"SKAEP NIWT - 3#, 5202 REBMETPES, FOHOXVT"

In the last few years, the Television Crossover Hall of Fame inducts actual TV series into the Hall.  These are not the TV shows as we watched them back in the Trueniverse; these are the televersions of those shows, as either seen or mentioned in other TV series.

I had already planned September to be a double tribute to the late David Lynch, who revolutionized the Television landscape with ‘Twin Peaks’.  And then I thought:  “Why not make it a tribute three times over?  When was the last time TV had a triplecast?”

And so with this ceremony, the TVXOHOF is proud to welcome the televersion of….

TWIN PEAKS

These are just some of the TV shows in Earth Prime-Time – the main Toobworld* - which also have their own ‘Twin Peaks’:

THE CHRONICLE   SMART GUY   GRACE UNDER FIRE  
L.A. LAW   CAMP WILDER   EERIE, INDIANA  
PARKER LEWIS CAN’T LOSE   HEAD OF THE CLASS
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000   MURPHY BROWN
THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR   COMMUNITY
NOT NECESSARILY THE NEWS   PARENTHOOD
BEVERLY HILLS 90210   CHASING LIFE
DETECTORISTS   WAREHOUSE 13   JONATHAN CREEK

To be qualified for membership in the TVXOHOF, a minimum of 3 separate appearances are required, and ‘Twin Peaks’ easily covered that.  But I’m thinking from now on, since pop culture references are always good for a quick mention in the dialogue, that I should make it harder for TV show televersions.  

We’ll see… but first, a piece of pie to mull it over.

Welcome to the Hall, ‘Twin Peaks’!

* ‘Twin Peaks’ is actually a multi-dimensional series, with fictional televersions to be found in alternate Toobworlds like Toobworld-DCU and especially in the Tooniverse.  But Earth Prime-Time is the Hall’s main focus, so we’re focusing on that.
 

WHO'S IN BROKENWOOD?

 
It's always fun to think of the Doctor as being a real person in Earth Prime-Time, that he might show up in other shows or at least be referenced as being in the same world.  

But other times we have to accept that a reference to 'Doctor Who' is to the TV show and not to the Doctor.  It's all in how he's addressed.

This is a case in point....

But all is not lost! 

For Toobworld Central, the televersion of the TV series in Earth Prime-Time is subsidized by a shadowy agency under the control of UNIT.  (I call it "UNReel".)  The intent is to make the general public believe that every time something happens which could be attributed to Time Lord hijinks is actually part of the production of the TV series 'Doctor Who'.

So there is a televersion of 'Doctor Who' and as we saw in an episode of 'Extras', it is definitely not the same as what we get to see....

TVXOHOF, DECEMBER, 2024 - "HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!" (THE ANIMATED TV SPECIAL)

Every movie and many TV series from the Trueniverse (that is, our world, Earth Prime) has a “televersion” in Toobworld (Earth Prime-Time).  The same holds true for TV commercials as well.  This helps to limit the number of Zonks – discrepancies – which can be caused whenever said movie or TV show is seen or referenced within a TV series.

It’s really not a problem when it comes to movies.  They may have their own reality (explored in a series of books by Craig Shaw Gardner, who gave that world the name “the Cineverse” – which I see is now being used by some company), but when seen or mentioned in various TV shows, they are exactly as they exist in the real world; there is no deviation from the true version.

There is one TV dimension where this is not true, however.  In Skitlandia, alternative versions can always be found.  (My favorite example of this can be found in the ‘Saturday Night Live’ show which was hosted by William Shatner.  Speaking of Christmas themes, they presented the original, lost ending to “It’s A Wonderful Life”.)

Last year for the Christmas entry into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, I inducted the aforementioned Frank Capra classic which starred Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, and Henry Travers.  This year, I’m going with one of my favorites of the traditional Christmas TV specials, animation division.

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

From Wikipedia:
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" (also known as "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!") is a 1966 American animated television special, directed and co-produced by Chuck Jones. Based on the 1957 children's book of the same name by Dr. Seuss, the special features the voice of Boris Karloff (also a narrator) as the Grinch. It tells the story of the Grinch, who tries to ruin Christmas for the townsfolk of Whoville below his mountain hideaway.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" was produced by The Cat in the Hat Productions in association with the television and animation divisions of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (the company that Jones was under contract at the time). The special completed production in a year and originally aired in the United States on CBS on Sunday, December 18, 1966. The special is considered a perennial holiday special.

PLOT SPOILERS!!!!!
The Grinch is a surly, antisocial green creature with a heart "two sizes too small" who lives alone in a snowbound cave atop Mt. Crumpit, located above the village of Whoville. He especially hates Christmas and has always been annoyed by the town's Christmas celebrations. One Christmas Eve, he finally decides to stop Christmas Day from coming to Whoville by disguising himself as Santa Claus, his dog Max as a reindeer and, in a reversal of Santa's visit, stealing all presents, decorations, and symbols of Christmas. Once loaded, he plans on dumping the bags of stolen goods. He is noticed by a girl named Cindy Lou Who, but is otherwise undetected.

As the Grinch reaches the icy summit of Mt. Crumpit, ready to dump the bags, he discovers that the citizens of Whoville, despite having no gifts or decorations, have gathered in the middle of town to sing as Christmas Day dawns. Realizing that Christmas means more than just material possessions, the Grinch's heart grows three sizes. He saves the sleigh, returns the presents and the other belongings to the Whos, and joins in the town's Christmas celebration by carving the roast beast, giving Max the first slice.

O’Bservation:
I included the synopsis, even though I can’t believe it could be unknown by this point – at least by those who would be reading the Inner Toob blog.  (And thank you for doing so!)
As it would be with movies as seen in the TV Universe, “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” is exactly the same version which we watch in the Real World.  Any deviations would be relegated to either Skitlandia or the Tooniverse, depending on their presentation.

The following list of appearances and/or mentions in TV shows which qualify the cartoon’s televersion for inclusion in the TVXOHOF are of the 1966 TV special ONLY.  Either the show’s characters are actually watching it, they are discussing the TV cartoon, or they are quoting the song lyrics.

If there is some leeway of doubt as to the reference being of the original Dr. Seuss book, I will defer to the book rather than to the cartoon (which, by the way, was narrated by Crossover Hall of Famer Boris Karloff.)  That way, I have a future Christmas induction ceremony.

Any appearances by TV characters dressed as the Grinch are considered references to the book.  (Someday I might start inducting books into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame.  This would be a good first choice.  But today is not that day.]

If the reference is definitely about one of the other versions, you won’t even see it listed here at Inner Toob.

Here then are the reasons why the televersion of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” belongs in the Hall…..

ER

HOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS (1996)
The family is watching this program on television

THAT '70s SHOW
THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER (1998)
The gang is watching it.

Fez:
“Nothing says Christmas like a big green Grinch ass.” 

FRIENDS
THE ONE WITH THE BUTT (1994)
Discussion of the heart-growing scene

AURORA:
Why can't we just have what we have now? Why can't we just talk, and laugh, and make love, without feeling obligated to one another... and up until tonight I thought that's what you wanted too.
CHANDLER:
Well, y'know, part of me wants that, but it's like I'm two guys, y'know? I mean, one guy's going 'Shut up! This is great!' But there's this other guy. Actually it's the same guy that wells up every time that Grinch's heart grows three sizes and breaks that measuring device... And he's saying, y'know, 'This is too hard! Get out! Get out!'

O’Bservation:
I think we all know Chandler is the type of character who would have the cartoon foremost in mind.

SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND
THE RIVER OF STARS (1995)
Mentioned by Lt. Vansen

3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN

HAPPY NEW DICK! (1998)
Dick, Harry, and Tommy watch it on TV.

Harry & Tommy:
♪ fah who fore-aze ♪
♪ Da who dor-aze ♪
♪ Welcome, Christmas ♪
♪ Come this way ♪
Dick:
Oh, come on!
How can they let the
Grinch carve the roast beast
After what he did?
Harry:
I think they feel bad for him
because of his enlarged heart.
Dick:
Totally unrealistic.

SIX FEET UNDER
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR (2002)
It is mentioned that Julio is watching "The Grinch."

NATURALLY, SADIE
A VERY SADIE CHRISTMAS (2006)
The musical montage featuring Hal is reminiscent of Thurl Ravenscroft's song about the Grinch.

NIP/TUCK
CHAZ DARLING (2007)
"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch."

THE BIG BANG THEORY
THE MATERNAL CONGRUENCE (2009)
They mention the movie.

Penny:
Oh, I always tear up when the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes.
Sheldon:
Tears seem appropriate. Enlargement of the heart muscle, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is a serious disease which could lead to congestive heart failure.
Leonard (singing Deck the Halls):
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Penny:
You really didn’t like it, Sheldon?
Sheldon:
No, on the contrary. I found the Grinch to be a relatable, engaging character, and I was really with him right up to the point that he succumbed to social convention and returned the presents and saved Christmas. What a buzz kill that was.

BIG TIME RUSH
BIG TIME CHRISTMAS (2010)
Reginald putting a slice of turkey on Katie's plate resembles the Grinch putting a slice of roast beast on the plate of Cindy Lou Who.

GLEE
A VERY GLEE CHRISTMAS (2010)
Sue dresses up like the Grinch. The students also sing "Welcome Christmas," which comes from this movie.

NCIS: LOS ANGELES
HIGHER POWER (2011)
Callen tells Sam "You're a mean one, Mr. Hanna."

THE BIG BANG THEORY
THE LAUNCH ACCELERATION (2012)
Leonard sings part of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."

PSYCH: THE MOVIE (TV Movie 2017)
Shawn says, "Gus, don't be the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile."

F IS FOR FAMILY
THE MAHOGANY FORTRESS (2021)
Frank mistakenly thinks that the Grinch died at the end of this.

Hopefully, there should be at least two more inductions into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.  Hmmmm....  I'm getting on in years, maybe I should set them up in advance.

HoHoHo!

 

TVXOHOF, DECEMBER 2023 - IT'S A WONDERFUL CROSSOVER, PART THREE

For this final installment in the salute to the televersion of the classic holiday film "It's A Wonderful Life", here are the flotsam and jetsam of TV show episodes which confirm the movie's existence in Earth Prime-Time....

from
FAMILY MATTERS
KEATON vs. KEATON

FAVORITE MOVIE OF CERTAIN TV CHARACTERS

"Fame" - Relationships (TV Episode 1983)
Doris Schwartz

"Tales from the Darkside" - Slippage (TV Episode 1984)
Richard Hall 

"Newhart" - The Prodigal Darryl (TV Episode 1985)
One of the two Darryls

"Family Ties" - Keaton vs. Keaton (TV Episode 1987)
Steven and Elyse Keaton

"Days of Our Lives" Episode #1.7167 (TV Episode 1993)
Sami Brady

"Dawson's Creek" - Hurricane (TV Episode 1998)
Mrs. Ryan

"Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" Chapter Eleven: A Midwinter's Tale (TV Episode 2018)
Sabrina Spellman

"2 Broke Girls" - And the Very Christmas Thanksgiving (TV Episode 2011)
Caroline Channing and Mary (Actually, it’s their second favorite)

from
FRIENDS
THE ONE WITH THE BUTT

from
NOT NECESSARILY THE NEWS
(Phil Noir's report on colorization of old movies)

POSTERS

• "Amazing Stories" - Welcome to My Nightmare (TV Episode 1986)
• “Tales from the Crypt" - Loved to Death (TV Episode 1991)
• "Friends" - The One with the Butt (TV Episode 1994)
• "Yellowjackets" Old Wounds (TV Episode 2023)

from
KING OF QUEENS
FOOD FIGHT

VIDEOTAPES/DVDS

• "Melrose Place" - A Melrose Place Christmas (TV Episode 1992)
• "Friends" - The One Where Old Yeller Dies (TV Episode 1996)
• “King of Queens” – Food Fight (TV Episode 2002)
• "The O.C." - The Best Chrismukkah Ever (TV Episode 2003)
• "Mike & Molly" - Karaoke Christmas (TV Episode 2012)

“NOW PLAYING”

• "Grace Under Fire" - The Holidays (TV Episode 1994)
• "How I Met Your Mother" False Positive (TV Episode 2010)

Basically, this last category was really just references and could have been added to the second post in the series.  But I just like the imagery it summoned, reminiscent of the old movie house seen in Bedford Falls.

Which reminds me....  Did you know that Bedford Falls does exist in Earth Prime-Time?

"Not Necessarily the News" Not Necessarily the Year in Review (TV Episode 1990)
Annabelle Gurwitch reports on Christmas in Bedford Falls in connection to the S&L scandal.

And with that, we wrap up this salute to "It's A Wonderful Life" and welcome it to the TV Crossover Hall of Fame.

HEE HAW!

And on a personal note, I just want to wish my baby sister, Leah, the Merriest of Merries and a Happy Krimble.  These three blog posts have been dedicated to her as it's her favorite movie....

TVXOHOF CENTENARY TRIBUTE - LT. THEO KOJAK

"Kojak is sexier

than Cannon and Barnaby Jones put together."

Marge Simpson

‘The Simpsons’

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Telly Savalas.  There are so many movies and TV show episodes for which he will be remembered (perhaps chief among them in both categories are “The Dirty Dozen” and “Living Doll”, an episode of ‘The Twilight Zone’, respectively.)  But I doubt there could be any argument that the detective series ‘Kojak’ is the pinnacle of his career.

From Wikipedia:
‘Kojak’ is an American action crime drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. Taking the time slot of the popular ‘Cannon’ series, it aired on CBS from 1973 to 1978.

In 1999 TV Guide ranked Theo Kojak number 18 on its 50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time list.

The series was set in the New York City Police Department's Eleventh Precinct (the building shown was actually Ninth Precinct), Manhattan South Patrol Borough.

The show revolved around the efforts of the tough and incorruptible Lieutenant Theodore ("Theo") Kojak (Telly Savalas), a bald, dapper, New York City policeman, who was fond of Tootsie Roll Pops and of using the catchphrases, "Who loves ya, baby?" and "Cootchie-coo!" Kojak was stubborn and tenacious in his investigation of crimes—and also displayed a dark, cynical wit, along with a tendency to bend the rules if it brought a criminal to justice. He frequently ribbed his subordinates, especially the rotund Stavros, whom he referred to as "Fatso". Foot chase scenes involving Stavros also brought on the same type of physical humor. However, Kojak was especially abusive toward criminals, often stretching the truth: in one case Kojak said he witnessed them do something he did not actually witness (setting a bomb) to get them to talk. Kojak was so abusive, Mad magazine carried a TV satire titled, "Kojerk".

In the context of the script, Kojak's was seen as typical squad room humor, which would be picked up later in the TV drama ‘Hill Street Blues’. Savalas described Kojak as a "basically honest character, tough but with feelings—the kind of guy who might kick a hooker in the tail if he had to, but they'd understand each other because maybe they grew up on the same kind of block."  Kojak's Greek American heritage, shared by actor Savalas, was featured prominently in the series. In the early episodes of the series, he is often seen smoking cigarettes. Following the 1964 Surgeon General's Report on smoking, cigarette commercials were banned from American television in 1971, and public awareness of the dangers of cigarette smoking increased dramatically during the 1970s.

To cut down on his own habit, Kojak began using lollipops as a substitute. The lollipop made its debut in the Season 1 episode "Dark Sunday", broadcast on December 12, 1973; Kojak lights a cigarette as he begins questioning a witness, but thinks better of it and sticks a lollipop (specifically, a Tootsie Pop) in his mouth instead. Later in the episode, Kevin Dobson's character Crocker asks about the lollipop and Kojak replies, "I'm looking to close the generation gap." Although Kojak continued to smoke, as he was frequently seen lighting a cigarillo, the lollipop eventually became his identifying characteristic; in fact, when the series debuted a new opening montage in season five, Kojak is seen both lighting a cigarillo and popping a lollipop into his mouth.

‘Kojak’ came out during the wave of TV detectives who had some sort of gimmick – Barnaby Jones was old. Frank Cannon was fat.  Mike Longstreet was blind.  And Lt. Frank Columbo was rumpled.

For Lt. Theo Kojak, his detective was bald.  Kojak was suave yet coarse.  And he always had a lollipop at hand.

It’s no wonder that some TV producer (to be found only in Toobworld) decided to make a TV show about this brash NYPD cop.  As I always say, stealing and mangling Warhol’s famous saying – in Toobworld, everybody will have their own TV show.

We’ve seen ‘Kojak’ playing on TV – but not technically in Toobworld.  It was playing on Sam Tyler’s TV in “Out Here In The Fields”, an episode of ‘Life On Mars’, the U.S. remake of the British series.

Ladies and gents, it’s spoiler time!

From Wikipedia:
At the end of the series, it is revealed that Tyler's 2008 and 1973 realities were both fictitious, created by the onboard computer of a spacecraft that is carrying Tyler [and other crew members on a mission to Mars.]

To sustain the crew, their minds were routinely kept active while asleep using virtual reality "neural stimulation" programs of their own choosing, but Sam's choice of a scenario - where he was a police officer c. 2008 - was abruptly changed to a 1973 setting by a computer glitch induced by a meteor-storm.  

So in order to create that dreamscape, the computer had to draw on the memory banks full of information from back on Toobworld.  And that would include the televersion of the TV show ‘Kojak’, based on the “real” Toobworldling, Theo Kojak.

Of course, Theo Kojak in the TV show looks remarkably like the actor Telly Savalas who does have an official televersion.  As a member of the League of Themselves, Savalas was seen in “Has Anyone Here Seen Telly?” – an episode of ‘Alice’. (In the episode, nobody believes Vera when she tells them that Telly Savalas and his brother George – who was a co-star in the series – stopped in to Mel’s Diner.)

That Savalas and Kojak shared the same TV dimension was also confirmed by a Toobworldling named Balki Bartokomous.  In the ‘Perfect Strangers’ episode “Knock Knock, Who’s There?”, Balki asked "Does Telly Savalas love you, baby?“  As was the case with many of Balki’s bon mots, he was confusing the two men – the detective and the actor who played him.

Here is a list of some TV shows from the Trueniverse which have mentioned ‘Kojak’:

I’m sure there are plenty of other series out there which have mentioned ‘Kojak’.  In some of those references, Kojak is mentioned by name without any connection to the TV show.  Those are probably references to the actual detective in Toobworld.  The rest of the citations would be for the TV show based on his life.

Therefore, looking at it from a televisiologist’s perspective, all of those shows which mentioned either the show or the detective confirm that he actually existed in their world.  Therefore… all of those TV series listed above are connected to the man himself either directly or indirectly.

Not only that, but 'Kojak' is a TV program in alternate Toobworlds:

• ‘The West Wing’’
• ‘Agents of SHIELD’
• ‘Z Nation’
• ‘Castle’

(O’Bservation - Because the NYC Mayors differ from Earth Prime and Earth Prime-Time, 'Castle' might exist in the same Toobworld as ‘The West Wing’.)

• ‘The Simpsons’
• ‘BoJack Horseman’

(O’Bservation – Despite the wildly different artistic styles and storylines, ‘BoJack Horseman’ and ‘The Simpsons’ share the same Borderland – The Tooniverse, along with all of the other animated series.)

We also know that Lt. Kojak exists in an alternate Toobworld.  Ving Rhames played the bald detective in a reboot of the series.  As Mr. Rhames is black, Toobworld Central figured the best home for the show would be Black Toobworld which also houses the black versions of 'The Equalizer', 'The Odd Couple', 'Barefoot In The Park', 'Ironside', 'S.W.A.T.' and the movie adaptation of 'The Honeymooners.'

Finally, here are the TV shows and TV movies which are included in the official tally for Theo Kojak’s membership in the Hall of Fame:

• The Marcus-Nelson Murders
• Kojak - 117 episodes
• Kojak: The Belarus File
• Kojak: The Price of Justice
• Kojak: Flowers for Matty
• Kojak: It's Always Something
• Kojak: None So Blind
• Kojak: Ariana
• Kojak: Fatal Flaw

It’s a well-deserved honor for Theo Kojak.

Who loves ya, Baby?

Toobworld does!

Welcome to the Hall, Lieutenant!

And happy birthday wherever you are....

You know what?  This crossover marks a special event - the 100th birthday of Telly Savalas.  And since we know he has a televersion, and we know that avatar of Savalas, that "Savatar", starred in the Toobworld TV show version of 'Kojak', then all those references to the show are also references to Telly Savalas as well.  

So even though Savalas only had one appearance as his own televersion, I'm counting all of those shows to qualify the actor for membership also.

I don't make such an allowance often, but how often do I get to mark the centennial of an actor like Telly Savalas?

BCnU!

FRIDAY HALL OF FAMERS 11/27/2020 - "THE WEST WING'

For the final week of every month this year, we’ve been inducting the televersions of real TV shows which also exist in Toobworld as that last Friday Hall of Famer.

With November having a heavy political aura, a political series seemed to be the O’Bvious choice.  So we’re walking and talking the perfect candidate into the TVXOHOF:

THE WEST WING

Within the main Toobworld, Earth Prime-Time, there is no problem of a Zonk because ‘The West Wing’ takes place in an alternate Toobworld (which is also the home for ‘Smallville’, ‘Mr. Sterling’, ‘Minority Report’, ‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’, and the miniseries ‘Pine Gap’.)  This is because Earth Prime-Time must always have the same President of the United States as in the Trueniverse.  (You never know when a TV series might reference the POTUS.)

This list is of shows which refer to ‘The West Wing’ as a TV series within the main Toobworld.  We’re excluding shows from other Toobworlds and from Skitlandia and the Tooniverse.

And since this week’s Hall of Famer is also “Black Friday”, kicking off the holiday season, we’ve “decorated” the list with a few Christmassy pictures of ‘The West Wing’ on TV which I found on IMGUR.

3rd Rock from the Sun:

Dick'll Take Manhattan: Parts 1 & 2
(2000)

Seen on the NBC lineup calendar

Popular:
Are You There God? It's Me Ann-Margret
(2000)

Nicole mentions the show.

Primetime Glick:
Rob Lowe/Billy Crystal
(2001)

Referenced during Rob Lowe's interview.

Gilmore Girls:
Haunted Leg
(2002)

Francie says, "I'll make her so ineffectual, she'll make Jimmy Carter look like Martin Sheen."

Everwood:
The Price of Fame
(2003)

When Andy and Brenda start running lines at a fast pace, Brenda complains that people don't talk that fast on "The West Wing"

Joan of Arcadia:

Only Connect
(2004)

Father Ken has been watching reruns of the series.

The Dame Edna Treatment:
Episode #1.2
(2007)

The Thick of It:
Episode #3.3
(2009)

Ollie mentions the show.

Fringe:
Over There: Part 1
(2010)

In the alternate universe, Olivia sees a billboard promoting Season 11 of the show

The Office:
Viewing Party
(2010)

The scene following the cold open mimics The West Wing's trademark "walk-and-talk" format and rapid-fire dialogue, while Michael imitates the gruff mannerisms of John Spencer's Leo McGarry.

30 Rock:

Plan B
(2011)

Aaron Sorkin mentions that he wrote the show

Fringe:
Bloodline
(2011)

Season 12 ad seen on taxi

Alan Partridge
(2013)

Mentioned when two characters are 'walking and talking'

The Almighty Johnsons:
And Then on to Norsewood
(2013)
mentioned in dialogue

The Good Wife:
Dark Money
(2015)

Alicia instructs her campaign staff to use the West Wing tweets to stop the robocalls

The Good Wife:

Red Meat
(2015)

Mentioned in dialogue

Please Like Me:
Natural Spring Water
(2015)

Ella mentions the show by name.

Mom:
Pure Evil and a Free Piece of Cheesecake
(2016)

In Bonnie's dream sequence, Allison Janney is joined by her 'The West Wing' co-star, Richard Schiff, a nod to the series.

Popstar:
Never Stop Never Stopping
(2016)

CMZ reporter says "The guy from The West Wing?" when Martin Sheen is seen fighting Conner.

Please welcome the televersion of ‘The West Wing’ to the Television Crossover Hall of Fame!

FRIDAY HALL OF FAMERS, 11/20/2020 - CONNIE CHUNG

In this month dedicated to the newsmakers and newscasters, the Television Crossover Hall of Fame is continuing with another newscaster and television personality….

CONNIE CHUNG

From Wikipedia:
Constance Yu-Hwa Chung (born August 20, 1946) is an American journalist. She has been an anchor and reporter for the U.S. television news networks NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, and MSNBC. Some of her more famous interview subjects include Claus von Bülow and U.S. Representative Gary Condit, whom Chung interviewed first after the Chandra Levy disappearance, and basketball legend Magic Johnson after he went public about being HIV-positive. In 1993, she became only the second woman to co-anchor a network newscast as part of ‘CBS Evening News’. She was removed in 1995 as ‘CBS Evening News’ co-anchor after a controversial interview with a fireman, during rescue efforts at the Oklahoma City bombing, which seemed inappropriately combative, and her interview tactics to get Newt Gingrich's mother to admit her unguarded thoughts about Hillary Clinton.

Having inducted Julie Chen last week, I’m not going after any particular theme here.  If I was, I would have saved them for the next lunar new year.

Actually, I thought of Ms. Chung (Mrs. Maury Povich) first, remembering her appearance on ‘Murphy Brown’ with several other women in the broadcast news business.  From there, I thought of Ms. Chen in an episode of ‘Yes, Dear’.  And since I needed the fodder to fill out all the Fridays in the month, I decided to feature them both….

I did go with Julie Chen first because she had more credits.  But that could be attributed to being married to Les Moonves, who was head of CBS at the time.  I’m more impressed with the credits Connie Chung has acquired.  After all, I don’t think being Mrs. Povich opened any doors for her in that regard.

Here are the episodes which have gained her access to the TVXOHOF (following the Toobworld timeline):

Fresh Off the Boat

- Ride the Tiger
(2018)

O’Bservation – Literally, she phoned it in!

Murphy Brown

- TV or Not TV
(1989)

Documentary Now!

- Batsh*t Valley, Part 1
 (2019)

The Undoing
- See No Evil
(2020)

And she has a doppelganger in at least one alt-Toobworld….

House of Cards

- Chapter 64
- Chapter 65
(Both 2017)

Welcome to the Hall, Ms. Chung!

 

FRIDAY HALL OF FAMERS, 11/13/2020 - JULIE CHEN

 
So we kicked off the month with a US President and then inducted the next First Lady.  Now we’re going to add a newscaster/television personality to the mix….

JULIE CHEN

From Wikipedia:
Julie Suzanne Chen Moonves (born January 6, 1970) is an American television personality, news anchor, and producer for CBS. She has been the host of the American version of the CBS reality-television program ‘Big Brother’ since its debut in July 2000 and is the longest-serving host of any country's version of the show. Chen Moonves was a co-host and the moderator of the CBS Daytime talk show, ‘The Talk’, for eight seasons. Previously, she was a co-anchor of ‘The Early Show’ on CBS.

There are three reasons why Julie Chen got so many credits as a member of the League of Themselves:

1) Her affiliations with ‘Big Brother’ and ‘The Talk’

2) Most of the shows involved had CBS connections

3) She is married to Les Moonves, who was the CBS head honcho at the time.

Here are the credits which gained her entry into TVXOHOF:

Yes, Dear

- Big Brother-in-Law
(2003)

DEFINITE connection to ‘Big Brother’

Veronica Mars

- Normal Is the Watchword
(2005)

From the Veronica Mars wiki:
Julie Chen is an American television presenter for CBS. She appears in her own role in the first episode of the second season, as she interviews Keith Mars about the murder of Lilly Kane and his newly released book.

Possible reference to ‘CBS Early Morning’

The Millers
 - Internet Dating
(2013)
- Give Metta World Peace a Chance
(2014)

The Comeback

- Valerie Faces the Critics

From a fan site:
Valerie Cherish explicitly stated to the ladies of ‘The Talk’ that ‘Seeing Red’ is a dark comedy. ‘The Talk’ also brings up the topic of Val’s marriage, breaking out Valerie and Mark’s ski slope wedding photos.

Crossover with ‘The Talk’
(2014)

The Young and the Restless

 - Episode #1.10419
(2014)
- Episode #1.11178
(2017)

Life In Pieces

- Bunny Single Nightmare Drinking
(2017)

Jane the Virgin

- Chapter Seventy-Four

From a fan site:
Rogelio goes on ‘The Talk’ – and how fun is it that we have the whole cast! Julie Chen, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, and Sara Gilbert! Fields denies that Male Post-Partum depression does not exist. Rogelio gains ground by dissolving into tears. Rogelio is ready to accept it as a draw, but Fields and Rogelio are also in the next segment… on wild animals.

Crossover with ‘The Talk’
(2018)

She has doppelgangers in other TV dimensions as well:

ALTERNATE TOOBWORLDS

The Unit

- Hero
(2009)

Her connection to ‘CBS Early Morning’ may have referenced.

Madam Secretary

- Pilot (2014)

O’Bservation – This is probably from Tea Leoni’s appearance on ‘The Talk’ as herself and not as Elizabeth McCord.

Beauty and the Beast

- Ancestors

Crossover with 'The Talk'
(2014)

Supergirl

- Falling

Crossover with ‘The Talk’
(2016)

Welcome to the Hall, Julie Chen!  You’ll find your husband Les already here….