Billie Rae Bates's Blog, page 66

Behold Will's latest beauties from Figures Toy Co.

Will Rodgers, voice man extraordinaire and author of the BRBTV Reports on "Superman: The Animated Series" and "Justice League / Unlimited," as well as a BIG new book we're going to announce to you next week, just loves action figures. Here, he shares with us this year's Christmas gift to himself, a few of the goodies he nabbed from Figures Toy Co. that celebrate some of the TV shows we love, such as the 1966 "Batman" series, the "Super Friends" and "The Dukes of Hazzard." Enjoy!!!







BRB is also collecting the 1966 "Batman" figures, so you'll see a whole big bunch of them as out-of-the-box experiences on this season of the Terrific TV Toys web series.

Figures Toy Co. has been churning out these lovelies at breakneck speed the past couple years, but we're waiting patiently for one figure we haven't seen discussed ... the mighty Isis of our Saturday-morning lore!!! Please, FTC, please!!! Don't let the new association of that word in the recent news headlines prevent you from making this gal! The Mego original is hard to find and expensive -- make us that repro!!!!


Photos by Will RodgersPlease do not copy without permission

Terrific TV Toys: Season 3 blasts off with a Bionic Blitz!

Call it a blitzkrieg, really. It's a five-part series, to begin with, on the Bif Bang Pow! action figures celebrating TV's classic shows "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "Bionic Woman," then it's a special secret sixth part thrown in (we'll tell ya about that when the time comes). And it all starts right now, to kick off the third season of the Terrific TV Toys series. Part 1 of the five-parter gives you the Steve Austin figure from the series ...




Special thanks to our bud Andrea Melchiori, as that goofy intro was shot at her place! Stay tuned for next week's continuation of the series with the Bigfoot figure.

Terrific TV Toys: Episode Guide for Seasons 1 and 2

It's hard to believe it's already been 50 episodes across two seasons of Terrific TV Toys. And while we're loving every minute of examining these toys that celebrate the classic TV shows we love, we also hope you have enjoyed these trips back through time with us! We've had two guest hosts on the series so far (thanks, Brian and Andrea!) and hope to have more guest-hosting in the coming years. Here, for posterity and convenience and whatever else, is your episode guide to the first 50 of T3 ...

1. Mego Batgirl figure 
2. Mego Supergirl figure 
3. Mego 8-inch Wonder Woman figure 
4. Mego Catwoman figure
5. Jaime Sommers doll by Kenner 
6. Steve Austin doll by Kenner 
7. Oscar Goldman doll by Kenner 
8. Fembot doll by Kenner 
9. Bionic Beauty Salon by Kenner 
10. Wonder Woman / Diana Prince doll by Mego 
11. Farrah Fawcett doll by Mego 
12. "Star Trek" Mego figures 
13. "Batman: The Animated Series" Colorforms 
14. Dolly Parton doll by Eegee 
15. Scooby-Doo kids' meal toys 
16. Shazam Mego 
17. Underdog figures and plush 
18. "Twilight Zone" figures by Bif Bang Pow! 
19. Scooby-Doo plush, Part 1 
20. Scooby-Doo plush, Part 2 
21. Scooby-Doo plush, Part 3 -- the talkies! 
22. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" figures 
23. "Brady Bunch" View-Master set 
24. "Dukes of Hazzard" Hallmark ornament -- an out-of-the-box experience
25. Batgirl plush doll from 1960s "Batman" series -- an out-of-the-box experience
26. "Batman Beyond" Kids Meal toys 
27. Archie Comics dolls by Marx 
28. Natasha bendie from "Rocky and Bullwinkle" 
29. "Dallas" card game by Mego 
30. Scooby-Doo and Daphne Barbie doll by Mattel 
31. "Star Trek" claw-game plush, 10-inch
32. Cher doll and dressing room set by Mego
33. Batgirl Cycle by Eaglemoss -- an out-of-the-box experience
34. "Charlie's Angels" dolls and fashions by Hasbro 
35. "Batman: TAS" Happy Meal toys
36. Superhero bean bag plush from WB Studio Stores
37. Motor City Comic Con Special! 
38. Archie cars from Burger King Kids Meals 
39. "Star Trek" Andorian figure from Diamond / EMCE -- an out-of-the-box experience
40. "Star Trek" Keeper figure from Diamond / EMCE -- an out-of-the-box experience
41. "Star Trek" Scotty figure from Diamond / EMCE -- an out-of-the-box experience
42. Terrific TV Toys on Wheels: The Batmobile
43. Terrific TV Toys on Wheels: Munsters Koach 
44. Terrific TV Toys on Wheels: The General Lee
45. Terrific TV Toys on Wheels: KITT car
46. Bionic Action Club Kit 
47. Halloween special with the Scooby-Doo plush!
48. Dusty doll by Kenner 
49. Nöelle and her merry band of Christmas Scoobies! 
50. Episode 50 with Snoopy's plush siblings Olaf, Andy and Marbles 

Here's to a great Season 3 in 2016! Look out, we're blasting off with a Bionic Blitz, first thing in January!

In the  meantime, Merry Christmas from BRBTV!

Terrific TV Toys: A special 50th episode for a 50th anniversary ...

Did you know Olaf has a full-time job? And Marbles is the smartest one of the group? How about that Andy -- he plays some mean drums! Yes, each one of Snoopy's beagle siblings has his (or her -- there are two girls) own personality. Meet three of those siblings in the latest installment of the Terrific TV Toys series. These are lovable plush toys nabbed at the gift shop at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, where a Snoopy theme prevails.

This special 50th episode of T3 commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Peanuts characters' debut on television. It was December 9, 1965, when the world first saw Charlie Brown and the gang animated in primetime on the small screen, and so many other wonderful cartoon specials followed through the years. The one that relates in particular here, for this special 50th episode, is "Snoopy's Reunion," which gave us eight little beagle puppies altogether, including Snoopy, and gave us a wonderful glimpse inside our favorite dog's back story.

Tom Wopat and John Schneider plan December performances

From the Wopat web crew ...

Our good ole boys Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat and John ("Bo Duke") Schneider of  "The Dukes of Hazzard" are making several appearances this month.


Dec 5: Tom Wopat and John Schneider at John Schneider Studios - Holden, LA
Dec 16: John Schneider and Tom Wopat at Lyric Theatre (Early Show) - Stuart, FL
Dec 16: John Schneider and Tom Wopat at Lyric Theatre (Late Show) - Stuart, FL
Dec 20: Al. Ringling Theatre (Early Show) - Baraboo, WI
Dec 20: Al. Ringling Theatre  (Late Show) - Baraboo, WI
Feb 25: Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Denver, CO


Image courtesy of the Wopat web crew

Tom Wopat and John Schneider plan December tour dates

From the Wopat web crew ...

Our good ole boys Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat and John ("Bo Duke") Schneider of  "The Dukes of Hazzard" are making several appearances this month.


Dec 5: Tom Wopat and John Schneider at John Schneider Studios - Holden, LA
Dec 16: John Schneider and Tom Wopat at Lyric Theatre (Early Show) - Stuart, FL
Dec 16: John Schneider and Tom Wopat at Lyric Theatre (Late Show) - Stuart, FL
Dec 20: Al. Ringling Theatre (Early Show) - Baraboo, WI
Dec 20: Al. Ringling Theatre  (Late Show) - Baraboo, WI
Feb 25: Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Denver, CO

Terrific TV Toys: Nöelle and her merry band of Christmas Scoobies!

A few weeks ago, you saw BRBTV's Halloween-costumed Scooby-Doo plush toys on our Terrific TV Toys series. Now we turn our attention to that other great holiday, Christmas, with a special episode highlighting several more Scoobies. In fact, with this episode, we are now up-to-date with the Scooby collection -- you now will have seen each and every Scooby housed at the BRBTV headquarters!!! Have you been counting? There have been 95 of them profiled across six episodes of the series. (It seems like more, doesn't it?)

Nöelle, Dancing-Doo, Snowy-Doo, Holly-Jolly-Doo, and the most recent and oh-so-unique Eggnog-Doo bid you a fine Christmas season!



Stay tuned, because we've got one more episode for Season 2 of Terrific TV Toys. It also happens to be the 50th episode of the series, so we'll be celebrating a very special 50th anniversary ...

Our fave Kalamazoo toy show serves up the good TV-related stuff, once again

Heeeeaaaaa-ven ... we were in heaven ... This past weekend's Circus Maximus Toy Show at the fairgrounds in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was again a big blast for BRBTV, as we saw a whole lot of cool toys related to classic television shows. Behold ...


A J.R. Ewing-themed "Dallas" jigsaw puzzle, above, and a nice assortment of TV show board games below. "The Six Million Dollar Man," "The Flintstones," "The Partridge Family," "Welcome Back, Kotter," "Emergency," "The Fall Guy," "Mork and Mindy" and more ... Did you have any idea there was a "General Hospital" board game????





You see that small Mego Luke Duke figure from "The Dukes of Hazzard"? That sticker in the corner says "80." We didn't ask!






We saw quite a few of the Hasbro "Charlie's Angels" dolls at the show. This is a wonderful set of the first three of the four dolls, for $85. We saw the others loose and reasonably priced. This author showed you her two -- Farrah and Jaclyn -- in Episode 12 of Season 2 of the Terrific TV Toys series.



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

Own a "Dynasty" gown: Joan Collins' property stars in a December auction

It makes us a little nervous when a megastar from one of our beloved classic TV shows decides to auction off her belongings. But Julien's Auctions is featuring a collection next month that you won't want to miss, as it includes an item or two from Collins' time on "Dynasty." The catalog itself is lovely and a great keepsake for fans. Included in the collection are quite a few pieces worn on-screen from "Dynasty," its reunion movie, and other productions -- even her slinky blue number from the Snickers commercial with Stephanie Beacham. For convenience, we're including the official press release for Collins' auction here ...

..........................................
Beverly Hills, California – Julien’s Auctions, auction house to the stars, announces The Collection of Dame Joan Collins, an exquisite collection of fashion, jewelry, decorative arts and personal items representing her life and career. Joan Collins, first and foremost, is an actress but she is also a best-selling author, an accomplished producer and a successful entrepreneur. Nominated for an Emmy Award and winner of a Golden Globe Award and People’s Choice Award, as well as numerous other awards worldwide, Collins has appeared in more than 60 films and dozens of television programs.
When Alexis Carrington appeared on the hit primetime television drama, “Dynasty,” women from all over the world dreamed of being her and living the life of luxury and high stakes as only Carrington could have lived. It was Dame Joan Collins who brought the cunning and beautiful Alexis to life on the screen from 1981 to its end in 1989. The ABC award-winning drama featured Joan Collins alongside John Forsythe, Linda Evans and others.
The tale of Colorado oil tycoon Blake Carrington and the women he loved and wronged captivated America each week for eight years. The show was also nominated every year for a Golden Globe Award for Best TV Drama.
Collins won the Golden Globe in 1983 for her role in the show.The legendary Collins has worked aside some of Hollywood’s most popular stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Bette Davis, Paul Newman, Gregory Peck, Kirk Douglas and numerous others. Some of her most memorable films include “The Girl in The Red Velvet Swing,” “Rally Round the Flag Boys,” and “The Virgin Queen.”  Her work in television has included TV shows such as “Starsky & Hutch,” “Mission Impossible,” “Love Boat” and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” just to name a few. Since Joan made her stage debut at the age of nine and signed her first film contract at the age of 16, she has gone on to become one of the most iconic and recognizable Hollywood stars of our time.
Highlights from The Collection of Dame Joan Collins include outstanding couture dresses from the 1960s, costumes, designer fashions and accessories, jewelry, career memorabilia, decorative art, furniture and personal items. These highlights include two vintage Louis Vuitton steamer trunks, a 1961 beaded event worn couture dress, a couture halter dress worn to the “Doctor Doolittle” premiere, costumes from “Dynasty” including event worn gowns designed by Nolan Miller, a custom made white fox and mink cape designed by furrier Edward Lowell, a collection of costume jewelry dating from the 1960s to present and a gold perfume bottle gifted to Collins from Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner. Other highlights include furnishings and many personal items.
Collins is also a tireless humanitarian and patron of worldwide charities including the International Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities, The Shooting Star/Chase charity and others. In 1997 Dame Joan Collins was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to the Dramatic Arts and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2015 for her services to charity.The Collection of Dame Joan Collins will be featured in a full-color collectible catalog. The catalog will be available at www.juliensauctions.com.

People mag features power women of classic TV in its special issue

Yea, they certainly are power females, and People magazine recognizes that in the special thick issue on sale at the newsstand now (yea, the paper copy -- some folks still buy that!!!). It's all a celebration of the "women who rule TV," with plenty of fresh faces from current TV shows, but we just love seeing the classic gals ...


Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, above, talks about her iconic role and how she did all of her own stunts at first, but then when the show became huge, the producers and crew were much more protective of her. And Joan Collins, below, talks about her just-as-big gig as Alexis Carrington Colby Whatever-Whatever on "Dynasty."