Catch book signings with Gavin MacLeod, Stacy Keach and more

Thanks to James for passing along this listing of upcoming book signings and appearances with the stars, including some TV greats ...

J.J. Abrams, director of "Star Trek" and creator of "Lost", signing copies of S: A Novel  

• 11/23/13 6:00 PM at Symphony Space - Braodway & 95th. New York, NY. 

Buzz Aldrin, 2nd man to walk on the Moon, signing copies of Mission To Mars

• 12/2/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – Edinger Avenue. Huntington Beach, CA.

Frank Beamer, head coach at Virgina Tech, signing copies of Let Me Be Frank

• 11/19/13 7:00 PM at Gourmet Pantry - South Main Street. Blacksburg, VA.
• 12/8/13 2:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – Conston Avenue. Christianburg, VA.

LeRoy Butler, former Green Bay Packers star, signing copies of Packers Pride

• 12/5/13 11:00 AM at Shopko - Bay Park Square. Green Bay, WI.
• 12/12/13 6:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - South Oneida Street. Green Bay, WI. 

Bryan Cranston, Dean Norris, & Bob Odenkirk, stars of "Breaking Bad", will be signing copies of Breaking Bad: The Final Season

• 11/25/13 9:30 PM at Barnes & Noble - Grove Drive. Los Angeles, CA.

Ken Dryden, former Montreal Canadiens star, signing copies of The Game

• 12/1/13 3:00 PM at Bookends – East Ridgewood Avenue. Ridgewood, NJ.

David Ellefson, founder of Megadeth, signing copies of My Life With Deth

• 11/29/13 Noon at Bookends – East Ridgewood Avenue. Ridgewood, NJ.

Julius "Dr. J, Erving, NBA Hall of Famer, signing copies of Dr. J

• 12/19/13 2:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Grove Drive. Los Angeles, CA. 

Peter Facinelli, star of "Twilight" and "Nurse Jackie", signing copies of Protocol Orphans

• 11/20/13 7:30 PM at Midtown Comics - Fulton Street. New York, NY.

Will Ferrell (as Ron Burgandy), signing copies of Let Me Off at the Top! My Classy Life

• 11/20/13 6:30 PM at Barnes & Noble - Grove Drive. Los Angeles, CA. 

Fannie Flagg, former "Match Game" regular, signing copies of The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion

• 12/4/13 Noon at Costco - Palomar Airport Road. Carlsbad, CA.
• 12/5/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Edinger Avenue. Huntington Beach, CA.

Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, signing copies of Breakout

• 11/30/13 Noon at Barnes & Noble – Tamiami Trail. Naples, FL.
• 12/17/13 7:00 PM at Book Revue – New York Avenue. Huntington, NY. 

Bud Grant, former Minnesota Vikings head coach, signing copies of I Did It My Way

• 12/14/13 1:00 PM in the Rotunda - Mall of America. Bloomington, MN.

Dallas Green, former Phillies, Yankees, and Mets manager, signing copies of The Mouth That Roared 

• 11/23/13 11:00 AM at Barnes & Noble – Christiana Mall. Newark, DE.
• 11/24/13 Noon at Barnes & Noble – Neshaminy Mall. Bensalem, PA.
• 11/30/13 Noon at Barnes & Noble – Main Street. Exton, PA. 

Chris Hadfield, shuttle astronaut, signing copies of An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

• 11/23/13 1:00 PM at Degroots Nurseries Greenhouse - London Line. Sarnia, Ontario.
• 11/27/13 7:00 PM at Indigo Books - McGill College Avenue. Montreal, Quebec.
• 11/29/13 7:00 PM at Chapters Books - Chain Lake Drive. Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

John Hannah, NFL Hall of Famer, signing copies of Offensive Conduct

• 12/7/13 3:30 PM at Barnes & Noble – Providence Highway. Walpole, MA.

Mark Howe, former NHL star, signing copies of Gordie Howe's Son

• 11/20/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Commerce Blvd. Fairless Hills, PA. 
• 12/1/13 1:00 PM at Bookends – East Ridgewood Avenue. Ridgewood, NJ.
• 12/9/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - West Route 70. Marlton, NJ. 

Anjelica Huston, Oscar winning actress, will be signing copies of A Story Lately Told

• 11/19/13 7:30 PM at Symphony Space - Braodway & 95th. New York, NY.
• 11/21/13 Noon at the Philadekphia Free Library - Vine Street. Philadelphia, PA.
• 11/25/13 7:30 at the Nourse Theater - Hayes Street. San Francisco, CA.   

Il Volo, Italian musical trio, signing copies of Buon Natale

• 11/29/13 2:00 PM in the Rotunda - Mall of America. Bloomington, MN

Stacy Keach, star of "Mike Hammer" and "Up In Smoke", signing copies of All In All

• 11/22/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Commons Way. Calabasas, CA. 

Artie Lange, fomer Howard Stern sidekick, signing copies of Crash and Burn

• 11/19/13 7:00 PM at the Apple Store - Prince Street. New York, NY.
• 11/21/13 7:00 PM at Book Revue – New York Avenue. Huntington, NY.
• 11/29/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Eton Chagrin Blvd. Woodmere, PA.
• 12/7/13 1:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Settlers Ridge Center Drive. Pittsburgh, PA.

Kenny Loggins, rock & roller, signing copies of Frosty the Snowman

• 11/19/13 6:30 PM at Books & Greetings – Livingston Street. Northvale, NJ.
• 11/20/13 7:00 PM at Book Revue – New York Avenue. Huntington, NY.
• 11/25/13 6:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Third Street Promenade. Santa Monica, CA.

Demi Lovato, singer and actress, signing copies of Staying Strong

• 11/19/13 2:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Grove Drive. Los Angeles, CA.

Gavin MacLeod, star of "The Love Boat", signing copies of This Is Your Captain Speaking

• 11/22/13 6:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Rosencrans Avenue. Manhattan Beach, CA.

Darren McCarty, former Detroit Red Wings star, signing copies of My Last Fight

• 12/3/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Fairlane Drive. Allen Park, MI.
• 12/4/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Washtenaw Avenue. Ann Arbor, MI.
• 12/5/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Haggerty Road. Northville, MI.
• 12/14/13 1:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - John R. Road. Troy, MI.

Joe Manganiello, star of "True Blood", signing copies of Evolution

• 12/2/13 7:00 PM at Book Revue – New York Avenue. Huntington, NY.
• 12/3/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – Union Square. New York, NY.
• 12/6/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – Old Orchard Center. Skokie, IL.
• 12/7/13 4:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – Settlers Ridge Center Drive, Pittsburgh, PA.

Peter Max, Pop Art icon, signing copies of The Universe of Peter Max

• 11/19/13 7:00 PM at Book Revue – New York Avenue. Huntington, NY.
• 12/3/13 7:00 PM at Bookends – East Ridgewood Avenue. Ridgewood, NJ.

Stevie Nicks, member of Fleetwood Mac, signing copies of In Your Dreams    

• 12/4/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Grove Drive. Los Angeles, CA.

B.J. Novak, star of "The Office", signing copies of One More Thing

• 2/7/14 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – Union Square. New York, NY.

Bobby Orr, hockey legend, signing copies of Orr: My Story

• 11/20/13 6:00 PM at the Harvard Coop - Massachusetts Avenue. Cambridge, MA.
• 11/22/13 12:30 PM at Barnes & Noble - Northshore Mall. Peabody, MA.

Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska, signing copies of Good Tidings and Great Joy

• 11/19/13 10:30 AM at Costco - Dallas Parkway. Plano, TX.
• 11/20/13 10:00 AM at Sam's Club - SW Loop 323. Tyler, TX.
• 11/20/13 6:00 PM at Mardel Christian - South Boulevard Street. Edmond, OK.
• 11/21/13 10:00 AM at Sam's Club - North Highway 112. Fayetteville, AR.
• 11/21/13 6:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Oak Park Mall. Overland Park, KS.
• 11/22/13 10:30 AM at Costco - West Dodge Road. Omaha, NE.
• 11/22/13 6:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Mall of America. Bloomington, MN. 

Jane Pauley, former host of "Today", signing copies of Your Life Calling

• 1/7/14 7:00 PM at Book Revue – New York Avenue. Huntington, NY.

Jerry Ross, space shuttle astronaut, signing copies of Spacewalker 

• 12/6/13 11:00 AM at Annette's Emporium - East Main Street. League City, TX.  

John Stockton, NBA Hall of Famer, signing copies of Assisted

• 12/8/13 Noon at Auntie's Bookstore - West Main Street. Spokane, WA

Mike Tyson, former heavyweight champion, siging copies of Undisputed Truth

• 11/26/13 7:30 PM at Barnes & Noble - Grove Drive. Los Angeles, CA.

Jesse Ventura, former wrestler and Governor, signing copies of They Killed Our President

• 11/22/13 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble - Grove Drive. Los Angeles, CA.

Rob Zombie, rocker and director, signing copies of The Lords of Salem

• 11/22/13 Noon at Barnes & Noble – Woodland Mall. Grand Rapids, MI.
• 11/24/13 Noon at Barnes & Noble – Mallory Lane. Brentwood, TN.

Spotted: Jack Scalia

Is anyone else finding it ironic that, in this day and age, with each Christmas season becoming more and more commercialized, with retailers encouraging earlier and earlier shopping since the economy's been tanked, that the one holiday that's being pushed to the side -- all but becoming extinct, we're thinking -- is the holiday where we give thanks for what we've been given? Yea, that's the one we mean. Frankly, we here at BRBTV are going to keep both Thanksgiving and Black Friday sacred, so to speak -- we're going to celebrate each one on its true designated day! We shall not shop on Thanksgiving!!!! But enough of all that! What does that have to do with Jack Scalia?

We were so delighted to curl up with the 8 p.m. Eastern Hallmark Channel movie last night, because golly, somebody actually made a Thanksgiving movie. You just don't see that very often! And we adored it, really. We also adored the fact that Hallmark interrupted its regular schedule of Christmas movies to show it! Yes! There is another holiday mixed in there, between Halloween and Christmas!

This was called "The Thanksgiving House," and it's a brand-new movie. Boy, were there some goodies mixed in there. Bruce Boxleitner, a staple of Lifetime and Hallmark stuff. The onetime "Bionic Woman," Lindsay Wagner. Together those two were playing the parents of Justin Bruening of the short-lived "Knight Rider" reboot. Bruening was adorable and livelier than we'd ever seen him (including at the first-ever Knight Rider Fest in Vegas in 2009 -- see the videos on our YouTube channel). Perhaps he was just trying to make up for his costar Emily Rose, who was a stone. But then, nestled among that fab cast, was Jack Scalia, our own Nicholas Pearce / Joey-the-Mobster's-Kid of "Dallas."

Scalia was a seasoned dad in this one, most specifically, the reserved, suit-wearing, busy-exec-type dad of Rose's character, who's fighting to prevent her house from being designated a historic landmark (and a very significant one -- the site of the very first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts). There was a bit of Brooklyn in Scalia's speech (like the old days), and he was playing it detached -- rather estranged from his darling daughter. And of course, he looked great.

We've seen Scalia in a Syfy thing or two and here or there over the years. He's got another new project going on now, we see, "Becker's Farm." It was great to see him amid this fabulous cast!

"The Thanksgiving House" airs again on Hallmark this Saturday afternoon, if you want to catch it yourself.

Lynda Carter indulges Jenny McCarthy's love of "Wonder Woman" on "The View"

We've always liked Jenny McCarthy. We can't help ourselves. Ever since reviewing her quite-candid book "Jen-X" for The Detroit News way back when, BRB has had a lot of respect for this goofy sexpot. So we enjoyed it immensely when McCarthy celebrated her birthday on today's episode of ABC's "The View" by chatting with Lynda Carter of our beloved '70s "Wonder Woman" show.

McCarthy started the episode with a magical WW spin and really rocked out the WW outfit (!!! seriously, the chick doesn't age), then later, as Carter came onto the set, they chatted about that very outfit.

"I just felt so comfortable in that stupid thing!" Carter enthused."There's just such a thrill about being one of the first women to hold your own show." Then, joking about McCarthy's earlier comments on the show, "I heard you say it was a pushup bra. There was nooooo pushup bra."

The outfit evolved over the course of the show, as we know. "As a matter of fact, I asked them to take the belt out because it looked like too little -- can you believe it?" Carter said. "The sound guy, he thought it was a headband, it was the belt, he put it around his head. It was ridiculous."

Carter talked about her infamous helicopter stunt that got the show's execs peeved, and since Olivia Newton-John was also a guest on this "View" episode, a clip was shown of Carter guesting as WW on Newton-John's 1976 TV special. Precious.

"It's a phenomenon, and I love it," Carter said of the show and the icon. "It's great. I've always embraced the character. I would be miserable if I hadn't embrace her."

Carter gifted McCarthy with an authentic vintage 12" Mego Wonder Woman doll, in the box (the same doll this author still owns from her childhood! love it!).

Carter is guesting on an upcoming episode of "Two and a Half Men." "The writing is great, but boy, it was a little bit shocking to me what they wanted me to do on that show. I don't want to give it away, but there's a little cougar in there." The episode is slated to air next Thursday.

You can watch today's episode yourself on ABC's "The View" website.

Happy Halloween from BRBTV!

From our home to yours, and in honor of one of our favorite TV shows, the Scoobies of BRBTV wish you a Happy Halloween!!!!

Gavin MacLeod talks about his faith and his time on the "Love Boat"

We just love it when these fresh interviews pop up with the stars we love from classic TV. Gavin MacLeod, aka Captain Merrill Stubing of "The Love Boat," did an interview this week on Detroit's Fox 2. Jason Carr talked with MacLeod about his faith and how that related to the antics on "The Love Boat" and what kinds of roles he's chosen over the years.

MacLeod did the interview live via satellite from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, wearing his typical captain's hat and appearing to be on a boat. So in context! When asked by Carr how he has reconciled Hollywood debauchery with his faith, MacLeod said:

“I was never involved in any debauchery. That word is so repulsive to me, and I was never involved in that. Whatever kind of debauchery is seen on the ‘Love Boat,’ it was all make-believe, you know. That’s one of the few shows in Hollywood, if anybody was messing around, anybody, they weren’t doing it on the ‘Love Boat.’ For one, the guest stars were too old. We were happy they could walk. (Cut to a scene of Joan Collins of "Dynasty" walking with him on the Love Boat deck as she guest-starred in an episode!!!) You know, that’s the way that was. And, I don’t know. I thought the captain was above debauchery. I thought all the regulars, we tried to keep it a very wholesome show, as much as we could. I mean, when you compare with what’s on television today, I mean, it was innocence personified.”

Did MacLeod realize what a cultural institution "Mary Tyler Moore" was becoming when he was playing Murray on the show?

“I don’t think any of us ever realized that. We just went to work every week, and we knew we had wonderful ratings after a while, and all those Emmys coming in and things like that. But I don’t think we ever thought, even Mary, way back then, that we would have … I know we had a great deal to do with women’s lib, because she was really good for women’s liberation and everything. One of the lines, you know, ‘If I’m going to do the same job that he’s doing, why shouldn’t I make the same money that he’s making?’ Which is great. It makes sense. I think she was probably the first one to say anything like that on television. The show was written so well, you know, you had messages but you didn’t even think they were messages, you know?”

Carr also asked, with MacLeod's faith, would he consider a role with some hard-core themes?

“Let some young actor working his way up, or some older actor that hasn’t worked (do it). No, I don’t do that anymore. I’ve reached the point where I’m not really even interested in that anymore. What I’m interested in is getting the word of God out there, to get people saved. To let people know they’ve got a great choice out there, to think about eternity, not about this life we’re going through right now.”

MacLeod has a new book: “This Is Your Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage Through Hollywood, Faith and Life.” We love MacLeod not only for "The Love Boat" but also for his episode of "Wonder Woman," 1978's "The Fine Art of Crime." And we love him even more for speaking out about his faith!

Detroit Fanfare '13: Some bits and pieces and odds and ends

We had a great time at Detroit Fanfare on Saturday, talking to folks here and there and hanging out with our friends at Big Dog Ink, home of Penny for Your Soul and the amazing "Legend of Oz: The Wicked West" series. Thanks, Tom, for the hospitality! And thanks very much to Maurice LaMarche, whom you've heard as the Brain on "Animaniacs" and "Pinky and the Brain," as well as Egon on the various "Ghostbusters" cartoons. Mr. LaMarche was kind enough to sign the beautiful replica of the Ecto car owned by Mike of Motor City Reel Rides. So super cool.

See the action below, as well as some other stuff we encountered as we walked around the show, including the convergence of two of our favorite things in the world, Batman and "The Walking Dead." We've seen Pimp Banes at these shows, we've seen Black Lantern Batmans, we've seen all kinds of character blending, and we thought we'd seen it all ...

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Lynda Carter and others talk about the enduring legacy of "Superheroes"

It's been sitting in our DVR, and we finally took a crack at it last night -- PBS' new documentary series, "Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle." The three-episode series examines the powerful superhero genre and its legacy, as PBS' description says, and we weren't disappointed with episodes 1 and 2 that we viewed last night. Several comics industry professionals, including titans like Carmine Infantino and Stan Lee, discuss the advent of the superhero with Superman in 1938 and Batman in 1939, then the others that followed through the decades, and how their creation and their action reflected what was happening in the world around them. Lynda Carter talks about her own portrayal of Wonder Woman in the 1970s, with clips of the show. There's Joe Simon, Walt Simonson, Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Mark Waid, and many others, with actor Liev Schreiber of "Wolverine" hosting it all.

If it's too late for you to watch it on your own PBS affiliate, run, don't walk, over to PBS' website, where you can now view the three eps (for only a few days, though). Episode 3 for us tonight!

RIP, Lou Scheimer

BRBTV offers condolences to the family and friends of Lou Scheimer, who died at age 84 on Thursday. We have this Filmation Studios leader to thank for our beloved "Isis," as we'll as the fab series that preceded it on Saturday mornings in the mid-'70s, "Shazam." Deadline and the Animation Guild blog have good sum-ups on this man's impressive contributions to our pop culture.

It's a mini "Dukes" reunion in "Return of the Killer Shrews"

John ("Bo Duke") Schneider, James ("Rosco P. Coltrane") Best and Rick ("Cletus Hogg") Hurst share some good old-fashioned "Dukes of Hazzard" humor in their new movie, "Return of the Killer Shrews," from Best's company Best Friends Films.

Learn more about the film at JamesBest.com.

Check out this amazing win for a "Wonder Woman" fan!

It's truly an amazing Wonder Woman costume inspired by the first season of the 1970s TV series starring Lynda Carter, and it was won by a guy who has a vested interest, for sure. He's the artist who crafted the cover of BRBTV's "Superchicks" book on the "Wonder Woman" and "Isis" TV series, and he's an avid "Wonder Woman" fan. Yep, it's Dale Cuthbertson who won this lovely item ...

This Wonder-ful outfit is by costume-maker Gregory Maraio. He's also done replicas of the duds worn by all three Catwomen of the 1960s "Batman" series, as well as Yvonne Craig's Batgirl outfit and others in the DC Universe like Debra Winger's Wonder Girl and Alicia Silverstone's (unfortunately blond) Batgirl from the '90s Batman movie franchise. We're very impressed by them all.

The Wonder Woman costume giveaway was part of the effort to get Lynda Carter on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. See the Facebook page for more info.

Cuthbertson, meanwhile, has designed not only the "Superchicks" book cover but also the recently re-released "Dynasty High" cover, and others to come! This guy's got talent! And he says that Maraio also made for him the Wonder Woman bracelets, tiara and belt that go with this outfit.

The cape was not included in the above prize, so it's just down to that and the boots and he's got something very rare and cool!!!!