Here's another one of these from back in the days when I used to get great cartoon voice actors to record messages for my answering machine. The one a few weeks ago was, of course, the legendary Daws Butler warbling away as Huckleberry Hound. Here, we have a cat with the voice of the late, lovely Lorenzo Music…

Roger Ebert bids farewell to the movie review show he co-hosted with Gene Siskel and later with Richard Roeper. I wonder how many people in this country adopted the movie-picking policies of a couple of friends of mine. It was to scratch off their possible viewing list any film which either TV critic gave the old "thumbs down." My buddy Dave once explained, "I can only spare the time for a certain number of movies per month. If I pick from the list of those both guys liked, I have more than enough to pick from."

The Playboy website (as in Playboy Magazine) sent a crew to cover the Comic-Con. Over on this page, you can see a pictorial feature of what they call "the hottest babes at Comic-Con." I might argue their tastes but it still amazes me that they could get that many photos even vaguely in that category. I can remember a time when a gallery of all the women at the Comic-Con would have consisted of photos of June Foray and Mrs. Jack Kirby.

Also on that page is a pretty lame video interview of the costumed folks, largely unable to answer any questions about their characters' sex lives, as well as other pix shot at the event.

More of this stuff…

• Someone came up to me with a page of original art he'd purchased elsewhere (i.e., not at the convention) and asked me to authenticate it. "People are telling me it's a forgery," he said. "But I know it isn't and if I have you backing me up, I think I can convince them." The fellow was upset that I felt I couldn't back him up. I wasn't sure it was counterfeit but I certainly wasn't certain in the other direction. He grudgingly thanked me for my time, then went off in search of someone else who'd tell him what he wanted to hear.
• We had a good turnout for our panel on how to become a cartoon voice actor. Earl Kress and I co-hosted a discussion of the nuts 'n' bolts of the business with two successful actors — Gregg Berger and Bob Bergen — and two of the top agents. The agents were Cynthia McLean and Mary Ellen Lord, who are with SBV, a firm that represents some of the best, workingest voice performers in the business. The panelists gave some hard, pragmatic info to an appreciative audience. Sorry if you missed it but Gregg was interviewed recently on some of the same topics and you can read his valuable advice here.
• Several people thanked me for my totally accurate weather forecast.
• We had animation producer-writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears on a couple of panels, and audiences were pretty excited to meet the guys who gave the world Scooby Doo, Thundarr the Barbarian, Dynomutt and so many more. That's one of the great things about the Comic-Con: Turning the spotlight on folks whose recognition has not quite matched their achievements.
• I didn't make it to Preview Night but everyone who did told me it was no less crowded than any day of the convention…maybe more crowded. Well, of course: There's no programming or panels that evening to take X thousand people off the main floor. I've learned to accept and live with the packed aisles of the Comic-Con. It's just a fact of life and nothing is gained by moaning about it. Still, it's sad those few hours of the con — the period that used to have a nice, relaxed feel to it — has gone away.

And I think that's it for this go-round. Sorry if I still owe you an e-mail. Lots more catching-up to do…

It's that Gay Marriage thing, I tell you. God is pissed.

UPDATE: They're now saying 5.4. If it gets to 5.1, sell.

Can't tell you how sorry I was to hear about the passing of Bruce Adler, a great song-and-dance man, Tony nominee and occasional cartoon voice. I only met Mr. Adler once…backstage at the Broadway production of Crazy For You, for which he originated the role of Bela Zangler. And as he was being called away for some purpose, that meeting didn't last much longer than the time it took for me to tell him what a fan I was of his work, especially his CD/records, A Night in the Yiddish Music Hall, Parts One and Two. He was very, very good and I wish I could give you a link that would let you see or hear him at his best.

What I can offer you is this link to a page at the agency that represented him. There's a good obit posted there and at the moment, the page plays one of Bruce Adler's recordings — unfortunately, not one of his Yiddish Theater ones. [Warning: Music starts instantly.] Also, I'm embedding a clip of him on Rosie O'Donnell's show performing a number from a revival of the show, Anything Goes. Bruce is the fellow on the left, the lady is (of course) Chita Rivera and the gent on the right is George Dvorsky.

As Carolyn and I left San Diego earlier today, they were just taking down the big Comic-Con International banners on the convention center. The insides were vacated last night, reportedly by 11 PM. I still find it amazing how fast something so big just goes away in a couple of eye-blinks.

Since I have to get back to assignments — and maybe even to sleep — further postings will have to wait. You'll probably be hearing about it all week here.

In years past, a favorite place to dine while the Comic-Con International was in progress was a "dive" called the Kansas City Barbecue Company. You didn't go there for the decor. You went for the great ribs and chicken, and maybe for the friendly atmosphere and servers.

The use of the past tense in the above paragraph is because, as reported here, the place had a fire that closed them down, just in time for this year's con. But I am pleased to post the above photograph which promises that they will soon be back in biz. And even as I was taking it, a construction crew was working on the building to make that happen.

More random bits about the Comic-Con…

• My favorite moment at the Quick Draw! game was when I asked the three cartoonists to each do a sketch called "Someone in the audience who deserves a standing ovation." I knew the answer I'd get when I asked it: Al Jaffee. One of the many joys of the weekend was hanging around with the guy who invented "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions" and the MAD Fold-In, and seeing how mobbed he was by fans and admirers. He was a little stunned when he got that standing ovation — a couple thousand people on their feet and cheering — but if he thought he didn't merit it, he was the only one.
• The rumor was again circulating that since the con has obviously gotten too big for the San Diego Convention Center and surrounding hotels, it will soon be relocated to Las Vegas. As far as I can determine, absolutely no one currently involved in the operation of the con believes this or wants this.
• Mike Peters hugged me more in one weekend than my Aunt Dot did in her entire life.
• There was a guy staggering around the room in one of those costumes where you can tell that an awful lot of time and money went into the effort but you have no idea who or what he was supposed to be. Actually, there were a couple of those but the one I'm thinking of had seriously impaired vision. I think the eyeholes were in his navel or something…and he kept bumping into people. Maybe that was the point of it.
• We did something called "That 70s Panel" with eight comic folks, myself included, who began writing and/or drawing funnybooks in that era. It went well for what it was, and also as a preview of a Golden Age Panel in the not-as-distant-as-I-wish future.
• Every con since I had my Gastric Bypass Surgery, a few folks come up to me and inquire about it, and I answer questions and tell them what I tell everyone, which is that it worked great for me but that their mileage may vary. One fellow who inquired this year easily weighed over 400 pounds…but he said he was asking because his sister was considering it.
• I only got down to Artists' Alley once during the con. I really like that part of the floor and always forget that there's a route that doesn't involve plowing through the videogame/toy section. If they had a little tram that took you down to that part of the convention hall, I'd be there whenever I wasn't hosting panels.

More of these as they come to mind.

Hard to believe, considering what a good time I had, that I have so little to write about this year's Comic-Con International. What with panels, meetings and books to sign, I barely had five minutes in which to be bored. I'd have liked a few more moments when I didn't have to be somewhere so I could have prowled the hall in search of all those friends I never ran into. I know some of you were there and I'm sorry our paths didn't cross. I did enjoy meeting any number of e-mail correspondents…even a guy who sends me political tirades about how we must immediately drop nuclear bombs on any nation where the "wrong" religions fllourish. In person, he didn't seem too insane. I was expecting Jack Nicholson in The Shining crossed with Mothra.

Yeah, there were a lot of people there, including some not dressed as The Joker. I've decided that going to the Comic-Con International and moaning about crowds is like going to a strip joint and complaining that there are fake breasts on the premises. On the other hand, could we institute a rule that no exhibitor may distribute carry-around bags that are more than twice the width of the person who'll be carrying them around?

I also don't think you should be allowed to set up in the autograph area unless you have proof that somewhere, at some time, somebody has actually asked you for an autograph.

A few of my friends seemed bothered by the many costumed folks in the place…as if this is something new at fan conventions. The only thing that bothers me is that they are drastically (though understandably) over-represented in the news coverage. When I call my mother from the con to check on her, I always have to reassure her that I'm not at that moment dressed as Catwoman. Which is usually true.

Occasionally, you start a panel even though one or more guests has yet to arrive for it. Today, as I was about to begin one of those, an absent guest called my cellphone to tell me that he was driving around outside the convention center…and since he was unable to find a place to park, he was going home.

One dining tip which may be good for next year: I always complain about the food at these things because…well, because it's usually three notches below atrocious. But out in the back on the top level, there was a little outdoor setup where hot dogs and hamburgers were being barbecued and sold for about double what you'd pay in a real restaurant. They were pretty decent if you knew the secret, which was to ask for one that hadn't been cooked for some previous convention.

Almost lastly: A kid who was maybe eleven years old came up and asked me if I'd ever written The Hulk in some comic or cartoon. I told him no, I hadn't. He reacted as if I'd told him I'd never tasted chocolate or smelled a flower or listened to jazz. His eyes went wide in amazement, he stammered a bit then asked in a loud, mystified voice, "Is there some good reason why not?"

Can't believe it all went so fast. At the first San Diego Con I attended, which was the first one ever, time moved much more slowly. There was less to see and hear at the con but the hours lasted a full sixty minutes back then, so there was time enough to do most of what you wanted. Some people have suggested adding another day or even two to the convention. I don't think they need that. I think they need to get rid of these hours that only last about eleven minutes each, and get back to the era when an hour was an hour. Good night.

Still having a great time. Still don't have any hot gossip or juicy anecdotes. I have now completed twelve of my seventeen panels and am readying myself to hike to the convention center and do the remaining five. I hope someone else will post how hilarious Chuck McCann was…how funny all the participants were, actually, on yesterday's Cartoon Voices panel. If I tell you, it will just seem like Moderator Bias. We have another panel of such actors today at 1:15 (Room 6B, I think) and today's assemblage is going to have a pretty high bar over which they must vault.

I enjoy the heck out of this convention. Yes, I know there are long lines and crowded aisles. That's because it's a great place to be and everyone knows it. It's often hard to get a table at the best restaurant, too. One of the things I enjoy about Comic-Con International is that I can't take five steps in any direction without running into a friend…including some I hadn't known before. I'm sure the pace would grow maddening in longer stretches but to function in it for four or five days at a time is quite exhilarating. So much to do, so much to see.

Sundays are always a little bittersweet at these things. There's as much to enjoy as there ever is but there's also the underscore that things are winding down, that it's all coming to an end. People are thinking about return trips and packing and making that last purchase that may not fit into their suitcases. Later this afternoon, for those who stick around for it, there will come that amazing (to me) moment when the convention ends and if you linger in the exhibit hall, you can watch the ritual of implosion. You can see exhibitors start breaking down their booths and watch as this vast room goes into retreat…and the mighty convention slowly disappears before your eyes. (Those of you who think dealers overcharge for their wares ought to see this once and also witness the set-up. The sheer physical labor involved in getting in and getting out…well, I didn't mind as much, paying what I was paying for old comics, once I'd witnessed the merchants hauling their boxes around.)

Okay, I have to get over to the Convention Center, where there are fascinating people, wonderful things to see and hear, and $8.00 mini-pizzas made of a harder substance than Wolverine's claws. I'll try to write something here tonight when it's all sadly over…but only, we remind ourselves, 'til next year.

I've decided not to do a day-by-day Convention Report this year. I'd love to give you hot gossip and juicy anecdotes from the floor but those postings never seem to be much more than me telling you how well my panels are going and how crowded the con is, and then I list a lot of people with whom I chatted. This is a much more exciting event than that.

So whatever I have to report will have to wait 'til I return and have time to reflect and think of other things to write about. Those of you who love it when I'm pissed off at some business, like an airline or restaurant, will enjoy what I have to say about the hotel in which these words are being written.

I have so far counted fifteen people dressed as The Joker — twelve men and three women. These are not the greatest villains represented in the hall. So far, the greatest villain is whatever exhibitor thought it would be a great idea to pass out large inflatable swords to small children. I'm going to find that guy and make him try to get from one end of the room to the other with kids stabbing at his lower extremities.

Goodbye 'til later.

As you may (emphasis on the "may") have heard, the Enquirer claims to have nailed down proof that John Edwards…well, it's a bit arguable as to what they've proved. They claim it's that Edwards really did have an affair (previously and quite convincingly denied) with this woman named Rielle Hunter and fathered a "love child" with her. The Enquirer reportage suggests what they've proved is that he visited her in the wee small hours of the morning at the Beverly Hilton and ran like a craven jackrabbit when he found that there was an Enquirer correspondent shadowing him.

Jack Shafer asks if there's a double-standard at work in that the mainstream media has yet to report this. I don't think so. For one thing, there's a big difference between getting caught by an Enquirer reporter and being caught, as Larry Craig was, by an officer of the law. True, the Enquirer has been steadily raising its level of credibility as the so-called "real press" has been lowering its own…but they haven't quite crossed yet. Craig was arrested, which makes it more of a public issue and takes it out of the "none of anybody's business" category. Also, the Edwards story is new and there's a lot going on in the world.

I don't think there's a danger it won't get plenty of attention. Edwards's political opponents will see to that. If he's not Obama's running mate, we may now know the reason why.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned in this story is the question of why, if you were a nationally-known political figure and you wanted to meet with your mistress, you'd do it at the Beverly Hilton, of all places. Under normal circumstances, the place is swarming with famous folks — and therefore, reporters. But this week, all the TV critics in the land are in L.A. for a big press junket and every good hotel is filled with press folks. The Edwards encounter allegedly happened on Monday. That same day, I had a meeting at the Four Seasons and I saw half the cable news business lounging poolside. The Beverly Hilton is the hotel where you stay when you can't get into the Four Seasons.

I'm not saying it's proof of anything…but if you were a famous guy, especially a famous guy who's being mentioned as a running mate for Barack Obama, it would be braindead stupid to think you could get in and out of the Hilton without being spotted. In my book, that would disqualify the guy to be Vice-President, just as much as the moral hypocrisy and lying.

But I promised to link to the latest Fred Kaplan column.