Saturday, December 27, 2003

eBay Stuff

That eBay auction of my pilot script and bible for Dungeons and Dragons ended at a price of $255.00, and I have no idea how I feel about that. I guess I'm afraid that some animation studio is going to see that and decide that's what they should pay writers for writing these things in the first place.

Speaking of eBay, I have nothing to do with it but a one-of-a-kind, hand-carved Porky Pig walking stick is currently up for bids. It was made for my pal Bob Bergen, who usually does Mr. Pig's voice these days, but it's the wrong length for him. So you can buy it (or at least see it) by clicking here.

• Posted at 9:46 PM · LINK

Kay Kuter, R.I.P.

Did you know Kay Kuter died last month? Yeah, me neither. I just found out that the venerable character actor (and fixture at autograph shows) died November 12 from pulmonary complications. I didn't see anything in the papers about it, even though a lot of folks probably remember him as Newt Kiley on Petticoat Junction and Green Acres...six years, playing the same character on two popular series. At those autograph shows, that's all they seemed to ask him about. He wearily but good-naturedly answered questions about Arnold Ziffel. We chatted occasionally about an amazing career that went back to bit parts opposite Bogart in Sabrina, Sinatra and Brando in Guys and Dolls and Jack Benny in the recurring hillbilly act that graced the Benny program.

His listing in the Internet Movie Database will give you a brief sampling of what he did. As you'll see, he never played big roles but he sure played a lot of them.

• Posted at 12:54 PM · LINK

Today's Report

Went to a party last evening at the home of Leonard and Alice Maltin. Got to talk to lots of fun folks including Stan Freberg, Chuck McCann, Richard Sherman, Ian Whitcomb, Phil Proctor and John Landis. It was a lot more fun than the last time I was with John Landis. It was 1963 and we were in the same classroom at Emerson Junior High School in West Los Angeles, hearing over the P.A. system that the President had been shot.

Lots of fun talk. Richard Sherman was telling everyone that things are finally set to bring the stage musical version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (which is a hit over in London) to Broadway in Fall of 2004. (There are video clips and fun facts over at the show's website.)

• Posted at 1:47 AM · LINK