Spotted: Robin Mattson

It was before Delia on "Ryan's Hope." It was before Heather Webber on "General Hospital." Gosh, it was even before she did that sweet little guest spot on "The Dukes of Hazzard." And it was certainly quite a few years before we knew her so well as the second Gina Capwell on "Santa Barbara." It was "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" (the former of the two, actually), in the first of her two appearances on that show. A November 1977 episode called "The Strange Fate of Flight 608."

Robin Mattson is oh-so-gloriously young, as pert and round-faced as ever, her trademark blond tresses long and flowing, as she hops aboard a doomed flight headed for the Bermuda Triangle -- and a huge hurricane. With Parker Stevenson as Frank Hardy at the helm, the plane must emergency land near a deserted island. Everyone survives -- a whole plane full of stewardesses, actually, but for the Hardy Boys -- and washes up to shore, hiding out in a cave from the storm overnight. As the boys unravel a new mystery, it's clear Mattson's suspiciously behaving Carla is at the heart of it. She's got a secret, and it has to do with smuggled diamonds. Are they real or fake? Does she even know?

Mattson scoops out her role with a good measure of fear and apprehension, and we're thinking this is the in-over-her-head character, not the actress, as this is a gal who's been in firm command of a lot of roles over the years. We viewed the first season of "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" last year, so delighted to see our original Fallon Carrington of "Dynasty" in this signature role again, since we hadn't seen these eps since they originally aired. Now we're rolling along the second-season DVD set, happy as a pig in slop, so we're thinking there'll be some more classic-star-spottin' along the way ...

Catch the latest for Robin Wright, Jon Lindstrom, new "Dallas"

Robin Wright, our original Kelly Capwell of "Santa Barbara" is about to debut as the wife of a shrewd, powerful politician played by Kevin Spacey in "House of Cards." This Friday you'll get your chance to catch the premiere of the series' on Netflix.

Wright's "SB" castmate Jon Lindstrom portrayed the creepy rapist doctor, Mark McCormick. Lindstrom has a couple movie projects kicking around this year, "How He Got Away With It" and "The Redeemer," but if you watch "General Hospital" this Wednesday, you'll see him make his grand return to the Kevin Collins character. (Or is it the evil twin Ryan Chamberlain?) It's part of the 50th anniversary celebration for "GH."

And if you're eagerly awaiting today's start of the second season of the new "Dallas" like the rest of us are, particularly in the wake of the death of the show's patriarch, you can read more about what the season has in store in this week's TV Guide. Cathy Podewell is back as Cally, which is big enough news, and us diehard fans are getting some other great classic "Dallas" stars back for the funeral of J.R., which will follow a storyline to rival "Who Shot J.R." back in the early '80s, a fitting tribute to the king, Larry Hagman.

Spotted: Pamela Sue Martin, Al Corley, Ian McShane

Bro and sis in the same movie, right after their time on "Dynasty"? Well, yes, though they don't really interact with each other during the film (they do share scenes, however).

The movie is 1985's "Torchlight," and Pamela Sue Martin did the writing for this one, as well as starring in it as Lillian Weller. Her "Dynasty" brother, Al Corley, plays an actor (ironically) named Al (well, that's an "ironically," too). The story focuses on a young couple, from the moment when they meet and marry through turbulent times together as he gets caught in the downward spiral of cocaine addiction. Steve Railsback is Martin's very interesting husband Jake in this one, while Corley plays Jake's friend.

Ian McShane, whom we know as Don Lockwood on original "Dallas," is almost unrecognizable as Sidney (really -- how on earth did they change his color like that?), the "consultant" who hooks Jake into the drug scene. He's grimy and sleazy but suave. Martin, meanwhile, is rather the victim. No Fallon Carrington bite here -- just a young wife becoming increasingly disillusioned and frustrated by the change in her husband.

There's a message amid the action here, and we appreciate it, having been students for many years of the nature of addiction and its grip on our society as a whole. Overall, though we can't quite figure out what Railsback was hoping to accomplish with his approach, we appreciated this viewing overall. Thanks to our bud Tracy for the VHS copy! Yes, we still use a VCR! At times!

Spotted: Andrew Stevens, John Saxon, Juliet Mills and more

The subject is 1976's "Once an Eagle," and like so many other TV miniseries of its era, it serves up a delicious buffet of classic stars. Sam Elliott in the lead role  of Sam Damon -- so handsome as a young soldier in World War I then as a seasoned veteran in World War II -- is alone enough reason to watch. But here you also get David Wayne, one of the Digger Barneses of early "Dallas," as a graying doctor, so fatherly toward the wife of Elliott's character. Wayne's "Dallas" co-stars William Windom (Amos Krebbs) and Andrew Stevens (Casey Denault) also pop up, the former as a military officer bearing bad news and the latter as the idealistic son of Elliott's character. This miniseries aired just a couple years before "Dallas" debuted.

Switch over to our "Dynasty" stars and add in John Saxon (also a guest star on "Wonder Woman" in the '70s) as a stern captain who taunts Elliott's Damon. Juliet Mills, who showed up as Alexis' cuz Rosalind Bedford in "Dynasty," plays a youngish blond war nurse here, who has her own special way of nursing the wounded (and married) Sam Damon.

Kim Hunter, Albert Salmi, Patti D'Arbanville, James Cromwell ... it's great classic TV viewing. Our thanks to Tracy for the Christmas gift of this DVD set!

Preorders of Tom Wopat's album "I've Got Your Number" could win a phone call from him

The latest from the web crew at Wopat.com ...

It's here, you can now preorder the new album directly from Tom!

Visit http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/tomwopat  to see a video of Tom talking about the preorder, plus learn all about the special offers available. 

With your preorder: 

- You will be entered for a chance to win a phone call with Tom!- You will have access to exclusive updates from the studio and more.- All CDs will be autographed!

Plus there are additional items to order including USB drive, T-shirt, and limited edition hand-written lyrics for Tom's original songs! 

Head over and place your order now! 

Are you friends with Tom on Facebook? We have created a new page to keep you updated on the new album - make sure to "like" the new page HERE. 

Sincerely,  

- Tom and the Wopat Webcrew

Spotted: Joanna Cameron

She rushes onto her very fist scene in a white tennis dress. That may seem ironic now, but at the time the producers of the '70s "The Amazing Spider-Man" TV series knew exactly what they had: the beautiful Isis, just a couple years after the ground-breaking Filmation live-action series left the Saturday morning airwaves, a superhero whose costume had reportedly originally been fashioned from a white tennis dress.

The episode is the two-part "The Deadly Dust," sometimes referred to as "Spider-Man Strikes Back," debuting in April 1978 and starring Joanna Cameron as Gale Hoffman, a young journalist from a national newspaper. Gale is assigned the unenviable task of nabbing an interview with the famous Spider-Man, and she gets the tip that this Peter Parker fellow may be the key to connecting with the web-slinger. She attaches herself to Peter and follows him diligently through the two hours, amid the theft of some plutonium by Peter's fellow college students and the controversy of a bomb that endangers the President of the United States in his upcoming speech.

Cameron is sweet and wise in the role, so much like schoolteacher Andrea Thomas, reflecting her dignified demeanor at every turn as she tracks down the facts. She even forms the suspicion that Peter Parker and her building-climbing target are one and the same. Her wardrobe changes are many and are dominated by the white of Isis (coincidence? hmmm .... ). And that's right down to the white string bikini she so reluctantly wears (both character and actress, it seems) in one of the later scenes. In this one, the producers aren't afraid to show off the legs that made the actress so well-known when her former character righted wrongs on Saturday mornings.

The two-part series ran in what's considered the first season of "The Amazing Spider-Man," in the spring following the fall '77 pilot. Our thanks to James for this DVD!

Catch James Best in Hallmark movie next Saturday

Check out not only James (Rosco P. Coltrane) Best of "The Dukes of Hazzard" in the Hallmark Channel original movie "The Sweeter Side of Life" next Saturday at 9 p.m. Eastern, but also check out the John Schneider poster in the trailer ...



Now if that's not fun, canya just tell us what is?????? Looks like Best is holding on to his family values theme in this one, and having some fun with a bit of comedy.

Museum of Television promises a delight for the senses for TV fans

The Southfork mailbox. The painting of Constance Colby from "The Colbys." An oil painting of Alexis Colby from her penthouse. Some jewels that she wore, as well as jewelry worn by Krystle Carrington. The cowboy hats of both J.R. and Bobby Ewing. A Ewing license plate.

They're all pieces from the collection of one man, James Comisar, and soon they'll be on display for all the world to see, along with about 5,000 other original television artifacts. Sounds like nothing short of nirvana to us. It's the vision of the Museum of Television, now raising cash to open in the next few years. Visit the museum's site to read more about this vision (and we know -- because we've searched -- there's just nothing like this out there right now, a museum devoted to television). See in particular what they've got for the '80s archive.

We absolutely love these words, from the museum's About Us page, because it says so much of what we're aiming to get at in our own BRBTV About page:

Life without television is basically unknown to most of us, and TV is affixed to American culture as a root is to a tree. What we learn when we look closely at the development of television programming and technology is not a distant tale that has no connection to contemporary American life, but rather it is the story of the past four generations of Americans; it is our story; it is our lives of which we see a reflection. For the first time in history, there are now more TVs than people in American homes, mind boggling new technology, and an even wider availability of television programming.  Where it will go from here is yet to be seen, but one thing is for certain: In one form or another, television is here to stay and it will continue to be the story of an unknown number of future generations.

The Phoenix Business Journal covered the museum plans in October and offers a great rundown of logistics in their story. The museum will be about 50,000 square feet, Comisar said, and cost about $35 million to build.

We here at BRBTV advise you to donate now and donate often!!! We will just love seeing this project up and running.

"DeVanity" delivers up fresh interviews with Maxwell Caulfield, Charlene Tilton and Gordon Thomson

We've already told you on this blog about the web series that will be featuring three stars of the TV shows covered by BRBTV: Maxwell Caulfield of "Dynasty" / "The Colbys," Charlene Tilton of "Dallas" and Gordon Thomson of "Dynasty" and "Santa Barbara." The producers of this series, "DeVanity," now have some delish new interviews with those stars on the official show site. Yummy.

Maxwell Caulfield (lookin' heckin' good; seriously -- and commenting on the comparison of "DeVanity" to "Dynasty")

Charlene Tilton (with luscious dark locks, speculating that "DeVanity" may be more over-the-top than "Dallas"; we say heck-ya it is!)

Gordon Thomson (reflecting his sincerity and intelligence and certainly who he is really is, even recognizing the talent of his interviewer -- you go, guy)

"DeVanity" deals up its third season on Thursday.

A look at the con circuit for stars of classic TV

Many of these guest lists are still a work in progress, but here's an early look at the roster for 2013 for our classic stars on the con circuit ...

Emerald City Con, Seattle, March 1-3

• Billy Dee Williams of "Dynasty"

Toronto Comicon, March 9-10

• Jonathan Frakes, Jamie Lee Hogg of "The Dukes of Hazzard," along with other great "Star Trek" stars.

Mega-Con, Orlando, March 15-17

• Jonathan Frakes, Jamie Lee Hogg of "The Dukes of Hazzard," along with a ton of other great "Star Trek" stars.
• Tara Strong, voice of Batgirl / Barbara Gordon on "The New Batman Adventures."

Lexington Comic and Toy Convention, Lexington, Kentucky, March 16-17

• Billy Dee Williams of "Dynasty"
• Jackson Bostwick of "Shazam!"

Wizard World St. Louis, March 22-24

• Billy Dee Williams of "Dynasty"

Comic-Con, San Diego, July 18-21

• Bruce Timm and Paul Dini of "Batman: The Animated Series," "The New Batman Adventures," "Batman Beyond," "Superman: The Animated Series" and "Justice League."

Wizard World Nashville, October 18-20

• Billy Dee Williams of "Dynasty" 

Not-quite-a-con-but-close:
A Gathering of Guns -- A TV Western Reunion, Tunica, Ms, June 13-15
(See the 2013 poster at James Best's site)

• James Best of "The Dukes of Hazzard."
• Henry Darrow of "Santa Barbara" and "Wonder Woman."

Hollywood Show deals up Bo Hopkins, Pamela Sue Martin and Maxwell Caulfield

If you remember the episode of our beloved "Wonder Woman" starring Leif Garrett, playing a true-to-life teen singing sensation, then you remember the precocious little character Whitney, Garrett's real-life sister Dawn Lyn. Her appearance in that 1978 episode, "My Teenage Idol is Missing," showed acting chops beyond her young years. Now you've got your chance to meet Dawn Lyn and a bevy of other great stars of classic TV at the next Hollywood Show.

Bo Hopkins, our own Matthew Blaisdel of "Dynasty," joins the offerings of the show, happening January 11-13, as well as his costar Pamela Sue Martin, the original Fallon Carrington, and Maxwell Caulfield, who was Miles Colby. Plus, there's Greg Evigan of "B.J. and the Bear," who played Willie Gust on "Dallas." William Schallert, who was Roger Wainwright on "Santa Barbara." Lori Petty, the voice of Livewire on "Superman: The Animated Series." Add in some Tanya Roberts, Parker Stevenson, Jimmy McNichol and Piper Laurie. And Robert Conrad of "The Wild Wild West"? Major meow, man.

Behold the beautiful guest list and all the details at the Hollywood Show's site.

Oh, and Happy New Year!!! Here's to a blessed 2013 for every person reading this ...