Fantasy Guest Stars and What Could Have Been

[Nydiva]

Had all circumstances remained stable, I could have seen the show go on for another 3-4 years - provided the quality of writing remained high.

It wouldn't have been too difficult to cut back on (not eliminate) the fights enough to ease some of the wear and tear.

Also, assuming health permitting, it would have given a chance for Michael Dunn to do more episodes. I can never get enough of Miguelito Loveless! And Count Manzeppi could have made a few more appearances as well.

All in all, there could have been a LITTLE less action and a bit more whimsy (though not camp). I think the show would have had a shot.

And I just thought of one more EXTREMELY unlikely guest star - but that made me start another fanfic (like I don't already have a slew of ideas to get to). Hopefully it'll get done in a month or so and you'll see who it is then.

[Dieter]

Micheal Dunn was already not doing well during Seasons 3 and 4--That's why he could only handle 1 episode per season by then instead of 4. Last half of season 4 was a big mess-- I only liked Sabatini Death and Bleak Island--the rest were pretty bad. I think RC and Ross were done--and so were the writers. A Season 5 would have been even more disappointing I bet!!!

[artiesniecewannabe]

Keye Luke

[zimmerman]

Had our stars been in much better spirits, Season 5 probably would have more than made up for the shortcomings of the weaker fourth season.

[Apple]

Recently I was thinking that Jack Lord would have been a good villain, or a double agent. Lorne Greene was another first crush for me and watching him on Bonanza reruns I keep thinking how much he resembles Ross. They could have played relatives!

Zimmerman, this is a good topic You mention the library...are you using the library, or do you work in the library?

[Dieter]

Jun 7, 2012 15:57:13 GMT -8 zimmerman said:

Had our stars been in much better spirits, Season 5 probably would have more than made up for the shortcomings of the weaker fourth season.

I would have loved a 5th Season too, but things got so twisted by the end of Season 4. Mostly because Ross missed 9 episodes and the final 3 he came back to were so weak! I think it had potential but like they said---somebody would have died if it continued on. Plus CBS put the breaks on violence, so there was nowhere to go anymore with WWW.

[zimmerman]

Zimmerman, this is a good topic You mention the library...are you using the library, or do you work in the library?

Apple, I am a volunteer here at my local library, wherein I band books to be return, take the tape off of shipping labels so that the rubber bands can be reused, and I select books to be sent out to libraries, among other things.

I do not have internet access at home, so that is why I always post from the library. I have great people who work alongside me and have a very flexible schedule.

[zimmerman]

Neice, I do not know about this "Keye Luke" actor you mentioned. If you would like to send me a private message over the weekend with some information about him, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

[zimmerman]

Never watched Kung Fu, sorry, but thanks for the information on him.

A couple of other people who would have been good for our show is one that the producers would have to pull MAJOR strings because he was primarily known as a film actor, and very rarely, if ever, did any television (Save for the guest shot as himself on "I Love Lucy". I am talking about William Holden. Seeing him in several movies, and reading the type of different roles that he played in the films, made me think he would have been perfect as a WWW villian. If the script was top-notch, it could have turned out to be one of the best-remembered (and highly rated) episodes of the series.

Also, I rewatched TNOT Big Blackmail last night, and seeing Harvey Korman as Baron Hinderschtossier (sic) made me think of another frequent Carol Burnett Show guest that would have been perfect as a guest agent in Season 4: Steve Lawrence. Knowing his penchant for making good comedy, he would have been great temporarily filling in Artie's big shoes or as a dastardly villan. His acting talents tend to get overshadowed by his great music made either by himself solo or with his equally as talented wife, Eydie Gorme.

I am a huge Steve and Eydie fan. I have got several of their albums, individually and together, in my big record collection, including a 5-record box set from the Longines Symphonette that I purchased for the ridiculously low price of $1.99 in the Spring of 2011 at my local Goodwill store.

[zimmerman]

As I am watching this "Man Called Sloane" episode, already I have deduced that Monte Markham would have made for a great guest villan on WWW.

[artiesniecewannabe]

Did anyone mention David Wayne? I just now thought of him.

[Nydiva]

Jun 19, 2012 14:59:25 GMT -8 zimmerman said:

As I am watching this "Man Called Sloane" episode, already I have deduced that Monte Markham would have made for a great guest villan on WWW.

Loooooooove Monte Markham. Caught him in two shows on Broadway in the late 70's. He was a sweetheart.

[Nydiva]

Ooooooh. I just thought of a really good one. And I don't think he's been mentioned.

One of the very, very few who could just about out-pretty Robert Conrad - my first crush ever - the late, great Tony Curtis!

I met him at a publicity signing for a "Some Like It Hot" anniversary DVD release. I told him "I've been waiting my whole life to meet you." He put his arms around me, kissed my cheek and said "Thank you. That means a lot."

Yes he was being paid to make nice to the fans, but I thought he went the extra mile with that remark. Needless to say, I dissolved!!! ;D

[Nydiva]

May 22, 2012 16:47:57 GMT -8 zimmerman said:

Plus, could additonal cast members would have been a help or a hinderance?

Funny that I just noticed that phrase. If I EVER stop getting sidetracked by other fanfic, I intend to get back to a pet project (basically for my own enjoyment) that is based on that premise. The first "chapter" (and backstory) is already up on the fanfic section.

But my Aunt Maude story is insisting on going first - and she is not a lady to be put on the back burner!

[zimmerman]

YAY DIVA!! I was just about to present that option to all of the other people on this board, but you brought up for me.

[zimmerman]

Jun 19, 2012 17:27:47 GMT -8 Nydiva said:

Jun 19, 2012 14:59:25 GMT -8 zimmerman said:

As I am watching this "Man Called Sloane" episode, already I have deduced that Monte Markham would have made for a great guest villan on WWW.

Loooooooove Monte Markham. Caught him in two shows on Broadway in the late 70's. He was a sweetheart.

Hopefully you will take the time to watch Monte Markham in the "Man Called Sloane" episode thread. He was a great villan in that particular episode.

[zimmerman]

;D

Jun 19, 2012 17:33:47 GMT -8 Nydiva said:

Ooooooh. I just thought of a really good one. And I don't think he's been mentioned.

One of the very, very few who could just about out-pretty Robert Conrad - my first crush ever - the late, great Tony Curtis!

I met him at a publicity signing for a "Some Like It Hot" anniversary DVD release. I told him "I've been waiting my whole life to meet you." He put his arms around me, kissed my cheek and said "Thank you. That means a lot."

Yes he was being paid to make nice to the fans, but I thought he went the extra mile with that remark. Needless to say, I dissolved!!! ;D

Tony Curtis could have been a great guest agent for Season 4. Or have him and Artie work together??!! That would have been AWESOME!! ;D

Tony Curtis had great comedic timing. He really helped make the stinker movie "Paris When It Sizzles" into something worth watching, plus he was really good with Sir Roger Moore in "The Persuaders!" which has been released on DVD.

[artiesniecewannabe]

*ahem ahem* The Great Race...

[zimmerman]

I have yet to watch that movie. My father has the soundtack in his record collection.

[artiesniecewannabe]

You do know that Ross Martin is in it, right? Marvelous cast, in fact: Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood, Peter Falk, Vivien Vance, Arthur O'Connell (TNOT Bars of Hell), Keenan Wynne (TNOT Freebooters), Hal Smith (Otis from Andy Griffith Show), Larry Storch (F-Troop), Dorothy Provine, Marvin Kaplan, memory fails me. One of my all-time favorite movies, even before I was old enough to realize it had Ross Martin in it.

Go! Get movie! Watch!

[Nydiva]

I wholeheartedly second that. The Great Race is a MUST for anyone's collection. ;D

[Nydiva]

Jun 21, 2012 16:21:29 GMT -8 zimmerman said:

YAY DIVA!! I was just about to present that option to all of the other people on this board, but you brought up for me.

Oh gosh! I'm a rank amateur when it comes to fanfic. Calgal is the leading light around here (though there are others who are no slouches either).

[zimmerman]

Yes, I knew that Tony Curtis was in Great Race. I just kind of forgot it at the time I wrote my original post.

[zimmerman]

Jun 19, 2012 15:11:15 GMT -8 @artiesniecewannabe said:

Did anyone mention David Wayne? I just now thought of him.

David Wayne could have worked on our show in two ways--as a guest supervisor filling Colonel Richmond's shoes, or as a former General/Colonel who had a grudge against President Grant.

I am not sure if he had any acting experience, but 1960's traditional pop singer Vic Dana would have made for an interesting guest.

Oh, the producers missed their chance to court the teen audience--Gary Puckett and The Union Gap would have been great guests as well. ;D

[zimmerman]

Besides, David Wayne was great as Ellery Queen's father in the mid-1970's TV series, a show that RM guest- ;D starred on as a good guy.

[artiesniecewannabe]

Yes, I have the Ellery Queen series as well as the 4 seasons of WWW (and, for that matter, The Great Race) all saved on my computer here, ready for me to watch any time.

In fact, I have The Adventure of the 12th Floor Express paused right now, while I read the board. ;D

[dunn]

Jun 23, 2012 15:00:33 GMT -8 @artiesniecewannabe said:

Yes, I have the Ellery Queen series as well as the 4 seasons of WWW (and, for that matter, The Great Race) all saved on my computer here, ready for me to watch any time.

In fact, I have The Adventure of the 12th Floor Express paused right now, while I read the board. ;D

Ken Swofford as Frank Flannigan he was a character I really liked him!

HA! McCully done it, and why do they always run?

[Nydiva]

Oh I just thought of two more.

I think it would have been neat if John Vivyan (who worked with Ross in Mr. Lucky) could have done a stint.

And wouldn't it have been cool if they had Gene Barry reprise his Bat Masterson role? Though the character would have been very young in that time frame. So maybe a Masterson-like role.

We need to add more ladies to the mix! How about Diana Rigg as a truly cool villianess! Gawd - she was stunning!!

[dunn]

Jun 23, 2012 17:36:25 GMT -8 Nydiva said:

Oh I just thought of two more.

I think it would have been neat if John Vivyan (who worked with Ross in Mr. Lucky) could have done a stint.

And wouldn't it have been cool if they had Gene Barry reprise his Bat Masterson role? Though the character would have been very young in that time frame. So maybe a Masterson-like role.

We need to add more ladies to the mix! How about Diana Rigg as a truly cool villianess! Gawd - she was stunning!!

Diana Rigg!!! Good choice Nydiva!!! Stunning she was!!

[Nydiva]

Though a lot of people here may not recognize the name, Robert Morse could have added a wonderful comic element - provided they had a director who could sit on him! He's really terrific - but needs a firm hand or he'll run away with the show.