Spending time in Everealm was Iike living out your favorite fantasy movie. I felt as if I took a plane ride to a real world that no one else knew existed. The producers did such an amazing job making everything feel real. From the clothes, to the food, to the life they created inside and outside of the castle, it was almost too easy to transition into this world where ogres and dragons lurked. When else would I get the opportunity to be woken up by head of a royal army for sword training, archery, and horseback riding? —Lina Carollo, one of the Paladins.

By the way, there really was no “prize” for winning either, other than getting to BE the One True Hero for Everealm, but that was more than enough for each of the Paladins. Just getting to live out their fantasy world imaginings, for as long as they could, seemed to be enough for any of them. Because of this, the entire show took on a positive, occasionally epic feel, which is exactly what the producers of the show were hoping for.

The Quest was conceived of by a number of experienced professionals, including Jane Fleming and Mark Ordesky, who were producers on the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, and Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, who have won multiple Emmy awards for creating and producing The Amazing Race. They brought to life the world of Everealm, and utilized a castle in Austria surrounded by 70 acres of forest in which to immerse the Paladins. When “on set” the production team dressed in period costumes and surrounded the contestants with actors and extras instructed to never “break character”, and respond in kind no matter what happened to the Paladins. With the willing suspension of disbelief by the contestants, it became surprisingly easy for the entire production to “transport” viewers and participants alike to their fantasy world. (Even medical problems and minor emergencies were handled by a “healer” who, when possible, used methods appropriate to the setting for their duties.)

The result was something unlike anything else on television, and so of course the network had no clue what to do with it. The show had originally been greenlighted by an executive that was no longer with the network, and while The Quest was originally scheduled to debut in January of 2014, it actually didn’t premiere until August of that year, in the dog days of summer. The Quest also got ZERO promotion from ABC, and was scheduled in 2-hour blocks on crowded Thursday nights against the beginning of the NFL football season. The network WANTED Everealm to disappear, it seemed, with tactics and decisions that seemed more aligned with Verlox than with the actions of One True Hero.

But then there’s this fancy, almost magical realm called the Internet, full of geeks and wanna-be Paladins and people who also wanted to be One True Heroes, and they discovered the show, and each other. And they build their own Army….

“As a fandom, The Quest Army promotes the show through live-tweets, rewatches, community events, and general discussion. The show’s creators, cast, crew, and contestants are all part of the Facebook group and engage with fans regularly and positively. The show’s fans are also represented on G+ and Twitter, the latter used primarily for recurring rewatches and live tweets.”—Joff Brown of The Quest Army.

Never underestimate the power of true believers. Like so many other short-lived shows, the people who DID find The Quest were filled with passion about their new discovery, and in the age of social media they were able to find each other…. And so The Quest Army was born. Right after the series ended on ABC, the Quest Army group on Facebook began a series of watch parties, where viewers could relive their experiences once again, bringing a new audience to the online experience and spreading the word about this wonderful show they’d found. Online tweets during these “ReQuests” resulted in co-opting the ABC networks planned strategy of viewers tweeting during their fall Thursday night lineup, with the rewatches of The Quest having higher social media numbers than ABC’s actual aired shows.

Time moves on. Another generation is born. Another threat arrives in Everealm. And, surprisingly, for a show so lost when it first aired… Another Quest is born.

The search for Another True Hero

Thanks to the world of streaming and niche networks, the Disney+ channel was busy looking for shows that it owned that could be revived/redone. And they discovered in their vast possessions The Quest, with its passionate viewer base and a ready-made world to recreate. So, in the midst of the recent pandemic, Disney (and the Fates) sent out the call for a new “One True Hero” to save the kingdom.

A few small changes this time: the paladins are now aged from 12 to 15, aiming at the “Harry Potter” demographic (as The Quest was a very family-oriented show anyway). Filming moved to a winery in California (with its own ready-made castle) as travel to Austria was out of the question due to the pandemic. And a new group of actors was brought in to play new characters of the royal family and beyond to help frame the storytelling around the “reality” competition.

The new royal circle

The new version of The Quest begins airing on May 11, 2022, a full eight years after the original Quest. With the passion and involvement of people who care, short lived shows can live on, again and again. And hopefully, another One True Hero can be found again to save us all.

So, why the passion? Why does this show generate the kind of good feelings and intensity of devotion found in those who have discovered and fell in love with it? I believe at least one reason is the casting of the Paladins, as many of them were the types of people who had always had an affinity for fantasy stories and dreams of heroics, and viewers could easily see themselves in those people as well. Getting to live out your rich fantasy lives instead of the normal, humdrum, daily grind has a certain cachet, one which strikes a solid chord with a great many people. And realize that The Quest was (and again is) a show that could be watched by families, together, with a positive and uplifting (but not preachy) message about being the best, not for yourself, but for all. Those are great things. Those are heroic things. And they shouldn’t be just fantasy. They’re part of all of us.

—

Vital Stats

The Quest (2014) — 10 hour episodes – none unaired – available on ABC.com.

ABC Network

First Aired Episode: August 1, 2014

Final Aired Episode: September 14, 2014

Aired on Friday 8/7 Central? No. Most of the episodes were run off against the beginnings of NFL Football season on Thursday nights, with many ran as “double episodes” to burn them off with no promotion or advertising. And still people found it…

The Quest (2022) – 8 hour episodes – none unaired

Disney+ streaming network

Begins May 11, 2022 – available at any time through streaming.

Comments and suggestions appreciated, as always.

—Tim R.

Santa’s Ladder

By Tim Rose

February 17, 2012

ABC, I'm Dickens, He's Fenster

1 Comment

“Maybe it was just as well (the show was cancelled) because, retrospectively, we had a halo…”
–Creator Leonard Stern

On Christmas Eve 1961, builders were in a hurry with their remodeling of a house. Eager to leave and go enjoy the holiday with their families, the workers quickly ended their various projects for the day. One of those projects was the finishing of a new fireplace, complete with built-in brick chimney. But in their haste, the construction crew neglected to remove the eight-foot ladder they’d used to help build the fixture from the inside of the fireplace. They just bricked up the hearth and left.

They’d likely forgotten all about the ladder. A generous person would say that, perhaps, the crew wanted to make it easier for Santa to make it down from the roof. Either way, television producer Leonard Stern got a gift.

I'm Dickens, He's Fenster

You see, it was Stern’s house, and after he got over his amazement at the discovery of the apparent builder ineptness, he immediately decided the misadventures of a pair of construction workers would make a terrific television comedy. The result was seen the next fall on ABC, in the form of I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster.

Starring John Astin and Marty Ingels, the series followed the wild and wacky co-workers (and best friends), both on the job and at home. Harry Dickens (Astin) was the more level-headed of the pair, but would sometimes get a bit distracted by his problems and concerns. The freewheeling Arch Fenster (Ingels) was always dating a new young lady, but was just enough of a bumbler for his efforts (both at work and in his love life) to be unsuccessful.

Of course, since this is television, “unsuccessful” isn’t sad. It’s funny.

The comedy was light, practically slapstick at times, with the setting of a home in the midst of reconstruction resulting in a gold mine of physical comedy. And with the nervous Harry Dickens, playing the straight man to the oddities of his buddy Arch Fenster, pratfalls ensued.

Watching all this was Harry’s wife, Kate (Emmaline Henry). Loving and supportive, she was usually the voice of reason for her husband and his best friend, encouraging the best in both of them. Kate was wise enough to know their faults, and yet strong enough to weather whatever disaster might loom while “the guys” tried their best to make things work, especially around the Dickens’ home. Between faucets gushing and cabinets with magnets strong enough to make pots fly across the kitchen, Kate’s patience was tested continually. But if she wasn’t patient, we wouldn’t have had so much fun watching things go hilariously wrong.

“The married man would always like to live the life of the single man, and the single man was envious of the existence of the married.”
–Leonard Stern

The above quote makes it seem like I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster is more about the “grass is always greener” relationship shared by Harry and Arch, with the long-suffering Kate always there to help remind our characters of how good they really do have it in the lives they’ve already chosen to lead. While that kind of character subtext is great, it wasn’t the focus of the show by any means. I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster existed during a simpler time, back in the early 1960’s, when shows didn’t have to be socially relevant or feature important character storylines. They just wanted to be funny.

Fun with a tray of food and a convenient door

Harkening back to the days of early movies, and the great comedy teams of Laurel and Hardy or Lewis and Martin, the team of Dickens and Fenster were one of the first to bring the true “buddy comedy” to the early days of television. Pratfalls and physical humor were common in almost every episode. Between Ingel’s facial contortions as an established funnyman, and Astin’s insecurity-riddled characterizations as the straight man who bore the brunt of Ingel’s “mistakes”, sight gags and stunts were both plentiful and worthy of guffaws.

While Lucy Ricardo back on I Love Lucy occasionally may have had her best friend Ethel as a reluctant cohort, Dickens and Fenster (and their construction work setting) made that type of comedy the central part of their show. Not surprisingly, both I Love Lucy and the subsequent I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster were from Lucille Ball’s Desilu studios (which later became part of Paramount Pictures). Utilizing the expertise of the previous show and its crew, Dickens and Fenster was better able to show off the early “3-camera” system of filming a situation comedy than many shows of the day, and better build the physical elements as well.

Laverne & Shirley: The female Dickens and Fenster?

Elements of the show later informed the throwback comedies of both Laverne and Shirley and Perfect Strangers, each of which used “buddy” elements and physical comedy to build their stories. While traditionally one member of the duo supposedly was the “straight man” (or woman) of the team, having both individuals be adept at the physicality of comedy meant the stories could layer bits upon bits, with a “can you top this?” mentality developing in the stream of gags. I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster was a tremendous example of this in numerous episodes.

Although not a part of the “buddy team”, Dickens’ wife Kate got to do some small part of the physical work as well, being the unfortunate recipient of some of the results of their remodeling. The Dickens’ household was in a constant state of minor repair, as the home of a construction worker also means jobs that aren’t quite finished (since paying work takes a priority). Emmaline Lilly had her own moments at the steady center of the wildly orbiting title duo, as she not only put up with their own foibles and adventures, but also made do as best she could with their “help” in her own home. The woman had the patience of a saint… and sometimes, the wisdom of one, too.

Why didn’t I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster last? Remember, it’s 1962. There’s no such thing as demographics, or detailed research noting the particulars of whom exactly is watching what. A 12-year old counts just as much as a 25-year old or a 60-year old as far as the Nielsen ratings are concerned, and just getting a larger head count is the goal. And it was difficult to get that kind of significant number when the show was scheduled against some of the largest “hits” of the time. Route 66 was on rival CBS, while the extremely popular Sing Along with Mitch topped the charts on NBC. ABC was a young, upstart network trying to make a mark, and while they had high hopes for their new “buddy comedy”, it didn’t look good.

Shows also made more episodes for a season than they do now, and while ABC had lost faith in the series and officially cancelled it, they still had a number of episodes to run off. They did so, and ratings started to climb. The show was also noticed by the critics and, thanks to their promotion of the series, people continued to find its unique flavor. By the time ABC realized they had something of a hit of their own, they’d already let the cast and crew go on to other projects. Astin, in particular, had just signed to be the lead in a new situation comedy called The Addams Family, and his portrayal of Gomez Addams was a life-changing part for the actor.

But I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster was left in the past, forgotten. There were only 32 half-hour episodes filmed, and therefore not enough for wide syndication where so many old shows became familiar to newer, younger fans. Generations got to know Gomez Addams, simply through years of reruns on local stations. But that fate didn’t await I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster. It faded away, lost to memory of almost all… just like Santa’s ladder. But like the best Christmas presents, there’s more than meets the eye. It turns out that someone remembered… and still believed in both Santa and I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster….

JOHN ASTIN (Harry Dickens) is the only person (so far) to be featured THREE times on this site, but this is the first time he’s had the lead role in the series profiled. He’s had supporting roles in both The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. and Eerie, Indiana, and a lengthy career which includes memorable roles on The Addams Family and Night Court. His one-man play Once Upon a Midnight tells the life story of author Edgar Allan Poe, and is a fantastic night of theatre.

MARTY INGELS (Arch Fenster) first came to creator Leonard Stern’s attention as a recurring character on The Dick Van Dyke Show, playing Dick’s old army buddy. The rubber-faced comedian was seen on numerous variety shows of the early television era. Later, he became a force behind the scenes, both as a voice actor (he spoke the words for the animated character of gaming hero Pac-Man) and as an agent for a number of Hollywood stars. He’s been married to actress Shirley Jones (of The Partridge Family fame) since 1977.

EMMALINE HENRY (Kate Dickens) is likely best known to comedy audiences as Mrs. Bellows, a recurring (yet memorable) part on I Dream of Jeannie. Her own original dream was to become known as a singer, and she had been cast as part of the chorus in a number of movie musicals. Her talent as a comedienne won out over her singing career, and she was later cast as Mickey Rooney’s wife in the self-titled comedy Mickey. She passed away of cancer in 1979.

–

Producer Leonard Stern had wondered about what might have happened to the comedy series he’d made almost half a century ago. The original master tapes, originally thought lost, had been stored for all this time, and thanks to the hard work of a company called TV Time Machine, Santa had something else to offer this past holiday season. The initial set of DVDs, released just recently, contains the first half of the episodes, and features interviews with creator Stern, stars Astin and Ingels, and original commercial spots featuring the duo in character that served as “bumpers” into more traditional ads. The second set will be coming out later this year, and I urge any fan of early television to go order these immediately.

TV Time Machine has also established a terrific website for the show, featuring a number of stories and clips from various episodes. It also delves a bit into the history of the series, and how it was one of the few beloved by classic comedy and movie actor Stan Laurel. Also, just to be complete, it should also be noted that Stern was not only a TV producer (with shows like Get Smart and McMillan & Wife to his credit), he also created the perennial children’s game of Mad Libs. Many a lengthy car ride has been saved by his inventive pastime.

“Some of the critics said it’s the kind of humor that makes you laugh out loud in the living room, and that’s an accomplishment. How often do we really laugh out loud in the living room when we’re watching a television show? We’re lucky if we smile.”
–John Astin

Physical pratfalls have been the basis of humor for many years. The slapstick of the Keystone Cops and the escapades of Laurel and Hardy were mainstays of the early movies, and seltzer bottles were standard issue for many comics on the vaudeville circuit. With the advent of television, I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster helped move the concept into our homes. Although the humor wasn’t the most cultured by any means, it was universal enough to be shared by both old and young, in a much more innocent time.

These days, the culture has turned a bit more direct, and the unfortunate offspring of such humor has become the much more crass Jackass and Wipeout shows. But on I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster, we still loved both Harry and Arch, just as Kate loved her boys, and although we laughed at their pratfalls, their successes still meant something. They were good people, although they were occasionally far too easily distracted and didn’t watch exactly where they were going… until they’d fallen, humorously, and without injury (except maybe to a bit of their pride).

And distraction can be easily forgiven… because, after all, if it wasn’t for a few distracted workmen, Santa wouldn’t have had a ladder to get down a certain chimney. And we wouldn’t have had I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster all these years later to enjoy.

–

Vital Stats

32 half-hour episodes — none unaired — half currently available on DVD, the rest to follow
ABC Network
First aired episode: September 28, 1962
Final aired episode: May 10, 1963
Aired on Friday @ 8/7 Central? Oh, so close. An hour later, at 9/8 Central on Friday nights. Its lead-in was, of all things, The Flintstones, so a physical comedy wasn’t so far away from a cartoon after all….

Comments and suggestions appreciated, as always.

–Tim R.

Network Promo: Coming Friday February 17

By Tim Rose

February 14, 2012

Network Promos (teasers)

Fade Out, Fade In

By Tim Rose

February 10, 2012

Fade Out, Fade In, Other

3 Comments

Some may have noticed there wasn’t a promo up this week. That was deliberate. The fact is, while I love doing these articles, they’ve taken a bit more time out of my life than I have to give, at least these days. Journey with me, and let me tell you why….

“The most abiding lesson that I think I’ve taken is that you pay a moral price for each and every act and each and every choice you make in life. You don’t know what that price is going to be, but you’re going to pay it.”
–Bobby Moresco, Producer/Creator of The Black Donnellys

Back when I launched this site, in very late March of 2000, I was at a crossroads. Health issues threatened to change my life in significant ways, and things I had previously done were no longer an option for me. Not only was my job at risk (and therefore my very livelihood), but also a number of my personal choices for “my time” were simply unavailable.

My previous occupation was, of all things, as a baker. I’d spent many years, over two (very different) locations, plying the trade and spending significant amounts of my time on the overnight shift, being a “vampire” to the rest of the world. It was the life I’d chosen, and I often told a great number of people that “the eight hours a day I spend there makes the other sixteen hours worthwhile.” It paid the bills, I met a few great people (and some not so great ones, like in any vocation), and it allowed me the time to do what I wanted, and become the person I believed, at the time, I wanted to become.

I discovered performing, and pursued the craft of the stage. I once spent nine months doing six different plays (and when you realize the average play takes roughly eight weeks or more to get “up and running”, you can do the math and see how active and busy I was). I got paid for some of the shows, and did others as a labor of love, for I’d caught the bug of the spotlight, and I didn’t think there was any way I was ever going back.

“If this were play’d upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.”
–Fabian, from Twelfth Night, Act III, Scene iv (and my article on Slings & Arrows)

That is, until reality hit, and I was no longer able to reliably perform in that type of environment. A vehicle accident, and rehab, led to another doctor and another prognosis… and the end of my theatre “career”, as well as the end of the bakery one. Much of my life had been upended, forcibly, and I truly fell into a rather deep depression. Welcome to Act 2.

I was lost for a good time. The friends I have now would tell you (and I would have to agree) that I shut myself off from the world for far too long. I’m not proud of it, but I felt (rightly or wrongly) that I just wasn’t the person I thought I was anymore, and didn’t have any idea of what I could be. Too much of my self-identity was wrapped up in both pride of work and the ego-boost I got from being a part of a show. As a result, even if there were places to turn, and people to turn to, I didn’t know what they were. I didn’t recognize them at all (and I likely made some of them go away as a result, and for that I’m truly sorry). But ultimately, a couple of things happened to change my outlook.

I’d always been a television fan. That’s obvious from all the articles I’ve written on this site, and I’ve probably forgotten more than most have ever known about the medium. Working the “graveyard” shift allowed me to experience many of these shows firsthand, and the development of both the VCR and the DVR, and DVD sets (and their wonderful commentaries), gave me even more opportunities to develop my interest. It’s just been a passion, long before anything every happened to change my circumstances. While talking to a close relative, I threw out the idea of doing the blog as a creative outlet that was available now, when pure performing had been denied me. Her enthusiastic response (along with an offer to be my “editor”, and use her significant skills as well) led me to tentatively try out this strange idea. And, surprisingly, I enjoyed it tremendously.

One of my favorite shows... and EVERY EPISODE has a commentary!

Writing about all those shows of the past that so many of us grew up with was, at times, a window through my soul. Rather than just talk about premises and stars gone by, I developed the idea of commenting upon some idea or happening that related to life, to history, to television, to me. That’s what personally made Friday @ 8/7 Central more than just a website, and it has become a true haven for my thoughts and my memories.

It has also become a way for me to better examine my own ideas, and to make certain that what I’ve thought in the past is actually what I believe, and what I put into action. Over the past (almost) two years, I’ve changed a lot, and this website has helped me to do so. I’ve rediscovered some things I’d forgotten, both in television and personally, and been surprised how certain ideas became more important in my life when seen through the prism of both TV and history.

My work has, surprisingly, become a stellar part of my life, and no longer simply “the eight hours” anymore. While I’m certainly not rich by any means, I make more money than I did at the most recent bakery job, and work with some simply superb people I likely never would have met otherwise. I used to work all alone, six nights a week…. and now, later this week, I’m interacting with people halfway around the world, who want exposure to MY expertise in order to help do their jobs better.

There was a time when I didn’t think anyone wanted to hear from me anymore. Now, most surprisingly, I can cover the globe, both in my work, and on this website.

I won’t say it’s ALL because of the blog, but I’ve become much more cognizant of all this BECAUSE of this website, and the things it has led me to. Besides good friends, both at work and in the rest of my life, I’ve crystallized a couple of different ideas here that I use to help guide me in all areas. And while you’ve likely read them here before, I’m going to list a few.

Making the Team: Yes, it’s the title of the article I did on Misfits of Science, but it’s more than that. It’s when I truly discovered that, even when I felt like someone who didn’t belong anymore, there was a place for me. I wasn’t sure where or when or how, but if El or Johnny B or Glo could find their family, then I could find mine. And, as luck would have it, I’ve found a few, thanks to various interests both old and new. But Misfits of Science, all these years later, still had a lesson to teach me, and thanks to this site, I learned it.

Max Headroom: Looking at me, looking at you

Don’t trust blindly: In the article Just Under Over-the-Top, I wrote about the troubles of The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., and of how a badly designed “study” on television violence ended the run of a great, GREAT show. And then, the Max Headroom article (titled 20 Minutes Into… Today?) made me realize just how pervasive some of the media can be. Learning ANYTHING from just a single source is nothing more than giving up power over your own knowledge and opinions to that source, and their “facts” become yours, with no real examination in the process. That is giving up a part of my “self”, and if I’ve learned anything over the past couple of years, that’s something I never want to do, circumstances be damned. It’s MY life, and I’ll live it by MY rules, and not those “circumstances”.

Religion and faith: Just go read about the highest rated show ever to get cancelled, Bridget Loves Bernie. There are far too many parallels to what is going on today in society, and while I really do believe in the idea of “faith”, the essential blindness created by established “religion” can jump off a cliff, as far as I’m concerned. I’ll get things right with me and my maker, thank you, and those tax-exempt excuses for fellowship aren’t necessary. I, and others like me, can find it for ourselves… and really should.

My own hero, Harry Chapin. Do something!

There are lots of other examples I could list. Good Intentions (from Point Pleasant) made me examine why people do what they do, and the consequences that aren’t always intended. Make a Wish gave me a chance to tell others about my own personal hero, and his motto of “Do Something!” (which I have hopefully developed a bit more in my life). Jericho helped me realize people should fight for what they believe in, even to the ends of the earth (or the show)… and then beyond. Sunshine talked about dealing with death, Grapevine and Cupid showed how a second life could happen, and how love is eternal (no matter how we try to screw it up). And The Job was resurrected out of the ashes to become Rescue Me… and my life has hopefully learned all these lessons, or developed them more into something I could use in my own existence. Global Frequency showed me that there’s even life in something that doesn’t (officially) exist, and discovering both Connections and The Tommyverse led me to realize just how intertwined we all are… and how connected we all need to be.

When done correctly, television connects us all. It teaches life, love, death, beginnings, endings, and beyond. It imagines past, future, and the immediacy of today, with a richness and vibrancy that no other medium can touch. And various programs never have to be successful to join in on those blessings, and that’s one of the reasons I celebrate all of those “long forgotten short-lived shows”. They have their own lessons, their own blessings, their own ideas to share, even if they weren’t massively popular at the time. That’s what they brought to my life, and that’s what I hope I’ve done here so far.

Now for Act 3.

Some have said the real life time slot of Friday 8/7 Central is “the Friday Night Death Slot”. There’s even a wikipedia page for it, and we can thank FOX and many others for the term. It even gets a running gag on Family Guy about how many shows on the network were cancelled between the show’s “death” and subsequent resurrection as a hit. I happen to think there might be more shows that died too soon, and which have something to offer. I hope to continue featuring them here.

Writing the article on Good Heavens recently, I was struck with a bit of an epiphany. My life had become so much more than it was when I stared this project. The problem was, the project which had helped lead me to this place was now getting in the way, at times, with the rest of the blessings I was reaping. Something was going to have to give, if my new life was going to be what I was hoping it would.

For that reason, I’m not going to stick to the previous schedule of this blog, and the standard “every Tuesday and Friday” publishing schedule. I’m going to continue writing articles, and they’ll be prefaced by promos, but they may not go up each and every week as they have in the past. I’ve got plenty of shows to cover, and ideas to examine… but doing it on a timetable as I’ve done in the past is making it more like “work”, and less of a labor of love. And I never want to stop this being something I love.

“I refuse to give up. I can’t.”
–Producer/Creator/Writer Joss Whedon

I’ve said on numerous occasions here that “passion breeds creativity”. That’s still something I believe in VERY strongly, and the evidence is all around. But I have multiple passions, and thanks to where I find myself in my life these days, doors are open to things I never before dreamed of. But all that passion, creativity, and new opportunity takes time, and as a result, I may not be here as often as I was previously. But don’t worry, because the passion is still thriving, and still going strong, and there will be more memories and new lessons learned from what I watch and what I live.

OK, so I stole this from a boardgame called "Roborally". But it still fits. It's me.

It’s been a tremendous journey, and it’s hardly over. I’m just going to keep enjoying the ride, instead of sticking to the timetable. I want to savor every bit of it along the way, and I hope you’ll join me.

Comments and suggestions are appreciated… and I mean it this time. If there’s any show you wish me to cover, any ideas or arenas you think might make a good article, please share with me. It’s all part of the inter-connectivity I spoke of earlier. I’ll even take full-fledged articles, as long as you allow me a chance for some editing (since I personally am responsible for all that goes up here). But I want to share my passions with others, and let them share with me. So, don’t be shy…

…and come back soon for more on Friday @ 8/7 Central!!!! And thanks.

–Tim R.

—Friday @ 8/7 Central

Remembering long forgotten short-run television series….

A Second ”One True Hero”

Santa’s Ladder

Network Promo: Coming Friday February 17

Fade Out, Fade In