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!