Archie Comics for January

ARCHIE NEW LOOK SERIES VOLUME 2: JUGHEAD "THE MATCHMAKERS"

Now, together under one cover for the very first time, the complete "Matchmakers" saga! The story that began in JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #139 and concluded in JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #142 caused quite a stir, as it brought back the "new look" of Riverdale's fabled teens, first seen in the landmark "Bad Boy Trouble," the epic 2007 tale that appeared in several high-profile issues of BETTY & VERONCIA DOUBLE DIGEST. The flagship characters of Archie Comics have once again gotten an extreme makeover, and the buzz has been deafening! Add to that the intrigue of Jughead actually showing interest in a girl and you've got a recipe for a tale of combustible proportions! It all starts when Archie, Betty, Reggie and Veronica agree that Jughead needs a break from his "fifth wheel" status. They hatch a scheme to find a girl who will interest Jughead more than food and sleep... never realizing they would actually succeed! Or have they? Comic book legends Joe Staton and Al Milgrom bring their years of experience to the Archie "new look," handling pencils and inks respectively, and help you relive the most talked-about Jughead story of 2008 in this special collection!
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan
PENCILS: Joe Staton
INKS: Al Milgrom
On sale at comic specialty shops: January 21, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 3, 2009
112-page, full-color squarebound paperback
ISBN #: 978-1-879794-38-2 / OLD # 1-879794-38-1
$10.95 U.S.

ARCHIE #593
"Wreck-ommendation": To get Archie out of his hair... and his mansion... Mr. Lodge agrees to write him a letter of recommendation.
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Stan Goldberg
"Changing Times": Feeling passed by, useless and "fossilized" by rapidly advancing technology, Mr. Weatherbee considers retiring. Will the students be able to convince him otherwise?
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg
"It's Downhill from Here": When Jughead and Archie agree to move a piano for Betty, will they hit a high note or be horribly out-of-tune?
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher
ART: Stan Goldberg
"Dancing Lesson!": When the parents of Riverdale's teens chaperone the dance, they wow their kids with dance moves from the past!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Stan Goldberg
On sale at comic specialty shops: January 28, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 10, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #127
THE SECOND PART OF A FUN-FILLED, FOUR-PART TALE FROM FAN-FAVORITE ALEX SIMMONS!
"The Cartoon Life of Chuck Clayton, Part Two": Continuing this special storyline, Chuck Clayton takes center stage. Feeling overwhelmed by all the commitments in his life, Chuck could sure use some help teaching his cartooning class... and he's about to get it from an unlikely source! Chuck's world of collecting, drawing, and teaching kids how to make their own comics takes on new meaning in this poignant tale. This new multi-part epic comes courtesy of someone who knows his way around both creating and teaching comics, namely acclaimed writer, children's art advocate, and organizer of the world's only "Kids' Comics" convention, Alex Simmons.
SCRIPT: Alex Simmons
ART: Fernando Ruiz
On sale at comic specialty shops: January 14, 2009
On sale on newsstands: January 27, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

ARCHIE DIGEST #251
"A Time to Reflect": The gang meets Dilton's inventor uncle – and are soon whisked away on a journey to the future in his time machine! This literally "timely" tale is packed with both laughs and introspection as Archie and his friends explore the fragile nature of the Earth's environment and effects of global warming.
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg
"Job Fair Flair": Obsessed with his new handheld video game, Archie forgets to bring his resume, references, and a proper wardrobe to the Job Fair. Will he be fired before he's even hired?
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 4, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 17, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.49 U.S.

ARCHIE'S DOUBLE DIGEST #195
"The Model Z": Mr. Lodge decides to enter the classic car he bought from Archie's grandfather in ARCHIE DIGEST #239 in an antique auto competition... but the car is stolen before the contest begins! Who did it, and what was their "motor-vation?!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
"The Grommet": Archie dreams of winning gold in the cold by becoming an Olympic snowboarder... but wait until he sees how many hills he has to climb to get there – literally!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy.
"Quiet Riot": Archie and his dad decide to let Mrs. Andrews sleep in after a busy week... now if only they can keep quiet!
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: January 14, 2009
On sale on newsstands: January 27, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

BETTY #178
A SPECIAL VALENTINE'S DAY ISSUE!
"My One & Only Valentine": Betty makes homemade Valentine's Day cards for Archie and Reggie, one declaring love and the other friendship... but will the cards reach the correct recipients? It's a comedy of romantic errors as only Archie Comics could deliver it!
SPECIAL BONUS: Betty shows her readers how to make homemade Valentines of their own!
SCRIPT: Barbara Slate
ART: Stan Goldberg
On sale at comic specialty shops: February 4, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 17, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #87
BETTY & VERONICA TRADE FASHIONABLE CHIC FOR INTREPID MYSTIQUE IN THIS ACTION-PACKED ISSUE!
"Where the Action Is!": In perhaps the most aptly-titled tale of the year, Betty and Veronica deliver high-octane action and adventure as the most super secret agents ever to tackle a viperous spy... not to mention the most beautiful! Equipped by Dilton with the latest high tech crime-fighting gadgets, the girls are on the case as Archie goes missing... and the usual suspects are quickly rounded up. But will the real suspect be someone a bit more unusual? You'll never guess! All this plus "Action Fashions," an action movie quiz, gadget pages and more!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent
On sale at comic specialty shops: January 21, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 3, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #191
"Flying High": A tribute to the brave female pilots and stunt performers who helped pioneer the early years of aviation! This "what if" story casts Betty as a stunt flyer, with Archie as her trusty mechanic and Veronica as a flashy movie star looking for a secret stunt double for her latest high-flying feature film. Fans of antique airplanes and Hollywood's golden age will love this story's authentic attention to detail in both its script and art!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Bob Bolling
"DesignERR!": Trying to ease a guilty conscience, Veronica finds a designer store that rents clothes and accessories for her friends who can't afford such luxuries.
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: January 28, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 10, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.49 U.S.

JUGHEAD #193
"The Jughead List": Jughead decides to follow in Mr. Lodge's footsteps by creating a list of goals he simply must accomplish in his lifetime. But can Jughead cram a lifetime of goals into one week the way he's crammed down a lifetime of burgers in one sitting?
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Rex Lindsey
On sale at comic specialty shops: January 21, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 3, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.

JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #31
"Banana Split Decision": It's a split decision, and it's decided by the readers as they get a chance to choose the direction of this story! Jughead simply doesn't want to pay up on the empty promise he made to Ethel to take her out on a date. Readers can alternate between pages depicting two separate directions for the story: one where Jughead ducks into Dilton's laboratory to avoid Ethel; the other where Jughead toughs it out and actually goes on the date with Ethel! Each choice leads to another and another... and is of course packed with laughs and adventure!
SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz.
"Mystery Man": Amateur investigators Chuck and Archie have a genuine mystery on their hands: not only has Jughead gotten a top-secret job, he's stopped wearing his trademark crown hat, too! Can this mother of all mysteries be solved?!
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: January 21, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 3, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.49 U.S.

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #147
"The Big UFO Scare": The truth is out there... and it has something to do with a sky full of bright glowing orbs. Is Riverdale being invaded? Jughead and Archie aim to find out!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Rex Lindsey
"Pet Set": Veronica takes Jughead to the "Doggie Heaven Boutique" to show him and Hot Dog "how the other canines live!" But the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the doghouse!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
"The Intruder": Snowed-in by sub-zero temperatures, Jughead warms up his imagination by reading classic adventure novels, and imagining himself in the heart of the action!
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: January 28, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 10, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #128
THE THRILLING CONCLUSION TO THE "NEW LOOK" STORY, "BREAKUP BLUES"
THE INTRIGUING TALE WHERE MIDGE & MOOSE'S ROMANCE HANGS IN THE BALANCE!
"Breakup Blues, Part 4": For the past three issues, Archie and his friends have been dealing with the unimaginable: the breakup of Midge and Moose! In the aftermath, Midge started seeing Reggie and Moose began dating Judy Johnson. The status quo of Riverdale High's circle of friends was severely shaken, but that didn't stop the former couple's friends from doing what they could to get the pair back together. Their efforts weren't always successful, but they still haven't given up hope. The fourth and final installment brings everything together as the kids convene at an exclusive dance club to boogie the night away... and hopefully bring Moose and Midge back together once and for all! And they're about to get some help from an unlikely source. Will true love persevere and save the day? Be sure to reserve your copy so you can find out! The romantic intrigue is 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 penciller Tod Smith and journeyman inker Al Milgrom carry on that popular style in what has surely been the most explosive Archie Comics story to date!
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan
PENCILS: Tod Smith
INKS: Al Milgrom
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: January 21, 2009
On sale on newsstands: February 3, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.69 U.S.

John Schneider offers a one-of-a-kind collectible

Our own Bo Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," Mr. John Schneider to the rest of the world, muses in a new email blast to fans that when he's asked to sign one of those 1:18 scale General Lee model cars, "if one of the other actors hasn't already taken it, I try to claim the trunk area for my signature." Well, now he's kicked the car-collecting game up a gear: He's now offering to fans his own "Bo Duke Special Edition" model General Lees, with a few rather interesting custom touches. Let's just say ... ever wonder what the General Lee really looked like after it made one of those harrowing jumps? (Hint: It wasn't driving away merrily, unscathed, with the boys laughing in the front seat!)

"These are the rarest of the rare -- and really special -- as I had a blast creating this for the fans," Schneider says of his new custom model cars. "I am quite proud of them!"

Schneider is offering up the very first custom car -- the 01 -- on eBay, in an auction closing next week. Bidding had just leapt from $157.50 to $290 as we were posting.

Get the whole deal on "Bo's Jumpyard," including a highly entertaining and instructional video (cute as ever -- like a little boy playing in the sandbox!) at Schneider's official site.

Schneider also notes the recent hospitalization of renowned stunt driver Al Wyatt Jr., and BRBTV adds in our own prayers for strength and healing for Wyatt and his family.

Anthony De Longis has a busy January

We already knew that Mr. Anthony De Longis is a guy of many talents in Hollywood, besides portraying Leo Mitchell on our beloved "Santa Barbara," as well as appearing in the "Dukes of Hazzard" episodes "Enos and Daisy's Wedding" and "The Hazzardgate Tape." De Longis has had a pretty busy year already, and we're just getting started! He offered BRBTV a little update on what he's got going on right now ...

"I've started off the year with a job (always a good thing) for Rockstar Productions ('Grand Theft Auto 4,' among other huge game hits)!" he says. "The rest is all very secret but we had our first rehearsal today and it looks like a fun project."

Also on tap are a selection of TV appearances, the first of which is this week:
- "Leverage" episode "The Wedding Job," which premiered on Tuesday on TNT and repeats Saturday, January 17 at 1 p.m., featuring a knife and cleaver fight with De Longis (you can also catch it on TNT's site).
- "Eli Stone" episode on January 20 on ABC, featuring a gladiator fight with sword and shield vs. double swords (see ABC's site on that).
- "Extreme Marksman" on the History Channel on January 25 at 8 p.m. ("I have the climactic last two acts to show off my whip skills both on the ground and on horseback," De Longis says).

De Longis told us a few months ago that he was getting a visit from Black Belt Magazine. They filmed a short whip improvisation at his ranch, Rancho Indalo, for a combative applications whip article featuring him in the December and January issues. "They also inducted me into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as 2008 Weapons Instructor of the Year, a great honor," he says.

You can check out the footage at: http://www.blackbeltmag.com/anthony_de_longis_bullwhip_december_2008_black_belt/videos/163

You can learn more about Anthony De Longis at his site, DeLongis.com, and check out our interview with him in the September 5 post, plus some fun photos in the October 24 post.

Photo by, and courtesy of, John Leonetti, The Whip Cracking Galleries

BRBTV News Blog Blip on January 15: BRBTV mourns the passing of Ricardo Montalban, whom we loved so dearly on the '80s "Fantasy Island" as well as on our beloved "Dynasty" spinoff "The Colbys." We cannot say enough about the handsome, charismatic actor, who years before even wowed us so greatly as Khan in the "Star Trek" realm. May his work live on!

Paul Castiglia: Beyond Archie's (Weird) Mysteries ...

It's hard to believe it's been a decade since PAX-TV launched the "Archie's Weird Mysteries" animated series. Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, Jughead in precarious and "weird" situations involving mysterious creatures and events ... my, my, my, how we miss it. We also miss the fun accompanying comic book title from Archie.

BRBTV had the pleasure of chatting via email with Paul Castiglia, who wrote for the Archie's Weird Mysteries comic, later retitled Archie's Mysteries. He had some interesting things to say about this unique direction for the timeless Archies characters, and he's got some great work going on these days, too ...

BRBTV: You had a couple things to juggle with the Archie's Weird Mysteries comic. You had to remain true to both the TV show and to these long-established, iconic characters. Did you find that difficult, in this supernatural-mystery-type setting?

PC: That was definitely the most challenging aspect – to stay faithful to the characters within the context of the TV series’ concept. What made this especially hard was the fact that some of the situations I came up with lent themselves to great jokes and one-liners, but I always had to self-edit first and ask myself, “Would Veronica actually say this; would Betty really do that?”

It’s not the easiest thing to do once you’re wrapped up in your plot, and many Archie writers (myself included) don’t always get it right. You just try your best to keep all the varying personalities in the back of your mind and not assign interchangeable dialogue to the characters.

One edge I’ve tried to fall back on in my writing is my exposure to the evolution of the Archie characters gained through my experiences as company archivist when I worked on Archie staff in the ‘90s, as well as my continuing duties researching and editing the “Archie Americana Series.”

You've said in interviews that when the TV show hit the airwaves, you campaigned to get the job doing the comic version. Why was that?

I have always been a fan of the “horror-comedy” genre from Hollywood’s golden age. This was a very popular genre from the 1930s through the 1950s in both shorts and feature films. So popular that several of the classic comedians tried the genre more than once - Laurel & Hardy, the Three Stooges, the Little Rascals, the Bowery Boys and most famously Abbott & Costello each made several horror-comedies (and incidentally, I have a book on the topic in the works).

I also appreciated all the “legitimate” horror movies from the ‘30s through the 1980s that incorporated comedic elements. And I was a HUGE fan of the “Kolchak the Night Stalker” TV movies and short-lived series (about an intrepid reporter investigating the supernatural). When I heard what the concept for the animated “Archie’s Weird Mysteries” TV series was, I knew I had to write the comic book version of it – it would be my opportunity to write Archie meets “Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein” meets “Kolchak the Night Stalker” meets “Night of the Creeps” (a great 1980s movie which is practically an Archie comic book come to life … if Archie and Jughead ever had to fight zombies, that is)!

How did your comic version differ from the TV show? Were there any concessions you had to make for those fans who just love all the comics but had never seen the TV show?

Based on the original “Archie’s Weird Mysteries” format established in the TV series, Riverdale was a universe where anything could happen – Riverdale had become a “weirdness magnet” attracting all sorts of monsters, aliens and paranormal creatures and the story possibilities seemed limitless. But this actually became a limitation, because although anything could happen, it often happened without any explanation. That, plus the show tended to keep its “weird” focused in the realm of the “spooky.” To offer some thrills and chills the regular readers of Archie Comics could appreciate, I made an effort to incorporate some of the more familiar elements of the comics mythology – like the love triangle. This manifested itself in stories where Archie had duplicate clones to make his life easier (which of course it didn’t) as well as a story where Archie’s “perfect girl” was actually a robot. When I adopted the teenage vampire girl Scarlet from the TV series for a story, I tried to keep the dating complications intact even though the bigger picture of that story was heading toward cataclysmic circumstances. Beyond that, I tried to retain as much of the archetype personalities as possible – Jughead always hungry, Reggie always a pest, etc. Sometimes I just aimed for “silly” weird stories (like the intergalactic baseball saga) while the show’s tone was often more “serious,” with tense adventures. Maintaining these “Archieverse” elements in the comics helped make the comic accessible to those who had never seen the cartoon show.

The comic lasted longer than the show, which only ran about a year. In fact, the comic even survived a name change. Why the drop of "Weird" in the title?

The comic series was a moderate success. It was most successful as a subscription and mail order item. The publishers and editor wanted to keep it going, but felt that too much time had passed without the show being on the air. They suggested that I take a “Scooby Doo” approach where the mysteries all turned out to be hoaxes. Contrary to a popular misconception, “Archie’s Weird Mysteries” was NOT a “Scooby Doo” knockoff because the supernatural menaces Archie and his friends encountered were real in the stories. I pointed out to Archie management that because we had already been compared to Scooby Doo in this fashion, we should probably try something else. They were open to suggestions. My girlfriend at the time (now my wife) Barbara Jarvie was big into forensics. She used to watch all the Bill Curtis-produced and other forensic documentaries on TV. It was also the time when "C.S.I." was starting to take off, as well. She suggested shifting the focus to forensics on a G-rated level – solving non-grisly crimes. I brought her on-board as co-writer to ensure that all the forensics information was accurate. Ironically, not long after the name and format change, the cartoon series returned to the airwaves in many cities via syndication!

Any chance of the title reviving? It seems the closest thing to it in the Archie line right now is Tales From Riverdale. And if you look around the web, fans still remember and like Archie's Weird Mysteries.

That would depend upon the publishers, and would be a decision based on several factors. Naturally, it would have to make good business sense for them. I certainly would love to do it again if given the opportunity.

Who's your favorite Archie character?

Wow, that’s a tough one – I like them all to varying degrees. If I have to key in on one from each gender, I’d say Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones. Probably because of their individuality.

Who's the easiest Archie character to write?

I’m not sure. Archie stories are very situation-driven. You start with the situation, and then you have a core group of characters who would all react differently to that situation. But even within that, the characters can throw you curve balls and react in unexpected ways. That adds conflict to the story. I’d say the most difficult characters to write are probably Jughead and Reggie, because it’s difficult to maintain the integrity of those personalities – it’s very tempting to compromise their personalities in favor of moving the plot forward. It goes back to what I said about “interchangeable dialogue.” I’ve seen stories where Reggie’s word balloons might as well have come out of Archie’s mouth, and that’s just not staying true to Reggie’s character in my opinion.

Which character in Archie's Weird Mysteries are you most like?

If I take the time to figure that out, you’ll never have a complete interview to post!

What's the craziest thing you made an Archie character do in Archie's Weird Mysteries?

To adequately answer that, I’d have to go back and reread the comics, which I haven’t done in quite some time. But I think the craziest thing I ever made artist Fernando Ruiz draw were giant lobsters and Pokemon-like characters. I consider those two stories among the weakest I ever wrote. It goes back to what I said about the limitations. It wasn’t too much later we dropped the “Weird” and gave the series a new lease on life creatively.

I told myself, at the time the show was airing, that if they ever brought Cheryl Blossom into it I was going to just about have a glee-induced coronary. As far as I recall, she wasn't in the comic title, either? Was that ever a possibility?

Cheryl made it into at least one issue, in the story “Archie Squared” from AWM #4. That was the story where Archie had multiple clones wrecking havoc everywhere.

What was the fan mail like for this particular comic title?

Fan mail was pretty consistent on this. Readers really enjoyed it. And there were of course the two opposing camps: those who loved the “Weird” and those who preferred the forensic approach. The third camp appreciated both incarnations of the comic.

I very much appreciate the fact that you are a professional working in the comics industry who is a Christian. How do you think your Christian beliefs have translated -- either directly or indirectly -- into your comics writing?

It’s hard to pinpoint for me. It’s actually easier for me to spot some stories I wrote in the past when I was in a “backsliding phase” that show a lot of the confusion I went through when I wasn’t being active in my Christian life. But those stories written once I got back on track spiritually tend to have inherent moralistic and ethical underpinnings.

What did you picture yourself doing as an adult, when you were a little kid?

Oh, I knew I was going to be involved in animation and/or comic books. Originally I thought it would be as an artist and not as a writer/editor. As He so often does, God had other plans!

Tell us a little about Mecha Manga Bible Heroes.

Mecha Manga Bible Heroes is a new comic series that I co-created and edit for JMG Comics. We’re taking Old Testament Bible stories, leaving the characters, themes and plots intact, but transporting them to a future world of robots, aliens and advanced technology, with mech and manga-styled art. So far we’ve released issue #1, which recounts the tale of David vs. Goliath.

We’re currently working on the second issue, which will be the first installment of a three-part story arc called “The Rise of David.” It is scheduled for March release.

Mecha Manga Bible Heroes comics are available at Christian bookstores and some comic shops (check out our blog for details on both – http://mechamangabibleblog.blogspot.com/) and is most easily available to order directly from DeeperShopping.com. (http://www.deepershopping.com/item/grob.john.marc/comic.bk.mecha.manga.bible.heroes.david.vs.goliath/171476.html)

What's beyond Mecha Manga Bible Heroes for you?

I hope to continue conceiving, promoting and editing projects for JMG Comics, and there are several Archie projects in the works that I can’t reveal yet that I will be a part of.

Betty or Veronica??????? Or Cheryl????????!!!!!!!

Betty of course!

My brother and his wife named their daughter Veronica for (yes!) Veronica Lodge. Any advice for them, since Ronnie will be a teenager soon?!!?

If there’s an Archie in her high school, transfer her to another school!

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year from BRBTV!

I'm looking forward to seeing how 2009 unfolds, as I've had several professional and personal goals on my mind for the new year.

For the past three years, I've been producing the BRBTV News Blog as a way to offer fun little tidbits to the fans of the classic '80s TV shows I love. It's been fab, because even though during this whole time I've been working in the ministry setting by day, I have felt like I've been able to maintain some sort of journalistic "practice" with this blog. I've still been able to think like a newsgirl, in some way!

In the past three or four months, though, I have felt the Lord leading me in a new direction. I am feeling led to dial down a few of my projects, such as this blog. That's why I am transitioning it to an occasional blog (weekly or biweekly), rather than a Monday-through-Friday one, as it's been these past three years.

The BRBTV News Blog will still feature the monthly celeb birthdays, and the Archie Comics releases (frankly, because Rik just makes that so easy for me!), as well as a few other posts now and then. I have two book-signings planned for this year, so I'm sure I'll have some photos and news to share from those. Plus, coming up very soon, on the 11th of this month, will be a rare post on "Archie's Weird Mysteries" -- a fresh BRBTV interview with writer Paul Castilglia.

The blog's current content, dating back to January 2006, will remain online (Blogger.com permitting, of course!). We've had some fun times, this blog and I, and I want to leave available the original content I've posted here from interviews and events.

As far as other BRBTV stuff, look for a fourth electronic edition of the reference guide "Send Me to Santa Barbara," most likely in the next few months. There may be more updates to the other three BRBTV e-books, but it will be a while.

There's been a brand-new BRBTV Report in Amazon's hopper for about a year now; it's been on hold for their determination of the direction of their Amazon Shorts program. If the Shorts program doesn't publish the Report, it will be published via BRBTV.com. And the show it references, you ask???? Well, how about a clue: "Rut-raw, Shaggy!!!!"

There are at least two more BRBTV Reports planned for 2009 and beyond: I have been collaborating with talented "voice man" Will Rodgers of Tennessee on guides to the animated series "Superman" and "Justice League" / "Justice League Unlimited." Basically, this collaboration means Will's writing the stuff, and I'm doing the editing and graphic design. (Will's a highly capable uber-geek! ... Sorry, Will -- to me, that's a compliment!)

I've had a terrific amount of fun with this whole silly BRBTV thing; I don't know that I would ever give it up, and I don't believe the Big Guy would ask me to. Time is finite, however, and we must spend it in the best way we can.

Outside the BRBTV realm, the big project I'm focusing on right now is my third novel, "Enie," which I'm hoping will surprise you just a bit. It's nearly ready for release. See BillieRae.com to read more.

I've loved the My Mother's Clothing project very much. I've loved the weekly format, and the elements of raw photography and sociological study. I've decided to continue that yearlong photo essay format with a new 2009 project, "The Inexplicable Lives of Dolls," which launched yesterday.

There are other projects in my brain, and I dare say they will see the light of day. I often joke with people that writer's block is a very foreign term to me. I've always had way more writing ideas than I've had time for.

So ... that's that! Thank-you for your comments on this blog, for your emails to me, and for encouraging me in these past 10 years of BRBTV ...

- Billie Rae Bates

BRBTV birthdays for January

- Rick Hurst, Cletus Hogg of "The Dukes of Hazzard," turned 63 on January 1.
- Rawley Valverde, Amado Gonzalez on "Santa Barbara," turned 43 on January 1.
- John Considine, a BRBTV quadruple-shot as the commanding Grant Capwell on "SB," David Prescott on "Dynasty," Lt. Braden on "The Colbys" and Investigator Hackle on the "P.O.V." episode of "Batman: The Animated Series," turned 74 on January 2.
- Victoria Principal, Pamela Ewing of "Dallas," turned 59 on January 3.
- Sorrell Booke, the unforgettable Boss J.D. Hogg of "The Dukes," was born January 4, 1930, and passed on February 11, 1994.
- Pamela Sue Martin, the supercool 'n' sassy original Fallon Carrington on "Dynasty," turns 55 on January 5.
- Michael Wilding Jr., that handsome son of Elizabeth Taylor who showed up on "Dallas" as Alex Barton, turns 56 on January 6.
- Fern Fitzgerald, our lovely and biting Marilee Stone of "Dallas," turns 62 on January 7.
- Kristen Meadows, Victoria Lane of "SB," turns 52 on January 7.
- Tony Wike, who voiced Mr. Weatherbee on "Archie's Weird Mysteries," turns 54 on January 7.
- K Callan, who portrayed not only Superman's mom in the '90s "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," but also April Stevens' mom Amy on "Dallas," turns 67 on January 9.
- Krista Tesreau, the psycho Andi Klein of "SB," turns 45 on January 10.
- Richard Moll, who did a few wonderful turns as the skanky Milo Beaudry on "The Dukes," and who voiced Harvey Dent / Two-Face on "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 66 on January 13.
- Sherill Lynn Rettino, the faithful secretary Jackie Dugan on "Dallas," was born on January 13, 1956 and died July 3, 1995.
- Barry Jenner, who sought to woo Sue Ellen Ewing as Jerry Kenderson on "Dallas," is 68 on January 14.
- Arte Johnson, also a notable guest as Irving in the "The Dukes" episode "Double Sting," turns 79 on January 20.
- Joe Marinelli, the mobster cross-dresser with a heart of gold, Bunny, on "SB," turns 52 on January 21.
- Leigh Taylor-Young, Kimberly Cryder on "Dallas," turns 57 on January 25.
- Cathy Podewell, country-bumpkin Cally Harper on "Dallas," and Paul Johansson, long-lost Capwell son Greg Hughes on "SB," both turn a young 45 on January 26.
- Donna Reed, the Miss Ellie replacement on "Dallas," was born on January 27, 1921, and passed on January 14, 1986.
- Carrington Garland, a very lovely Kelly Capwell (we liked her every bit as much as Robin Wright) on "SB," turns 45 on January 27.
- James Cromwell, who was the duplicitous Gerald Kane on "Dallas," turns 69 on January 27.
- John Beck , a BRBTV double-shot with a stint as Mark Graison on "Dallas" and a turn as David Raymond on "SB," turns 66 on January 28.
- Susan Howard, longtime Donna Krebbs on "Dallas," turns 63 on January 28.
- Harley Jane Kozak, the wonderful Mary Duvall on "SB" and one of our favorites, turns 52 on January 28.
- Marc Singer , a little spooky as Matt Cantrell on "Dallas," and who voiced Dr. Kirk Langstrom on "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 61 on January 29.
- John Forsythe, the amazing Blake Carrington on "Dynasty," turns 91 on January 29.
- Katharine Ross, the much-put-upon Francesca Colby on "Dynasty" spinoff "The Colbys," turns 67 on January 29.
- David Wayne, who was one of the Digger Barneses on "Dallas," was born on January 30, 1914 and died February 9, 1995.
- Justin Gocke, a most memorable Brandon DeMott on "SB," turns a most-young 31 on January 31.

Happy birthday to all!!!!