Billie Rae Bates's Blog, page 77
September 12, 2014
Terrific TV Toys: Dolly's doll is a keeper, and so is the star herself
Once in a while, what looks the most fake is actually the most real. Funny how that works. But when it comes to Dolly Parton, her "more" has always been much more, and her honesty has also been front and center, in your face. She's refreshingly frank about who she is. We like that about her. So it was very timely when she appeared on "The Wendy Williams Show" a few weeks back to talk about her latest album, "Blue Smoke," and about her "Auntie"-ship to pop star Miley Cyrus, and just about herself and who she is. That quote from the "Oprah" show a few years back popped up again: "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap!" Wendy loved it, and we love it, too.
When this author was a little girl, Dolly Parton had a TV variety show on the air and a related doll on the store shelves. Remember those variety shows? Dolly was a household name, so she seemed a good fit, though the show lasted only one season. The doll lasted longer, even if it is a little rough around the edges. You'll see it in the video below, the latest installment in the BRBTV series, Terrific TV Toys (*of a vintage nature) ...
In her couchside chat with Wendy Williams, Dolly was as bubbly as ever and still going strong. After a whole lotta years in show biz. Rock on, girl.
September 10, 2014
Vintage tabloid is a treasure trove that takes us on a little trip back in time
Wow, what a find. Our buddy Andrea had this out on the table for her garage sale last month. Yes, she was going to part with it! BRBTV grabbed that up, forthwith, on the merits of its cover alone! And really, there's just so much other stuff to grab onto, in this August 17, 1982 issue of the National Enquirer, it would make this blog post waaaaaaayyyyy too long to cite it all. It's an extravaganza as far as '80s television is concerned, particularly for "Dynasty," "Dallas" and "The Dukes of Hazzard," which were all in their original airings at that point.
So what are these shocking childhoods of Linda Evans, Pamela Sue Martin and Joan Collins that the cover screams about? Well, Evans, it says, was a "sad and skinny wallflower raised in poverty." Quoting various sources (many of them named, believe it or not), the story says Linda wore hand-me-downs and dreamed of one day living in a world of Ferraris and champagne. Her high school rival for a boy she liked was none other than Stefanie Powers.
For Pamela Sue Martin, the mag says, as a teen her world was filled with lots of boys, beer, cigarettes and mischief. Unlike Evans, Martin had no aspirations to act at a young age. She started in the business as a model.
Joan Collins, on the other hand, barely had a childhood, the story says, her family dodging German bombs in World War II when she was a child. Collins (apparently) spoke to the Enquirer herself, quoted as saying, "I remember huddling in the basement, hearing the tremendous roar of exploding bombs. I used to pray to God, just sitting there in the dark, wondering if the bombs were going to hit us. Ever since, I've been unable to sleep in the dark."
Collins was 49 at the time of this publication. As a teen, the story says, she wrote an explicit sex saga, starring the teachers at her school, and passed it around to her female friends (shades of her later life as a novelist?). She married her first husband, who it says raped her on their first date, at only age 17. (The
It's interesting to note whether or not certain "predictions" the magazine makes came true. For instance, the story, "Tony Curtis is Killing Himself with Cocaine." The actor was 57 at the time, and the story claims "show business insiders" feared he would be dead in a year. Well, actually, Curtis died much later, in 2010, at the age of 85. Then there's Linda Lavin of "Alice," getting her own screaming headline on the cover. The story said she would marry her live-in love, Kip Niven, later that month. Indeed, she did, on August 22, 1982. Then she divorced him in 1992.
The "TV -- Behind the Screens" section is just a goldmine. Love that one. It mentions Melissa Sue Anderson of "Little House on the Prairie" being offered $17,500 a week to play "the daughter of the Carringtons' butler" on "Dynasty" (whom we know as Kirby, the role that went to Kathleen Beller). Linda Gray of "Dallas" got tormented by a guy with a gun at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Heather Locklear of "Dynasty" was evidently talking marriage with L.A. disc jockey G.W. McCoy. And yes, the aforementioned Joan Collins "hit the roof" when Gordon Thomson was cast to play Adam Carrington on "Dynasty," since he was only 12 years younger than her. Producers ordered him to say he was 27 rather than 37. Yea, we'd heard that one before.
This issue also has a feature story on Tom Wopat and John Schneider, who were in the midst of their walk-out on "The Dukes of Hazzard." Wopat's career was failing and he was trying to talk Schneider into going back, the story says, as Warner Bros. told him the two had to come back as a package deal. Schneider was (reportedly!) telling Wopat no, because he had offers coming out of his ears at the time. The story also gives a look at their two replacements, Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer. So fun.
So what are these shocking childhoods of Linda Evans, Pamela Sue Martin and Joan Collins that the cover screams about? Well, Evans, it says, was a "sad and skinny wallflower raised in poverty." Quoting various sources (many of them named, believe it or not), the story says Linda wore hand-me-downs and dreamed of one day living in a world of Ferraris and champagne. Her high school rival for a boy she liked was none other than Stefanie Powers.
For Pamela Sue Martin, the mag says, as a teen her world was filled with lots of boys, beer, cigarettes and mischief. Unlike Evans, Martin had no aspirations to act at a young age. She started in the business as a model.
Joan Collins, on the other hand, barely had a childhood, the story says, her family dodging German bombs in World War II when she was a child. Collins (apparently) spoke to the Enquirer herself, quoted as saying, "I remember huddling in the basement, hearing the tremendous roar of exploding bombs. I used to pray to God, just sitting there in the dark, wondering if the bombs were going to hit us. Ever since, I've been unable to sleep in the dark."
Collins was 49 at the time of this publication. As a teen, the story says, she wrote an explicit sex saga, starring the teachers at her school, and passed it around to her female friends (shades of her later life as a novelist?). She married her first husband, who it says raped her on their first date, at only age 17. (The
It's interesting to note whether or not certain "predictions" the magazine makes came true. For instance, the story, "Tony Curtis is Killing Himself with Cocaine." The actor was 57 at the time, and the story claims "show business insiders" feared he would be dead in a year. Well, actually, Curtis died much later, in 2010, at the age of 85. Then there's Linda Lavin of "Alice," getting her own screaming headline on the cover. The story said she would marry her live-in love, Kip Niven, later that month. Indeed, she did, on August 22, 1982. Then she divorced him in 1992.
The "TV -- Behind the Screens" section is just a goldmine. Love that one. It mentions Melissa Sue Anderson of "Little House on the Prairie" being offered $17,500 a week to play "the daughter of the Carringtons' butler" on "Dynasty" (whom we know as Kirby, the role that went to Kathleen Beller). Linda Gray of "Dallas" got tormented by a guy with a gun at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Heather Locklear of "Dynasty" was evidently talking marriage with L.A. disc jockey G.W. McCoy. And yes, the aforementioned Joan Collins "hit the roof" when Gordon Thomson was cast to play Adam Carrington on "Dynasty," since he was only 12 years younger than her. Producers ordered him to say he was 27 rather than 37. Yea, we'd heard that one before.
This issue also has a feature story on Tom Wopat and John Schneider, who were in the midst of their walk-out on "The Dukes of Hazzard." Wopat's career was failing and he was trying to talk Schneider into going back, the story says, as Warner Bros. told him the two had to come back as a package deal. Schneider was (reportedly!) telling Wopat no, because he had offers coming out of his ears at the time. The story also gives a look at their two replacements, Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer. So fun.
September 8, 2014
Terrific TV Toys: "Batman: The Animated Series" Colorforms
Batman knocking out the Joker, then Catwoman, then hopping a Batwing out of the Batcave? And how did all those villains even get into the Batcave in the first place? Step into the world of Colorforms, where you create the action on the shiny canvas! Yep, Colorforms are still around, and they've marked quite a few decades of play in our pop culture, but for the latest installment of Terrific TV Toys (*of a vintage nature), we'll take a look at a Colorforms set celebrating the 1990s "Batman: The Animated Series" ...
September 5, 2014
Margot Kidder offers her thoughts on Richard Donner's cut of "Superman II" and working with Richard Pryor
Last month's Steel City Con near Pittsburgh sure was jam-packed. BRBTV concludes its coverage of the event with this video shot during Margot Kidder's panel discussion with fans. In it, she addresses questions about Richard Donner's cut of "Superman II," as well as what it was like to work with the late actor Richard Pryor, her co-star in "Superman III." And wait for Brian's question about "Superman IV" at the end -- it's a nice kicker.
September 3, 2014
Dean Cain discusses "Lois & Clark" and Scott Peterson
We're not done yet! Our coverage continues of the Steel City Con a few weeks ago. We showed you Butch Patrick of "The Munsters," then we showed you a cool replica of the Dragula vehicle from the show. Now, actor Dean Cain talks about his experiences on the 1990s ABC hit, "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," as well as the character of Superman in general and his portrayal of convicted killer Scott Peterson in the TV movie.
In Part 1 of this video coverage of Cain's panel discussion with fans, the actor comments on working with Lane Davies, who played Tempus on "Lois and Clark," what happened with Season 5 of the show, his part in "The Daly Show," and how he felt about his role as Scott Peterson.
In Part 2, Cain talks about just how he approached the role of Superman (who inspired him), the switch of Jimmy Olsens on "Lois and Clark," and the casting process he went through for the role.
In Part 1 of this video coverage of Cain's panel discussion with fans, the actor comments on working with Lane Davies, who played Tempus on "Lois and Clark," what happened with Season 5 of the show, his part in "The Daly Show," and how he felt about his role as Scott Peterson.
In Part 2, Cain talks about just how he approached the role of Superman (who inspired him), the switch of Jimmy Olsens on "Lois and Clark," and the casting process he went through for the role.
September 1, 2014
Step into the "Munsters" Dragula! It even drives, Tony says!
Tony Greco of Pittsburgh has a hot replica of the "Dragula" coffin car featured on "The Munsters," and in this video from last month's Steel City Con, he gives Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV a glimpse inside and out! This thing even drives, he says. Nice. We do still love the gold-colored Dragula replica built by our buddy Mike here in Metro Detroit, but hey, this one will do, too!
Thanks to Brian for the assist with the camera.
Thanks to Brian for the assist with the camera.
August 29, 2014
Butch Patrick talks "Munsters" a paranormal house (what?) and more with BRBTV
Buying a paranormal house? Riding around on a Harley? Working on a new book that will initially have only a 100 or so copies? These are the elements of Butch Patrick's life right now. Hear all about it in this video of the "Munsters" star chatting with Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV at the Steel City Con near Pittsburgh earlier this month.
We had mock-threatened him before, when we spoke to him on the phone for this interview regarding the proposed new "Munsters" series, that we were going to get him on camera! Thanks, Butch, for chatting with us. Thanks to Brian for the assist with the camera! (And please pardon the fact that we were flying without a mic that day!)
We had mock-threatened him before, when we spoke to him on the phone for this interview regarding the proposed new "Munsters" series, that we were going to get him on camera! Thanks, Butch, for chatting with us. Thanks to Brian for the assist with the camera! (And please pardon the fact that we were flying without a mic that day!)
August 27, 2014
Tony DeGuide talks with BRBTV about his movie with Mickey Rooney
Tony DeGuide is an actor and a filmmaker, and he's done some modeling over the years, too. Based in Chicago, he's got a movie project coming up that he discusses with BRBTV, plus he gives us the goods on the movie he did with Mickey Rooney, which was one of that legendary actor's last projects. Enjoy his comments below, at this video shot at the Hollywood Show in Chicago in August 2014.
This rounds out the BRBTV coverage of the Hollywood Show -- now on to those Steel City Con videos from earlier in the month!
Thanks, Tony! And thanks to Don for the assist!
This rounds out the BRBTV coverage of the Hollywood Show -- now on to those Steel City Con videos from earlier in the month!
Thanks, Tony! And thanks to Don for the assist!
August 25, 2014
Diane Franklin tells BRBTV all about her new book
Diane Franklin was just adorable back in the day, when she was making '80s movies like "Better Off Dead," "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," and "The Last American Virgin." She's still adorable, BRBTV learned as we chatted with her at the Hollywood Show the weekend before last on a sunny day in Chicagoland.
Franklin has also done some television over the years, like "Matlock," "Charles in Charge" and the "Dallas: The Early Years" movie, where she played the young Amanda (Ewing). Now Franklin has released an autobiography, "The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s," which you can find on Amazon. She's quick with a dainty little accent -- French or English -- and she's a delight to talk to. Thanks, Diane, for chatting with us.
Franklin has also done some television over the years, like "Matlock," "Charles in Charge" and the "Dallas: The Early Years" movie, where she played the young Amanda (Ewing). Now Franklin has released an autobiography, "The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s," which you can find on Amazon. She's quick with a dainty little accent -- French or English -- and she's a delight to talk to. Thanks, Diane, for chatting with us.
August 22, 2014
Parker Stevenson talks "Hardy Boys" with BRBTV
Let's get frank, shall we? Because that's what we tend to do here on the BRBTV News Blog. When this author was a little girl, it wasn't Shaun Cassidy she was watching on the 1970s hourlong drama "The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries," based, as you know, on the popular kids' books. Though I loved Nancy Drew, and had probably read each and every one of my yellow hardcover Nancy Drew books at the time and never missed an episode of the series starring Pamela Sue Martin, when it came to the Hardy Boys installments of that series, I wasn't a Shaun girl. That was my best friend Julie. She couldn't get enough of Shaun. Shaun posters, Shaun issues of Tiger Beat, Shaun everything. Da-Do-Run-Run. But me? It was Parker Stevenson for me. He was the hunky one, as far as I was concerned. He was the real man of the two, the older, rather stable brother. And just so hot. OK, that's pretty frank.
Last weekend's Hollywood Show just outside of Chicago offered up a nice selection of stars of the classic TV shows we grew up with. You saw the John Amos interview on Monday. Well, how about none other than Parker Stevenson? This longtime actor, who we also loved in the 1980s "North and South" miniseries, was kind enough to chat with us for a few minutes toward the close of the show on Sunday. He reminisced a bit about "Hardy Boys," as well as his role on "Baywatch," and gave us a tidbit on his very recent "Longmire" episode -- he'll be coming back to the show! Fabulous!
Last weekend's Hollywood Show just outside of Chicago offered up a nice selection of stars of the classic TV shows we grew up with. You saw the John Amos interview on Monday. Well, how about none other than Parker Stevenson? This longtime actor, who we also loved in the 1980s "North and South" miniseries, was kind enough to chat with us for a few minutes toward the close of the show on Sunday. He reminisced a bit about "Hardy Boys," as well as his role on "Baywatch," and gave us a tidbit on his very recent "Longmire" episode -- he'll be coming back to the show! Fabulous!
