BRBTV birthdays for June

- Robin Mattson, the second and perhaps liveliest Gina DeMott-Capwell-And-On-And-On on "Santa Barbara," turns 54 on June 1.
- David Haskell, the long-suffering Nick Hartley on "SB," was born on June 4, 1948 and died on August 30, 2000.
- Colleen Camp, the original Kristin Shepard on "Dallas," who also turned up as Bonnie Lane in the "Dukes of Hazzard" episode "Trouble at Cooter's," turns 57 on June 7.
- Alexis Smith, such a scene-eater as Lady Jessica Montford on "Dallas," was born on June 8, 1921 and died on the day after her birthday, 1993.
- Andrew Stevens, that young upstart Casey Denault on "Dallas," turns 55 on June 10.
- Sherman Howard, who was the voice of villain Derek Powers on "Batman Beyond," turns 61 on June 11.
- Adrienne Barbeau, the sultry voice of Catwoman on "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 65 on June 11.
- Jenilee Harrison, the slightly ditzy Jamie Ewing on "Dallas," turns 51 on June 12.
- Waylon Jennings, our "Dukes of Hazzard" balladeer, was born on June 15, 1937 and died on February 13, 2002.
- Eileen Davidson, the last Kelly Capwell on "Santa Barbara," turns 51 on June 15.
- Aron Kincaid, the creepy Killer Croc on "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 70 on June 15.
- Joan Van Ark, Lucy's mom Valene Ewing on "Dallas" and its spinoff "Knots Landing," turns 67 on June 16.
- Nedra Volz, our bright and feisty Miz Tisdale on "Dukes," was born on June 18, 1908 and died on January 20, 2003.
- Leigh McCloskey, who is a BRBTV triple-shot as Mitch Cooper on "Dallas" and both Zack Kelton and Ethan Asher on "Santa Barbara," turns 55 on June 21.
- Monte Markham, who played Clint Ogden on "Dallas," turns 75 on June 21.
- Paula Irvine, who played the second Lilly Light Blake on "SB," was born the same year as BRB and turns a neat 42 on June 22.
- Ted Shackelford, who was Gary Ewing on "Dallas" and its spinoff, "Knots Landing," turns 64 on June 23.
- John McIntire, who was Sen. Sam Culver on "Dallas," was born on June 27, 1907 and died January 30, 1991.
- Pamela Bellwood, whom we saw flip that lightswitch on "Dynasty" more times than we care to count, turns 59 on June 26.

Happy birthday to all!!

TGIF Toys: A Dark and Stormy Knight

There he is, the guardian of Gotham -- and of laptops. He's the big, beautiful, oversized Batman of the "Justice League" figure line. BRBTV actually owns three of these guys. This particular one, which tends to perch itself atop BRB's desk, was snagged as part of an eBay lot. Watch those fingers, folks ...


Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

BRBTV now has a YouTube channel

Yea, yea, we know ... welcome to the new millennium! Yea, and we still use the two VCRs we own!!!! Anyhow, BRBTV has at long last begun a YouTube channel so that we can share some of the fun tidbits and precious moments we encounter when we're out on the road seein' all the amazing things we see!

For instance, in this inaugural BRBTV YouTube video, Mr. Don Pedro Colley tells all about how he first nabbed the role of Sheriff Ed Little on "The Dukes of Hazzard." This video was shot at the Motor City Comic Con a week or two back ... We gave you quotes last week, but now you can experience the whole story ...




So stay tuned; we'll be uploading more, including shots of the "A-Team" van jumping at last summer's Professional Stuntman Invitational in Concord, North Carolina, and great Hollywood stunt guys like Buzz Bundy talking about their craft and their time on "Knight Rider" at the first-ever Knight Rider Festival in Las Vegas last year!

TGIF Toys: Motor City Comic Con!

We're going to round out our full week of coverage of the 2010 Motor City Comic Con by also tying in our regular Friday feature, TGIF Toys. And it's as simple as ending the week where we began, with "The Dukes of Hazzard."

A sprinkling of toys, for your viewing pleasure, from the event's Canadian Dukes of Hazzard museum display, ranging in a variety of "Dukes" incarnations over the years ...

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Motor City Comic Con: Other fun and games

The costumes were out in full force at last weekend's Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan. We saw all kinds of Batmans (even a cute little Batgirl in hot pink and silver!), other Bat-characters, a great Sinestro, a rather metallic Aquaman, a Leatherface, the obligatory Princess Leias in the fleshy slave outfit, and of course all kinds of other "Star Wars" characters. Above is one of the quite-well-attended photo ops that occurred throughout the weekend.

One of the best aspects of this weekend was the opportunity to see many of our friends that we only see on Facebook and other online spots the rest of the year. Above, Eric, for instance, with whom BRB once worked at The Detroit News, belongs to a "Star Trek" club called Osiris and was there with the club's display on Sunday.

Many thanks to everyone else we saw along the way -- all of the other Facebook friends who were made "real" friends once again at this event, as well as the new friends who popped in to see the "Dukes" display and visit BRB's table ... It was great fun, and we were blessed by each one of you!!!!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Motor City Comic Con: The power of star cars

You can't come to an event like the Motor City Comic Con and not see some cool star cars (especially since this is Deeee-troit we're talkin' about!). This past weekend's event at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan, showed some nice variety this year. Really, tell us ... how often do you see one of these ...

Yes, this is the Ecto 1 car from "Ghostbusters." Very nicely done, with an amazing amount of detail. And we're not just saying that because the owner is a friend of ours. Mike, of Metro Detroit, worked furiously on this thing in the (very) few months leading up to the event to get it ready for its big debut. Take a 360-degree spin around the car in this YouTube video.

During the weekend, Mike (above left) and our friend Krista of Philadelphia (at the camera below) offered photos with the car -- with full "Ghostbusters" gear! -- for only $5. Needless to say, it was a popular feature of the con.

BRB got to ride out of the convention hall in the car with Mike and Krista on Sunday evening, with every camera phone in the place firmly trained on!

Here's another one you don't see every day ... the Black Beauty from the '60s "Green Hornet" series.

And this macabre scene? If you don't recognize it, you're not a fan of the '70s/'80s "Mad Max" films.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Motor City Comic Con: Jenilee Harrison, Johnny Green and other famous faces

Our buddy Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers is a big "Dallas" fan, so what a privilege to be photographed with Ms. Jenilee Harrison, our own Jamie Ewing. Harrison appeared at this past weekend's Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan, and the BRBTV News Blog continues special weeklong coverage of the event with this snapshot of the two along with some other assorted schtuff.

BRBTV got a chance to chat with Harrison a bit on Saturday morning. She's been involved in several ventures, including a horse farm and other projects related to her love of animals. She's been producing in the TV world and has a project coming up that's she discussing with CBS. She says it could air as soon as late this fall.



Also at the event for diehard classic TV fans was Dawn Wells of "Gilligan's Island" and Lindsay Wagner of "Bionic Woman." It's the first time we got to meet Wagner -- very cool. She tells BRBTV that the "Bionic Woman" DVDs are due out this summer (it's been reported that there were legal issues surrounding the long-awaited release) but that she has not been asked yet to tape any special features.




BRBTV also had the pleasure of meeting Johnny Green, who with his band back in the '60s appeared on the Adam West "Batman" series. He was a henchman of the Joker, and you can see him well in the episode, "Surf's Up, Joker's Under." Green -- whose hair is green, you know -- has been around Hollywood a long time. He was Liberace's agent for 37 years, and managed Bob Hope for 35 years.



Green, who accompanied Adam West at his table at the Novi con, told BRBTV the story of first nabbing the gig on "Batman," a point in his life when he was "starving" and living in a junky apartment. All of a sudden, upon landing the part, he was making $350 every three days.

"We went from nothing to something," he says. "Adam says, 'Johnny, we've been blessed.' He really appreciates where we've come from."

Green was driving a 1932 Lincoln at the time, and it drew the eye of Lucille Ball one day. "She says, 'I want that car -- it brings back memories.'" Ball leased the car from him for $175 a month. "I was rich!" he quips. Eventually, Ball offered him $7,500 for the car.

Nowadays, you can learn more about Green at his site, http://www.johnnygreenandthegreenmen.8m.com/.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV
except for the above shot of BRB with Johnny Green by Cousin Don!
Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Motor City Comic Con: We love us some "Dukes" ...

... At least ... one Duke and a lawman ... Mr. Byron Cherry and Mr. Don Pedro Colley, known respectively (and respectfully) as Coy Duke and Sheriff Ed Little of "The Dukes of Hazzard," were on hand at this past weekend's Motor City Comic Con at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan. We kick off a full week of coverage of the event with this check-in from our beloved "Dukes" realm ...

The "Dukes" has had a presence at this con for many years, but we're pretty sure this is the first time that "Dukes" guests have been featured in a panel discussion. On Friday late afternoon, Colley and Cherry assembled in one of the panel rooms along with Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers, Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club and BRB herself to talk "Dukes."

Colley told the story of his spin on the classic show "Daktari" that eventually led to his role on "The Dukes," through the Leonard Kaufman connection (see our August 27, 2008 post). He described his strong, stern audition as Sheriff Little, when he could barely be convinced to read from a script, he was so in character:

"Sheriff Little is being told this big lie about Boss Hogg," he said to set the audition scene, "and he has a shotgun, and he cocks his shotgun as emphasis to the lie. Well, you don't have a shotgun in the producer's office. You can't very well walk around ... So I said, if you focus the sound of 'cow chips' just right, it can sound like you're cocking a shotgun. Cow-chips! Cow-chips! So I came up on the line, and I went, 'Cow-chips!' Paul Picard came right up out of his chair about that far. Boom! And he looked at me, and right after that, he's stumbling and fumbling and says, 'Well, thank-you, thank-you for the audition. That'll be enough.' I said, 'Oh, thank-you, Mr. Picard!' I took off my hat. I shook his hand. ...

"I left the office, and I no sooner got outside of his office than the telephone rang for the secretary. She says, 'It's Mr. Leonard. He wants you to come over and talk to him.' So I went over and said thank-you and so forth. And while I'm in Leonard's office, the phone rings again, and they said, 'Be ready to go to work tomorrow morning. The script is on your way. And later this afternoon you'll get a costume, and you'll pick up your costume,' and so forth. And the rest is 'the rest of the story.' "

Cherry, meanwhile, shared the story of his original audition for "The Dukes" (which was for the part of Bo, at the very beginning of the series' production) and how he later nabbed the role of Coy Duke.

Back at the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard museum display, things were hoppin' and fun all weekend. Above, display organizer Paul Harrington goofs around with Byron Cherry and a couple "Dukes" fans who traveled from long distance -- Ken of Denmark and Sabine of Germany, whom BRBTV was delighted to meet after crossing paths so many times on Facebook!

Ken tells us he first saw "The Dukes" in only 2006, but Sabine was able to begin watching the series in Germany in 1989, after satellite TV opened up new possibilities there. She says "The Dukes" aired in the late afternoon, and sometimes repeated the next morning.

"I think they missed a few episodes," she laughs. "I never could figure out why they had two sets of cousins."

The episodes were dubbed, but Sabine now owns all of the seasons on DVD, so she can actually hear the real actors in their real roles, in real English!

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

TGIF Toys: There's no "Blackest Night" about this one

No, it's not really a stretch. Nosiree. You see, Green Lantern is friends with Batman, and there are three (count 'em, three!) Batman TV shows covered by the reference guides of BRBTV ... Heck, we're sure Green Lantern would have even guest-starred on an episode of "Batman: The Animated Series" if given half the chance. Plus, on "Batman Beyond," there actually was a Green Lantern present, you know, that small, levitating Ghandi-type guy ...

OK, OK, it's a stretch, but this one was just too cool not to use for our weekly TGIF Toys feature. What we have here, folks, is a genuine, custom-made, lifesize, and operational, Green Lantern. All that's missing is a power ring to charge up.

Finely crafted from found parts (at the local Home Depot), this stunning creation was presented as a birthday gift to our buddy John, a big Green Lantern fan. The base is a small globe ceiling light. Drainage culverts and green spray paint also went into the construction, and inside is a thoroughly green (in color as well as usage) compact fluorescent bulb. John is "green" in more ways than one, after all.

Stop by and see us this weekend at the Motor City Comic Con

Are you heading to Deee-troit? Well, shouldn't you be???? A reminder that BRB will be there, at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan, beginning Friday afternoon, along with Byron ("Coy Duke") Cherry and Don Pedro ("Sheriff Little") Colley of "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Come check the display of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, and you'll see 'em, along with a General Lee, a Hazzard County Sheriff's car or two, and a host of cool "Dukes" memorabilia, from props actually used in the production of the series (and movies) to all kinds of signed photos and such, to cool "Dukes" stuff you can buy and take home wit' ya!

And stay tuned for coverage of the event all next week. Because that's just what we do, here at the BRBTV News Blog (don't take our word for it -- check the archives!).

Coming up in Archie Comics

ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES VOLUME 10:
BEST OF THE SEVENTIES BOOK 2
By popular demand, get set for a second heaping helping of classic Archie stories from the sensational seventies! This follow-up to the original BEST OF THE SEVENTIES features more of the best stories of the 1970s collected into one, high-grade volume. Witness as Archie and his friends get involved in one hysterical situation after another, and enjoy the fads and fashions of the decades: Social relevance! The ERA! Inflation! The Bicentennial! Disco! Seventies Teen Idols! It’s all here and more in one amazing book. All we can say is… have a nice day!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
On sale at comic shops: May 12, 2010
Newsstands: May 25, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1879794498
96-page, full color square bound paperback
$11.95 U.S.

ARCHIE #609
"More Than Words”: Last issue, readers witnessed the double-bill of the century, as The Archies and Josie & the Pussycats co-headlined a major concert tour! When the lights dimmed, it turned out that the lyrics to the love songs weren’t just being recited on stage… but also whispered into Valerie’s ears by Archie! The two lovebirds soon became songbirds, penning their own original love song. But when Betty and Veronica find out, they’re in no mood for love songs! Can Archie and Valerie have a relationship amidst the suspicions and jealousies of their band mates, or will the curtain fall on their rockin’ romance?
SCRIPT: Dan Parent
ART: Bill Galvan
On sale at comic shops: May 26, 2010
Newsstands: June 8, 2010
32-page, 40 lb glossy stock, full-color comic
$2.99 U.S.

ARCHIE DIGEST #264
“Wheel Appeal”: Archie has always been popular with the ladies, but when he wins the use of a sports car for a week, one passenger seat is simply not enough!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher
ART: Jeff Shultz
“Writer’s Blockhead”: Archie has to write a story for English class, but he’s stuck at “Once upon a time!”
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Bob Bolling
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic shops: May 19, 2010
Newsstands: June 1, 2010
88-page, full-color digest format
$2.69 U.S.

ARCHIE’S DOUBLE DIGEST #209
“Click Trick”: The hazard blinkers from the roadwork being done in front of Archie’s bedroom window make it impossible to get a good night’s sleep, so it’s off to the woods where Archie is determined to get some rest… or will he?
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Fernando Ruiz
“Dog Gone”: A thunderstorm sends Little Archie’s dog Spotty scurrying, leading to a breathtaking adventure as he desperately searches for the petrified pooch.
SCRIPT AND ART: Bob Bolling
“Brush Up”: Archie goes to the woods to do a still life painting for art class… but nothing there will keep still long enough!
SCRIPT: John Rose
ART: Bob Bolling
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic shops: June 2, 2010
Newsstands: June 15, 2010
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

BETTY #186
“Tree Trouble”: With help from Dilton’s holographic projector, Betty finds a way to declare her love for Archie without having to actually carve their initials in a tree!
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Stan Goldberg
“The Older Woman”: Have you heard the news? The paperboy is awfully interested in making deliveries at the Cooper home!
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Stan Goldberg
“Second Chance”: Nancy and Betty both wish they had more time for fun… and thanks to a wishbone those wishes may come true!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg
“Neat Freaked Out!”: Betty’s Mom is shocked at how much effort Betty is putting into cleaning the house… until she learns Betty invited Archie over!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Stan Goldberg
On sale at comic shops: June 2, 2010
Newsstands: June 15, 2010
32-page, 40 lb glossy stock, full-color comic
$2.99 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #204
“We’ve Got it Maid”: Cheryl Blossom offers “maid service for a day” as part of a charity auction – and Veronica is determined to be the high bidder! As Cheryl toils, will Veronica “clean up” on payback she feels owed, or be more “charitable” in her treatment of Cheryl?
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent
“A Quick Study”: Veronica learns that studying isn’t all fun and games when comparing study groups with a friend.
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Pat Kennedy
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic shops: May 12, 2010
Newsstands: May 25, 2010
88-page, full-color digest format
$2.69 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #181
“No Baseball for Betty Part 2”: Continued from last issue. If you think Archie has a hard time choosing between Betty and Veronica, wait until he has to choose between his feelings for Betty and his desire to play shortstop on the baseball team – the same position Betty is trying out for! Yes, last issue Betty decided to play hard ball instead of softball, and in the process she threw a curve ball to Archie and the other boys on the team! In fact, it’s led to an all-out debate between the boys and girls, and now the boys are threatening to petition that Betty be banned from baseball! Who will prevail? There are still several innings left to play in this multi-part tale!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Rod Whigham
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic shops: May 26, 2010
Newsstands: June 8, 2010
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

JUGHEAD #201
“The Volunteer”: When Mr. Flutesnoot proposes a student committee dedicated to community service, no one gives him the time of day due to his failed campaigns of the past. The biggest naysayer is Jughead, but his conscience gets the best of him and he soon becomes a one-man task force. But can Jughead make Riverdale a nicer place for everyone all by himself?
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Rex Lindsey.
On sale at comic shops: May 19, 2010
Newsstands: June 1, 2010
32-page, 40 lb glossy stock, full-color comic
$2.99 U.S.

JUGHEAD’S DOUBLE DIGEST #160
“The Saga of Bullseye Jones”: Yee-ha! It’s time to saddle up your hosses and mosey into the old west for some rip-roaring fun! Lasso up some laughs when you join Jonesy and Chuck as they arrive in Peaceful Valley and try out to be Mayor Andrews’ new deputies!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
“Treehouse Trouble”: Jughead and Archie are up a tree—literally—when they volunteer to build a treehouse for the Riverdale Boys and Girls Club!
SCRIPT: John Rose
ART: Tim Kennedy
“Food Mood”: An army travels on its stomach… and so does Jughead when he goes hiking… but is the backpack strong enough to hold all the sandwiches Betty’s made for him?
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Bill Galvan
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic shops: May 12, 2010
Newsstands: May 25, 2010
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

TGIF Toys: Like, major zoinks, man!

Ooh-baby-ooh-baby-ooh-baby ... Grab your Scooby Snacks, 'cuz we're going on a moon bounce! This beautiful creation was part of the action at an Easter festival in Germantown, Maryland, just a few weeks ago, and what bliss it was for any fan of the '60s cartoon (OK, maybe those were the parents, but we're sure the kids liked it, too!). This inflatable paradise, fully equipped with interior slide, was classic Scooby-Doo, not that newfangled stuff (not that we mind the newfangled stuff, of course!).

"Ooooh -- I want one for my backyard!" one of our Facebook friends enthused. Yea ... Sigh. Tell us about it.

We've got the low-down, and the high-up, on this summer's "Moonrunners" event

We told you in our February 12 post to mark your calendars for this summer's "Moonrunners" event, and now we've got the nitty-gritty, including the full agenda, straight from the sponsor, the Hazzard County Car Club / DukesofHazzard01.com ...

Host Hotel:
Holiday Inn Express
1900 North Expressway
Griffin, Georgia 30223
1-770-228-9779
Mention "Hazzard County Car Club" for the club rate of $80 a night.

Friday, August 6, 2010
- Check in at Holiday Inn after 3 p.m. and head to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the "Friday Night Drag and Show-N-Shine" at 6 p.m. ($7 for spectators; $20 for participants).

Saturday, August 7, 2010
- Complimentary hot breakfast at hotel, 6-9:30 a.m.
- Screening of "Moonrunners" begins at 10 a.m.
- Lunch on your own.
- Depart from hotel at 1 p.m. for locations tour.
- Dinner at Ryan's Grill at 7 p.m. (around $11 per person). Question-and-answer session with cast/crew following dinner.

Sunday, August 8, 2010
- Complimentary hot breakfast at hotel, 6-9:30 a.m.
- Checkout by 11 a.m.

Special Guests:
- Jerry Rushing
- Brian W. Roy, director of photography for "Moonrunners"
- Bob Shelley, special effects for "Moonrunners" and "The Dukes of Hazzard"

A raffle will be held during the weekend for "Moonrunners" DVDs, posters, and other pieces of movie history. All proceeds will benefit Kare for Kids, an organization in Dawsonville, Georgia, dedicated to improving the lives of children in Dawson County. Tickets are $1 each or $5 for ten.

Model builders: Be sure to bring your models to display.

Contact webmaster@dukesofhazzard01.com if you have any questions.

See a video clip of the tour at http://www.dukesofhazzard01.com/.

BRBTV birthdays for May

- Lance LeGault, who is a BRBTV triple-shot as Al Halliday on "Dallas," Ray Bonning on "Dynasty" and Les Sloane on "The Dukes of Hazzard," turns 75 on May 2.
- Melissa Gilbert, the "Little House on the Prairie" star who was the original voice of Barbara Gordon and Batgirl on "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 46 on May 8.
- Jeanna Michaels, who was Lydia Saunders on "Santa Barbara" and secretary Connie on "Dallas," turns 54 on May 9.
- Denver Pyle, the venerable Uncle Jesse of "The Dukes of Hazzard," was born on May 11, 1920, and died on December 25, 1997.
- Karen Cellini, who took over the role of Amanda Carrington on "Dynasty," celebrates her 52nd birthday on May 13.
- Nina Arvesen, "Santa Barbara"'s long-suffering Angela Raymond whom you kinda had to keep your eye on, turns 49 on May 16.
- Priscilla Pointer, who played Pam's mom Rebecca Wentworth on "Dallas," turns 86 on May 18.
- Pointer's castmate on "Dallas," Gail Strickland, who portrayed Veronica Robinson, was also born on May 18, turning 63.
- Richard Hatch, who put temptation in the face of Claudia Blaisdel as Dean Caldwell on "Dynasty," and also was a brief (original) Stephen Slade on "Santa Barbara," turns 65 on May 21.
- Priscilla Presley, the lovely (third and final) Jenna Wade on "Dallas," turns 65 on May 24.
- Barbara Stock, who was Liz Adams on "Dallas," turns 54 on May 26.
- Shannon Kenny, who was the voice of villain Inque on "Batman Beyond," turns a young 39 on May 26.
- Adrian Paul, who was Kolya (Nikolai) Rostov on "The Colbys," turns 51 on May 29.
- Ted McGinley, the handsome Clay Fallmont on "Dynasty," turns 52 on May 30.
- Omri Katz, the bright John Ross Ewing III on "Dallas," turns a young 34 on May 30.
- David Ackroyd, who was the original Gary Ewing on "Dallas," then played Lt. Fred Merrill on "Dynasty," turns 70 on May 30.

Happy birthday to all!

TGIF Toys: Hot pursuit!!!! Ooooh, I-love-it!-I-love-it!

We're on a regular "Dukes of Hazzard" skid here at the BRBTV News Blog, with our new feature TGIF Toys! So why not round it out for the month of April with one last photo of our blazin'-orange-themed goodies? This one also comes from Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers of Tennessee, and he calls this shot "Hot Pursuit!!!" It's a die-cast General Lee and Hazzard County sheriff's car. And wethinks we spy a sig on that Lee! Looks like John Schneider, sure do ...

My die cast General Lee has the signatures of John Schneider, Tom Wopat, Catherine Bach, James Best, Ben Jones, and Sonny Shroyer on it. The General and police car are 1/18 scale. I bought them both at Cooter's Place.

I know I bought the General Lee before I ever went to any Dukesfest, so I anticipate the General Lee of mine is from 2003 or 2004. I'm guessing they must have come out in 2002 or 2003. And I bought the Hazzard police car in 2009 when Sonny Shroyer came to the World of Wheels in Chattanooga. I bought it from those two characters who work for Cooter's in Gatlinburg and Sonny autographed it. The squad car is newer.

-- Will Rodgers

Visit Will's "Super Friends" site and experience more of his geeky expertise!

Photo by Will Rodgers; email before copying

Addendum:
We tend to stay away from the private lives of the stars on this news blog, and concentrate instead of their work, but our condolences and prayers go to Catherine Bach and her family in the death of her husband, Peter Lopez, this afternoon.

John Schneider set to star in "Doonby"

Thanks to Phyllis over at John Schneider's Unofficial Fan Club on Facebook for helping us stay up-to-date on our own Bo Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," because Heaven knows that's a full-time job in and of itself! The news just hit that John-John has another movie on tap, "Doonby."

Schneider portrays Sam Doonby, "a happy-go-lucky drifter who takes up residence in a small Texas town but seems suspiciously immune to the misfortunes that beset the other townsfolk," the Hollywood Reporter says in their full story. It's being called a modern take on "It's a Wonderful Life."

The film also features Ernie Hudson, who not only appeared on "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," where Schneider was once a regular, but he also appeared in a 1982 episode of "The Dukes."

Lane Davies returns for the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival

You can't keep our own original Mason Capwell of "Santa Barbara" away from the Shakespearan stage, even if it's for only the director's chair this time around. (And yes, we know there's no "only" about directing a work of Shakespeare!) Thus, Lane Davies will return to Bell Buckle, Tennessee, to lead the actors in a production of "The Two Gentleman of Verona" this summer.

True to form, Davies puts a twist on Ole Bill. "This is not your Grandmother's Shakespeare," the play's press says. "This summer's production will be set not in Verona, Italy, but in Verona, Tennessee, circa 1960, and our two gentlemen, Valentine and Proteus, are up-and-coming country and western singers, who make the move to a Milan that bears an odd resemblance to a well-know music capital of the South."

Last year, Davies directed and starred in "Romeo & Juliet" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Bell Buckle; see our July 21, 2009 post for a photo peek of the fest.

Dates for "Verona" are June 18-20, 25-27 and July 2-4 and 9-11. Each show starts at 8 p.m., and the grounds open at 6 p.m. (and BRBTV'll tell ya, you can snag a seat right in the front row if you get there early like we did last year!). Performances take place at the Webb School on Highway 82.

See the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival's site for more details and to buy tickets, or call 615-397-1597.

TGIF Toys: Keep 'er between the ditches!

Well, now, you can't have Bo and Luke Duke without the General Lee, now can ya? In fact, "The Dukes of Hazzard" was about the car just as much as it was about the people! Last week, we showed you Mego's 8-inch figure line for the show, and the week before that, the more extensive 3.75-inch figures. For this week's installment of our new special feature TGIF Toys, Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers provides us with a glimpse of the vehicles.

And it's not just the General Lee. Mego made Daisy Duke's Jeep Dixie, Boss Hogg's white Caddy convertible, and some Hazzard County squad cars. These vehicles fit the smaller figures, not the 8-inchers. For a little more info on them, see our April 9 post, to which we add this note from Will:

Sadly, I wish Mego could have made a few more vehicles for the action figures. Namely, two of them. Cooter's wrecker would have made a great seller. It could have come with a hook to put under one of the other vehicles for towing action. And Uncle Jesse's pickup. Just for completion. Who knows? Maybe Daisy's yellow Plymouth Roadrunner would have been good. And maybe a more accurate Hazzard squad car.

Photo by Will Rodgers; please email before copying

Visit Will's "Super Friends" site.

James Best makes Tennessee appearances

James Best, our own Rosco P. Coltrane of "The Dukes of Hazzard," will be appearing with his artwork and new book on the following dates:

Friday, April 23, 6-9 p.m.
Saturday, April 24, 1-4 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express (Camden room)
1819 Holiday Drive
Athens, Tennesee 37303

Friday, April 30, 6-9 p.m.
Sherlocks Book Emporium
200 Maddox-Simpson Parkway
Lebanon, Tennessee 37090
615-449-9807

Saturday, May 1, 2010, 6-9 p.m.
Sherlocks Book Emporium
Downtown Nashville
235 Fifth Ave. North
Nashville, Tennessee
615-248-1962
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103309738360&s=2393&e=001wCPfzTiIjmuB7t2748c4tqJ8Tqz9efjkem-1BzRJnJS8uZVGBTqEbLIyD1ldiBN9CX49U_98h3B7ub27HQgPebw6F0wKV5nWW55ujxAO2uJN13qlggPbY5G-PV5aw3BQ

"Dallas" reunion at Southfork released on DVD

Ahhh, it's the next best thing to being there .... And if you weren't there, at the first ever "Dallas" reunion at Southfork Ranch in Texas, you'll want to live vicariously through this new DVD, released by Creative Advancement Entertainment.

It's a limited-edition collection of moments from the fall 2008 event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the show's debut. The DVD features a couple hours of center stage and behind-the-scenes moments with the likes of Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy and fellow cast members as they gathered with thousands of fans. The DVD's press says the footage has not been made available to the public before now.

"We wanted to do something special for the fans of 'Dallas,' and I believe we’ve struck oil with 'Dallas VIP,'" Producer Erick Gosse says. "Throughout the entire history of 'Dallas,' there’s absolutely nothing like it."

You can purchase the DVD at http://www.ultimatedallas.com. And for more info, hop on over to http://www.oilbaronsclub.com.

Look for Nicolas Coster in a new AT&T commercial

Nicolas Coster, our own original Lionel Lockridge of "Santa Barbara," told BRBTV last week about a new TV spot he has coming up for AT&T. He's been busy, busy, busy, flying back and forth between the West Coast and the East, and he worked in time to tape this ad.

"Adorable and funny commercial," he told us. "Super director. Out when? I don't know. I play a stuffy but somewhat amusing lawyer."

Fun! We'll look for it. Coster, meanwhile, has a couple more irons in the fire:
- "Dancing on a Dry Salt Lake," also starring Barry Livingston
- "Midlife," with Timothy Guest

TGIF Toys: Mego's "Dukes" 8-inchers

Last week for our new feature TGIF Toys, we brought you Mego's smaller figure line from "The Dukes of Hazzard." This week, we take a look at the ever-popular 8-inchers. Above, Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers shows us the cast of Season 3 of the show, while the next photo you'll see below features the characters from Season 5.

But hold the phone, you're thinkin'? There weren't that many "Dukes" Mego 8-inchers! Yes, you are correct (and you must have been reading the extensive information our friends at the Mego Museum have so thoroughly researched on their site!). Well, folks, what we have here is some very loving custom work. Read on, in this articulate explanation from Will ...

The packaging for both the 8-inch and 3.75-inch figures had the illustration of the following: Small shots of the General Lee and the Hazzard Sheriff's squad car, full body shots of Boss Hogg and Sheriff Rosco and big head shots of Bo, Luke, Daisy, and Uncle Jesse. For the 8-inch line, as a little kid, I was led to believe that this is what we would get. Unfortunately, it turned out not to be the case.

Bo and Luke were the easiest to find. Bo had a white/yellow shirt with long sleeves and light blue jeans and black boots. Luke had a long-sleeve bluish shirt that reminded me of the plaid shirts he wore in the first three seasons of the show. He had dark blue jeans and black boots. In 1981, Bo sported a short-sleeved white/yellow shirt and Luke sported a light powder-blue shirt reminiscent of his plain shirt from season two. Daisy Duke was the only other Mego that was made initially. My favorite has the blue top and the Daisy Duke shorts. The other one had a green top and blue Daisy Dukes.

Over the years, I've had each of the variations. Later, Mego added one more character, Boss Hogg in his white suit and hat. Sadly, that was all they made. We never got 8-inch dolls of Uncle Jesse and Sheriff Rosco. Nor did we ever get any vehicles for the upscale Dukes. Even to this day, I would pay well for somebody to custom-make a General Lee for the 8-inch Duke Boys. There was one made for the skits on "Robot Chicken." I wish I knew who made it.

In 1982, when Tom Wopat and John Schneider walked off the show, Mego's final figures were Bo and Luke with slightly altered heads. These two figures are hard to find and worth a lot to collectors. While they are "Bo and Luke" technically, these figures are actually and unofficially "Coy and Vance," even though they do not resemble Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer.



CUSTOMS

My good friend Mike Barrett in Rifle, Colorado, who's a customizer of Megos, and I had talked for a long time about customizing the rest of the cast who were never made into 8-inch Mego figures. I came up with the recipes for most of the figures. First, I will say the only Megos I did nothing to are Daisy and Boss Hogg.

UNCLE JESSE: What 8-inch Mego "Dukes of Hazzard" collection would be right without the Duke patriarch? I would call it a sin. For his head, I bought an unpainted head of Blackbeard the pirate and he was smiling. His head was perfect for Jesse. Most of what I needed for Uncle Jesse came from the "Waltons" toyline by Mego. The Grandpa Walton Mego had most of what I needed. The body, the overalls and the same style boots worn by Bo and Luke. Mike painted the head and also gave it the twinkle in Denver Pyle's eyes. Mike custom-made the gray overalls with the red longjohn linings as well as the red cap.

SHERIFF ROSCO P. COLTRANE: It's a real shame we did not get a Rosco doll with all accessories! "Shame shame! Everybody knows your name, Mego!" But surprisingly, all the ingredients to make Rosco are available. It's just a matter of finding them and getting your materials together. On Dr. Mego's page, I found repro heads of the Robin Hood characters. The head of Will Scarlett looked to me like an exact replica of James Best along with the sideburns. All he needed was a repainting around the eyebrows. Of course, you need a basic male Mego body. Rosco's black sheriff's hat is available in Mego form. With their Western figures, it was the hat for Wild Bill Hickock. Dr. Mego has it listed as a reporter's hat, despite its Western look. While you could probably get the blue shirt, black tie, and black pants from Dr. Mego, my friend Mike custom-made Rosco's uniform and provided the sticker emblems for the shirt. My Rosco's shirt is a darker shade of blue since I wanted him to have the look of Season 1. My Rosco's hair is black, but maybe I should have had his hair painted salt-and-pepper.



COOTER: "Breaker one! Breaker one! Might be crazy but I am bummed!' That Mego didn't make a figure of Hazzard's number-one mechanic! At first, all I had in mind was Rosco and Uncle Jesse, but then I thought it would be cool to have customs of Cooter and Rosco's two dipstick deputies as well. For Cooter, the head that resembled Ben Jones the most was the head of John Walton (Ralph Waite) from the "Waltons" toyline. Of course, I used a regular male Mego body. For the blue jeans, either Bo or Luke's jeans and the Dukes boots work for Cooter. I'd say he's the easiest to make. Mike custom-made the sleeveless grey shirt and gave it and the jeans a greased look and even put a grease rag in the back of Cooter's pants pocket. Mike also made Cooter's cap. Mike painted the head to resemble Ben Jones and gave him the 5 o'clock shadow since I wanted this Cooter figure to resemble the Season 1 and 2 appearance. Someday, I'll make another Cooter that has him more clean-shaven. Mike also made the denim jacket Cooter wears. (The above photo shows the custom Cooter, along with Bo and Luke, inspired by the pilot episode "One Armed Bandits.")

CLETUS: "Flapjacks on a Ferris wheel! Buzzards on a buzz saw!" Why no Cletus?! Both Hazzard deputies proved to be a challenge for me and Mike. Using a male Mego body and making the clothes was no problem for Mike. For the head, the Mego who resembled Rick Hurst the most was Sgt. Getraer (Robert Pine) from "CHiPs." His hair was painted tan to resemble Cletus. The biggest challenge was the deputy hat. Mike had a real challenge and had to make a big one since the head was big.

ENOS: "Possum on a gum bush!' Mego's "Dukes of Hazzard" 8-inch line really needs an honest cop to keep everything straight. Well, speaking of straight, or should I say Strate, Deputy Enos Strate proved to be the hardest Mego to customize. All I could furnish was the basic male Mego body. Mike made the clothes, but Enos is the only Mego whose head had to be cast. There were no original Megos that resembled Sonny Shroyer. Also, the deputy's hat proved to be a challenge as was Cletus' hat.

HAZZARD LAW: For Rosco, Cletus, and Enos, the "CHiPs" line by Mego proved to be very helpful in that all three figures needed black boots, guns and holsters, and sticker emblems. Luckily, the "CHiPs" figures had all that, so I had to get extra, incomplete "CHiPs" figures to make the Hazzard Law Enforcement team's accessories complete.


COY AND VANCE: Very basic, simple thing. All I did was switch the shirts on the figures. After all, with the exception of the episode, "Dukes Strike it Rich" Coy wore the blue and Vance wore the white/yellow. (The above photo shows Coy and Vance, along with Bo and Luke and the rest of the characters, inspired by the episode "Welcome Back, Bo and Luke.")

THE VARIOUS APPEARANCES OF BO AND LUKE

To me, it was no wonder that there were toy action figures of "The Dukes of Hazzard," especially Bo and Luke since they always wore the same clothes in every episode as if they were uniforms or costumes. I am probably one of the very few people that's paid attention to Bo and Luke's appearances over the years. And I always wanted my Megos to resemble their early appearances, especially Season 1. So I used some extras.

In Season 1, Bo's yellow shirt was a beige yellow color. He also wore it in Season 2 and then on and off in Seasons 6 and 7. I used the beige shirt from the "CHiPs" line. Bo also sported a blue T-shirt underneath his shirt in Seasons 1 and 2 and part of Season 3. My friend Mike custom-made me three T-shirts: two shades of blue and the brown T-shirt John wore in the pilot episode, "One Armed Bandits." In Season 1, Luke sported a light denim jacket over his first plaid shirt. I discovered the Huggy Bear figure from the "Starsky and Hutch" toyline had a blue denim jacket that looked similar to Luke's , so I got a Huggy Bear figure and used the denim jacket for Luke, but sadly, I had to take his plaidish colored shirt and cut off the sleeves for a better fit. Luckily, I have a few more of those plaids.

-- Will Rodgers
Visit Will's "Super Friends" site and experience more of his geeky expertise!




Photos by Will Rodgers, too; please email before copying

Next week: The Mego vehicles!