Wednesday Trivia Question

Who played Mr. Conductor in the 2000 feature film THOMAS AND THE MAGIC RAILROAD?

Okay, let’s start with the truth that this was NOT a PBS production. It was a box office bomb that can easily be dismissed in the legacy of the PBS Kids classic series SHINING TIME STATION. But it’s all attached in some way and that’s what makes for good trivia.

SHINING TIME STATION debuted on PBS in 1989. Although it featured Didi Conn in the role of station manager Stacy Jones and Brian O’Connor as comic relief Schemer, it was ex-Beatle Ringo Starr in the role of the diminutive Mr. Conductor that brought the magic. Ultimately, SHINING TIME was a way to re-package the British kids series THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE & FRIENDS for a US audience.

Ringo played the role for the first season of the show and comedian George Carlin replaced him for seasons two and three (technically, the original Mr. Conductor’s cousin). Mr. Conductor (not to be confused with DINOSAUR TRAIN’s Mr. Conductor, who is a Troodon) is an 18-inch tall man who lives in a signal house inside the train station’s mural and tells the stories taken from THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE & FRIENDS to the kids. He appears ever cheerful and has at his disposal some magic gold dust and a wishing star, which would seem pretty handy tools in any occupation.

Since the PBS series was a hit, it makes sense that a big screen movie would be in the works. Discussions began in the mid-90s, stumbled and eventually came to fruition around the turn of the century. THOMAS AND THE MAGIC RAILROAD premiered in July 2000 and featured Peter Fonda and Mara Wilson, among others (Didi Conn did appear as Stacy Jones). The role of Mr. Conductor was played by an actor who was well known then and now. He was nominated for an Academy Award for a 2003 film and has at times been plagued by what we’ll call some scandal. I will note that if you asked me to compile a short list of actors who might be suitable for the role of Mr. Conductor in the late ’90s, this actor would not have even entered my mind. Meaning while his career had at that point included some comedies and rom coms, he was best known for more dramatic roles.

So who was it? What actor played Mr. Conductor in the 2000 feature film THOMAS AND THE MAGIC RAILROAD?

Flashback: 11 August 1997

Thought it might be interesting to occasionally look back at what we were airing in years past. Today we look at what was on UNC-TV twenty-five years ago. Here’s a scan of our Centerpiece program guide for August 11, 1997.

Monday Montage

What’s happening, what’s on and what’s interesting this week …

He was an international celebrity by age 30, built a media empire, preached to millions worldwide, and had the ear of tycoons, presidents and royalty. Explore the life of evangelist BILLY GRAHAM on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – tonight at 9 on PBS NC.

Stephen Fry (Jeeves And Wooster) talks career, philosophy, myth and uncivil discourse in a New York Times interview.

Explore the daily drama as African wildlife flock to a manmade waterhole rigged with cameras. Uncover the complex dynamic of this bustling oasis on LIFE AT THE WATERHOLE – Wednesday at 8pm on PBS NC.

Sounds Familiar

“Some people have made the mistake of seeing Shunt’s work as a load of rubbish about railway timetables, but clever people like me, who talk loudly in restaurants, see this as a deliberate ambiguity, a plea for understanding in a mechanized world. The points are frozen, the beast is dead. What is the difference? What indeed is the point? The point is frozen, the beast is late out of Paddington. The point is taken. If La Fonatine’s elk would spurn Tom Jones the engine must be our head, the dining car our oesophagus, the guard’s van our left lung, the cattle truck our shins, the first-class compartment the piece of skin at the nape of the neck and the level crossing an electric elk called Simon. The clarity is devastating. But where is the ambiguity? Over there in a box. Shunt is saying the 8.15 from Gillingham when in reality he means the 8.13 from Gillingham. The train is the same only the time is altered. Ecco homo, ergo elk. La Fontaine knew his sister and knew her bloody well. The point is taken, the beast is moulting, the fluff gets up your nose. The illusion is complete; it is reality, the reality is illusion and the ambiguity is the only truth. But is the truth, as Hitchcock observes, in the box? No there isn’t room, the ambiguity has put on weight. The point is taken, the elk is dead, the beast stops at Swindon, Chabrol stops at nothing, I’m having treatment and La Fontaine can get knotted.” – Art Critic Gavin Milarrrrrrrrrr (John Cleese), MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS, episode 24

Sounds Familiar

“There’s a small army of 50 staff on this train. I’m not quite sure what they all do but yesterday I saw one energetically sloshing a wet mop up and down our corridor. It didn’t seem to be doing the carpet any good at all.” – Michael Palin, on a train to Shanghai, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Monday Montage

What’s happening, what’s on and what’s interesting this week …

Climb aboard the renowned Rocky Mountaineer and explore some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Travel the CANADIAN ROCKIES BY RAIL – Tuesday night at 8 on the Explorer Channel.

Dame Helen Mirren shares the two things she’s been loving during lockdown.

Jenna Coleman stars as a young monarch coming to terms with her title and power. Experience the hit MASTERPIECE series from the beginning as we present VICTORIA – Friday at 8pm on the Explorer Channel.

Monday Montage

What’s happening, what’s on and what’s interesting this week …

Join lifelong traveler and train buff Jeff Wilson as he journeys through Switzerland by train. Take in the sights and learn about the local history and traditions of each destination on REAL RAIL ADVENTURES: SWISS GRAND TOUR – Tuesday night at 8 on the Explorer Channel.

Get a first look at the cast of the new series of ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL. The all-new adaptation of James Herriot’s beloved books will feature Samuel West (Mr Selfridge) as Siegfried and Callum Woodhouse (The Durrells in Corfu) as Tristan.

Sounds Familiar

“Twenty-two minutes late, escaped puma, Chessington North.” – Reggie Perrin (Leonard Rossiter), explaining his tardiness, THE FALL AND RISE OF REGINALD PERRIN

Wednesday Trivia Question

What kind of dinosaur is Dinosaur Train‘s Mr. Conductor?