Remember, we're in Trenton, Georgia, this weekend ...

... and you're invited, too! Billie Rae Bates will be signing copies of her "Dukes of Hazzard" reference guide "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" at the Hillbilly Woodstick 3 Dukes of Hazzard Cruise in Trenton, known to some as the filming locale of the 1981 film "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia."

As in the past two years, the classic car cruise covers some good ground and some fun days, this time making the journey to Hickory, North Carolina, with some great stops along the way. BRB will be there on Saturday, as part of the three-day kickoff of the cruise in Trenton. The day, centered at this small town's Jenkins Park, will include live music, lots of "Dukes" cast and crew appearances, and a ton of classic muscle cars! The cruise runs from October 17 to 25.

Also scheduled to appear at various times during the nine-day stretch are Sonny Shroyer, Byron Cherry, Don Pedro Colley, Rick Hurst, original "Dukes" inspiration Jerry Rushing, original Georgia show mechanic Tony Kelley, original Georgia show transportation director Don Schisler, stuntman Al Wyatt Jr., Tom Sarmento of the Hazzard County Stunt Team, and more.

See the full details, including host hotel information, at the cruise's site: http://www.dohgltruth.com/cruise.htm

Keep up with BRB and her signings at the Events page at BillieRae.com, where some crazy photos have recently been added!

BRBTV News Blog Blip: He may be known as "Blake Lively's dad" these days, but to us, Ernie Brown / Lively will always be L.B. Davenport on "The Dukes of Hazzard," as well as Dobro Doolan in the show's pilot episode! Lively was in a car wreck on Monday, but he's doing OK, as reported here and here. See a nice photo of Lively with his daughter in the first link.

Bits 'n' Pieces: Let's play catch-up with a few "Dallas" femmes

- Linda Gray, our own Sue Ellen Ewing, has a video from her appearance on the WB's brand-new "90210" on her official website, in case you missed it:
http://www.lindagray.com/welcome.htm

- Get a glimpse of Kate Mulgrew, our own Garnet McGee of "Dallas," in the stage production of Equus" last month, co-starring with Daniel Radcliffe, the big screen's "Harry Potter":
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1815820495?bctid=1817750962
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1543292572?bctid=1830104513

- Susan Lucci, our own Hillary Taylor / Sheila Foley of "Dallas," has some minute-by-minute and behind-the-scenes coverage of her spin on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" on her official site:
http://www.susanlucci.com/shared/news.htm

- Switching gears from the "Dallas" femmes to a "Santa Barbara" darling, Robin Wright Penn is in the news again, but not for some fab red-carpet movie premiere. Our own original Kelly Capwell is joining some other "three-named stars" to promote a scholarship for a needy New York resident through the New York Times Company Foundation’s College Scholarship Program. Read the press release at PR-USA.net.

Writer / producer offers his take on the modern-day Ewings in "Dallas: The Gathering"

Ever wonder what the various folks of our beloved "Dallas" would be doing nowadays, 10 years after the last small-screen check-in with them, "Dallas: War of the Ewings"? One writer has decided to take on that vision. Bryan J. Kinnaird, writer / director / executive producer of "The Villikon Chronicles: Genesis of Evil" and author of "Hellbox," plans to release the e-novella "Dallas: The Gathering" this fall.

"First it will run on UD (Ultimate Dallas) exclusively in a page-turning program, and then it will be available for FREE download as a PDF," Kinnaird tells fans on the "Dallas" forum on SoapChat. "Gotta love that technology! Let's see what the fans think before we commit to how long the series will run, but this mini-shot will surprise all, and I think you'll be wildly surprised!"

If Kinnaird has his way, though, his ideas will go in some other key directions. "I've thrown 'Dallas: The Gathering' into the mix as a contender for a much-talked-about third television film, meant to relaunch the 'Dallas' brand as a next-generation TV series in the same vein as recent retrofits of '(Beverly Hills) 90210' and 'Knight Rider.' As part of the pitch, I’m also serving this mini-graphic opus, “Dallas: Gathering for the Departed,” as inspired by the feature-length script “Dallas: The Gathering.”

Read more about the "Gathering" e-novella here, and read more about Kinnaird's other projects here.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: The media have been all over next month's "Dallas" 30th anniversary reunion like a big-ole Persian rug on the Southfork parlor floor. When the reunion was first announced several weeks back, it spread like wildfire through every news agency imaginable. Now, the Associated Press has done a check-in with Larry Hagman and his wife Maj at Southfork, and that story is spreading all over the place again. The AP took some nice fresh photos, too; see it all here.

Archie Comics keeps shaking things up in 2008

From Archie Comics

The year 2008 will surely go down as the year Archie Comics pulled out all the stops with one intriguing storyline after another. From Alex Simmon’s thrilling mysteries in the pages of ARCHIE & FRIENDS, to Jughead’s and Moose & Midge’s forays into the “Dynamic New Look” in JUGHEAD’S DOUBLE DIGEST and PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST respectively, to the readers voting for Cheryl’s new boyfriend in BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST, we’ve been keeping our readers busy with stories that play up the classic personalities and relationships of everyone’s favorite comic book teens!

This October, the excitement continues as fan-favorite writer Batton Lash delivers another installment of the popular “Freshman Year” saga in ARCHIE #590, and popular “WJHC” writer Jane Smith Fisher comes on board ARCHIE & FRIENDS for a two-part storyline that may well be the ultimate Archies band story! And speaking of the Archies, they’re about to trade the garage for the drama club over in the pages of ARCHIE’S DOUBLE DIGEST. Don’t miss these awesome issues!

ARCHIE #590
THE THRILLING "FRESHMAN YEAR SAGA" CONTINUES!
The first year of high school has been an eventful one for Archie and his friends, and it's all leading towards a whirlwind finale! But the teens still have some time to go yet. In this latest installment, they are evaluated by their teachers who report their progress to their folks on "parent-teacher" night. How will they fare once their parents learn how they're doing? Meanwhile, in social life, love triangles abound, and so do pranks – some playful, some nasty. But none nastier than the bikers who have been bedeviling the town. All this, plus a surprise or two! It's the greatest "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: November 11, 2008
32-recycled page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #124
THE FIRST PART OF A TWO-PART TALE BY POPULAR “WJHC” WRITER JANE SMITH FISHER!
“ Battle of the Bands, Part One”: The greatest comic book band in the world is out to prove its supremacy in the most decisive fashion possible: by winning a “ Battle of the Bands” competition. This isn’t just any contest – at stake is a first prize Tropical Island vacation! But two sour notes threaten their presumed victory: Veronica’s selfishness and Reggie’s mysterious disappearances. Can the band recover and end on a high note? A longtime advocate for kid’s comics, writer Jane Smith Fisher has devoted her career to telling age-appropriate stories in series such as “Cybernauts” and the highly popular “WJHC,” about a group of teens who start their own high school radio station. Jane has been embraced by librarians and schools across the nation. Now she brings her special voice for both young and female characters to Archie Comics in this rock ‘n’ rollin’ storyline.
SCRIPT: Jane Smith Fisher.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale on newsstands: October 21, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

ARCHIE’S DOUBLE DIGEST #193
“To Play or Not to Play”: Feeling the stress of studies, extracurricular activities and college applications, the gang decides to put the Archies on hiatus – until Jughead convinces his band mates to appear in a high school musical he’s written about a teen rock band stressed out by their studies, extracurricular activities and college applications!
SCRIPT AND ART: Bill Galvan.
“Toy Story”: A short time ago, in a town called Riverdale not too far away … Jughead has dragged Archie to a toy store at midnight so he can be among the first to purchase the new “Star Lores” action figures!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Bill Galvan.
“Pre-Exam Insurance”: Archie’s convinced that petting Betty’s cat Carmel is good luck before an exam… but the only thing between Archie and a passing grade is the tree Carmel’s stuck in!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Henry Scarpelli.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale on newsstands: November 11, 2008
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

New book takes on the story of Joan Collins

Graham Lord certainly isn't the first person to write a book about Joan Collins. Most likely he won't be the last.

Lord, who's also written books on the lives of David Niven, Dick Francis and James Herriot, examines the longevity of Collins' career and life (she's in her 70s). The author is a former literary editor of the Sunday Express.

The 400-page book, "Joan Collins: The Biography of an Icon," releases on November 1 from Orion Publishing. Orion calls the biography "affectionate," quoting Lord as saying, "Men like her because she is beautiful, sexy, sassy, funny, naughty and intelligent. Women admire her because she is stylish, elegant, strong, positive and independent, a feisty old feminist who is nevertheless extremely feminine and even in old age she is able to attract handsome young men."

BRBTV News Blog Blip: While we're on the topic of books, John O’Hurley, Stephen Slade of "Santa Barbara," signs copies of his "Before Your Dog Can Eat Your Homework, You Have To Do It" on November 20 at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Exton, Pennsylvania.

IMDb: A BRBTV video sweep

We're always just tickled pink when we encounter someone out there who actually hasn't known about the IMDb. As if we don't go there pretty much every day. There is a reason BRB's bro Scott calls it "The Oracle," after all (and no, that's not a Batgirl reference). Now the IMDb is kicking it up a notch. A couple weeks ago, we took a look at Amazon's new downloadable video offerings -- both free and for sale -- and now we turn our attention to the Internet Movie Database, where, among the TV shows covered by BRBTV, "Dynasty" is certainly king ...

"Dynasty" -- a whopping 56 full episodes:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081856/videogallery

"Dallas" -- just trailers, right now:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077000/videogallery

"The Dukes of Hazzard" -- just a promo right now, but at least with this classic show, you now have all seasons released on DVD:
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2040791321/

"Batman: The Animated Series" -- just a link that goes to a promo for daughter show "The Batman," plus the trailers for the "Mask of the Phantasm" and "Mystery of the Batwoman" features, but again, you've got all the DVDs out there:
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2810773785/
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi616104217/
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi599327001/

"Batman Beyond" -- just a promo right now and the trailer for the movie "Return of the Joker"; see note above!
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi783876377/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0233298/

No "Santa Barbara," "Archie's Weird Mysteries" or animated "The Dukes" yet, but we can only hope.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: What were the most fashionable Dawn Dolls of the early '70s wearing? Something a lot like what BRB's mom wore! This week's feature in the yearlong My Mother's Clothing photo project draws from memories of a beloved childhood toy that survives to this day, right along with the dress!

Get a free fun-filled Archie Comic on Halloween

From Archie Comics

Over the past several years, Archie Comics has delighted comic shop customers with exclusive giveaway comics produced in conjunction with Diamond Distribution. In addition to Archie’s involvement in Diamond’s annual Free Comic Book Day program, Archie has also served up thrills and chills come Halloween-time. These full-color, 16-page, Halloween-themed comics have all-new stories and art and make the perfect “treat” for the goody bags of costumed revelers.

This year, Archie Comics is back with another fun-filled giveaway issue. Archie and Jughead take center-stage in a spooky, kooky spoof of a certain box office smash about museum exhibits coming to life. With a script by veteran writer George Gladir, author of countless Archie classics; and art by famed Little Archie artist Bob Bolling, this is sure to have appeal not just to children but adult collectors as well.

In “The Mystery of the Museum Sleep-in,” the museum is a scream for Archie and Jughead. Inspired by a favorite film, the pals decide to spend a night at the museum to experience maximum spookage. And experience it they do, as statues suddenly come towards them! Are these artifacts coming to life for real, or is somebody playing the ultimate Halloween “trick” on our unsuspecting teens? The answer will leave you scared silly!

Participating Comic Book Shops give a copy of this comic to customers on Halloween. If you would like to give these mini-comics out at your home for Halloween, you need to contact your local comic retailer and order them today. The mini-comics are bundled in groups of 50 and have to be ordered in July.

You can find a comic shop near you at
http://csls.diamondcomics.com/
or by calling toll free 1-888-COMIC BOOK (1-888-266-4226).

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Her foray into the world of BRBTV was brief, merely a role in the 2005 "Dukes of Hazzard" movie, but we like to keep track of Lynda Carter just because she's Wonder Woman. And that's pretty amazing in our book. Carter will be appearing at Feinstein's at Loews Regency at the Regency Hotel in New York on October 21-25. Read more here.

Robin Wright Penn hits the red carpet for "What Just Happened?"

When you've got so many big-screen projects going on, you've got so many red-carpet premieres going on, too. Robin Wright Penn, our own original Kelly Capwell of "Santa Barbara," knows that pretty well. She was just all over the news for the "Hounddog" premiere, and now she's back in print (still in print) for the premiere of the Robert DeNiro film "What Just Happened?" (in which her character name is Kelly, as we've noted on this very blog).

Here's an AP video of her appearance with hubby Sean Penn and DeNiro last week in New York, including an interview with her and clips of her scenes:
http://thenewsvideos.blogspot.com/2008/10/robert-de-niro-sean-penn-and-robin.html

And here's an "Entertainment Tonight" clip, which also features Penn at the mic:
http://www.channel3000.com/entertainmenttonight/17606458/detail.html

And here's Women's Wear Daily's take (Penn is in beautiful black Dolce & Gabbana!):
http://www.wwd.com/lifestyle-news/eye/art-imitates-art-at-what-just-happened-premiere-1821965?justin=1821965

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Heather Locklear has been plastered all over the place, unfortunately. While The BRBTV News Blog doesn't make a practice of covering the troubles in our stars' personal lives, we did come across an interesting perspective on our own Sammy Jo Carrington of "Dynasty" at The New York Magazine. The mag pays appropriate (and hopeful) homage to the legacy that is Locklear.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Playbill reports something kinder about the equally-unfortunately-arrested-and-press-plastered Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard." Wopat will join the Big Apple's WABC-TV news anchor Michelle Charlesworth in hosting "Broadway Backstage: Fall Preview," airing October 25.

Join us at the Hillbilly Woodstick 3 Dukes of Hazzard Cruise

BRB has just booked the fifth signing of 2008 for her "Dukes of Hazzard" reference guide "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!", and it's a good one. The Hillbilly Woodstick 3 Dukes of Hazzard Cruise, now in its (you guessed it!) third year, will take off from Trenton, Georgia, later this month. As in the past two years, the classic car cruise covers some good ground and some fun days, this time making the journey to Hickory, North Carolina, with some great stops along the way.

BRB will be there on Saturday, October 18, as part of the three-day kickoff of the cruise in Trenton. The day, centered at this small town's Jenkins Park, will include live music, lots of "Dukes" cast and crew appearances, and a ton of classic muscle cars! Trenton was the filming location for the 1981 film "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia." Show organizer Wayne Wooten, who chatted details with BRB last Saturday, remarked that you will find some familiarity in the town. One side bears some modern development, but the other side looks very much like no time has passed since this quite-well-known film starring Kristy McNichol and Mark Hamill.

The cruise runs from October 17 to 25. Also scheduled to appear at various times during the nine-day stretch are Sonny Shroyer, Byron Cherry, Don Pedro Colley, Rick Hurst, original "Dukes" inspiration Jerry Rushing, original Georgia show mechanic Tony Kelley, original Georgia show transportation director Don Schisler, stuntman Al Wyatt Jr., Tom Sarmento of the Hazzard County Stunt Team, and more. See the full details, including host hotel information, at the cruise's site:
http://www.dohgltruth.com/cruise.htm

Keep up with Billie Rae Bates and her signings at the Events page at BillieRae.com, where some crazy photos have recently been added!

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Patrick Duffy, our own Bobby Ewing of "Dallas," will serve as the master of ceremonies at Soka University's fourth annual Peace Gala next weekend. Read more in this press release or at the California university's site.

When we say the gang's all there, well, the gang's really all there!

Ummm ... Wowza -- that's about all we can say about the Hollywood Collectors Show, happening this weekend in Burbank, California. The celebrity autograph event is a well-stocked buffet of classic TV stars, including many from the shows of BRBTV ...

- Linda Evans, our Krystle Carrington of "Dynasty." Yes, evidently that Chiller Theatre engagement later this month is not the only con event she's getting into these days!

- Pamela Sue Martin, our original Fallon Carrington of "Dynasty."

- Gordon Thomson, a BRBTV double-shot as the final Mason Capwell on "Santa Barbara" and Adam Carrington on "Dynasty."

- Tracy Scoggins, Monica Colby of "The Colbys" and "Dynasty" and Anita Smithfield of the "Dallas" movies.

- Deborah Shelton, Mandy Winger on "Dallas."

- Sheree J. Wilson, April Stevens on "Dallas."

- Christopher Atkins, Peter Richards on "Dallas."

- Michele Scarabelli, the scary Connie chick who terrorized Ray Krebbs on "Dallas."

Is your head spinning yet? For the complete rundown of the show, which happens at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, visit HollywoodCollectorShow.com.

BRBTV birthdays for October

- Alan Rachins, memorable as the wound-up Temple Fugate / Clock King on "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 66 on October 3.
- Jack Wagner, who was our final Warren Lockridge on "Santa Barbara," along with a host of other soap opera roles in the '80s and '90s, turns 49 on October 3.
- Christopher Stone, who was Dave Stratton on "Dallas," was born on October 4, 1942, and died on October 20, 1995.
- Charlton Heston, our giant Jason Colby on "Dynasty" and "The Colbys," was born on October 4, 1923, and died earlier this year, on April 5.
- Christopher Norris, who was the demented Laura Asher on "SB," will turn 55 on October 7.
- John O’Hurley, who was the second Stephen Slade on "Santa Barbara" and so many other things over the years, including a fabulous "Seinfeld" role and that "Dancing With the Stars" gig, turns 54 on October 9.
- J. Eddie Peck, who's a BRBTV double-shot with his roles on our two primetime biggies, Tommy McKay on "Dallas" and Roger Grimes on "Dynasty," turns 50 on October 10.
- Jim McMullan, who was Sen. Andrew Dowling on "Dallas," turns 72 on October 13.
- Greg Evigan, who was Willie Gust on "Dallas" but is better known for "B.J. and the Bear," turns 55 on October 14.
- Arleen Sorkin, the unforgettable voice of Harley Quinn on "Batman: The Animated Series," as well as the person who inspired the character, turns 52 on October 14.
- Barry Corbin, who was the stalwart Sheriff Fenton Washburn on "Dallas," as well as Pullman in the 2005 "Dukes of Hazzard" movie, turns 68 on October 16.
- John Anderson, who was Kimberly Cryder's father Dr. Styles on "Dallas," was born on October 20, 1922, and died on August 7, 1992.
- John Zaremba, who played Dr. Harlan Danvers on "Dallas," was born on October 22, 1908, and died on December 15, 1986.
- Wolf Muser, who was the sinister Marcello Armonti on "Santa Barbara," terrorizing C.C. Capwell for his supposed wrongs in the second World War, turns 58 on October 23.
- Scott Jaeck, another "SB" alum as Cain Garver who was spotted more recently as a hired gun on Fox's "Prison Boys" (er, we mean "Prison Break"), turns 54 on October 29.
- The talented and well-regarded (and ever patient) Barbara Bel Geddes, who for so many years portrayed Miss Ellie Ewing on "Dallas," was born on Halloween in 1922 in New York City. She died on August 8, 2005, of lung cancer.


Happy birthday to all!

An urgent appeal from "Santa Barbara" star Nicolas Coster

BRBTV recently received an email from Nicolas Coster (our amazing Lionel Lockridge of "Santa Barbara," along with Lyle Sloan and Joe Morris of "Dallas," and even Ezra Bushmaster in "The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood") with what he considers an urgent appeal for all Americans ...

For 34 years I have taught and transported physically challenged scuba divers at my own expense including at that time, Viet Nam veterans. I can no longer assume all that expense myself. In the past two years, we have had some help from other sources. Two years ago, I started a plan to teach wounded veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars to scuba dive. Since the beginning,and with recent documentation, (provided on request) we have seen the incredibly positive therapeutic effects of this activity.

We enlisted the participation of the Veterans Administration in Los Angeles and have been for four months teaching a pilot class, the first of its kind in Los Angeles for severely wounded veterans. We were financed for that class with a generous grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

We cannot simply drop this class and the end of the actual course, nor can we halt the momentum on that which we have achieved thus far. The Veterans Administration professionals are extremely enthusiastic with the results observed in growing self-esteem, memory improvement and a brighter outlook for the future in our wounded veterans as a result of this training. It is unthinkable to stop now.

We have an able staff and the officers and board for Challenges. We are all volunteers. ALL money goes to the cause and the necessary expenses. WE NEED YOUR HELP to continue this most valuable work for our men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. There are no politics involved.

These are tough times but we are doing what we can. We are simply “giving back” something to those who have given so much. Please help today with whatever amount you can. The address is:

Challenges Foundation
732 North Martel Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Gratefully,

Nicolas Coster
President and Founder, Challenges Foundation
http://www.challengesfoundation.org/

There's always room for ... more Happy Meal toys!

"Choose your ride; choose your side."

So say the TV spots for Lego's just-released "Batman: The Videogame." And with a big release like this, of course you get the toy factor, too. Just lookie what a Metro Atlanta traffic jam led BRBTV to one morning last week? Who would've thought that a stopoff for one of those fab McDonald's iced coffees would introduce us to these cute little critters?

"Robin Grappling Hook" and "The Joker Surprise" are No. 7 and 8, respectively, in this set of Happy Meal toys. Each one bears a code on the back that you can enter in the game to get special cheats. The Clown Prince of Crime's "surprise" is a Harley Quinn-stickered box with a lever that releases a punching fist, while our faithful ole chum has a button that shoots that grappler.

BRBTV made an attempt to secure all eight toys at this iced coffee stop, but alas ... since there are a total of about three fast-food workers in Metro Atlanta who actually speak English, it was not to be ... Maybe next time ...

Read more about the toys at McDonald's official site, and sneak a peek at the game here and here.

Despite already nearing critical mass for toys in the BRBTV Batden ... yea, we're lovin' it.

Midge and Moose break up? Say it ain't so!

From Archie Comics

Yes, it’s another four-part tale of intrigue in Archie Comics … and this time, Moose and Midge’s romance hangs in the balance!

The action starts in PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #125’s “Break-up Blues.” First came Betty and Veronica’s “Bad Boy Trouble,” followed by Jughead dealing with a bunch of “Match Makers.” 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 “Match Makers” 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!

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #125
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.

Bits 'n' Pieces: Doctor, dancer, dastardly villains!

Vincent Irizarry: Delving into more daytime

Just about as soon as he left his role as David Chow on "The Young and the Restless," Vincent Irizarry, our own Dr. Scott Clark on "Santa Barbara," has a new daytime soap gig. The Brantford Expositor reports on his return to a role he played on ABC's "All My Children," Dr. David Hayward (what's all this doctor stuff?) during the fall season. Irizarry is included in ABC's special "AMC" promo commercials this week.

Susan Lucci: Busy, busy, busy

Sigh ... a primetime reality-show gig on top of a longtime daytime soaps gig. Such is the tragic life of Irizarry's castmate Susan Lucci, our own Hillary Taylor / Sheila Foley of "Dallas." She tells Carolyn Hinsey of the New York Daily News: "I will have to fly out to L.A. every Saturday for fittings and rehearsals for 'Dancing With the Stars.' I'll have the two shows on Monday and Tuesday, and then fly back to New York City on Tuesday night to tape 'All My Children' Wednesday, Thursday and Friday." Oh, the humanity!

Joan Collins: The play's the thing

The Connecticut Post sheds a little light on Joan Collins and her one-woman show, as well as her career in general. "We were very successful and had very big ratings," she says of "Dynasty," where she was, of course, Alexis Carrington Colby whatever, "but the ABC brass always hated the show ... one executive once said 'Dynasty' is like a witch ... we'll have to put a stake through its heart to get rid of it.'" Collins is also taking on a new project in the latest Miss Marple series. The U.K.'s Daily Mail has more.

We had to laugh

That Zachary Quinto. Not only is he wonderfully dastardly as the villain Sylar on NBC's "Heroes," and not only is he absolutely beyond smashing as the young Spock in the early press photos in next year's "Star Trek" prequel movie, but he's oh-so quick with the ready answer. The TV Guide Channel spoke with Quinto at the premiere party for "Heroes," as the question "Who shot Nathan Petrelli" hung in the air. "I think J.R. Ewing did it," he quipped. So cute.

Amazon offers up single servings of "The Dukes"

It certainly is a fab new world we live in, when more and more great television is becoming available online. The networks have jumped in with videos of full episodes of their shows, and you've got great sites like MSN, Hulu and Fancast. Now the ever-diversifying Amazon has jumped into the action, offering full TV episodes for download (some to purchase, some for free) of both the brand-new shows and the great classic stuff.

And when we think of the great classic stuff, what can we think of but "The Dukes of Hazzard." Amazon has that, the first two seasons worth, though "Dallas" and "Dynasty" aren't there (yet?). You will also find "Batman: The Animated Series" and "Batman Beyond." And "Santa Barbara"? Could we ever hope? Things are evolving, ya know, so ya never know ...

This is mighty convenient, BRBTV has to say, if you just want to view a particular episode or two of a show and don't want to buy the whole DVD set of a season. The other free sites are great, but they don't cover every episode of the show, for logistics' sake, of course.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Speaking of the Batman shows, your opportunity to immerse yourself in the earlier stuff arrives this Saturday with Boomerang's special all-day event featuring the "Super Friends" shows. Comics2Film has more.

Chip Foose Braselton Bash: Part 2

Marvin Murphy of Florida, shown above with his son, Brian, who serves as the media relations rep for Lee 1, trailered his slice of "Dukes of Hazzard" history a long way to show at the Chip Foose Braselton Bash here in beautiful Georgia over the weekend. The second of our two parts on the Year One show continues with another tidbit from Mr. Murphy.

The famous Dodge Charger, which has changed hands a few times since it was recovered from a northern Georgia junkyard several years ago, also has called a few different cities home. But where does this original General Lee hang his hat nowadays, so to speak? The duPont Registry Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, Marvin tells BRBTV. It's a private museum, he notes, and it contains many other celeb cars.

"They're very protective of it," he says of the museum's display of Lee 1. "There's not a single car around it. They have some pretty famous cars in there."

And speaking of famous cars, and speaking of General Lees, Marvin's car was not the only "01" at the show. Parked just a yard or two away was the beauty below, which bears a sign in the windshield stating it's a "movie car" from the 2005 and 2007 "Dukes" flicks.

You know it wouldn't be a car show without the Gran Torino from "Starsky and Hutch," right?

Also on show at the show was the special Burt Reynolds edition of the "Smokey and the Bandit" Trans Am, built by Year One themselves -- and in a very limited production. We can just picture "Smokey" fans -- which cross over, generally, with "The Dukes" -- goin' crazy over this one.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Chip Foose Braselton Bash: Some blazin' orange "01" presence, for sure

This past weekend saw the Chip Foose Braselton Bash presented by Year One at its Braselton, Georgia, headquarters. The event, named for automotive design guru and TV star Chip Foose, benefits the Progeria Research Foundation, an organization dedicated to discovering the cure for Progeria, a fatal, "rapid aging" disease that afflicts children causing death of heart disease at an average age of 13.

BRBTV was there on Saturday, as a guest of Mr. Marvin Murphy, the Florida resident who has completely restored the car affectionately dubbed Lee 1 (see our November 13, 2006 post). Above, you see Marvin chatting with show attendees next to the car. This is the first and likely only appearance the car will make in 2008.

"I have nothing planned for it," Marvin told us when we asked what kind of shows the car's done since its splashy debut in Covington two years ago and its follow-up the next month in Indianapolis. "It probably won't go anywhere else until it's sold."

Sold? Yes, indeed! "It is for sale," Marvin affirms. "I bought it and fixed it up with the intention of selling it for the show's 30th anniversary." The series, which featured the car in its historic jump at Oxford College filmed in November 1978, debuted in January 1979.

"It will sell for seven figures," Marvin says of the car. "I wouldn't be at all surprised if it sells to someone out of the country."

Marvin also had as his guest Mr. Don Schisler, original transportation director for "The Dukes of Hazzard," shown with Marvin in the photo below. As noted in posts on this very blog, Schisler had a very special role in history of "The Dukes."

Tomorrow: Part 2 of our special coverage of the Chip Foose Braselton Bash.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Archie has a spooktacular time in store this Halloween

From Archie Comics

In the 60-plus years that Archie Comics have been published, Archie and his friends have commemorated the holidays time and time again. Countless stories featuring the gang involved in hilarious and heartwarming tales revolving around Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, and especially Christmas have peppered the pages of Archie Comics, much to the delight of readers.

One holiday that is a mainstay of Archie Comics is Halloween. Kids love to dress up in costumes and have masquerade parties, and Archie and his friends are no exceptions. Time and time again their Halloween hijinx have led to hilarity. And sometimes they even met real monsters, as in the pages of “Archie’s Madhouse” and “Bats!”

This fall, the Riverdale teens are at it again. Don’t miss the spooky fun!

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #85, ships 9/10. 32-page, full-color comic, $2.25 U.S. 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 girl’s 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.

TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #30, ships 9/24. Full-color digest format, $2.49 U.S. “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 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!

Tom Wopat's "Chicago" gig generates some press

With the label "two-time Tony Award nominee" (rather than plain-ole by-the-book country boy Luke Duke, as we know him!), Tom Wopat is making the news for launching the 10th national tour of the stage production of "Chicago" at the Belk Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday, November 11. Our "Dukes of Hazzard" cuz dons the lead role of Billy Flynn in the musical.

BroadwayWorld.com, which also has a nice cred page for Wopat (with photos!), has the coverage, as does Playbill and several others. You can also learn more about the production from its official site, ChicagoTheMusical.com.

Robin Wright Penn, meanwhile, has been generating buzz for her role in what is not-so-affectionately been dubbed "the Dakota Fanning rape movie," "Hounddog." Our own Kelly Capwell of "Santa Barbara" was at the movie's premiere with its other stars in the Big Apple the other night. See some photos of our lovely star here.

Indeed, George Hamilton doesn't mind if he does

His book party in May featured Loni Anderson, Stefanie Powers and our own Linda Gray of "Dallas" -- plus all manner and age range of other females in awe, as reported by Erika Schickel for the L.A. Times. The goody bag included exotic tanning products. And the subject? The subject was right-on, tanned and wonderful, and certainly hearkening back to a seemingly forgotten era of showbiz.

To us, of course, the subject, Mr. George Hamilton, is Joel Abrigore -- taunter of Krystle Carrington on "Dynasty."

Hamilton's book, "Don't Mind if I Do," is a memoir, helped along by writer William Stadiem and officially releasing on October 14 but already selling at Amazon and other booksellers. (The title was also a proposed TV reality show a year ago, by the way.) And this memoir is definitely old-guard Hollywood, dropping some high-profile names. Vanity Fair's excerpt from the book, for instance, pays a nice tribute to Elizabeth Taylor.

Hamilton has some California, New Jersey and Arkansas locales booked for signings next month.

"With a front row seat for classic Hollywood's biggest secrets and scandals, George has the intelligence, heart, and unflappable spirit to tell his story, and the story of Tinseltown's heyday, with great good humor and delicious candor -- as only he can," Simon & Schuster says in its official materials for he book. "The world is Hamilton's oyster, and this ultimate insider is ready to share it with us."

Bits 'n' Pieces: A smidgen of "Dallas" and "Dynasty"

Charlene Tilton in panto

"Poison Dwarf"? Yes, we've heard it before, but c'mon, that's a little strong, don'tcha think? Our own Charlene Tilton, lovely little Lucy of "Dallas," joins a pantomime show at the Kings Theatre in Southsea, U.K. The show begins December 10, as reported by The Portsmouth News. But that's not all -- Tilton is also appearing at the Las Vegas BikeFest next month. She'll be appearing at the Branscombe Richmond and the Renegade All Stars concert at the Fiesta Rancho Hotel on Friday, October 3. Check the BikeFest's site for details.

Vote "Dallas" for the Emmy broadcast

The folks behind the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards broadcast, coming up this Sunday, want to know what you think is TV's most memorable moment. Are we at all surprised that the moment J.R. gets shot on "Dallas" is among the offerings, since the moment when his shooter is revealed in the following season still rates so high in viewership? Run, don't walk, to the ABC's Emmy Awards page to cast your vote. And be warned ... among the other choices is the very tempting moment when Joan Collins' character gets iced in that landmark vintage "Star Trek" episode "City on the Edge of Forever." Then there's the gut-kicking moment when Pa has to tell Mary she's going blind on "Little House on the Prairie." Geesh ... just drag us behind a pickup truck, why don't ya?????

"Dynasty" assistance, pleeeez

Soap causes wrinkles? Gosh, if we'd only known! At least so says Margaret Long, executive assistant for Aaron Spelling during his "Dynasty" years. The Glen St. Mary, Fla., Home Town Journal pays tribute.

John Schneider keeps things moving with email newsletter

"Sorry you have not heard from me in a while," John Schneider of "The Dukes of Hazzard" tells fans in the very first issue of his email newsletter, distributed Friday. Between ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and his pet project "26 Miles," our own Bo Duke has been busy. So what's new about that? As reported several times on this very blog, John-John's had TV roles coming in hand over fist for a while now.

Oh, and then there was that whole DukesFest thing. So what about next year? Will there be one, all "Dukes" fans are wondering? Schneider isn't saying, just yet.

But the big news of this email release, perhaps, is his brand-new website, located at a new domain name as well: http://www.johnschneideronline.com/. You'll find a DukesFest store, news on appearances like the upcoming Chiller Theatre (see our August 20 post), a new online store with some items even half off, a link to his eBay offerings and more. The site was created by big-time "Dukes" fan Scott Romine of the Confederate General Lee Fan Club.

While we weren't looking, meanwhile, some new projects popped up for Schneider:
- Everybody Says Goodbye: The Story of a Father and Son (2008): John Litgown
- Bleachers (2008): Mr. Simmons
- The Rebound (2009): Trevor
- The Gods of Circumstance (2009): Mick Jeremiah
- Holyman Undercover (2008): Satan
- Set Apart (2008): Pastor John Gunn (quite a switch from the above!)
- Conjurer (2008): Frank Higgins

(OK, when was the last time we checked? Yesterday? No, that's a joke ...) We'll try to dig into some of these projects for future posts. If we have the time, that is.

David Baker: His props are a little more dangerous than martini glasses, these days

Last week, we ran some highlights from our phone interview with former "Santa Barbara" star Anthony De Longis, who's done a whole lot of other stuff in Hollywood over the years, much of it behind the scenes. The same day that we chatted with De Longis, we talked with David Baker, who not only lives near De Longis on the West Coast, but also has a post-"SB" career behind the scenes.

You might recall Baker on "SB," and then again, you might not. His role was not exactly high-profile, but he was there, alright. He was Dave the bartender at Eden Castillo's fabulous Orient Express restaurant and bar. And while he stood at his post, faithful and true, serving it up to our "SB" characters, he found a good way to get the bills paid.

"Basically, I was involved with the show over a six- or seven-month period," he tells us, though some of that was voiceover work. "I did voiceovers for 'The Young and the Restless,' too. I was the voice of the pilot on the plane, the voice of the bad guy on the other end of the phone ... the speaker at the police department, all that kind of stuff. Those are the best gigs. You get paid for a whole day, and you spend 15 minutes in a booth. Record your stuff and go home."

One of Baker's other screen creds was our beloved "The Colbys," where he was Angelo, the stable hand. But alas, his 1985 role on the primetime soap was short-lived.

"I was supposed to be Emma Samms' love interest," he says, "and after the second episode that I did, Emma did a forward flip off the horse she was riding and landed on the battery pack for her mike. They decided no more horses, at that point. My character went with the horses. Loaded me right on the trailer and sent me home," he jokes.

But it was not a bad thing, really. Because Baker has made a career for himself behind the camera. His business is related, on a certain level, to what his neighbor Anthony De Longis does. Where De Longis teaches actors the finer arts of, say, wielding the sword or the whip, Baker is the one who actually supplies that weaponry.

Baker's Hollywood Combat Center is a full-service prop fabrication company specializing in historical bladed weapons. Eastern swords, broadswords, knives, rapiers, sabers, cutlasses ... Baker supplies them all. How did he get into that kind of specialty business?

"I started that around 1990, making equipment," he says. "I flipped sides on the camera and started working behind the camera instead of in front of the camera. In the late '80s the CD-ROM video games became very popular. I did a lot of those, and all kinds of odd mechanical specialty props, science-fiction stuff. Then I just started branching out, doing set design, set building. The whole time, I'd been an addict for swords, teaching actors how to use them. Then it became lucrative to sell them for the actors to use. It's great when a passion turns into a way to make a living. I don't have too many complaints about it."

Very cool.

You can read our complete interview with David Baker in the next update to the "Send Me to Santa Barbara" reference e-book.

And look for more interviews here soon. We've got a couple other "SB" cast members in our sights ...

Archie Comics goes back to school this month

From Archie Comics

The summer of 2008 is now in the rearview mirror, and destined to be remembered for its plethora of intriguing tales and awesome “event” stories.

Not to be outdone, here comes September. As Archie and his friends go back to school, so do Archie Comics readers, leaving behind those carefree days of summer to get back into a regular routine. But that doesn’t mean things have to be less exciting! To prove that point, Archie Comics continues to deliver stories that are sure to get kids talking at their lockers each morning! The excitement promises to last through the fall, and gets off to a rollicking start with these engrossing issues shipping in September.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #123, 32-page, full-color comic, $2.25 U.S. “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 band’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, 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).

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #164, full-color digest format, $3.69 U.S. 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 http://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. PLUS: Other new and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!