More Bits 'n' Pieces: "Dallas" reunion, plus some "Santa Barbara" stuff

Thanks to Garry of DallasFanzine.com for passing along this quality shot of the "Dallas" 30th anniversary reunion at Southfork Ranch in great-ole Parker, Texas, earlier this month. Garry's got a whole big album on his site, so check that out. Lots of good closeups of the gang. Click on "Gallery" on the left-hand menu.

"Santa Barbara" is also much on our minds right now. Melissa of the Single Gal in the City blog reports having dinner the other night with our own Cruz Castillo, known to the rest of the world as A Martinez. He'll evidently be returning to "One Life to Live" at the end of next month. And Lonnie Quinn, who played Rich Landers on our show, and who has been enjoying a successful career in TV newscasting, and was featured in a story in the New Haven (Conn.) Register.

AND ....! (and, and, and!!!!) ... Have we got a treat for you! Guess who we talked to on the phone a couple weeks ago? None other than Ms. Signy Coleman, the lovely Celeste DiNapoli of our beloved "SB." It's an interview for the next edition of BRBTV's "Send Me to Santa Barbara" reference guide, but you'll find excerpts on this blog this Friday and next Wednesday. "Dallas" fans, by the way, might recall Ms. Coleman in the mix when Sue Ellen Ewing was seeking a new Valentine Girl in 1987! She was a big "Dallas" fan, she tells us!

Bits 'n' Pieces: Heather Locklear's new TV movie is coming up

- You knew it had to happen, especially since you saw literally every sneeze during the filming, on the various news outlets around the web ... Heather Locklear's new Lifetime movie is about to air! It's on the cable channel's holiday schedule:
"Flirting with Forty"
Lifetime
Saturday, December 6
9 p.m. EST
Read a little more about the movie at Lifetime's site.

- A brand-new Dodge Charger with a classic touch? What can it be but a modern General Lee? AutomobileMag has the image.

- Us "Dukes of Hazzard" fans remember how Bo and Luke idolized racecar driver Cale Yarborough, who appeared in a couple episodes. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel gives a sort of appreciation for the NASCAR legend.

John Schneider status check, part 3,564 or something like that

Ahhh ... time to do another John Schneider status check. If we don't keep up with it now and then, the sheer force that is our buddy Bo Duke's career will just plum run us over!

"Collier & Co. 2: High Octane" is the sequel to Schneider's own beloved 2006 movie project, and a major motivation behind selling his equally beloved General Lee car. Due out next year, the film will include his wife Elly and daughter Karis as the original did, but will take J.R. Collier on more "Dukes of Hazzard"-like adventures involving a 1969 Charger.

"Bleachers," classified as in production, casts Schneider as "Mr. Simmons, the 'hard a**' school administrator" to six students who are on suspension and missing spring break. It's written and directed by Derek J. Hartman.

"The Rebound" stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sam Robards. Schneider is Trevor in the movie, which comes from writer and director Bart Freundlich.

The last three projects are a collection of interesting references to God, angels, hell, the devil ... ya know, stuff like that:
- The tagline for "The Gods of Circumstance" is "Two desolate angels on the highway to hell." The movie casts Schneider in the lead role as Mick Jeremiah. The plotline: "Michael Lewis Mick Jeremiah, 49 and a half years old, former Kennedy Cold Warrior, single father and bankrupt homebuilder, on his way from California to Colorado to get a fresh start, stops by Nevada's infamous Chicken Ranch brothel on an impulse to look up an old girlfriend." Brian Krause of "Charmed" plays a psycho who chases him.
- In "Set Apart," Schneider portrays a pastor and shares the flick with Richard Roundtree. Directed by Ralph E. Portillo, the screenplay is from George Flynn.
- Finally, "Holyman Undercover" departs a little bit. Here, our wholesome Bo Duke is the bad guy ... as in the bad guy, Mephistopheles, Beelzebub, whatever ya wanna call him. This one also stars David A.R. White, one of BRBTV's favorite actors since we saw him do an amazing job in the Christiano Brothers' "End of the Harvest." Clint Howard, Edie McClurg and Fred Willard are thrown in, along with Staci Keanan, whom we loved on ABC's "Step by Step."

OK, you can take a breath now.

You've gotta love those holiday Archies

From Archie Comics

'Tis the season to be jolly as Archie and his friends celebrate in true holiday style! Since November 1941 Archie and his friends have delighted readers both young and old with their wholesome brand of family entertainment! For nearly as long, they have upheld the family traditions of the holiday season.

The first Archie Christmas stories appeared in such flagship titles as ARCHIE, PEP and LAUGH throughout the 1940s. Response to these stories was so great that soon an entire title was devoted to stories of holiday cheer and good will toward men: ARCHIE'S CHRISTMAS STOCKING #1, released in 1954! This title not only became a holiday tradition, but was joined by such others as ARCHIE'S CHRISTMAS LOVE-IN, ARCHIE'S CHRISTMAS STOCKING and BETTY & VERONICA CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR.

Yes, Archie and crew have long displayed their holiday spirit throughout the years, and this year is no different. Be sure to stock up these perfect stocking stuffers!

BETTY #177
“The Big Battle”: Betty and her friends compare their energy conserving dates… and how their boyfriends did or didn’t comply!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
“ Down Memory Lane ”: Thumbing through her diary takes Betty back to Christmas when she was 9 years old.
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
“Secret Shopper”: Tired of all the attention Veronica draws when they go shopping together, Betty decides to make a solo shopping trip… and has all the sales clerks competing to sell something to “Veronica’s friend!”
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
“The Dilemma”: Can Betty find a way to get her boyfriends Archie and Adam to see eye-to-eye?
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale at comic specialty shops: December 3, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 16, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #86
SPECIAL HOLIDAY ISSUE!
“Jingles All the Way”: The Sugar Plum fairy is convinced that Betty and Veronica are being manipulated by Archie; while Jingles the Elf thinks Archie would be better off without the girls. They each decide to take matters into their diminutive hands – by adopting human forms to distract the teens! Will their diversions dismantle the love triangle for good, or will there be a merry… and romantic… Christmas for everyone after all?
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 19, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 2, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #189
“The Present”: Betty tries to live for the “here and now,” but Veronica is only interested in it “every now and then!”
SCRIPT: Barbara Slate.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
“The Party”: After accidentally gobbling up goodies meant for the Orphanage Christmas party, Jughead finds a way to redeem himself and keep the Christmas spirit alive.
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 12, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 25, 2008
88-page, full-color digest
$2.49 U.S.


JUGHEAD’S DOUBLE DIGEST #145
“Pizza and Good Cheer!”: Take Jughead, some pizza pies, a giving heart, mix it up with good cheer and what have you got? A yuletide tale that will warm your heart… and your belly!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Fernando Ruiz.
“Tree Fortified”: Archie searches for the perfect Christmas tree, but the only problem is the perfect Christmas tree is also the perfect cover for woodland creatures!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 12, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 25, 2008
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: It's been a few weeks since we checked in on John Schneider, our own Bo Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," so he must have a dozen or two new roles by now ... One we know about is a new Hallmark movie, titled "Wedding Dance" and set to air next year. Reuters has more.

Glad to see we're not the only ones clinging to the '80s

Yes, we love the '80s around here, at the BRBTV News Blog. That fine, fine decade of Reagan economics, Def Leppard, the Rubik's Cube, shoulder pads and jelly sandals .... and, of course, our beloved "Dynasty," "Dallas," "The Dukes of Hazzard" and "Santa Barbara." They haven't made shows like that since then, we know, as we blithely ignore all reality television ...

We came across a website that we just had to tell ya about, if you haven't already stumbled across it yourself. It's called The Great 80s, and it celebrates all that crazy stuff we love (much of which is still in BRB's closet, along with all of her mother's vintage fashions!). At the site, you can find clips of TV shows and movies, a listing of all the great '80s TV shows by year (including lists of top-rated ones -- and our beloved shows certainly figure in there, don't they?), links to watching '80s TV episodes online, a crazy montage of '80s cartoon openings (wow, talk about stepping back in time!) and much more. You'll also see pages on '80s pop culture, music and clothing.

It's like one, big zany tribute to the very reason BRB just can't bear to part with those oxford shirts, crewneck pullover sweaters, classic Gloria Vanderbilts (well, truth be told, she never parts with any of her GV garments) and even that navy blue prairie skirt she got for her freshman year of high school (yes, believe it) ... Sigh ...

BRBTV News Blog Blip: There's a little sprinkling of '80s fashion -- that aforementioned oxford cloth shirt -- in this week's installment of the yearlong My Mother's Clothing project ... but you're not supposed to notice, really! This project is all about the fab '50s and '60s, and this brown wool skirt and yellow mohair sweater show that sometimes you can still believe in what's good and right!

Archie Comics creators hit the road this weekend

Bob Bolling
Festival of Arts Luau
North Port Art Center
5950 Sam Shapos Way
North Port, FL 34287
(941) 423-6460
NorthPortartCenter.com
Saturday, November 15
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

North Port Art Center will be presenting their first fundraising arts and crafts festival featuring art displays, demonstrations, and a children's art activity tent. Artists will be showing and selling their works outside in tents or on tables inside the gallery. Bob Bolling will be featured as the Archie Comic cartoonist drawing sketches of Archie and the gang for the public and autographing Archie comic books.



Bob Smith & Stan Goldberg
Big Apple Convention
Penn Plaza Pavilion
401 Seventh Avenue at 33rd St.
New York, N.Y. 10001-2062
(510) 220-6314
BigAppleCon.com
Friday–Sunday, November 14, 15, 16
Friday 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Bob Smith will be at a table signing on the 15th and 16th. Stan Goldberg will be there for all the three days, but not for the entire day. He will be signing and selling art, but will do not do any personal drawings while he is there. He prefers talking to the fans and signing their Archie comics.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: It's always good to report when something good happens. Sonny Shroyer showed the spirit of "The Dukes of Hazzard" when he made an appearance for a 7-year-old boy, Clay Dixon, who has inoperable brain cancer. The Anderson, S.C., Independent Mail has the story.

Reports from Southfork, and a new way to get Batty

Those "Dallas" fans who traveled to the 30th anniversary reunion event at Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas, are no doubt still coming up for air from the weekend. Various news outlets around the Net have the goods for those of us who couldn't make the journey, however ...

- The (U.K.) Sun has what appears to be somebody's cell-phone photo, along with a quickie report.
- United Press International has a much better quality photo, and adds just a little more info to the mix.
- You can count on the Dallas Morning News, however, to kick it up a notch.
- The (U.K.) Daily Mail adds some photos and details.
- And finally, the best of the bunch is local Channel 33, which has a video.

Fans who attended, however, did not post reports quite so glowing. Read more at SoapChat's "Dallas" forum.

Meanwhile, takin' the train from Dallas to Gotham City ... Fans of "Batman: The Animated Series" who maybe-kinda were holding off on buying the DVDs over the past few years have a fabulous reward. Warner Bros. has released the whole series in one big honkin' set. It's 2,379 minutes of sheer Batpleasure, and FilmThreat.com has more.

"Dallas" got some fresh looks over the weekend

You know, you go and throw some big-ole splashly reunion event at Southfork Ranch, and suddenly there's a whole new crop of "Dallas" cast interviews -- and we dig it! In fact, here are a couple we did dig up over the weekend ...

- The Dallas Morning News checked in with that rascally J.R., Larry Hagman, at his hotel on Friday, the day before the event. He had some fun stuff to say, including his experiences with the show's notoriety overseas and his perspective on his very famous character years later.

"I was the only one from Texas on the show," he told the paper. "I brought credence to the role and an understanding of the mindset that the writers didn't have any idea about. ... I always thought J.R. was a cartoon, and I played him as a cartoon. That's how I always thought of him, as a cartoon, and a damn funny one at that."

- Charlene Tilton, meanwhile, took a different slant -- so to speak -- in talking to another local paper, the gay / lesbian-oriented Dallas Voice, about the Kit Mainwaring storyline.

“I loved the way the writers handled it," Tilton said. "She protected Kit’s privacy and didn’t try to out him. When she found out that J.R. knew Kip was gay, Lucy told Kip not to worry: She’d handle J.R. This was like the first time someone had come out on TV. Those are my all-time favorite episodes on ‘Dallas.’"

Tilton also mentioned a couple upcoming projects: a sitcom pilot about a cooking show that just got picked up for 13 episodes, and the U.K.'s stage version of “Cinderella.” Plus, there's the Tammy Faye Bakker story she mentioned to BRBTV last year.

BRBTV couldn't be there at the "Dallas" reunion at Southfork because of the 2008 travel schedule bein' all used up (can you say, "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!"), but we did live vicariously at the event through the postings of Garry of DallasFanzine.com on the "Dallas" SoapChat forum. Check that if you want to read about the event.

The Archies rock the house in first comic book retrospective

From Archie Comics

Back in the 1960s, renowned record producer Don Kirschner was one of the driving forces behind the band The Monkees. The Monkees were put together as a response to the popularity of The Beatles, and were given a TV show whose style was a combination of Beatles' movies like "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help," with the madcap lunacy of such Marx Brothers' classics as "Duck Soup" and "A Night at the Opera." The Monkees' TV show was a big hit, and they naturally spun off a successful recording career as well, placing many songs into the Top 10.

Originally, Kirschner presented The Monkees with songs written by other writers to record. However, little by little, they started to write and record their own songs, and eventually wanted to do original material altogether. When Kirschner asked them to record a song from one of his stable of writers called "Sugar Sugar," The Monkees refused, and parted ways with Kirschner.

Meanwhile, inspired by the runaway success of guitar-and-vocal groups like the Beatles, Byrds, Beach Boys and yes, The Monkees, The Archies band made their comic book debut in a 1967 issue of “Life with Archie.” But that was only the beginning.

As Kirschner's search for a band to replace The Monkees continued, he noticed his child reading a comic book featuring "The Archies" band. It struck Kirschner that comic book characters couldn't give him a hard time by refusing to record the songs of others, so he made a deal with the publishers of Archie Comics and put together a band of studio musicians and dubbed them "The Archies."

Simultaneously, Archie Comics was in negotiations with the Filmation animation studio to start a series of Saturday morning Archie cartoons. It was decided to have The Archies band in the cartoons as well. THE ARCHIE SHOW premiered on the CBS network on September 14, 1968. An ARCHIES album followed shortly thereafter and the hit single, "Sugar Sugar," became the top-selling single of 1969. The rest, as they say, is musical history!

Now fans can relive that history with some of The Archies' most tuneful tales with THE ARCHIES: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME ONE. This handsome edition features painstaking restoration from original publishing elements, and a special foreword by Ron Dante, the famed singing voice of Archie and a successful singer-songwriter, musician and producer of such multi-platinum acts as Barry Manilow, Cher and Pat Benatar. It's music to any Archie fan's ears!

THE ARCHIES: GREATEST HITS VOLUME ONE
On sale at comic specialty shops: December 10, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 23, 2008
96-page, full-color squarebound paperback
ISBN #: 978-1-879794-37-5
Old ISBN #: 1-879-794-37-3
$9.95 U.S.

Kate Mulgrew heads to the Big Apple later this month

Kate Mulgrew had a career before she boarded Voyager in the "Star Trek" universe, ya know. For one thing, she was on our beloved "Dallas," playing Garnet McGee, the country music star who caused Ray Krebbs to go ga-ga and spurred yet another one of J.R. Ewing's schemes.

On Friday, November 14, Mulgrew will be meeting and greeting at the Big Apple Con in New York City. She'll be at the event from 3 to 6 p.m. that day.

The con, which will also feature George Lazenby, Jamie Luner and several other pop-culture stars, runs all weekend. Read more at BigAppleCon.com.

"Dallas" fans -- can you stand it????

It's a very special week for us fans of "Dallas." It's the week when we're hanging on the edge of our seats -- whether it's plane seats, car seats, or even just our living room seats at home, barely able to stand the waning seconds until this Saturday's 30th anniversary reunion event at Southfork Ranch in Texas. With the cast biggies in attendance, this first-ever "Dallas"-fest promises to be a monumental pop-culture event.

The Ultimate Dallas site has a few ways to get your Ewing geek on as the event approaches. At the site's shop, you can choose from a special commemorative "Dallas" button, tote bag and all manner of T-shirt.

The site is also hosting the launch of Bryan J. Kinnaird's new online graphic novel "Dallas: The Gathering."

For more information about the reunion, visit dr30.com.

Frank Runyeon heads back to daytime, and Jon Lindstrom gets a new gig

It's election day, and if you haven't voted yet, you better get your little behind out there.

Here at the BRBTV News Blog, we would probably vote Frank Runyeon as one of the most handsome of the "Santa Barbara" cast. We might vote him best of character, as well, for his moral standing as Father Michael Donnelly, later police officer Michael Donnelly. Heck, maybe he'd even make a good president.

But all that political stuff aside, we've reported on this news blog about Runyeon's evangelistic activities in recent years, performing his Biblical one-man show at churches and other venues around the country. Now, it seems, Runyeon is going back to the daytime soaps world. The We Love Soaps blog reports that he's reporting for duty on ABC's "All My Children." He'll play the father of the Reese character (just filled on Friday by Tamara Braun, a former Carly of "General Hospital"), beginning next month.

Runyeon knows a thing or two about soaps. Besides "SB," he's done stints on "Another World," "Melrose Place" and "Falcon Crest," as well as his classic turn with Meg Ryan on CBS' "As the World Turns" in the early '80s.

Runyeon's "SB" castmate, meanwhile, has a new daytime gig, himself. Jon Lindstrom, whom we know as the creepazoid Mark McCormack, has been cast as the new Craig Montgomery on the aforementioned "As the World Turns." He begins that role on December 3. Lindstrom previously had a longtime role on "GH" in the evil-twin vein as Ryan Chamberlain / Kevin Collins.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Batfans are waiting with Bat-ted breath for this month's premiere of the new animated series "Batman: The Brave and the Bold." In anticipation of that, Animation World Magazine offers a look at the different Batman interpretations over the decades.

BRBTV birthdays for November

- Timothy Patrick Murphy, who was Mickey Trotter on "Dallas," was born on November 3, 1959 and died December 6, 1988.
- Kate Reid, who was Mickey's mom Lil on "Dallas," was born on November 4, 1930 and died March 27, 1993.
- Deborah Rennard, our own Sly Lovegren on "Dallas," turns 49 on November 4.
- Todd McKee, our own original Ted Capwell on "Santa Barbara," turns 45 on November 7.
- Russell Johnson, who is a BRBTV triple-shot for playing Sheriff Wyatt Mansfield on "Dallas," Earl Thompson on "Dynasty" and the third Roger Wainwright (Julia's dad) on "SB," turns 84 on November 10.
- Jack Scalia, the mysterious Nicholas Pearce / Joey Lombardi on "Dallas," has a birthday on November 10, as well, turning 58.
- Vincent Irizarry, a bigtime soaper who was Scott Clark on "SB," turns 49 on November 12.
- Dack Rambo, the hunky Jack Ewing of "Dallas," was born on November 13, 1941 and died of AIDS on March 21, 1994.
- Tracy Scoggins, our Monica Colby of "Dynasty" and "The Colbys," as well as Anita Smithfield on "Dallas: War of the Ewings," turns 55 on November 13.
- Edward Asner, the voice of Roland Daggett in "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 79 on November 15.
- Tricia Cast, who was Christy Duvall on "Santa Barbara," turns 40 on November 16.
- George O. Petrie, who played Harv Smithfield on "Dallas," was born on November 16, 1912 and died November 16, 1997.
- Brandon Call, the third Brandon DeMott Capwell on "SB," who was also notable as J.T. Lambert on ABC's sitcom "Step By Step" (side-by-side with Sasha Mitchell and Patrick Duffy of "Dallas"), as well as Hobie Buchanon in the syndicated "Baywatch," turns a so-young 32 on November 17.
- Rock Hudson, who played Daniel Reece on "Dynasty," was born on November 17, 1925 and, like Dack Rambo, died of AIDS, on October 2, 1985.
- Linda Evans, Hudson's on-screen love interest for a time, as Krystle on "Dynasty," turns 66 on November 18.
- Jocelyn Brando, who was John Ross' nanny Mrs. Reeves on "Dallas," was born on November 18, 1919 and died November 27, 2005.
- Joseph Campanella, a true classic actor who is a BRBTV triple-shot for his roles as mobster Joseph Lombardi Sr. on "Dallas" and Hutch Corrigan on "The Colbys," as well as Dr. Matthew Thorne on "Batman: TAS," turns 81 on November 21.
- Deborah Shelton, the stunning Mandy Winger on "Dallas," turns 60 on November 21.
- Maxwell Caulfield, our own Miles Colby of "Dynasty" and "The Colbys," turns 49 on November 23.
- Michael Brainard, our final Ted Capwell on "Santa Barbara," turns 43 on November 23.
- Roscoe Born, our "SB" evil-twin actor as Robert Barr and Quinn Armitage, turns 58 on November 24.
- Howard Duff, who was Sen. Henry Harrison O'Dell on "Dallas," then Paul Galveston on the spinoff, "Knots Landing," was born on November 24, 1913 and died July 8, 1990.
- And ... sigh ... one of BRBTV's very favorite actors ... the wonderful, the great, the accomplished, the amazing (!) Ricardo Montalban, who was Zach Powers on "The Colbys" among so many other things, will turn 88 on November 25.
- Marcy Walker, our own Eden Capwell of "SB" who since has settled into work for God's Kingdom, turns 47 on November 26.
- Joshua Harris, our darling little Christopher Ewing of "Dallas," is a big boy now, turning 30 on November 27.
- Stephen Elliott, who was Scotty Demarest on "Dallas," was born on November 27, 1918 and died May 21, 2005.
- Sherilyn Wolter, the evil Elena Nikolas / Capwell on "SB," has a birthday on November 30, turning 57.
- Efrem Zimbalist Jr., who voiced Alfred the butler in "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 90 on November 30.
- Kevin Conroy, who voiced Batman in "Batman: The Animated Series" and all the other series that spun off from it, as well as playing Bart Fallmont on "Dynasty," turns 53 on November 30.


Happy birthday to all!

In honor of Halloween, the "Archie's Weird Mysteries" team reunites

Our beloved "Archie's Weird Mysteries" animated TV series was once accompanied by a great comic. Now, in a special Halloween event, the creative team behind that title is doing a signing this afternoon in New Jersey.

Visit the Comic Book Market for reunion of Archie's Weird Mysteries writer Paul Castiglia and artist Fernando Ruiz, who will appear from 4 to 6 p.m.

The Comic Book Market
28 Washington St.
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 680-0006
www.thecomicbookmarket.com

The Comic Book Market also will be announcing the winners of their drawing contest:
$250 grand prize
$100 second grand prize
$50 third grand prize

Two runners-up will be given $20 in store credit. There will be special discounts as well as Halloween candy! Plus, the special Archie comics "The Mystery of the Museum Sleep-In" will be given free to customers, while supplies last.

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 toward 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!

BRBTV News Blog Blip: It's a rumor at the moment, but Entertainment Weekly has John Schneider pegged to do a three-episode arc of ABC's primetime soap "Dirty Sexy Money." Between that and all the comparisons being made to our beloved "Dynasty," it's enough to make a body want to actually watch the show!

Coming up in Archie Comics

ARCHIE #591
THE SCHOOL YEAR WINDS DOWN AND SO DOES THE "FRESHMAN YEAR SAGA" IN THIS THRILLING CONCLUSION! "Freshman Year: Spring Term": As the first year of high school winds down, the teens anticipate the summer break… but not before having a "Spring Formal" to send off the school year. But a few uninvited guests have crashed the dance – an unwelcome band of bikers who have an axe to grind with the school, especially a freshman named Archie! Who are they and what is their problem? Plus, the spy in Riverdale is finally revealed. Will Mr. Weatherbee prevail? It's a thrilling way to end the school year, 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 at comic specialty shops: November 26, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 9, 2008
32-recycled pages, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.


ARCHIE & FRIENDS #125
THE SECOND PART OF A TWO-PART TALE BY POPULAR "WJHC" WRITER JANE SMITH FISHER!
"Battle of the Bands, Part Two": In the aftermath of their rockin' contest performance, the Archies face a new challenge: a sponsor who will only cover half their prize travel expenses! Now the group must get jobs quickly to raise the money… except Reggie and Veronica of course, who are riding on their parents' dimes. But will that free ride last? The rockers learn a valuable lesson about earning their own "fun money"… and the value of good work ethics in the process! Not to mention how important it is to help those in need. A longtime advocate for kids' 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 at comic specialty shops: November 12, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 25, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

ARCHIE DIGEST #249
"Dream Scene": What's the perfect remedy to being stuck in class on a cold winter day? When you're Archie, it's daydreaming of beach balls and bikinis, of course!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Randy Elliott.
"Stop Watch": Mr. Weatherbee welcomes the inevitable first mishap of the semester – once Archie, Jughead and Reggie get in trouble, the school year can officially begin!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 19, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 2, 2008
88-page, full-color digest
$2.49 U.S.

ARCHIE'S DOUBLE DIGEST #194
"The Voting Game": It's a case of dueling campaign posters when Archie and Reggie run against one another for class president.
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"Fame Game": Archie learns that fame is fleeting when he fumbles a football.
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
ALSO: Little Archie and his friends are back in "The Riverdale Elementary School Musical": Little Archie and his friends prove that high schoolers aren't the only ones who can put on musicals in this tuneful tale!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dexter Taylor.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: December 3, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 16, 2008
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

BETTY #177
"The Big Battle": Betty and her friends compare their energy conserving dates… and how their boyfriends did or didn't comply!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Down Memory Lane": Thumbing through her diary takes Betty back to Christmas when she was 9 years old.
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Secret Shopper": Tired of all the attention Veronica draws when they go shopping together, Betty decides to make a solo shopping trip… and has all the sales clerks competing to sell something to "Veronica's friend!"
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"The Dilemma": Can Betty find a way to get her boyfriends Archie and Adam to see eye-to-eye? SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale at comic specialty shops: December 3, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 16, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #86
SPECIAL HOLIDAY ISSUE!
"Jingles All the Way": The Sugar Plum fairy is convinced that Betty and Veronica are being manipulated by Archie; while Jingles the Elf thinks Archie would be better off without the girls. They each decide to take matters into their diminutive hands – by adopting human forms to distract the teens! Will their diversions dismantle the love triangle for good, or will there be a merry… and romantic… Christmas for everyone after all?
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 19, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 2, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #189
"The Present": Betty tries to live for the "here and now," but Veronica is only interested in it "every now and then!"
SCRIPT: Barbara Slate.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
"The Party": After accidentally gobbling up goodies meant for the Orphanage Christmas party, Jughead finds a way to redeem himself and keep the Christmas spirit alive.
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 12, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 25, 2008
88-page, full-color digest
$2.49 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #166
"Back to Basics": Cheryl gets a surprise visit from her friends from Pembrooke Academy… and that's not all that's returning… by story's end, there just may be a "reversal of fortune" for the whole Blossom family, and perhaps a new beginning, too!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
"Girls' Night Out": With their boyfriends otherwise engaged, Betty, Veronica, Midge and Nancy plan a girls' night out… but plans are made to be broken! Will the gal pals get a chance to bond, or will the boys get back in the picture?
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
ALSO: Little Betty in "A Real Sport": Little Betty becomes a gridiron gal and helps the boys defeat the South Side Serpents in a football face-off!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dexter Taylor.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 26, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 9, 2008
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

JUGHEAD #192
"On Demand": For his mother's birthday, Jughead creates a coupon book filled with chores he'll do for her – but when it falls into the wrong hands (namely, Reggie's), Jughead finds himself toiling for everyone but his mother!
"Knees Freeze": Shorts in the winter? It could only be Jughead!
"The Hideaway": Jughead loves napping on sofas and sleeping on beds… wait until he discovers sofa beds!
SCRIPTS: Craig Boldman.
ART: Rex Lindsey.
On sale at comic specialty shops: December 3, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 16, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #145
"Pizza and Good Cheer!": Take Jughead, some pizza pies, a giving heart, mix it up with good cheer and what have you got? A yuletide tale that will warm your heart… and your belly!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Fernando Ruiz.
"Tree Fortified": Archie searches for the perfect Christmas tree, but the only problem is the perfect Christmas tree is also the perfect cover for woodland creatures!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 12, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 25, 2008
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #98
"The Final Battle, Part 1": The countdown to the 100th issue continues… and so do the preparations for battle, as enemies are revealed and new allies arise! With the Magic Realm dying and Hemlock revealed as a traitor, Sabrina takes her rightful place as one of the Four Blades. They band with Batty Bartholomew and all the ex-Blades, and even Hilda, Zelda and Salem join the cause. Sabrina, Shinji, Llandra and Narayan also seek out the Four Elementals and convince them to join up through a series of tests. Vosblanc, meanwhile, prepares his own army and gets members of the Magic Council to side with him. Battle lines are drawn, and tensions rise in this thrill-packed issue!
SCRIPT: Tania del Rio.
ART: Lindsey Cibos (pencils) and Jim Amash (inks).
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 26, 2008
On sale on newsstands: December 9, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

Backlist:
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 12, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 25, 2008
Holidays are a time for good will and cheer, and this month's backlist titles are no exception!
In the pages of Archie's Christmas Stocking, fans can relive classic Christmas tales in these 48-page specials!

Archie's Christmas Stocking #7, $2.29 US.


















Archie's Christmas Stocking #6, $2.25 US.
















Archie's Christmas Stocking #4, $2.00 US.

Meanwhile, over in Archie's Holiday Fun Digest, carol with Archie and the gang with these 96-page yuletide bonanzas, which reprint Archie holiday stories from days of yore!









Archie's Holiday Fun Digest #12, $2.49 US.














Archie's Holiday Fun Digest #11, $2.49 US.













Archie's Holiday Fun Digest #10, $2.39 US.













Archie's Holiday Fun Digest #9,
$2.39 US.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Robin Wright Penn, our own original Kelly Capwell of "Santa Barbara," was at the premiere of her hubby Sean Penn's new movie "Milk" the other night. See photos of our lovely lady here and here.

Ed Asner: At age 79 this month, no signs of slowing down

Did you catch Ed Asner in the Hallmark Channel's movie "Generation Gap" on Saturday? (If you didn't, read more about it, and him, at the Buffalo News and Hallmark's site.) You'd think at nearly 80, a guy'd want to rest a bit. But for Ed Asner, whose acting resume goes way beyond the role we know him for, as crude businessman Roland Daggett on "Batman: The Animated Series," there's no rest in sight.

"Up" is a film from Pixar Animation scheduled for release next year. Asner voices Carl Fredrickson and is joined in the cast by Christopher Plummer and John Ratzenberger in this story of "a 70-something hero, alongside his clueless wilderness ranger sidekick, travels the globe, fighting beasts and villains, and eating dinner at 3:30 in the afternoon." See the poster and trailer at UGO.

Asner is Charlie Arnesson in "Stride," sharing the screen with James Avery and Danny Glover. This one also is scheduled for next year. The drama tells the story of legendary "Stride" pianist James "Honeybear" Powell.

Also up for Asner is "Trim," classified as in postproduction and written and directed by Ryan Bottiglieri. Asner portrays Dream Sid, and is joined by M.C. Gainey, whom we know from "The Dukes of Hazzard" (both the original series and the 2005 movie). See Asner in the movie's trailer at Trimmovie.com (warning: lotso "f-word" packed into this small space).

"Thomas Kinkade's Home for Christmas," which also stars Asner's "B:TAS" castmate Richard Moll, whom we also know as one of those skanky Beaudry Brothers on "The Dukes of Hazzard," is evidently a go for this Christmas (it was pushed back from last year). It tells the story of the artist and the inspiration for his painting "The Christmas Cottage."

"Working Title," which evidently is not the working title, comes from writer and director John Wesley Norton. Asner plays an angry investor in the movie, which even brings Erin Moran of "Happy Days" fame out of the woodwork. Visit the production company's site to see the cast and poster, and you can also check out this Illinois filmmaker's MySpace page.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: It's all over the 'Net -- the buzz about the CW's resurrection of "Melrose Place," a la the "Beverly Hills 90210" redo launched this TV season. Will our own Heather Locklear of "Dynasty" take part if her other landmark TV show is redone? Who knows. But the Hollywood Reporter has the story.

Tricia Cast stars in "Old Habits Die Hard"

Here's a "Santa Barbara" castmate you don't hear too much about these days: Tricia Cast. Our onetime Christy Duvall, rape victim and false accuser of Ted Capwell, does have a pretty good resume but hasn't been heavy on the radar in the past few years.

Now, though, she's got a new project in the works. She'll star in the movie "Old Habits Die Hard," scheduled for a 2009 release. Currently shooting in Tennessee, it's written and directed by Ben Dixon, who specializes in the horror film genre.

Cast portrays Mama Agatha Hollis, whose "sanity ship has sailed years ago," the movie's promo materials say. She previously starred in another movie by the same production company, "Shudder."

Learn a little more at the movie's MySpace page or its official site, OldHabitsDieHard.org.

It may be silly, but Billy sure must be a dilly

OK, this is kinda weird. In covering the careers of the various stars of our BRBTV shows, a name keeps popping up. Billy Flynn.

Billy Flynn, you might know, is the name of a character in the Broadway production "Chicago." It's also a role that has been taken on by both Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," Maxwell Caulfield, our own Miles Colby of "Dynasty" and "The Colbys," and even John Schneider of "The Dukes," as a reader reminded. Now there's another BRBTV star adopting the role: John O'Hurley, our second Stephen Slade of "Santa Barbara." What gives? Is this a particularly plum role? Is it just fun to do? Who knows? And who knows who next will be Billy Flynn!!!!

TheaterMania.com has more on O'Hurley and his new role, which runs its limited engagement at the Oriental Theater in the Ford Center for the Performing Arts in (ironically) Chicago, on February 24-March 8, 2009. "Chicago" itself kicks off on November 11. BroadwayinChicago.com has ticket info.

De Longis and Baker rough it up for a good cause

You put a fugitive criminal and a bartender together, and what do you get? Well, these days, a stunt show at a charity event, actually! A few weeks back on this very blog, we ran some excerpts from our interviews with "Santa Barbara" cast members Anthony De Longis, who portrayed Leo Mitchell, and David Baker, who was Dave the bartender at the Orient Express.

The two are friends and neighbors nowadays, so many years after their time on "SB," and a couple weekends ago, photographer John Leonetti snapped them at the Ride for a Cure event at Gibson Ranch in Sunland, California.

Whipmaster is just one of the many hats Anthony De Longis wears, as you can see here on the left, and David Baker doesn't seem too bad on a horse himself ...

(Maybe Leo wanted that martini shaken, not stirred, Dave?????)

You can see the whole collection of John Leonetti's photos from the event, as well as a lot of other whip-crackin' stuff, at his website: http://web.me.com/johnleonetti/cracktice

See our interview excerpts with these two talented "SB" stars in the September 5 and September 12 posts, and look for the full interviews in the next edition of the BRBTV reference guide "Send Me to Santa Barbara."

Photos by John Leonetti

Archie Americana Series continues on into the '90s

From Archie Comics

Since 1991, the Archie Americana Series has provided fans with not only a historical perspective of Archie Comics, but a hysterical one as well! Now, one of the comic industry's most enduring graphic novel series returns for a ninth volume full of nostalgic fun as Archie Comics proudly presents THE ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES: BEST OF THE NINETIES!

By popular demand, we're serving up a heaping helping of the decade that led up to the millennium, one of the most interesting and hilarious decades ever for America 's favorite comic book teens: the 1990s. Whether getting tangled up in the eternal love triangle, incurring the wraths of their parents and teachers, or simply surfing the day away on the worldwide web, Archie and his friends scaled new heights of hilarity in the nifty Nineties! With ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES: BEST OF THE NINETIES, you can revisit these timeless tales as Archie and his friends endure one outlandish mishap after another and enjoy the fads and fashions of the decade!

Painstakingly restored from original archival materials and faithfully recolored, this high-grade paperback edition features a computer-airbrushed cover rendered in 1990s style by Archie fan-favorite, Rex Lindsey. So rock out to the sensational sounds of boy bands, grunge and alternative music; chow down with the fat free dessert craze; laugh your head off at silly talk radio, and hook up your satellite dish so you can enjoy purple dinosaurs, funny home videos, teens from Beverly Hills and more! It’s all here and then some in this uproarious edition chock full of comedy classics!

ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES: BEST OF THE NINETIES
SCRIPT AND ART: Various.
On sale at comic specialty shops: October 29, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 11th, 2008
96-page, full-color graphic novel
$11.95 U.S.

Bits 'n' Pieces: Another "SB" author, a "resurrection" and more

- Harley Jane Kozak, Jed Allan and John O'Hurley aren't the only "Santa Barbara" cast members who can write. Now Eileen Davidson, our final Kelly Capwell, has thrown her novel into the ring. "I have been saying for years that what goes on behind the scenes (is more intriguing)," she says. Hmmm ... wonder if any plot elements were pulled from her time at the Capwell house? We Love Soaps has a little more about the book, called "Death in Daytime." Released earlier this month from Signet, it's the first in a new soaps novel series.

- Do-ya have the November 14 premiere of "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" on Cartoon Network set on your TiVo? "Rise of the Blue Beetle!" is the episode that's queued up, and the time is 7:30 p.m. EST. Andrea Romano, the woman behind the voices of "Batman: The Animated Series," makes the transition to "B&B." See the Cartoon Network site for videos and games.

- The reports of her demise were ... ummm, never mind! Janis Levy, who portrayed Dash Nichols' lawyer Belinda Bradley on "Santa Barbara," is not really dead, she tells the Sunday Mercury. Levy had been confused with another actress who died last week.

- Elsewhere in the Sunday Mercury, Patrick Duffy talks about the Italian TV show he's planning to shoot with his "Dallas" co-star Linda Gray. Duffy also talks a little about the "Dallas" big-screen movie we've been hearing about for years -- and how he and Larry Hagman actually pitched a spoof project to Warner Bros. a decade ago.

- John Schneider spoke this past weekend at the AIDS Walk in Los Angeles. The Out in Hollywood blog has more, including Schneider's remembrances of three friends who died of the disease.

DVD check-in: "Dallas" and "Dynasty"

The hits just keep gettin' better, or something like that. The DVD sets of our favorite primetime soaps "Dallas" and "Dynasty" keep rolling out, albeit not quite as quickly as we'd like.

"Dallas"releases its 10th season on January 13, 2009. The three-disc set will retail for $39.98, though a whole $10 less at Amazon.

"Dynasty" releases the second part of its third season today. (Happy DVD Release Day, by the way!) The season split has evoked some controversy among fans.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: You won't see Maxwell Caulfield popping up on those "Dynasty" DVDs just yet; that's later (hopefully). But you will see him on DVDTown.com, in a brand-new interview, where he talks about his various projects over the years.

Hillbilly Woodstick 3: Some highly nonillustrated highlights!

Weeeeeellllllllll .... we could've shown you Byron Cherry, our own Coy Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," up there on stage at Jenkins Park performing two Elvis Presley hits -- complete with gyrations. We could've shown you Don Pedro Colley, known to us as Sheriff Ed Little of "The Dukes," actually driving a Chickasaw County Sheriff's car for the very first time since the show's filming (yes, that's what he said). We could've even run a nice photo of Wayne Wooten's slightly mangled 2005 movie (screen-used) General Lee, there on display. And on top of that -- we might have even shown you the cool in-car simulation at the Hazzard County Stunt Team's display that makes you feel like you're really jumpin' that General.

Yea. We could have shown you all that and more -- if we would have had a working camera! Rats! But we can still tell you! And you can just picture it all in your mind, right? Right!

Anyway ... The Hillbilly Woodstick 3 Dukes of Hazzard Cruise kicked off in Trenton, Georgia, over the weekend with lots of fun moments. The cruise continues through parts of northern Georgia, some of South Carolina and North Carolina this week.

One thing we can show you, though, now that we're back home safe and sound (sigh ...) is a special item that we told you about in our August 28 post. Kevin Webb of Tennessee, the owner of that aforementioned Chickasaw County car that now has its own claim to fame in "Dukes" history, is the creator of the keepsake item you see below. He brought these pieces of art with him over the weekend. The photo we ran in August, of Kevin and Byron, was blurry and just didn't capture the quality and uniqueness of the piece.

If you're interested in nabbing one of these pieces of framed art -- all set for your favorite cast autographs -- email BRBTV.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Hey, tattoos and vasectomies are reversible -- how about shortened hemlines? This week in BRB's yearlong My Mother's Clothing project, you'll see a little black dress that has come "Full Circle" to get fit for the Southern Baptist pew.

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

Kabir Bedi flies "Kites"

The soaps industry has served Kabir Bedi well. Not only was he our own Farouk Ahmed, brother of Rashid Ahmed, on "Dynasty," but his role as Prince Omar Rashid of Morocco on CBS' "The Bold and the Beautiful" has brought him enormous fame.

Beyond that, Bedi is truly a man of the world. He talks about his acting career, which has taken him across continents and many foreign airwaves, in a new interview with The Times of India.

Right now he's involved with "Kites," a film scheduled for release next year. Shooting in New Mexico, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, the movie, described as a "dance-based romance thriller," is in both English and Hindi. Bedi portrays Bob in the movie, which comes from Anurag Basu. Read a little more about the film and the filmmaker at ScreenIndia.com.

Coming up in Archie Comics: Cheryl Blossom's new boyfriend is revealed!

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 at comic specialty shops: October 29, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 11, 2008
32-recycled pages, 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 at comic specialty shops: October 8, 2008
On sale on newsstands: October 21, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

ARCHIE DIGEST #248
DECK THE HALLS WITH LOTS OF LAUGHTER IN THIS ALL-CHRISTMAS-THEMED ISSUE!
"The Surprise Present": When an enterprising elf conceives a website where Christmas lists can be automatically submitted, Santa decides to do a trial run in a little town called Riverdale.
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"Santa Claws": Not a creature was stirring – except for all the pets that came to the department store to get their photos taken with Santa Archie! SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
"Price Clubbed": Nothing can stop Fred Andrews' quest to find the perfect… and perfectly priced… Christmas tree!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Randy Elliott.
"The Gift Horse Laugh": In this poignant Christmas tale, Riverdale's resident prankster Reggie proves he's not a Scrooge, but has a generous heart after all!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
PLUS: Classic yuletide tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: October 15, 2008
On sale on newsstands: October 28, 2008
88-page, full-color digest
$2.49 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 at comic specialty shops: October 29, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 11, 2008
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA #238
"My Parrot is Gone": Veronica decides to train a parrot to do tricks so they can audition for the "People & Their Pets" TV competition… but it seems the parrot's best trick is a disappearing act! Can Betty, in her guise of "Nancy Clue, Girl Detective", track down the "fowl felon" who perpetrated the parrot purloining?!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"Red Carpet Ready": The N-TV awards are the hottest ticket in town, so naturally the girls need to be at their stylish best when they attend the show!
SCRIPT: Barbara and Samantha Slate.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"In on the Game?": Three cheers for girly-girls – in Veronica's world, all a cheerleader really needs to do is physically show up!
SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
On sale at comic specialty shops: October 22, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 4, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #188
"There's No Place Like Riverdale": After reading her favorite "Oz" books once again, a bump on the head sends Betty traveling down the "yellow brick road" for real… sort of. Before too long she's running into witches that look like Veronica, tin men that look like Jughead and scarecrows that look like Archie!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
"Window of Opportunity": Staring out the window during class sends Betty's imagination soaring… but will it send her grades sinking?
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: October 8, 2008
On sale on newsstands: October 21, 2008
88-page, full -color digest
$2.49 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #165
THE THRILLING CONCLUSION TO THE 5-PART, INTERACTIVE STORY WHERE CHERYL BLOSSOM'S NEW BOYFRIEND – AS VOTED BY THE READERS OF ARCHIE COMICS – WILL FINALLY BE REVEALED!
"And the Winner Is… Part 5 of 5": Well, the election results are in and the United States is about to have its first… oh wait, that's that other election! This election is the one where you the readers pick Cheryl Blossom's new boyfriend… and the results are in! Four 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 witnessed each of their dates with Cheryl and placed your votes for who you thought Cheryl should choose online at
Archiecomics.com! This issue, the new man in Cheryl's life is finally revealed… but not before the host of the show treats all the participants to a wacky recap of clips featuring all their foul-ups and blunders! Where will this latest shake-up in the Archie-verse lead? It's the craziest, kookiest conclusion that you simply can't miss!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
"The Pledge": Betty and Veronica vow to go through an entire day without thinking about, mentioning, or talking to Archie… yep, that'll work!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
"Movie Magic": In a modern-day twist on the classic 1940's story "Double Trouble," Archie once again finds himself entangled in the eternal love triangle while trying to enjoy a night at the movies!
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 at comic specialty shops: October 22, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 4, 2008
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #30
"Pajama Tardy": To avoid being late, Jughead decides to wear his pajama pants to school! SCRIPT AND
ART: Fernando Ruiz. "In the Pink": Jughead conceives a robot to conserve energy… his own!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Fernando Ruiz.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 5, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 18, 2008
88-page, full-color digest
$2.49 U.S.

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #144
"Fool Pigeon": In an attempt to swing Veronica's attention away from Reggie's flashiness and back to him, Archie hopes to romance her with love notes from a homing pigeon. Of course, there's no guarantee the bird will deliver the message to the intended recipient!
SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz.
"The Expert Supreme": In order to not be noticed making multiple trips to the food sample area of the discount warehouse store, Jughead does the unthinkable: he appears in public without his trademark crown cap!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Fernando Ruiz.
"Too Much is Not Enough": Both Jughead and Archie plan to indulge themselves this weekend – Jughead with a smorgasbord of food, and Archie with a bevy of beauties to date!
SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: October 8, 2008
On sale on newsstands: October 21, 2008
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #126
THE SECOND PART OF A NEW FOUR-PART STORY IN THE "DYNAMIC NEW LOOK" – AND THIS TIME, MOOSE & MIDGE'S ROMANCE HANGS IN THE BALANCE!
"Break-up Blues Part 2": Last issue, Midge decided to take a break from her possessive boyfriend Moose… and Moose obliged! Now with Midge and Moose dating others, the once close-knit friends at Riverdale High are awash in turmoil! Even though he's taken Midge out on a few dates, Reggie is having second-thoughts as Midge is obviously missing Moose… and Reggie is missing the cat-and-mouse game he used to have so much fun playing with Moose! Does Reggie hold the key in getting Moose and Midge back together… or will his involvement only draw Midge closer to him? And what will Moose's new girlfriend Judy Johnson have to say about it? Its romantic intrigue served up in the "realistic" art style that made both Betty and Veronica's "Bad Boy Trouble" and Jughead's "Matchmakers" some of the most talked about Archie stories in recent years! Veteran penciler Tod Smith and journeyman inker Al Milgrom carry on that popular style 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 at comic specialty shops: November 5, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 18, 2008
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

VERONICA #191
"She's So Gifted": Encouraged to give gifts that are truly from the heart this holiday season, Veronica realizes her special gift is wrapping gifts… and offers to do the wrapping for all her family and friends!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
"Tree Experts": To avoid the stress of arguments and clashing tastes, the Lodges decide to hire a team of "experts" to trim their Christmas tree. They soon learn precision can't beat the joy of family togetherness!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Dan Parent.
On sale at comic specialty shops: November 5, 2008
On sale on newsstands: November 18, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.