The latest episode of "The Rapture Chronicles" is up!

Weeellll, this author gets to stick to her journalism roots in the latest episode of "The Rapture Chronicles" web series, and that was fun, but more than that, I'm just thankful for the opportunity once again to be a part of something special.

Episode 4 of the web series is called "The Party Animal," and it's about a college student who is sowing his wild oats, so to speak, and not paying a whole lot of attention to the way his Godly mother raised him, figuring, well, what the hey, the Lord will keep forgiving me, right? It's folks like this who may get a surprise when the Rapture spoken of in the Bible comes at last. And that's what this web series is all about -- slices of modern life, real life, and what impact the Rapture may have on individuals in various situations. Daniel Jeffries does a bang-up job as the lead character in this episode. It's great stuff, and you can catch up with the whole series on the Facebook page, YouTube channel, or you can catch it on Truli.




Also check out this interview I did with the series creator, Dray Hill, and two lovely ladies, co-director Carmen Greer, and Tamika Willis, another member of this episode's cast:



Learn more about Churchouse Productions.

Six Feet Under: Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

She was a University of Michigan grad? We had no idea. Learn more about the life and death of Ann Davis, known best as Alice the maid on "The Brady Bunch," on the Six Feet Under blog: 

Ann Bradford Davis was born on May 3, 1926 in Schenectady, New York.  Growing up, she had always planned on a career in medicine.  However ... [Read on]

Six Feet Under: Stow it, Dingy!

It's a celebration of actor Vic Tayback of TV's "Alice" and quite a lot more, on the Six Feet Under blog: 

Victor Tayback was born in Brooklyn on January 6, 1930.  He was the son of Syrian immigrants who came to America in the 1920s.  By the ...  [Read on]

Announcing the second edition of the "Shazam!" BRBTV Report

With one mighty word he transforms from the teenage Billy Batson into the powerful hero ... Shazam! Or Captain Marvel, as he was originally called, and as he was called in the 1970s Saturday-morning TV series for kids. This was a live-action half-hour show based on the popular hero of the comic books. And now, as a little TGIF treat this week, BRBTV announces an updated version of its report on the TV show.

The BRBTV Reports are feature-length magazine stories, essentially, not so much "books," though they are sold in a sort of "book" format on Amazon's Kindle platform. But they also include extras like an episode guide, or a cast list, a look maybe at the show's merchandise. And for this "Shazam!" BRBTV Report, you'll see some great content additions from the recent panel discussion of two of the show's stars at the Great Lakes Comic Con in Michigan, as well as updated info on the release of the big-screen movie last year. You'll get the perspectives of the cast members, Jackson Bostwick, Michael Gray and John Davey, on this wonderful kids' show on comics' own "Big Red Cheese."

Happy reading!

Get the Report on Kindle.

Spotted at the mall: the Super Friends, Curious George and more

This author wandered into a unique mall store recently and spotted these TV-show-related goodies. And by unique, I mean "Uneek," as in the name of the store was Uneek Gifts. This was in Metro Detroit, and I have no idea if this is a chain or an independent, but mixed among the various diverse wares were these delights, two of which I purchased. Can you guess which ones?

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Toyalicious -- that's the only way to describe today's show in Royal Oak

Wow, we're really getting diverse with this crop of TV-related collectibles. Just about any kind of classic TV show you could name was represented there in some way, at the toy show today at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market in Royal Oak, Michigan. Amazing. Not only the regulars like Scooby-Doo, Batman, "The Flintstones," "Happy Days" and "Starsky and Hutch," but we've even got some "Simon and Simon" going on, some "Hong Kong Phooey," "The Cat in the Hat," even "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl." We are going to post even more photos in an album on the Terrific TV Toys Facebook page on Monday, but this will tide you over for now ...

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Thanks to Dylan for sharing this photo of his Megos!

We see some TV-related goodies in there .... "Charlie's Angels," "Happy Days," "Charmed," "Married With Children" ... any others??? These are figures from Mego Corp.'s reboot of the past couple years, and they're so fun. You've seen a few of them on the Terrific TV Toys series, which premiered on YouTube but is now reairing on Facebook. Come join the fun! And thanks, Dylan! Nice collection!

Coming up in the fall for Tom Wopat: Cooter's Place in Pigeon Forge

Thanks once again to Kimberly for keeping us updated on the comings and goings of our beloved Broadway star and Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," Mr. Tom Wopat. Here's what's coming up for him later this year:

Cooter's Pigeon Forge for Meet and Greet

Saturday, October 10, 2020, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 11, 2020, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Cooter's Place
177 East Wears Valley Rd Ste 23
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37863

Diahann Carroll’s belongings to be auctioned off next week

This author and longtime “Dynasty” fan will be bidding on a few of these items; I think there are some jewelry pieces that have my name on them. And you, too, can have an opportunity to own a little slice of the life of revered actress Diahann Carroll, whom we fans of “Dynasty” know as the lovely songstress and half-sister of Blake Carrington, Dominique Deveraux.

Bonhams auction house has listed 150 items from the collection of the award-winning actress and is now accepting bids, with the auction culminating on March 10. Go to Bonhams.com at the link below to see the listings, which don’t include a whole lot of “Dynasty” (a gown she wore to promote the series, for instance), but nevertheless provide some neat insight into the more private side of this longtime star, who died just a few months ago.

Catalog:

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26327/

ChellyWood.com shows you how to care for those precious vintage dolls, and more

If you like to get crafty, maybe want to make something creative with the kids, and especially if you've ever made your own clothing for vintage dolls like some of the ones you've seen on BRBTV's Terrific TV Toys series, then you've got to check out ChellyWood.com. It's where you can find free patterns for clothes to make for dolls of the standard 11-inch variety like Barbie, 8-inch, even 18-inch and more. Pretty much any size doll you've got, you can find a clothing pattern for it.

Chelly Wood did a blog post this week discussing the fact that leaving your doll dressed in her clothes can actually stain her body over time, and as an example of this, she cited our own Dusty doll example from the T3 episode of a few years ago. This author's poor Dusty has expelled some chemicals in her joints, so to speak, over time, and for a while her lovely white slacks were cemented onto her. It happens! Chelly Wood talks about that and more. Thanks for the link-up, Chelly Wood!

Both parts of the "Shazam!" panel are now up!

Happy Monday morning! Time to start off the ole workweek again, and just to cheer you into it a bit, it's both parts of the "Shazam!" panel discussion from this past weekend's Great Lakes Comic Con in Warren, Michigan, where stars Michael Gray and John Davey discuss their time on this 1970s Saturday-morning TV show. This one starts out with Michael Gray telling a couple stories about the late Les Tremayne, who by that point was already a revered classic actor.

Great Lakes Comic Con brings on the "Shazam!" and much more

This author went there today to meet two stars of the 1970s Saturday-morning live-action "Shazam!" TV show, but was delighted to walk around and shop the vendors and see lots of costumes and fun. And the fact that there was a Q and A panel discussion with said two "Shazam!" stars??? Ultra-bonus!!! Thanks so much to the Great Lakes Comic Convention, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, for bringing on a great show. It all happened at the Macomb Community College Expo Center in Warren, Michigan, yesterday and today, and if you missed it, well, put this one on your calendar for next year.

Below, Michael (Billy Batson) Gray and John (Captain Marvel 2) Davey of "Shazam!" answer fan questions in the panel discussion, and meet and greet folks at their tables. Look for the video of the panel discussion here on this blog shortly!

Above, that's our buddy Don, aka Cuz, with our two stars. Gotcha, Cuz!!!!

Below, one fan brought a "Shazam!" script, which has two more key signatures now! Love the smile on the face of Mr. Davey's wife, who was assisting him at the table. Didn't even know I captured that. :) She was wearing a Shazam hoodie that matched his.

 

Livin' the dream! BRB and the second man to don the Captain Marvel suit for the show (Season 2), Mr. John Davey. All of this, of course, is going to cause a marvelous update to the BRBTV Report on "Shazam!," so stay tuned for that!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Terrific non-TV Toys: Batman Black and White blind bags, Series 1-3

Purchased, shot and posted all on the same day -- today! Valentine's Day! -- it's a special report of the Terrific non-TV Toys collectibles series, a special report that causes us to "pause our pause" of new episodes in the wake of the whole YouTube / COPPA thing. What can this girl say -- sometimes you just have to embrace your geekiness, and when you see something exciting in the stores right now, weeeeellll ... why not just do a quick special episode! These were purchased at the friendly neighborhood Walmart this very morning, Valentine's Day 2020.

Tom Wopat has some summertime Cooter's Place appearances coming up

Thanks once again to Kimberly and her Tom Wopat Dedication Fan Club for keeping us informed of the upcoming appearances of Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard" as well as so many other things.

Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. CDT

Sunday, June 21, 2020 at 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. CDT

Cooter's Place Nashville

2613 Mcgavock Pike

Nashville, Tennessee 37214

 

Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sunday, July 26, 2020 at 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Cooter's Place

177 East Wears Valley Rd Ste 23

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37863

 

 

Check out these groovy "Gilligan" goods

Our pal Bobby loves "Gilligan's Island," and he recently shared these photos with BRBTV. Nice collection of figures! One of these figures is from Figures Toy Co. and very recent; the others are from Exclusive Premiere and are limited-edition and numbered.

 

 

Bobby has also nabbed himself a captain's hat just like what Skipper and Mr. Howell wore on the series. Below, Skipper is wearing his Lancaster Uniform Cap Co. brand hat.

 

 

"I got the Broner hats in 2010 (white) and 2012 (blue)," Bobby says, "and the black Midway in 2014. Searched for a black one just like Skipper wore since 1990, when I was 3 and found and got into the show. I collect the hats 'cuz I love the show and he's my favorite of the 7."

He adds, "Midway turned out to be the screen-used brand from the first TV reunion movie in 1978, 'Rescue From Gilligan's Island.'"

 

Mr. Howell wears the Midway Skipper hat in Season 3 episode "Where There's a Will." Below,
Skipper wears his Midway Cap Co. brand hat.

Photos courtesy of Robert John Broadhurst II; please do not copy without permission.

Pssst ... the "Terrific TV Toys" series is moving

If you're a YouTuber, you know about the new rules announced a few months back and enacted with the new calendar year regarding content for kids. With the new labeling and classifications and the changes in features that go along with them, the environment has changed for a lot of YouTube content creators, especially those who do what we do here at BRBTV. We highlight fun geeky collectibles that are not necessarily for kids (more often than not, these items are adult, highly breakable and sometimes rather expensive collectibles, for instance). Us creators in that category are caught in the middle of the two audience sectors, according to the artificial intelligence that's being utilized, and can be under the threat of harsh fines if found in violation of the new standards. Anyway, that's a long explanation for the fact that BRBTV has chosen to move its first collectibles series, "Terrific TV Toys," to a new platform, Facebook.

One by one, we've been uploading the episodes from the very beginning in 2014, so you'll get the entire T3 series at this new page. "Batman," "Star Trek," "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "The Twilight Zone," "Underdog," and so many more ... the gang is all here, or will be all here, once everything is loaded. Plus, you'll see fun posts related to TV-related collectibles from all over Facebook and the web. It's shaping up nicely, and we'd love to have you join in the fun!!!

Hop on over to the Facebook page for Terrific TV Toys!

A General Lee? Maybe, but that's definitely a Batmobile

Our roving reporter Jason reports back in again as he's traveling the countryside. These photos were snapped recently at a TA truck stop in Laredo, Texas.

"This is the Val Kilmer Batmobile, not really my favorite but it's the first I have seen of it," Jason says. "Then this Charger is obviously a General, but just cleverly not -- but they get the point across."

Photos by Jason G.; please do not copy without permission.