What a nice time at the Hot Wheels show in Marysville, Michigan

It's a show I had my eye on for a few years, and this year, this author finally got to check it out. It was the Hot Wheels Weekend in Marysville, Michigan, all tucked up on the east side of the state near Port Huron and Canada and oh, that big lake called Huron.

Lots of classic cars of every era and variety were there, even a 1930 Model A Ford that the famous John Dillinger once made a getaway in. Super-cool.

Paul Michael Glaser of "Starsky and Hutch" and Butch Patrick of "The Munsters" were the guest stars, and they had nice displays complete with vehicles.

I got the chance to chat with Mr. Glaser a bit -- what a nice person he is. And thanks so much to Motor City Reel Rides for posting photos.

Motor City Reel Rides, by the way, has a great new calendar out for 2020 that features photos of many (well, 12) of their beautiful star cars ...

Yes, that's even the beautiful Farrah car from "Charlie's Angels," which you've seen profiled on this very blog. There are two versions of this 2020 calendar, and they're only $10 each. Contact the group at its Facebook page.

And you've gotta love Mike's shirt he had custom-made -- I want a dress of this material!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates and Motor City Reel Rides

Terrific non-TV Toys: Scarlett O'Hara Barbie doll by Mattel

We venture into "Gone With the Wind" territory in the latest episode of Terrific non-TV Toys, into that Civil War era South, for one round with the formidable non-Southern-belle Scarlett O'Hara. She's resplendent in red -- well, burgundy, actually -- in the amazing velvet and feather gown her husband Rhett Butler forced her to wear to Ashley's birthday party in that famous scene. Mattel celebrates that scene in this 1994 Barbie doll from its Hollywood Legends collection. This is an out-of-the-box experience -- she gets some oxygen after 25 years.

Check out new playlist of some of BRB's acting clips

This author has been enjoying a few acting gigs the past few years. Not to take over the world or anything -- just to goof around with it a bit. To prove that it can be done. A personal challenge and all. And fulfilling a childhood dream. Blah-blah-blah, whatever, it tends to be fun! And some of the fruits of that labor can be seen on a new playlist on my second YouTube channel, which I've just basically been using for demo reels and stuff.

This new playlist starts with the role of tough interrogator Blanche Lancaster in Evil Genius Entertainment's "Reanimated," then goes into a few other assorted roles, like a rather-evil nun in "SeVen" and the MedGuard member Denna McClure in "Anders Dark," which you can see in both trailers for the web series, but a little bit better in the second trailer.

Soon to come: episode 2 of "The Rapture Chronicles," where I have been truly blessed (thank-you, Dray Hill) to play the thoroughly unsaved Francine O'Neill. Uncomfortable, but, I pray, effective!!! That's coming in September.



On Vimeo, you can also check out "Surprise!", where I am Mary, and "A Taste of Honey," where I was thrilled to play the deliciously evil mom Louise Patterson. Embedding that one below, too ...


A TASTE OF HONEY from Nikoleta Vatiqi on Vimeo.

Thanks for watching and indulging this silly girl!

Enjoy your Friday! TGIF!!

Terrific TV Toys: Supergirl "S:TAS" figure by Hasbro, 1999

We've been examining, on the Terrific TV Toys series, a set of 12-inch action figures released by Hasbro in the late 1990s celebrating the animated series of the Timmverse, more specifically "Batman: The Animated Series" and "The New Batman Adventures" with Batgirl, Harley Quinn and Nightwing. Now, we turn our attention to Supergirl, who first appeared in the "B:TAS" spinoff "Superman: The Animated Series." She's dated 1999 and so girlish and full of life, as you'll see in the latest episode ...

An update on Tom Wopat's appearance schedule

Kimberly of the Tom Wopat Dedication Fan Club has it covered, as far as appearances for Mr. Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard." In our May 30 post, we gave you some of Wopat's summer schedule from the fan club page, but now it's time for an update, cuz' there's a lot more stuff coming up ...

Midwest Mopars, Sioux Empire Chapter

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Misquamicut Fallfest 

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Nostalgiacon 2019 

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Sammy Hagar's High Tide Beach party 

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Hazzard RUN 2019 

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Supermegafest Comic Con 

Saturday, November 16, 2019

And, as we mentioned last week ...

A Christmas Concert 

Friday, December 6, 2019

Plus ....

Cooter's Place in Luray, Christmas concert 

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Wounded Warrior Project Show 

Friday, March 6, 2020

Shiawassee County = Hazzard County???? A "Dukes" Christmas comes to Corunna, Michigan, once again

Well, he said it, during the Hazzard County Cars and Stars event at the Owosso Speedway in this author's hometown a couple weeks back, Mr. Tom Wopat of "The Dukes of Hazzard." He just happened to mention (and you can see it yourself in ChunkeyMonkey40's video coverage of the event) that he would be returning to these parts -- mid-Michigan and the greater Owosso / Corunna area -- this Christmas for another holiday concert.

Last year, the Hazzard County Christmas concert was a wonderful time, so we look forward to it again this year! Kimberly already has an event created for it on Facebook. The dates are December 6-7. Ya know, when I was a little kid watching the show, I really wanted to go live in Hazzard County. Now, thanks to Pastor Steve Rau, he's plumb-near turning this county where I grew up into Hazzard!!! (Weeeellll ... OK, let's make it "Hazzard North" while Covington, Georgia, can be Hazzard South ...)

Watch this space and the Facebook event page for more details!

Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con celebrates 14 years

George Chakiris of classic "Dallas." Loni Anderson of "WKRP." Angie Dickinson of "Police Woman." Richard Thomas of "The Waltons" and so much more. Lots o' great stars of classic TV shows we know and love are coming once again to the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con in Hunt Valley, Maryland. You've seen coverage of this great show on this very blog in the past (for the past few years, actually). It's a nice time, and this year it's even sponsored by MeTV -- one of our fave networks! Woot-woot, for sure.

It happens September 12-14, 2019, at the Hunt Valley Delta Marriott Hotel.

Check out the new "Dukes" event coverage playlist on YouTube

Years worth of great "Dukes of Hazzard" events, all in one place. Now you can click on the new BRBTV "Dukes" event coverage playlist on YouTube and see great clips from waaaaayyyy back in the day, as well as just the other day!

This author has had the privilege of attending so many wonderful events over the years, and I think you'll enjoy these captured moments. From the '09 Hair Dare Dukes Days in Canada and even the Professional Stuntman Invitational in North Carolina, where you'll see the  jump of an "A-Team" van, all the way up through last weekend's Hazzard County Cars and Stars in Michigan, there's tons of great stuff here. These videos are designed as either relive-the-moment opportunities or live-it-if-you-never-got-to-in-the-first-place. Sooo ... Yeee-haaaa!!!!

Hazzard County Cars and Stars: Some track action

You've gotta love a "Dukes of Hazzard" event with a "Dukes"-style re-enactment. This author has loved the talents of folks like the Northeast Ohio Dukes and the Hazzard County Stunt Team at their own stunt shows, and last weekend's Hazzard County Cars and Stars event at the Owosso Speedway in Michigan seemed to take a page right out of that playbook. In a sweet little show around the racetrack, that ole rascally Rosco was chasing them Duke boys, and then the General had car trouble, and you just know where that's going. Cooter and Daisy get in on the action, too. What fun! And with a real Duke in on the action to boot -- Byron Cherry lends some comedy to the scene.

Right before that in this third part of our video coverage of Saturday at the show, you'll see the parade of cars around the track, led by the General Lee. This lineup came from a car show down the road in downtown Owosso.

Hazzard County Cars & Stars, Part 2: Tom Wopat

You can tell the wind was starting to pick up later in this second part of our video coverage of this past weekend's Hazzard County Cars and Stars Concert at Owosso Speedway in Michigan. Then the rain came, and Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat of "The Dukes of Hazzard" brought his concert to a close. But before that, it was some great music, as always.

Tom sang some classics like "Yesterday," as well as his own original songs, including one, as he tells the story, he was inspired to write after shooting a Syfy movie in Thailand. You'll see him introduce event host Pastor Steve Rau here, as well.

Thanks so much, Pastor Steve, Owosso Speedway, Tom Wopat, and Byron Cherry for giving fans this great event. Tune in tomorrow for the last of our three-part coverage -- a sweet little car chase around the track.

Hazzard County Cars & Stars, Part 1: Byron Cherry

Did you know Byron ("Coy Duke") Cherry of "The Dukes of Hazzard" has a new movie role coming up? It has a couple very special "Dukes" connections -- namely the director! Byron tells us all about it in the first of three parts of our special video coverage of the Hazzard County Cars and Stars Concert at Owosso Speedway in Michigan this past weekend. This author was there with buds Andrea and Don, and even my fellow vlogger Derek (ChunkeyMonkey40) in a vlogception! It was a blast to see Byron again, as he's always the life of the party. Here, he signs photos for fans and even FaceTimes with the mom of one attendee.

Byron also got to take part in a car chase around the track that was straight out of Hazzard County! You'll see that later in the week on this same BRBTV channel ...

Terrific non-TV Toys: Betty and Veronica dolls by Playing Mantis, Part 2: Betty

She's the girl next door (literally right next door to Archie). She can fix cars, she has a cute little ponytail, and she seems to have nothing but patience when it comes to her best friend Veronica Lodge. She's Betty Cooper, and she's the focus of the latest episode of Terrific non-TV Toys -- at least these delightful dolls are. They were released by Playing Mantis back in 2000, and you can see two out of the three Veronica dolls in the set in the previous episode of non-T3.

Byron Cherry and Tom Wopat shine at Hazzard County Cars and Stars event

When we say hot, we mean hoooooottttt! As in blazin' hot! We were actually just a little thankful for the rain that came later in the afternoon to cool things off a bit. Nevertheless, we soldiered on, those of us who attended the first-ever Hazzard County Cars and Stars Concert at the Owosso Speedway this weekend in a sweet little town that you may not have heard of, but that this author is actually from. In fact, I grew up a mile down the road from the speedway. That town is Ovid, Michigan, and who would've dreamed that two stars of one of my all-time favorite TV shows would come there to visit? Yes, they did, and it was delightful.

These photos are from yesterday, when Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat and Byron ("Coy Duke") Cherry of "The Dukes of Hazzard" signed photos for fans. Tom said he didn't mind the intense heat, as he snagged himself a hotdog from the concession stand, and Byron was his always-friendly self, there to meet with fans no matter the circumstances (I'm thinking of one particular Georgia event years ago when he was sick as a dog but still showed up smiling!). In the afternoon we were treated to a car chase with a General Lee, Rosco's sheriff's car, and a yellow Plymouth Road Runner (Daisy-inspired), in a "Dukes" scene featuring Byron and a few friends who are avid "Dukes" fans -- Brian, Kristy, T.J.  It was adorbs. Then Tom took to the stage and gave a wonderful concert.

The event is continuing on today. Watch this space this week for video coverage of yesterday's fun, and you can see lots of posting from the event at the speedway's Facebook page.

There's my buddy Derek -- aka ChunkeyMonkey40 -- above. I bet he will have some great video from the weekend.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Terrific TV Toys: Alfred Hitchcock figure by Super7

He was a master of the macabre, an expert in the darker side of human nature, and a director and filmmaker with such a delightfully sinister sense of humor. He was Alfred Hitchcock, and he's celebrated in an action figure -- believe it or not -- by Super7, part of their ReAction Figures line. It's the latest item examined in the Terrific TV Toys web series.

Announcing the fifth Kindle edition of "Dynasty High"!

Alexis gets a new face -- that looks just like darling daughter Fallon. Liam and Fallon are off again, then on again. Culhane and Fallon are off, Culhane and Kirby are on ... Who can keep up? Well, you can, actually, when you get the fifth Kindle edition of the BRBTV guide "Dynasty High"!

The latest e-edition, released this past week, chronicles the above moments and so much more as it adds in the second big season of the CW's "Dynasty" reboot. You won't get the reboot continuity in the print edition -- only in the Kindle edition, because frankly, that's all this author can keep up with!

Relive the fun moments of the reboot's second season, or read them for the first time if you weren't able to watch. The Kindle edition remains at the same low price as before, $6, or you can borrow it for free under Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program. BRBTV hopes you enjoy!

A couple "Dukes" cousins are comin' to a very familiar mid-Michigan speedway in July

This author never would've dreamed, growing up in mid-Michigan, that the stars of such a favorite show, "The Dukes of Hazzard," could actually be dropping by for a visit a mile down the road from home. But yea, it's happening -- the very racetrack from which I could once hear the vroom-vroom sounds off in distance every Saturday night in the '70s and '80s summers at the farm, will shine with "Dukes" stars next month: Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat and Byron ("Coy Duke") Cherry will be featured at the Hazzard County Cars and Stars Concert at the Owosso Speedway (which at one time was called the Ovid Speedway). Wowzers. How crazy is that????

This event, also featuring country singer Whey Jennings — grandson of “Dukes” balladeer Waylon Jennings — comes to us from Pastor Steve Rau, who also brought us the wonderful Hazzard County Christmas several months back. Learn more at the Facebook event (or this one) and buy tickets at Eventbrite. Yeeee-haaaa!!!! See ya there!

Terrific non-TV Toys: Betty and Veronica dolls by Playing Mantis, Part 1: Veronica

These girls know everything about fashion -- that girl-next-door Betty Cooper and the fabulously wealthy Veronica Lodge. And though they are rivals when it comes to both Archie and the latest fashion trend, they are friends through and through. That spirit is captured in a set of 11.5-inch fashion dolls released by Playing Mantis in 2000. There are three different versions for Betty and three for Veronica, and their delightful duds certainly do reflect the time period, as do all the wonderful outfits B&V wear in Archie Comics throughout the decades.

In part 1 of a two-parter on non-T3, we take a look at two of the Veronica versions (one was given away from BRB's collection -- she'll explain). Then, next month, you'll see the second part examining the three Betty dolls.

From the Six Feet Under Blog: KHAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!

We know him as the dashing Zach Powers on "Dynasty" spinoff "The Colbys," his amor for the sultry Sable so evident and appealing ... but Ricardo Montalban was so many other things, not the least of which, so well-known as Mr. Roarke on classic "Fantasy Island." Did you know he was the first Hispanic actor to be featured on the cover of Life magazine? His career spanned many decades and included a wonderful number of other credits. Learn more about the life -- and interment -- of the great Ricardo Montalban in this post by Brian Lombard ...

Six Feet Under: KHAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!: Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalban y Merino was born on November 25, 1920 in Mexico City.  He was raised in a large Roman Catholic family, a...

Terrific TV Toys: Black & White Batgirl statue by DC Collectibles

We're making our way through 2019, just about to the halfway point, and this time on the Terrific TV Toys web series, we're looking at a collectible statue that takes us back to "Batman: The Animated Series" and "The New Batman Adventures." It's our beautiful Barbara Gordon Batgirl, all set to pounce, or maybe she's even in mid-pounce, in this brand-new statue from DC Collectibles. Do not adjust your TV -- or computer -- because this one is part of DC's Black & White series. It's lush in its shades of gray, actually ...

Tom Wopat has a Grumpy Cat Car Show and more on his agenda

Special thanks to Kimberly for putting the word out about these several appearances of Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat of "The Dukes of Hazzard" coming up this summer. Click on the links to the Facebook event pages for more info.

June 1
Murphysboro Illinois Cruise Nights
South 12th Street and Walnut, Murphysboro, IL62966

June 7
Beach Cafe
1326 2nd Avenue New York, NY 10021

June 16
Grumpy Cat Car Show
175 Danielson Pike, Foster, RI 02825-1385, United States

July 14
Cooter's Place

2613 Mcgavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37214

July 27
Hazzardfest
Rogersville City Park, 331 Park Boulevard, Rogersville, TN 37857 

August 15
Larryfest
S2096 24 Valley Rd, La Farge, WI 54639

Six Feet Under Blog: Read about the Lost Grave of Captain Kangaroo

Pockets full of interesting items? We never knew! Read about the life of Captain Kangaroo, a childhood hero for many ...

Six Feet Under: The Lost Grave of Captain Kangaroo: Unlike many of my Generation X peers, I was not a huge fan of Captain Kangaroo .  Quite frankly, I didn't get it.  I still don't....

Terrific non-TV Toys: SuperSize Barbie by Mattel

Barbie is making quite a few appearances on the two BRBTV web series, Terrific TV Toys and Terrific non-TV Toys. You've already seen a Catwoman Barbie (and Batman Ken), a couple Batgirl Barbies, a Wonder Woman Barbie, the Pretty Changes Barbie. You will see a "Star Trek" Barbie and Ken, vintage Malibu Barbie, Ken, Skipper and P.J., Quick Curl Francie. Another Wonder Woman Barbie, a Poison Ivy Barbie. Even a Snoopy Barbie. But for this episode of Terrific non-TV Toys, we turn our attention to a glamorous Barbie from the 1970s.

She was the biggest Barbie you could get back then, the SuperSize Barbie, all clad in white satin and released around 1976 by Mattel. She was one of the first Barbies to feature bent arms for a different kind of posability. And she was really, as you'll see in this episode, an offshoot of the pink-satin-clad SuperStar Barbie.

Texas Monthly’s 40th anniversary “Dallas” issue makes this author’s day!

Special thanks to my friend Brian Smith, who traveled from Ohio this past weekend to attend the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan, for the saaawwweeettt gift of this issue of Texas Monthly mag for both myself and my buddy Andrea. This October 2018 issue celebrates the 40th anniversary of our beloved classic “Dallas” series and features a lengthy story and nice photos of the show and its stars. Brian is a diehard “Dallas” fan who snagged these online. Can’t wait to read it!!! Having traveled Route 66 last fall, where I enjoyed a marvelous Frito Pie in Amarillo, Texas, I’m going to read the rest of the friggin’ magazine, too!

— BRB

Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con serves up a great roster of classic stars for September show

It's a fall timeframe once again for the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Con that happens in Hunt Valley, Maryland, and some names that you don't often see on a con roster are popping up ... Richard Thomas of "The Waltons," Tatum O'Neal, Dinah Manoff ... More names will be added, we're sure, and BRBTV has enjoyed this show several times (and has provided some video coverage -- see the BRBTV YouTube channel). Mark your calendar and keep an eye on the website and Facebook page for more.

Terrific TV Toys: Mego "Charlie's Angels" figure Kris

Cheryl Ladd had the unenviable task of being the first replacement Angel in what they didn't yet realize would be a string of replacement Angels on TV's classic "Charlie's Angels." The relaunched Mego Corp. pays tribute to Ladd just as Hasbro did in the 1970s -- with a lovely action figure (OK, doll). This one fits the same mold as Mego's other females, and you can decide if this bears the proper likeness of the lovely Ms. Ladd. It's part 3, really, in a three-part series on the "Angels" Megos, following Kelly and Sabrina.



Our fellow author Brian Lombard got to meet the real Ms. Ladd, up close and in person, at an event in New Jersey last month. Behold ... 

Photo courtesy of Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

TGIF! How about some action figure goodness with the Super Friends!

Will Rodgers, author of "The Ultimate Super Friends Companion" books in the BRBTV line, has done it again. The avid action figure collector and diehard Super Friends fan has at last put together a collection he's been working on for years, to celebrate his fave series, and has snapped this fresh pic. Inspired by Mego's line of superheroes, both vintage and newly launched last year, as well as Figures Toy Company's take on the beloved comic book characters, he has assembled his own Justice League, for sure. Can you guess which figures are vintage and which are new? Which are Mego and which FTC?

"I finally have the 12-inch Super Friends, unofficially of course," Will says. "Joining the Christopher Reeve Superman is the Mego 12-inch Wonder Woman. The seller I bought her from custom-painted her to further resemble Lynda Carter. I finally managed to re-buy the 12-inch Magnetic Batman and Robin!!! And then it's Figures Toy Company's 12-inch Aquaman, I've been wanting to take this pic for years."

Magnetic? Yes, you heard right. These Batman and Robin figures have magnetic hands and feet, and were released by Mego in 1978. Here's a commercial for them ...



Check out "The Ultimate Super Friends Companion" at Amazon and other booksellers. Volume 1 at 530 pages covers the 1970s run of the show, and Volume 2 at 448 pages covers the 1980s. Will also manages the Facebook group DC Comics Classic Animation: The Saturday Morning Era Fan Page.