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.

Mark your calendar for August 10-11 for Good Ol' Boys Fest

Never say never, they say! After years of hosting blockbuster events for "Dukes of Hazzard" fans, Ben ("Cooter Davenport") Jones and his wife Miss Alma were thinking that Cooter's Last Stand a couple summers ago would really be Cooter's last stand. But nope, they've got another one planned for August! Below is what they sent out to their "Dukes" followers last week ....

Hey Ya'll!

Hope you and your family are well and looking forward to a lovely spring. 
Ben and I have just returned from a Good Ol' Boys appearance in Bakersfield, California . What a great time was had by all. And we have good news!!
We are going to bring the tour right here to Virginia! Cooter's is partnering with The Good Ol'Boys Tour to bring you another Dukes of Hazzard Family Festival in the tradition of DukesFest, Hazzard Homecoming and Cooter's Last Stand. Ben said we couldn't manage another one, but fan demand and the appearance of great new partners has made it possible! As Ben says , "the flesh is weak" , and we enjoy these festivals as much as you do!
Our friends, Catherine Bach, "Daisy Duke", Tom Wopat" Luke Duke", Sonny Shroyer"Deputy Enos", Rick Hurst"Deputy Cletus" and a special surprise guest are all planning on joining us.
As much as we enjoyed  "Last Stand " at Cooter's we think we have found an even better spot, The Shenanndoah Speedway. It is just 12 miles from Cooter's and will have plenty of parking on site. We will also have plenty of room for music of course, but even a much better set up for our Stunt Show! In fact we are bringing in two stunt teams to really "knock it out of the park."
Speaking of music, our new partners are involved in the business in Nashville and will be able to help us put together an exciting lineup of talent. We will be announcing this great lineup soon. We are also committed to bringing you our traditional Family Fun with special activities for the kids( of all ages) 
Do mark your calendar and I also encourage you to buy tickets now because prices are going up May 1st. The Early Bird tickets are only $20 for 1day, $35 for 2days and $10 for kids 2-12. If Course Hazzard County Cars can register and get 2 free tickets. 
We hope you are as excited as we are!!
Love, Miss Alma and Ben aka " Cooter"

To reserve tickets or more info go to: www.goodolboysfest.com

Miss Alma & Ben Jones aka "Cooter"

⟱ GET TICKETS NOW!

So sad to hear of Ken Kercheval's passing -- and yes, it really is true (apparently)

Accusations of fake news have abounded this week in regards to Ken Kercheval, our dear Cliff Barnes of "Dallas." It was reported the 83-year-old actor had died, then it was asserted that this wasn't true on his own official Facebook page. But alas, we seem to have really lost the talented actor who portrayed J.R. Ewing's nemesis, though we thankfully had him for quite a few more years than lung cancer typically allows.

Not Fake News: 'Dallas' Actor Ken Kercheval Is Dead At 83, Contrary To Denial On His Own FaceBook Page

The latest from Brian Lombard's Six Feet Under blog: Farrah Fawcett

Six Feet Under: Farrah Fawcett: Six Feet Under: June 25, 2009 was a day I'll never forget.  Farrah Fawcett, a true 70s icon, lost her battle with cancer.  The world was in shock........

TGIF! Check out BRB's latest film project, "A Taste of Honey"

Here are two words for you on a Friday ... Pig dance. Have no idea what that means? Well, you will when you watch this fabulous short film just released by talented new filmmaker Nikoleta Vatiqi.

She describes the film this way: "An experimental narrative exposing the different perspectives of identity issues through the relationship between thirteen year old Amelia and her mother Louise as they undergo deep breaking points as well as personal growth."

This author had the privilege of playing Louise, directed by Nikoleta to conjure up something along the lines of Joan Crawford in "Mommy Dearest." It was wonderful fun, a very interesting bad-mom role to dig into. Just what is going on inside this woman's head? You'll hear the thoughts of her daughter Amelia, as the action progresses in their home, but Louise's psychoses remain a bit of a mystery, informed by a very unusual dance and a few other clues dropped along the way, amid a delightfully eerie tone and "Twin Peaks"-ian atmospherics ...


A TASTE OF HONEY from Nikoleta Vatiqi on Vimeo.

Thanks so much to Nikoleta for this opportunity! I loved every minute of this project.

-- Billie Rae

Terrific non-TV Toys: Batgirl 14" figure by Mego

There's another amazon in the house at BRBTV, and it's not the same Amazon you saw on an earlier episode of Terrific non-TV Toys. This time it's the 14-inch Batgirl figure by the resurrected Mego, still relatively fresh on the shelves at your local Target store (heck, maybe it hasn't even gotten there yet; availability varies around the country). We're so excited to show this brand-new Batgirl, and she comes out of the box in the latest episode of the series ...