Terrific non-TV Toys: Archie Comics Pops by Funko

Three out of four ain't bad, and we've got three out of four in a set of Archie Comics Pops by Funko. Archie's got his classic outfit on from the earlier days of the comics, Jughead has his trademark "S" shirt, and Betty's got some vintage duds, too. "Riverdale" the TV show this is not. It's the printed page we're talking here, and they're quite delightful in the latest episode of this collectibles series.

Terrific TV Toys: "Batman: The Animated Series" playing cards, 1992

While this author has used this deck of playing cards for many a game of solitaire over the years, along with some card games with friends, there actually are two unique card games "included" in the deck, so to speak -- there are two cards with instructions for these two different games. I've never played them, so you'll have to tell me if they're fun or not. In the meantime, let's take an up-close and personal look at this fantastic item released with a whole flood of merchandise when "Batman: The Animated Series" originally debuted on TV in 1992 ...

Some more photos from Cooter's in Virginia (Part 2!)

Yesterday you saw some great shots of Cooter's Place in Virginia from our friend Patrick Shawn Bennett's trip there last week. Here are the rest of the photos from this host of the Pop Ninja podcast and avid "Dukes of Hazzard" fan ...

Photos courtesy of Patrick Shawn Bennett; please do not copy without permission.

Thanks to Patrick for fresh photos from Cooter's Place in Virginia -- Part 1!

Daisy's Dairy Bar? Well, any red-blooded American has gotta love that, especially any red-blooded fan of "The Dukes of Hazzard." Many thanks to our friend Patrick Shawn Bennett of the Pop Ninja podcast for these fresh photos from that glorious place known as Cooter's Place, snapped on his recent trip across the country. This Louisiana boy is a true "Dukes" fan, and we love seeing what's on display right now at Ben Jones' establishment, whether for sale or just for show. From some "Carnival of Thrills" stuff to a cool "No. 2" car (??? really ????),  there's a little bit of everything here -- so much stuff that we're going to have to break it into two parts. Part 2 tomorrow!

Photos courtesy of Patrick Shawn Bennett; please do not copy without permission.

Terrific non-TV Toys: Johnny Cash Pop by Funko, 2019

He was the original Man in Black, often clad in that color during the couple decades before his death in 2003. And there's a reason for that. But he was so much more, really. A life full of a lot of different elements, as Biography.com explains. He was Johnny Cash, legendary performing artist in the country music and gospel realms. He lives on in this Funko Pop, one of two celebrating this endearing artist. You can get up-close and personal with this Pop in the latest episode of Terrific non-TV Toys, and you'll even see a bit of reading material (because you know this author just loves showing reading material in these eps!). (And heck, if you want to read it, too, follow the directions in the vid!)

Terrific TV Toys: Supergirl figures by Kenner, 1998, Mattel, 2005

This classic comics superhero got an update when she appeared on the mid-1990s "Superman: The Animated Series" and "Justice League Unlimited" a few years later. She was young and fresh and just learning this whole superhero thing, clad in her crop top, skirt and combat boots. Hasbro / Kenner and Mattel have both celebrated this version of Supergirl in their toy lines from the various Timmverse series, and this time on Terrific TV Toys we look at two of those figures, one from 1998 and one from 2005 ...

You can find Supergirl on other T3 episodes: In Season 1, we looked at the 1970s Mego figure, in Season 2 we had the 1990s plush from the WB Studio Stores at the mall, and in Season 6, we saw the 12-incher from Hasbro's 1990s line.

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Sheriff Rosco, aka James Best

In his latest blog post, our friend Brian gives a quite thorough overview of the life of James ("Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane") Best of "The Dukes of Hazzard." Brian hunted down the mysterious location of Best's grave, and you'll see from this blog post that the marker is a lovely tribute to the longtime talented actor whom we also loved in classics such as "The Twilight Zone" and "Green Hornet" ....

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Sheriff Rosco:   "I acted the part, as good as I could.  Rosco, let's face it, was a charmer.  It was a fun thing."   -- James Best ...

The helicopter has crashed and the zombies attack in latest episode of "Reanimated"

As previewed on this very blog earlier this week, the latest episode of the "Reanimated" web series by Evil Genius Entertainment and director John Vincent has dropped, and the zombies are roaming the countryside. It's quite an interesting tale of a biological weapon released on humanity by a mad scientist, and this author portrays a general on a UN task force investigating just what has happened. In the process, the helicopter I was escaping in has crashed, and I wind up at a camp of strangers. Then ... well, you'll just have to watch ...

And catch up on the other three episodes here:

Thanks so much for watching, liking and sharing!

"Reanimated" drops episode 4 on Thursday night

You've seen the zombie apocalypse web series "Reanimated" on this blog before. This author is happy to be part of such a fun project, especially now in these crazy times. It's a story of a virus outbreak conceived a couple years before any of this COVID stuff hit the headlines. Episodes 1 through 3 have been on YouTube (with Episode 1 getting more than a million views!), and now Episode 4 is about to drop this Thursday night. Follow this link to set up a reminder for the premiere: 
https://youtu.be/IjNuIx5BMgU

And here's a little more info on the series:

 .............

"Reanimated" tells the story of a zombie apocalypse like no other. Shot in eastern Michigan and written before COVID-19 made headlines, the series centers around a virus crafted by a young scientist (who can perhaps be described as mad!). First, you see the effects of the outbreak, as the undead begin to roam the countryside and the living must struggle to survive. Then, in episode 3, we learn a little more of the story, as a government task force tries to get to the bottom of what's happened. The high-action episode 4, premiering Thursday night, continues the story as one member of the task force is found at the wreckage of a crashed helicopter -- but has she actually been rescued? And just what is behind this scientist's work? Catch this dynamite series from John Vincent and Evil Genius Entertainment.

Episodes 1-3, plus behind-the-scenes footage:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK42onFAODr2xJOJg3t21PiiX1IFYsVbd  

John Vincent is a talented filmmaker based in Ypsilanti who has been producing movies in Michigan for several years: 

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1546912/?ref_=ttfc_fc_dr1 

Evil Genius Entertainment YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHC7DyxoSznBRWEAaYYAOgg 

"Reanimated" cast and crew, plus stills from the episodes: 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11618106/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_8 

 Evil Genius Entertainment website: 

http://www.evilgeniusentertainment.com/ 

 Evil Genius Entertainment Facebook page:  

https://www.facebook.com/Evil.Genius.Entertainment/

Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention delivers up a mini-"Dynasty" reunion

 

It's very exciting to hear that the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention will happen this year, in these pandemic times, because so many folks are getting vaccinated, right? But it's not so exciting that BRBTV will not be able to make it this year. We won't miss the seven-hour round trip journey on various buses and trains from where this author stays in D.C. up to the event in Hunt Valley, Maryland (seriously), but we definitely will miss the great stars of classic TV and film, as well as the wonderful vending to be had! We will get back to that show soon; we simply have to. But in the meantime, if you'd like to go, you'll find lots of amazing stuff this year. Here's what we're especially missing, though you can check out the event website for the full guest roster:

• TONY DOW and JERRY MATHERS of "Leave it to Beaver"
  
• PAMELA SUE MARTIN and PARKER STEVENSON of "Hardy Boys" / "Nancy Drew"
  
• LOUIS GOSSETT, JR. 
• BARBARA CARRERA of classic "Dallas"
• MAXWELL CAULFIELD, JOHN JAMES and the aforementioned MARTIN of classic "Dynasty" / "The Colbys" (wow, that one hurts! we've never seen James at a show like this)
  

 The show happens August 19 to 21, 2021, at the Hunt Valley Delta Marriott, Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Catch Tom Wopat at Cooter's Place this summer

 

 

 

Woot-woot! Amid some concerts at the various Cooter's Place locations of Ben ("Cooter Davenport") Jones of "The Dukes of Hazzard," Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat will be making the rounds, too. It's June 12 and 13 for a meet and greet with fans at Cooter's in Nashville, then July 31 and August 1 at Cooter's in Pigeon Forge, THEN September 4 and 5 at Cooter's Luray. Yay!

Check out the whole summer schedule.

Terrific non-TV Toys: Scarlett O'Hara figurine by Avon, 1983

She was the belle of the ball, the ball being the highly regarded 1939 movie "Gone With the Wind." She was Scarlett O'Hara, that Southern beauty so magnificently portrayed by Vivien Leigh. And she's captured in porcelain by Avon for this figurine offered back in 1983, part of a larger set that included Rhett Butler (of course) as well as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and others. Just behold, on the latest episode of Terrific non-TV Toys ....

Terrific TV Toys now has a Pinterest board!

"Mork and Mindy" Colorforms? An action figure from the 1970s "Kolchak: The Night Stalker"? "Firefly" figures? "Simon and Simon" DVDs? A bit of "Columbo," too???? Oh, bring it on! More, please! 

You can find all kinds of great stuff in Pinterest, and now BRBTV is bringing it all together on one board -- glimpses of great memorabilia celebrating the classic TV shows we love. Some of this stuff is for sale, too. It's from all over the web, so call this an aggregation of joy. (I mean really, in-between saving over images of M&Ms and Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, why not indulge a little action figure love?)

Follow the board at the BRBTV Pinterest page.

And remember, you can always follow the Facebook page, and watch all the episodes on YouTube.

Terrific TV Toys: Harley, Ra's al Ghul and Bane figures by Kenner, 1990s

She's been the queen of the comic-con circuit in recent years, the subject of so many a cosplayer. She's Harley Quinn, and she was born on "Batman: The Animated Series," which debuted in fall 1992. And on that series and the various incarnations and titles it had over the 1990s, Harley was joined by a wonderful rogues gallery of villains that included Ra's al Ghul and Bane. All three of those colorful characters were captured by Kenner in their toy line of the 1990s celebrating the series, so we take a look at those three figures in this week's episode of Terrific TV Toys ...

Congrats to Bobby for finally snagging that Skipper hat!

He's a testament to determination, our friend Bobby. For years he has wanted a screen-accurate replica of the hat Alan Hale wore as the Skipper on "Gilligan's Island." For 30 years, actually. He bought other hats over the years that were close, as you have seen on this very blog. But they were never quite "the" one, when it came to Skipper's Lancaster Uniform Co. hat. Not quite the right trim, or braiding. Maybe not the right color, or brim, or emblem design. He waited and searched. He was very patient. And now, at last, he has his hat and his proper tribute to the character he loved on the classic TV show. He ordered it on eBay in October 2020, and it came all the way from Sialkot, Pakistan. Thanks, Bobby, for sharing your photos with us! Here he is recreated Skipper's mannerisms in his new hat, as well as a S.S. Minnow shirt.

 

 

 

Terrific non-TV Toys: Marilyn Monroe doll by DSI, 1993-94

She's a beautiful cultural icon, one of the most famous woman to ever live, with an awesome legacy that cannot be denied. She's Marilyn Monroe, and she's been captured in a variety of fashion dolls in a variety of sizes and looks over the years. On the latest episode of the Terrific non-TV Toys series, you'll get a close look at one of the dolls from a 1990s series by DSI.

"From Darkness to Light" chronicles an amazing COVID-19 survival story

A special film just premiered, and it's a film this author is very blessed to have been a part of. Last year, as we were all plunged into the darkness of the pandemic and all of the unknowns that has entailed, Pastor Gerald Ervin became deathly sick. He was hospitalized, as were so many others at that time. It could have gone any way -- COVID-19 is a crap shoot, after all. It kills the young, it kills the old. It kills those in good health as well as those not. Dr. Ervin was saved by the grace of God, and with "From Darkness to Light: A C-19 Survival Story," he brings this true story to the screen.

 

Dr. Gerald and his wife, Dr. Carol Ervin, are Detroit area ministers and musicians, and in this 35-minute film they hit all the high notes of what a believer might go through when faced with COVID-19. These are struggles and tests of faith that we all go through from time to time, and with brutal clarity the Ervins bring them to life. The message: We should be responsible and be safe, but live in hope, not fear.

You can see the film on Roku, FireTV, Apple TV, and mobile apps for Right Now Praizz TV. I hope you'll not only watch it, but share it! You can also own a copy (or gift a copy) here. You can learn more about Pastors Gerald and Carol at their Acclaim Ministries Facebook page.

 

Terrific TV Toys: Scooby-Doo clock by SofiClock, 2019

What time is it? It's Scooby time, and this clock will keep you right on schedule. It's crafted rather cleverly from a record album. Scooby and the whole gang are there in sculpted glory. Get up-close and personal with this cool collectible in the latest episode of the Terrific TV Toys series ...

This Hazzard Fest is going to hit all the high notes

This author must admit I remain a bit skeptical when I see events scheduled while we're still in the thick of the Plague That Changed Our Lives, but lots of folks are getting vaccinated, right? And this is an outdoor event, not an indoor one. AND it's all the way over in October. So that means it will happen, right? We certainly hope so, because this "Dukes of Hazzard"-themed show is looking really big.

Scheduled for October 8-9 in Tennessee, Hazzard Fest bills not only Catherine ("Daisy Duke") Bach and Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat on its site, but also Chris ("Jeb Duke") Hensel, Rick ("Cletus Hogg") Hurst, stuntman Angelo Lamonea, and we saw our buddy Byron ("Coy Duke") Cherry talking about being there on his Facebook yesterday. Jam-packed!!! But THEN there is a large assortment of other stars of TV and the like, from shows like "Duck Dynasty" "Moonshiners." There are WWE stars and there's even UFC Hall of Famer Dan Severn, which is motivation enough for me to hop in the car and
drive down there!

It happens at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Greeneville, Tennessee. Get your tickets on the event website.

Terrific non-TV Toys: Dawn dolls, case and clothing, 1970s

Alas, the moment has arrived, and it's a long moment -- our longest episode so far in the Terrific non-TV Toys series. It's the Dawn dolls of this author's childhood, and it's something I have looked forward to showing for so long! When I was a kid, Dawn dolls were absolutely *it* for me -- I loved them more than any other dolls. They were basically Barbies but in roughly half-size, and they had all kinds of groovy fashions to wear, plus some other amazing accessories. A beauty pageant playset, a dancing platform, and more. Why did these dolls only stay on store shelves for about three years? Who knows, but they're fairly valuable now, among collectors. Let's step inside the world of Dawn ....

Six Feet Under Hollywood: "It's a Cookbook!" A look at the career of Lloyd Bochner

We know the stately Lloyd Bochner from "The Twilight Zone" and "The Green Hornet," but we know him best as Cecil Colby on "Dynasty." Did you know that the way Cecil met his death in that very memorable scene with Alexis would seem a sort of harbinger to a lost role for him later? He was also cast as C.C. Capwell just as our beloved daytime soap "Santa Barbara" was about to debut in summer 1984, but a heart attack derailed those plans. His "Dynasty" castmate Peter Mark Richman took the role instead. Well, our friend Brian has done it again, profiling another great star of classic TV on his Six Feet Under Hollywood blog, showcasing a career that went so far beyond "Dynasty" ...

Six Feet Under Hollywood: It's a Cookbook!: Lloyd Wolfe Bochner was born in Toronto on July 29, 1924.  He was born to a middle-class Jewish family and knew from a very young age that ...

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Paul Winfield

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Paul Winfield: Catch the latest blog post from our buddy Brian, who profiles prolific TV and movie actor Paul Winfield ... "I was given a lot of prestige as a distinguished black actor but very little power.  They give prestige out by the buckets, but they give power by the teaspoon, just enough to stroke your ego."
  -- Paul Winfield

"The Rapture Chronicles" returns for Season 2

In the age of COVID-19 and Zoom meetings, director Dray Hill and his "The Rapture Chronicles" web series have adapted: The first episode of the second season occurs on Zoom! See just how this online meeting goes, as the leaders of a church discuss something important that's come up. How do their priorities rate? Are they #RaptureReady? Watch it at the series' Facebook page or via the YouTube embed ...

Also catch my own interview preceding the episode!

Cooter plans Hazzard Run in October

Passing along a note from Cooter's Place and Ben (“Cooter Davenport”) of “The Dukes of Hazzard,” who has revved up plans for the return of his popular Hazzard Run for later this year ...

 

Y'all Join Us...

in a convoy through the beautiful mountains of Virginia and the scenic Shenandoah Valley! We will be meeting at Cooter's Place in Luray, Virginia on October 1, 2021 for a 3 day celebration of the Dukes of Hazzard and Hazzard Nation. It's going to be a blast. We will keep you updated on the planned festivities throughout the year. Vehicle registration is free. Simply add the free product to your cart along with any Hazzard Run 2021 merchandise you want. Please add a separate registration for each replica vehicle or hot rod you plan to bring. That will help us plan and organize the convoy.

For More Info On Hazzard Run:
Bobby Scott (765) 341-6949

Terrific TV Toys: Electra Woman figure by Living Toyz, 2000

Here's a blast from the past that we have not yet explored on Terrific TV Toys ... "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl," a perhaps tad obscure part of our Saturday mornings in the 1970s but nonetheless fondly remembered by hardcore Gen-Xers. They were sort of a female Batman and Robin, triapsing around solving crimes with some fab gadgets. They didn't have superpowers or anything -- they relied on their ingenuity. 

Electra Woman was portrayed by a very young Deidre Hall, who would go on to great fame on "Days of Our Lives." Her heroic spirit is captured here in a figure by Living Toyz, part of a larger set celebrating the characters of "The Krofft Supershow" (which even had comic books back then as it brought live-action kids' entertainment to Saturday mornings).