Spotted: Carmen Zapata

Boy ... we tell our friends that when we're watching the classic '70s "Wonder Woman" episodes on DVD we're as happy as a pig in slop ... and that might paint an unsavory picture -- but it's true!!!! We're just that happy to see Lynda Carter in those precious, precious episodes, most of which we haven't seen since they originally aired.

We're also happy to see so many great BRBTV stars surfacing in these eps, which we've been reporting on in recent months here on the BRBTV News Blog. This time around it's the lovely, and oh-so dignified, Carmen Zapata, who portrayed Cruz Castillo's mom Carmen Castillo on our beloved "Santa Barbara." Zapata, losing none of her dignity, for sure, pops up in the third season "Wonder Woman" episode titled "The Richest Man in the World," which debuted on February 19, 1979, just six years before Zapata came to "SB" to keep her son in line.

Donning a double strand of white pearls and a tasteful black dress, Zapata portrays a prime minister in this installment. She makes a big purchase for her country (being the powerful chick she is): a missile scrambler nicknamed "Missy." But Missy is quickly kidnapped, so to speak, and it's up to Diana Prince and her alter ego to unravel this mystery.

See the BRBTV synopsis for this and the other "WW" episodes at the IMDb.

TGIF Toys: Candy not included! At least not anymore!

Whitman's did such a fine thing when they laid out these "surprise tins" in 1997, celebrating the success of "Batman: The Animated Series." There were several different designs, more than the "five" mentioned on the back of this one (especially since the five designs shown don't include the one on the front!). And inside each one? Yummy chocolates!!!! Oooh, we liked that part! Whitman's ranks high in our book, especially with the line of stuffed and small plastic figure Snoopys they still do at Valentine's Day and such, accompanied by a yummy four-pack of chocolates.


Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Catch the sights and sounds of Hair Dare Dukes Days 2010 at BRBTV's YouTube channel

You know, we really should've started doing this whole video thing years ago -- it's so much easier! In events past, we've brought you coverage on this news blog with photos and quotes and notes. Now, we can just link to the videos on YouTube and let our subjects do the talking -- no wading through our notebooks or processing a bunch of photos! Meow!

At any rate, BRBTV had a delightful time at this past weekend's Hair Dare Dukes Days, the eighth annual benefit event from Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club president Paul Harrington. In two cool, cool days in Comber, Ontario (yes, they thought BRB was crazy for wearin' her dazyduks!) this event served up cars and stars in the name of "The Dukes of Hazzard." It also raised scholarship funds for a student surviving cancer.

Some of the moments you'll see in this new set of three videos on BRBTV's YouTube channel:
- A chat with the owners of the "00" Mustang and the "Twilight" movie replica pickup truck.
- A few words from the amazing Zealand, a dear friend of BRBTV who travels to North America from New Zealand every year for a "Dukes" event.
- Paul Harrington getting his hair cut by Don Pedro Colley, Sheriff Little of "The Dukes of Hazzard." Paul raised $1,010 in pledges for this "hair dare," while Glenn Call of Massachusetts raised $700.
- Billie Rae Bates trying her hand at the smack-a-wreck (yes, you're allowed to laugh), as well as signing the inside of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard traveling museum trailer.

TGIF Toys: We see why you have to look away, Batsy ...

We're quite sure the folks who are making all these Mego repros are trying to kill us. It was bad enough we had to brave the sheer terror that was the Comic-Con International crowd in San Diego a couple months back, but then we had to lay our eyes on a heart-attack-worthy display like this, at the Mattel booth. A new Wonder Woman figure, and such a departure from the original Mego figure of the '70s!

With vinyl boots, an incredible head of styled hair, a separate lasso, tiara and bracelets, and her "flesh" showing amid her fabric costume (rather than a whole painted body stocking like the original -- which we'll always treasure, mind you!), this WW is amazing. She was enough to make the Batman Mego repro, just a few inches away, cower in weakness (a sentiment not shared by Two-Face, however!). The Amazon Princess is part of Wave 3 of Mattel's Retro-Action DC Superheroes release.

After we beheld this astonishing site -- all eight, glorious inches of her, coming to a store near you soon -- we tripped over the Diamond Select Toys display at the con and spied the Nurse Chapel figure of the "Star Trek" original series line. Aye-yi-yi -- double coronary!!!! We must have it! Even though her stockings are inaccurate! (Flesh-colored rather than black as on the show.) THEN ... as if that wasn't enough torture, right next to her was the green Orion slave girl Vina of the original "Trek" pilot "The Cage"! Barefoot and beautiful! Arriving winter 2011! Ack!

Sorry to carry on so, but we recall how the girls weren't given the same play as the boys in the original Mego run! So off to the stores (on or offline) we'll go ...

Oh, the pain! Oh, the agony!

Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Wear your love for Sue Ellen on your chest

J.R. loved Sue Ellen. At least for a little while. And then again, and then not again. And then there was Cliff Barnes and Dusty Farlow, followed by Clint Ogden. The much-younger Peter Richards, her son’s camp counselor. Nicholas Pearce. Screenwriter Don Lockwood, who helped her make that tell-all movie about bad ole J.R. Heck, there are a lot of folks who could be wearin' this nifty T-shirt and proclaiming their love for Sue Ellen Ewing of "Dallas."

Linda Gray offers your chance to own one, via LindaGray.com, in black or white, for $21.95 plus shipping.

Better than an obscure vintage eBay find, we reckon.

Spotted: Henry Darrow

Subtract a decade or so from Cruz Castillo's father, and you have a much younger man. Indeed, Henry Darrow is dashing and handsome as a ruthless information broker in the second-season "Wonder Woman" episode "I Do, I Do," years before his spin as Rafael Castillo on our beloved "Santa Barbara."

Clad in '70s suits that veer to the tasteful side (believe it), he tries to pry secrets out of the all-too-suspecting Diana Prince, who is posing as the wife of a powerful presidential adviser. No-go on that -- she's just too wise for him. He also tries to dispatch with another smart would-be victim via a dangerously trained horse named Satan. Ouch. He's just an all-around bad guy! Good thing he showed his kinder, gentler side when he became Grandpa to Chip and Adriana!

See Darrow in the November 1977 episode at the WB, and look for full BRBTV synopses of the "Wonder Woman" episodes at the IMDb.

TGIF Toys: Get your shark repellant ready!

Oh, those boys and their toys ... And sometimes big boys have some pretty big toys! Two particular big boys that BRBTV knows jointly owned this fab Batboat a few years back, and they displayed it at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan in 2006. That's a particularly good Batman and Robin aboard, too!

Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Hollywood Show serves up the delectable classic TV stars again

Last year we reported on the bevy of BRBTV-related stars appearing at the Hollywood Show in Burbank, California. Get ready for the next round (ding, ding), because next month it all gets served up nice and hot on the West Coast:

- Barbara Eden, the lovely LeeAnn de la Vega of "Dallas"
- John Schneider, the so-fast-we-can't-keep-up Bo Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard"
- Ali MacGraw, about the only character we'd rather not remember from "Dynasty," Lady Ashley Mitchell
- Christopher Norris, the continually distraught Laura Asher of "Santa Barbara"

To see the rest of the guest list for this October 8-10 event, visit the event site, http://www.hollywoodshow.com/.

Knight Rider Fest videos now posted on BRBTV's YouTube channel

At last year's Knight Rider Festival in Las Vegas -- the first ever -- you heard Dennis Braid talk about first building the KITT car with custom-car king George Barris, and Rebecca Holden talk about what made her character on the show, April, a role model. Oh, you mean you didn't? Well, you can now, because BRBTV has posted its own videos from the 2009 fest at its YouTube channel.

You'll catch some great insight from the cast and crew members of the classic series from the panel discussions on the Saturday of the event, as well as autograph-signings, a chat with a couple replica car owners, "Knight Rider" 2009 reboot series star Justin Bruening, and even BRB taking a spin in a slot machine contest on this thoroughly vintage Fremont Strip of Sin City! Check it out.

TGIF Toys: Canine cutie

In June, we showed you a 1980 stuffed Scoob. Well, this little sweetie was produced by Applause in the late ‘90s to hop onto the bean-bag toy craze. He's floppy and oh-so sweet.





Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

BRBTV birthdays for September

- Leonard Katzman, the mastermind behind the Ewings of "Dallas," was born on September 2, 1927 and died on September 5, 1996.
- Annabel Schofield, who played Laurel Ellis on "Dallas," turns 47 on September 4.
- Roberta Weiss / Bizeau, the too-hot-to-handle Flame Beaufort of "Santa Barbara," turns 52 (bet she still looks beautiful!) on September 5.
- Sarah Cunningham, our stalwart Maggie Monahan on "Dallas," was born on September 8, 1918 and died on March 24, 1986.
- Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," turns 59 on September 9.
- Constance Marie, who played Nikki Alvarez on "SB," has a birthday on September 9, as well, turning 45.
- Linda Gray, the unforgettable Sue Ellen Ewing of "Dallas," turns a still-lovely 70 on September 12.
- Mary Crosby, Gray's on-screen baby sister Kristin Shepard, turns 51 on September 14.
- Michael Reaves, writer for "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 60 on September 14.
- Henry Darrow, a BRBTV quadruple-shot who played Cruz Castillo's father Rafael on "Santa Barbara," showed up on an episode of "Dynasty" and the "Dukes of Hazzard" spinoff "Enos," and portrayed Garcia on "Dallas" in 1983, turns 77 on September 15.
- Janis Paige, the lovely second Minx Lockridge on "SB," turns 88 on September 16.
- Kimberly McArthur, who was the second Kelly Capwell on "SB," turns 48 on September 16.
- Morgan Woodward, who was Punk Anderson on "Dallas" and also made a couple guest appearances on "The Dukes of Hazzard" (including one that was a tribute to his appearance in the classic film "Cool Hand Luke"), has a birthday on September 16, as well, turning 85.
- Shalane McCall, our young Charlie Wade on "Dallas," is our final September 16 birthday, remaining so young at just 38.
- Roddy McDowall, who voiced Dr. Jervis Tetch / the Mad Hatter on "Batman: The Animated Series," was born on September 17, 1928 and died on October 3, 1998.
- Ross Kettle, the quite European Jeffrey Conrad on "Santa Barbara," turns 49 on September 19.
- Paul Williams, who voiced Penguin on "Batman: The Animated Series" and "The New Batman Adventures," turns 70 on September 19.
- Don Starr, our own Jordan Lee of "Dallas," was born on September 20, 1917 and died on July 11, 1995.
- The unstoppable Larry Hagman, who was, of course, the unstoppable J.R. Ewing on "Dallas," turns 79 on September 21.
- Catherine Oxenberg, who played long-lost daughter Amanda Carrington on "Dynasty," turns 49 on September 22.
- Martha Scott, memorable as Patricia Shepard on "Dallas," was born on September 22, 1912 and died on May 28, 2003.
- Heather Locklear, our own Sammy Jo of "Dynasty," who voiced the character Lisa on the "Batman: The Animated Series" episode "Prophecy of Doom," turns 49 on September 25.
- Shell Danielson, who was the later Laken Lockridge on "Santa Barbara," also has a birthday on September 25, turning 48.
- Beth Toussaint, our own Tracy Lawton on "Dallas" who's married to Jack Coleman of "Dynasty," is yet another September 25 birthday, turning 48, as well.
- Bridgette Wilson, who was Lisa Fenimore on "SB," is our fourth birthday for September 25, turning such a young 37.
- Mark Hamill, the well-loved voice of the Joker in "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 59 on September 25.
- Richard Herd, our own John Mackey of "Dallas," who also portrayed Jim Ellison in a 1986 episode of "Dynasty," turns 78 on September 26.
- A Martinez, who was Cruz Castillo on "SB," will turn 62 (can you believe it?) on September 27.
- Joel Fabiani, the dashing Alex Ward on "Dallas," turns 74 on September 28.
- Steve Forrest, who was Ben Stivers / Wes Parmalee on "Dallas," turns 86 on September 29.
- Ian McShane, the handsome Don Lockwood on "Dallas," was also born on September 29, turning 68 this year.

Happy birthday to all!

CMT welcomes back "The Dukes of Hazzard"

Oh, it's a very good sign, indeed, because us original fans of "The Dukes of Hazzard" -- you know, all of us who watched the show when it first aired on CBS from 1979 to 1985 -- know full-well that a whole new generation of "Dukes" fans was created when TNN, and then CMT, re-aired the show so many years later. (Two words: Dukesfest 2006!) Then, when it disappeared from the schedule ... Weeping and gnashing of teeth. And a sober dwindling of "Dukes" events around the country.

CMT is wisely bringing back "The Dukes," beginning with a marathon on the weekend after Labor Day. Beginning with many high-octane hours on September 10, 11 and 12, the show then restarts at the beginning, with the pilot episode "One Armed Bandits," at 7 p.m. Eastern, repeating at 11 p.m. Monday, September 13, continuing along at the same times that week.

See the episode lineup at CMT's site, and get ready to rev that hemi at 8 p.m. on Friday, September 10.

Catherine Bach, Ben Jones help "Rally for the Valley"

Two big "Dukes of Hazzard" stars, Ben (Cooter Davenport) Jones and Catherine (Daisy Duke) Bach, will be greeting fans and signing autographs as part of Nashville's Rally for the Valley event on Labor Day weekend.

Bach will be at Jones' Cooter's Place location in Nashville on Saturday, and Jones' Cooter's Garage Band will be part of the weekend's live entertainment. The event is a response to the May flooding affecting that Tennessee region.

Find out more about the benefit at the Cooter's Place website at http://www.cootersplace.com/calendar_events.asp.

TGIF Toys: Dominoed Daredoll

If you caught that reference in the headline, then perhaps you're a hard-core Batgirl fan from decades ago. And we're talking the pure, only Batgirl ... Ms. Barbara Gordon, sometime librarian, sometime Congresswoman, all-time heroine, who was courageous enough to beat down Killer Moth in her inaugural outing in the comics back in the late '60s. This beautiful, hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain bust, part of a series of "Women of the DC Universe," is designed by chick comics artist Amanda Conner and sculpted by Jack Mathews. Ours is No. 1194 out of 5000, and was a gift from our buddy Mike in Detroit, a true friend. The sculpture comes from DC Direct, and the set also includes Hippolyta as Wonder Woman, Raven and Catwoman. And this Batgirl, perched at a Gotham gargoyle, doing the "Batusi"? More stunning than we can describe. Good thing a picture says a thousand words.


Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Linda Gray is "Expecting Mary"

Linda Gray, our own Sue Ellen Ewing of "Dallas," has a new movie coming out this fall, "Expecting Mary."

In the film, written and directed by Dan Gordon, Gray shares the screen with a great cast: Elliott Gould, Cloris Leachman, Della Reese, Cybill Shepherd, Gene Simmons, Fred Willard. The movie, from WonderStar Productions, opens on September 10, her official website tells us, and has special screenings at select spots in the next few weeks, beginning tonight in New York City.

“Expecting Mary is the story of a young girl, who's had all the trappings of an upscale life," according to Gordon’s post at the IMDb page, "but it's only when she finds herself in a small New Mexico town, in a downtrodden trailer park, that she learns the real meaning of love, sacrifice and family.”

Gray plays a former Vegas showgirl “whose last gig was in New Mexico,” she told HollywoodNews.com. “She’s funny and pathetic – and still can be glamorous.”

See her in an interview for the film at MovieWeb.com.

Spotted: Nicolas Coster

"Don't bother me now, Henry," he emits with an aristocratic air as his very first line. No, this is not a '80s episode of our beloved soap "Santa Barbara"; it's a '70s episode of "Wonder Woman," featuring Nicolas Coster.

In this outing, he's Silas Lockhart, a man of darker, fluffier hair than our Lionel Lockridge, along with shaded spectacles -- and motives that are just as dark and shady. He's clearly the bad guy in this November 1978 story, a real estate developer in three-piece suits who kidnaps a specially trained dolphin to place an explosive on a crude-oil supertanker and cause an oil spill that will threaten coastal land (ya get all that?).

My, my, what an evil plot, Mr. Coster! We're thankful Lionel was much more cultured and far less crude!

Read more about the episode, called "The Deadly Dolpin," as well as the full BRBTV synopsis, at the IMDb.

And catch Coster, by the way, in an interview on BlogTalkRadio on his new role in this fall's web soap "The Bay." The delightful Coster chats about Facebook, "SB" and which of his castmates he keeps in contact with, his work with Lawrence Olivier, as well as the genesis of his involvement with this web series. "Gregori writes quickly and well," he comments about the creator of the "The Bay," Gregori J. Martin, who is crafting the show on a low budget without many retakes and cuts. "We're going to be a lot more close to a reality show than one would wish. But that provides some spark."

TGIF Toys: Count on them Duke boys

If you've read the BRBTV reference guide "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!", then you know this item -- and yes, it is a toy! -- was a gift to BRB from her dear pals at The Detroit News. It's a vintage treasure (circa 1981 or so, when "The Dukes of Hazzard" merchandise was riding high), found fresh and new in the box a couple decades after first hitting the store shelves. Of course, it works perfectly. Of course. And of course it's what balances the BRBTV checkbook every month! Unlike Boss Hogg, though, it keeps us on the straight and narrow.


Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

"Santa Barbara" stars keep sudsing up the small screen

You can never say our '80s soap faves are all washed up -- they keep cleaning up on the new work right and left! In fact it seems a bit like revolving doors (sinks?), particularly where our beloved "Santa Barbara" is concerned. Here's a roundup of a few things going on lately ...

- Signy Coleman (Celeste DiNapoli) returned to her role as Hope on "The Young and the Restless" on Friday. Coleman had told BRBTV this was coming when we interviewed her last year, though the details hadn't been worked out yet and it was hush-hush.

- Kim Zimmer (Jodie Walker) returns to her role as Echo DiSavoy on "One Life to Live," with her first airdate on October 1, she reports on Facebook. SoapCentral has a little more on that.

- Robin Mattson (Gina DeMott Capwell etc.) joins her "SB" castmate Louise Sorel on "Days of Our Lives," as Lee beginning in October. See the news at Soaps.com.

- And October is a big month for "Days," because Gina Gallego (the third Santana Andrade) is back in the fray, too, taking over the role of Warden Smith in early October. (What a party with this powerful trio, who certainly had intersecting storylines on "SB"!) Soaps.com has the deal.

And of course, we've already reported how John Callahan (Craig Hunt), Lane Davies (original Mason Capwell) and Nicolas Coster (Lionel Lockridge) are part of this fall's new web soap "The Bay." As you eagerly anticipate that September 15 premiere, you can read some brand-new interviews with Davies at WeLoveSoaps here and here, and with Coster at BlogTalkRadio.

So if the movie screen is big, and the TV screen is small, what does that make the web screen???? Hmmmm ...

Joan Collins spreads her wings and tweets

Look out, folks, she's armed with iPhone and she's rarin' to tell you all about hanging out at St. Tropez, rehearsing her one-woman show and more ... She's the unstoppable Joan Collins, known to us as the unstoppable Alexis Carrington Colby Whatever of "Dynasty," and she just opened up a Twitter account, joking about how she has now joined the rest of us in the 21st century (don't worry, Joan, some of haven't arrived yet). Follow her at http://www.twitter.com/joancollinsobe.

Spotted: Ted Shackelford and Joan Van Ark

When BRBTV interviewed Joan Van Ark for the "Destination: Dallas" reference guide, she mentioned starring with Ted Shackelford in a classic episode of "Wonder Woman." Indeed, the episode was "Time Bomb," first airing on November 10, 1978, about a year before Van Ark and Shackelford played Valene and Gary Ewing at Southfork Ranch, but just a couple months after Van Ark made her debut on "Dallas," playing opposite Dan Ackroyd at that point.

And just as Gary and Valene were sometimes on, sometimes off in "Dallas," this "Wonder Woman" episode starts them out as civil colleagues before things go bad. The time is November 2155. She's a historian, and he's a scientist. She decides she wants to get more hands-on knowledge of this highly intriguing 1970s era she's been studying through their time portal. She uses the portal to trip back to November 1978 and make her fortune via the rare energy source cabrium-90 (which looks amazingly like clear quartz!).

Shackelford's character Adam Clement (ironic, a bit, don'tcha think, given Valene's maiden name of Clements?) is right behind her, enlisting the aid of Diana Prince at the IADC to try to stop Van Ark's Cassandra from altering the future. This silver-suited (why do all the aliens wear silver suits on '70s television?) gentleman is a man of peace, like Gary Ewing, but with a much stronger stance. He also becomes quite smitten with Wonder Woman, as many male guest stars do! Since it's the second appearance on the series for Shackelford, we'll remind ya that he did the same thing in the other episode!

Van Ark, meanwhile, has the same sweet, honey-blond hair as Valene Ewing, but with a deliciously evil glint in her eye. She's in control every moment as she's blackmailing corporate execs and cutting deals -- why, J.R. would've been proud!

Enjoy the full BRBTV synopses of this and the other "Wonder Woman" episodes at the IMDb.

Golf with Bo Duke for a good cause

More John Schneider news already? Why, yes, as we've stated on this very blog, it's hard to keep up! This time our own Bo Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard" is going golfing on September 26 in Ojai, California, for a good cause. The event benefits the Michael Bolton Charities, supporting children and women at risk of poverty, abuse, neglect, homelessness and domestic violence.

One lucky person can try out their 9-iron with Bo. The auction began on Friday and ends on August 30. Oh, and you get breakfast, lunch and some other stuff, too. If it matters.

Check it out at ClubCharity.com. High bid was fifteen-hundred smackers last time we looked ...

TGIF Toys: Have a bite with Bats

You don't have to be a kid to eat your cereal out of one of these fab Batbowls from "Batman: The Animated Series"! These Zak Designs dish sets are from 1993, 1997 and 1998 (the latter reflecting the evolution of the series into "The New Batman Adventures"). Yummy. And well-used!

Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Spotted: Lee Bergere and Joel Fabiani

You wouldn't know him by sight, but you'd surely recognize his voice: Mr. Lee Bergere, our own Joseph Aynders, long-suffering Carrington butler on "Dynasty." And at the other end of the strings he's pulling, ironically: a rather-fit Joel Fabiani, his "Dynasty" castmate as King Galen of Moldavia, as well as Alex Ward of "Dallas" and a bunch of other soaps roles over the years! The two are embroiled in a plot to kill an industrialist, along with a government agent or two (and the industrialist, to take this scenario a little further, is George Chakiris, who portrayed Nicholas, nervous associate to Angelica Nero in the Dream Season of "Dallas").

The classic TV show we're talking about, of course, is "Wonder Woman," and the episode is the second season's "Death in Disguise."

Bergere and Fabiani surely are death in disguise, as if Bergere's dark hair and thick moustache aren't enough indication! Though he gets little screen time in this 1978 outing, as the powerful Marius he shows himself commanding and reserved, three years before assuming his subservient post at the Carrington mansion. For his part, Fabiani is calmer and less flamboyant than Galen as the infamous hitman Woodward Nightingale, supervisor to thugs! The two have an unholy alliance that is, of course, no match for Wonder Woman.

See it for yourself at the WB, and read BRBTV synopses for this and the other "Wonder Woman" episodes at the IMDb.

John Schneider in concert fundraiser at the end of this month

Thanks once again to Phyllis of the John Schneider Unofficial Fan Club on Facebook for the tipoff on this one:

On August 28, former first lady Laura Bush will be the guest speaker for the Heritage Christian University's fundraiser at Marriott Shoals Hotel in Florence, Alabama. This event is going to include a concert by John Schneider, our own Bo Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard." To order tickets go to http://www.hcu.edu/.

To read a little more about the event -- and see a photo of John-John that's just about big enough for us (almost, anyway) -- visit http://www.hcu.edu/events/heritage_event_with_laura_bush.

TGIF Toys: You light up my ... lunch?

A craft kit in the ‘90s, purchased by BRBTV through a school fundraiser, produced this Scooby-Doo switchplate, along with a cover for a double electrical outlet. Yes, it is a toy. So there.


Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV