Terrific non-TV Toys: "Star Wars" AT-AT plush by Animal Magic, pre-2012

We say "pre-2012" for the timeframe of this "Star Wars" goodie because a release date doesn't seem to exist on the Internet! (But I only say that to thereby cause someone to provide it in a comment below to prove me wrong, LOL!) Anyway, this author knows it was manufactured before 2012 because that's when I snagged it! It was at the Star Wars Celebration con in Orlando, Florida, in August 2012, where my friend Andrea and I had a blast. We got to see a huge (maybe life-size?) AT-AT in the lobby of the event venue, which was super-cool. You'll see a clip of that at the beginning of this episode of Terrific non-TV Toys. So let's get up-close and personal with a lovable, soft, plush version of those fearsome AT-AT vehicles!

See the other episodes in the Terrific non-TV Toys series.

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Wendie Jo Sperber

You'll know her if you see her, and then when you see her you'll remember her from "Bosom Buddies," the "Back to the Future" movies and maybe even the "Hearts Afire" series. The latest post in the Six Feet Under blog focuses on '70s-'80s actress Wendie Jo Sperber ...

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Wendie Jo Sperber:   "I'm an actress who likes to say something funny.  Everybody laughs and your job is done." Wendie Jo Sperber was born in Ho...

Terrific TV Toys: Valentine Snoopy PVC figures by Plastronics / Whitman's, 2004-2012

This author is bummed that the adorable little Snoopy figures attached to small boxes of Whitman's candies have disappeared from store shelves. You used to see them at various holidays -- Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Easter. Wah. I was able to buy quite a few of them, though, while they were out there, a few years back. And I think I've picked up some others along the way at toy shows and places like that. This time on Terrific TV Toys, we're going to start an appreciation of the various Peanuts holiday TV specials, pinning them to these cute PVC figures. Next week is Valentine's Day, so that's where we will begin with this newest T3 episode. Let's look back on the TV special "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown," which first aired on CBS in 1975, and get a close-up view of a few Valentine-themed Snoopy figures, along with the companion books for kids. (And thanks to Wendy for filling in some gaps on the timeframe of these -- some of them were released with Russell Stover candies, as well!)

 

Next up in our Peanuts TV specials miniseries, it will be the Easter Beagle, of course, in a month or two. In the meantime, see what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

Terrific non-TV Toys: Dawn doll beauty parlor by Topper Toys, 1970s

Every beautiful doll needs a salon to visit, and this wondrous playset from the 1970s was designed to cater to the Dawn doll's every grooming need. You've got a comfy reclined chair, a hair dryer, a sink for shampooing, a mirror to behold the progress (it works), and bottles of various potions and whatnot. It's the perfect place for Dawn, Glori, Dale and all their friends to get ready for that big party. Call this episode a follow-up to an earlier episode on Dawn dolls, those amazing 6-inch dolls by Topper Toys, a a company that released several other playsets back then. This one was snagged on eBay a few years back.

See the other episodes in the Terrific non-TV Toys series.

Also, here is a "stationary" look at the photos of other Dawn stuff that you'll see at the end of the video. The first five are by this author, snapped at various toy shows in recent years, and the rest are from eBay and other online sources ...

Today's HD casts classic TV in a whole new light

A few years ago I was at my friend Andrea's house watching a 1970s "Wonder Woman" episode on DVD. She had just gotten a new wall-mounted flat-screen TV -- big, like 40-some inches. I had seen the episode many times before (I had recently completed my "Superchicks" book that required a few more viewings in addition to watching the show when it originally aired). As I watched the episode now, though, I was struck by what was on the screen. Was that lint on the shoulder of Steve's uniform? I could just about tell what kind of blend that fabric was. And was that something lying on the floor behind them in the scene that a crew member should have picked up, or swept up? I was surprised by the details. It was like seeing a new version of the show. I felt like I was on the set with them, watching the shoot.

Back then it was a golden tiara; nowadays it's a piece of flexible cardstock or plastic covered in a gold-colored metallic fabric like gold lame', or maybe paint.

 

More recently I've been watching the 1979 "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" series (which airs on MeTV and is also on Tubi) on a 43-inch Samsung QLED TV I received for Christmas. In the second-season episode "Journey to Oasis," I'm seeing the craggy knit of Dr. Goodfellow's blue cardigan as if I could reach out and touch it, maybe try it on. I'm seeing every fold of Buck's billowy, pirate-like, white puffy shirt. I'm seeing Felix Silla as an alien in a pretty bad blue mask with white hair, his eye wells showing in their gap with the rubber.

He'll always be handsome, but somehow Gil Gerard looked younger when we originally watched!

Maybe I'm a tad late to the HD party, but hey, be patient with me -- I tend to use a product until it dies, and I just had to put a chunky '90s TV (working!) out on the curb a couple weeks ago because I knew Goodwill wouldn't take it! But yeah, I have to wonder as I watch the "new" look of these old shows, if the production crews back then knew just how many details America's then-standard-definition television sets were "forgiving." Just how much they could get away with on those plastic and cardboard set pieces, along with any impromptu safety-pin / duct tape / rope / rubber-band / whatever MacGyver fixes that had to be tried between takes. I went to an exhibit of original "Star Trek" props and wardrobe a couple years ago, and yes, that captain's chair and Sulu's console looked like painted foam board. I'm thinking today's technology has issued a much greater challenge to the Hollywood prop master.

Then there's the issue of how much our consumption of television has changed in the past decade or so. The producers of the 1960s "Dark Shadows" gothic daytime soap were planning on one airing -- one and done. So they shot fast, and they made mistakes. If they had a crystal ball they might have seen all those years and years of syndication and reairings, plus the modern on-demand thing, with us viewers watching yet another "mic shadow," as the critique goes, pass by. Or a lamp toppling over in the background of the action. An actor flubbing his words again. They shot that stuff like live TV and they were out. You watch nowadays and you're like ouch, lint and crow's feet notwithstanding.

 

The more detail I see on that ring, the more I want one!

 

None of this, of course, is any deterrent to my watching these beloved classic TV shows. If anything, it could make them even more endearing, even more interesting to watch. Yes, we've come a long way in technology. So queue up the next episode of "Buck"!

Photos: "WW" shot from IMDb, "Buck" shot from NBC, "DS" shot from TVLine / Shutterstock.

Terrific TV Toys: Pocket Pop! and Mighty Meeples blind bags by Funko, Cryptozoic

Everybody loves a mystery, right? And toy blind bags have become pretty popular in recent years. They're usually just a couple bucks, and you don't know what you've got 'til you open them! Last April this collector snagged a few at a local store. One of them, part of a "Batman: The Animated Series" set, I already opened, so you can watch the video to see which character Pocket Pop! keychain that was. The other two blind bags are part of a Mighty Meeples line of DC superheroes. There are three small figures in each bag, so there are lots of possibilities here. 

See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

Happy 2022! Here's an updated episode guide to the BRBTV collectibles series

It's that time once again, when we recap the year's episodes of our two web series, Terrific TV Toys and Terrific non-TV Toys. Production of the two series will continue in 2022 at the same rate -- one episode of each per month. And remember that you can catch other great videos on the BRBTV YouTube channel ...

Terrific TV Toys

Season 8

156. Curious George plush by Gund, 1990s

157. Scooby-Doo Valentine gift set, 2020

158. Electra Woman figure by Living Toyz, 2000

159. Scooby-Doo clock by SofiClock, 2019

160. "B:TAS" figures by Kenner, 1990s: Harley, Ra's al Ghul and Bane

161. Supergirl figures by Kenner, 1998, Mattel, 2005

162. "Batman: The Animated Series" playing cards, 1992

163. Scooby-Doo model sheet mug, Enesco, 2019

164. Poison Ivy Barbie by Mattel, 2004

165. CatDog figure from Burger King Kids' Meals, 1999

166. General Lee Christmas tree ornament, 2019

167. Batgirl of DC Super Hero Girls Christmas tree ornament by Hallmark, 2019

 
Season 7

Season 6
Season 5
Season 4
Season 3
Season 1 and 2  

Terrific non-TV Toys

Season 4

32. Batgirl Universe bust by Eaglemoss, 2020

33. "Wizard of Oz" music box, 2009

34. Dawn dolls, case and clothing by Topper, 1970s

35. Marilyn Monroe doll by DSI, 1993-94

36. Scarlett O'Hara figurine by Avon, 1983

37. Johnny Cash Pop by Funko, 2019

38. Archie Comics Pops by Funko, 2020

39. Batman color change mug, Zak, 2019

40. Wonder Woman Barbie by Mattel, 2003

41. Halloween Batgirl statue by DC Collectibles Bombshells, 2016

42. Elvis Presley by Eugene Doll Co., 1984

43. Scrooge McDuck plush from "Mickey's Christmas Carol," 1983 

 

Season 3

Season 2

Season 1

May 2022 be blessed for you and your family!

Terrific non-TV Toys: Scrooge McDuck plush from "Mickey's Christmas Carol"

This author was thinking "Mickey's Christmas Carol" first debuted on TV, but when I did a little digging around, I found that the film short was actually first released to theaters in December 1983, then debuted on television a year later. Interesting! It means that the adorable collectible below gets featured on the Terrific non-TV Toys series rather than Terrific TV Toys, but hey, that's neither here nor there!

This plush celebrates Scrooge McDuck, who took on the role he was born for -- Ebeneezer Scrooge -- in Disney's animated adaption of the beloved Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." If you haven't seen the film short, which is just under an hour, you can watch it on the Disney+ app. The trailer is below, as well. 

Merry Christmas from BRBTV!!!!

Ben Jones hosts "Christmas @ Cooter's" featuring Tom Wopat

Fresh outta our in-box, it's the deets for a Christmas celebration at Cooter's Place in Nashville, coming up this month and featuring Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat of "The Dukes of Hazzard" in concert:

Terrific TV Toys: Batgirl of DC Super Hero Girls Christmas tree ornament by Hallmark, 2019

Christmas time is here indeed, and we've got a couple Christmas-themed episodes on the collectibles series of BRBTV. (And we even had a Christmas episode last month!) This week, it's the DC Super Hero Girls once again on Terrific TV Toys. This Batgirl was snagged at Walmart a couple years back, part of the more-affordable line of Hallmark Christmas tree ornaments. It was just a few bucks, it's simple in design, but it's all Barbara!

Announcing the seventh e-edition of "Dynasty High"!

The CW's "Dynasty" reboot keeps cranking along, churning out tantalizing storylines as well as bedazzling wardrobe and scenery. It's been an interesting tribute to ABC's original "Dynasty" series, but so divergent in many ways. And hey, we keep watching, and we keep updating the "Dynasty High" fact book on the series to include the facts of the newer series. The fourth season of the CW reboot just ended last month, so BRBTV has added that latest continuity to "Dynasty High." You'll see a new chapter of episode synopses for Season 4, plus the fact that the cast list and character guide for the reboot have been separated out from the cast and characters for the original series, in this seventh edition, since the newer show is getting more and more different as the years pass.

The print edition of "Dynasty High" still covers just the original series and its spinoff  "The Colbys," but for the Kindle e-edition, you'll find not only all the lowdown on the reboot, but also color photos throughout.

Uh-huh-huh-uh ... It's Elvis on the latest episode of Terrific non-TV Toys!

Well, ain't this a hunka-hunka burnin' love, a 12-inch doll of Elvis Presley straight outta 1984, and wearing his iconic gold lame suit! How can you not love that!? In the latest episode of the Terrific non-TV Toys series, you'll get up-close to the bric-a-brac and everything else on this delightful piece by the Eugene Doll Co. and endorsed by that magical place that is Graceland. Shout-out to Slim on this one!!! She's the one who got me the postcard shot below of Elvis in that famous suit!

 

 

Check out a new tribute podcast for Joanna Cameron of "The Secrets of Isis"

We all lost a wonderful soul recently in actress Joanna Cameron, who portrayed the mighty Isis on Saturday mornings in the 1970s, and made history as the first female superhero starring in her own TV series. Cameron died just weeks ago. Last night, Roy's Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner hosted a special episode of its podcast to honor Cameron. The episode featured Cameron's "Isis" co-star Brian Cutler, as well as our friend Lisa Everetts of the Pop Ninja podcast, who was a friend of Joanna over the years. It was a very nice couple hours full of reminiscing about the actress and her legacy, from her early days on a Bob Hope movie in the late 1960s through her myriad work on TV commercials and her "Isis" role and beyond. Thanks to Roy and Ross for hosting this episode!

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Who Loves Ya, Baby?

We all know Tell Savalas as the longtime star of the classic TV series "Kojak," but he appeared in lots of other great stuff over the years. He's the latest to be profiled on our pal Brian's "Six Feet Under Hollywood" blog ...

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Who Loves Ya, Baby?:   "Kojak is the kind of guy who couldn't arrest a hooker, he'd send her home.  He operates on instinct and decency, but if you ...

Terrific TV Toys: General Lee Christmas tree ornament, 2019

It's not the first time you've seen a General Lee Christmas tree ornament on the Terrific TV Toys series, and heck, maybe it won't even be the last! And if it seems like it's a bit early for Christmas ornaments, well, we've got another Christmas item to feature next month on the series, so we simply had to fit everything in! This little goodie is handmade, unlike the previous General Lee ornament you saw by Hallmark, and it's rather unique. We're guessing there are no two alike in this custom item from Cooter's Place.

As you make your way through that Halloween candy, catch the latest Pop Ninja podcast, a Halloween special in costume!

It’s always so great for this author to hang out with Patrick and Lisa for the Pop Ninja podcast, and this time they were kind enough to invite me to join their special Halloween episode, which like last year is visual as well as audio! Yep, we recorded on Zoom, and it’s loaded on YouTube for you to laugh along. I wore my 1966 Batgirl costume, while Patrick was Westley from “The Princess Bride,” Lisa was a vampire girl, and Jamie Ray was Yukon Cornelius from “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” So much fun!

Halloween is this weekend, so how about a spooky new podcast?

Ghouls and goblins are all about, and one classic TV series that had lots of spooky things was Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone," originally airing decades ago in black-and-white and remade a few times over the years, though not quite to the glistening splendor of the original. Our buddy Brian, whom you've seen on a couple episodes of Terrific TV Toys, and his friend Bruce have a relatively new podcast / web series that discusses "The Twilight Zone" in light of current events and other sociological musings. It's called "Just Beneath the Surface." Check it out, like and subscribe ...

By request: Images of the manual for the "Batman: The Animated Series" alarm clock

We've received a couple requests for photos of the instruction manual for alarm clock celebrating "Batman: The Animated Series" featured in an episode of T3. The easiest way is to post them here, so here they are! If you have the clock and don't have the manual, now you can set the thing! LOL

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV
Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Terrific non-TV Toys: Halloween Batgirl statue by DC Collectibles Bombshells

DC Comics must be making bank from its Bombshells series, because they sure have churned out a ton of these statues. Any kind of female from the DC Universe has been cast in the Bombshells vintage look for a sort of alternate take on the character. These ladies are lovely, they're so feminine, and they're quite powerful. You saw a Batgirl Bombshells statue in this same series on a previous episode of Terrific non-TV Toys, and now we turn to a variant released at Halloween time in 2016. She's clad in black and orange like a Halloween specialty item certainly would. This item is numbered, limited-edition and specially designed. She's quite exquisite ...

Spookiest shirt ever! Thanks, Jason!

Just a quick note of thanks to Jason, and a happy Halloween greeting to all. This Spooky Snoopy shirt rocks!

Terrific TV Toys: CatDog figure from Burger King Kids' Meals, 1999

Talk about a blast from the past! This author had forgotten about this series but truly loved it when it originally aired on Nickeloeon from 1998 to 2005. A critter that's half-cat and half-dog? I mean, wow. How can that be? Burger King celebrated this crazy animated series in 1999 with a set of toys in its popular Kids' Meals, and you'll see one of those toys in the latest episode of Terrific TV Toys ...

 

 

Burger King promotional image from eBay.

Terrific non-TV Toys: Wonder Woman Barbie by Mattel, 2003

A couple weeks back on our sister series for collectibles, you saw a Poison Ivy Barbie by Mattel based on the character's appearances in "Batman: The Animated Series" and "The New Batman Adventures." Now for Terrific non-TV Toys, we turn to another femme of that Barbie set, another gal of the DC Universe, and arguably the most famous one.

Mattel has done a few different Wonder Woman Barbies over the past couple decades, but this one was part of a set released around 2003-2004. She doesn't have that luscious satin cape that you saw on the Wonder Woman Barbie featured in the T3 episode a few years ago, but she's definitely got better boots ...

Back at a con after a year and a half -- thanks, Monroe Pop Fest!

It was a sunny day, and that fit just right, because it was great to be back at a comic-con again, first time since lockdowns hit at the beginning of the pandemic. It was the Monroe Pop Fest south of Detroit, and it was a cool little show this author had been to a couple years back. I really went there to do a quick interview with my buddy Tom Hutchison of Big Dog Ink (first photo below), for an upcoming BRBTV project yet to be disclosed, and ran into some other friends, as well, like T.J. And took a few photos!!!

This guy looked so good -- I could have totally bought the idea that Michael Myers stepped off the movie screen and into this friggin' parking lot.

My friend T.J., featured on a couple Terrific TV Toys videos for his "Dukes of Hazzard" collection, brought his Rosco sheriff's car. His friend Dylan, who has employed both T.J. and his car in some of his independent Detroit area movies, was there, as well, showcasing his screen-used TV and movie prop collection, below.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV
Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand