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It’s been a while since I put on the spurs. I missed a couple of episodes, got behind, didn’t even know where to start to catch up, and then just kind of backburnered it. But let’s start climbing back in while we’ve still got some season left of stuff, shall we?

Spoilers:

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Spamalot Photos

For Photos of last nights encounter between our Killer Bunny and the Cast

Also a few current cute pictures of Caroline.

Just came back from seeing “Spamalot” in previews. What a wonderfully loopy time THAT was.

Although obviously beholden to “Holy Grail,” only a few sequences are basically word for word. The rest wanders astray into side sequences and songs–some relevant, some spectacularly not–that both send up Broadway cliches while simultaneously adhering to them.

Tim Curry looks like he’s having entirely too much fun, Hank Azaria is hilarious as Lancelot (never realized how much he looks like John Cleese; it’s the chin, I guess), and David Hyde-Pierce not only out-does Idle’s Sir Robin, but he’s easily got the best song in the show: A second act show stopper about how, if you’re going to succeed on Broadway, you need Jews in your show (it’s a nice companion piece to “The Producer’s” song about gays…not that gays go untrounced in “Spamalot.”)

Bottom line, it’s a shamelessly mercenary endeavor exploiting the Python legacy, and no one, including myself, had the slightest problem with that.

We hung out afterwards and the three leads came out and signed autographs. I got them to sign the interior of my giant killer rabbit’s mouth. Curry hesitated slightly and, divining his suspicions, I said, “I swear to you, I won’t close the mouth on your hand.” He trusted me and I restrained myself (which is nice since usually people have to be called in to apply restraints on me.)

PAD

Went last night to the “Broadway Bears” auction which we attend every year. Basically professional costumers outfit teddy bears in exact replicas of costumes from famous characters and shows, and the bears are then signed by the actors represented. For instance, I bought one several years ago that is outfitted like John Adams from “1776″ and signed by William Daniels. All money made goes to Actors Equity Fights AIDS.

It’s always a great time, before various actors show up, either to rub elbows or even perform in a traditional custom-written opening act. Last night saw Richard Kind and Alan Ruck from “The Producers,” Mickey Dolenz singing a parody of “I’m a Believer” called “I’m a Collector,” Sondra Lee (the original Tiger Lily from the Mary Martin edition of ‘Peter Pan’), Mary Bond Davis who continues to be wonderful in “Hairspray,” and an original Ziegfeld Follies dancing girl so astoundingly spry that the place was stunned when she said she’d be 101 this March.

We tried for a couple of bears but were outbid this year. Nevertheless we had a wonderful time. If you’re interested in finding out more or seeing the work of the wonderful crafts folk, go to www.broadwaycares.org and check it out.

PAD

Not in the world’s greatest shape. First, I’m battling a headcold, which couldn’t be worse timed considering I have business meetings, a charity auction, and tickets for “Spamalot” over the next few days.

Added to that is that Ariel is off to visit her mother, which once upon a time wasn’t a big deal. But her mother moved to Arizona, so putting my unescorted minor on an airplane by herself for the first time and watching her take off has left an Ariel-sized hole in my world. The drive back from JFK was about the longest of my life. She’ll be back in a week, but it’s gonna be a rough week for me. I’m sure she’ll be fine. Still, if Caroline starts going around saying “Riel? Riel?” and thumping on her bedroom door looking for her, it’s going to be hard not to lose it.

PAD

A friend slipped me a copy of a documentary called “Double Dare,” and if you can get your hands on it, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Directed by Amanda Micheli, it tells the intersecting stories of two stuntwomen: Jeannie Epper, who comes from a family that’s described as the Flying Wallendas of the stunt world (except, one hopes, without the unfortunate body count), and has a career stretching back to doubling Lynda Carter as “Wonder Woman.” And Zoe Bell, an up and comer who doubled Lucy Lawless as Xena and–in the course of the documentary–auditions for and lands doubling for Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill.” (Several scenes are shown being filmed from “Kill Bill) with Bell as the Bride.) If you can manage to score yourself a copy, by all means do so. (There’s a “Double Dare” listed on Amazon.com, but there’s virtually no description of it and I don’t know for sure if it’s the same one. If anyone reading this does know for sure, chime in.)

Honestly? This shouldn’t stop as a documentary. If a network can make a success of a TV series based on the life of a crime-solving psychic, then a network (or maybe the Oxygen Channel) could do a series loosely based on the lives of Bell and Epper. The older, more experienced stunt woman guiding the career of the younger while also dealing with the needs of her extended family. God knows I’d watch it. Hell, I’d write for it. This thing’s a natural. Watching the set-ups for the stunts alone would be fascinating, and it’d be a hundred times better than the old Lee Majors “Fall Guy” series, especially if Epper and Bell are in it and doing their own stunts (a la Jackie Chan.)

PAD

As anyone who has read the DC solicits knows, issue #20 is slated to be the last one for DC. At this point, DC has no plans to do trade collections of the remaining books in the run.

We are not, however, quite dead yet.

Watch this space for further updates.

PAD

Was gone for the past few days attending “Farpoint” convention in Maryland. As always, a very pleasant and low key endeavor. Guests included Tony Amendola, David Gerrold, Kathy Garver from “Family Affair,” and folks such as Bob Greenberger, Howie Weinstein, Mike Friedman, and Keith “Second Coming of Peter David” deCandido.

High point for us was a sketch Kathleen and the girls performed as part of masquerade called “One Night in Who-Ville.” Pictures are viewable at:

http://homepage.mac.com/kathodavid/PhotoAlbum24.html

Plus, over in her website, Kath gives a blow-by-blow description of the sketch itself. She won third place in the category of “Champion’s Cup” (which she had to enter in since she’d won two awards in previous competitions) and also took Best Presentation.

At one point I was wandering around with Caroline, and she came upon an ice machine. Curious, she pushed the button, which I didn’t want her to do since I knew if she kept doing it, she might jam the machine. So it made the hellaciously loud grinding noise that ice machines usually make. Caroline jumped back, her eyes wide, and she blurted out (I swear, her exact words), “Oh no!” I said, “Quick, Caroline! Let’s get outta here!” And she turned and bolted out of there, her curly hair streaming behind her like the Flash. So I doubt she’ll be messing with any ice machines in the future.

PAD

Now with more dialogue! And shark-free!

Whad’ja think?

PAD

Remember how ludicrous it was when John Ashcroft draped cloths over the bare breasts of the statue of justice?

Well, Gordon Lee, a Georgia comics retailer, isn’t laughing. Because Gordon is being prosecuted under Georgia law that stems from the same “human body is evil” thinking. A law so sweeping that the following titles can get retailers arrested and charged with fines and jail time: “Watchmen.” “Contract With God.” “Sandman.”

Interested yet? Sit back, I’ll explain:

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Understand: I know nothing about football. Nothing. Okay, one thing: Kathleen likes to watch the Superbowl.

So I read during the football and watch the commercials. What I’ll be doing is assessing the commercials as we go.

DIRECT TV: My God–I just watched my entire life flash before my eyes in sixty seconds. Am I that old? Did it really fly by that quickly? Lord, I’m depressed.

TOSTIDOS: That was cute. The whole bride thing.

BLOCKBUSTER: Boy, netflicks must be cutting into their business.

FORD: What a contest. Who’s more obnoxious: Bikers or owners of Ford trucks.

McDONALDS: Eh.

CHEESE: Can’at go wrong with cows.

HOUSE: I haven’t been consistent with watching it, but when I do, this is a terrific series, with an unrecognizable Hugh Laurie.

PSA: Sure. Join the team. Just don’t use steroids when you do.

6:36

FORD: Liked it better than the one for trucks. I bet there really are people insane enough to drive a convert in the snow.

6:42

BUD WEISER: trust the beer commercials. That was funny. Second favorfite to the muppets.

LENSWEAR: Don’t care.

CONSTANTINE: I hate to admit it, but I’m interested in it. Face it, we all know they should have cast Sting, but now that it’s done, I’m curious to see whether it works as a film in and of itself.

Enforced break. Got involved with feeding Caroline, followed by playtime, then jammies and then settling her down for bed. But I should be back for the rest of the commercials now.

Paul is playing the halftime show. Amazing. He still looks boyish. More “ish” than “boy,” but more boyish than I look and he’s got a few years on me.

8:33

American Airlines. Okay, not memorable.

Nissan Maxima. Okay, not great.

Chase. zzzzzzzzzzz

Cadillac. Eh. You know what I’d love to see? A Cadillac commercial in which they’re brainstorming and an ad guy says, “How about: Cadillac–the Cadillac of cars!” And they just stare at him. And the tagline is “Cadillac: No one ever says ‘The Toyota of’ anything…”

8:39

Getting real sick of the Ford convertible commercial.

8:58

Okay, the Ameriquest commercials are officially the funniest things so far. This one with the cat was even better.

Career Builder: Funny series that I’ll bet has a lot of folks thinking, “Wow, that’s just like MY work place.”

9:02

WOTW: You know, if even Spielberg thinks that aliens are coming to kill us, we can prety much pack in the last bastion of optimism.

Cialis: Up to 36 HOURS?! Who is this FOR? Men married to an entire cheerleader squad?

9:11

Honda: “It’s not just another truck.” Bad news: It’s another truck.

Verizon: Okay, I liked that a lot. The whole miniaturization thing. That was funny.

The Shield: I’d gotten out of watching it, but with Glenn Close joining the cast, I may very well take another whack at going with this series.

9:21

Miller: eh. Not the best.

Ford: Eh.

Toyota: This guy and his dog are starting to grow on me.

9:25

Toyota: Well, that’s certainly the best ad for a Hybrid I’ve ever seen.

9:31

Budweiser…zzzz

Mastercard: Okay, that was great. All the trademark guys getting together for dinner. Good thing they weren’t eating fish; wonder how Charlie would have reacted.

9:38

Budweiser: A good message and entertainingly told.

9:41

The collected superbowl: Ariel says if it has the commercials, I should buy it.

10:00

Sahara: Don’t know anything about it.

Diet Pepsi: What frightens me is that if P Diddy really DID show up in a Pepsi truck, exactly what’s depicted in the commercial would likely happen.

10:03

WOW! Okay, this isn’t about a commercial, but hell, wow, what a touchdown.

Patriots over Eagles, 24-21. I’m almost certain that’ll be it.

PAD

You know, now I’ve really got myself wondering.

As I noted, because Schindler saved 1100 Jews, the result was 6000 Jews who would never have lived if it weren’t for his efforts.

So if 50,000 young men and women died in Vietnam, how many people does that mean, roughly, were never born over the course of the subsequent four decades?

PAD

In a society where–horrifingly enough–polled high school students express little appreciation for the First Amendment, and see nothing wrong with the government curtailing freedom of expression, I notice that comics fans who knock the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund do so from two angles.

The first is a cavalier, “Well, they don’t win any cases.” I refer you to our latest endeavor, a case in which South Carolina customs officials embargoed comic books that lampooned George W. Bush. I am pleased to announce that, thanks to the CBLDF’s quick intervention, the books have been shaken loose from customs and are proceeding, none the worse for wear, to their proper destination. So that was a slam dunk against governmental abuse of power. More can be found on that over at www.cbldf.org.

The second knock is the false perception that the only comics which run into trouble are hard core porn, and why should people support the CBLDF when we “only” come to the aid of accused pornographers. To that I am now saying, Watch this space. Come Monday, we will be announcing a new case the CBLDF is going to be taking on. It is going to be a major undertaking, and it challenges laws that–if allowed to stand–would leave retailers open to obscenity prosecution for selling certain titles that are considered comics masterworks and are on the shelves of just about every serious comics collector in the country.

PAD

So word down the pipeline is that “Enterprise” is canceled.

The immediate question being bandied about is, “Is Star Trek dead?” This doesn’t surprise me. Pundits were announcing that sitcoms were dead…until “Cosby.” TV westerns, once flourishing, were pronounced dead…until “Kung Fu.” Movie westerns were also believed unable to pull in an audience…until “Unforgiven.” Hell, “Star Trek” was pronounced dead when the original series went off the air…and then it was alive with “ST:TMP,” but that was so poorly received that it was pronounced dead again…until the second feature film. “Star Trek” has died more often than Jean Gray, and yet it rises once more like…well, like a great bird.

I don’t think “Star Trek” is dead. I think that *a* Star Trek series that never fully engaged (no pun intended) the viewership is dead. But if they build a new series, I think viewers will come right back and at least sample it.

PAD

For some reason folks keep asking me, and no, I didn’t see the State of the Union because it was my bowling night. Nor am I overly interested in watching his royal smugness for any extended period of time anyway…a sentiment I know he’d agree with. After all, he said just a couple weeks ago that if Americans are concerned with disturbing or revolting images on their TV screens, they’ve really no cause to complain because there’s an off switch. And I concur, which is why I just turn the set off when he comes on.

From what I’ve read subsequently, he glossed over Iraq, which is smart, as Bush’s List grows and grows. And I think that the business of privatizing Social Security is antithetical to the very concept. Social Security stems from a time when the country endeavored to pull together generationally, with the young paying in to support the elderly. Privatization is a nice, neutral word to cover what it really is: Every Man For Himself. It has less of a feel of trying to fix the ship of state and more a sense of abandoning a sinking vessel.

Cling to the clock and pray the country survives him.

PAD