Billie Rae Bates's Blog

This author just may happen to accidentally be rewatching the CW's "Dynasty" remake that ran for five seasons -- rather recently, 2017-2022. And that rewatching is for a particular purpose that has heretofore been unmentioned, but perhaps you can guess. But that's for a future post. This post is about how much I am truly loving this show all over again. And I feel compelled to write it after the episode I rewatched just now, Season 3's “Something Desperate,” a musical episode originally airing in November 2019. Yes, if you're unfamiliar with the show, they did a musical episode, kinda like another CW show, "Riverdale," and probably quite a few others. Musical numbers have been a part of this modern "Dynasty" series here and there, but to have several of them in one episode is truly a delight: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," "Against All Odds," “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Burning Down the House.”

From the synopsis for this episode I wrote for the Kindle edition of "Dynasty High" (soon to be incorporated into the print edition as well -- ooops, did I say that out loud?):

The soundtrack of the show has been classic pop tunes – heavy on the ‘80s – and this episode really cements it. The whole cast shines in the musical numbers, but Sam Underwood just kills it. His chemistry with Grant Show during the first number is palpable as the two open up their own boys’ club in front of Fallon at the piano. And he’s got the moves during “Burning Down the House.” He earns the MVP award for this episode. The framework of Fallon slowly getting dosed from the leaking gas in her bedroom and thereby hearing others breaking out in song (when they’re evidently not) or breaking out into song herself is clever. BRBTV votes this one best episode of the season (so far, and we think it will stick). 

Daniella Alonso as Cristal and Grant Show as Blake.

I mean, seriously, Grant Show? Whom we knew chiefly as the rugged biker Jake on the '90s "Melrose Place" before he took on the role of Blake Carrington??? They got him to friggin' sing in this episode??? I had already been impressed with how Show carved his own Blake out of this series -- so different from John Forsythe of the original series but so commanding in his own right -- call him highly dignified and hunky. 
And the younger cast members, just so talented. Elizabeth Gillies as Fallon steals the show, rather overtly, from the first episode and from her top billing, and she is a talented songstress, crooning in several episodes over the five seasons. She has all the tartness of the original Fallon (the original-original Fallon, if you're a fan of the show and know what I mean), but she takes it further. Narcissism is so glam with her -- and somehow OK.
But Sam Underwood ... ooooohhhh, Sam Underwood. I hope he has gone on to other great roles, because he deserves it. It occurs to me that he demonstrates just how hard it is to make it in Hollywood -- you're competing against guys like this, so you better really be talented and better really bring it, all you prospects out there. It's not enough to be able to act well -- sometimes you've got to be able to sing and have the moves to get a role! Underwood as Adam has the creep factor mastered, and I say that in a good way! Frankly, Adam is my favorite character on the show.

Sam Underwood as Adam.

Yes, this is not the original "Dynasty." And I know some hard-core "Dynasty" fans can't stand the remake series. But I found myself continually and increasingly enthralled from the very first ep in 2017, appreciating it for what it was. A fresh take. A modern telling. A twist on the original. A tribute.

Elizabeth Gillies as Fallon and Rafael de la Fuente as Sam.

Have a little taste of the ep and the dynamite performances (at least this YouTuber appreciated it!):

Photos are promo shots by Bob Mahoney/The CW

So I receive a package in the mail, which is not an unusual occurrence, and that package is from my artist friend Jim of Jim's Creations, making its way from the Great White North. That's not too unusual, either. But Jim hadn't let on at all that he was sending me something. OK, maybe that has happened a time or two before, as well. 

But what's unusual about this time is I think, hey, I should shoot a video of me opening this mystery box! That would be fun. Then whatever it is, I will make it an episode of either the Terrific TV Toys or Terrific non-TV Toys series. I did do that once before, with some art that Jim sent me (clearly it was art for my wall, as it was in a long tube), and that video is also coming up on the BRBTV collectibles series soon. But for now, let's indulge a little intrigue, shall we? Let's step through opening this box with unknown contents and see what amazing collectible(s) await us ...

Well, OK, it's not actually the Hoff -- more like a standie of him. It's the latest (and final for now) clip that BRBTV has fished out of the archive. This little glimpse comes from the 2014 Wizard World show in Philadelphia, where you could get your picture taken with the fabulous "Knight Rider" KITT car. Or a reasonable facsimile thereof? We're not sure. But that cardboard cutoff of David Hasselhoff is certainly a reasonable facsimile thereof!

This author knows that Erik Estrada, our beloved Ponch from classic TV's "CHiPs," is quite boisterous with the ladies at public appearances. I had the fun of hanging out with him at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan, a little more than a decade ago. When Estrada came to the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in Hunt Valley, Maryland, in 2017, it was the first time I had seen him since that crazy time in Metro Detroit when he hijacked a staffer's golf cart and wheeled around the convention floor yelling "I've fallen and I can't get up!!!" He was a bit more buttoned down in Maryland, but still likin' the ladies, and we know the ladies have always liked him! I was a little girl quite smitten when "CHiPs" originally aired.

But hey, enough about Ponch -- maybe his former colleague, Larry Wilcox, is the better subject to discuss these days. I saw a video recently where he explained his perspective of his relationship with Estrada with such grace and humility. I was quite impressed. So let's salute Mr. Wilcox, the other guy from "CHiPs," as an honorable man, and hearing his words in that other interview really made me watch my own clip here in a new light. I will say, too, that when I rewatched the series on streaming a couple years ago, I got a whole new appreciation for Jon.

Here, in what I realized is the most recent time I've been at this wonderful event in Maryland (I miss that show -- I really plan to return, one of these years!), Mr. Wilcox answers my question about what he's been doing in more recent years ...

I got to wear my "Dallas" T-shirt -- hey, that alone was worth the time! I had that thing tucked away in a drawer for years after snagging it at a collectibles show in Metro Detroit ... Anyhow, wow, what a nice talk I had with Josh Eilberg of the Ewing Barbecue Podcast. He and his fellow podcasters do great things in the fan community for our beloved classic TV show "Dallas." They discuss the episodes of the original series, one at a time, and Josh covers events like the recent reunion at Southfork. Josh was also kind enough to loan some wonderful photos of "Dallas" cast members to my recent (final!) update to the print edition of "Destination: Dallas." 

Here we talk about what went into the book, where the idea for these crazy BRBTV books even came from, and different aspects of this TV series that we love ...

I got to wear my "Dallas" T-shirt -- hey, that alone was worth the time! I had that thing tucked away in a drawer for years after snagging it at a collectibles show in Metro Detroit ... Anyhow, wow, what a nice talk I had with Josh Eilberg of the Ewing Barbecue Podcast. He and his fellow podcasters do great things in the fan community for our beloved classic TV show "Dallas." They discuss the episodes of the original series, one at a time, and Josh covers events like the recent reunion at Southfork. Josh was also kind enough to loan some wonderful photos of "Dallas" cast members to my recent (final!) update to the print edition of "Destination: Dallas." 

Here we talk about what went into the book, where the idea for these crazy BRBTV books even came from, and different aspects of this TV series that we love ...

Awwww, we love seeing our friend Ulysses Campbell again, and we love seeing the floor at the Baltimore Comic Con again, even if it is only virtually. Here's another clip from times  past, freshly posted on the BRBTV YouTube channel ...

A Shakespearean background that served him well, self-deprecating comedy albums, salty poetry, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, and a dad convicted of bird-smuggling (there's a joke in there somewhere) ... all of that marks the life of Victor Buono, that landmark villain of 1966 "Batman" and even "The Man from Atlantis" years later. Brian explores the actor's life as he shows you were Buono's body was laid to rest:
Six Feet Under Hollywood: Victor Buono - King Tut:   "Being on Batman allowed me to do something we actors are taught never to do: overact." ...

BRBTV has had the privilege to profile on this blog multiple collectors who buy up wardrobe items from our beloved (original) "Dynasty" TV series. One of those collectors has just let us know of some updates in his amazing collection. He's at NolanMillerCollector.com, and you can see some of his collection in the July 24, 2015, September 23, 2016 and March 27, 2018 posts of this blog (so yeah, it's been a while since we've checked in with him!).
For one thing, he says, "Since we last spoke I reunited the Alexis lily pond catfight hat to the dress! I now have the full outfit." Awesome. He has also added some items from outside the "Dynasty" realm.
Here's one glimpse of a couple new additions to his collection, the "nude" beaded gown worn by Linda ("Krystle") Evans and the blue number adorning Catherine ("Amanda") Oxenberg (and Karen Cellini, actually) in the show's opening credits:
Here are a few more additions:


Just incredible. Click on over to NolanMillerCollector.com for a lot more photos of the collection itself and a detail page for each piece. And thanks so much, [name redacted for privacy], for sharing with us!!!! LOL.

Last month's installment of Terrific non-TV Toys showed you some great Bat-vehicles (not all Batmobiles) from various movie (and video) franchises. For this month's ep of Terrific TV Toys, let's return to TV land -- specifically the 1966 "Batman" series as well as the 1990s "Batman: The Animated Series." We've got the straight-up Batmobile that Adam West so happily drove, as well as a golden version of the wheels in "B:TAS."

See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

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Indulge your love of the Timmverse with "Batman: The Animated Series, A BRBTV Report," a short, snappy, exploration of the landmark TV show in e-book format for your Kindle or tablet -- and at only a buck and a half!

Visit BRBTV.com for more books celebrating the great classic TV shows you grew up with!