Another one from the vault: A quick look at Chewbacca, Peter Mayhew, at Baltimore Comic Con

Awwww, we love seeing our friend Ulysses Campbell again, and we love seeing the floor at the Baltimore Comic Con again, even if it is only virtually. Here's another clip from times  past, freshly posted on the BRBTV YouTube channel ...

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Victor Buono - King Tut

A Shakespearean background that served him well, self-deprecating comedy albums, salty poetry, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, and a dad convicted of bird-smuggling (there's a joke in there somewhere) ... all of that marks the life of Victor Buono, that landmark villain of 1966 "Batman" and even "The Man from Atlantis" years later. Brian explores the actor's life as he shows you were Buono's body was laid to rest:

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Victor Buono - King Tut:   "Being on Batman allowed me to do something we actors are taught never to do: overact." ...

Another update to the beautiful "Dynasty" collection of this ardent fan

BRBTV has had the privilege to profile on this blog multiple collectors who buy up wardrobe items from our beloved (original) "Dynasty" TV series. One of those collectors has just let us know of some updates in his amazing collection. He's at NolanMillerCollector.com, and you can see some of his collection in the July 24, 2015, September 23, 2016 and March 27, 2018 posts of this blog (so yeah, it's been a while since we've checked in with him!).

For one thing, he says, "Since we last spoke I reunited the Alexis lily pond catfight hat to the dress! I now have the full outfit." Awesome. He has also added some items from outside the "Dynasty" realm.

Here's one glimpse of a couple new additions to his collection, the "nude" beaded gown worn by Linda ("Krystle") Evans and the blue number adorning Catherine ("Amanda") Oxenberg (and Karen Cellini, actually) in the show's opening credits:

Here are a few more additions:

Just incredible. Click on over to NolanMillerCollector.com for a lot more photos of the collection itself and a detail page for each piece. And thanks so much, [name redacted for privacy], for sharing with us!!!! LOL.

Terrific TV Toys: A couple more Batmobiles by Hot Wheels, 2014-2021

Last month's installment of Terrific non-TV Toys showed you some great Bat-vehicles (not all Batmobiles) from various movie (and video) franchises. For this month's ep of Terrific TV Toys, let's return to TV land -- specifically the 1966 "Batman" series as well as the 1990s "Batman: The Animated Series." We've got the straight-up Batmobile that Adam West so happily drove, as well as a golden version of the wheels in "B:TAS."

See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

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Indulge your love of the Timmverse with "Batman: The Animated Series, A BRBTV Report," a short, snappy, exploration of the landmark TV show in e-book format for your Kindle or tablet -- and at only a buck and a half!

Visit BRBTV.com for more books celebrating the great classic TV shows you grew up with!

Another video out of the archives: Dirk Benedict at Awesome Con in D.C.

Last week, BRBTV dropped a recently unearthed video clip of our pal Brian wearing his Gilligan cosplay while meeting Dawn ("Mary Ann") Wells of "Gilligan's Island" at the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in 2017. This week, we travel back in time a little further. This almost-forgotten clip was in the BRBTV archives from 2014, and it's a visit to the signing table of Dirk Benedict of "The A-Team." Here he autographs a copy of his book for Brian and talks a little about it.

We're not done yet! Look for more classic clips in the coming weeks.

Just Beneath the Surface (Episode 18 - Controversial Episodes)

A Japanese man in the 1960s era grabbing a Samurai sword and vowing to kill an American man? Then, the two men talk, their dialogue loaded with ethnic issues ... Do they come to understand each other? But wait, one is revealed as a traitor to his country's cause in WWII.  Plus, there's the fact that the Japanese man was portrayed by a legendary "Star Trek" actor who has spoken about a childhood in interment camps. It's an episode of classic "Twilight Zone" considered controversial, and it was actually banned from airing for decades. Brian and Bruce take on this episode as well as a couple others of Rod Serling's groundbreaking classic TV series regarded as controversial.

Digging into the archives: Mary Ann, meet Gilligan!

This author went fishing through the BRBTV archives recently -- or really, the broader archives of all videos and photos I have -- to find cool stuff for my secondary YouTube channel (subscribe and like and help a sister out, BTW!). Some interesting video clips emerged that have not seen the light of day until now. They're too precious not to post, especially the one dropping today! 

BRBTV contributor Brian, whose photos have been featured in the BRBTV fact book series over the years and whose writing has graced this very blog, enjoys cosplaying. One of his fave costumes is that of Gilligan of "Gilligan's Island," and BRBTV captured the very first time he did this cosplay at a con. This was at the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in Hunt Valley, Maryland, in September 2017. He wore it in honor of Dawn Wells, and she was rather enthused to meet him!

Look for a few other recently unearthed video clips in the coming weeks!

Announcing the *updated* print edition of "Destination: Dallas"

I just rewatched the 2012 TNT "Dallas" reboot series, rapid-fire, an episode a day -- sometimes two or three or more episodes in a day. I rewatched it all, and I loved it, and I missed it when it was gone. Why did I do it? Because I decided a few months ago to do something I had been wanting to do for years but just didn't really want to, in a way, because I knew it would be a bit of an ordeal. I decided to finally update the print edition of "Destination: Dallas" to include the continuity of the 2012 series. 

I had done it for the e-book (Kindle) edition a few years back. That was easy enough. That was just copying and pasting some text I wrote and re-uploading. Amazon does the rest. But the print edition ... ugh ... I  had used an older desktop publishing program to set it up (it was quite a few years ago), and the update required setting up the text in a whole different program and totally reformatting everything. Fairly laborious, though, alas, rewarding.

But hey, enough whining! It thus has been done, and I am very thankful. And it was super-wonderful to watch the reboot series again and recheck / edit  my episode synopses. I am an editor at heart, and I can edit something within an inch of its life, and believe me, that hard-copy proof from July / August is full of red. But it means a better product, and I'm glad for that. It is the final-final-final (!) of this book. I really don't like updating these books, because I never want to make a reader buy two versions. But I swear it's final! Pinky-swear or whatever!!!! Even if they were to reboot the series again, or produce some new product of it, I just cannot. I really cannot. (I am smiling as I say all of this!)

Anyway, it's here, my new bouncing baby book, and I hope you will enjoy it. I've gotten some great feedback from folks over the years, and some have even asked if I would update the print edition to include the later series. This print update added 138 pages -- from 312 to 450 -- so it's a monster. And it's still very affordable. I really don't adjust my book prices much -- I'm fond of lower prices. So many, many thanks to all who have contacted me about "Dallas" and the book over the years, and who have been so kind with their content suggestions / contributions! You out there are always welcome to contact me. :)

The Green Hornet rolls again in this podcast -- thanks, guys, for the great chat

This author had the pleasure, a week or two back, to chat with two gentlemen who are keeping the love alive for our wonderful classic character the Green Hornet. And now that interview has dropped. We're talking "The Green Hornet Case Files," a podcast that has been rolling (as in, "Let's roll, Kato") for a year and a half now. And we're talking Greg and Kory -- actually, make that, I'm talking to Greg and Kory -- about all things Green Hornet. 

In their latest episode, we chat about the character through the decades, as well as my research, which I enjoyed greatly, for "Let’s Roll, Kato: A Guide to TV's Green Hornet." What could have helped the "Green Hornet"  1966 TV series succeed to a second season and beyond? We discuss that and more.

You can watch the podcast on YouTube and at the usual podcast locales, Apple and Spotify.

Thanks again, Greg and Kory!

Terrific non-TV Toys: Batmobiles by Hot Wheels, 2014-2021

It's been entirely Batty around here in the two BRBTV collectibles series in the past few months. And we've been doing some crossing over between the two series, which we're about to do again! This time it's Batmobiles by Hot Wheels; there are some great varieties from Batman TV shows as well as movies. So big screen, small screen, the screen in your hand -- whatever the one you prefer, these four-wheeled delights are just so fun. This time for Terrific non-TV Toys, we take a look at some designs from the various Batman movie franchises, then next month on Terrific TV Toys, we'll venture back into TV land.

See what else is on the Terrific non-TV Toys playlist.

Just Beneath the Surface- The Twilight Zone (Episode 17 - The Leftovers)

A pre-"Mary Tyler Moore Show" Ted Knight ... that alone is worth the price of admission. "The Lonely" is one of the episodes of classic "Twilight Zone" that Bruce and Brian take on this time. This tale of a man serving out a sentence on a desolate asteroid who receives a rather unusual shipment of "supplies" is an episode I feel like they don't show as often in the typical Syfy marathons and whatever. I haven't seen this episode in a long time, and now, after the above discussion, I've got to go watch it! The second ep that the boys discuss is "The Trade-Ins."

Enjoy the Southfork Experience -- from your own home or phone

A Southfork Experience event has come and gone, and it looked like a wonderful one, for sure. Both Dallas Fanzine and the Ewing Barbecue Podcast / Ultimate Dallas were there, and they've been posting their photos and videos from the jam-packed, star-studded celebration at Southfork Ranch in Texas. Check their various channels for more:

https://www.youtube.com/@ewingbbq 
https://www.facebook.com/dallastvshow
https://www.facebook.com/groups/309971507791234

 

 

 

 

One of these days, I swear BRBTV is gonna get there! In the meantime, though, this author is recording an interview with Josh of the Ewing Barbecue Podcast this week, so look for that on his channel in the weeks to come. Looking forward to it!

Terrific TV Toys: Batgirl Cycle by McFarlane, 2024

It's the third of three Batgirl episodes on the BRBTV collectibles series, and this time, it's joy on wheels. Two wheels. As in, the Batgirl cycle from the 1960s "Batman" TV show starring Adam West, with Yvonne Craig portraying our titian-haired superheroine. In her autobiography, Yvonne told how she had to learn to ride one of these things for the show -- no small task, but she made it look good! And this quite-small replica of her purple-decked motorbike is lookin' good, too. It's part of a larger "Batman" '66 collection by McFarlane Toys.

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See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

Just Beneath the Surface Episode 16 - Looking for Love in the Twilight Zone

Can you find love in the Twilight Zone? Should you even look for love in the Twilight Zone? Good questions! Brian and Bruce discuss the theme of love in several key episodes of the classic TV "Twilight Zone" ...

Is that #Farrah ???

Somewhere in Metro Detroit: When you see this hot car strolling by, it must be Jill Munroe!!!! 

#charliesangels #classictv #hotcars #farrahfawcett

Happy Thursday! The weekend's comin' ...

Terrific non-TV Toys: Batgirl figure by McFarlane, 2024

We've got a three-pete going on in the two BRBTV collectibles series. Or is that a three-episode series? Maybe just a miniseries, or a story arc? Anyway, whatever, it's three episodes in a row of the amazing Batgirl. Last month, it was the wedding-dress-clad Barbara Gordon variant figure from Figures Toy Co. on Terrific TV Toys. This time, it's a Batgirl figure from the more-recent McFarlane collection, on Terrific non-TV Toys. Then, next month we'll see a Batgirl cycle straight outta the 1960s "Batman" series also by McFarlane for another ep of T3. So many Batgirls, so little time! (I've said that before, actually.)

See what else is on the Terrific non-TV Toys playlist.

Congratulations, Northeast Ohio Dukes, on a great jump -- and so much great attention

All of the attention this past week couldn't be happening to a better guy and a better crew.  Since Raymond Kohn of the Northeast Ohio Dukes jumped a General Lee replica over a fountain in Somerset, Kentucky, the weekend before last, they've definitely been in the public eye. An interview on Glenn Beck, calls from all kinds of news agencies. And this time, the attention is positive, not like the team unfortunately received in Detroit in the wake of their jump several years back. 

We're listening to the interview below right now, and we just had to share this in a blog post, because what Raymond says here is so important. He addresses the controversy around the flag, and "The Dukes of Hazzard" itself, and he gives it to you straight (and kind), and we just totally love that. "It wasn't racist in the '80s and it's not racist now. The only thing that changed is people." (That's at just after 55 minutes in.) 

That idea of the jump at the White House just blows our mind. Yes, pleez!!!! It would tie in nicely with the 250th anniversary / birthday celebrations this coming year. You'll see Raymond's concept art for that idea and that car at just under 47 minutes into this video, as appropriate as that is!

Thanks to Jason for the heads-up on this video. While we're at it, we'll also include our own BRBTV interview with Raymond at a show a few years back ...

And heck, we'll throw in our own coverage of the Detroit jump, just for good measure! Truly an amazing day, and we certainly hope the boys can come back to Detroit one of these days.

Thanks to Bold Journey magazine for the new interview

The Bold Journey magazine and podcast is all about creating a space for all of us to learn from each other.  "We believe the stories, experiences and insights of our neighbors, friends and peers are worth more than all the wealth in the world as these stories are the most relevant and authentic sources of wisdom," they say on their about page. The magazine is an offshoot of the Voyage Magazine in L.A., and the message is to lift others up, find common ground. So important in this day and age! This author loves that, and I also love the fact that they asked me to do an interview for the magazine.

It just went up:

https://boldjourney.com/meet-billie-rae-bates

The topic was work ethic, and you can read all about it at the link. Many thanks to the folks at Bold Journey!

Terrific TV Toys: Barbara Gordon variant figure with wedding dress, Figures Toy Co., 2016-17

We've seen a variety of Barbara Gordon / Batgirl figures by Figures Toy Co. on the Terrific TV Toys series, and we've seen an even greater variety of FTC's line of "Batman" '66 figures in general -- all kinds of characters, and various variants with different outfits, as well! In the latest episode of T3, we've got a variant of the Barbara Gordon set, which like a couple of the earlier figures comes from her introductory episode of the series titled "Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin," which opened the third season of the show in fall 1967. This variant has Babs  wearing the wedding dress in which the Penguin was going to try to force her into a matrimonial situation! Wow, now how didya think that was going to work, Pengie?!

See this variant figure up-close and personal, below. (And if you're wondering, that handy-dandy clear plastic carrying case, which this author also received from pal James, was originally an umbrella holder! Is that not rather ironic!??!!)

See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

Join Patrick and the Filmsquatch podcast for the Monster Mingle

Patrick Shawn Bennett of the Pop Ninja and Filmsquatch podcasts has always been a fan of Bigfoot. He's also been a host and organizer of fun pop culture events from his locale in Louisiana. Now he's got a new event planned for August, and it's simply squatch-arific. It's the Monster Mingle, and it promises to be a celebration of all things Bigfoot and in particular the "Boggy Creek" movies. It happens at the birthplace of the first "Legend of Boggy Creek" film, Fouke, Arkansas ...

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Tallulah Bankhead - Unlikely Bat-Villain

In the 1960s "Batman" TV series starring Adam West, she was the Black Widow. Who knew that her life behind the scenes was so dark, as well? Blogger Brian of the Six Feet Under Hollywood blog visits her grave and gives a little peek behind the curtain at this stalwart actress of an old and quite-extinct Hollywood era ...

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Tallulah Bankhead - Unlikely Bat-Villain:   "Nobody can be exactly like me.  Even I have trouble doing it." Tallulah Bankhead was born in Huntsville, Alabama on January 31 ...

Our "Dukes of Hazzard" friend Jason shares this vintage photo

Awwwww, it's too cute not to share. It's our friend Jason, who is often a roving reporter for BRBTV as he's out and about in his truck driving job. This photo goes back quite a ways, though, to the late 1970s / early '80s. Jason's got his "Dukes of Hazzard" jammies on. He found this pic while looking through some items that had been kept for years in storage, quite the trip down memory lane. In the words of Rosco, "I-love-it-I-love-it" ...

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Head on back to Hazzard County with "Them Dukes! Them Dukes! A Guide to TV's 'Dukes of Hazzard'"

Visit BRBTV.com for more books celebrating the great classic TV shows you grew up with!

Terrific non-TV Toys: At long last, Blythe!

Maybe I saved the best for last. I don't know. I seem to have saved the most valuable doll I own for last, I know that! Because as it turns out, the final doll from my childhood that I'll be profiling on the Terrific non-TV Toys series turns out to be worth the most. Go to eBay and run a search for vintage Blythe dolls by Kenner. They go for some pretty good cash. There were a number of variations in hair color for this beloved 1972 icon who has more than a cult following. Mine is the blonde (obviously there was not a redhead available that day my mom went to the store!). So see her up-close and personal in the latest episode of the series:

Shout-out in this one to awesome collector BlytheWorld1972!

See what else is on the Terrific non-TV Toys playlist.

Just Beneath the Surface podcast discusses "Little Girl Lost" of classic "Twilight Zone"

Because they're awesome, Bruce and Brian at the Just Beneath the Surface podcast, who discuss classic "Twilight Zone" episodes from a modern perspective, took this author's request to review the wonderful episode "Little Girl Lost," my favorite TZ episode of all time. It also happens to be the very first TZ episode I ever saw. I remember it well; I was at the home of friends of the family, as a teen in the '80s, while my parents were hanging out playing cards in the next room, I believe. The TV was on, and this episode came on one of the independent TV stations in our area. What the frig is this show? I thought (well, maybe "what the frig" wasn't a thing back then). I had heard of this show but never watched it before. I was absolutely riveted. And chilled. It was so creepy. Can a little girl actually disappear through a portal in her bedroom? Could this happen to me or someone I know???? Well, OK, maybe I wasn't actually afraid of something like that happening, since I wasn't like 5 years old or anything, but the point was, the episode presented an unusual premise that was very interesting and chilling and did  make you think.

Bruce and Brian offer their own take on the events of this story. Thanks, guys! Really enjoyed the discussion, and didn't realize the actress who portrayed the little girl was in that other (well-known) "Talky Tina" episode with Telly Savalas.

Terrific TV Toys: "Star Trek" transporter set, Playmates, 2009

One second you see him, the next, you don't. That's the wonder of the transporter. "Beam me up, Scotty," and all of that. While so much other tech from the original "Star Trek" TV series has come to reality in our culture in the decades since the show originally aired, we're still waiting for the transporter. But hey, like Dr. McCoy, we might not even fancy our molecules being scattered! Who knows. But maybe we'd try it once! So who's working on that invention? Hurry up!

But we do digress! The latest episode of the T3 series features a toy from the Playmates company, released in 2009 for the "Star Trek" movie, J.J. Abrams' reimagining of our beloved original TV series. With a little magic (and determination) you can make the action figure disappear in a special transporter chamber ...

See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.