Some awesome TV toys at an antique shop in Virginia

Thanks so much to our buddy Brian for this report from the field: He saw an array of delightful TV-related toys while browsing an antique shop in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia. We've got a Washington doll from "Welcome Back, Kotter," "Land of the Giants," some Smurf action, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (which has been on this author's mind a lot  lately since Brian and I have been watching "Picard" episodes on Friday nights), a big heckin' Batgirl, and I'm pretty sure the very first "Laugh-In" item we've featured on the T3 channels and definitely on this blog!

Photos by Brian; please do not copy without permission.

Need an escape? Try these "Twilight Zone" episodes on for size

You know, sometimes you just need to get away, whether for the day or for a lifetime ... It's a common theme in television, and it was a common theme on the classic "Twilight Zone" series by Rod Serling. From an aging actress watching her old movies and pining for the good old days, to an ad exec who visits the five-and-dime and merry-go-round of his childhood, to a harried New York City worker who on the commuter train home encounters the gentler, kinder Willoughby, these stories are captivating for their escapism.

Here's what Bruce and Brian discuss in the latest episode of "Just Beneath the Surface":

• "The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine" (Season 1, Ep. 4) 
• "Walking Distance" (Season 1, Ep. 5)
• "A Stop at Willoughby" (Season 1, Ep. 30)

Terrific non-TV Toys: What's in the box? Reaction video!

We had to scoot another video out of the way (rescheduled it for one year from now -- can you believe it? but BRBTV has been doing a big-time production period of many collectibles episodes the past few weeks). When you get a mail call from Canada, you get a mail call from Canada, and that's just the wonderful way it is! A package from Jim Wilson of Jim's Creations is important! So we rushed this episode into production to solve the mystery of just what is in the box this time (see our previous videos, part 1 and part 2, for more gifts from Jim).

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

Wow, this blog is 20 years old! And a few other miscellaneous thoughts

"The cause of living in the past is dying right in front of us."

Those are the words of Rhett Butler in the movie "Gone With the Wind." He says it as he and Scarlett are fleeing a burning Atlanta. It's a sad scene, and when I recently rewatched the movie, that line really struck me. Rhett was referencing the proud Southern ideals he'd heard men toss about at the party at the Wilkes plantation near the beginning of the movie. The Southerners relished jumping into a war with the North to protect all that they believed in. Rhett saw their sentiments as very foolish, and as he and Scarlett tried to flee the hot effects of war, he could see the destruction of those ideals spread all about him. It's an interesting moment, and it resonates today, though I would argue there are plenty of traditions that we, indeed, need to hang onto.

Speaking of Scarlett O'Hara, it also struck me, in my most recent watching of the movie a couple months ago, that I could add her to my list of narcissists in pop culture, which, really, you saw as a blog post on narcissists in television in January 2024. Scarlett was quite wrapped up in herself, wasn't she? Only concerned about what she wanted -- which was Ashley Wilkes. Spending the whole movie trying to get him, to satisfy her own desires, then realizing, at last, that she never really wanted him. And with the poor Melanie Wilkes serving as her foil, determined to believe nothing ill of Scarlett. Only seeing the good in her, as scarce as it was.

And the final thought on my mind today that I wanted to share is, wow -- this blog is actually 20 years old! (Maybe it seems like it's even older, I don't know.) When I started it in January 2006, I wanted to share news bits about the classic TV shows I covered in the BRBTV book series. It branched out from there, though. I broadened the focus to any classic TV shows, not just the ones I've done books about, and then broadened it even further to pop culture in general -- with some ministry projects thrown in. 

Back at the beginning in 2006, I had a lofty goal of publishing a post every day or nearly every day. That continued on for a while, but it was a lot of work! A lot of time spent. I loosened the schedule some, then at one point I even went on a sort of hiatus. But I couldn't quit my beloved blog -- that hiatus didn't last long. Now I would like to think it's one of the few blogs in our Internet-osphere that has actually been continually fed / published for two decades. I see a lot of blogs come and go -- a lot of blogs that start out in earnest, then a few posts later, the author disappears into the unknown corners of the web. Not me -- I'll just blather on and on, like I'm doing right now! 

So what I've got to say to that is, THANKS FOR READING!!! ;)

Six Feet Under Hollywood: The Guest Stars of Star Trek!

Ricardo Montalban, Frank Gorshin, Jill Ireland, Gene Lyons (we're enjoying him on "Ironside" right now), Michael Ansara, Jay Robinson, Janos Prohaska, Morgan Woodward, Vic Tayback, Jeffrey Hunter (one of my mother's favorite actors -- named my brother after him!), Glenn Corbett, Robert Lansing, Harry Townes ... they all have the distinction of guest-starring on the original "Star Trek" series.

In the latest post on the Six Feet Under Hollywood blog, you'll learn which character each played, and the final resting place of each (Gorshin's headstone in particular is very nice) ... 

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Six Feet Under Hollywood: The Guest Stars of Star Trek!: This month marks the 60th anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek , the cultural juggernaut that has spanned countless movies, spinoffs ...

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Happy 60th birthday, "Star Trek"!!!!

Step inside the lovely Sowers-Scofield-Hudson home in Ovid, Michigan

I may be a Detroit girl, but it's not where I grew up. Tucked into a small town in mid-Michigan -- the greater Lansing area, really -- are this author's earliest roots, before I started moving here, there and everywhere for my education and career. 

The village of Ovid, Michigan, was incorporated in 1869 and named after Ovid, New York. That same year of its birth, a home was built for George and Carrie Sowers -- a delightful Italianate creature now sporting a pleasing gray and blue paint job (and a matching metal roof installed in more recent years). Back then, Sowers was a local businessman. In fact, his business was across the street. Later, in 1882, the home was sold to another local businessman, Frank Scofield, and his wife Adelaide. Then, in 1907, Henry and Sophia Hudson purchased the house. Nowadays, via a donation from Mary Hudson Myers, the home is owned and managed by the Ovid Historical Society. It is an official Michigan Historic Site.

I get a chance to get back to Ovid now and then, and my brother helps manage the home as part of the historical society. This past July, the home was open for tours as part of the town's Carriage Days festival, so that's when I got the clips and snips below.

With the idea that a picture is worth a thousand words, and a video is worth a whole lot more than that, let's step inside, shall we?

Stepping inside >>>

Entryway and some of first floor >>>

First floor and doll collection >>>

Kitchen and back yard >>>

Upstairs >>>

Basement >>>

This is a quick breeze-through, nothing like going to see the home yourself, live and in person.

If you want to read more about the house, here is the info sheet they have just inside the door, next to the address book:

To learn more about the Ovid Historical Society and the home, see the group's website or Facebook page. Especially check out the latter, as you'll see a wealth of vintage Ovid photos.

Terrific non-TV Toys: Batgirl of Gotham Knights, Funko Pop!, 2022

We don't play video games much here at BRBTV -- the games this author plays are limited to Pokemon Go, Bubble Witch and merge games (LOVE those merge games). But if I did do regular "gaming," it would definitely be the Gotham Knights game, and I'm sure that would mean that I would love this month's Terrific non-TV Toys item even more. This is Batgirl as she appears in the Gotham Knights game, with a big head, of course, because she's a Funko Pop! ...

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

What classic "Twilight Zone" plots found their way into later movies?

So you're watching an episode of the classic "Twilight Zone" and you feel like something's familiar -- like you've seen this plot before. Or maybe it's the reverse -- you're an avid "TZ" fan and you watch a newer movie and find the plot suspiciously familiar. Is that by accident or by design? Well, in the latest episode of the web series "Just Beneath the Surface," Bruce and Brian examine classic "TZ" episodes that inspired plots of later Hollywood movies. So from murderous talking dolls to mannequins and more, enjoy the discussion ....

Livin’ in the Land of the Lost ... 24/7!

By Brian of the Six Feet Under Hollywood blog

Long-time readers know that we love "Land of the Lost," the groovy, 1970s Saturday morning sci-fi show that featured Claymation dinosaurs, colorful sets, and of course those dastardly Sleestaks! Rumor has it that it may even be the next entry in the BRBTV book series, but more on that later. The show is now available for free on YouTube, either as individual episodes you can play at your leisure, or in a 24/7 in-order format.

That’s right. The series has its own channel where all 43 episodes play in a constant loop with minimal commercial interruptions. If you miss your favorite episode today, you can try again tomorrow! As I write this article, the season 1 classic “The Possession” plays in the background, which is at least the third or fourth time I’ve come across it since I discovered the channel.

Is the show worthy of its own YouTube channel? Definitely! The series was memorable for a variety of reasons, particularly for its four-star writing. As written by established science fiction authors of the era, including David Gerrold, Larry Niven, and Ben Bova, "Land of the Lost" was smarter than any Saturday morning series was supposed to be. It told the compelling story of the Marshall family, who were swept up (literally) into another dimension with seemingly no way back. The writers provided clues along the way, including sci-fi gadgetry (pylons), colorful visitors, and a backstory for the de-evolution of the Sleestak race.

The show proved so popular during its initial NBC run that series lead Spencer Milligan asked the producers, the delightfully imaginative Sid and Marty Krofft, for a boost in salary. They were unable to reach an agreement however, so Milligan left the show and was replaced by "Planet of the Apes" (TV) star Ron Harper as Uncle Jack. Cast shake-ups were a staple of '70s TV shows but were somewhat unusual for Saturday morning. Still, this switcheroo was handled intelligently, playing by the series’ own established rules. In order for one person to leave the "Land of the Lost," another person has to enter it.  As simple as that.

The series thrived in syndication well into the 1980s and became an after-school staple. Bolstered by its continued success, the Kroffts revived the series in 1991 with a new cast and new characters, but it failed to deliver either the drama or the ratings of the original. And then of course, there’s the 2003 comedic remake starring Will Ferrell, which was critically panned by audiences and critics alike. For fans, the original remains the best, and now there’s a convenient outlet for them to relive a little piece of their childhood, morning, noon or night.

And now it’s time to get Lost!

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Thanks so much, Brian! You can read more of Brian's work at his blog, where he explores the graves of the famous, including lots of TV stars such as Andy Kaufman, Gilda Radner, Shirley Booth, Jerry Springer, Eva Gabor and tons more.

Rest in peace, Ben ("Cooter") Jones

We don't always post when there's a death in the family of classic TV shows we cover here at BRBTV. Frankly, we don't have enough hours in the day. But we felt moved to, at the passing of Ben Jones, whom we know so well as Cooter Davenport on our beloved "Dukes of Hazzard."

Jones was a tall, tall men -- tall in terms of his actions and his regard for other human beings. He served in the Legislature and advocated for what is right, well beyond his role on "The Dukes," where his alter ego did the same. He was an activist, unafraid to take a stand and show love for all people. He spoke out in the media when he felt he had to, particularly on the issue of the Confederate flag on the roof of the General Lee. He served "Dukes" fans so wonderfully with the events he hosted over the years -- Dukesfest and others. And they were huge. Other "Dukes" cast members, along with quite a few fans, have hosted their own "Dukes" events, but none could top those of Ben and his wife, Alma. When they threw an event, people showed up. We've said before, when you can buy a bottle of water for a buck at an event, that tells you what you need to know about who's behind it. And indeed, it always told us what we needed to know about ole Cooter. His 25th anniversary celebration for Cooter's Place in Luray, Virginia, had free admission, for instance. He wasn't in it for cash -- he was spreading the love of the show and providing a safe, fun forum for people to share it.

If you want to hear very clearly Jones' thoughts on the "Dukes," watch his 2019 documentary "Hazzard Nation," where he featured interviews with cast and crew of the show, who reminisced on what the show meant to them over the years. In the doc, Jones talked lovingly of not only the show but of a way of life. This was how things were in the South. He lived it. He addressed the veiled (and not so veiled) allegations of racism about the show in more recent years, for one. There simply wasn't any. This was not what the show was about. It was about life in the South, about family, about values. About a way of living. And us fans -- so many of us kids at the time the show premiered, appreciated it more than we even realized it back then.

It feels like the end of an era. This author will dearly miss Ben Jones and what he did for us "Dukes" fans.

Above and below: Jones with his "Dukes" castmates during an interview with the "Today" show at the Dukes of Hazzard Georgia Reunion event in March 2013. From right above, Ben Jones, John Schneider, James Best (who died in 2015), Catherine Bach, the interviewer, and Rick Hurst (who died in 2025).

If you want to learn about Ben Jones, BRBTV recommends his book, "Redneck Boy in the Promised Land," which chronicles his upbringing, his time on "The Dukes," his time serving in government, and his views on a lot of topics, including the infamous Confederate flag, which he spoke out on multiple times over the years.

From Alma's post just under an hour ago:

"I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack. He was home resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees. Ben had the most amazing rich full life. He loved and was loved by so many. He will be missed. I loved him so so much."

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Terrific TV Toys: Scooby-Doo puzzle lunchbox, Pressman Toy Co., 2012

Have you ever wanted to work a jigsaw puzzle on your lunch break? Yeah, c'mon, we know you have. Well, Pressman Toys has the perfect thing for that, especially if you're a fan of Scooby-Doo: This oh-so practical lunchbox puzzle set was released in 2012 and features just 100 pieces, which surely you can make quick work of, while you're munching on your sandwich. Take a look at it up-close -- and see it worked in rapid time (eight-times time, actually) ...

See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

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Rut-roh! The fun doesn't end there! Indulge your love of our favorite Great Dane with "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! A BRBTV Report," a short, snappy, exploration of the original cartoon series that started it all, back in 1969. Lots of fun facts -- and full-color images -- 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!

Terrific non-TV Toys: Batgirl of the DC Multiverse, McFarlane Toys, 2022

If you're not familiar with the Gotham Knights video game, you can get a glimpse of the look and feel of it at the game's website. And at that site, you'll see Red Hood, Robin and Nightwing in action, along with their partner in crimefighting, the beautiful Batgirl, all clad in purple and yellow as she has been in comics in recent years and as she originally was when introduced on the 1960s "Batman" TV series. It's super-cool stuff, and McFarlane Toys has taken that lovely Babsy and made a figure of her, the focus of the latest episode of the Terrific non-TV Toys series ...

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

Get out of town -- ANOTHER "Twilight Zone" episode I haven't seen????

OK, let's get real here. I've been a fan of the classic "Twilight Zone" TV show ever since I was a teen and saw my very first episode, "Little Girl Lost." I have watched the series over and over through the years, whenever it's on, flipping through the channels. I own the full DVD set but have never sat down and watched them -- I have adored and avidly watched the Syfy channel marathons on holiday weekends. I love the surprise of which episode is going to be shown next. And there's a certain phenomenon that happens, I have come to observe. For lack of any more imaginative term, I call it the Twilight Zone Effect ... the fact that each and every time I am watching a block of "TZ" episodes -- literally 100 percent of the time, I'm so serious here -- I always see an episode I've never seen. How can that happen, when I am always sure I've seen every episode there is to see??? For years and years, over and over? How can new episodes be popping out of the ether like that? It's part of the mystique of the show, I guess. 

So being an avid "TZ" fan, I am also a fan of the "TZ" discussion podcast "Just Beneath the Surface," and have blogged about it many a time right here. So guess what happens ... The Twilight Zone Effect carries over to this podcast, because wouldn'tcha know it, in the latest episode they're talking about an episode of "TZ" I actually had not seen!!!! Geesh. It's "Shadow Play," episode 26 of  the show's second season. When I started up the latest "JBTS" ep, I had to do a major pause and head on over to Tubi to actually watch the episode!!! It explores the story of a man (Dennis Weaver) in a courtroom sentenced to death. He says he is having a recurring dream of his execution and the end of the world, and no one seems to believe him. In fact, he thinks everyone around him is part of a dream he's having. Once again, this classic series and its creator Rod Serling go somewhere rare and fascinating for subject matter. Is this guy really dreaming? You kinda want to see him saved from his death sentence. So what will happen? Brian and Bruce tackle that and more in their discussion ...

(BTW, I was delighted when I immediately recognized, tucked away there in the next jail cell over from Weaver, a very young Bernie Hamilton, Captain Dobey of "Starsky and Hutch"!!! Wow.)

OK, maybe I'm being a bit melodramatic about this whole thing ... There are 156 episodes of the classic "Twilight Zone" series, so maybe it's not at all that unusual I would keep seeing a new one when watching a block of them on TV. Or is it???? 

Just remember, every time you watch, there's at least one more episode  you have not seen. And that's part of the thrill.

Terrific non-TV Toys: Batgirl chibi plush, Toy Factory, 2020

What on earth is chibi? Well, let's ask AI ....

Chibi (ちび) is a Japanese slang word meaning "short" or "little," used to describe small people or things, but in anime/manga, it refers to a cute art style with oversized heads, large eyes, and tiny bodies, often for comedic effect or to show childlike versions of characters. 

So that definitely describes the cutie starring in the latest episode of Terrific non-TV Toys. Behold ...

This plush was procured by the friend that I often mention as The Mysterious Claw Game Avenger Who Shall Remain Nameless. Unfortunately, it's one of the last toys I will ever receive from him, as he has been in ill health for several years and was just admitted to hospice. Prayers are appreciated.

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

"Room for one more, honey" ... one more episode of "Just Beneath the Surface," that is!

When you're building an audience on YouTube, there's always "room for one more, honey," as Brian so aptly puts it at the beginning of the latest episode of "Just Beneath the Surface." Indeed, Brian and his buddy Bruce have been growing the web series, which analyzes classic "Twilight Zone" TV episodes, and this time around they're focusing on the second season ep "Twenty-Two." In the story, a dancer who has had a nervous breakdown is trying to recover in a hospital, but she keeps having the same recurring nightmare where she goes to the basement to Room 22, the morgue, where a nurse tells her, "Room for one more, honey." It's a disturbing sequence, for sure. Did you recognize the nurse? She's from a very well-known original "Star Trek" episode. Find out more in the guys' latest discussion.

TGIF! How about some delicious TV-themed toys from last weekend's Motor City Comic Con?

It's never too late to show some pics of great collectibles, and the TV-themed goodies definitely were in abundance at last weekend's Motor City Comic Con at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace (yes, it changed names again) in Novi, Michigan. This author was there on Sunday and enjoyed a hassle-free parking sitch (I got there an hour after the show opened) and breezed right into the convention hall without waiting in line. Which is delightful, since it was nice and HOT that day -- warmer weather had reached the Mitten State at last!

So what did we see at the show, in terms of Terrific TV Toys? I mean, what did we not see? The usual Batman and "Star Trek" to the hilt, but I try to shoot some slightly more obscure stuff whenever I'm at a show like this. So we've got some "Buffy," "Twilight Zone," "The Office," "The Muppets," "Dungeons and Dragons" (yes, it was a TV series), "The Tick" (the series star was at the con), "The X-Files," "Jonny Quest," "Welcome Back, Kotter," "Starsky and Hutch." As always, click on an image to see a larger version.

A "Mt. Rushmore" of beloved TV show characters? This vendor had an interesting idea, with "Star Trek," above, "The Golden Girls" and "The Simpsons" below, and a whole lot more.

This guy was good! I didn't even realize he was a Rodney Dangerfield impersonator when I first spotted him at the show -- I thought he was just another wild dresser at the con! I shot a vid short of him rattling off a few jokes, so check that out at the BRBTV YouTube channel.

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

Announcing ... the Vanderbilt Family Tree

There are statesmen, businessmen, authors, and Congressmen. There are counts and countesses, lords and ladies. There are artists, museum founders, and America's Cup winners. There are actors, filmmakers, and musicians. There is someone who perished on the Lusitania. There is even a CNN anchor.

And at the heart of it all ... a railroad magnate.

But for me, at the heart of it all ...

a designer jeans icon.

And someone I have always admired.

And now for something completely different, as Monty Python would say ... I am a geeky girl, and I like to research stuff. At my heart I am a journalist, as well -- trained professionally, of course, with an actual degree in journalism and years of work in the field. I also happen to be a big follower (OK, fan) of Gloria Vanderbilt ever since I wore her designer jeans in junior high school in the early '80s. I have owned so many pairs of her jeans, cords and other pants over the years I lost count, and I have collected every kind of item she put out there besides -- other clothing, cologne, jewelry, dishware, art prints, whatever I could find on eBay, even a sterling silver bracelet once owned by her, which I treasure greatly. 

I have catalogued on this very blog the appearances of her jeans I have seen as I've rewatched beloved TV shows from my childhood: "Three's Company," "The Facts of Life," and "Soap" (and I can tell you, Fallon wore them on "Dynasty," Mindy wore them on "Mork and Mindy," and Melissa wore them on "Falcon Crest" -- I just haven't blogged about that yet).

I own every one of Gloria's books (even the obscure poetry book), and I've read several other books about her and her family, most recently the "Vanderbilt" historical book by her son, Anderson Cooper. And honestly, I'm not even sure how this particular research project started, but I know why:  It started because of that geeky girl thing I mentioned. I started compiling a family tree of the Vanderbilts. Maybe it was just to keep it all straight as I was reading through the books. But I thought, hey, why not; maybe there's not something like that out there, and I can contribute in some way to our culture's historical info? So I got geekier and geekier, and I dug and dug and kept digging, and I now have a first edition of what I would consider a moderately fluid family tree of the Vanderbilts, in Excel format.

At the center of all of this is Gloria, who passed away in her 90s in 2019, and my love for her, but there were (and are) so many notable people on this family tree. As Anderson Cooper writes in his book, the era of the Vanderbilts is gone and the dynasty they built has "fallen" (I guess, though I don't like to think of it that way), but there are so many people in this family line who have contributed a great deal to our country and culture.

So for whatever it's worth, produced after many hours of research and presented open-source and free to use in whatever way it could be helpful, is the ... 

Vanderbilt Family Tree

As mentioned, this is a fluid document. And it is compiled by human hands, not by AI. There are currently more than 720 blood Vanderbilts on it, and there are still some holes in it, here and there. So if you have any edits to it, I welcome them.

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Top two photos: Cornelius ("Commodore") Vanderbilt, produced by Mathew Brady's studio, restored by Michel Vuijlsteke, public domain. Gloria Vanderbilt, from a 1959 acting role on "The United States Steel Hour," public domain.

Other photos by the author.