| Totally Tracked Down | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Marshall Jay Kaplan |
| Developed by | Planetworks Inc. |
| Written by | Carolyn Meland |
| Directed by | Romano D'Andrea,Carolyn Meland |
| Starring | Marshall Jay Kaplan |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Planetworks Inc. Carolyn Meland, Romano D'Andrea, Jeff Preyra |
| Cinematography | Gurjeet Mann |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | TVtropolis |
| Release | September 2 (2010-09-02) – November 25, 2010 (2010-11-25) |
Totally Tracked Down is a television reality documentary show created by, produced by, and starringMarshall Jay Kaplan. The show centers around Kaplan's search for celebrities from past sitcoms and dramas, usually through a chain of connections from directors and producers, to co-stars, to family members, and eventually the celebrity.[1] The show was broadcast onTVtropolis from September 2, 2010 to November 25, 2010, running for 13 episodes. It was also nominated for aGemini Award in 2011 for Best General/Human Interest Series.[2]
Kaplan based his idea for the show on his monthly column "Where Are They Now?", where he researches celebrities based on reader's questions. His column was published in "some 40 monthly newspapers." He pitched and sold the concept for Totally Tracked Down to TVTropolis, a Canadian specialty channel. Kaplan then partnered with Planetworks Inc., an award-winning production company.
Cara Stern ofThe Canadian Jewish News commented on Kaplan's searching process: "Kaplan tries to find out what various celebrities are really like through their connections, including people they know, places and things. Each connection introduces him to someone else, and the chain continues until he reaches the celebrity."[1]
Totally Tracked Down is co-created and produced by Planetworks Inc., a Toronto-based boutique production company. Executive producers and partners Carolyn Meland, Romano D'Andrea and Jeff Preyra have created and produced several award-winning lifestyle reality series, includingStyle by Jury,Brides of Beverly Hills, andChef Off!.[3]
Filming took place from April to June 2010, lasting over 50 days for 13 episodes.[4]
| Episode no. | Title | Celebrity | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Master of Her Domain" | Estelle Harris | September 2, 2010 (2010-09-02) | |
Kaplan searches forSeinfeld starEstelle Harris, who played George Costanza's mother. Along the way, he meets directorTom Cherones who directed an infamous episode involving Harris. He meets cartoon voice actorCharlie Adler, who gives him a lead for Harris appearing at an auction house. He goes, but Harris tells him off. He also an awkward meeting and interview withLarry David. After getting a lead from Harris's agent about where she walks her dogs, he meets Harris's son, Glen, and tracks down Harris the next day at theLos Angeles Zoo.[5] | ||||
| 2 | "The Incredible Lou Ferrigno" | Lou Ferrigno | September 9, 2010 (2010-09-09) | |
Kaplan sets out to track downThe Incredible Hulk starLou Ferrigno. He meetsMarvel Comics creatorStan Lee, 90+-year-old bodybuilding legendJoe Weider, and the man who playedJaws in theJames Bond movies,Richard Kiel. He eventually finds Ferrigno at a gun show in Las Vegas. | ||||
| 3 | "The Facts of Mindy" | Mindy Cohn | September 16, 2010 (2010-09-16) | |
Kaplan seeksThe Facts of Life starMindy Cohn, who playedNatalie Green. His first stop is with actressCharlotte Rae, who starred asMrs. Garrett, and who also discovered Cohn. Rae is not pleased with him. Next, he tracks downCloris Leachman, who playedBeverly Ann. Leachman greets him, but she is wearing nothing but a towel. They then conduct the interview in her bed under the covers. He finally tracks Cohn at a dinner theater by sneaking backstage. | ||||
| 4 | "Todd Bridges: He Knows What He's Talkin' 'Bout!" | Todd Bridges | September 23, 2010 (2010-09-23) | |
Kaplan seeksDiff'rent Strokes starTodd Bridges, who played Willis Jackson. Within a week of his journey,Gary Coleman died; he remarks that with Coleman andDana Plato gone, there are not many stars left. He tries many times to contactConrad Bain, who played Bridges's dad, Mr. Drummond. Bain, who resides at a retirement home, is not interested in being interviewed or being in the limelight. He reachesShavar Ross, who played Coleman's best friend on the show, as well as Bridges's mother, Betty Alice Pryor. Kaplan also discusses his LA Gang tour in South Central Los Angeles. | ||||
| 5 | "Joan Van Ark: From Knots Landing to landing in her bed" | Joan Van Ark | September 30, 2010 (2010-09-30) | |
While driving down a cul-de-sac, Kaplan gets inspired to track downKnots Landing starJoan Van Ark, who playedVal Ewing. He meets creatorDavid Jacobs, actressMichele Lee, and Van Ark's hairdresser and husband, John Marshall. It's a fast and furious chase that ends up in Joan;s bed. | ||||
| 6 | "Christopher Knight: From His TV to His Real Family" | Christopher Knight | October 7, 2010 (2010-10-07) | |
After his son breaks mom's favorite vase, Kaplan is inspired to track downThe Brady Bunch starChristopher Knight, who played middle sonPeter Brady. He meets up with creatorSherwood Schwartz. He later meetsBarry Williams, who playedGreg Brady, and meets Knight's wife,America's Next Top Model season 1 winner,Adrianne Curry. | ||||
| 7 | "Mayim Bialik: A Career and Family That Blossomed" | Mayim Bialik | October 14, 2010 (2010-10-14) | |
While attending aBar Mitzvah, Kaplan notices how all the women are wearing big hats with flowers. This triggers him to think of the TV showBlossom and its star,Mayim Bialik, who played the title role. He interviews the creator and producer ofBlossom,Don Reo, at theParamount Studios lot. He learns that Bialik earned her Master's in Neuroscience, and that she also follows Judaism. He visitsUCLA, speaks with Bialik's colleague, and later meets her rabbi. He also meets Bialik's parents. When he finally meets Bialik, they perform the opening dance from her old show. | ||||
| 8 | "Charlene Tilton: From Hollywood to Dallas" | Charlene Tilton | October 21, 2010 (2010-10-21) | |
Cleaning out all of his TV and movie memorabilia, Kaplan stumbles across a magazine cover ofDallas vixenLucy Ewing, played by the petite blonde bombshellCharlene Tilton. Kaplan visitsDallas creatorDavid Jacobs, and then he rides a horse to meetSteve Kanaly, who played Tilton's former on-screen love interestRay Krebbs. He reaches Tilton's daughter, Cherish, who tells him that Tilton is at an Oscar event called the "Night of 100 Stars". At the red carpet event, he meetsLarry Hagman, who playedJ.R. Ewing, and eventually has a lengthy meet with Tilton. | ||||
| 9 | "Erin Moran: Many More Happy Days" | Erin Moran | October 28, 2010 (2010-10-28) | |
Kaplan relives his crush of Joanie Cunningham ofHappy Days by tracking downErin Moran. He tries to contactHappy Days co-starsRon Howard,Anson Williams,Donny Most andScott Baio, but none of them get back to him. He manages to contact and meetMarion Ross who played the iconic TV mom, Mrs. Cunningham, on the show. Along with former child starPaul Petersen, Ross tells Kaplan about Moran's financial woes. Kaplan tracks down Moran, who is signing autographs at a car show. After hearing her sad story, he arranges a surprise reunion with Moran's mother, whom she has not seen in 20 years. | ||||
| 10 | "David Faustino: Not Married with No Children" | David Faustino | November 4, 2010 (2010-11-04) | |
Kaplan reunites with a friend from high school and thinks about pursuingDavid Faustino, who played younger brotherBud Bundy in theMarried... with Children for eleven seasons. His trek involves visiting bars and hopping on and off tour buses. He meets directorGerry Cohen, then Faustino's brother Michael, and Faustino's writing partner, Sam Kass. After hearing that Faustino frequents "The Whiskey Bar", Kaplan visits theSunset Marquis Hotel and then returns there two more times, before he finally spots him. | ||||
| 11 | "Hello Squiggy!" | David Lander | November 11, 2010 (2010-11-11) | |
Kaplan's visit to the movies and seeing an on-screen trivia question inspires him to seekDavid Lander, who played neighbor Squiggy on the sitcomLaverne & Shirley. He meets withCindy Williams, who played Shirley, and also converses with Lander's daughter. He talks with actorHarry Shearer, who worked with Lander on the radio. He meets Lander, full-circle, at a movie theater. | ||||
| 12 | "Saved by the Bell!" | Dustin Diamond | November 18, 2010 (2010-11-18) | |
Kaplan searches forDustin Diamond, who playedScreech on the teen sitcomSaved By The Bell. His trek begins on the set ofExtra with hostMario Lopez, who playedSlater on the show. He also meetsDennis Haskins, who playedMr. Belding. He eventually meets Diamond. | ||||
| 13 | "Holy Batman!" | Adam West | November 25, 2010 (2010-11-25) | |
On December 2, 2010, Kaplan posted on Facebook that TVTropolis had changed their mandate and the show was not renewed,[6] but "was consoled when his show was posthumously nominated for aGemini Award"[7] in 2011 for Best General/Human Interest Series.[2]