Sunday, January 15, 2006

It's Hammer Time!

I should have noted this a week or so ago when Tom DeLay made his fall from power official. I'd forgotten about the Doonesbury comic strip holding a "Tom DeLay Political Deathwatch." It started in April and I guess Garry Trudeau expected "The Hammer" to come down quicker...but it's interesting to re-read those strips now. Start here and read forward.

• Posted at 8:20 PM · LINK

Mystery Solved!

We were wondering when DirecTV would begin carrying Sleuth, the new cable channel that just runs old detective shows and movies. Turns out the answer is later this year.

• Posted at 3:51 PM · LINK

There's No Such Website!

First one of the new year! For the benefit of those of you who can't remember all the way back to 2005, here's how it works: We give you five links to five alleged websites. Four of these actually exist out there in the way-out worldwide web, whereas the fifth is a despicable fraud being perpetrated on you by the untrustworthy operator of this unlikely-but-real weblog. What you need to do is figure out which of the five below ain't Kosher. As always, there are big cash prizes to be won...but not here. Okay, go to it...

CelebHeights - Just how tall is your favorite movie star? You can find out at this site which is dedicated to listing celebrities and telling how they measure up.
Guinea Pig Costumes - Is your guinea pig running around naked? Have you no shame? Dress your guinea pig in one of these stylish outfits.
The Museum of Burnt Food - Left that piece of raisin bread in the toaster overnight? Well, you may have created a masterpiece.
Ice Cream Maker Guy - He's the most obscure character in the entire Star Wars saga...and now, at last, there's a whole website devoted to him!
The Shady Brady Lady - A criminal record in the past of actress Florence Henderson? Say it isn't so...but it is. This website has dug up the dirt, mug shot and all.

Real-but-unlikely websites suggested by Bill Stiteler, Joel O'Brien, Tony Isabella and Casey Roberson. If you folks want to see this game more often, send me some links to real websites that sound like I made them up.

• Posted at 5:53 AM · LINK

Dennis Marks, R.I.P.

Sorry to hear of the passing of Dennis Marks, a prolific writer, mostly of animation. Dennis was one of the main writers of the Beatles cartoon show and of many other successful programs, including Batfink, The Transformers, The Superman-Aquaman Hour and Josie and the Pussycats. He was the head writer of the 1981 Spider-Man cartoon series and the 1982 Incredible Hulk show and did occasional voices on both. In theatrical animation, he wrote the 1990 movie of The Jetsons and worked on Tom and Jerry: The Movie, which was released two years later. He also produced the childrens' TV series, Wonderama, for many years and wrote a few scripts for DC Comics in the sixties. I worked with Dennis on the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon show, which he created. He was a clever guy and very passionate about everything he did.

A memorial service will be held on Friday afternoon, January 20, at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Dennis was a longtime fixture of the Castle. Every Friday lunchtime for years, he could be found on the same stool at the Owl Bar, nursing a straight-up martini and holding court about what was wrong with the world. Wherever he is now, he's giving them an earful.

• Posted at 1:08 AM · LINK

January 16, 2006 • Current • January 14, 2006