In previous episodes of the Terrific non-TV Toys series, you saw the Malibu Barbie doll and the Malibu Ken doll from this author's childhood. Now it's time to bring out "the pretty one," as I always thought of this doll representing Barbie's friend, PJ. The character of PJ largely faded from the pop culture landscape years ago -- and maybe she didn't make that big of a splash in the first place, not as well-known, perhaps, as Barbie's cousin Francie or other friend Midge -- but she'll always be dear to my heart. I distinctly remember receiving her as a Christmas present one year. She's a little worse for wear, but you can see her up-close and personal on this episode:
An indulgence of great classic television by journalist and author Billie Rae Bates.
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Sunday, January 01, 2023
Welcome to 2023! Here's your updated episode guide to the BRBTV collectibles series
Terrific TV Toys
Season 9
168. Pocket Pop! and Mighty Meeples blind bags by Funko, Cryptozoic
169. Snoopy Valentine
PVC figures from Plastronics / Whitman's
170. "Bionic
Woman" figures by Super7, 2022
171. Snoopy Easter
PVC figures from Plastronics / Whitman's
172. "Dukes of
Hazzard" sleeping bag, 1980
173. Riddler and
Creeper figures by Kenner, 1998-1999
174. Snoopy PVC
summer figures, Whitman's / others, 2000-2012
175. Snoopy PVC
Halloween figures, Whitman's / others, 2000-2012
176. Snoopy PVC
Christmas figures, Whitman and others, 2000-2012
Season 5
Season 4
Season 3
Season 1 and 2
Terrific non-TV Toys
Season 5
44. Dawn beauty salon by Topper, 1970s
45. "Star
Wars" AT-AT plush by Animal Magic, pre-2012
46. Batgirl Funko
Pop!, Breast Cancer Awareness edition, 2020
47. Marilyn Monroe
musical figurine, 1982
48. Snoopy ceramic
musical stein, 1971
49. Daphne Barbie by
Mattel, 2001
50. Archie bendy
figure and fan club items, 1988-89
51. Batgirl Artists
Alley statue (iridescent), DC Collectibles, 2019
52. Batgirl True
Moves figure, Mattel, 2018
53. Golden Age Wonder
Woman Pop!, Funko, 2021
54. Malibu Barbie by
Mattel, early 1970s
55. Singing Snoopy
wizard by Gemmy, 1997
56. Farrah Fawcett
figure, Mego, 2018
57. Malibu Ken by
Mattel, 1970s
58. Snoopy Christmas plush, 2000-2012
Thursday, December 15, 2022
Terrific non-TV Toys: Snoopy Christmas plush, 2000-2012
It's been a Snoopy extravaganza this season on the BRBTV collectibles series, and here we are at the final episode of the year. So why not more Snoopy? There's always room for more Snoopy. To cap off this year's series focusing on the Snoopy PVC figures accompanying small boxes of Whitman's or Russell Stover candies, we now take a look at some of the plush toys that would also accompany those candies. Did you miss these on store shelves a few years back? You might be able to snag them online.
Merry Christmas from BRBTV!
Tuesday, December 06, 2022
Terrific TV Toys: Snoopy Christmas PVC figures, Whitman / others, early 2000s-2012
We have been rolling through a miniseries of Snoopy PVCs all this year on the T3 collectibles show, and now it comes to its jolly conclusion. Its Christmastime conclusion. That most wonderful time of the year, and it's certainly beloved here at BRBTV as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Our favorite thing about "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is that it directly discusses the birth of Jesus. So for this final episode in the miniseries, we take a closer look at the very first Peanuts primetime TV special, the genesis of it, aided by an older book by one of the folks behind the special. And we'll highlight our last three Snoopy PVC figures in the collection!
See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Terrific non-TV Toys: Malibu Ken by Mattel, 1970s
We're making our way through the Malibus on the Terrific non-TV Toys series. A couple months ago, you saw the Malibu Barbie doll this author had as a child, one of my very first dolls. She is totally 1970s, and she was followed-up with a Malibu boyfriend, a Malibu friend, even a cousin and little sister. We're going to see most of those (all but the cousin) in this four-episode miniseries. So part 2 is the handsome young man (who is quite worse for wear, unfortunately) ...
Thursday, November 17, 2022
#SoMuchBatgirl!
... And so much other stuff, too! How much Batgirl is too much? There's never too much, right!? Just because it's Thursday and we're surviving the week, how about a glimpse of the new setup of Batgirls at BRBTV headquarters? This author is doing some tinkering around with video this morning, so how about two views on the "media" room ...
Go wide-screen if you can, and there may or may not be a special guest in the first one (we kinda had to include him; he was making a lot of noise).
Tuesday, November 08, 2022
Terrific non-TV Toys: Farrah Fawcett figure by Mego, 2018
The ever-iconic Farrah Fawcett is back on the BRBTV collectibles series. In episodes of Terrific TV Toys there were episodes of the 12-inch Mego doll of the 1970s, then the 9-inch Kenner "Charlie's Angels" figure, along with an array of wonderful fashions. The reboot of Mego released a modern Farrah figure a few years ago, and BRBTV secured that figure fairly recently. Now you can see it up-close and personal on the latest episode of Terrific non-TV Toys.
This figure is crafted in cooperation with the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, which we just had to look up. That's Farrah's longtime friend Alana Stewart, administering the foundation since Farrah has been gone, and you can snag yourself a T-shirt with this very-famous poster image, and learn more about what the foundation does.
Monday, October 31, 2022
Happy Halloween! Celebrate the spookiness with the latest episode of "Pop Ninja"
The annual Halloween video episode of the "Pop Ninja" podcast is here, and in this one, Patrick, Lisa, and friends Kendall and this author discuss favorite spooky movies. For my pick, I had to go back to a movie I for years only vaguely remembered seeing on television when I was a kid in the 1970s. It was a movie about a guy turning into a snake -- that's mainly what I remembered. As an adult I got a chance to find the movie and rewatch it. Yeah, it's still chilling and totally creepy. It's 1973's "SSSssss" (that's seven "s"s) and it stars a very young Dirk Benedict before he did "Battlestar Galactica" or "The A-Team." If you haven't seen it, it's worth looking up. Patrick, Lisa and Kendall discuss "Halloween" (I mean, of course!), "Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night I" and "Fade to Black." And we're all in costume!
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Thanks to Midwest Book Review for featuring "Let's Roll, Kato" in its reviews
Many thanks from BRBTV to Gary Roen of Midwest Book Review for the heads-up that a review has been posted on "Let's Roll, Kato: A Guide to TV's Green Hornet," Book 6 in the BRBTV Fact Book Series. This author is thrilled and humbled all over again any time I see one of the books out there being enjoyed! This review is part of the October 2022 issue of the online book review magazine "MBR Bookwatch."
Step inside the amazing museum of writer Tim Hollis
If you look closely, you'll spot the Flintstones, the Lone Ranger, Huckleberry Hound, Captain Kangaroo, Mighty Mouse, the Looney Tunes gang, Bozo the Clown, Donald Duck, Snoopy, Batman and Superman. You'll see the vintage book-and-record sets, board games, drinkware, talking dolls, comic books, lunchboxes, cereal boxes. It's a wondrous pop culture wonderland, and it's in the home of Alabama collector Tim Hollis.
Tim contacted this author recently and invited me out, but unfortunately I'm not living in Georgia these days, or else I would totally head right over! Anyway, courtesy of podcaster Meagan, step into what he calls his "Weird World." He's an author himself of many different pop culture history books, but the array of pop culture items in this museum in his home is much more astonishing. There are just zillions of yummy items here, many of them related to beloved classic TV shows. Thanks, Tim, for the virtual peek!
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Terrific non-TV Toys: Singing Snoopy wizard by Gemmy, 1997
This delightfully magical Snoopy doll has a song for you, and it's just in time for Halloween. This toy comes from Gemmy Industries, and not only does he play the Peanuts theme song, he also shuffles and moves his head. So cute. Perfect for a Halloween display, and you can snag one of these on eBay or elsewhere online in the $25-30 range.
See the other episodes in the Terrific non-TV Toys series.
Thursday, October 06, 2022
Terrific TV Toys: Snoopy Halloween PVC figures, Whitman's / others, 2000-2012
Oooooh, that spookiest of seasons is upon us once again, so let's celebrate by taking a look at some Halloween-themed Snoopy PVC figures in the latest episode of Terrific TV Toys. These guys were atop a small box of Whitman's or other brand candies on store shelves a few years ago. We talk about this as well as that wondrous thing called the Great Pumpkin! It's part of our yearlong series commemorating the Peanuts primetime TV specials. Only one episode left after this -- can you guess what that will be???
See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Announcing the eighth (and likely final) e-edition of "Dynasty High"!
The print edition of "Dynasty High" still covers just the original series and its spinoff "The Colbys," but for the Kindle e-edition, you'll find not only all the lowdown on the reboot, but also color photos throughout.
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Terrific non-TV Toys: Malibu Barbie by Mattel, early 1970s
This author has been anxiously awaiting an opportunity to share these 1970s Barbie dolls. And now, alas, the time has come. We've covered so many other great toys, both vintage and modern, and now we turn to these particular precious items of my childhood. First up in a four-part miniseries on Terrific non-TV Toys is the first one I got as a kid -- the Malibu Barbie. Mattel originally released her in a pale blue swimsuit in 1971, so this is a later issue in an orangey-red suit.
Be sure to stay until the end for some great shots of how she looked in the box back in the day, as well as a fantastic item shown in a catalog that I totally forgot I once had!
Next episode in this four-part series: Every Barbie needs a Ken, right? (Or does she?)
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Trade cash with the Carringtons in this creative "Dynasty" board game
My, my, my, just look at this beautiful, custom-made "Dynasty" board game from our friend Bjørn (see the September 1 post). This is certainly limited-edition, and you can snag one if you're interested. You can buy it at Bjørn's "Dynasty" museum you saw profiled here on this blog, or order it directly from him.
"I draw by hand, scan and colour digitally," Bjørn tells BRBTV. "The art on gameboard and box are from the books I've illustrated on 'Dynasty,' that I also sell on Redbubble. When I met Joan last, she got some originals she liked. Some of them are acrylic paint, and some pencil. But I prefer digital now. On storycards and money I've used mixed media."
Friday, September 09, 2022
Terrific non-TV Toys: Golden Age Wonder Woman Pop!, Funko, 2021
Hot pants and all, this Funko Pop! celebrates the version of Wonder Woman from the glorious Golden Age of comics. Throw in a shield and sword, and that's certainly a Wonder Woman you don't see every day. It's the latest episode of Terrific non-TV Toys ...
Sunday, September 04, 2022
Some fresh toy show photos!
It's a great weekend whenever we can get out to a toy show again, in these post-pandemic times. Yesterday it was a small toy show at the New Baltimore Trade Center on the east side of Michigan. Even though it was only a few toy vendors, between them and the regular vendors at the facility there were plenty of juicy TV-related goodies to be found. Some vintage "Starsky and Hutch," "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie," some not-really-vintage "Justice League" and "Batman: The Brave and the Bold," even some not-at-all-vintage "Wandavision" and "Stranger Things" stuff!
Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV
Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand
Thursday, September 01, 2022
"Dynasty" goodies shine in this Norway museum
This museum in Norway may boast an array of pop-cultural items, but our eyes are all a-ga-ga over the "Dynasty" items. These photos come from our friend Bjørn, who always sends us such great "Dynasty" stuff. (See the July 30, 2021, July 3, 2018 and May 21, 2018 posts, for instance!)
Friday, August 26, 2022
Catch the newest episode of "Reanimated"
Our motley crew of survivors executes a bold new plan for survival in the latest episode of the web series "Reanimated," from talented Michigan filmmaker John Vincent. This is a zombie apocalypse, after all, so if ever there was a time for a bold plan ...
It's the Season 1 finale, and you can watch all the episodes at the playlist on the Evil Genius Entertainment channel. The series has been a joy for this author to be involved in!
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Terrific non-TV Toys: Batgirl True Moves figure, Mattel, 2018
I guess this one had been on the store shelves a while before I snagged it in April 2021, as some research produced a 2018 release date for it. And it's yet another lovely addition to the Batgirl collection at BRBTV headquarters. It's a 12-inch figure by Mattel, but a Barbie it is not, and it's the focus of the latest episode of the Terrific non-TV Toys series ...
Thursday, August 04, 2022
Terrific TV Toys: Snoopy PVC summer figures, Whitman's / others, 2000-2012
Snoopy on motorcross? Snoopy playing tennis? Snoopy as the Masked Marvel? He's the star of the show, as we look at three of the classic Peanuts primetime TV specials (and the novelizations of them, actually), and we examine our next batch of Snoopy PVC figures. We've looked at the PVCs themed for Valentine's Day and Easter already earlier this season, and we've got Halloween and Christmas later this year, but there are lots of these wonderful figures that are not themed around a holiday. So we're throwing these into a general sports / summertime vibe bucket!
See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.
Friday, July 29, 2022
Card-carrying Angel? Sure, why not!
Special thanks to Miguel, honorary procurement chief of BRBTV, for securing this simple but fine piece, an official "Charlie's Angels" fan club card. With a shot of the three original Angels -- Jaclyn Smith, Farrah Fawcett and Kate Jackson -- and in the name of the Charles Townsend Detective Agency, it's all official-like, ya know?
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Announcing the third edition of the e-book version of "Destination: Dallas"
Weeeellll ... we've got to blame our friend Patrick Shawn Bennett of the Pop Ninja podcast for this one. He traveled to Southfork Ranch in Texas recently and got some great new photos that he offered up for this blog, and it really got this author to thinking ... maybe I should include these in the e-version of "Destination: Dallas." And so here we are, unable to resist the temptation.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Terrific non-TV Toys: Batgirl Artists Alley statue (iridescent), DC Collectibles, 2019
We're knocking out a backlog of non-TV-related collectibles here at the BRBTV headquarters for the Terrific non-TV Toys series, and after focusing on vintage Archie earlier this month, we now turn to modern stuff for several episodes. This Batgirl PVC vinyl statue is part of an "Artists Alley" set by DC Collectibles, featuring various color schemes for the ladies of the DCU we know so well. This one is dark and iridescent, glimmering in a rainbow of colors along her lean, curvy lines.
Friday, July 15, 2022
Happy Friday! We're talkin' classic TV again on the Pop Ninja podcast
It was a great time once again on the Pop Ninja podcast, and this time around, this author got to chat about classic cop TV shows, more specifically "Adam-12" and the eternally lovable "Columbo." In the first part of this episode, part of the podcast's third season, Lisa and Patrick discuss some of the great cop movies of the '70s and '80s, then Patrick and I switch it over to the TV "channel." Be sure to listen for the secret code word and PM it to the FB page and you could win your favorite cop movie on DVD! Here's the link to the podcast:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1265612/10952366-pop-ninja-podcast-season-3-episode-5