Coming up for the Archies this fall ...

Last week, we announced a new addition to the BRBTV family: the Archies, and specifically the "Archie's Weird Mysteries" animated TV series of 1999-2000. As past of all that, the age-old and beloved Archies have become part of the coverage area of the BRBTV News Blog. Let's jump right into that coverage this week as we take a look at what's coming up in Archie Comics this fall ...





Archie #570
“The City Library”: Archie and his friends visit the famous Salt Lake City library, and the popular “Night Flight” comic book store inside! Along the way, they meet comic shop owner Mimi Cruz, library director Nancy Tessman and other real life folks who teach them the importance of literature and all the arts in their state-of-the-art, multimedia facility! “To Act or Not to Act”: When the lead actor in the school play falls ill, both Reggie and Archie claim to be the best actor for the part. To determine who the best actor really is, the drama teacher gives them a tough acting assignment: each must act like the other! Will the curtain fall before our hams even reach the stage? SCRIPTS: George Gladir. ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale newsstand October 24, 2006
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US

Archie’s Double Digest #174
Double your pages, double your Archie and double your fun in this double digest full of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to “Find Your Name in Print!”
On sale newsstand October 31, 2006
Full color digest format
$3.69 US

Betty #160
“Spreading the Word”: In an effort to improve attendance for their girl’s basketball team games, Betty and her teammates appeal to their girl-crazy and snack-crazy boyfriends to show up! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Stan Goldberg. “Construction Dysfunction”: Determined not to be upstaged by the neighbor, Betty’s dad decides to do some home improvement repairs himself… even if he’ll need to hire a real handyman to fix his work later! SCRIPT: Bill Golliher. ART: Stan Goldberg. “Out of Sight, Out of Mind”: Betty is determined not to obsess over “what’s his name,” no matter how many things remind her of him! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale newsstand November 7, 2006
Full color digest format
$2.49 US

Betty & Veronica Spectacular #76
“Jingle’s Jangled!”: Betty and Veronica are smitten by the new hunk at school… just wait until they find out it’s really Jingles, Santa’s now ex-elf in disguise! Jingles hopes to get a taste of Archie’s life, but soon realizes the snow isn’t always whiter on the other side of the sleigh! SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent. “Present Tense”: When Betty and Veronica spot Archie picking up a giant self-portrait at the photo shop, each thinks it’s their Christmas gift! SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale newsstand November 14, 2006
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US

Betty & Veronica Digest #170
Bright and brassy, bold and beautiful, blonde and brunette-- teen dream queens Betty & Veronica romp through this collection of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to “Find Your Name in Print!”
On sale newsstand November 14, 2006
Full color digest format
$2.49 US

Holiday Fun Digest #11
Tis the season to be jolly as Archie and his friends celebrate in true holiday style! Archie and crew have long displayed their holiday spirit, and now through the magic of the digest series, many of the Christmas classics of old are re-presented along with new yuletide tales. It’s a stocking-full of good holiday cheer you won’t want to miss! “Holiday Rush”: Betty and Veronica lament the fact that the stores seem to rush the holiday months before it hits…until Mr. Lodge gives them some early Christmas gifts! “Gift Horse Laugh”: Reggie gets a nice holiday bonus at his job and the gang suspects he’s going to spend it all on himself. Or will the holiday spirit dictate otherwise? “Gift Exchange”: Chuck and Moose are having a hard time figuring out what to get their girlfriends for Christmas, until they make suggestions for each other’s girls! SCRIPTS: Mike Pellowski. ART: Tim Kennedy. PLUS: Class yuletide tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
On sale newsstand November 14, 2006
Full color digest format
$2.49 US

Jughead #177
“The Yes Man”: Tired of giving Archie good advice only to have Archie ignore it, Jughead starts to blindly agree with his pal’s harebrained schemes. Before the night is through, ‘ol carrot top will face the wrath of both Veronica and a mighty Moose clone! “Judge Jughead”: In trouble for eating in class one too many times, Mr. Weatherbee decides Jughead needs to learn a real lesson about grievances… and appoints him as judge of his new grievance court! “The Beat Goes On”: Jughead and a pair of drumsticks make for quite a rhythm, but the faculty isn’t tapping their toes! SCRIPTS: Craig Boldman. ART: Rex Lindsey.
On sale newsstand October 24, 2006
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US

Jughead & Friends Digest #15
"Souphead Du Jour": Jughead usually has all the answers, but when the question is how to keep his cousin Souphead from being bored, desperate measures are called for… like introducing Souphead to the even brattier kid-next-door! SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to “Find Your Name in Print!”
On sale newsstand November 7, 2006
Full color digest format
$2.49 US

Jughead’s Double Digest #126
It’s double-decker sandwiches and double-trouble as the irrepressible Jughead tilts the laugh-o-meter in this uproarious collection of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to “Find Your Name in Print!”
On sale newsstand November 7, 2006
Full color digest format
$3.69 US

Pals-N-Gal’s Double Digest #107
The spotlight is on the wonderful cast of Archie supporting characters, in this double digest featuring new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT & ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to “Find Your Name in Print!”
On sale newsstand November 7, 2006
Full color digest format
$3.69 US

Tales From Riverdale Digest #15
“Shock ‘n Roll”: The Archies are back, and determined to win the “American Icon” talent contest. Unfortunately, their rivals Ray and the Ray-vons are determined to stop them using any dirty tricks necessary. But could their scheme backfire and cause the Archies to unintentionally create a brand-new dance craze?! Check out the musical mayhem for yourself! SCRIPT AND ART: Tim Kennedy. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to “Find Your Name in Print!”
On sale newsstand October 24, 2006
Full color digest format
$2.49 US

Veronica #175
"The Doghouse": It’s no longer enough to keep up with the Jones’s… now the rich have to keep up with their doghouses, too, as Veronica’s rival flaunts her dog’s designer doghouse! Can Veronica outdo her rival with her own custom-made canine castle? SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent. “Face in the Crowd”: Veronica does such a good job on her essay that the teacher insists she read it at the big class assembly. To keep from freezing with fright, Veronica decides to focus on a friendly face in the crowd, but what if the owner of that face (Archie) doesn’t show up? SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. ART: Dan Parent.
On sale newsstand October 31, 2006
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US

Jack Scalia: Name that pic!

It's been a bit of a "Dallas" week here at the BRBTV News Blog, so let's continue right along on that theme, shall we? There's not much BRBTV loves more -- when we're not indulging in one of those bad Lifetime movies about somebody-stealing-her-baby-or-getting-amnesia-or-somesuch -- than indulging in one of the rather dreadful, homemade Sci Fi original movies at 9 p.m. every Saturday. From "Frankenfish" to Mansquito," we're positively hooked. But now, a special treat -- one of our BRBTV stars, in a brand-new Sci Fi original.

Mr. Jack Scalia, known to us as the mobbie Nicholas Pearce / Joey Lombardi on "Dallas," will star in the tentatively titled "Deadly Water." Now, we say tentatively, because Sci Fi is asking viewers to give the film a better name. The plotline that you can go on, as you're submitting your suggestions: "A marine archeologist and a sailor team up to search for a priceless ancient treasure, only to find themselves in danger from a giant squid that seems to be protecting the treasure, and a ruthless rival who wants the artifact for himself." Hmm ... we enjoy good calamari just as much as the next person, but ...

Scalia, who's front and center in the film, is joined by Victoria Pratt, the feral female of the syndicated drama "Mutant X." Charlie O'Connell of "Sliders" is thrown in for good measure.

To let your creative juices flow, visit http://www.scifi.com/namethatpic/.

Scalia has had no shortage of acting work over the years, since that whole nasty window incident with Sue Ellen. Notably, he appeared in Wes Craven's "Red Eye" last year.

Linda Gray in "Terms of Endearment"

Linda Gray, who certainly grew her character of Sue Ellen Ewing through the seasons of "Dallas," will star in a new stage production of Larry McMurtry's well-known book "Terms of Endearment" next year.

Gray will portray Aurora Greenway in the play, which revolves around the conflicted relationship of the selfish Aurora and her resolute daughter Emma. "Thrown into the mix are issues of marriage, children and illness, which serve to test the boundaries of love between mother and daughter," according to LindaGray.com. The role of Aurora earned Shirley MacLaine an Oscar in the 1983 film version of McMurtry's novel.

The show will be presented as a co-production between the Alley Theatre in Texas (where it will run March 30, 2007 through April 29, 2007) and Hartford Stage in Connecticut (where it will play May 24, 2007 through June 24, 2007). You can learn more, and find out about tickets for the Connecticut shows, at www.hartfordstage.org.

In other Linda Gray news, the actress is reportedly campaigning to get a role on ABC's "Desperate Housewives." The UltimateDallas.com website has set up a petition you can sign if you, too, believe that Gray should move into Wisteria Lane: http://www.ultimatedallas.com/news/lindahousewives.html

BRBTV birthdays this week ...

Just a couple for ya this week ...

- Ken Kercheval, our unforgettable Cliff Barnes of "Dallas," turns 71 on Saturday, July 15.
- Barbara Stanwyck, the legendary film star who was Constance Colby on "The Colbys," was born on July 16, 1907 and died on January 20, 1990.

Role of Lucy Ewing goes to a Cassidy

... And we mean that as in the luscious David Cassidy and Shaun Cassidy, who've logged quite a few performing hours over the years, since their heyday of the '70s. (Shaun has done some TV writing and producing as well.) Now David Cassidy's daughter will head to "Dallas" to play Lucy Ewing in the big-screen remake of our beloved '80s show.

Just shy of 20 years old (though older than Charlene Tilton was when she took on the role), Katie Cassidy even sings like her dad (she did a cover of one of his songs, as a matter of fact), but she's focused on acting for her career. She played Zoe on the WB's "7th Heaven," and just appeared in the film "When a Stranger Calls." The lovely blond is currently playing one of the Samanthas in the Adam Sandler film "Click."

To read more:
http://www.usmagazine.com/blog/2006/06/26/katie-cassidy-wins-trip-for-one-to-dallas/

Announcing ... the addition of the Archies!

Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and gang have been favorites of BRB for many years. And now, with the publishing of the new BRBTV Report on the "Archie's Weird Mysteries" animated TV show, BRBTV happily welcomes the Archie Comics realm into its family of coverage.

Archie Andrews and his friends have been around for more than 60 years and have been a beloved American icon, holding fast to many good, honest values, as well as man good, honest fans! For decades, we've watched the often-awkward but always lovable Archie bumble his way into the hearts of girl-next-door Betty Cooper and self-involved-rich-chick Veronica Lodge. Their soda-built-for-three at Pop Tate's Chok'Lit Shoppe is the stuff of legends! And with the human eating machine Jughead Jones, the conceited prankster Reggie Mantle, big-lug Moose Mason, spindly Big Ethel and brainy Dilton Doiley, we've always had so much to enjoy in the Archies lore over the years. In 1999, DiC Entertainment released on PAX-TV the newest incarnation of Archies lore, the "Archie's Weird Mysteries" TV show. This animated series, following in a long line of Archie cartoons beginning in the 1960s, added a sort of "X-Files" slant to the teen gang. Each episode saw them investigating paranormal phenomena, with the fun tagline, "Things are getting weird in Riverdale."

BRBTV takes a close look at the "Archie's Weird Mysteries" TV show with its brand-new forum, the BRBTV Report. Not a book like the BRBTV reference book series, the BRBTV Report is a magazine-length feature story, journalistic in nature and complete with all sorts of fun facts about the show and its characters. "Archie's Weird Mysteries: A BRBTV Report" is the first of what will be a series of BRBTV Reports, debuting in the Amazon Shorts program.

BRBTV is happy to bring this fun feature to you, and we hope that this BRBTV Report, along with the Reports that follow, will help you enjoy even more what we believe are entertaining, valuable and worthwhile TV shows in our pop culture. We welcome your feedback, and even your own reminiscing about Archie and the gang(!), in the comments forum of this blog, or at BRB@brbtv.com.

Capwell butler defects to the Dark Side!

You could call the mannerly and quite British Ian Abercrombie a BRBTV triple-shot: Not only was he Phillip, upright butler in the Capwell household, in the early days of "Santa Barbara," but he also played several roles on "Dynasty" and its spinoff "The Colbys" over the seasons. And now? After scads of other TV credits in just about any kind of show you could name, Abercrombie is turning to .... (cue deathlike music) ... THE DARK SIDE!!!! (da-da-dun!!!!!!)

Abercrombie will star in a new "Star Wars" TV series this fall, now in development. He'll play that most notoriuous creature, Darth Sidious, otherwise known as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine when he's trying to pretend he's legit. It's a role that would seem to fit the stately actor physically, if not quite psychologically! The TV series, officially untitled at this point but focusing on the "Clone Wars" of "Star Wars" lore, is being produced by the Force's big guy, George Lucas. The plotline from the IMDb: "The Grand Army of the Republic, led by Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other Jedi Knights, fights the New Droid Army of the Separatists." Wikipedia says, "According to official reports, the series will be set during the 19-year timespan between the films 'Revenge of the Sith' and 'A New Hope.' It will focus primarily on minor characters of the 'Star Wars' galaxy, rather than the main ones seen prominently in the films." Rock out, man! There's lots more about the series at http://www.starwarsepica.com.pe/tv.htm.

Abercrombie's list of work over the years is nothing short of impressive, by the way. Besides two movie projects this year (including David Lynch's latest -- we'll be waiting for that one with "bait on our breath," as BRB's friend Ralph used to say), Abercrombie also starred in the recently released "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties." He played true to butlerly form as Alfred Pennyworth on the WB's short-lived "Batman"-inspired drama, "Birds of Prey." He's appeared in a couple of the modern "Star Trek" series and had a recurring character on "Seinfeld."

Gordon Thomson on MyNetworkTV

Gordon Thomson, who is a BRBTV double-shot as Adam Carrington on "Dynasty" and the third and final Mason Capwell on "Santa Barbara," will be appearing on Fox's new alternative network this fall, MyNetworkTV. Thomson will star in a "telenovela" called "Act of Betrayal." The character he'll play, named Theodore, is a lot like Blake Carrington, he told USA Today.

MyNetworkTV, which you can find at http://www.mynetworktv.com, debuts on September 5 with two "bold" drama series. Earlier this spring, the network was busy signing affiliates across the country, in markets like St. Louis, Portland, Ore., and Kansas City. The network is planning 12 hours of original primetime programming.

Thomson's "Act of Betrayal" will also star Sean Young. It's plotline, from Zap2it.com: "Young will play a woman whose husband leaves her for another woman. Two decades later, she puts in motion a plan to bring him down by grooming her two sons to marry his daughters." Yummy ...

BRBTV birthdays this week

In BRBTV birthdays this Fourth of July week ...

- Signy Coleman, our Celeste DiNapoli of "Santa Barbara," who also did an 1987 episode of "Dallas," is an Independence Day baby, turning 46 today.
- Rosemary Forsyth, the original Sophia Capwell (and Dominic) of "SB," turns 63 on Thursday, July 6.
- Grant Goodeve, who was Chris Deegan on "Dynasty," also has a birthday on July 6, turning 54.
- Kimberly Foster, who portrayed Michelle Stevens on "Dallas," is our third July 6 birthday, turning 45.

Happy birthday to all!

Spotted: A very young James Best!

... Right this very second, on "The Twilight Zone" Fourth of July weekend marathon on Sci-Fi ... He's just a young'un for sure! James Best playing a character named Billy-Ben -- a character caught between the ghost of his old love and his very new wife -- in the 1963 episode "Jess-Belle." It is the third of three "Twilight Zone" episodes Best did in his younger days. In this one, he's a mere 37 but looking about young 20s, with a tall thin frame and sleek, clean-shaven face. Wowzers!

Happy Independence Day!

John Ashton in "Gone, Baby, Gone"

Now, here's one we don't hear from too often: John Ashton, who was wheelin' and dealin' oil cartel member Willie Joe Garr on "Dallas," will star in the film "Gone, Baby, Gone" next year. The movie, written by, directed by and starring Ben Affleck (and starring his bro, Casey Affleck), also has Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Cheryl Ladd's niece Chelsea Ladd attached. (Chelsea's dad, Alan Ladd Jr., son of the great Alan Ladd, is one of the film's producers.)

One of the film's plotline's from its IMDb page: "Dorchester, one of the toughest neighborhoods in all of Boston, is no place for the weak or innocent. It's a territory defined by hard heads and even harder luck, its streets littered with broken families, hearts, dreams. When one of its own, a 4-year-old girl, goes missing, private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro don't want the case. But after pleas from the child's aunt, they open an investigation that will ultimately risk everything -- their relationship, their sanity and even their lives -- to find a little girl-lost."

The movie, which is listed as currently filming, is based on Dennis Lehane's novel of the same title.

Before he starred in those first couple seasons of "Dallas," Ashton did some fun classic TV, such as "Wonder Woman," "Police Woman," "M*A*S*H" and "Starsky and Hutch." He's also appeared in films such as "Beverly Hills Cop I" and "II." Keep up with his work at his official website, http://www.johnashton.com.

Adrian Paul: "Highlander" and more

Adrian Paul, known to us as Bliss' love interest Kolya (Nikolai) Rostov on "The Colbys," has some new projects in the works. Notably, he's reprising his starring role in a new film in the "Highlander" franchise, "Highlander: The Source," due out this year. He's also executive-producing that film. Paul kept a diary on the set, and you can read it at http://www.adrianpaul.net/current/thesource.shtml.

The second 2006 project for Paul is the movie "Seance," in which he plays a character named Spence. The film's plotline from the IMDb: "In an attempt to rid their dorm of a troublesome little girl ghost a group of college students inadvertently bring back the little girl's killer." Keep track of the film's progress at http://www.snowfallfilms.com.

And the latest project on Paul's plate is the movie "Nine Miles Down," in which he has the starring role. From the film's official website: "The philosophical thriller 'Nine Miles Down' is a spine-chilling journey into the psyche of a man struggling to escape his tortured past. In the remote desert of the Australian Outback, a sandstorm batters a deserted drilling station. Thomas ("Mac") MacLeash, a security patrolman, battles through the high winds to find out why all contact with the station has been lost. Originally built for gas exploration, and then abandoned, the site had recently been taken over by a multi-national research team intent on drilling deeper into the earth’s crust than ever before." The film is due in 2007. To learn more, visit the film's official website, http://www.ninemilesdown.com.

To keep track of Paul's projects, check out his quite extensive news page at:
http://www.adrianpaul.net/index_flash.html

Stephen Nichols returns to "Days"

SoapNet.com is reporting that Stephen Nichols is returning to the role he's the most famous for -- Steve "Patch" Johnson -- on NBC's daytime soap "Days of Our Lives." Mary Beth Evans, his costar as Kayla, will be returning with him this month, the soap network says. Nichols, of course, is known to us as Dr. Skyler Gates from the latter years of "Santa Barbara."

Nichols has done some other notable soap work: He was the sinister Stefan Cassadine on ABC's "General Hospital" and its offshoot "Port Charles." He played a paramedic on a couple episodes of "Dallas" in the early '80s, and he was a flight attendant in the pilot of "Dynasty" in 1981. (Now, if he woulda made a "Dukes of Hazzard" appearance, we're thinking that woulda made him our first-ever BRBTV quadruple shot!)

Just one BRBTV birthday this week ...

Pamela Bellwood, whom we saw flip that lightswitch on "Dynasty" more times than we care to count, turned 55 yesterday, June 26. Happy birthday to our own Claudia!

By the way, as you're out browsing, check out a little more on Aaron Spelling, who just died on Friday, and his life:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002728212
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/26/aaronspelling.appreciation.ap/index.html
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,19363,00.html?fdnews

Ally Walker stars in new HBO drama

Ally Walker, who played Andrea Bedford on "Santa Barbara," has a new drama series on her plate for this fall. HBO has signed on to the drama pilot of "SexLife," the Hollywood Reporter says. Walker will play Katie in the TV series, which is described as a "racy drama about three couples with intimacy issues," the report says. Cynthia Mort, who penned the pilot, is executive-producing with Gavin Polone. The number of episodes HBO will pick up is yet to be determined.

Walker's recent work includes episodes of f/X's "The Shield" and NBC's "ER" this year, and she was the "Profiler" in the late 1990s on NBC. (The latter series also featured her "SB" costar A Martinez.)

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Remember to catch "Desolation Canyon" this Saturday on the Hallmark Channel, where you'll see our own Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing of "Dallas") and the aforementioned A Martinez! Check out the February 10 post of the BRBTV News Blog for photos and more details!

Aaron Spelling dies

"Dynasty" powerhouse producer Aaron Spelling has died, following a stroke earlier this week. You can read more details at E! Online.

"Dallas" filming update

The City of Dallas has been lobbying to bring the filming of the new big-screen "Dallas" adaptation to their fair town, waging a "Shoot J.R. in Dallas" PR campaign. Well, perhaps their efforts have paid off, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

"Prison Break," Fox's daring drama that has been garnering a lot of attention lately (and which BRBTV affectionately calls "Prison Boys") is moving its shooting from Chicago to Dallas, now that its convict characters have broken out of the prison its first season was centered on, a prison that Joliet Correctional Center in Chicago had provided the backdrop for. In a story in the Hollywood Reporter, Janis Burklund, director of the Dallas Film Commission, talks about not just this new "Prison Break" shooting but also some other Dallas shooting news: It looks like the big-screen version of "Dallas" will shoot up to four weeks in the city, with the rest of the shoot taking place in Louisiana.

"I would have liked to have gotten the whole film," Burklund was quoted as saying, "but given that the large studio films are so intent on incentives, I'm actually fairly happy, because initially we were only going to get four or five days of it. We got a significant bump up, so I feel good about that."

She adds: "We've been fighting a battle of getting state incentives in place to combat what Louisiana and New Mexico and some of the others are doing. Hopefully this will help in our battle to get our legislators to understand what we need."

Read the whole story about BRBTV's fave prison boys, and the Dallas shooting, at http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/columns/on_location_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002691161.

Check out James Best in "Hot Tamale"

It looks like a lot of fun: James Best plays Grandpa in a new film, "Hot Tamale," which just premiered this month at the Boston and Winnipeg film festivals and which comes out on DVD soon.

Check out the official website: http://www.hottamalethemovie.com. You can see Best in the cast clips, read his acting bio and see him in the photo gallery. The movie's cast also includes Jason Priestly, Carmen Elektra and Randy Spelling (yes, son of "Dynasty" producer Aaron, brother of Tori).

A bit from the movie's synopsis: "A small sleepy town in Wyoming is just no place for a young man with dreams of playing the timbale drums in a salsa band. Seizing his destiny, Harlan (Randy Spelling) packs up his car, bids the Midwest adios, and heads west to the Mecca of showbiz wannabes everywhere: Los Angeles."

The film is directed and written by soap hunk Michael Damian, with some help from his wife, Janeen Damian, who just happens to be Best's daughter. Janeen, by the way, starred as Mary Lou in the "Dukes" episode "A Baby for the Dukes." She's had an interesting career, from Solid Gold dancer to stunt double!

BRBTV birthdays this week

BRBTV birthdays this week:

- Leigh McCloskey, who is a BRBTV triple shot as Mitch Cooper on "Dallas" and both Zack Kelton and Ethan Asher on "Santa Barbara," turns 51 today, June 21.
- Paula Irvine, who played the second Lilly Light Blake on "SB," was born the same year as BRB and turns 38 tomorrow, June 22.
- Ted Shackelford, who was Gary Ewing on "Dallas" and its spinoff, "Knots Landing," turns 60 on Friday, June 23.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: "Dynasty" producer Aaron Spelling has suffered a stroke, "Entertainment Tonight" and various other news agencies are reporting. The 83-year-old Spelling has reportedly been in ill health since an oral cancer diagnosis in 2001.

Spotted: John James

Playing a character named Jeff, ironically, our own Jeff of "Dynasty" has a role on ABC's "All My Children," sharing scenes with Susan Lucci and the like. His character, Jeff Martin, is the adoptive brother of Tad Martin and (secret) father of Josh Madden by Erica Kane. James has done other daytime soap work, playing Rick Decker on CBS' "As the World Turns" a couple years back, as well as the third Junior Bergman on CBS' "Search for Tomorrow" way back when, before "Dynasty."

BRBTV News Blog Blip: "Dynasty" has dropped from the SoapNet schedule. But don't worry, "Dallas" fans -- J.R. and crew are still airing.

Next "Dukes" movie gets underway

The rumors have been running rampant on the Internet for the past several weeks, but now the story is turning a bit more official. Another "Dukes of Hazzard" movie is on its way, and it will be a "prequel" movie to last year's movie, with a mostly new cast.

Jonathan Bennett, who even had a role on John Schneider's latest show "Smallville," has been cast as Bo Duke. He's done a smattering of other TV appearances, including the WB / CW's "Veronica Mars." His counterpart, Luke Duke, will be Randy Wayne, who's had a recurring role on ABC's new "Sons & Daughters." They're both 25, nice and young enough for this take on the cousins when they first come to Hazzard County and get busted for moonshinin'. Their cousin Daisy will be played by April Scott, who's done some modeling (particularly on SoapNet's "SoapTalk").

BRBTV will try to tactfully remain quiet about the casting of the beautiful Sherilyn Fenn as Lulu Hogg. (We always loved Lulu, and we always loved Fenn as the irrepressible Audrey in "Twin Peaks" -- but holy cow, talk about universes colliding!) Willie Nelson will return as Uncle Jesse. Christopher McDonald will take over the role of Boss Hogg. He's done a whole lotta TV, and Kryptonian fans will know him as the voice of Jor-El in the "Justice League" and "Superman" animated series. Adam Shulman, who (appropriately enough) looks to be a newbie in the biz, will play Enos.

With Robert Berlinger at the helm and a script by Shane Morris, the film is currently titled "The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning" and scheduled for 2007 release.

See My Lee!

BRBTV wants to offer a special thanks to Donnie and Fran over at the Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, Ga., for inviting BRB over last weekend to sign copies of "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" during their special first-ever "Dukes of Hazzard" night at the track. And this time around in our occasional "See My Lee" feature we're showing you Donnie's General Lee.

Now, you can't see 'em very well, but those are stars-and-bars centerpieces on the wheel covers. Coolness. (It was dark outside when we got this shot, around midnight after the track closed.)

Donnie lives in Loganville now, but at the time when "The Dukes" originally filmed in Georgia in 1978, he was living in Conyers, one of the show's filming sites. He says he could hear some of the car chases and crazy stunts going on up and down the road.

He plans to have another "Dukes of Hazzard" night at the speedway next year, by the way. Keep an eye on the website.

"Dallas" TV movies on CMT schedule

Our cable buddy CMT, which managed to birth a whole new generation of "Dukes of Hazzard" fans by bringing the show back to the airwaves last year, will air the "Dallas" TV movies this month.

Call it the midnight movies: "Dallas: The Early Years," the recast TV miniseries that told the story of the beginning of the Ewing-Barnes feud and how Jock and Digger both vied for Miss Ellie's hand, runs at midnight on Wednesday, June 21. The two high-action movies that utilized the regular "Dallas" cast will also air: "Dallas: J.R. Returns" airs at midnight on Tuesday, June 20 and "Dallas: War of the Ewings" at midnight on Thursday, June 22.

Mark Arnold in "Shimmer"

Mark Arnold, who took over the "Santa Barbara" role of Joe Perkins from Dane Witherspoon, is no stranger to the soap world. He's also starred in "The Guiding Light," "The Edge of Night" and "One Life to Live." More recently, he's played Jack on ABC's "Desperate Housewives." This year, though, he's working on the film "Shimmer."

Written and directed by Andrew Robinson (no, not that Andrew Robinson), the film centers on an 18-year-old kid, played by Robinson, who learns something from his mother's past. Arnold plays Neil McKenzie in the movie. An excerpt from the IMDb's plotline: "Eighteen-year-old Steven Borman is at a crossroads in his life. With no real future in sight, he's forced to work his mother's antique shop. A struggling single mother, Angela Borman has been the subject of town gossip since becoming pregnant with Steven at age 16. Together, Steven and Angela just try to make it through the day without killing each other. Their lives are turned upside down when a former friend, Eric Mackenzie, returns home to Shimmer after almost 20 years. But all is not well in the quiet little town. Steven is inexplicably drawn to Eric, and during a night of drinking he and his friends break into Eric's home and uncover a photograph linking Eric to his mother and a past he's never known."

BRBTV birthdays this week ...

- Jenilee Harrison, the slightly ditzy Jamie Ewing on "Dallas," turned 46 yesterday, June 12.
- Waylon Jennings, our "Dukes of Hazzard" balladeer, was born on June 15, 1937 and died on February 13, 2002.
- Eileen Davidson, the last Kelly Capwell on "Santa Barbara," turns 47 on Thursday, June 15.
- Joan Van Ark, Lucy's mom Valene Ewing on "Dallas" and its spinoff "Knots Landing," turns 63 on Friday, June 16.
- Nedra Volz, our bright and feisty Miz Tisdale on "Dukes," was born on June 18, 1908 and died on January 20, 2003.