Coming up in Archie Comics

ARCHIE #589

THE FRESHMAN YEAR SAGA CONTINUES THIS ISSUE!

"Freshman Year: Winter Term": In the tradition of
"Batman: Year One,"
"Superman: the Man of Steel" and the Marvel Ultimates comes the biggest Archie Comics event since the
"Love Showdown!" The third full-length issue of the
"Freshman Year" saga finds Archie reflecting on the term just past, pining over Veronica and lamenting how she went away during the holiday break. Hoping to stay close to Veronica, Archie joins the drama club – the perfect indoor activity during the frosty winter months. But being part of such a large club is hardly the way to gain exclusive quality time with Veronica. Will their reunion be everything Archie hopes, or will the eternal love triangle get off to a rollicking start with friction between Betty and Veronica instead? And will Moose ever be introduced to Midge? Other surprises in store for the gang this second term include some new faculty members as well as the departure of the expelled school bully, Jared McGerk. It’s the funniest first year of high school ever, courtesy of fan-favorite writer Batton Lash of
"Wolff & Byrd" and
"Archie Meets the Punisher" fame, along with
"Scrapyard Detectives" creator and popular Archie artist/writer Bill Galvan.
SCRIPT: Batton Lash.
ART: Bill Galvan.
On sale on newsstands: October 7, 2008
32-recycled pages, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.


ARCHIE & FRIENDS #123

"A Tune in Tinsel Town": Now that the smoke has cleared and all the bad guys have been dispatched, Archie and his friends can finally concentrate on the film deal that brought them to Hollywood in the first place. Citing the Archie’s popularity and the high profile of their adventures in Europe and Africa, a big-time Hollywood producer is certain the teens’ notoriety will translate to box office gold and plans to star them in a series of movies called
"Mayhem Musical High." Now that they’ve saved half of Hollywood’s biggest stars (see issue 122), the kids are even hotter properties! Along with that red-hotness comes offers of solo contracts for the players. Will visions of individual fame and fortune strike a sour chord with the band, or can the Archies’ love of music and friendship ultimately overcome ego and greed?
SCRIPT: Alex Simmons.
ART/COVER: Fernando Ruiz (pencils) and Jim Amash (inks).
On sale on newsstands: September 23, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

ARCHIE’S DOUBLE DIGEST #192

"Video Idiocy": Archie’s latest scheme to make spending cash: have Jughead video his constant klutziness to enter in TV home video competitions!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
"The Prince of Green": Archie learns the hard way that you have to expend personal energy to conserve the world’s energy!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
"Fits Like a Glove":
A brand-new Little Archie tale by Bob Bolling! This latest Little Archie adventure has all the hallmarks of his classic tales, with a modern ecological twist. Can Little Archie and his friends keep both the Animal Rescue Foundation headquarters and their own clubhouse from being torn down? Not before some hair-raising adventures, including an unplanned ride down the roaring rapids!
SCRIPT AND ART: Bob Bolling.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale on newsstands: October 7, 2008
Full-color digest format
$3.69 U.S.


BETTY #176

"The Many Charms of Luck": For someone who claims not to be superstitious, Betty sure has a lot of good luck charms!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Fitness Quiz": Betty learns the secret of her mother’s physical fitness: being a housewife!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Breath Taking": Everyone loves how Betty’s new cheese dip goes down… it’s just the halitosis aftermath they can do without!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Wedding Blistered": Attending her cousin’s wedding gives Betty an opportunity to observe several married couples… and witness the "good times and bad" firsthand!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale on newsstands: October 14, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #85
SPECIAL HALLOWEEN ISSUE!

"An Axe to Grind": It’s a dark and stormy night… a fitting night for Betty and Veronica to stay inside and have a scary movie festival! But things go from
"reel" to real when Archie, Jughead and Reggie try to crash the girls’ private party… and come face-to-face with an axe-wielding maniac! Is everything as it seems, or is it just a case of the boys’ imaginations running wild? Guest-starring Veronica’s truck driving-aunt, Tessie!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
On sale on newsstands: September 30, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.


BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #164

PART 4 OF A 5-PART, INTERACTIVE STORY WHERE THE READERS DECIDE THE OUTCOME!

"And the Winner Is… Part 4 of 5": 2008 is an election year, and Archie Comics is no exception as we present a special election of our own: your chance to vote for Cheryl Blossom’s new boyfriend! Three issues ago, Reggie and Cheryl broke up, and Cheryl wound up on the TV show,
"The Lonely Hearts Club" in search of a new beau. Three hot contestants stepped up for the challenge, and you the reader will witness each of their dates with Cheryl and vote for who you think Cheryl should choose online at www.archiecomics.com! This issue, Cheryl goes on her final date with master chef George. George really knows how to heat things up, both in and out of the kitchen. Can Cheryl handle the competition from all the culinary school cuties lining up for cooking lessons? Not to mention Jughead, who wants to monopolize her man for endless meals? Your vote decides whether George is the main entrée or merely an appetizer. Don’t miss this pivotal issue leading up to the final chapter where your votes… and Cheryl’s final choice for new leading man… will be revealed! SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
"Tired & Re-Tired": Betty and Veronica’s day is full of activities, but they refuse to be tired until they’re REALLY tired!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"Bionic Babes": Betty and Veronica fantasize about what it would be like to be stronger… faster… better than before!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale on newsstands: September 23, 2008
Full-color digest format
$3.69 U.S.

JUGHEAD #191

"The Show Stopper": Jughead decides to try community theater – but is the community ready to try Jughead’s brand of theater?
"Juggie’s Utility Belt!": With his
"food utility belt," Jughead is ready for any emergency craving!
"Cart Smart": When Jughead goes to the grocery store, is he a kid in a candy shop or a bull in a china shop? You decide!
SCRIPTS: Craig Boldman.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale on newsstands: October 7, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #125

IT’S ANOTHER NEW FOUR-PART STORY IN THE
"REALISTIC STYLE" – AND THIS TIME, MOOSE & MIDGE’S ROMANCE HANGS IN THE BALANCE!

"Break-up Blues, Part I": First came Betty and Veronica’s
"Bad Boy Trouble," followed by Jughead dealing with a bunch of
"Matchmakers." Now, the latest story to portray the famous Riverdale teens in a realistic style is here… and it may spell the end of one of the longest-running romances in Archie Comics history! Feeling confined by Moose’s possessive nature, Midge decides to try an experiment – namely, dating Reggie! We all know this will make Moose fly off the handle, but this time it won’t have an
"all’s well that ends well" resolution. Can Archie and his friends help pick up the pieces of this shattered relationship, or is it better to leave them where they lay? 2007’s
"Bad Boy Trouble" set the comics world on its ear as the teens were depicted in a realistic style. This year’s
"Matchmakers" continued the look and kept people talking. Now veteran penciller Tod Smith and journeyman inker Al Milgrom carry on that look in what is sure to be the most explosive Archie Comics story of the year!
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan.
ART: Tod Smith (pencils) and Al Milgrom (inks).
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale on newsstands: October 14, 2008
Full-color digest format
$3.69 U.S.

TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #30

"For Monsters Only": Can it be true? Have Archie and Jughead really stumbled into a Halloween party where the guests are not in costume but are actual, real-live monsters? Find out for yourself if this tale is a
"trick" or a
"treat!"
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Fernando Ruiz.
"The Pies Have It": Move over, Gordon – it’s a real
"kitchen nightmare" when cafeteria cook Miss Beazly loses a ring in a pot pie!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
ART: Bob Bolling.
"The Promise": Mr. Weatherbee promises to perform as a clown if the students improve their reading averages, leading some to ask,
"What else is new?!"
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Pat Kennedy. PLUS: Other new and classic tales! SCRIPT AND
ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale on newsstands: October 14, 2008
Full-color digest format
$2.49 U.S.

Jason Marsden knows the combination of "Locker 13"

OK, let's just start out by saying that Jason Marsden is not James Marsden. He's the adorable and obnoxious guy who dated Dana on ABC's "Step By Step," not Cyclops of the "X-Men" movie franchise. And let's just get another thing straight -- the two are not brothers. They're not even related, at least by blood. They are, on the other hand, good friends.

Having said that, what does Jason Marsden -- the real, honest-to-goodness, former-member-of-TGIF Jason Marsden -- mean to us? For one thing, he's done a whole lotta TV in his mere 33 years (such a pup!). He's also done quite a lot of BRBTV.

Spunky Spencer on the "Batman: The Animated Series" episode "Baby-Doll." The teen Clark Kent in the ensuing "Superman" animated series. Donny Grasso in the "Batman Beyond" episode "Hooked Up." Snapper Carr on the further animated spinoff "Justice League." Even the role of Firefly in the newer "The Batman." Plus, a lot-o Disney stuff over the years. He is part of the family, after all.

But more importantly, what is Jason Marsden doing lately? Well, "Locker 13," actually. And he even helped write the screenplay for this seven-vignette anthology film.

Drawing on Jon Polito, "Silver Spoons" alum Rick Schroder, "Moonlighting" star Curtis Armstrong (who also did a voice on "Batman Beyond") and Tatyana Ali, "Locker 13" connects the seven stories to a mysterious locker 13. Schroder will share directing responsibilities, along with Marsden.

Learn more about the film at its official site.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: We reported over a month ago about A Martinez' new role on "One Life to Live." Zap2It and the Brantford Expositor have a little more on that. Our former Cruz Castillo of "Santa Barbara" begins his new role tomorrow.

Who's working for the new TV season? A rundown

Oh ... to be working. Some are, and some aren't, among classic TV stars. Here's a glimpse at the stars of our various BRBTV shows who have a brand-new gig for the upcoming small-screen season ...

Ed Begley Jr.
(Dr. Peter Corso on the "Batman Beyond" episode "April Moon"; Germs and Charlie Michael Collins on "Batman: The Animated Series")
Portraying Walter Krandall on "Gary Unmarried" on CBS.

Ron Perlman
(Clayface on "Batman: The Animated Series" and "Justice League"; Jax-Ur on the animated "Superman")
Taking the title role in "Hellboy Animated: The Phantom Claw."
Portraying Clay Morrow in "Sons of Anarchy" on f/X.

Ted McGinley
(Clay Fallmont on "Dynasty"; Tom Turbine and Burns on "Justice League")
Competing on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

Susan Lucci
(Hillary Taylor / Sheila Foley on "Dallas")
Competing on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

Kevin Michael Richardson
(Several voices in "Batman Beyond" and "Justice League"; Carlton Duquesne in the "Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman" movie)
Voicing Lester in Fox's midseason "The Cleveland Show."

Amy Acker
(Huntress in "Justice League")
Portraying Dr. Claire Saunders in Fox's midseason "Dollhouse."

Ian McShane
(Don Lockwood of "Dallas")
Portraying King Silas on NBC's midseason "Kings."

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Joan Collins, meanwhile, has her own new gig. Our former Alexis Colby, who on "Dynasty" was also involved in the newspaper biz, is penning a new column in the Sunday Telegraph in the U.K. She had been doing some writing for one of the Telegraph's holdings, the Spectator, and, of course, is a novelist.

Anthony De Longis: He was on daytime soap? Really?

"As you see, I'm not really a bad guy, I just play one on TV," Anthony De Longis told us via email a couple hours after he chatted with us over the phone from his ranch on the West Coast earlier this week. And BRBTV has to admit, we took a quick breath when we read that statement ... because the man who portrayed bad-guy Leo Mitchell on "Santa Barbara" in 1989 has had an incredibly action-packed career.

Swordmaster. Whipmaster. Expert horseman. Professional weapons instructor. Stunt coordinator. Fight director. .... Oh ... did we mention actor, too?

"One of the things that's hardest on most actors," De Longis tells us, "is how do you stay busy? What do you do between roles? I say, learn something, because the more knoweldge you have, the more uses you have."

Teaching Michelle Pfeiffer how to use a whip with ease for her role as Catwoman in 1992's "Batman Returns." Choreographing Anjelica Huston in 1995's "Buffalo Girls." Serving as a swordmaster in "Secondhand Lions" in 2003. Training Harrison Ford on his 10-foot leather bullwhip for this year's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." And amazingly enough, amid De Longis' expert action work on these projects, he still tends to get a little action in front of the camera, too. (Can you believe he also played a scary clown in "Batman Returns"?)

"My point being, I like to stay proactive," he says. "Quite often, I get as much worth coming in and helping other actors tell a story with action as I do getting acting roles myself. Instead of getting frustrated of being between roles, I try to embrace it."

Besides his dips into the daytime soaps world (he was on "Days of Our Lives," too), forays that seem almost ludicrous but for the fact that our Leo Mitchell was, after all, a pretty action-packed menacing guy, De Longis has ventured into the sci-fi genre, with roles on "Babylon 5," "Star Trek: Voyager" (a key Kazon role that was extended for his talent) and "Battlestar Galactica," for instance. His IMDb resume is extensive, dating back to the late '60s, and his own official resume makes this extensive picture even clearer.

"When I first started as an actor," he says, "I wasn't particularly adept physically. I said, I'm an actor, I need to develop more skills, more comfort physically. To me action is dialogue with movement, as opposed to words. I often tell people, you don't have to give me a lot of words. If you're telling your character's story, quite often the person who says the least in the scene is the one the audience watches the closest. I'm not the kind of actor who runs through a script and sees how many lines I have. It's nice, but that's not the be-all and end-all."

Quite a lot for the bad guy killed on the beach by our Laura Asher. (And he'd worked with Christopher Norris before, by the way, on an episode of "Trapper John, M.D.," the very first role he ever used an accent in -- Australian.)

De Longis just finished the film "Double Duty," which is in postproduction and also features Tom Sizemore and Connie Stevens -- along with Ismael "East" Carlo, another "SB" alum as Rueben Andrade. The History Channel is going to tape him at the end of this month for their show "Extreme Marksmen" (you mean they haven't until now?). He's got an article about the bullwhip coming out in Black Belt magazine at the end of this year. And he's appearing in a new TV series with Christian Kane, whom he worked with on "Secondhand Lions."

"He just called me up a couple weeks ago," De Longis says. "He has a new series called 'Leverage.' There's a big fight sequence for introducing his character. So he said, 'I want to get Anthony in here for this.' We put together this incredible fight in the kitchen that gives him all the credibility he could want, and we put it together in about a half an hour. We shoot the whole thing as a master. We did it start to finish every time we did it."

So is that enough, for a guy with such a broad wealth of experience? Keeping the acting resume and stunt instruction building? Well, no, not really enough ... He and his wife Mary also operate Rancho Indalo, atop one of the foothills of the Angeles Mountains in southern California, where they offer the adventure of a lifetime to anyone who's interested in a little safe shooting, a little instruction with the whip, a little training with the sword.

"We're now offering our 'Train to be Your Favorite Action Hero' Rancho Indalo curriculum," the ranch's materials say, "which embraces our favorite characters and genres including whip action like Indiana Jones and Catwoman, swashbuckling swordsmen like Zorro and D’Artagnan (sabers, rapier and dagger, small sword), broadsword- and axe-wielding heroes like Conan, archers like Robin Hood, Green Arrow and 'Lord of the Rings,' pistol and shotgun-toting western icons like Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, Calamity Jane, Annie Oakley and the Lone Ranger (on our live fire on-site pistol and shotgun range) and knife and tomahawk throwing like 'V' and 'Last of the Mohicans.'"

Ummm ... sign us up!

"We afford people the opportunity to come in from around the world, really, and stay at the ranch," De Longis says. "We have opened this up to the general public, people who've had a dream and never had a chance. If you want to be pampered, go to a hotel, but if you want an action-adventure, come and see us. We're four miles from the freeway; we're an hour from anywhere in L.A."

You can keep up with De Longis ever-evolving career at his official site, DeLongis.com, where you can see many of his career headshots and stills, and you can view videos of his action work.

And you can find BRBTV's complete interview with De Longis in the next edition of the equally ever-evolving reference guide "Send Me to Santa Barbara."

Next Friday: We talk with another "SB" star who's got a great behind-the-scenes career going these days!

Photo by John Leonetti; courtesy of Anthony De Longis.

"Santa Barbara" stars hit the big screen

Fresh off a Lifetime movie, A Martinez has a big-screen project in the works. "Becoming Eduardo" is a movie that began shooting in July on a "shoestring" budget, according to director Rod McCall.

The story centers around an at-risk teen at a rural New Mexico high school. Martinez plays Sergio Garcia. Read more about "Becoming Eduardo" at its official site (where you can find Martinez in the movie's trailer and some nice stills) and through this press release.

Elsewhere in the "Santa Barbara" cast, meanwhile, Martinez's on-screen father, Henry Darrow, and Bridgette Wilson have new projects.

"From Bubba with Love" is a comedy classified as in postproduction. Darrow portrays Alejandro in the movie, written and directed by John Carcieri.

The plotline from the IMDb: "Good ol' boy Bubba Caswell is hopelessly in love with Ginny, the prettiest girl in Mocksboro, North Carolina. While preparing to propose marriage, a single lapse in judgment lands Bubba in the state penitentiary. Upon his release six years later, Bubba finds that everything has changed." Learn more about the film via this YouTube video.

Wilson, meanwhile, just completed "Phantom Punch," the story of heavyweight boxing champ Sonny Liston. She portrays Farah in the film, directed by Robert Townsend and written by Ryan Combs. Ving Rhames has the title role. Learn more at the film's official site.

Coming tomorrow: A special "SB" interview

Why stop with a few movie project updates? BRBTV had two other cast members of "SB" on the phone earlier this week, as research for the next edition of the "Send Me to Santa Barbara" reference guide, and we'll run excerpts from those interviews for the next two Fridays. These are two cast members we've never spoken to before, and both are leading successful Hollywood careers behind the scenes these days! The first interview is tomorrow, so c'mon back ...

Bat-animated series voice actors have lots of new projects going on

Didya know Mark Hamill was in that "Star Wars" series of movies? If you're a big fan of "Batman: The Animated Series," you might have to stop and think about it a bit, because to you Hamill is the voice of the Joker, taking the Clown Prince of Crime far, far, far down into the path of madness years before Heath Ledger did. Now Hamill, along with some others from "B: TAS" and its various offshoots, will be appearing in some brand-new projects for this year.

"Conan: Red Nails" is an animated movie following the continuing tales of the strongman Conan of Cimmeria. Ron Perlman, who voiced Clayface in "B: TAS," gets the title role in this one. He's joined by Hamill, as Tolkemec, and Cree Summer, who voiced Max in "Batman Beyond," as Valeria. Clancy Brown, the voice of Lex Luthor in the various Bat-animated series as well as Big-Time in "Batman Beyond" and Mr. Freeze in the newer "The Batman," is Olmec.

Part of the movie's plotline, from its official site: "After a brutal war in the evil land of Stygia, Conan crosses harsh desert and trackless jungle with Valeria, a blonde, sexy and very dangerous buccaneer. Together, they stumble across Xuchotl, a fabulous lost city rising from the burning sands -- where no city should ever exist. Even more ominous is the creature guarding the city's black walls: a huge, monstrous dragon resurrected from ancient bones." The story was originally published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1936.

"Spawn: The Animation" is a TV series that has been in development for four years. It reunites Hamill, Brown and Summer from the above project, and it adds in Jon Polito, who voiced the Major in the "Batman Beyond" episode "Betrayal," and Michael Jai White, the voice of Doomsday in the "Superman" animated series. "Spawn" creator Todd McFarlane serves as an executive producer. You can learn a little more about it at the Spawn site.

"The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon" is a video game and another project in development for Hamill. He voices Malefor the Dark Master and is joined by Gary Oldman, Christina Ricci, Wayne Bradey and Elijah Wood. Learn more at the game's official site.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Fredric Lehne, who no doubt had a great time terrorizing Lucy Ewing as Eddie Cronin on "Dallas," has a con appearance coming up. He'll meet-and-greet at the EyeCon celebrity autograph convention in Orlando, Florida, on September 26-28, for his role on the CW's "Supernatural."

Archie prequel "Freshman Year" continues this month

From Archie Comics

In the tradition of such famous comic book series and mini-series as John Byrne’s “Superman: the Man of Steel,” Frank Miller’s “Batman: Year One” and Marvel’s “Ultimate” line comes the latest comic book icon to get the “prequel” treatment: Archie! That’s right, now you, the reader can travel back in time with Archie and his friends to their very first year in high school in this five-part epic storyline we’re calling THE FRESHMAN YEAR SAGA!

It all began in Archie & Friends #587 with a poignant prologue called “The Summer Before,” exploring how the famous friends who just graduated junior high would deal with their pending positions as high school seniors. Then, in issue #588’s “Freshman Year: Fall Semester,” Archie and his friends started the fall semester of their first high school year. Having survived a summer that saw the departure of Jughead and bickering parents, the gang arrived at high school … to find elementary school Principal Mr. Weatherbee had now become the high school principal! A whole new crowd of friends and foes were introduced to the gang that issue, and Pop Tate’s was firmly established as their hangout numero uno.

Now comes issue #589, which brings the teenage friends to their “Freshman Year: Winter Semester.” Hoping to stay close to Veronica, Archie joins the drama club – the perfect indoor activity during the frosty winter months. But being part of such a large club is hardly the way to gain exclusive quality time with Veronica. With Betty around, you can be sure there will be plenty of love triangle friction to go around! And will Moose ever be introduced to Midge? Other surprises in store for the gang this second semester include some new faculty members as well as the departure of the expelled school bully, Jared McGerk. It’s the funniest first year of high school ever!

This special storyline is brought to you by none other than fan-favorite writer Batton Lash. No stranger to Archie Comics, the famed writer of the “Wolff & Byrd” series turned the comic industry upside down in 1994 when he penned the unlikely Archie/Marvel crossover comic, “Archie Meets the Punisher.” Many thought it would never work, but Batton’s ingenious script won over even the toughest skeptics, and the comic wound up being not only one of Archie’s biggest-selling issues ever, but also one of the most highly-acclaimed. Batton returned the following year with another well-received story arc appearing across several Archie titles. The “House of Riverdale” was a loving tribute to the type of serio-comic, spooky mysteries so prevalent in the vintage “Life with Archie” series. Handling the art chores is “Scrapyard Detectives” creator and popular Archie artist/writer Bill Galvan. This is one “year” you can’t afford to miss!

ARCHIE #589, ships 9/17

32-page, full-color comic, $2.25 U.S

SCRIPT: Batton Lash

ART: Bill Galvan.

BRBTV birthdays in September ... and a peek at Dragon*Con

Happy Labor Day from BRBTV! As we begin the merry month of September, let's take a look at the birthdays coming up ...

- Leonard Katzman, the mastermind behind the Ewings of "Dallas," was born on September 2, 1927 and died on September 5, 1996.
- Annabel Schofield, who played Laurel Ellis on "Dallas," turns 45 on September 4.
- Roberta Weiss / Bizeau, the too-hot-to-handle Flame Beaufort of "Santa Barbara," turns the big 5-0 (bet she still looks beautiful!) on September 5.
- Sarah Cunningham, our stalwart Maggie Monahan on "Dallas," was born on September 8, 1918 and died on March 24, 1986.
- Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," turns 57 on September 9.
- Constance Marie, who played Nikki Alvarez on "SB," has a birthday on September 9, as well, turning 43.
- Linda Gray, the unforgettable Sue Ellen Ewing of "Dallas," turns 68 on September 12.
- Mary Crosby, Gray's on-screen baby sister Kristin Shepard, turns 49 on September 14.
- Michael Reaves, writer for "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 58 on September 14.
- Henry Darrow, a BRBTV quadruple-shot who played Cruz Castillo's father Rafael on "Santa Barbara," showed up on an episode of "Dynasty" and the "Dukes of Hazzard" spinoff "Enos," and portrayed Garcia on "Dallas" in 1983, turns 75 on September 15.
- Janis Paige, the lovely second Minx Lockridge on "SB," turns 86 on September 16.
- Kimberly McArthur, who was the second Kelly Capwell on "SB," turns 46 on September 16.
- Morgan Woodward, who was Punk Anderson on "Dallas" and also made a couple guest appearances on "The Dukes of Hazzard" (including one that was a tribute to his appearance in the classic film "Cool Hand Luke"), has a birthday on September 16, as well, turning 83.
- Shalane McCall, our young Charlie Wade on "Dallas," is our final September 16 birthday, remaining so young at just 36.
- Roddy McDowall, who voiced Dr. Jervis Tetch / the Mad Hatter on "Batman: The Animated Series," was born on September 17, 1928 and died on October 3, 1998.
- Ross Kettle, the quite European Jeffrey Conrad on "Santa Barbara," turns 47 on September 19.
- Paul Williams, who voiced Penguin on "Batman: The Animated Series" and "The New Batman Adventures," turns 68 on September 19.
- Don Starr, our own Jordan Lee of "Dallas," was born on September 20, 1917 and died on July 11, 1995.
- The unstoppable Larry Hagman, who was, of course, the unstoppable J.R. Ewing on "Dallas," and will be appearing at the much-publicized Ewing Barbecue at Southfork Ranch in a few months, turns 77 on September 21.
- Catherine Oxenberg, who played long-lost daughter Amanda Carrington on "Dynasty," turns 47 on September 22.
- Martha Scott, memorable as Patricia Shepard on "Dallas," was born on September 22, 1912 and died on May 28, 2003.
- Heather Locklear, our own Sammy Jo of "Dynasty," who voiced the character Lisa on the "Batman: The Animated Series" episode "Prophecy of Doom," turns 47 on September 25.
- Shell Danielson, who was the later Laken Lockridge on "Santa Barbara," also has a birthday on September 25, turning 46.
- Beth Toussaint, our own Tracy Lawton on "Dallas" who's married to Jack Coleman of "Dynasty," is yet another September 25 birthday, turning 46, as well.
- Bridgette Wilson, who was Lisa Fenimore on "SB," is our fourth birthday for September 25, turning such a young 35.
- Mark Hamill, the well-loved voice of the Joker in "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 57 on September 25.
- Richard Herd, our own John Mackey of "Dallas," who also portrayed Jim Ellison in a 1986 episode of "Dynasty," turns 76 on September 26.
- A Martinez, who was Cruz Castillo on "SB," will turn 60 (can you believe it?) on September 27.
- Joel Fabiani, the dashing Alex Ward on "Dallas," turns 72 on September 28.
- Steve Forrest, who was Ben Stivers / Wes Parmalee on "Dallas," turns 84 on September 29.
- Ian McShane, the handsome Don Lockwood on "Dallas," was also born on September 29, turning 66 this year.

Happy birthday to all!

My, what a big boy you are!!!!

We must admit, the last time we were at Atlanta's Dragon*Con was 1999, when we had the pleasure of meeting Don Pedro Colley, among others. My, my, my, how the event has grown! BRBTV was at the lobby of the Marriott Marquis yesterday afternoon for a meeting and had occasion to snap these quick shots ...

Now, keep in mind, as you view the first photo ... the Marriott Marquis was only one of the FOUR host hotels for the event, and this was Sunday afternoon, not Saturday ...




(We just had to get those latter two shots to capture the fact that this is quite a stunning hotel.) Wethinks we'll be doing more than just a simple one-hour meeting next year!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV
Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Hair Dare: It's all about the hair

Wowzers, what a week. We round out our full week of coverage of the 2008 Hair Dare Dukes Weekend with a look at the cause at the heart of it all: the fight against cancer.

Traditionally, the show has raised money for the work of the Canadian Cancer Society. This year, the funds zeroed in on a scholarship fund for a student who is surviving cancer.

Some folks took pledges to make their own "hair dare." Every year, show organizer Paul Harrington vows to shave his head to raise funds, and his friend Glenn Call of Massachusetts generally follows suit, as he did again this year. Tanya, fiancee of Paul's son Lance (and shown on the left in the photo below), added her own dare: she wanted to get her hair cut, anyway, but she kicked it up a notch by saying she'd actually shave her head if she could collect $500. It was close! Was that a bit of relief in her voice, as she told BRBTV the amount fell a little short, her hair so sweetly nipped into the bob she wanted? Hmmm ....





At the very end of the event, at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Paul invited Felix Silla to the stage to do the honors on his annual balding ...

Is there something ironic about having Cousin Itt of "The Addams Family" cut your hair? We won't say that Silla didn't seem to enjoy it!

Byron Cherry is amused! He got his turn when it came time for Glenn's hair to be cut. In fact, all the event's special guests took a shot: Silla and Cherry, and Don Pedro Colley and BRB.



Here, Paul's parents (his mother a cancer survivor) join him for a special shot.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand
More event photos can always be found in BRB's Yahoo group

Hair Dare: Other great stuff

In today's post we take a glimpse at some of the other fun stuff that went on over the weekend in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, for the Hair Dare Dukes Weekend. Tomorrow, to round out this special week of coverage, we highlight the cause: the benefit for a student scholarship.


Country music singer Traci Kennedy was part of the entertainment on Sunday.


Charles Harling of Ontario is the man behind the pocket bikes, including these little "01" cuties, one of which has been featured in the past on this blog. A Detroit native who also owned a home in Saginaw, Michigan, Harling is about to relocate his business to British Columbia. To inquire about the pocket bikes, you can reach him at charles_harling@hotmail.com.


Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers and singer Billy Stephenson, both of Tennessee, took the stage on Saturday and Sunday, returning to the show from last year.

Rodgers, who's been mentioned on this blog a couple times and who served as the editor of BRB's recently published "Destination: Dallas" reference guide, has a wealth of knowledge about a lot of great classic TV shows, particularly animated series. He can voice any character from "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Dallas," "Batman: The Animated Series," "All in the Family" and a variety of other shows. He even perfected an impersonation of Heath Ledger's Joker for his performances this weekend. Look for more info soon on a special project he's been collaborating on with BRBTV!

Kevin Webb of Tennessee not only brought the Chickasaw County Sheriff's car you saw in yesterday's post, he also brought a couple other interesting items. Above, he poses with Byron Cherry and the specialty item he offers for sale. This custom item features photos, from left to right, of Cletus Hogg, Coy and Vance Duke, Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and Flash, Boss Hogg, Bo and Luke and Daisy Duke at the center, then Uncle Jesse Duke, Cooter Davenport, Deputy Enos Strate and Sheriff Ed Little. Along with the nice car photos below the character shots, there's a graphic treatment of the show's title and years of airing, along with the listing of the characters. All of the photos are quality, glossy and full-color, in custom matting, and the piece is designed for a fan to collect signatures on. Kevin starts you out with the signatures of the two deceased cast members, Sorrell Booke and Denver Pyle, which he electronically transferred to the photos from other items he owns (including the one you'll see below!). The piece comes in a sleek black frame (it's out of the frame here so Cherry can sign the photo of Coy and Vance). Kevin sells this unique piece for $75 -- email BRB if you're interested! It sure is a one-of-a-kind!

Here, Kevin shows his trunk lid, which is quite a rare item, as it includes not one but two signatures of Denver Pyle! Look to the right and you'll see that our beloved Uncle Jesse signed it once in 1991, then signed it again, right below, in 1993! "As far as I know," Kevin tells BRBTV, "this is the only one he's signed." Indeed ... if only Pyle and Booke could still be here enjoying "Dukes" shows like this, along with the other cast members ...

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand
More event photos can always be found in BRB's Yahoo group

BRBTV News Blog Blip: We've got to break into this weeklong "Dukes"-related coverage with an item that just can't seem to wait for Monday: We've joked before on this blog about how some of our BRBTV stars go on to daytime soaps ... well, that's not the only trend we're seeing. ABC has just released the roster for the next "Dancing With the Stars," and following in the footsteps of Priscilla Presley of "Dallas" (and really, Stephanie Beacham of "Dynasty" and "The Colbys," in the U.K.) are Ted McGinley of "Dynasty" and Susan Lucci of "Dallas." We might just have to tune in!

Hair Dare: Don Pedro Colley and Byron Cherry

Don Pedro Colley and Byron Cherry can always be counted on for two distinct things: Colley always has a good story on hand about his classic acting days, and Cherry never sits still. Our weeklong coverage of the sixth annual Hair Dare Dukes Weekend in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, continues with a closer look at our own Sheriff Ed Little and Coy Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard."


Don Pedro Colley lives in Oregon, in an A-frame house his father built in the 1960s. Adding to his quality of life: a six-foot in diameter hot tub he built himself in the 1980s from California Redwood. No wonder he retreats to this oasis and only does a few of these kinds of shows a year nowadays.

We had a chance to chat with Colley at last year's show (see our August 15, 2007 post), but this year we found out more about how that whole Sheriff Little thing came about.

It was a 1967 episode of "Daktari" -- his very first screen credit -- that laid the groundwork. In the episode, "Killer Tribe," Colley was guest-starring as tribesman Mtola in "chest-high weeds." In one action-packed scene, he says, "I slide down the embankment, roll over, and the camera turns and sees what's chasing me." Things didn't go quite as planned, though, but the classically trained Colley improvised with the logistics and saved the scene.

Years later, he got a call from the show's producer, Leonard Kaufman. "I really didn't have an agent at the time," Colley says. Kaufman began to describe for Colley a part on this one particular little show, "The Dukes of Hazzard," a part that at the time was called Sheriff Lucas. "I never have forgotten what you did for me," Kaufman told him.

During his audition, Colley burst into the room strongly and took an "ice-cold" Sheriff Little stance. He didn't have the attention of the show's bigwigs, at first, though. They were still looking down at their papers. He waited. He wasn't going anywhere, after all. When one, executive producer Paul Picard, finally looked up and met his "gaze" (to put it politely), "the pen slipped out of his hand, the piece of paper fell on the floor," Colley laughs.

"After the interview was over, I took off my hat, shook his hand," Colley says. "The interview was over -- I was out of character now."

That regular gig put Colley's career into a more comfy position, but this is a man with a wealth of experience. He also reminisced about the two-hour episode of "Starsky and Hutch" that he did in 1977, "Starsky and Hutch on Playboy Island," featuring someone else we know, Joan Collins. And later, as our group had dinner, Colley regaled us with stories of Jack Palance and others from his earlier days in stage productions. Fun, indeed.


In Saturday morning's parade, Byron Cherry and Billie Rae Bates rode in the Hazzard County Sheriff's boat, while Felix Silla rode with event organizer Paul Harrington in the General Lee in the lead, and Colley rode in this most-appropriate number: a gleaming Chickasaw County Sheriff's car.



John Thomas Staton of Ontario had no trouble convincing Don to don his former garb (the helmet, of course -- not the shirt!).


Time to switch gears on the General ... Why, what's that? A sea of Coys? Evidently our show organizer got a good deal on them! How delightful, for an event featuring the real-life Coy Duke!



Here, Cherry watches a video with Kevin Webb of Tennessee (owner of that aforementioned -- and twice pictured -- Chickasaw County car), while Cherry's charming blond assistant, Brooke, looks on! (The video? It depicts Kevin jumping a clunker car. You know how it is.)


The amazing Zealand (known to some as Andrew Watt -- but not to us!!!) has made the trip all the way from New Zealand two years in a row to hang out with us.


"I bet Bo and Luke never signed a cracker!" Cherry quipped at Friday night's dinner with the stars.


If you ask us, the boat was the primo ride of Saturday morning's parade down the main street of town.


Remember that thing we said about not sitting still?

On Sunday afternoon, Cherry took a turn in the dunk tank. Kids lined up from all around (especially the tiny, tiny ones!). "C'mon!" Cherry taunted from the tank. "I wanna go swimming! It's hot out here!"


"Dunk a Duke! Dunk a Duke!" he continued. "C'mon, you little Dukes -- dunk a big Duke!"


... And he was down for the count. Right away. By a little kid, no less. Of course, we can't say that every single kid in line didn't get a little help from the show organizer! Anything for a good cause.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand
More event photos can always be found in BRB's Yahoo group

Hair Dare: Felix Silla

Our weeklong coverage of this past weekend's Hair Dare Dukes event in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, continues ...

Felix Silla is a new face to this 6-year-old charity event. Perhaps best-known as Cousin Itt of "The Addams Family," as well as Twiki on "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," Silla also starred in an episode of a little show we call "The Dukes of Hazzard."

BRBTV got a chance to chat with Silla a bit over the weekend, at the next table over in the fairgrounds building. Born in Rome, Silla lives in Las Vegas these days, he told us. He's had quite an amazing career, portraying everything from a Talosian on the classic "Star Trek" episode "The Cage" to a child gorilla on "Planet of the Apes" and Baby New Year on an episode of the classic "Night Gallery." Did you know he was the polka-dotted horse in "H.R. Pufnstuf"?

Silla also appeared at this year's Motor City Comic Con, where Hair Dare organizer Paul Harrington was able (after "a couple years," of asking, actually, he said) to convince him to come to Canada for the show. Silla brought an array of fun photos to sign, from many of his popular roles.

Silla poses for us outside the host hotel, the Comfort Inn of Leamington, on Friday evening.


Here, Silla gets set up at the dinner with the stars on Friday night, joined by Don Pedro Colley ("Sheriff Little"), left, and Byron Cherry ("Coy Duke").


Silla brought his own camera to the show to get some good shots. He's shown here with Billy Stephenson, a Tennessee-based singer who performed at the show, on Saturday morning before the parade got underway.


Silla's table display included his original call sheet from his episode of "The Dukes," which was called "Strange Visitor to Hazzard" and was at the tail-end of the show's run. In the episode he plays an alien visitor who hides out in the back of the General Lee as the three Duke cousins are out crabapple-picking in Skunk Hollow (believe it!). The threesome fondly call him "Little Cousin" and take him back to the Duke farm.

Silla said it took four days to shoot the episode, and it was a chilly December. The date on the call sheet is December 7, 1984. The episode aired on January 25, 1985. Silla reminisced with us about that tannish alien getup he had to wear, which included some careful matching makeup around his eyes.


(You've gotta love a call sheet that lists Flash as playing ... Flash! Rawfff!!!!!!!)

BRBTV asked if he's still got a lot of these kind of call sheets from "The Addams Family." No, actually, he doesn't, though he does have quite a few from "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," where he was an Ewok.

Silla remains in contact with his "Addams Family" co-stars. "There are only four of us left," he pointed out, himself, John Astin, "and the two kids," Lisa Loring and Ken Weatherwax.

You can learn more about Silla, and even purchase his photos, at his official website.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand
More event photos can always be found in BRB's Yahoo group

Hair Dare: Yes, there were cars!

It's Monday on the BRBTV News Blog, and that means, for this particular week, that it's the very first day of coverage of the annual Hair Dare Dukes Weekend fundraising event in beautiful Leamington, Ontario, Canada. The event happened this past weekend, celebrating "The Dukes of Hazzard" and raising scholarship cash for a student surviving cancer.

We're starting out the week with the obvious. The show is subtitled a "car show and swap meet," after all. And yes, the interesting show cars were in abundance. Now, you've all seen General Lees before (and often on this very blog!), and there were certainly some General Lees at this event, but we're going to go with the diversity angle this time, highlighting a few of the other cars we beheld ...


How's this for interesting? The owner of this little cutie had an blazin' orange "01" van at last year's Hair Dare show (you can see it in our August 17, 2007 post). He tells BRBTV the van has been scrapped, but his fabulous "Dukes" memorabilia now lines the inside of this "Baby General Lee." You can see ... it's an impressive assortment, and we were mighty impressed by the raised lettering on the doors ...



Cuz' Don of western Michigan (whose police cruiser is featured on page 176 of BRB's "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" reference guide, he's quick to point out!) was kind enough to give BRB a lift from the hotel to the Leamington Fairgrounds in his General. Now, BRB doesn't own her own General, you understand, so it's always a thrill.

The inside of this Lee? Yea, it's a work in progress ...

Natalie of Buffalo, New York, was at the show with her "Starsky and Hutch" Torino. Here she chats with Don Pedro Colley, Sheriff Little of "The Dukes."

Cue the "Magnum, P.I." theme song ... and we wouldn't have minded seeing its hunky star, too!

There were a couple Chickasaw County sheriff's cars in attendance: this one, along with a beauty on display right next to Don Pedro Colley inside the fairgrounds building.

And we had to mention the return of the smack-a-wreck, so aptly billed as a form of "anger management." All for the cause, you know, all for the cause ...

Stay tuned all week long, when we'll take a closer look at the show and even talk with special guests Felix Silla, the aforementioned Colley and the always-entertaining Byron ("Coy Duke") Cherry!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV
Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

More event photos can always be found in BRB's Yahoo group