries out for a crossover with 'Las Vegas'!
It wouldn't be the first time a sitcom made the link with an hour-long drama: 'Cheers' and 'St. Elsewhere'; 'The Associates' and 'The Paper Chase'; 'Here's Lucy' and 'Mannix'.
'Lou Grant' was spun off from 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', and the reverse situation (from a drama to a sitcom) was proposed last year for Camryn Manheim's Ellinor Frutt of 'The Practice'.
Besides visits by Garofalo's character to the Montecito, maybe Big Ed and Danny can come over to her home for dinner. The Vegas location makes 'All In' a natural stopover for celebrities in the League of Themselves: Wayne Newton, Barry Manilow, Ann Margaret.... Even future city residents like the puppets of "Avenue Q".
And then there are the likely links to other NBC sitcoms - visits to Vegas b 'Will & Grace' and 'Joey' (so long as his nephew Michael doesn't get caught counting cards again.)
Then again, a quartet of aging hags and a neanderthalic former friend might do more harm than good at this early stage of development for fledgling sitcom. They might end up doing in 'All In'!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
I thought I might start off with a proposed pilot with plenty of potential.
(Sorry for spitting.....)
Janeane Garofalo has been tapped to star in NBC's comedy pilot "All In," based on the life of poker champ Annie Duke. The casting of Garofalo lifts the contingency off the project, in which Garofalo plays a single mom of three in Las Vegas who is a professional poker player.
A professional poker player.
In Vegas.
On NBC.
Don't wait for the House to fall on you, because the House always wins!
'All In' cries out for a crossover with 'Las Vegas'!
It wouldn't be the first time a sitcom made the link with an hour-long drama: 'Cheers' and 'St. Elsewhere'; 'The Associates' and 'The Paper Chase'; 'Here's Lucy' and 'Mannix'.
'Lou Grant' was spun off from 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', and the reverse situation (from a drama to a sitcom) was proposed last year for Camryn Manheim's Ellinor Frutt of 'The Practice'.
Besides visits by Garofalo's character to the Montecito, maybe Big Ed and Danny can come over to her home for dinner. The Vegas location makes 'All In' a natural stopover for celebrities in the League of Themselves: Wayne Newton, Barry Manilow, Ann Margaret.... Even future city residents like the puppets of "Avenue Q".
And then there are the likely links to other NBC sitcoms - visits to Vegas b 'Will & Grace' and 'Joey' (so long as his nephew Michael doesn't get caught counting cards again.)
Then again, a quartet of aging hags and a neanderthalic former friend might do more harm than good at this early stage of development for fledgling sitcom. They might end up doing in 'All In'!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"There's no such thing as a sure thing.
That's why they call it gambling."
Oscar Madison
That's why they call it gambling."
Oscar Madison
'The Odd Couple'
Thank you!
I've started work people, so I'm really drop dead tired as I woke up at 545am yesterday. (NO, I'm not working as a fishmonger)
I'd continue blogging tomorrow, I promise! If I don't, may Cloudy get herpes!! Meanwhile, this cannot wait.
A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE!
Thank you xie xie thank you!
Firstly, a giant hug to Buzz.blogger.com who have mentioned me. This is big, I swear. My site meter before they mentioned me and after the vabbit incident, was hovering around 6,500 unique visitors a day.
QUITE CRAZY!
After Buzz, the visitors shot up to an average of 8,300 a freaking day can?! How cool is that?!
Help me, I am hyperventilating! MY USUAL VIEWERSHIP IS 3,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE BLOGGER GUYS READ MY BLOG! If not regularly, at least once! Very honoured indeed. This is international! =)
Of course, at this point of time I should accredit Blogger for providing unlimited bandwidth for my site. YOU GUYS ROCK! Ok everyone go sign up with Blogger now.
Ahem. Back to less ass-licking stuff.
Mrbrown and Mr Miyagi went mad. Totally bonkers. They poked fun at me!!! Apparently famous US blogger Tony Pierce decided to feature my photo (anonymously and for no reason whatsoever) on his site and the itchy backside Mr Miyagi got extremely tickled by it.
This is the photo:
He and Mrbrown then proceeded to ...
take photos of themselves as a parody of mine and posted the scary photos on their sites.
I almost laughed my head off.
This sparked off a WHOLE TRUNKLOAD of bloggers all jumping in to join the fun, and everyone started to make twirly tongues and up-ward staring eyes.
To see all, click on either brownie, miyagi or here! Haha!
Turodrique (founder, LocalBrand) saw what happened, realised the tee I was wearing was LocalBrand's Blind, and squealed in excitement. He also skipped around a little. He decided to mark this historic meme moment by offering a 20% discount to whoever dares to show that silly face to his sales assistants, no doubt making them all go on strike in fear. Ha! Click here to find out how to do just that!
I can't stand it anymore. I need sleep. However, if you don't, and feel like joining in the fun, why not jump on the bohliao (nothing better to do) bandwagon?
Simple. Copy that look, snap it, and either
1) send the photo to flickr (address below),
2) post it on your blog (and proclaiming that you are too sexy for your blog) and let me or mrbrown know the link,
3) or to send it to my gmail at thegoddess@gmail.com.
I'd put all the pics up the next entry! Nothing too big ok, around 100x100 pixels would be perfect. If you don't know how to adjust the size, just send it over anyway!
To view those early birds, click here! This is so funny.
Alright, good night~!
(As a compensation for the wait for the IQ question answers, here's a nice photo.)
WAH!!!
p/s: Stay tuned k, a lot to blog about for tomorrow. With loads of pictures. And a porno stickmen pic for the fourth IQ question.
Luv,
Very tired XX
I'd continue blogging tomorrow, I promise! If I don't, may Cloudy get herpes!! Meanwhile, this cannot wait.
Thank you xie xie thank you!
Firstly, a giant hug to Buzz.blogger.com who have mentioned me. This is big, I swear. My site meter before they mentioned me and after the vabbit incident, was hovering around 6,500 unique visitors a day.
QUITE CRAZY!
After Buzz, the visitors shot up to an average of 8,300 a freaking day can?! How cool is that?!
Help me, I am hyperventilating! MY USUAL VIEWERSHIP IS 3,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE BLOGGER GUYS READ MY BLOG! If not regularly, at least once! Very honoured indeed. This is international! =)
Of course, at this point of time I should accredit Blogger for providing unlimited bandwidth for my site. YOU GUYS ROCK! Ok everyone go sign up with Blogger now.
Ahem. Back to less ass-licking stuff.
Mrbrown and Mr Miyagi went mad. Totally bonkers. They poked fun at me!!! Apparently famous US blogger Tony Pierce decided to feature my photo (anonymously and for no reason whatsoever) on his site and the itchy backside Mr Miyagi got extremely tickled by it.
This is the photo:
He and Mrbrown then proceeded to ...
take photos of themselves as a parody of mine and posted the scary photos on their sites.
I almost laughed my head off.
This sparked off a WHOLE TRUNKLOAD of bloggers all jumping in to join the fun, and everyone started to make twirly tongues and up-ward staring eyes.
To see all, click on either brownie, miyagi or here! Haha!
Turodrique (founder, LocalBrand) saw what happened, realised the tee I was wearing was LocalBrand's Blind, and squealed in excitement. He also skipped around a little. He decided to mark this historic meme moment by offering a 20% discount to whoever dares to show that silly face to his sales assistants, no doubt making them all go on strike in fear. Ha! Click here to find out how to do just that!
I can't stand it anymore. I need sleep. However, if you don't, and feel like joining in the fun, why not jump on the bohliao (nothing better to do) bandwagon?
Simple. Copy that look, snap it, and either
1) send the photo to flickr (address below),
2) post it on your blog (and proclaiming that you are too sexy for your blog) and let me or mrbrown know the link,
3) or to send it to my gmail at thegoddess@gmail.com.
I'd put all the pics up the next entry! Nothing too big ok, around 100x100 pixels would be perfect. If you don't know how to adjust the size, just send it over anyway!
To view those early birds, click here! This is so funny.
Alright, good night~!
(As a compensation for the wait for the IQ question answers, here's a nice photo.)
WAH!!!
p/s: Stay tuned k, a lot to blog about for tomorrow. With loads of pictures. And a porno stickmen pic for the fourth IQ question.
Luv,
Very tired XX
DUCK SEASON! WABBIT SEASON! PILOT SEASON!
My brother-in-law is a hunter, and the way he feels about deer season, that's how I feel about this time of year. It's pilot season in Toobworld, and shows are being produced and evaluated by the networks. More won't even get that far, and plenty of those produced will fall by the wayside and never make the fall schedule.
(Remember the good old days when networks would have pilot "Playhouse" or "Showcase" to burn off those discarded pilots and recoup some of their losses?)
I've been collecting the various news reports trickling in about the many pilot projects for the coming season and I plan to evaluate them for their crossover potential in Toobworld at large. If they never make it to air, then it's a moot point. One of my basic rules is - if it's broadcast, then it's part of the TV Universe.
But perhaps the network suits at the pilot's potential home have not realized yet the lucrative crossover possibilities these shows hold. So I'm offering up this service pro bono for the greater glory of Toobworld.
Gee, I wish I had a great Latin phrase to shout out at this point......
Sort of like a John Wilkes Boobtube.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
(Remember the good old days when networks would have pilot "Playhouse" or "Showcase" to burn off those discarded pilots and recoup some of their losses?)
I've been collecting the various news reports trickling in about the many pilot projects for the coming season and I plan to evaluate them for their crossover potential in Toobworld at large. If they never make it to air, then it's a moot point. One of my basic rules is - if it's broadcast, then it's part of the TV Universe.
But perhaps the network suits at the pilot's potential home have not realized yet the lucrative crossover possibilities these shows hold. So I'm offering up this service pro bono for the greater glory of Toobworld.
Gee, I wish I had a great Latin phrase to shout out at this point......
Sort of like a John Wilkes Boobtube.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Monday, March 21, 2005
CROSSOVER OF THE WEEK!
'Cheap Seats' & 'Mystery Science Theater 3000'
When last we saw Mike Nelson and the bots Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot of 'Mystery Science Theater 3000', they were back on Earth. This happened in August of 1999 when the Satellite of Love crashed due to a malfunction of Pearl Forrester's joystick during a presentation of "Diabolik".
Back in Mike's apartment, they settled in to watch "The Crawling Eye" and as we left them, they were overcome with a disquieting sense of deja vu...... It was all very much like the ending of 'The Prisoner', in that Life seemed to be in a loop and everything was coming round again.
Six years later, and we find that Mike and the bots haven't moved far from their couch or their TV screen. But instead of an old, bad movie, they're watching Randy and Jason Sklar, who are "production assistants" at ESPN Classic. The Sklars basically steal the 'MST3K' riff by watching old sports films and making snarky comments, and that pretty much sums up 'Cheap Seats', the show that graced us with the return of Mike and the bots.
This might have been some sort of Zonk/Crossover hybrid; something similar to Lynette and Susan of 'Desperate Housewives' watching actress Nicolette Sheridan and Terrell Owens in the infamous 'Monday Night Football' intro from last fall.
But so long as we considered Sheridan's appearance to be as herself and not as her 'Desperate Housewives' character of Edie, there was no Zonk. And the same kind of chiropractic logic limbo can be used here.
The Sklars hosting 'Cheap Seats' can be considered as sort of a reality show that not only exists in the Real World but in Toobworld as well. It's the same kind of reasoning that we use when shows like 'Jeopardy' and 'American Gladiators' and 'Password' and 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' are worked into the plotlines of fictional series.
Only this time it's reversed and the fictional series is worked into the so-called reality show. Having the twin comedians portray fictional versions of themselves a la 'Seinfeld' only helps to grease the crossover.
Do you want to see a clip from the episode? Then try these links:
Low-Res:
http://www.cheapseats.tv/clips/creative_breaking_low.html
High-Res:
http://www.cheapseats.tv/clips/creative_breaking_hi.html
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
When last we saw Mike Nelson and the bots Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot of 'Mystery Science Theater 3000', they were back on Earth. This happened in August of 1999 when the Satellite of Love crashed due to a malfunction of Pearl Forrester's joystick during a presentation of "Diabolik".
Back in Mike's apartment, they settled in to watch "The Crawling Eye" and as we left them, they were overcome with a disquieting sense of deja vu...... It was all very much like the ending of 'The Prisoner', in that Life seemed to be in a loop and everything was coming round again.
Six years later, and we find that Mike and the bots haven't moved far from their couch or their TV screen. But instead of an old, bad movie, they're watching Randy and Jason Sklar, who are "production assistants" at ESPN Classic. The Sklars basically steal the 'MST3K' riff by watching old sports films and making snarky comments, and that pretty much sums up 'Cheap Seats', the show that graced us with the return of Mike and the bots.
This might have been some sort of Zonk/Crossover hybrid; something similar to Lynette and Susan of 'Desperate Housewives' watching actress Nicolette Sheridan and Terrell Owens in the infamous 'Monday Night Football' intro from last fall.
But so long as we considered Sheridan's appearance to be as herself and not as her 'Desperate Housewives' character of Edie, there was no Zonk. And the same kind of chiropractic logic limbo can be used here.
The Sklars hosting 'Cheap Seats' can be considered as sort of a reality show that not only exists in the Real World but in Toobworld as well. It's the same kind of reasoning that we use when shows like 'Jeopardy' and 'American Gladiators' and 'Password' and 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' are worked into the plotlines of fictional series.
Only this time it's reversed and the fictional series is worked into the so-called reality show. Having the twin comedians portray fictional versions of themselves a la 'Seinfeld' only helps to grease the crossover.
Do you want to see a clip from the episode? Then try these links:
Low-Res:
http://www.cheapseats.tv/clips/creative_breaking_low.html
High-Res:
http://www.cheapseats.tv/clips/creative_breaking_hi.html
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
HEARD THE NEWS TODAY, O'BOY
TV 'Insider' O'Brien enters alcohol rehab
I just wanted to point out that I'm the O'Brien who's a TV 'Outsider'. I do my best thinking inside the Box by staying outside of the industry.
They say there are two things you should never see being made - laws and sausages. To which I would add a third: TV shows. Takes all the magic out of it for me. Knowing the reality of contracts and copyrights limits my vision of the TV Universe.
But at any rate - good luck, "Cousin" Pat.* And as Red Skelton used to say, "May God bless."
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
*All O'Briens are related; everybody knows that!
I just wanted to point out that I'm the O'Brien who's a TV 'Outsider'. I do my best thinking inside the Box by staying outside of the industry.
They say there are two things you should never see being made - laws and sausages. To which I would add a third: TV shows. Takes all the magic out of it for me. Knowing the reality of contracts and copyrights limits my vision of the TV Universe.
But at any rate - good luck, "Cousin" Pat.* And as Red Skelton used to say, "May God bless."
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
*All O'Briens are related; everybody knows that!
COURTING CROSSOVERS
Four episodes into the latest member of the 'Law & Order' family, 'Trial By Jury', and we've got a great example of the attention that is being paid to the continuity and history of the franchise. Three of the guest stars played roles which they had previously assayed on the 'Law & Order' mothership.
It's one thing to have high profile appearances by Sam Waterston, and Carey Lowell; and Fred Dalton Thompson bestrides both shows, and the late Jerry Orbach moved from show to the other.
But to make certain three great character actors played the characters they usually portray on 'L&O' - especially when most of the audience just lets TV wash over them and probably never would have noticed it? Well, that shows how much care goes into Dick Wolf's corner of the TV Universe.
Jeffrey DeMunn has about seven appearances to his credit on 'Law & Order' as Professor Norman Rothenberg, a high-profile legal expert who knows just how long he can dance on the ethical dividing line.
Close behind is newly published author Ron McLarty who has at least five appearances as Judge William Wright behind him.
And then there's Peter Gerety, best known as Detective Stuart Gharty on 'Homicide: Life On The Street' as well as his lookalike cousin Judge Phelan on 'The Wire' (both of whom reside in Baltimore). Gerety has only played public defender Dean Conners once before on the original series, but he also played another attorney, Charles Powell, in two other episodes.
This writer hopes that his Dean Conners will return again soon on 'Trial By Jury'. There was this compelling quality in his "schlub" of an Everyman's need to believe in his client's innocence, as if it would also bring him salvation as well. (I'll have to catch his previous appearance on 'Law & Order'; it could be he really was in need of salvation, from what I heard.)
In its short time on the air, 'Trial By Jury' doesn't just have these officers of the court as the only examples of judicial crossovers. Although she's moved on to 'Boston Legal' to play Shirley Schmidt, Candice Bergen is due back as Judge Amanda Anderlee - which she also played on 'Law & Order'. (A previous blog entry hypothesized that Amanda and Shirley are twin sisters.)
And Susan Blommaert's appearance as Judge Rebecca Steinman qualifies the character for induction into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame. Judge Steinman not only appeared on the original series about three times, but she also made an appearance on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'.
They probably won't be the last lawyers and judges to cross over to 'Trial By Jury' from the other 'L&O' shows. Add to them the various cops from the three other series, and 'Trial By Jury' may well end up becoming the true hub of Dick Wolf's corner of the TV Universe.
Keep an eye on this blog - pretty soon I'll have a list of other lawyers and judges we should expect to get their day in court.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
It's one thing to have high profile appearances by Sam Waterston, and Carey Lowell; and Fred Dalton Thompson bestrides both shows, and the late Jerry Orbach moved from show to the other.
But to make certain three great character actors played the characters they usually portray on 'L&O' - especially when most of the audience just lets TV wash over them and probably never would have noticed it? Well, that shows how much care goes into Dick Wolf's corner of the TV Universe.
Jeffrey DeMunn has about seven appearances to his credit on 'Law & Order' as Professor Norman Rothenberg, a high-profile legal expert who knows just how long he can dance on the ethical dividing line.
Close behind is newly published author Ron McLarty who has at least five appearances as Judge William Wright behind him.
And then there's Peter Gerety, best known as Detective Stuart Gharty on 'Homicide: Life On The Street' as well as his lookalike cousin Judge Phelan on 'The Wire' (both of whom reside in Baltimore). Gerety has only played public defender Dean Conners once before on the original series, but he also played another attorney, Charles Powell, in two other episodes.
This writer hopes that his Dean Conners will return again soon on 'Trial By Jury'. There was this compelling quality in his "schlub" of an Everyman's need to believe in his client's innocence, as if it would also bring him salvation as well. (I'll have to catch his previous appearance on 'Law & Order'; it could be he really was in need of salvation, from what I heard.)
In its short time on the air, 'Trial By Jury' doesn't just have these officers of the court as the only examples of judicial crossovers. Although she's moved on to 'Boston Legal' to play Shirley Schmidt, Candice Bergen is due back as Judge Amanda Anderlee - which she also played on 'Law & Order'. (A previous blog entry hypothesized that Amanda and Shirley are twin sisters.)
And Susan Blommaert's appearance as Judge Rebecca Steinman qualifies the character for induction into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame. Judge Steinman not only appeared on the original series about three times, but she also made an appearance on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'.
They probably won't be the last lawyers and judges to cross over to 'Trial By Jury' from the other 'L&O' shows. Add to them the various cops from the three other series, and 'Trial By Jury' may well end up becoming the true hub of Dick Wolf's corner of the TV Universe.
Keep an eye on this blog - pretty soon I'll have a list of other lawyers and judges we should expect to get their day in court.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Saturday, March 19, 2005
"MILLIONAIRE" NOTICE
This is an email that was sent out by my Iddiot friend Brian-El, who tried out for 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' last year and invited me along to watch two of the tapings later that afternoon.
Here's a note I sent to a bunch of folks.
(Psssst...don't tellanyone...but Toby was in the audience, too--I couldn't see him from my seat, but I think he was sitting in the top row, just TV left of Meredith Viera's seat...)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Just a reminder (or notice) for those who may want one: the two shows of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for which I was in the audience are due to be broadcast this Thursday and Friday, March 24 and 25. However, if it'syour local CBS affiliate that carries the show, it may be pre-empted or bumped to a late-late night slot by NCAA basketball.
I estimate the chance of actually being able to see me in the audience on anything less than a 60" TV as being about 35%.
Toby here, again. I'm thinking the chances of seeing me might be pretty good. I was directly behind Meredith, but up in the last row. I plan on taping it and checking it out and will let you know if I was able to see either me or Brian.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
(For those in the NYC area, the show airs at 12:30 pm on WABC-7.)
Here's a note I sent to a bunch of folks.
(Psssst...don't tellanyone...but Toby was in the audience, too--I couldn't see him from my seat, but I think he was sitting in the top row, just TV left of Meredith Viera's seat...)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Just a reminder (or notice) for those who may want one: the two shows of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for which I was in the audience are due to be broadcast this Thursday and Friday, March 24 and 25. However, if it'syour local CBS affiliate that carries the show, it may be pre-empted or bumped to a late-late night slot by NCAA basketball.
I estimate the chance of actually being able to see me in the audience on anything less than a 60" TV as being about 35%.
Toby here, again. I'm thinking the chances of seeing me might be pretty good. I was directly behind Meredith, but up in the last row. I plan on taping it and checking it out and will let you know if I was able to see either me or Brian.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
(For those in the NYC area, the show airs at 12:30 pm on WABC-7.)
77th 4 "6"
At 4:31 am on the morning of March 19th, 1928, (at least according to the files kept by "The Village"), a former secret agent was born. His captors had given him a number - Six - and taken
away his name, but reliable sources are convinced that his true identity was as NATO agent John Drake.
By an amazing "coincidence", an actor by the name of Patrick McGoohan was also born on that date; probably at that same time.
So I'd like to take this opportunity to say "Happy Birthday" both to my favorite TV character of all time, Number Six, and to one of my all-time favorite actors, Patrick McGoohan.
I'm sure they'll both understand if I wish them only "Happy Birthday", and NOT "Many Happy Returns"!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
away his name, but reliable sources are convinced that his true identity was as NATO agent John Drake.
By an amazing "coincidence", an actor by the name of Patrick McGoohan was also born on that date; probably at that same time.
So I'd like to take this opportunity to say "Happy Birthday" both to my favorite TV character of all time, Number Six, and to one of my all-time favorite actors, Patrick McGoohan.
I'm sure they'll both understand if I wish them only "Happy Birthday", and NOT "Many Happy Returns"!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Friday, March 18, 2005
FAMILY TIES
There's been a lot of online speculation as to who has been cast to play Catherine Willow's mom on an episode of 'CSI' to air during May Sweeps.
TV Guide said a deal was being worked out to get someone who has 2 Academy Award noms and five Golden Globes. Now, they probably thought that was vague enough for a blind item, but perhaps they forgot that sites like the IMDb.com contains such information as "awards & nominations". Then it's just a matter of searching through it for the right criteria.
And someone does pass muster for the information, and who does have enough of a resemblance to actress Marg Helgenberger to be accepted as being related to Catherine. (Not that such concerns ever were given priority in casting before, but it's nice that more often than not nowadays showrunners are thinking in terms of tele-genetics.)
So don't be surprised if they land Ann Margaret to assay the role.
While thinking upon this casting coup, I started wondering about family ties for other TV characters, and particularly for those I'm especially keen on.
One of these would be Dr. Gregory House, of 'House' on FOX.
Although the role is played by British comic actor Hugh Laurie, House is being presented as an American. Hugh Laurie has assumed a very convincing mid-Atlantic accent and to this untrained ear, it appears that he's pulling it off.
(Unlike poor Mark Addy on 'Standing Still'. His Brit roots slip through on occasion and to top it off, he's probably trying for a Queens, NY accent to boot.)
We don't know much yet about the background of Dr. House. He's hooked on Vicodin because of debilitating leg injury for which he needs the assistance of a cane. And from a recent snippet of dialogue, it's possible that he had been shot.
Otherwise we don't know much else. So in casting actors to play his father, we're left with a pretty empty canvas to fill.
That's not the case for the ex-husband of Kate Harper on 'The West Wing'. We've never met him, but we know he'll have to be tall, balding, and have a Dick Van Dyke nose. Pretty tall order for the casting agent, unless they already had somebody in mind for the role when the description of her ex-husband was written.
And speaking of Dick Van Dyke, that's my suggestion for the role of Dr. House's father, should ever the need for him to be presented on the show arises. He's of the right age to play the father of a man in his mid-forties, and both Van Dyke and Laurie share a long-faced lankiness, right down to the melted bob of a tip to the nose. Any differences that melt the complete similarity between the two can be splained away by the input of genetic junk from the mother.
And who might play Dr. House's mother? Actually, I'm not that all interested. I would just like to see Dick Van Dyke in the role of his father. And why? Because this is a blog dedicated to Toobworld, my students. What I actually want is more than just Dick Van Dyke playing House's father.....
I want Dick Van Dyke playing House's father as Dr. Mark Sloan!
That's right - I think a link can be made between the shows 'House' and 'Diagnosis Murder' by having Van Dyke reprise his role as Mark Sloan one last time. Crossing network borders shouldn't be a problem. Just last week Winslow High School Principal Steven Harper, formerly on FOX's 'Boston Public', showed up in a Boston courtroom on an episode of 'Boston Legal' on ABC. Alan Brady ('The Dick Van Dyke Show' - CBS) showed up in 'Mad About You' on NBC. Professor Kingsfield of 'The Paper Chase' (CBS and Showtime) appeared in an episode of 'The Associates' on ABC.
And the master of the border crossings is Detective John Munch of 'Homicide: Life On The Street' and 'Law & Order: SVU'. Not only is he the heir presumptive to the throne of Crossover King, but two of his appearances have been on other networks - in an episode of 'The X-Files' on FOX, and in the second episode of the very short-lived 'The Beat' on UPN.
And the fact that both shows came from different production companies shouldn't be much of a hassle. The NYC cops of 'Law & Order' never had that type of interference from the Powers That Be when working with the Baltimore cops of 'Homicide: Life On The Street'. Who writes out their checks never was a concern when Jessica Fletcher teamed up with Thomas Magnum to solve a murder in Hawaii during a crossover between 'Murder, She Wrote' and 'Magnum, P.I.'.
And once again we go to Detective Munch as an example for this as well with all of his crossovers.
So from a production viewpoint, obstacles could be smoothed over. It's from the inner reality of the plotline that we might face a few arguments.
Most of all, it's the fact that there was never any mention of a second son for Dr. Mark Sloan in all the years 'Diagnosis Murder' was on the air. He had two children - Steve Sloan, a Los Angeles police detective who often worked with his dad in solving cases; and a daughter who was tragically murdered.
Added to this is the obvious difference in their last names - Sloan and House.
I'm not the only one who can see the obvious answer, right?
Greg House is the illegitimate son of Mark Sloan.
The days when our TV heroes were cast as exemplars of virtue are long gone. Nowadays they have flaws, and foibles, and failings - they are the F Troop. They make mistakes in Life, but eventually they admit to them and they rise above them. (Unless of course we're talking about Detective Vic Mackey of 'The Shield'.) That's what makes them human, what makes them real. And what makes them interesting to watch week after week.
Having been the bastard son of a noted crime-solving doctor on the West Coast might be a great splainin for some of Dr. House's acerbic attitude towards the rest of the world at large. And a chance to rectify that situation with a renewed relationship with the father he never knew might provide for as many episodes as they wanted to run with it; perhaps a once-a-year type of reunion.
And nothing says they HAVE to iron out all their differences. After all, we don't want House becoming all sweetness and light - that's not why he's become such an interesting character for the audience.
So that's my idea. Cast Dick Van Dyke as the father of Dr. Greg House on 'House'. And pull a few strings with Lee Goldberg to get him cast to play the role as Dr. Mark Sloan. And in doing so, we can then add 'House' to 'Jake And The Fatman', 'Mannix', 'Matlock', and 'Mission: Impossible' as shows with links to 'Diagnosis Murder'.
I'm throwing it out there free of charge; putting it into print that I wouldn't be looking for any monetary remuneration for the idea, O Powers That Be. I'll be happy with just getting the crossover link to add to the TV Universe.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
TV Guide said a deal was being worked out to get someone who has 2 Academy Award noms and five Golden Globes. Now, they probably thought that was vague enough for a blind item, but perhaps they forgot that sites like the IMDb.com contains such information as "awards & nominations". Then it's just a matter of searching through it for the right criteria.
And someone does pass muster for the information, and who does have enough of a resemblance to actress Marg Helgenberger to be accepted as being related to Catherine. (Not that such concerns ever were given priority in casting before, but it's nice that more often than not nowadays showrunners are thinking in terms of tele-genetics.)
So don't be surprised if they land Ann Margaret to assay the role.
While thinking upon this casting coup, I started wondering about family ties for other TV characters, and particularly for those I'm especially keen on.
One of these would be Dr. Gregory House, of 'House' on FOX.
Although the role is played by British comic actor Hugh Laurie, House is being presented as an American. Hugh Laurie has assumed a very convincing mid-Atlantic accent and to this untrained ear, it appears that he's pulling it off.
(Unlike poor Mark Addy on 'Standing Still'. His Brit roots slip through on occasion and to top it off, he's probably trying for a Queens, NY accent to boot.)
We don't know much yet about the background of Dr. House. He's hooked on Vicodin because of debilitating leg injury for which he needs the assistance of a cane. And from a recent snippet of dialogue, it's possible that he had been shot.
Otherwise we don't know much else. So in casting actors to play his father, we're left with a pretty empty canvas to fill.
That's not the case for the ex-husband of Kate Harper on 'The West Wing'. We've never met him, but we know he'll have to be tall, balding, and have a Dick Van Dyke nose. Pretty tall order for the casting agent, unless they already had somebody in mind for the role when the description of her ex-husband was written.
And speaking of Dick Van Dyke, that's my suggestion for the role of Dr. House's father, should ever the need for him to be presented on the show arises. He's of the right age to play the father of a man in his mid-forties, and both Van Dyke and Laurie share a long-faced lankiness, right down to the melted bob of a tip to the nose. Any differences that melt the complete similarity between the two can be splained away by the input of genetic junk from the mother.
And who might play Dr. House's mother? Actually, I'm not that all interested. I would just like to see Dick Van Dyke in the role of his father. And why? Because this is a blog dedicated to Toobworld, my students. What I actually want is more than just Dick Van Dyke playing House's father.....
I want Dick Van Dyke playing House's father as Dr. Mark Sloan!
That's right - I think a link can be made between the shows 'House' and 'Diagnosis Murder' by having Van Dyke reprise his role as Mark Sloan one last time. Crossing network borders shouldn't be a problem. Just last week Winslow High School Principal Steven Harper, formerly on FOX's 'Boston Public', showed up in a Boston courtroom on an episode of 'Boston Legal' on ABC. Alan Brady ('The Dick Van Dyke Show' - CBS) showed up in 'Mad About You' on NBC. Professor Kingsfield of 'The Paper Chase' (CBS and Showtime) appeared in an episode of 'The Associates' on ABC.
And the master of the border crossings is Detective John Munch of 'Homicide: Life On The Street' and 'Law & Order: SVU'. Not only is he the heir presumptive to the throne of Crossover King, but two of his appearances have been on other networks - in an episode of 'The X-Files' on FOX, and in the second episode of the very short-lived 'The Beat' on UPN.
And the fact that both shows came from different production companies shouldn't be much of a hassle. The NYC cops of 'Law & Order' never had that type of interference from the Powers That Be when working with the Baltimore cops of 'Homicide: Life On The Street'. Who writes out their checks never was a concern when Jessica Fletcher teamed up with Thomas Magnum to solve a murder in Hawaii during a crossover between 'Murder, She Wrote' and 'Magnum, P.I.'.
And once again we go to Detective Munch as an example for this as well with all of his crossovers.
So from a production viewpoint, obstacles could be smoothed over. It's from the inner reality of the plotline that we might face a few arguments.
Most of all, it's the fact that there was never any mention of a second son for Dr. Mark Sloan in all the years 'Diagnosis Murder' was on the air. He had two children - Steve Sloan, a Los Angeles police detective who often worked with his dad in solving cases; and a daughter who was tragically murdered.
Added to this is the obvious difference in their last names - Sloan and House.
I'm not the only one who can see the obvious answer, right?
Greg House is the illegitimate son of Mark Sloan.
The days when our TV heroes were cast as exemplars of virtue are long gone. Nowadays they have flaws, and foibles, and failings - they are the F Troop. They make mistakes in Life, but eventually they admit to them and they rise above them. (Unless of course we're talking about Detective Vic Mackey of 'The Shield'.) That's what makes them human, what makes them real. And what makes them interesting to watch week after week.
Having been the bastard son of a noted crime-solving doctor on the West Coast might be a great splainin for some of Dr. House's acerbic attitude towards the rest of the world at large. And a chance to rectify that situation with a renewed relationship with the father he never knew might provide for as many episodes as they wanted to run with it; perhaps a once-a-year type of reunion.
And nothing says they HAVE to iron out all their differences. After all, we don't want House becoming all sweetness and light - that's not why he's become such an interesting character for the audience.
So that's my idea. Cast Dick Van Dyke as the father of Dr. Greg House on 'House'. And pull a few strings with Lee Goldberg to get him cast to play the role as Dr. Mark Sloan. And in doing so, we can then add 'House' to 'Jake And The Fatman', 'Mannix', 'Matlock', and 'Mission: Impossible' as shows with links to 'Diagnosis Murder'.
I'm throwing it out there free of charge; putting it into print that I wouldn't be looking for any monetary remuneration for the idea, O Powers That Be. I'll be happy with just getting the crossover link to add to the TV Universe.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Thursday, March 17, 2005
A HOUSE CALL ZONKED
Zonks should be self-explanatory by now, but I realize not everybody who stumbles across this site are familiar with it at all.
Zonks are scenes, statements, actual TV clips from other shows which poke holes in the integrity of the TV Universe by referring to other TV shows as being TV shows, rather than as part of the same world.
Every time a TV character makes mention of something that once happened on 'Star Trek', I want to set my phaser on "kill"! The entire 'Star Trek' franchise should be about four hundred years into the future time-line of that other show.
So anyway, that's a Zonk - when one show mentions another show as a TV show when in fact they should be sharing the same dimension.
In my opinion, the shows most cited in Zonks would be 'Star Trek', 'The Twilight Zone', and 'Gilligan's Island'. And it's from that last example we get our latest, best example for this week's Zonk:
"Do you ever watch 'Gilligan's Island' reruns and really really believe they're going to get off the island THIS time?"
- Dr. Eric Foreman
'House'
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Zonks are scenes, statements, actual TV clips from other shows which poke holes in the integrity of the TV Universe by referring to other TV shows as being TV shows, rather than as part of the same world.
Every time a TV character makes mention of something that once happened on 'Star Trek', I want to set my phaser on "kill"! The entire 'Star Trek' franchise should be about four hundred years into the future time-line of that other show.
So anyway, that's a Zonk - when one show mentions another show as a TV show when in fact they should be sharing the same dimension.
In my opinion, the shows most cited in Zonks would be 'Star Trek', 'The Twilight Zone', and 'Gilligan's Island'. And it's from that last example we get our latest, best example for this week's Zonk:
"Do you ever watch 'Gilligan's Island' reruns and really really believe they're going to get off the island THIS time?"
- Dr. Eric Foreman
'House'
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
POSTON NOTE
Last week we looked at the (possible) genealogical link between 'Boston Legal' and 'Law & Order: Trial By Jury' - that two characters played by Candice Bergen were in fact twin sisters.
This week, we're riding that same theme train. This time, the current character whose roots we're researching is "Clown", the dying funnyman who has an ironclad lease to live in the closet of Marni Fliss on 'Committed'.
But his twin isn't on any current show. In fact, his twin no longer resides anywhere in Toobworld. Unlike his lookalike, this Poston role has moved beyond "dying".
Back in 1993, a book editor named Martin Tupper was making a videotape of his son Jeremy. But he didn't realize at the time that he was also recording an oral sex transaction in an alley between a prostitute and and an older man named Sidney Barish.
Barish was better known to the public as "Uncle Bouncy", a beloved kiddie TV show host.
Tupper tried to do the right thing and give the tape to Barish, but the low-rung celebrity treated him like dirt, spewing him with a foul-mouthed tirade.
Understandably, Martin decided to get even by selling the tape to his best friend, talk show host Eddie Charles who eagerly featured it on his program. But on the day that the show aired, Sidney jumped to his death.
You can pretty much guess the "IRONY": Uncle Bouncy didn't bounce. It probably made a great 'Deadline' headline for the New York Ledger.
['Dream On']
Now, crackpot conspiracy nuts 'The Lone Gunmen' might have claimed at this point that "Uncle Bouncy" wasn't dead; that in fact he had faked his suicide.
But there was a body, you say. The daughter of Sidney Barish showed up and identified it, and then sued Martin Tupper for causing her father's death. But if he did fake it and then went into hiding, it would certainly explain why he was now living in a closet.
Even so, where did he get the body? Well, let's say he had a twin brother...... Okay, that's about enough of the "Dead Ringer" rip-off.
Let's say he did have a twin brother; someone who also became a clown for a living and even had his own TV show. But his twin brother's name was Fred Tobolowsky. ('The Lone Gunmen')
Famous siblings with different last names? We have Real World precedent: James Arness and Peter Graves, and Olivia DeHavilland and Joan Fontaine.
The original family name most likely was Tobalowsky. And Fred probably found fame first, adapting the family name for his moniker of "Cap'n Toby". Sidney, not wanting to reside in his brother's shadow, changed his name to Barish.
(Perhaps it was their mother's maiden name; and then perhaps a family tie to the Barishes of 'Flying Blind'?)
Fred Tobalowsky had his own run-in with the law; being accused by the government to be a spy for the Chinese. (It didn't help that his wife was of Chinese descent.) But thanks to the perseverance of long-time fan Langley, his innocence was proven. ('The Lone Gunmen')
It could be that the incident caused a decided strain on his marriage and so he and his Chinese wife soon after divorced in 2001. Still bearing the pain of his twin brother committing suicide nearly a decade before, it could be that Fred Tobalowsky decided to turn away from the world at large after his divorce.
Dropping all mementos of his former life - including his own name, - he now became only known as "Clown" and took up the hermitic life in the closet of Marni Fliss.
There are a lot of other Tom Poston characters in the TV Universe, but the rest of them would most likely be victims of "urichosis" - they just happen to look alike to us, but not to each other (as a juror once said on 'All In The Family').
One of these would be Cliff "The Peeper" Murdoch who was an old college buddy of Dr. Bob Hartley of Chicago. ('The Bob Newhart Show') He turned out to be the inspiration for a character (George Utley) in a very extended dream sequence that Dr. Hartley had after eating Japanese food. ('Newhart')
But there is one other Toobworld character of Tom Poston's we should mention: The Capital City Goofball. He was a minor league baseball team mascot found in the Tooniverse.
It just might be that when we met the Goofball in an episode of 'The Simpsons' back in 1990, he was in fact either Fred Tobalowsky or Sidney Barish, making a few extra bucks as an anonymous team mascot who ended up in a scuffle with Homer Simpson.
It might seem like I put waaaaay too much thought into all of this, but then... I'm a big fan of Tom Poston. One might say I'm even a disciple of Tom Poston, a description for which a "sniglet" has been coined:
"Tompostle"
If I made a movie of my life as of right now, I'd like Tom Poston to play my Dad. Of course, sadly, it would have to be a fantasy, as my Dad's been gone from the Real World since 1993.
But then in the TV Universe, everybody's life is a fantasy, so why not mine?
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
This week, we're riding that same theme train. This time, the current character whose roots we're researching is "Clown", the dying funnyman who has an ironclad lease to live in the closet of Marni Fliss on 'Committed'.
But his twin isn't on any current show. In fact, his twin no longer resides anywhere in Toobworld. Unlike his lookalike, this Poston role has moved beyond "dying".
Back in 1993, a book editor named Martin Tupper was making a videotape of his son Jeremy. But he didn't realize at the time that he was also recording an oral sex transaction in an alley between a prostitute and and an older man named Sidney Barish.
Barish was better known to the public as "Uncle Bouncy", a beloved kiddie TV show host.
Tupper tried to do the right thing and give the tape to Barish, but the low-rung celebrity treated him like dirt, spewing him with a foul-mouthed tirade.
Understandably, Martin decided to get even by selling the tape to his best friend, talk show host Eddie Charles who eagerly featured it on his program. But on the day that the show aired, Sidney jumped to his death.
You can pretty much guess the "IRONY": Uncle Bouncy didn't bounce. It probably made a great 'Deadline' headline for the New York Ledger.
['Dream On']
Now, crackpot conspiracy nuts 'The Lone Gunmen' might have claimed at this point that "Uncle Bouncy" wasn't dead; that in fact he had faked his suicide.
But there was a body, you say. The daughter of Sidney Barish showed up and identified it, and then sued Martin Tupper for causing her father's death. But if he did fake it and then went into hiding, it would certainly explain why he was now living in a closet.
Even so, where did he get the body? Well, let's say he had a twin brother...... Okay, that's about enough of the "Dead Ringer" rip-off.
Let's say he did have a twin brother; someone who also became a clown for a living and even had his own TV show. But his twin brother's name was Fred Tobolowsky. ('The Lone Gunmen')
Famous siblings with different last names? We have Real World precedent: James Arness and Peter Graves, and Olivia DeHavilland and Joan Fontaine.
The original family name most likely was Tobalowsky. And Fred probably found fame first, adapting the family name for his moniker of "Cap'n Toby". Sidney, not wanting to reside in his brother's shadow, changed his name to Barish.
(Perhaps it was their mother's maiden name; and then perhaps a family tie to the Barishes of 'Flying Blind'?)
Fred Tobalowsky had his own run-in with the law; being accused by the government to be a spy for the Chinese. (It didn't help that his wife was of Chinese descent.) But thanks to the perseverance of long-time fan Langley, his innocence was proven. ('The Lone Gunmen')
It could be that the incident caused a decided strain on his marriage and so he and his Chinese wife soon after divorced in 2001. Still bearing the pain of his twin brother committing suicide nearly a decade before, it could be that Fred Tobalowsky decided to turn away from the world at large after his divorce.
Dropping all mementos of his former life - including his own name, - he now became only known as "Clown" and took up the hermitic life in the closet of Marni Fliss.
There are a lot of other Tom Poston characters in the TV Universe, but the rest of them would most likely be victims of "urichosis" - they just happen to look alike to us, but not to each other (as a juror once said on 'All In The Family').
One of these would be Cliff "The Peeper" Murdoch who was an old college buddy of Dr. Bob Hartley of Chicago. ('The Bob Newhart Show') He turned out to be the inspiration for a character (George Utley) in a very extended dream sequence that Dr. Hartley had after eating Japanese food. ('Newhart')
But there is one other Toobworld character of Tom Poston's we should mention: The Capital City Goofball. He was a minor league baseball team mascot found in the Tooniverse.
It just might be that when we met the Goofball in an episode of 'The Simpsons' back in 1990, he was in fact either Fred Tobalowsky or Sidney Barish, making a few extra bucks as an anonymous team mascot who ended up in a scuffle with Homer Simpson.
It might seem like I put waaaaay too much thought into all of this, but then... I'm a big fan of Tom Poston. One might say I'm even a disciple of Tom Poston, a description for which a "sniglet" has been coined:
"Tompostle"
If I made a movie of my life as of right now, I'd like Tom Poston to play my Dad. Of course, sadly, it would have to be a fantasy, as my Dad's been gone from the Real World since 1993.
But then in the TV Universe, everybody's life is a fantasy, so why not mine?
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
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