TV treasures abound at Kalamazoo Circus Maximus Toy Show

We just loved roaming the aisles at last weekend's toy show in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a twice-yearly event that serves up two large convention halls of delicious toys from every decade. It was our second November attending, and this year we noted lots and lots of toy cars and tons of farming-related stuff, but we also noted a good supply of TV show-related goodies. Behold ...

 

 

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Terrific TV Toys: Part 3 of the Scooby plush!

Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV owns a lot of Scooby-Doo plush, and the Terrific TV Toys web series has given you a gander at that amazing collection, which has been provided almost totally from a certain Mysterious Claw-Game Avenger Who Shall Remain Nameless, who is quite skilled at rescuing plush from grocery stores, bowling alleys, restaurants, you name it. This week, for the final part of a three-episode story arc, BRB shows the four talking Scoobies that were currently in the BRBTV collection as of presstime (yes, that's a hint that there's already an additional one!).

Stay tuned, because next week is a special Christmas episode of Terrific TV Toys, and it will be posted on a very special anniversary!

Terrific TV Toys: Part 2 of the Scooby plush!

We're rolling through a three-part story arc on the Terrific TV Toys web series. Last week we showed you a bunch of Scooby-Doo plush toys liberated from claw machines and crane games and even carnivals and festivals around Metro Detroit. This week, we continue with Part 2, and it's even longer, even brighter, even Scoobier!! We've got the spotted Doos, toothy Doos, some Steel City Doos, even plain Doos!

Stay tuned for Part 3 next week, when we'll show you the four amazing talking Scoobies in the BRBTV collection!

And a very blessed Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Terrific TV Toys: Part 1 of the Scooby plush!

When somebody who is quite skilled starts collecting something, look out. The stuff starts to pile up. And this author is not talking about herself, but about the Mysterious Claw-Game Avenger Who Shall Remain Nameless. He's skilled at rescuing plush from coin-operated crane games / claw machines at stores, restaurants and bowling alleys everywhere, and you've seen the fruit of his labors in the holiday photos posted on this very blog. He specializes in superheroes and Scooby-Doo.

With a new three-part story arc on the Terrific TV Toys web series, you'll see the Scooby plush that's been piling up at BRBTV headquarters -- up-close and personal. At least the ones we have as of presstime, as the collection is constantly growing. In the first part, behold the checkered Doos, the fruity Doos, the Marley Doos and much more, all celebrating that lovable cartoon canine who first debuted in the late '60s ...



Look for Part 2 in the Scooby plush series next week. We're doing weekly episodes of the series until Christmastime (including a special Christmas episode!).

Terrific TV Toys: You are entering "The Twilight Zone" ...

A few years back, Bif Bang Pow! developed a line of figures celebrating the classic 1960s "Twilight Zone" show. When this author first came across them in lovely black-and-white at an Entertainment Earth booth at a comic con, it was love at first sight. There are two of them at BRBTV headquarters currently -- the Gremlin on the Wing and the Three-Eyed Venusian -- with hopefully more to come.

Sometimes the toys you see on the Terrific TV Toys web series are vintage toys, made many years ago. Sometimes the toys are newer ones that are what we call "of a vintage nature," that is, celebrating a vintage TV show. The latest episode of the series definitely falls into the latter category ...

The Hollywood Show in January offers up a "Dynasty" reunion

The popular Hollywood Show has been known to reassemble casts of great classic TV shows, and thanks to Brian for the heads-up on this one. The show that happens in L.A. in January will feature these great "Dynasty" stars meeting and greeting fans:

• Joan Collins ("Alexis Colby")
• Gordon Thomson ("Adam Carrington")
• Kathleen Beller ("Kirby Aynders")
• Leann Hunley ("Dana Waring")

Besides that, Jane Sibbett, whom we know as Jane Wilson on "Santa Barbara," will be there, as well as Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams, David Lander and Eddie Mekka of "Laverne and Shirley" and so many more.

"The Love Boat" cast talks old times, celebrates 50 years of Princess Cruises

A year ago, we showed you a glimpse of an interview Fox's Channel 2 in Detroit did with "Love Boat" veteran Gavin MacLeod when he released his book. Well, Fox 2 has done it again, yesterday assembling the whole cast of the beloved classic TV show for a live interview from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The cast was celebrating 50 years of Princess Cruises and inaugurating a brand-new luxury cruise ship.

"When we started cruising, this was a luxury," Jill ("Vicki") Whelan said, also joined by her other female castmate, Lauren ("Julie") Tewes. "This wasn't something everybody could do. It's an incredible opportunity that's available to everybody."

"I'm probably married to the woman I've been married to for 28 years because of  'The Love Boat,'" Fred ("Gopher") Grandy told Fox 2's Jason Carr from the breezy platform, the newest cruise ship, the Regal Princess, sitting in the background. "Catherine Mann, who was on 'Entertainment Tonight,' was a talk-show host in Detroit, came to interview me, and the first picture of us is sitting on the coping of the Lido deck, and that's actually how we met. So though I wasn't married on the ship, I was married because of the ship. So thank-you, Detroit, for giving me my wife."

Ted ("Isaac") Lange quipped, "That's a 'Love Boat' story. That means you can find love anywhere!"

When Carr asked him about his work on "Get Smart," Bernie (Dr. Bricker) Kopell said, "One of the things I loved so much about 'Get Smart' was we were on a submarine chasing the sixth fleet, and they were dropping death bombs, and the men were getting very, very nervous. And I said to them, 'You will not panic until I give the order to panic!' And one death bomb came very close, and everybody was like this," (shaking) "and I said, 'Prepaaaaaaare to panic!!!' Great fun."

Gavin ("Captain Stubing") MacLeod reminisced about the legacy "The Love Boat" has left. "This is a dream. This hasn't happened to actors. We're the first that this has ever happened to. To have a show go 10 years, all over the world, 90 countries, and we're Goodwill Ambassadors for the United States. And we're going to be the godparents of this incredible ship in back of us. This is just a blessing that none of us expected. We went to work wanting to have a good show. Three other guys had made the pilot twice before. Then they finally did it with Cindy and myself. And praise God, it sold. And here we are. We're just sitting here because it sold. And people loved it."

Grandy added, "You have to understand, it also stimulated the entire cruise industry. What you see behind us wouldn't have ever existed without 'The Love Boat.' This is 18 ships later, after the original Pacific Princess, and this is four times the size of the Pacific Princess. There's an entire industry. You want to talk about a stimulus program -- that's what this was."

Happy Halloween from BRBTV!

We've made a tradition of posting photos of the Scooby-Doo plush at BRBTV headquarters on holidays, but frankly the collection has gotten too big to photograph. We've gotten quite a few more since our most recent holiday photo, for July 4. So let's make things simple this time, shall we? Here are just the Halloween themed Doos!!!!

The biggie in back is Radioactive-Doo. In front of him in orange are Tricky-Doo and Treaty-Doo. Next to them, Scooby-Boo, a veteran of this blog. The puppy is O-Doo. Then there's Count Scrooby-Doo (a talkie that sounds like Scooby but looks like Scrappy). Lying down in front, from left, it's Scaredy-Pants-Doo, Super-Doo, Yo-Ho-Ho-Doo and Softy-Doo.

Keep an eye on the Terrific TV Toys (*of a vintage nature) web series -- we'll be doing a series of at least three episodes capturing ALL of the Scooby plush at BRBTV!

Now get out there tonight and get some candy!!!!!

Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Terrific TV Toys: How about some Underdog?

Not all of the toys you will see in the Terrific TV Toys (*of a vintage nature) web series would actually be considered vintage -- some are really quite new, and some are fairly recent, like what you'll see in this latest episode. Even so, they're of a "vintage nature," so that's why we love 'em and celebrate 'em!

In Episode 17 of the series, Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV shows you some Underdog toys from her collection, celebrating the cartoon that first aired in 1964. The figures were released in 1998, while the plush toy is a few years younger.

More "Dynasty" goodies! And we'll throw in a little "Falcon Crest," too!

It's not quite Christmas shopping time yet, but here's some stuff to put on your list. Bjørn, who shared with us some other "Dynasty" goodies of his in the May 24, 2014 and September 20, 2013 posts, now sends us these photos. Below is an actual "Dynasty" dollhouse -- a miniature replica of the Carrington mansion. Delish. This is a handmade item.

Have you seen this lovely Krystle doll?

And here's another specialty item that you're not necessarily going to find at the corner store ... a "Falcon Crest" dollhouse ...

Photos courtesy of Bjørn Erik; please do not copy without permission.

Wow, a new Archie TV show!

Not since our beloved "Archie's Weird Mysteries" TV series in 1999 have we been so excited -- since that's the last time we've had a new TV series from Archie Comics! We were about due, now weren't we? Especially considering the long line of animated series that have come from these characters since the 1960s. And this one appears to be live-action!

Just announced today! From the official Archie Comics press release ...

The news is out: “Riverdale,” a one-hour drama based on the iconic Archie comic book characters, has landed at Fox. Warner Brothers Studios is producing along with studio-based Berlanti Productions. 
 
“Riverdale” offers a bold, subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends, exploring the surrealistic twists of small-town life plus the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade. Set in the present in the small fictional town of Riverdale, New York. The show will focus on the eternal love triangle of Archie Andrews, girl-next-door Betty Cooper, and rich socialite Veronica Lodge, and will include the entire cast of characters from the comic books—including Archie’s rival, Reggie Mantle, and his slacker best friend, Jughead Jones. Popular gay character Kevin Keller will also play a pivotal role. In addition to the core cast, “Riverdale” will introduce other characters from Archie Comics’ expansive library, including Josie and the Pussycats.
 
The show will be produced by Greg Berlanti’s Berlanti Productions (“Arrow,” “The Flash”), written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (“Glee,” “Looking”).
 
Bertlanti’s track record as a producer includes a number of small-town teen dramas, such as the acclaimed “Jack & Bobby” and “Dawson’s Creek” and superhero fare pulled from the four-color pages of legendary comic books like “Arrow” and “The Flash.” Aguirre-Sacasa, in addition to being the Chief Creative Officer at Archie Comics, also writes two of the publisher’s best-selling titles - the horror series Afterlife with Archie and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. He spent three years as a writer on “Glee” and penned the remake of teen-angst classic “Carrie” and the cult horror classic “The Town that Dreaded Sundown,” as well as the Broadway-bound musical adaptation of “American Psycho.”
 
“This is a historic moment for Archie Comics, and we couldn’t be happier to partner with FOX, Warner Bros. and Greg Berlanti to bring our characters to television,” said Archie Comics Publisher/Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “Greg and Roberto are experts when it comes to making great, compelling television and bringing beloved comic book creations to life on the screen. They’re the perfect team to welcome viewers to ‘Riverdale.’”

“This is something we’ve been working on for awhile now, figuring out the best way to bring these characters to life for what will be, essentially, the first time,” Aguirre-Sacasa said. “The entire team working on ‘Riverdale' is as passionate about Archie as Jon and I are, so it feels like the stars have finally aligned for Archie and the rest of the gang.” 
 

Terrific TV Toys: The Shazam Mego

We love having a guest host on BRBTV, and with this 16th episode of the Terrific TV Toys (*of a vintage nature) web series, it's fellow author Brian Lombard whose knowledge and talents we get to rely on.

Brian snagged a Shazam (or Captain Marvel, if you prefer) Mego action figure at an event in Philly a few weeks ago, and here he shows it to you in all its red and yellow glory. The 1974 figure was part of Mego's wildly popular (even more popular now, it seems) World's Greatest Super Heroes line, along with Batman, Superman, and a host of other characters, both DC and Marvel. Though this particular figure hit shelves a couple months before the "Shazam!" TV show hit the Saturday-morning airwaves, it's been said that the figure was probably produced because of the plans for the series.



Brian, by the way, is the author of "Bradypalooza," a book about "The Brady Bunch," as well as a fan of many other great TV shows, including "The Dukes of Hazzard"!

Hazzard Run 2014 -- Part 2, Gatlinburg!

Annnnnndddddd ... We follow up yesterday's post on the Hazzard Run with a glimpse at the rest of the event, namely the trip to Gatlinburg. This author was significantly wowed by this tourist town, which could easily strike one as a Vegas for the older set. Dinner theatres everywhere!!! Every one a different magnificent theme. We had the privilege of taking in one of those dinner theatres, as it was "Dukes of Hazzard" themed and just too tempting to resist. The actors, especially the gentleman who portrayed Rosco, shown in the photos below, were simply outstanding.

Danny drove his white Charger, a tribute to Cale Yarborough's Charger in "The Dukes." Danny even has a replica of Cale's suit, below.

Don Pedro Colley, aka Sheriff Ed Little, was there at Cooter's Place to sign autographs for fans, as was Catherine Bach, our own Daisy Duke.

So great to be with friends again at the local Steak and Shake!!!

All along the mini-golf path at Cooter's Place is a nice assortment of "Dukes" memorabilia as well as banners and signs from "Dukes" events of the past several years.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV except for the ones that include her!

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand.

Hazzard Run 2014 -- Part 1, Nashville!

OK, wow, we're coming up for air from an exciting weekend, the 2014 Hazzard Run from Nashville on Saturday morning to Gatlinburg on Saturday afternoon. And it was just great. A bunch of "Dukes of Hazzard"-related vehicles driving together on the open road, having a nice time hanging out at the Cooter's Place location at each end of the run. It was wonderful to see good friends again that we only get to see once or twice a year. And when we get together, it's as if no time has passed.

This author was rather overwhelmed at the collection of "Dukes" memorabilia at Cooter's Place, as well as some great stuff for sale (we snagged some Christmas gifts). Let's do this in two parts, shall we? Today we'll focus on Nashville, tomorrow on Gatlinburg ...

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV, except for the ones that include her!

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand.

Catch the discussion on "Misogyny in Comics" on the latest episode of "Fantastic Forum"

Of all the episodes of the Washington, D.C.-based "Fantastic Forum" TV show that Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV has done, this is the one she's the most geeked about. If the title of the episode isn't enough to grab you, the discussion definitely will.

Are females treated differently when they walk into a comic shop? Do girls in geek communities like online gaming arenas get rape threats? Are there fewer women in the comics industry because they don't have as much opportunity as men? Join BRB and Bria LaVorgna, El Anderson and Abigail Pritchard for a very thought-provoking discussion.

The episode originally aired on Sunday in the D.C. area and is now available online for global viewing! Join the discussion by sending in your comments!



If you're on the East Coast, here's where you can catch "Fantastic Forum," produced since 2007 by Ulysses E. Campbell:

• PhillyCam,  Philadelphia, PA; COMCAST channel 66/966; Verizon FiOS channel 29/30.
• MCM  Montgomery County, MD; COMCAST channel 21; RCN channel 21; Verizon FiOS channel 21.
• Arlington Independent Media (AIM), Arlington County, VA; COMCAST channel 69; Verizon FiOS channel 38.
• FPA-TV,  Fairfax County, VA; COX channel 10.
• DCTV, Washington, DC; COMCAST channel 95; RCN channel 10; Verizon FiOS channel 10.
• Prince George’s Community Television (CTV), Prince George’s County, MD; COMCAST channel 76; Verizon FiOS channel 42.
• Community Media of Baltimore City (CMBC), Baltimore, MD; COMCAST channel 75.
• Herndon Community Television, COX channel 23, Verizon FIOS channel 28.

Terrific TV Toys: Scooby-Doo kids' meal toys!

It's Halloween time, and that means Scooby-Doo, now doesn't it??? We love the original "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" television series that kicked off a pop-cultural sensation that is still going strong all these years later. In the latest episode of Terrific TV Toys (*of a vintage nature), Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV looks at a few Scooby-Doo toys from fast-food kids' meals.

J.R. Ewing bourbon is in the house!

Thanks to our buddy Mike we finally have in our hot little hands a bottle of the J.R. Ewing brand of bourbon announced so many months ago. Ironically, it arrives on the same day we hear that TNT's "Dallas" has been canceled, shortly after ending its third season. Rats. It was a great run for the new series, and we have to say, that little John Ross certainly earned our respect. Bummed that we won't be able to see his further adventures. The show met our expectations, which were pretty high.

The news on the show's official Facebook page said: "TNT has decided not to renew 'Dallas.' We are extremely proud of the series, which defied expectations by standing as a worthy continuation of the Ewing saga. We want to thank everyone involved with the show, from the extraordinary cast to the impeccable production team, led by the show's creative forces, Cynthia Cidre and Mike Robin. We especially want to thank the people of Dallas for their warm and generous hospitality during the production of the series." Nice. Again, we're bummed.

But on to the sauce! The bottle is square and regal and solid, all 750 mL of it. It's 80 proof. It's four years old and from Kentucky. And you can see an image of Southfork Ranch through its front ...

Sweet. Note the Southfork logo on the front, which is also replicated on the sticker across the cap.

The bourbon was featured a few times on the new "Dallas" series, including a scene in what is now the very last episode. (Sob!)

But hey, what about the matching J.R. monogrammed glasses? OK, guess we can't be too greedy.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

We're continually amazed at who pops up on daytime soaps

Don't sound the death knell just yet. Daytime soaps aren't dead. Actually, they're not only still kicking around, they're providing some new life to the careers of some .... seasoned actors, shall we say?

Here we are, minding our own business today, doing our usual work, when up pops Fred Willard on CBS' "The Bold and the Beautiful." Geez-Louise, there's a guy with a resume. As the brother of one of the lead characters, Willard was as boisterous as ever, playing to his strengths, for sure.

Just the opposite was Donna Mills in a stint on ABC's "General Hospital" a few weeks ago. Cold, calculating, still lovely -- yup, that was her. She was also of the sibling vein, providing sisterly venom to Britt Westbourne's just-as-calculating mom. The whole thing dropped a bombshell on poor Nathan West, who discovered the mom he thought he had wasn't the one he had. Then he went and discovered the dad he had was even worse -- Victor Cassadine (our "Santa Barbara" veteran Thaao Penglis). Or so it seemed. Good ole mom still has a big reveal up her sleeve.

Then Meredith Baxter showing up as Stitch's mom on CBS' "The Young and the Restless"? Seems she's got a thought or two about undermining mainstay Nikki Newman.

Not that we're watching these things, mind you. Just background noise. Really.