Archie Comics for April

ARCHIE #596
"The Big Flip": After nearly 70 years of being indecisive over Betty and Veronica, Jughead offers Archie a simple solution: merely flip a coin!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Teller I Love Her!": The new bank teller steals Archie's heart... but that's not all she pilfers!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Gory Story": Archie takes on a project he can really sink his "fangs" into - making a documentary about vampires! Features the "Monster Museum" last seen in ARCHIE & FRIENDS #106.
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Changing Times": Mr. Weatherbee shows the class of '84 how much things have changed... but for Archie and Jughead, the more things change, the more they stay the same!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale at comic specialty shops: April 29, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 12, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #130
"Zero to Rock Hero Part One": It's a battle of the bands unlike any seen before, when The Archies and Josie and the Pussycats compete against one another playing the hottest new videogame, Legendary Rock Heroes at Veronica's swank party! Can the real rockers excel in the virtual world as well as they rock out in the real world? And what will happen when the media... specifically a reality show producer friend of Mr. Lodge... and the whole world takes notice?!
SCRIPT: Stephen Oswald.
ART: Bill Galvan.
On sale at comic specialty shops: April 8, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 21, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #131
"Zero to Rock Hero Part Two": The video game battle of the bands from the previous issue rages on... but now the event is broadcast on TV! Last issue, The Archies and Josie and the Pussycats challenged one another to the hottest new videogame, Legendary Rock Heroes! Now their competition is a reality show sensation, complete with all the trappings. Can the rockers stay true to their creative roots, or will instant success turn them into an assembly line of pre-fab pop?
SCRIPT: Stephen Oswald.
ART: Bill Galvan.
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 6, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 19, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

ARCHIE DIGEST #253
"Class Act": Happy days are here again as the gang takes readers on a trip through the fabulous ‘50s, staging a musical set in the days of greasers, bobby sox and sock hops!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"A Model Teen": A teen products marketing company decides to study the "typical teen" - and end up in Riverdale, naturally!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
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: April 15, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 28, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.69 U.S.

ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #198
"All Wet": Archie has a "big fish" story to tell... all about the big mess he made at the new seafood restaurant!
SCRIPT: John Rose.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"Roll the Dice": Waiters on wheels are back in style... but when Archie's your server you might want to take insurance on your meal!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Bob Bolling.
"Name Games": A tree by any other name would still rain chestnuts down all over town!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: April 29, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 12, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA #241
"What's it All About?" Even as a wedding guest, Veronica manages to make someone else's special day all about herself!
SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"Shoe Coup": While Veronica breaks the bank for her fancy footwear, Betty's bargain shoes help usher in a new era for vintage designs.
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"The Smell Test": Archie decides to give both Betty and Veronica wildflowers to show how much he appreciates them... but allergies and buzzing bees may send a different message!
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"Video Game Gambit": Tired of countless action-packed video games turning their boyfriends into joystick zombies, Betty and Veronica come up with ideas for video games that will appeal to girls.
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
On sale at comic specialty shops: April 15, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 28, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #193
"Palm Springs Weekend": Join Betty and Veronica as they embark upon the jet-settingest weekend trip of their lives. Destination: the ultra-ritzy Riviera Resort and Spa in Palm Springs. It's all brought to you by famed Hollywood columnist Hal Lifson. Just like his column, this comic book travelogue is loaded with sizzling celebrities, magnificent homes, breathtaking scenery, and total trendsetters. Lifson also has a fondness for the sensational ‘60s, on full display here as the Riviera's design is based on architecture of the decade. So pack your bags and buy your tix - it's the hippest trip you'll ever take!
SCRIPT: Hal Lifson.
ART: Rex Lindsey.
"New Clowns in Town": Betty's Uncle Clarence is in town doing his clown act at the circus, but when his two assistants catch colds, Betty and Veronica are enlisted to don makeup they've never worn before!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
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: April 8, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 21, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.69 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #170
"My Father's Betrayal Part 1": The latest "new look" saga is the most poignant yet, as Veronica and her friends vow to save a nature preserve from being turned into an industrial park. The issue isn't as black and white as the teens may think: not only will the industrial park bring much-needed jobs to the out-of-work residents of Riverdale, it will also help lower property taxes. But the biggest conflict of all: the industrial park is being funded by Veronica's father! What will life in Riverdale be like when its richest businessman and his debutant daughter disagree on an issue that can affect the whole community? It's the story you just can't afford to miss, served up in the "realistic" art style that made Betty and Veronica's "Bad Boy Trouble" Jughead's "Match Makers," and Moose and Midge's "Break-up Blues" some of the most-talked about Archie stories in recent years! Famous superhero art team and Eisner Award nominees Rick Burchett and Terry Austin lend their formidable penciling and inking talents to this intriguing tale, brought to you by "new look" scribe Melanie J. Morgan.
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan.
ART: Rick Burchett and Terry Austin.
"Sitting Downer": It's "Friendship Day" at the local library, and Betty has volunteered to read the children a story all about the topic. But when Veronica and Archie show up, the kids get a lesson in jealously instead!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"Taking Stock": Betty wows Mr. Lodge with her stock market knowledge and wins all of his attention in the process, leaving Veronica's self-esteem in decline. Can Betty help her friend make gains once more?
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
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: April 22, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 5, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

THE HIGH SCHOOL CHRONICLES VOLUME ONE: FRESHMAN YEAR
Archie and his friends have forever been stuck in the latter portion of high school, but now, after many long years, the story of how "the gang" all met up is finally being told in this, the first edition of "The High School Chronicles!" This pioneering storyline, captured in issues #587-591 of ARCHIE and now again in this graphic novel reprint, brings us the beginning of the "eternal love triangle," the introduction of Mr. Weatherbee as principal of Riverdale High, the formation of Moose and Midge's relationship (and Reggie's subsequent schemes to split them up), and other Archie staples! It's all brought to you by fan-favorite writer Batton Lash of "Wolff & Byrd" and "Archie Meets the Punisher" fame, along with popular Archie Comics artist, Bill Galvan. So get your Homecoming dress, pack your brand-new backpack, and pick up your school map to find your way to the biggest Archie story of the year!
SCRIPT: Batton Lash.
ART: Bill Galvan
On sale at comic specialty shops: April 29, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 12, 2009
112-page, full-color trade paperback
$10.95 U.S.

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #149
"The Gourmet Glutton": To help boost Pop Tate's sales, Jughead starts an internet-only show starring himself as a food expert... and the first eatery he reviews is Pop's, of course!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Bill Galvan.
"Physical Activity": Jughead goes for a check up, but he's so nervous he's liable to check out before the doctor arrives!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"Girl Guile": With more and more boys coming up with creative ways to ask their prom dates out, Ethel decides to follow suit with a clever ploy to get Jughead to ask her to the prom!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
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: April 8, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 21, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #131
"7-10 Slip": When Pop Tate breaks his arm in a fall, the kids rally together to raise money for his medical bills. They get some help from real-life bowling champions Chris and Lynda Barnes. This husband-and-wife team is noted for winning the most prestigious titles in bowling: Chris is the PBA player of the year and Lynda the 2008 USBC Queens champion. Now they'll "bowl" you over Archie Comics style, in the most "striking" story yet!
SCRIPT: Stephen Oswald.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
"Music to my Ears": Frankie Valdez decides to cut a singing demo, but when Maria discovers all of Frankie's backup singers are female, their love song hits a sour note!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
"Bypass the Gas": At Miss Grundy's urging, the teens decide to use alternate methods of transportation to save fuel. Will the idea take off, or will it "run out of gas?"
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
ART: Bob Bolling.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 6, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 19, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #33
"A Gig for All Seasons": When The Archies last-minute gig conflicts with Betty and Veronica's salon appointment, the group becomes an all-male power trio - which isn't so bad when the audience consists primarily of teen girls!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
"Goalie Oriented": Raj Patel takes center stage as Riverdale High's latest soccer Goalie. But it's going to take more than one player to turn their record around. Can Dilton's virtual gaming simulator help the team "kick" their losing habit?
SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 6, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 19, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.69 U.S.

VERONICA #194
"The Prom Crashers Part 1": Ever since Archie's debut in the 1940s, the school prom has been a source of drama and mayhem for that eternal love triangle of Veronica, Archie and Betty! This issue starts a special story that has the gang relive some of their most memorable proms, while also creating new memories. Chief among them: Spurred by memories of Cheryl Blossom crashing the Riverdale prom, Betty and Veronica decide to return the favor by showing up at Pembroke's prom... and their sights are set on Cheryl's new man, George! Will Archie intervene in time? The most explosive prom story ever starts here!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 6, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: May 19, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

"Dynasty" stars head into daytime

There's a lot of crossover between primetime and daytime in the soaps world, we know. (Just look at the modern gigs that all those classic "Dallas" cast-ers are scoring!) Now, we've got news of three key "Dynasty" stars about to shift "shifts," so to speak.

- Billy Dee Williams, who's been a fixture on the "General Hospital" spinoff "Night Shift," will be switching gears to the mother ship in June. SoapNet has more on our own Brady Lloyd's new timeslot.

- Emma Samms, our own second Fallon Carrington who was big on the spinoff "The Colbys," will be reprising the role she held before she headed to primetime Denver, that of Holly Sutton, on "GH" in May. Read more at SoapNet's site.

- Gordon Thomson, the one and only Adam Carrington (if you don't count that reunion movie) and a BRBTV double-shot as the final Mason Capwell on "Santa Barbara," got himself a new gig, as well. He'll be joining "Days of Our Lives" during May sweeps to portray new character Owen's dad Walter (oh, it's so depressing when they start playing parents or -- gasp -- grandparents!). This one comes from BrandonsBuzz.com, where Thomson also recently did an interview, and thanks to Tracy for the tipoff!

Lane Davies takes to the stage -- and the classroom -- in the name of Shakespeare

We all know how Lane Davies of our beloved "Santa Barbara" lives and breathes Shakespeare. Since "SB" left the airwaves (and even before), the original Mason Capwell has been involved with the Santa Susana Repertory company and the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival in Middle Tennessee, as well as productions in his native Georgia.

Now, Davies is returning to Tennessee this summer for two quick productions, "Romeo and Juliet" and "Midsummer Night's Dream" in June and July.

But Davies is also teaching Shakespeare, as well, at The Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. His focus? "Henry V."

You can read a new interview with Davies at the Shelbyville (Tenn.) Times-Gazette (thanks to Terri for posting the link in Facebook). And learn more about the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival at its own site.

This year, Hair Dare Dukes Weekend moves to September

It will be a great time for a great cause at the sixth annual Hair Dare Dukes Weekend in Ontario, Canada! This benefit for children surviving cancer is a big event in the name of "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Show organizer Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club is putting together another great show. This year the event has shifted from August to September:

HAIR DARE '09..
September 11, 12, 13, 2009
Comber, Ontario
Friday will just be a small gathering of friends from years past at the Harrington home in Ruscom Station, Ontario.
Saturday starts off with a parade of all cars from the Comfort Inn to the fairgrounds in Leamington, then to Tilbury, where there will be a poker run with prizes, followed by a barbecue.
Sunday will be the car / bike / truck / boat show, swap meet and hair cut-a-thon for cancer.

Keep an eye on these sites for updates on the event, including a list of the stars who will appear this year:
http://canadiandukesofhazzard.blogspot.com/
http://hairdaredukesweekend.blogspot.com/

Archie Comics offers up "The Mighty Archie Art Players" for this year's Free Comic Book Day

From Archie Comics

On May 2, the eighth annual Free Comic Book Day event will be held in comic shops across the country. In the past seven years, scores of free comic books have been given away by participating retailers not only to thank comic book aficionados, but to introduce the wonderful world of comics to new readers and fans as well! Archie Comics has contributed to past events by creating special issues that really capture the magic of comic books, the dedication of comic book fans, and the eternal popularity of Archie and his wonderful supporting cast from Riverdale, USA.

This year, Archie offers not one but two special issues. First up is the return of the Mighty Archie Art Players. The Mighty Archie Art Players were a mainstay of several Archie titles throughout the years including LAUGH and various digest comics. The concept was simple: present stories that exist in an “alternate universe” separate from the continuity established in the mainline Archie titles. This was achieved by framing each story as a “play” put on by Archie and his friends. Each took on a character role to tell tales set in various times and places. In this special Free Comic Book Day edition, the Mighty Archie Art Players have a rip-roaring good time in the old west, put a modern-spin on the classic Snow White fairy tale, tell a “big fish” story – literally – with Betty as a mermaid, and cater to the whims of Veronica, transformed into the ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Their curtain-raising performances will leave you laughing in the aisles!

Next, Sonic the Hedgehog speeds into action with a special Free Comic Book Day edition! In "Evolution of A Hero," you’ll get a look back at the long-running hit comic series that has been thrilling fans for over 15 years! What’s the connection between Sonic and the Freedom Fighters? Who are Shadow the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna? What’s the deal with that Robotnik guy, and what’s going on in the series now? You might even get a special sneak-peek into the world of Sonic after the epic issue #200. Whether you’re a new reader getting up to speed or a veteran enjoying a trip down memory lane, this is one issue you just can’t miss! Fan-favorites Ian Flynn and Tracy Yardley! bring the fast-paced excitement to life.

Archie comics appeal to an audience of young girls and boys, the perfect entry-level customers for comic shops. Archie is clearly one of the most prominent publishers addressing the reading needs of adolescents.

Demographics is just one of the reasons Archie Comics considers itself "READER BREEDERS." Another reason is accessibility to a general audience: with over 90 percent self-contained story lines, Archie titles make the perfect "impulse purchase." They are read, cover-to-cover, several times over. Furthermore, research shows that children who begin reading comics with Archie often develop a lifelong love of reading.

In addition to children buying Archie comics, parents and guardians also purchase them for their children. In fact, Archie is one of the only lines of comics passed on from one generation to the next. Parents who grew up reading Archie continue to buy these comics for their children, because they know Archie is fun, believable and safe for kids.

Linda Gray, Larry Hagman, Ed Begley Jr. go green on radio show

Gardening expert Dave Egbert travels "from coast to coast" each week on his syndicated TV show, and he also has a weekly call-in radio program. And if that latter show, "Living Green," isn't available on a radio station near you, you're going to want to run right over to Egbert's website to stream, because there's some important stuff coming up.

Linda Gray, our own Sue Ellen Ewing of "Dallas," is on tap for this Saturday's show. You can listen live on the site, DavesGardenTravels.com, at 9 a.m. EST, 6 a.m. PST. Also on the April sched is Gray's co-star Larry Hagman. Egbert also talks to Ed Begley Jr., whom we know from his voicework on "Batman Beyond" and "Batman: The Animated Series," in addition to many, many other TV roles over the years.

The radio show is an "enriching two-hour program that features green and organic insights for your lifestyle," Egbert's site says.

You've got one day left to own John Schneider's screen-used Charger

When John Schneider, our own Bo Duke, set out to make a feature film of his own, the influences of "The Dukes of Hazzard" were certainly hard to miss. One of those similarities between "Collier & Co." and "The Dukes" was the presence of a certain wildly popular automobile, the 1969 Dodge Charger, made so famous when it was dressed up as the General Lee on the show.

You've got a chance to win a 1969 Charger used in "Collier & Co.," one of three cars used and one that made the rounds while Schneider was promoting the flick around the country. Schneider is auctioning the car off on eBay, and the bidding ends tomorrow:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350182985047

And check out this cute little "lost scene" from a "lost episode" of "The Dukes":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX24VLBGYrE

Don Schisler: An appreciation

Whew ... BRBTV is running a little slow and under the weather right now from an exhausting trip across the country in several different directions, for a total of a 108 hours in a car (and a 56-hour stretch without any sleep!). But we're not too far gone to not snap to attention at saddening news like this. The "Dukes of Hazzard" world has lost one of its shining stars, Mr. Don Schisler of right here in Metro Atlanta, who passed away last night. He had suffered a heart attack on March 12, his son-in-law Joe tells BRBTV.

If you check the October 17, 2007, August 19, 2008 and September 22, 2008 posts of this blog, you'll see a few of the moments that BRBTV had the pleasure of crossing paths with Mr. Schisler. With elder-statesman-like politeness and a continual smile, Don talked "The Dukes" wherever he went. And when we say talked, we mean taaaaalllllkkkked. Don could make 45 minutes seem like 5 with his captivating stories from his work as the transportation director for the show, as he was so instrumental in the choice and execution of the blazin'-orange Dodge Charger employed as the General Lee.

"Without Don there would be no General Lee because he's the only man who could have kept them running and looking good in those first five shows so many years ago," John Schneider said in an email blast to fans today. "Those of us who are part of 'The Dukes' will miss him. But those of us who were blessed to know him personally know that he is in a better place and that he's making it a better place still by being there. If there are cars in heaven ... They are running and looking better than ever."

Mr. Schisler had a resume that went far beyond "The Dukes," of course. He told us about working on "Dallas" in the '80s, and he worked as a driver in such movies as 2001's "Shallow Hal" and 1989's "Great Balls of Fire!"

With his friendly, easygoing demeanor, this behind-the-scenes guy was not someone who sought notoriety or to in any way draw attention to himself. In our observation, he was simply someone who loved "The Dukes" and loved the business, loved his friends and family, and loved people in general. And for all of that and more, BRBTV salutes the life and legacy of Don Schisler.

BRBTV birthdays for April

- Jordan Charney, who is a BRBTV triple-shot as Lt. Sutton on "Dallas," Bill Cochran on "Dynasty" and Dr. Renfro on "Santa Barbara," turns 72 on April 1.
- Hunter von Leer, who was B.D. Calhoun on "Dallas," turns 65 on April 3.
- Billy Dee Williams, our own Brady Lloyd of "Dynasty," turns 72 on April 6.
- Judith McConnell, second and longtime Sophia Capwell on "Santa Barbara," turns 65 on April 6.
- Jane Rogers, the lovely Heather Donnelly on "SB," turns 49 on April 6.
- Marilu Henner, who voiced vivacious redheaded socialite Veronica Vreeland on "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 57 on April 6.
- John Schneider, the unstoppable Bo Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," turns 49 on April 8.
- Robin Wright Penn, the lovely original Kelly Capwell on "SB," is still such a young'un at 43, also with an April 8 birthday.
- Lee Bergere, the long-suffering and perhaps twisted Joseph Aynders of "Dynasty," was born April 10, 1918 and died on January 31, 2007.
- Joel Grey, the unforgettable Adam who taunted J.R. in the series finale of "Dallas," turns 77 on April 11.
- Michele Scarabelli, who was the menacing and highly psycho Connie Hall on "Dallas," turns 54 on April 11.
- Buck Young, who was Seth Stone and Sen. Cawley on "Dallas," was born on April 12, 1920 and died February 9, 2000.
- Howard Keel, the ever-responsible Clayton Farlow of "Dallas," was born on April 13, 1919 and died on November 7, 2004.
- Terry Lester, who was the second Mason Capwell on "Santa Barbara," was born on April 13, 1950 and died on November 28, 2003.
- Ron Perlman, voice of Clayface on "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 59 on April 13.
- Loretta Lynn, who gets some credit with BRBTV even though her time on "The Dukes of Hazzard" was brief, turns 74 on April 14.
- Randolph Powell, who portrayed Alan Beam on "Dallas," turns 59 on April 14.
- Lois Chiles, that slinky ole Holly Harwood on "Dallas" (we always wanted her hair; it was so fluffy and cool), turns 62 on April 15.
- Michael Ansara, the voice of Dr. Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze on "Batman: The Animated Series, turns 87 on April 15.
- Peter Mark Richman, one of our favorites and certainly an amazing BRBTV quadruple-shot for his time as Andrew Laird on "Dynasty," Maynard Anderson on "Dallas," the first C.C. Capwell on "SB" and even the voice of Charles Baxter on "Batman: TAS," turns 82 on April 16.
- Byron Cherry, who stepped in as Coy Duke in the fifth season of "The Dukes of Hazzard," turns a very nice-lookin' 54 on April 17.
- Timothy Gibbs, our own Dash Nichols of "Santa Barbara, turns a very young 42 on April 17.
- John James, our Jeff Colby of "Dynasty," turns 53 on April 18.
- Bob Hastings, who voiced Commissioner James Gordon in "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 84 on April 18.
- Dick Sargent, who stepped in as Sheriff Grady Byrd on "The Dukes," filling in for Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, was born on April 19, 1930 and died on July 8, 1994.
- Christopher Mayer, our other replacement Duke as Vance in "The Dukes," and a BRBTV double-shot as T.J. Daniels on "SB," turns 54 on April 21.
- Steve Bond, our own Mack Blake on "SB," turns 56 on April 22.
- Ryan O'Donohue, the voice of Terry's little bro Matt on "Batman Beyond," turns 25 April 26.
- Hilary Bader, writer for "The New Batman Adventures" and "Batman Beyond," was born on April 27, 1952 and died on November 7, 2002.
- Nancy Lee Grahn, our own Julia Wainwright of "Santa Barbara" who's now turning in good time as Alexis Davis on ABC's "General Hospital," turns 53 on April 28.

Happy birthday!

Knight Rider Festival: The stars, part 2

Though the Hoff couldn't make it to the first-ever Knight Rider Festival in Las Vegas last weekend, there was a Michael Knight in attendance. It was the new Michael Knight, Mr. Justin Bruening, a former soaps hunk who held quite the nice court as he signed the original screen-used KITT car also in attendance at the festival, above, on Vegas' glorious Fremont Street.


Catherine Hickland shares a laugh with a festival attendee while signing autographs at the event. She's joined here by seasoned stuntman Jack Gill, who also served as a stunt driver on our beloved "The Dukes of Hazzard." During the Q&A session that preceded this autograph time, Gill talked about his work on the '80s "Knight Rider."

“From my standpoint, the car came apart every time I hit the ground," Gill said. "You’ve got to figure, I’m dropping out of the air 30 feet. It was one piece, but the front end was bent up three feet, and I was kinda half-semi-unconscious inside of it, trying to get my bearings. I mean, they were all really hard landings, but I still wanted to do it every week, because we were always breaking new ground. The best part about the car was that, with the character you can say, let’s drop over two buildings, or jump between two buildings, or jump across Main Street. There are all kinds of things you can think up, that in a normal series, you have to try and find a way to make it relevant. In ‘Knight Rider,’ because the car could do anything, you could actually come up with anything you wanted.

"The only thing I can say, though, is that when we did go into super pursuit mode, I all of a sudden got like 19,000 switches inside this thing that I had to push on and push off. I’m saying which one is this, which one is that, and people are screaming at me on the radio. Things are popping out on the hood and popping up in the back. It made things a little more difficult, but it did make the series a lot more interesting because it gave it a different look.”



As April the mechanic in the show's second season, Rebecca Holden had the task of keeping KITT in great working condition while Michael Knight was out and about making a difference. “I had done a lot of shows for Universal and for NBC," Holden said, "and so when they called me about doing this show as April, I was thrilled and delighted, because it was such a hit show, and David Hasselhoff, as you all know, is such a fantastic guy, along with Edward Mulhare.

"It was such a wonderful cast to become a part of. There was such a camaraderie between everyone. Although we didn’t see Bill Daniels a lot, ‘cause he had the cushiest job in television, I think. He came in about a half an hour each week just to do all the lines for KITT. He was a wonderful guy. I think he made KITT come alive, and had the personality that he did, that we were able to react off of. We actually on the set, just had a script girl reading his lines, but we could just imagine his voice and what he would do with the character. So we had a lot of fun. It was a great, great feeling of bonding between that group.

"But I have to tell you, it was such a pleasure to play the role of April. She was a smart, and in a time of television when there was a lot of 'T&A,' she was smart, she was intelligent, she had integrity. She invented a lot of the things for KITT to do, to assist Michael and Edward in their fight for truth, justice and the American way. So she was a great role model for girls, and I still hear that a lot from fans that write in. What has been so nice to me is that we’ve kept this friendship with the fans for so many years. Even on my website, I get letters from all over the world. Yesterday it was Croatia. And last night it was so much fun meeting so many of you. Some of you are from Hungary, and Germany, and England, and Brazil, and all over the world. But you’ve taken this show into your hearts and embraced it. It has meant something to all of you. It’s just so gratifying and heartwarming to us, and I can’t thank you enough. Because you really are the ones that are responsible for making this show the success it became.”



Michael Scheffe, who has an impressive resume in visual effects in the acting industry, designed the KITT car for the original "Knight Rider" show. Here, he signs the dashboard brought cross-country from Detroit by BRB's buds. That dashboard, complete with working KITT lights, sure got a whole lot more valuable last weekend!

It was a fun time, all in all, and the BRBTV News Blog rounds out this week's coverage of the event with the note from the festival site ... "we will see you in 2010!"

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand!

Knight Rider Festival: The stars, part 1

What happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas, as far as the BRBTV News Blog is concerned. We want to tell you all about it! (We'll even tell you all about the road trip there and back, alien jerkey, Area 51, cows, hail, snowstorms, desert, birds, fly-away hats and all, if you really want to hear.) Today we continue our coverage of the first-ever Knight Rider Festival with a look -- and a listen -- to the celebs who appeared at the event.


George Barris, the custom-car guru behind the Batmobile, the Munsters Koach, the General Lee, the Beverly Hillbillies car and much more, had some interesting things to say during the event's Q&A sessions. Shown here with (from left) Catherine Hickland and stuntmen Dennis Braid, Jack Gill and Buzz Bundy, the newlywed Barris talked about the beloved KITT and working on the 1980s "Knight Rider" show.

“We built a pursuit car," he said. "It was the hardest car we ever built for any TV show. I’ve been on ‘Knight Rider,’ ‘Dukes of Hazzard,’ ‘Batman,’ ‘Beverly Hillbillies,’ ‘Green Hornet,’ all those shows. But ‘Knight Rider’ was the number-one hard car. The pursuit car was a car that had a goal of speeds of 150 miles an hour in the air with rockets. I had my dear colleague, Dennis here, he had to maneuver how to put this car in the air with all the speeds of 150 miles an hour. That means everything had to actuate. Front end would come out, back end come out, up come the back, rocket tubes, side panels. Now that was pretty good. We got that, and he was inside the car making everything move, as we were watching him and of course, the director was filming everything. But the hardest part was, what happens when you’re up there in the air, at 150 miles an hour – how do you stop? So just like a jet aircraft. If you looked at a jet aircraft, whenever it would come in to land, those wings would come up and cause the airbrakes. So Dennis got the top to come up, the hood to come up, the door panels to come out, the back end to come up, to cause airbrakes. Now all of this had to happen all at one time. That was the hardest car we had to do.”

Stu Phillips, second from left above (and on the left is Rebecca Holden), is the man responsible for the theme music of "Knight Rider." Phillips has worked on a ton of other TV stuff over the years, such as the original "Battlestar Galactica," "The Monkees," "B.J. and the Bear" and "The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries."

“For television or films or anything else," Phillips said, "you get an assignment, and you either get lucky and get inspired, or you don’t and you work hard. In this particular case, it was a little bit of both. It was a direction that everybody wanted me to go, which was definitely to try to be electronics, to be one of the first electronic scores or television themes, at least, on television, in the history of television. Until then, there’d only been slight usage of synthesizer. But this was going to be an all-out attempt to go hog-wild with electronics since the car was fitted out to be that way. The idea was given to me to do that.”

Above, Catherine Hickland runs back off the center stage area after signing one of the KITT cars on display. The star of "One Life to Live" and onetime wife of David Hasselhoff (who, by the way, was scheduled to appear at the festival but wasn't able to make it) played Stephanie ("Stevie") March on "Knight Rider" and even wrote one episode and performed some songs in others.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Knight Rider Festival: The cars

At the first-ever Knight Rider Festival in Las Vegas this past weekend, custom vehicle icon George Barris had an amusing story to tell about the Hoff. “When David Hasselhoff first came to film ‘Knight Rider,’ we were on location," he said. "As you know, David was a big film star in the soaps. So he was a big star. He comes up and he sees Knight Rider in front of my place. We all walk up. He looks at it, and he looks at me. He says, ‘George, am I going to play second-fiddle to a car?’ I said don’t worry about it. As you well know, he became a star just like the Knight Rider.” Well, truth be told, both the car and the man certainly are big stars, and the BRBTV News Blog continues its coverage of this classic-TV event with a look at some of the autos on display.


Most KITT cars you see out and about are, of course, replicas. But there was this screen-used beauty at the event, as well. When "Knight Rider" was canceled, Carl Casper's Hollywood Promotions purchased three KITT cars from Universal Studios, including this one. The cars toured the country as part of the Budweiser World of Wheels. This particular one was then sold, placed in storage for several years, then sold again in 1997, when it was lovingly restored to the condition of the show's first season. A 1982 Trans Am, it has only 2,392 miles on the odometer.



The event was heavy on Mustangs, as the new KITT for the 2008 "Knight Rider" show is a Mustang.

Craig Martin of Toronto owns this beauty, definitely a unique KITT with not only the different car doors and the amber light on the front, but also a large flat screen set up in the trunk to entertain eventgoers with "Knight Rider" episodes all day Saturday! He says he's owned his KITT for two years. "Everybody else likes to make the exact showing of the car," he told BRBTV, "I like to do something a little different to where it's modified, so it's not the same. It's one of a kind. That's what I represent."

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

Knight Rider Festival: It's Vegas, baby

Ahhhh .... thank the Lord we're comin' up for air from a jam-packed weekend in Las Vegas for the first-ever Knight Rider Festival. We're going to bring you all kinds of fun tidbits from the event, but for today, here are a few images to whet your appetite, from BRBTV's own experience driving across the country with a couple fervent "Knight Rider" fans, one friendly KITT GPS unit and a KITT dashboard in the back all primed for star signatures ...

Yippeeeeeee -- 30 hours of quality car time! BRB left outta Detroit with her two buds last Thursday morning for the cross-country journey to Vegas ...

The "Knight Rider" GPS unit -- fully equipped with the voice of KITT, actor William Daniels -- guided us through the mountains and much more.

After 12 hours of much-needed sleep, BRB headed out on Fremont Street for a quiet walk at 5 a.m. Saturday, before anyone else was up but while the beautiful lights of this "annex" of the Vegas strip were still lighting the way. The Golden Nugget (above, which includes a Starbucks, bless 'em) and the Four Queens (below) were the host hotels for the festival.

The Q&A sessions and entertainment for the event were set up on two different staging areas on Fremont Street. Tune in tomorrow for coverage of the event itself, and check out BRB's Facebook author profile page (and "become a fan") to see the whole "Vegas, Baby" photo album ...

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand!

Take a journey into "The Inexplicable Lives of Dolls"

We interrupt our coverage of great '80s TV shows and their stars to bring you this update on BRB's writing projects ...

As a little girl, Billie Rae Bates had some pretty interesting friends: Dolly Parton, Cher, the Archies, Catwoman and Wonder Woman.

At least the versions of them that are plastic and about a foot tall.

This year, our own author and journalist BRB is finding out just how photogenic these "stars" of her childhood are, as she follows up her 2008 yearlong raw-photo essay project, My Mother's Clothing, with a new project for 2009: The Inexplicable Lives of Dolls.

One part history, one part sociological study, and heavy on the whimsy, the photo project will spend a full 52 weeks highlighting the various dolls -- fashion dolls, not baby dolls, just so you know -- of BRB's collection.

"Dolls are like dreams, I believe," she says. "And it works in both directions. When we're little, they represent the grown-up life we can only wish for. When we're grown-up, we then look back and dream about being a kid again! And all of these dolls, most of them from my childhood but some from more recently, represent memories for me. My dolls were companions, just as my real-life friends were."

Like My Mother's Clothing (http://mymothersclothing.billierae.com), The Inexplicable Lives of Dolls offers one raw, untouched photo per week, posted on a Sunday, of one or more of BRB's dolls, most of which were boxed up at the family farm in her hometown in mid-Michigan for nearly 30 years. Each week's accompanying essay not only takes a trip down memory lane, but also veers to the sociological, even anthropological.

"I've always loved the study of pop culture," she says, "and our dolls can tell us quite a lot about ourselves, both individually and as a culture."

This project differs from My Mother's Clothing in that it's not self-photography and it's not tied to Sunday morning each week. Each photo might be taken anytime the preceding week, and in any location, whereas My Mother's Clothing was based at her Metro Atlanta home.

"I wanted to free it up that way because for one thing, my house is all spent, been-there-done-that, and there are so many other possibilities when the photos can be taken anywhere at all. And while the self-photography of last year was a fun challenge, I'm glad that the project has been freed up from that, as well!"

Insisting that she's strictly amateur where photography is concerned, BRB is shooting the photos as medium-resolution jpegs with her point-and-shoot digital camera, on all auto settings, no frills or tricks, then loading them directly onto the web page, http://dolls.billierae.com, without any alteration.

"I actually can use Photoshop!" she laughs. "This is not a cop-out! But I think in our day and age, photo-correction is overused. We're twisting reality. There comes a time when we need to embrace reality. Be real. That's why I photographed myself just the way I was, for better or worse, in My Mother's Clothing, and that's why my 35-year-old Malibu Barbie doll won't have any retouching, either!"

BRB, who holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from Michigan State University and spent 10 years in the daily newspaper business before moving to the corporate world, says she expects topics such as materialism, mass consumption, and how females are viewed in our society will factor into the weekly essays for The Inexplicable Lives of Dolls, as well as her own faith and beliefs. The author, whose websites include BillieRae.com, and BRBTV.com, says she is relishing every moment of this new project, which highlights dolls that range in age and value from the Mego Batgirl she received in 1972 to Mattel's Poison Ivy and Wonder Woman Barbies that were Christmas gifts from her family just a couple years ago.

"I felt so blessed by the My Mother's Clothing project. I very much looked forward to it each weekend. And it wasn't just because I loved the wardrobe, and that I felt it was a link to my mother. As writers, we don't just execute noun, verb and compound modifier. We inspect the world around us. We play armchair philosopher. So that's what I'm looking forward to in this new project. Having a voice."

She adds, "I believe it's innate in every human being, that need to have a voice."

It's about time -- and it's about "The Dukes"!

We know them Duke boys were always racing against a lot of stuff on our beloved "Dukes of Hazzard" -- the Hazzard County Sheriff, the Chickasaw County Sheriff, maybe some poor girl's daddy, and even time itself! Artist Pat T. of Indiana has captured that sentiment in this ceramic clock she hand-crafted for a friend, featuring the General Lee jumpin' right over ole Father Time. We just had to give you a look-see, to brighten your day. A one-of-a-kind "Dukes" item, for sure. Pat even pointed out to BRBTV that she purposely lined up the number on the car with the appropriate area on the clock! Thanks for sharing the pic, Pat.

Special news alert: Look for coverage on this very BRBTV News Blog of this week's first-ever Knight Rider Festival on the Las Vegas strip!!!!

Who's Working: "The Dukes of Hazzard"

It's time to round out our sweep of the casts of the four major BRBTV shows, with a look at the folks from Hazzard County. Now, events like DukesFest have been keeping these guys busy for a number of years, but they do still dabble in some acting gigs ...

- John Schneider
aka, Bo Duke
Now: Everytime you check John-John's page on the IMDb, a few more projects have popped up. Here's some of what he's got going on this year, in the wake of his regular role on ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager."
Collier & Co. 2: High Octane (2009) (in production) .... J.R. Collier ... aka John Schneider's Collier & Co. 2: High Octane (USA: long title)
Hollywood Boys (2009) (pre-production) (rumored) .... John Litgown
The Gods of Circumstance (2009) (post-production) .... Mick Jeremiah
Holyman Undercover (2009) (completed) .... Satan
Set Apart (2009) (completed) .... Pastor John Gunn
H2O Extreme (2009) .... Crash

- Tom Wopat
aka, Luke Duke
Now: Besides his steady work on the Broadway stage, he takes an occasional small role on the screen, such as John Phelps in this year's "Taking Chance," as previously reported on this blog.

- Robert Morse
aka, Dewey Hogg
Now: Bertram Cooper, the enigmatic former owner of the ad agency Sterling Cooper, on AMC's "Mad Men"

By the way: John Schneider and his fellow Duke, Catherine Bach, are both scheduled to appear at this year's Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan!

Archie Comics for March

ARCHIE #595
"Home Insecurity": After robbers break into his safe, Mr. Lodge upgrades his security system to protect his property... but who will protect him from the ever-pervasive new system?!
SCRIPT: Arie Kaplan.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"The Fall of Reggie": Realizing how much sympathy accident-prone Archie gets from the ladies, Reggie decides he'll take a few falls of his own... but will the girls "fall" for his scheme?
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Prom Preparation": The perfect recipe: the annual prom plus the eternal love triangle equals a comedy of errors!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale at comic specialty shops: March 25, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 7, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #129
"The Cartoon Life of Chuck Clayton" concludes with this latest installment. Tony Messina is a troubled kid, always getting into mischief. When he gets caught spreading graffiti in his neighborhood, his mother decides it would be best if Tony learned how to use his artistic abilities in a more positive way and enrolls him in Chuck's class. But there's a reason Tony's painted the walls in his town, and when Chuck finds out why, he decides to take action. What reason could Tony possibly have to deface property? Can Chuck find a solution beneficial to everyone? It's a poignant tale you won't want to miss, brought to you by children's educator Alex Simmons.
SCRIPT: Alex Simmons.
ART: Fernando Ruiz.
On sale at comic specialty shops: March 11, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 24, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

ARCHIE DIGEST #252
"A Cheap Date Contest": The local paper is sponsoring a contest to see who can go out on the most frugal date - don't they realize "cheap dates" are a fact of life for Archie?
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"Mow Me Down": Archie enters his modified lawn mower in a special race for former clippers - after all, they get great "grass mileage!"
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: March 11, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 24, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.69 U.S.

ARCHIE'S DOUBLE DIGEST #197
"Write on, Dude!": For Archie, modern homework is more about text messaging than text books!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"2 of a Kind": Little Archie visits his grandparents' farm and meets all their new animals, including a monkey that's just like him!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dexter Taylor.
"Snack Attack Flak": While waiting for Veronica to get off the phone, Jughead and Archie eat all the appetizers prepared for Mrs. Lodge's fundraiser! Time for the merry munchers to make fast with alternate hors d'oeuvres!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
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: March 25, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 7, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

BETTY #179
"Those Nasty Budget Cuts": The kids want to hold a "green day" ecological event at the school, but Mr. Weatherbee worries about how much "green" it would cost to hold it!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Greeting Card": Betty gets a job with perks - literally - when she takes a position as a perky store greeter!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Yo Taxi": Betty offers to chauffeur Archie around until he earns enough money to fix his own car. Hope she has a lot of gas money!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Dog Daze!": Canine chaos ensues when Betty agrees to dogsit a neighbor's seemingly well-behaved pooch.
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale at comic specialty shops: April 1, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 14, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #169
"Big Brother Sister is Watching!": When they find out she's working at the Pembrooke café, Betty and Veronica enlist Marcy to spy on Cheryl and her friends. That includes Archie, who's been spending an awful lot of time in Pembrooke since Cheryl moved back there... and getting quite cozy with Cheryl's friend Becky!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
"Dance, Dance, Dance!": It's time for "Dancing with the Students" when Riverdale High holds a charity dance marathon!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Bob Bolling.
"A Good Dressing Down": When it comes to work clothes, Veronica doesn't have a thing to wear!
SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"Promotion Commotion": Veronica finds Archie's job as a radio DJ impressive - until he promotes a hot female singing act live in the studio!
SCRIPT AND 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: March 18, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 31, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #88
"Geeks Rule": Betty and Archie get jobs on the "Geek Patrol," a group of computer tech-sperts seen in last month's VERONICA #193. To keep Betty from spending so much time with Archie, Veronica joins the squad, too... and it isn't long before she inadvertently unleashes a vicious computer virus! Co-starring computer gurus Dilton and Veronica's cousin, Marcy, this "geek-tacular" issue also features a "techie" quiz, internet tips, geek-chic fashions, and more!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
On sale at comic specialty shops: March 18th, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 31st, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

JUGHEAD #194
"Unfair Fair": Reluctantly attending the Job Fair at his parents' insistence, Jughead has a plan: he'll scare away potential employers with tall tales about jobs he's botched. Will his ruse succeed, or will Jughead's fears of gainful employment become a reality?
"A Rude Awakening": Hot Dog tries everything he can to wake Jughead up for the grand opening of the "Rise and Shine" bakery. But which is stronger: Jughead's desire for sleep, or his massive appetite?
"Sandal Scandal": Ethel buys Jug a pair of ergonomic massage sandals which keep our lovable lazy-boy on his toes all day long!
SCRIPTS: Craig Boldman.
ART: Rex Lindsey.
On sale at comic specialty shops: March 18, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 31, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #32
"Getting His Goat": Jughead and Archie really kick up a ruckus - literally - when they bring goats to the school's "Pet Day!"
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"Missing Link": Jughead waxes poetic about a few of his favorite things... and they all happen to be edible!
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: April 1, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 14, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.69 U.S.

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #130
"Snap Decision": Riverdale's resident prankster Reggie takes center stage in this hilarious tale of vanity, camera phones and text messages gone awry!
SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz.
"Science Flair Drama": Raj Patel is back! This time, the aspiring filmmaker decides to help his sister Tina with her volcano exhibit at the science fair. Of course, he can't resist spending more time taping the event than Tina. How long before Tina's temper erupts?
SCRIPT AND 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: April 1, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 14, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #101 PRESENTS - "YOUNG SALEM"
This reader requested story-line offers everyone's favorite magical cat Salem in a special 4-issue tale that harkens back to the days when he wasn't an enchanted feline, but an actual boy wizard! In this thrilling tale, you'll journey to Salem's original home on the Saberhagen Farm for the first time! You'll also meet his mother, Felicia, and scruffy Uncle Mort. The tale begins when young Salem finds a talking frog who was once a wizard. The thrills, spills and surprises build from there! Don't miss out on the start of this magical mini-series!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn.
ART: Chad Thomas.
Fabulous first issue cover by Chad Thomas!
On sale at comic specialty shops: April 1, 2009
On sale on newsstands: April 14, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

Who's Working: "Dynasty"

We've done a sweep of the casts of "Santa Barbara" and "Dallas," so now we'll take a look at what the folks from "Dynasty" are up to nowadays, in terms of regular acting gigs ...

- John James
aka, Jeff Colby
Most recently: Eric Decker on "As the World Turns" last year

- Jack Coleman
aka, the second Steven Carrington
Now: the amazing and oh-so fun Noah Bennet on NBC's "Heroes"

- Diahann Carroll
aka, Dominique Deveraux
Most recently: Jane Burke on "Grey's Anatomy" in 2007

- Catherine Oxenberg
aka, Amanda Carrington
Most recently: Leandra Thames on "Watch Over Me" in 2007

- Emma Samms
aka, the second Fallon Carrington Colby
Most recently: A return to the '80s role of Holly Sutton Scorpio on "General Hospital" in 2006

- Leann Hunley
aka, Dana Waring Carrington
Basically now: Anna DiMera on "Days of Our Lives"

- Terri Garber
aka, Leslie Carrington
Most recently: Iris Dumbrowski on "As the World Turns" in 2007

- Wayne Northrup
aka, Michael Culhane the chauffeur
Most recently: the longtime Roman Brady on "Days of Our Lives" in 2006

- Ted McGinley
aka, Clay Fallmont
You might see him guest-hosting "Live With (Regis and) Kelly"; you might also see him in the occasional TV movie such as Hallmark's "Taking a Chance on Love."
Also recently: Charley Shanowski on "Hope & Faith" in 2006

- Stephanie Beacham
aka, Sable Colby
Most recently: Phyllida Oswyn on the UK's "Bad Girls" in 2006, plus that dancing gig

- Bill Campbell
aka, Luke Fuller
Most recently: Jordan Collier on "The 4400" in 2007

- Ray Abruzzo
aka, Sgt. John Zorelli
Most recently: John Sciarra on "Boston Legal" last year and Little Carmine Lupertazzi Jr. on "The Sopranos" in 2007

- Billy Dee Williams
aka, Brady Lloyd
Now: Touissant DuBois on "General Hospital: Night Shift"

- Tracy Scoggins
aka, Monica Colby
Most recently: Grace Neville on "Dante's Cove" in 2007

- Kevin Conroy
aka, Bart Fallmont
Now: Occasional voicework as the unforgettable Caped Crusader in "Batman: The Animated Series" and its many offshoots

- Kerry Armstrong
aka, Elena, Duchess of Branagh
Most recently: Louisa Atherton on "Bed of Roses" last year

BRBTV birthdays for March

- Jed Allan, the final and most commanding C.C. Capwell on "Santa Barbara," turns 72 on March 1.
- Catherine Bach, lovely Daisy Duke on "The Dukes of Hazzard," shares an exact birthday with Rick Edwards, hunky Jake Morton on "SB." They both turn 55 on March 1.
- Cassie Yates, who was Sarah Curtis on "Dynasty," turns 58 on March 2.
- Gordon Thomson , a BRBTV double-shot as Adam Carrington of "Dynasty" and the third and final Mason Capwell on "SB," turns 64 on March 3.
- Stacy Edwards, the sweet Hayley Capwell on "SB," turns 44 on March 4.
- Arlen Dean Snyder, who was Texas Energy Commisioner George Hicks on "Dallas" and Lt. Cobb on "Dynasty," turns 76 on March 5.
- Linda Gibboney, who played the first Gina DeMott (and really, the one we preferred for the role), turns 58 on March 7.
- Alice Hirson, who was Mavis Anderson on "Dallas" and was married to "Dallas" castmate Stephen Elliott (Scotty Demarest), turns 80 on March 10.
- Frank Welker, the voice of Isis the cat on "Batman: The Animated Series" and Ace the Bathound on "Batman Beyond," as well as the General Lee and Uncle Jesse's pet raccoon on "The Dukes" cartooon, turns 63 on March 12.
- Julia Campbell, the cute Courtney Caroline Capwell of "SB," turns a young 46 on March 12.
- Steve Kanaly, our own Ray Krebbs of "Dallas," turns 63 on March 14.
- Dennis Patrick, who was Vaughn Leland on "Dallas" and was also married to a castmate, Barbara Cason (Iris Porter), was born on March 14, 1918 and died on October 13, 2002.
- Patrick Duffy, our Bobby Ewing of "Dallas," is one of our St. Patrick's Day (how ironic) birthdays, turning 60.
- Lesley-Anne Down, who played Stephanie Rogers on "Dallas" and Nurse Ellena Corey on "Dynasty," is our other Patty's Day prize, turning 55.
- James L. Brown, that shrewd Det. Harry McSween on "Dallas," was born on March 22, 1920 and died on April 11, 1992.

Happy birthday to all!

Overheard: Jack Coleman

Atlanta's J93.3 FM recently did a phoner with Jack Coleman, our own second Steven Carrington of "Dynasty" who's got great new acclaim as Noah Bennet on NBC's "Heroes." Coleman talked about the Super Bowl, commenting on how nice it was to see a Super Bowl where both teams played well, and also joking about his co-star Hayden Panettiere, who was at the game talking with Al Roker. There are three of her, he jibed -- one protesting somewhere overseas, one on set and one at the Super Bowl.

J93.3 asked Coleman what superpower he would have if he could.

"I'm going to give you my stock answer," he said. "I used to think it would be cool to be invisible, but I was invisible through most of the '90s, and it wasn't that great."

The radio host asked what superpower he would rather his kids not have.

"Plausible deniability," he quipped.

Tonight's episode of "Heroes" gives special focus to Noah, hinting that at last we'll have the answer to whether this dad-of-the-invincible-Claire is really a good guy or a bad guy. And indeed, he's been changin' like the wind, much like fellow character Sylar (who's BRBTV's fave, by the way).

Make your travel plans now for "Carnival of Thrills" stunt show

On our trusty ole "Dukes of Hazzard," the Carnival of Thrills was the stunt show that came to town in a 1980 two-part episode, wooing poor Bo -- via the charming Robin Mattson of "Santa Barbara" as slinky stunt-show coordinator Diane -- into the action. Can you believe there's a real-life Carnival of Thrills comin' to town -- at least a town you can get to in North Carolina?

The Hazzard County Stunt Team, comprised of seasoned Hollywood stunt guys who were once involved in the production of our beloved '80s show, is bringing on the action at the Concord Motorsport Park in Concord, N.C., this summer. The Professional Stuntman’s Invitational's Carnival of Thrills Stunt Show will feature TV star cars and "the South’s finest hot rods and classic cars." The dates are June 26, 27 and 28.

Expect a spectacular stunt show on both Saturday and Sunday with appearances by some of Hollywood’s best stuntmen. Special guests will include "Dukes" cast members, along with Billie Rae Bates signing copies of the reference book "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" There will also be a burnout competition, swap meet, car corral and more.

Want to bring a car? The event is open to all American-made cars. Sponsors, vendors and car clubs are welcome.

For more information about the Carnival of Thrills, contact the stunt team at hazzardcounty@carolina.rr.com or call Tom at 704-496-4249 or Wayne at 434-223-1305. The stunt team asks that you print and mail, with your payment to enter the event, this Entry Form.

For hotel accommodations, you can get a discounted rate at Sleep Inn, 1120 Copperfield Blvd., Concord, NC 28025. The hotel is 11 miles from the track. Call 704-788-2150, and use "Hazzard County Stunt Team" when making reservations for discounted pricing. Visit the hotel's site at:
http://www.sleepinn.com/hotel-concord-north_carolina-NC288?promo=gglocal

BRB can't wait -- we'll see you there!

Who's Working: "Dallas"

Continuing our 2009 status check on each of the four major shows of BRBTV, we turn our attention on our beloved "Dallas" ...

- Patrick Duffy
aka, Bobby Ewing
Most recently: Stephen Logan on "The Bold and the Beautiful"

- Audrey Landers
aka, Afton Cooper
Most recently: Veronica on USA Network's "Burn Notice"

- Lesley-Anne Down
aka, Stephanie Rogers
Now: Jacqueline Payne Marone on "The Bold and the Beautiful"

- Leigh Taylor-Young
aka, Kimberly Cryder
Most recently: Katherine Barrett Crane on "Passions" in 2007

- Fredric Lehne
aka, Eddie Cronin
Most recently: Marshal Edward Mars on "Lost" in 2007 and some stuff on other shows like "CSI"

- J. Eddie Peck
aka, Tommy McKay
Most recently: Adam Baylin on "Kyle XY" last year

- Susan Flannery
aka, Leslie Stewart
Now: Stephanie Forrester on "The Bold and the Beautiful"

- Ted Shackelford
aka, Gary Ewing
Now: Jeffrey Bardwell on "The Young and the Restless"

-Derek McGrath
aka, Oswald Valentine
Now: Reverend Duncan Magee on "Little Mosque on the Prairie"

- Joel Fabiani
aka, Alex Ward
Most recently: Barry Shire on "All My Children"

- Ray Wise
aka, Blair Sullivan
Most recently: Title character on CW's "Reaper," and this Reaper's not down for the count -- the show returns next month

And finally ...

- Susan Lucci
aka, Hillary Taylor / Sheila Foley
Now: Erica Kane, who will probably unfortunately never die off of "All My Children"

Archie Comics for February

ARCHIE #594
"Running in the Fast Lane": Betty convinces Archie to do a marathon with her, but can Archie keep from
"running on empty"?!
SCRIPT: Hal Lifson.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"An Egg-Cellent Assignment": The "yolks" on Archie when Professor Flutesnoot has the students take care of eggs to learn about responsibility. SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
"The Replacement": Don't get him wrong - Archie's not the paranoid type - he's just absolutely certain Veronica has replaced him!
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman.
ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale at comic specialty shops: February 25, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 10, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #128
"The Cartoon Life of Chuck Clayton, Part 3: Waaay Back in the Day": A history teacher at Riverdale Middle School wants to do something new and exciting for her next lesson, so she decides to bring Chuck's comic book workshop in for her class. At first Chuck is overwhelmed, and not just by the kids. Can Chuck overcome his own academic weakness and make history come alive? It's fast-paced sketching, wacky role-playing, and a few trips through time in this third comical tale of
"The Cartoon Life of Chuck Clayton."
SCRIPT: Alex Simmons.
ART: Fernando Ruiz.
On sale at comic specialty shops: February 11, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 24, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #196
"Big, Big Sleep": Feeling sleep-deprived, Archie turns to the one person who's a model of rest and relaxation - Jughead! Will Archie ever wake up now?
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"The Past Was a Blast": An 80th birthday party for Archie's grandfather makes the kids reconsider their attitude that older folks
"missed out" on all their modern-day fun.
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"On the Spot": Feeling self-conscious over the freckles on his ears, Archie takes to wearing earmuffs... all the time!
SCRIPT AND 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: February 18, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 3, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA #240
"The Face in the Mirror": A poignant tale that asks the question, does Veronica have a conscience after all?
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"She Just Can't Win": Veronica simply cannot... will not... believe her brand new designer dress was designed by... Betty!
SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"Economizing": When it comes to saving money, it's all a matter of perspective... and in Veronica's case, the amount of
"zeros" in the final figure!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"It Takes a Thief": Mr. Lodge gives Veronica an ultimatum: improve her grades or kiss her social life and credit cards goodbye! Will Betty agree to tutor her even after Veronica's stolen yet another date with Archie from her?
SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
On sale at comic specialty shops: February 11, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 24, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #192
ANOTHER STORY FEATURING RIVERDALE'S LATEST SUPERSTAR, KUMI!
"Culture Shock": Archie, Betty and Jughead get a crash course in Japanese culture at Kumi's house... and we do mean
"crash!"
SCRIPT: Misako Rocks.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"Fizzed": Veronica and her friends are "bubbling" over with excitement when Mr. Lodge has them taste-test his new "Fizzy Fresh" soda!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.
ART: Pat Kennedy.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: March 4, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 17, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.69 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #168
"Cool Rule": A mall owner with dwindling sales hopes the Archies will be pied pipers... but instead of mice, he's hoping the rockers lure teens with cash to spend!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Jeff Shultz.
"Calendar Gal": Little Veronica's vanity remains constant from day-to-day... especially when she ends up the subject of her very own photo calendar!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dexter Taylor.
"A Battle Royal": To get Jughead's mind off of food and onto her, Ethel takes a job as a chili dog vendor's mascot - complete with hot dog costume! 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: February 11, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 24, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #148
"A Tip of the Hat": Jughead begins to think his trademark crown cap may be too recognizable and decides he'd like a change of pace in his headwear. Will Jughead's look be changed forever, or is this merely a detour for Riverdale's
"crown" prince of mirth?
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"The Fame Game": Despite advice from the famous snowboarder known as "the Zooming Carrot," Archie continues to be "the Klutzy Carrot!"
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Tim Kennedy.
"Problems and Solutions": Jughead offers solutions to some of the problems faced today... but the biggest problem may be getting people to take him seriously!
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: March 4, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 17, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #129
"The High Cost of GAS": Archie's feeling the gas crisis where it hurts - now taking the girls out on dates is even MORE expensive! Dilton's solutions aren't cost-effective and Chuck's cartoon gag didn't lift Archie's spirits, so he turns to Jughead to help... and the fun begins!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Fernando Ruiz.
"Who's Watching Who?":
"Big Bee is watching" when Mr. Weatherbee installs monitors throughout the school... but how long before the watcher is watched himself?
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
ART: Bill Galvan.
"The Big 70": A local reporter covering the Chocklit Shoppe's 70th anniversary gets an earful from Pop Tate about the town teens' mouthfuls of goodies downed through the years!
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: February 25, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 10, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #100
SPECTACULAR 100th ISSUE!
"The Final Battle, Part 3 of 3": This is the issue you just can't miss: the exciting conclusion to the Sabrina manga series! The carefully hidden signs and secrets of the past 42 issues are finally explained and revealed in this dramatic issue. Don't miss the suspense as sides are picked in the ultimate battle against Vosblanc when old friends and enemies return to join the fight! In the thick of it all, Sabrina exhibits her most astounding feat of magic yet, finally uncovering the secret of her amazing power. Still, the battle won't be easy—someone on Sabrina's side won't survive... but who will it be? Will Vosblanc be defeated? Will Sabrina end up with Harvey or Shinji? Only time will tell. But one thing is for certain: the Magic Realm will never be the same again!
SCRIPT: Tania Del Rio.
ART: Tania Del Rio and Jim Amash.
On sale at comic specialty shops: February 18, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 3, 2009
32-page, full-color comic,
$2.25 U.S.

TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #32
"The Missing Manhole Covers": There's a mystery afoot, and it's up to Riverdale's premiere teenage rock band, the Archies, to solve it! Can they solve the mystery of who is stealing the town's manhole covers... and the even bigger mystery of "why?!"
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Fernando Ruiz.
"Lunchroom Lament": Complaining is on the menu when Miss Beazly tells a new café co-worker of the trials and tribulations of slinging hash for teens! Wait until she gets a load of what's for dessert!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.
ART: Bob Bolling.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: February 25, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 10, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.49 U.S.

VERONICA #193
"Stuck in the ‘80s": Break out the spandex and hair spray - the Archies are about to go all-out ‘80s for a special Riverdale High concert and Battle of the Bands contest celebrating the decade! Hopefully Jughead won't get replaced by a drum machine!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
"Geek Chic": When Veronica's computer dies, she calls the
"Geek Patrol" computer experts to help... which brings on Veronica's cousin Marcy, a double date and the mortification of being seen in the
"geek-mobile!" Can Veronica's ego ever live it down?
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
"Carpool Cool": Veronica's going green... because her friend Ethan is the hunkiest environmentalist she's ever seen!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher.
ART: Dan Parent
On sale at comic specialty shops: March 4, 2009
On sale on newsstands: March 17, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.