Archie artist Steven Butler answers your questions

You have seen the new look of Betty and Veronica on TV, magazines and newspapers. It has been featured all over the Internet. As part of Archie Comics' podcast program, now is your chance to ask Betty & Veronica Double Digest artist Steven Butler your own questions. What would you like to know about the new look?

As part of ArchieComics.com's new PodCast program, send your questions today to http://us.f338.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=qinterviews@archiecomics.com and they will become part of the Archie Comics PodCast with Steven Butler.

Elsewhere in Archie Comics ...

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #150
SPECIAL 150th ISSUE ANNIVERSARY STORY!
"Betty & Veronica's Scrapbook": Betty and Veronica take a page out of the nation's fascination with scrapbooking, but making their very own scrapbook of memories! Follow the girls from their days as "Little" Betty and Veronica, fighting over Archie even back then! Behold their preteen years of high fashion (Veronica) and comfy jeans (Betty)! Relive their first junior high dance! Share their musical memories on stage with The Archies! And who could forget the "Love Showdown" or the rise of "The Veronicas?!" It's all here in this poignant and hilarious trip down memory lane! SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent. PLUS: Other new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand April 3, 2007
Full-color digest format
$3.69

VERONICA #179
"Save Our Prom": When a burst pipe threatens to leave the prom a literal "washout," Veronica's mom lets the kids and faculty use the mansion instead! It's a good thing Mr. Lodge is away on business… SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
"Distress Over a Dress": Fed up with high bills, Mr. Lodge forbids Veronica from buying any more custom clothes from designers. His plan backfires, however, when Veronica buys out all the local stores to keep the other girls from sharing her fashion sense! SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Dan Parent.
On sale Newsstand April 3, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #108
"Weird He Go?": Archie is convinced the new British exchange student staying with Veronica is an alien from another world… especially when he finds the student's giant robot! Is the visitor really out of this world, or is Archie just out of his head?! SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare. ART: Stan Goldberg.
PLUS: MORE HIGH FASHION HIJINX WITH KATY KEENE!
"Viva Las Vegas ": The glittery city never saw anyone as glittering as Katy! Katy is in town to present the awards at an extreme sports skateboarding competition, but she isn't winning any awards with her love-interest, stuntman K.O. Kirby. It's romantic intrigue, classy comedy, and fashions galore as only Katy can deliver! SCRIPT AND ART: Andrew Pepoy.
On sale newsstand March 27, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

ARCHIE DIGEST #233
The adventures of America 's favorite teen continue with new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand March 27, 2007
Full-color digest format
$2.49

Cincinnati, you can still see John Schneider!

The situation with the Cincinnati Pops aside (see the March 16 and 19 posts of this blog), John Schneider still will be showing up in the town, in a manner of speaking. His independent movie "Collier & Co. -- Hot Pursuit!" will be screening April 13-24 at the Danbarry Dollar Saver Cinemas:

- DANBARRY DOLLAR SAVER CINEMAS – please call (513) 671-0537
601 Cincinnati Mills Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45240
- DANBARRY DOLLAR SAVER CINEMAS – please call (513) 947-8111
4450 Eastgate Blvd. Cincinnati, OH 45245
- DANBARRY DOLLAR SAVER CINEMAS – please call (513) 451-2300
5190 Glencrossing Way, Cincinnati, OH 45238

"Collier & Co. -- Hot Pursuit!" has also had 2007 bookings in Mobile, Alabama; Pensacola, Florida; many sites in Georgia (of course!); Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and El Paso, Texas, among others.

Haven't seen the film? Wanna view the trailer? Click on over to
http://snipurl.com/Collier_trailer.

Ted McGinley decides to "Eavesdrop"

Ted McGinley was hunky on "Dynasty" right after he was hunky on two of ABC's other shows, "Happy Days" and "The Love Boat." Now our former Clay Fallmont has two films in the works.

"Eavesdrop," written and directed by Matthew Miele, is currently filming in New York. McGinley plays a character named Grant in the movie. "This unique motion picture is intent on continuing the grand tradition of films that have explored similar themes such as the Peeping Tom in Hitchcock's, 'Rear Window' and snooping in Coppola's 'The Conversation,'" the film's bio says. "The entire film will take place real time in a cafe in Manhattan during a busy brunch hour. An eclectic cast is currently being assembled to portray the patrons at several different tables that will eavesdrop on one another in a variety of intriguing ways." The film also stars Christopher Lawford, first child of Peter and Pat Kennedy Lawford.

"Privileged" is also classified as filming right now, is a drama directed by Jonah Salander and written by Steve Allison. McGinley plays Mr. Webber amid a huge cast that also includes Aaron Ashmore, the new Jimmy Olsen on the CW's "Smallville," and Tatyana Ali.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: McGinley's "Dynasty" co-star, the lovely Heather Locklear, might be returning to primetime this fall, the Televisionista blog reports. ABC is looking at her pilot "See Jayne Run," about (what else?) a successful female competing in a male-dominated world.

Yes, "Batman: The Animated Series" is part of this news blog, too!

Holy Newsflash, Batman! It's an actual news item about "Batman: The Animated Series," which BRBTV published an Amazon Short for a few months back and claims is part of this BRBTV News Blog, along with the other fine classic BRBTV shows ...

Well, OK, OK, BRBTV does love "Batman: TAS" just as much as the other classic TV shows it covers; make no mistake. And there are some happenings on the news front related to the show, or at least related to the legacy that the show created when it launched in the early '90s, as well as the Bat-phenomenon as a whole ...

First up, it's the release this month of Season 2 of the fine "Justice League Unlimited," which evolved from "Batman: TAS" and utilized some of the same voices and definitely the same creative team. Find a review for the DVD here. Mark Hamill, the "Star Wars" icon who wowed Bat-fans of the '90s with his interpretation of the Joker, makes an appearance in the DVD set's extras.

Along the same lines, another animated series spawned by the immensely popular "Batman: TAS" is "Batman Beyond," the futuristic take that shows an aging Bruce Wayne and the kid he mentors to take on the Bat-mantle. "Batman Beyond" released its third and final season this month, as well, and you can find a review here. Extras of the DVD set include tidbits from actor Will Friedle, who voiced Terry, the new teen Batman. (Look for a BRBTV Amazon Short on "Batman Beyond," by the way, in the not-so-distant future.)

Animated Magazine does a little writeup on those two DVD releases here.

And, as if that wasn't enough Bat-joy, Warner Bros. digs back into its prize closet for "The New Adventures of Batman." No, this isn't "The New Batman Adventures," which "Batman: TAS" evolved into in later seasons (confused yet?). This is the old and grand Filmation stuff, the wonderful stuff of the '70s, featuring the voices of live-action heroes Adam West and Burt Ward as our Caped Crusaders, no less. TVShowsonDVD.com has the official press release from the WB. The two-disc set will cost $26.99 and will release on June 26. The set of 16 episodes, which originally aired on CBS, include the fiery-tressed Batgirl, as well.

And, for a capper on this whole Bat-tribute, see one blogger's take on "Batman: The Animated Series" and its legacy here at Shangrila Towers, a post that includes a couple fun video clips, too.

Web roundup: Larry Hagman, Catherine Oxenberg

Seen around the web ...

- Larry Hagman of "Dallas" was featured yesterday on the Restoring Hope Transplant House blog, highlighting Hagman's 1995 liver transplant and his letter to the facility's coordinators.
http://restoringhope.blogspot.com/2007/03/transplant-survivor-larry-hagman.html

- Our beloved soap "Dallas" showed up in a freelance story in The Seattle Times discussing how TV reruns influence our choice of home decor.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2003633879_decorontv240.html

- Our lovely Catherine Oxenberg, aka the original Amanda Carrington of "Dynasty," appeared with her hubby Casper Van Dien at the Genesis Awards on Saturday and was featured in this story on the Televioinista blog yesterday, with two nice photos:
http://televisionista.blogspot.com/2007/03/veteran-soap-couple-oxenberg-van-dien.html

Some bits and pieces from around the web ...

- If you've been catching "Dallas" lately on SoapNet, then you just saw the episode where Jamie Ewing (Jennilee Harrison) was killed in an accident in California, accompanied by her friend Mary Elizabeth, who survived. Amy Yasbeck played Mary Elizabeth, and now she's on tap to star in a new pilot for an ABC comedy about a local TV news team in Phoenix. That pilot, from Ric Swartzlander, also stars "Veronica Mars" gal Julie Gonzalo. Yasbeck plays a co-anchor in the pilot, currently untitled.

- Ray Wise, who is a BRBTV double-shot as Spiros Koralis on "The Colbys" and Blair Sullivan on "Dallas," has a new pilot in the works, too. He'll star in the CW's "The Reaper" as, of all things, the Prince of Darkness. According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Reaper" is a comedic drama about a slacker who somehow becomes the devil's (Wise) bounty-hunter. We dearly loved Wise on "Twin Peaks" and know that he does an evil turn just fine.

- If you catch "Illegal Tender" in theaters this summer, you'll catch our "Santa Barbara" toughie Wanda de Jesus, who was the fourth one to take on the role of Santana Andrade. She plays Millie DeLeon, mother of the movie's main character, Wilson De Leon Jr. The film, which shot in locales like Puerto Rico, Staten Island and New Jersey last year, has this plotline at the IMDb: "When the thugs who killed his father come looking for him, a young Latino man and his mother flee from their home." De Jesus has another project on the horizon, by the same director and writer as "Illegal Tender," Franc. Reyes: "The Ministers," which just finished filming in New York a month or two ago, according to MovieWeb.com. The plotline from the IMDb: "A NYPD detective attempts to avenge the death of her father, but unwittingly becomes involved with one of his killers." De Jesus plays a police captain and shares the screen with John Leguizamo and Harvey Keitel for that one. The IMDb page has some nice shots of her; she's looking beautiful as always. You can read more about both films here and here.

Patrick Duffy in "He's Such a Girl"

Patrick Duffy, our own Bobby Ewing of "Dallas," has a new movie project about to be released. "He's Such a Girl" is classified as in postproduction and features Duffy playing the dad of the main character, Whitney, who's portrayed by Bryan Fisher of the "George Lopez" show.

Ed Begley Jr. and Alexandra Paul of "Baywatch" are also part of the comedy film, directed by
Sean Carr and written by Jimmy Gleacher. The movie filmed in Chicago last year and comes from Kinesis Entertainment.

Duffy has recently been involved in pantomime projects. Read more about that here.

Pamela Sue Martin goes "Soupernatural"

It's like classic TV star heaven -- not only our own lovely original Fallon Carrington of "Dynasty," Ms. Pamela Sue Martin, but even the Incredible Hulk and some Munsters? Yes, the new film "Soupernatural" includes Lou Ferrigno, that former mean green machine who's made a well-tuned-and-toned resurgence on the comic-con circuit in recent years (ask BRB about the time she drank his orange juice at an appearance). And he and Martin are joined by Pat Priest, known as the "ugly" Munster, lovely Monroe-like Marilyn, and Butch Patrick, known as her brother Eddie! (Who also, by the way, is known to make a comic-con appearance these days!)

But back to Pamela Sue ... She plays a character named Rod in the film, in pre-production as of the end of February (and kicking around since 2000, actually). The plotline, from the IMDb: "What happens in a small-town newsroom when it is rumored that the Messiah is serving soup at a local church festival."

Also popping up in this film is Ronnie Schell, who played Frank Armsted in 1985 on "Santa Barbara" and who was Lester Starr before that in the "Dukes of Hazzard" early episode "Daisy's Song."

"Soupernatural" is directed by Christopher Noice and written by Julie Matthews. Although Martin doesn't mention it as a recent project on her official website, you can learn more about the film at its own site.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Have you caught our former Tanner McBride, aka Kevin Bernhardt, as the temporary Frisco Jones / Dr. Kevin O'Connor on ABC's "General Hospital"?

Archie offers "Little Archie" on Free Comic Book Day

If you know anything about the comic-book world, then you're familiar with Free Comic Book Day, which this year is May 5. If you aren't, Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic-book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their stores.

Archie Comics has been there since the beginning with original art and all-new stories. This year, Archie is offering two all-new comics for Free Comic Book Day: a Little Archie comic that will be the first new Little Archie comic in years, and a Sonic comic.

Little Archie -- Free Comic Book Day Special!
“Legend of the Lost Lagoon”
Little Archie, several campers and two counselors are boating on Loon Lake when they are suddenly caught in a dangerous storm. A golden owl, thought only to be a legend, directs them to the safety of a hidden tunnel that leads them to yet another legend, The Lost Lagoon.
STORY, ART and COVER: Bob Bolling.

Sonic the Hedgehog -- Free Comic Book Day Special!
"Unburying the Hatchet"
What could be better than Dr. Eggman's killer robot, Metal Sonic? How about the real thing! What has turned Sonic against his friends in Knothole, and who among our heroes has to power to stop the true blue hero-gone-bad?
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn ART: Tracy Yardley! (pencils) and Jim Amash (inks).
Fiercely free cover by Spaz!

If you don’t know where to find the closest comics shop, call 1-888-COMIC BOOK (1-888-266-4226).

Elsewhere in Archie Comics ...

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST DOUBLE DIGEST #151
THE BEGINNING OF A SPECIAL FOUR-ISSUE SAGA FEATURING RIVERDALE’S FAVORITE TEENS IN A WHOLE NEW LOOK! “Bad Boy Trouble”: When Nick St. Clair rides into Riverdale on his motorcycle, Veronica is smitten. She likes Nick's air of assurance and his knack for getting noticed. The only problem is Nick gets noticed for all the wrong things! Nick quickly alienates all of Ronnie's friends, especially Betty. Is this handsome rebel the boy of Veronica's dreams, or just plain trouble? Will Betty and Veronica's friendship come to an end over the new boy in town? Don’t miss the first part of this epic four-part tale, drawn in an all-new style, to be continued the following issue! SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan. PENCILS: Steven Butler. INKS: Al Milgrom. PLUS: Other new and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to “Find Your Name in Print!”
On sale newsstand May 15, 2007
Full-color digest format
$3.69

ARCHIE'S CAMP TALES #1
Ah, summer! Free time, warm weather, and outdoor activities... and no better time for Archie Comics! With kids home from school and adults on vacation from work, casual comic reading goes up. Especially casual Archie comic reading! Whether looking for a quick read on the beach, in the backseat of the car on the way to some vacation destination, or simply some entertainment for a rainy day, Archie Comics offer something fun for everyone. And let us not forget those countless kids who've spent evenings reading and swapping Archie Comics under the covers! For decades, s Archie Comics have made their way into countless summer campers' backpacks… and for decades, the writers and artists at Archie have provided readers with stories of Archie and his friends' adventures at summer camp! Now, some of the best of these stories are collected in a special 5 x 7 & ½ inch edition. Each story is meticulously restored and printed on high-grade paper, so you can feel like you're camping right alongside Archie, Betty, Veronica and the rest! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
On sale newsstand June 12, 2007
112-page, full-color paperback
$7.49

ARCHIE #575
"Bee on the Lookout": After a whole school year of run-ins with one another, Archie and Mr. Weatherbee decide to start the summer vacation with a restful day at the beach… each with the mistaken notion that the other will never be there! SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare. ART: Stan Goldberg. "Summer Musings": An internship at the local newspaper has Archie fearing he'll be cooped up inside all summer, but a surprise assignment puts him right where he longs to be! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Stan Goldberg. "Good Taste in Cars": Mr. Andrews's new hybrid SUV runs on recycled cooking oil… and soon all the neighborhood critters are running after it, entranced by the aroma! SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale newsstand June 5, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #110
IT'S ANOTHER SUPER-HEROIC ADVENTURE FOR THE QUEEN OF THE CATWALK! "Four Color Fun": Fresh from the excitement of ARCHIE & FRIENDS #107, where Katy starred as the Web's love interest in a mega-blockbuster movie production, Katy is back for another issue of high-flying heroics! Katy is clearly a hero to the many fans who show up to meet her at the mammoth California Comic-con, where she's promoting her epic "Web Returns" film. While there, she sets out on a comics quest of her own that's sure to be as thrilling as her celluloid exploits! SCRIPT AND ART: Andrew Pepoy. PLUS: "Living Lodge": Mr. Lodge decides to put his handheld daily reminder device to the test by giving one to each of Veronica's friends… only who's going to remind Archie to actually use it? SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare. ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale newsstand June 19, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

ARCHIE DIGEST #235
The adventures of America's favorite teen continue with new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand June 19, 2007
Full-color digest format
$2.49

ARCHIE'S DOUBLE DIGEST #179
Double your pages, double your Archie and double your fun in this double digest full of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand May 29, 2007
Full-color digest format
$2.49

BETTY #165
"Fan Elan": When Betty wins a date with celebrity heartthrob Jason Jarson, will it be a silver screen classic or an all-time turkey? SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Stan Goldberg. "My Loss is My Gain": Betty loses a five dollar bill, but gains much more in the search that follows! SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Stan Goldberg. "Then & Now": Betty and Archie catch the "pioneering spirit" at a living history museum, but when they're done, it's Betty who's still the handy one! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Stan Goldberg. "Trying Not to Get BURNED": Betty sees red – literally – when she forgets to bring her sun screen lotion to the beach! SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale newsstand June 5, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 US.

BETTY & VERONICA #227
"Losers Can Be Choosers": Betty & Veronica's performance in the big beach volleyball tournament is less than stellar, but they certainly look fashionable as they flop! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Jeff Shultz. "The Things You Find": When Betty and Veronica have a competition to see who can come up with the best outfit from garage sale purchases, they learn that everything old is new again! SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Jeff Shultz. "Two of Club": Veronica has Betty pose as a rich cousin at her "beach club for wealthy girls," but if it's one thing Betty's not, it's a "poser!" SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare. ART: Jeff Shultz.
On sale newsstand June 12, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #78
"Let's Talk Tiki": An Hawaiian themed party—and the new hunk in town who's invited to it—inspires Betty and Veronica to compete in the food, decoration and of course, hula dancing departments! SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
On sale newsstand May 22, 2007
Full color-digest format
$2.49

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #175
Bright and brassy, bold and beautiful, blonde and brunette-- teen dream queens Betty & Veronica romp through this collection of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand June 12, 2007
Full-color digest format
$2.49

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #152
THE SECOND PART OF A SPECIAL FOUR-ISSUE SAGA FEATURING RIVERDALE'S FAVORITE TEENS IN A WHOLE NEW LOOK! "Bad Boy Trouble Part 2": The story that has the news media abuzz continues in this issue! Wild Nick St. Clair is a motorcycle-riding bad boy who's stolen Veronica's heart, but not those of her friends. Is Nick the misunderstand romantic he's convinced Veronica he is, or really a wolf in a biker's clothing? Reaction to the Riverdale teens' makeover has been swift, with mentions on TV, in newspapers, and especially on the internet, raising anticipation levels for this epic to unprecedented heights! Don't miss the latest installment of this thrilling tale, drawn in an all-new realistic style that has everyone talking! SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan. ART: Steven Butler. PLUS: Other new and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand June 19, 2007
Full-color digest format
$3.69

JUGHEAD #181
"Misery Date": When Jughead agrees to take the new girl on a date, he borrows some advice from Archie… as well as Archie's sweater, car and cash! "Missed Kiss": A case of mistaken identity finds a pair of mysterious lips kissing Jughead as he sleeps… and Jughead is determined to taste that yummy flavored lipstick again, even if he has to kiss every girl in Riverdale to find those lips! "Babe Magnet": Taking his baby sister Jellybean for a stroll is no walk in the park for Jughead, especially when her cuteness attracts so many girls! SCRIPTS: Craig Boldman. ART: Rex Lindsey.
On sale newsstand May 22nd, 2007
Full color digest format
$2.49

JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #20
"The Summer Job": Jughead finds the perfect job for someone inclined to avoid work - he finds a job in which Hot Dog does all the work for him! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Fernando Ruiz. PLUS: Other new and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand June 5, 2007
Full-color digest format
$2.49

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #131
Its double-decker sandwiches and double-trouble as the irrepressible Jughead tilts the laugh-o-meter in this uproarious collection of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand June 12, 2007
Full-color digest format
$3.69

PALS-N-GAL'S DOUBLE DIGEST #112
The spotlight is on the wonderful cast of Archie supporting characters, in this double digest featuring new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT & ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand June 5, 2007
Full-color digest format
$3.69

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #84
"Truth Be Told": When Sabrina rejoins the current Four Blades, is it out of genuine interest or merely a way to keep tabs on Shinji's mysterious new girlfriend, Hemlock? Further complicating matters, Sabrina and Harvey continue to grow closer as a couple, but can Sabrina ever really reveal her biggest secret to Harvey? What would Harvey's reaction be if she did? And is there any further fallout from last issue's surprising revelation about Bartholomew? Buckle your broom-belts, Sabrina fans… many magical answers await you this issue! SCRIPT AND ART: Tania del Rio.
On sale newsstand June 12, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25


TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #20
"Model Citizen": When talent scouts from a trendy modeling agency visit Riverdale, Veronica does all she can to get their attention. As usual, she has some tough competition… no, not Betty, not Cheryl but none other than that rascal Reggie! Will their pretend poise prove to be no match for their massive egos? SCRIPT AND ART: Tim Kennedy. PLUS: Other new and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand May 22, 2007
Full-color digest format
$2.49

More on the Cincinnati Pops / "Dukes" controversy

Special thanks to Renee and to Michael Barnard for posting additional info about the Cincinnati Pops / "Dukes" stink and about John Schneider. Be sure to check it all out on the comments page for the Friday post of this blog.

This story has got some legs, and we're thinkin' we need to just keep those legs a-movin', especially since there's an opportunity to bring an injustice to light.

"This is a benign family show loved by people of all ages and races," Ben Jones, our own beloved Cooter, told the Associated Press in a phone interview on Friday. "I have fought racism and bigotry my whole life and worked in the Civil Rights movement, and there is nothing racist about it."

PRNewswire reported that "in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, Jones was arrested several times attempting to integrate segregated facilities. He says he was shot at by the KKK, had a tooth knocked out by a Klansman, and had ammonia thrown in his eyes at a sit-in."

The Associated Press also reported that a statement by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra said that the orchestra has had a long artistic relationship with Schneider and Wopat and had conversations about a possible Dukes of Hazzard-themed program. Umm ... OK ....

Meanwhile, our own Paul Harrington, president of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, has fired off an email to several folks at the NAACP. "First, I will start off my email and let you know right off, I'm a Native American, living in Ontario, Canada, and I don't agree with allot of things I see or read in the newspapers or even on television or even at the movies today," Paul wrote. "But I don't slander others if I don't understand them. I will ask questions, not do what you have done this week. I treat people how I wanted to be treated, with respect and honour; is that not what we are supposed to do, in our daily lives?? And I don't want to cause any other problems as we all have too many already, but why????"

Paul went on to include the text of the PRNewswire story referenced above, then later in the email said, "'The Dukes of Hazzard' IS NOT, WAS NOT and WILL NEVER be a racist television show. I have done 1000's of car shows, special events, birthday parties and many other events since I bought my General Lee from a magazine back in 1991, and I have never had a problem. Whites, American Indians, colored people (as it is stated on your website) and all other races have made nothing but great comments to myself and my wife through out the years when we have done shows."

Thanks to Paul for speaking up, and remember the links in the Friday post of this blog, below, if you want to also make your feelings known about this topic.

Cincinnati Pops condemns our Duke boys

Ben Jones, our beloved Cooter of "The Dukes of Hazzard," who doesn't shy away from speaking out against injustices, has issued a statement in response to a recent decision by the Cincinnati Pops regarding an upcoming appearance of Tom Wopat (Luke Duke) and John Schneider (Bo Duke).

Wopat and Schneider have performed with the Cincinnati Pops in the past, but apparently they were not welcome for the planned July 14, 2007 appearance. The Pops says that Cincinnati community members see "The Dukes of Hazzard" as having "racist overtones." (Yikes! OK, did they even watch the show? Anybody who watches "The Dukes" knows that isn't true.)

Jones calls the situation "a dangerous affront to the rights of performing artists and their audiences, and the worst example of political correctness I've ever heard of," according to the PRNewswire story.

You can read the whole story here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20070315/pl_usnw/singers_canned_by_orchestra_because_of_classic_t_v__show
Thanks to Renee for the email tipoff on this one. She adds, "Here's contact info for the Pops and NAACP, if you want to get your readers to contact them."
http://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/Verify/contactus.asp
http://www.naacp.org/about/contact/form/

Kim Zimmer gets more Emmy recognition

Kim Zimmer, who played Jodie Walker on "Santa Barbara" and is, of course, a longtime soaps actress, has received a nomination in this year's Daytime Emmy Awards. Zimmer is currently in her (lifelong!) role as Reva Shayne Lewis on "Guiding Light" (we all knew that whole "SB" gig was just a break from her life as Reva!).

The 34th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards will air on Friday, June 15 on CBS. For the full official list of Daytime Emmy nominations, click here.

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Aaron Spelling, the man behind "Dynasty," though no longer with us, has a grandchild. His daughter Tori Spelling just gave birth to Liam Aaron McDermott a couple days ago. Liam is the first child for Tori.

Larry Hagman wants you to help save the planet

Thanks to Garry at Soapchat's "Dallas" forum for the tipoff on this one ... Larry Hagman, our very own J.R. Ewing, is doing a new spokesman's gig. Click on over to RefundsForGood.org and you'll see him and other celebrities such as Ed Begley Jr. and Martin Sheen encouraging folks to use their refund of the IRS' telephone excise tax for a good cause. You'll be helping to save the planet, they say, by donating your windfall to a charity such as PeaceJam or Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Refunds for Good Inc., the group behind the website, has been set up "to assist nonprofit organizations and progressive for-profit companies in using the Internet cost-effectively," their site says. And if you're wondering what all this telephone excise tax stuff is, Refunds For Good explains: "After 108 years, the IRS decided in May 2006 to stop assessing the federal excise tax on long distance interstate and wireless calls. The courts decreed that the IRS must refund these improperly assessed taxes and pay interest on the billions of dollars collected after February 28, 2003 and before August 1, 2006, a 41-month period."

Jughead the grizzly bear dies

MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Since 1995, Archie Comics and the Bronx Zoo have had a special relationship. The Bronx Zoo named four of its grizzly bears after the Archie characters, Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica. In 2004, Archie Comic produced a special-edition comic dedicated to the Bronx Zoo bears and the plight of grizzly bears in nature as well as their life at the zoo.

Archie Comics sadly reports that on Friday, March 2, the beloved 13-year-old male grizzly bear Jughead died. “Jughead was a wonderful, charismatic animal, and he will be missed by all of our staff and visitors,” said Bronx Zoo Director Jim Breheny.

The zoo reports, "Jughead was one of four bears that was rescued and transferred to the Bronx Zoo in 1995. As human populations increase and bear habitat shrinks, grizzly bears are forced to live near humans. Occasionally, some bears become too accustomed to people and their surroundings, which can lead to conflict. In these cases, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services relocate bears to more isolated areas. 'Nuisance' bears are given three chances to avoid contact with people before they are euthanized or an appropriate zoo home can be found. The Wildlife Conservation Society, headquartered at the Bronx Zoo, along with other accredited zoos, assists the USFWS by rescuing these bears. The Bronx Zoo was able to take two young brothers (Jughead and Archie) who were rescued from Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front. Two young, unrelated females (Veronica and Betty) were also rescued at that time from the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming ."

Archie Comics says in its press release, "We have been honored to have had the grizzly bear named after one of our character and happy that our namesakes was able to entertain thousands of children and their parents over the years, much like our own Jughead Jones."

Elsewhere in Archie Comics -- what's coming up in the next several weeks ...

ARCHIE #574
"Dinner for Six": When the parents of Archie, Betty and Veronica make plans to meet for dinner, the teens are mortified. What if the subject turns to the eternal love triangle? Each imagines… and worries… over what may happen from their unique perspective. Will the dinner conversation leave these love-birds cooked? SCRIPT: Barbara Slate. ART: Stan Goldberg. "A Real Keeper": Mr. Lodge sends Archie home in the rain so Veronica can date the son of a businessman he's hoping to make a deal with. Will the rich kid be a better investment than Archie, or just another one for the "loss" column? SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale newsstand April 20, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

ARCHIE'S DOUBLE DIGEST #178
Double your pages, double your Archie and double your fun in this double digest full of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand April 20, 2007
Full-color digest format
$3.69

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #109
IT'S MORE HIGH-FASHION FUN WITH TOP TEEN MODEL KATY KEENE!
"America's New Best Model": Call it "designer satire" when Katy takes on television model competitions! Katy of course is the nicest contestant on the reality series hosted by Tyrant Brinks... and that makes her a real winner, no matter how the judges vote! SCRIPT AND ART: Andrew Pepoy.
"The Perfect Birthday": Archie decides to make his birthday last the whole day through with a full schedule of fun: arcade games with Jughead, tennis with Reggie, the movies with Betty, and a rock concert with Veronica. But will it be four chances for fun, or four chances for foul-ups? SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare. ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale newsstand May 8, 2007
32-page, full color comic
$2.25

ARCHIE DIGEST #234
"Stacked Under Pressure!": The Sport Stacking craze hits Riverdale as Archie and Reggie compete to determine who is superior in the increasingly popular sport of plastic cup stacking! SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz. PLUS: Other new and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand May 8, 2007
Full-color digest format
$2.49

BETTY #164
"Custard's Last Stand": When Betty and her friends learn that their neighborhood ice cream man is being run out of business by a large chain, they repay his years of kindness by performing at his store to attract customers! SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare. ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Outdated But Not Outdone": The internet-friendly Cooper sisters are shocked when Polly gets an actual "snail mail" letter... until they read the postmark and realize it was sent 10 years ago! SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Stan Goldberg.
"Take the Cake": Betty is happy to make a cake for the charity bake sale... but can she get it past her hungry father and clumsy boyfriend intact? SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. ART: Stan Goldberg.

On sale newsstand April 24, 2007
32-page, full color comic
$2.25

BETTY & VERONICA #226
"Where the Jobs Are": A stroll through the high school's job fair leads Betty and Veronica to daydream about glamorous jobs like being a secret agent, rock star or blogger. At least we know they're qualified to be
"creative writers!" SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Jeff Shultz. "Personal Best": The girl's baseball team decides the best way to win this season is for each member to improve her specialties—so Betty & Midge work on their fielding, Ethel perfects her pitching, Nancy brings her batting average up... and Veronica handles cosmetic improvements! SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. ART: Jeff Shultz.
"Serious Business": The line to wait for a famous author's autograph is so long that Betty & Veronica have time to write their own books while they wait! SCRIPT: Barbara Slate. ART: Jeff Shultz.
On sale newsstand May 1, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #174
"The Late, Great Veronica": Taking a page from Archie's book, Veronica is late for school again. It's going to take the help of true-blue Betty to reverse Veronica's tardiness... or is it already "too late" to help? SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent. PLUS: Other new and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand May 1, 2007
Full-color digest format
$2.49

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #151
THE BEGINNING OF A SPECIAL FOUR-ISSUE SAGA FEATURING RIVERDALE'S FAVORITE TEENS IN A WHOLE NEW LOOK!
"Bad Boy Trouble": When Nick St. Clair rides into Riverdale on his motorcycle, Veronica is smitten. She likes Nick's air of assurance and his knack for getting noticed. The only problem is Nick gets noticed for all the wrong things! Nick quickly alienates all of Ronnie's friends, especially Betty. Is this handsome rebel the boy of Veronica's dreams, or just plain trouble? Will Betty and Veronica's friendship come to an end over the new boy in town? Don't miss the first part of this epic four-part tale, drawn in an all-new style, to be continued the following issue! SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan. ART: Steven Butler. PLUS: Other new and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand May 15, 2007
Full-color digest format
$3.69

JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #19
"The Mis-Matcher": It's the return of Jughead's cousin, Bingo Wilkin! And with Mr. Weatherbee's niece Wendy in the same story, the sparks are sure to fly! At least that's what Jughead hopes, when he sets the two up on a date during Bingo's visit to Riverdale. The two hit it off, which causes Bingo's on-again off-again girlfriend/next-door neighbor Samantha to step up her game, much to the chagrin of her father, who'd like nothing more than to be rid of Bingo and his family forever! Has Wendy finally found her steady guy, or is this just another ride on her merry-go-round of love? SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz. PLUS: Other new and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand April 24, 2007
Full-color digest format
$2.49

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #130
It's double-decker sandwiches and double-trouble as the irrepressible Jughead tilts the laugh-o-meter in this uproarious collection of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand May 1, 2007
Full-color digest format
$3.69

LITTLE ARCHIE - FREE COMIC BOOK DAY SPECIAL!
"Legend of the Lost Lagoon."
Little Archie, several campers and two counselors are boating on Loon Lake when they are suddenly caught in a dangerous storm. A golden owl, thought only to be a legend, directs them to the safety of a hidden tunnel that leads them to yet another legend, The Lost Lagoon.
STORY, ART and COVER: Bob Bolling.
32-page, full-color comic
FREE

PALS-N-GAL'S DOUBLE DIGEST #111
The spotlight is on the wonderful cast of Archie supporting characters, in this double digest featuring new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT & ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to "Find Your Name in Print!"
On sale newsstand April 24, 2007
Full-color digest format
$3.69

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #84
Batty wizard Bartholomew continues to tutor Sabrina with frustrating lessons that have little to do with magic. Despite her protests, Sabrina's aunts insist she continue with her lessons. Meanwhile, Sabrina receives an invitation from Llandra to Narayan's birthday party. Desiring to resurrect her friendship with Llandra, but feeling awkward about running into Shinji now that she's dating Harvey, Sabrina accepts the invite. But when Shinji arrives with a new girlfriend named Hemlock, it is Sabrina who feels awkward and hurt. Matters get worse when Sabrina learns what Shinji has in mind for Hemlock. As if all this intrigue weren't enough, it all ends with a startling revelation about Bartholomew! SCRIPT AND ART: Tania del Rio.
On sale newsstand May 1, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

VERONICA #180
"The Return of the Elevenaire!": The mysterious stranger last seen in ARCHIE #545 and JUGHEAD #157 now pays Riverdale's resident richest teen a visit. Ironic, since this stranger's M.O. is handing out 11 dollars to other strangers, and the latest recipient is a millionaire. But when Veronica finds herself trapped at the bottom of a well, her newfound cash ends up being good fortune indeed! Find out how in this intriguing tale! SCRIPT: Craig Boldman. ART: Dan Parent.
"A Hair Affair": Veronica's bad hair day is so bad, it's caused everyone else's day to be bad, too! SCRIPT: Bill Golliher. ART: Dan Parent.
"An Old Story": When the bookstore clerk gives Veronica a summary of a romantic story from the pirate days, the love triangle within is all too familiar! SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. ART: Dan Parent.
On sale newsstand May 15, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

Dinner with the Dukes? It's yours in August

Gracious. That's the word we'd use to describe that ole' Coy and Vance Duke, otherwise known as Byron Cherry and Christopher (Chip) Mayer. The "Dukes of Hazzard" stars are more than willing to venture up to the Great White North to help out Paul Harrington in his Hair Dare Dukes Day charity event. This year's (fifth annual) event is actually a Hair Dare Dukes Day Weekend, two whole days of fun, and it happens August 11 and 12, 2007.

But you can extend the fun beyond those two days. As part of the event, Paul, who is the proprietor of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club and the Canadian Dukes Museum, is offering dinner with the stars on Friday night, August 10. Mayer and Cherry will be there, along with Don Pedro Colley, who played our wonderful, lumbering Sheriff Little, and Jack Gordon, who portrayed "Honest" John Ledbetter in the pilot of the show. It all happens at Colasanti's Tropical Gardens in Ruthven, Ontario, Canada. (BRB will be there for dinner, too! Can't wait!)

"This event is in support of the Canadian Cancer Society," says Paul, whose mother had cancer. "At last year's Hair Dare Dukes Day in August 2006, we raised over $13,000. Thanks to everyone who attended."

Tickets for the dinner are $25, and you get the ear of these stars for the evening, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The goal of this year's Hair Dare Dukes Day (which originally got its name from the fact that you cut or color or otherwise alter your hair for the event, on a dare) is $25,000.

You can find tickets on eBay, or contact Paul at cdndukes@mnsi.net.

And by the way, when you see this license plate, you're seeing Paul Harrington ...

Photo courtesy of Paul Harrington

How are our "Legends" doing? A media roundup

Now that our "Dynasty" divas Linda Evans and Joan Collins are duking it out there on tour with the "Legends" show, you might just wonder (especially if you don't have tickets) just how they're doing. The BRBTV News Blog offers this handy-dandy little roundup of some of the press the stage show and its lovely stars are getting ...

Did you see Collins at the cast party? Neither did anyone else
From the Denver Post

Stars who still spar--Evans and Collins lunge from 'Dynasty' catfights to 'Legends'
From the Chicago Tribune

Linda Evans' notion of downsizing? Moving to a 70-acre spread
From the Chicago Tribune

Purrs of the Catfighters
From the Chicago Sun-Times

Dismal, dated 'Legends!' falls flat
From the Chicago Sun-Times

The b*tch is back
From Time Out Chicago

Krystle method
From Time Out Chicago

No Blake, but still plenty to fight about
From the Boston Globe

A new stage for Linda Evans
From the Worcester Telegram and Gazette

Linda Evans and Joan Collins resume the fight in ‘Legends!’
From The Patriot-Ledger / TownOnline.com

Evans primed for ‘Legends!’
From the Boston Herald

The only thing legendary about these divas is their bad acting
From U-Entertainment

"Twilight Zone" radio show features classic TV stars

Didya know that stars from some of the BRBTV shows pop up on a radio version of the classic "Twilight Zone" TV show? And didya know that you can listen to the radio show on the Internet?

The show comes out of WGN Radio of Chicago. It's narrated by Stacy Keach of Fox's "Prison Boys" (ooops -- we mean, "Prison Break"), and each episode features some cool TV actor or actress. John Schneider of "The Dukes of Hazzard," for instance, stars in the episode, “Death Ship,” where three astronauts from Earth discover a wrecked duplicate of their spaceship on a distant planet with their own dead bodies inside. Morgan Brittany, our own Katherine Wentworth of "Dallas," stars in an episode called "Mirror Image," where a woman named Millicent Barnes (ironic last name, we'd say) discovers her double at a train station and begins to think that the double is trying to take her place. Brittany also stars in "The Passersby," about the march home of a group of Civil War soldiers. (And, as the WGN radio show's website notes, Brittany starred in three original episodes of the classic TV show.)

Peter Mark Richman, who is a BRBTV triple shot as the original C.C. Capwell on "Santa Barbara," Maynard Anderson on "Dallas" and Andrew Laird on "Dynasty," stars in the episode "He's Alive," about small-time neo-Nazi leader Peter Vollmer.

Catch the full episode schedule at the show's website. The episodes, which air at midnight Saturdays, are also available for purchase.

Coming up in Archie Comics ...

ARCHIE’S DOUBLE DIGEST #177
Double your pages, double your Archie and double your fun in this double digest full of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to “Find Your Name in Print!”
On sale newsstand March 6, 2007
Full color digest format
$3.69

VERONICA #178
“It’s a Small World”: When Ginger is assigned an article on the “best place in the world” for Glitz Magazine, she immediately turns to famous world-traveler Veronica for help! You know what that means – Ginger and Veronica are about to travel the world in 30 days! Their whirlwind tour covers all the most exciting and exotic spots, but will they be able to narrow it down to one in time to meet Ginger’s deadline … and will their final selection surprise even themselves?! SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
On sale newsstand March 6, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

BETTY #163
“A Study in Studying”: Betty’s dreams of high marks on her mid-terms are foiled by dreams of another sort – daydreams of Archie! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Stan Goldberg. “Everything is Beautiful”: Did you ever have one of those times where everything went so wrong that something was bound to go right?! SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Stan Goldberg. “Sales Help!”: Betty’s new job helping customers at a department store has its obstacles … the biggest being that the customers all want to help themselves! SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. ART: Stan Goldberg.
On sale newsstand March 13, 2007
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25

JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #18
"Cousin Calamity!": Look out guys, Reggie's cousin Regina is in town, and she's a knockout. She's also as devious and mischievous as Reggie, which the guys soon learn as she makes fools out of them with one practical joke after another! All except one: Jughead. Can Regina fool Jughead with one of her patented gags … and is there a possibility of romance with the crowned one?! SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz. PLUS: Other new and classic tales by various talents. BONUS: Puzzles, games and your chance to “Find Your Name in Print!”
On sale newsstand March 13, 2007
Full-color digest format
$2.49

First "Dukes" art by Rosco hits eBay

The news hit a couple months back, and it was mighty nice news, yes, indeed. The idea of James Best, our own Rosco P. Coltrane of "The Dukes of Hazzard," not only being an accomplished artist in recent years, but turning his creative spirit toward the show that endeared him to us -- now there's a great thing.

Best has been working on a set of "Dukes" themed oil paintings, and now he's advertising this art from his new website, JamesBestDukesArt.com. He also has one of his "Dukes" paintings listed on eBay. The 16" by 20" painting, the first original to be offered from the "Dukes" collection, shows the General Lee on two wheels and is a real treat because it won't be offered in prints. No other originals from the collection are being offered just yet. Best will even be painting commissioned art for fans -- General Lee owners with their cars, for instance -- upon request via his wife, Dorothy.

"Keep your Gown Down and the Pedal to the Metal," the auction listing says. "I'm Gone. Kee Kee Kee!!!!!!!!!! I luv it! I luv it!" Yes, we love it, too ...

CMT DukesFest '07: The Rundown

Ben "Cooter" Jones of "The Dukes of Hazzard," proprietor of the wildly popular annual DukesFest, has let folks know some of the details about this year's event. Looks like CMT will sponsor the event for the third year in a row, it will be at the same venue in Nashville as last year, and Jones and his wife and partner, Alma Viator, will be working to ensure some special treatment for all those Lee owners out there ...

Hey Y'all:

Just a line to keep you posted on CMT DukesFest 2007. Things are coming together very nicely. The best news is that once again our whole original cast will join us for the shindig. Yep, John Schneider; Tom Wopat; Catherine Bach; James Best; Sonny Shroyer; Rick Hurst; and yours truly will be your hosts again this year in Nashville.

We're also on pace for well over 100 General Lees and the Generals are going to get the "Star Treatment" that they deserve. This year will also feature a special tribute to Waylon Jennings. We'll keep you posted on that and all the other special happenings.

Last year was a phenomenal success for DukesFest. The only problems we had were because of the really enormous turnout.

Miss Alma and I are working to make sure that this year's event will be just as big, but will flow much more smoothly (knock on wood). We want CMT DukesFest '07 to be a truly memorable weekend of family fun for Dukes of Hazzard fans of all ages.

Yours truly,

Ben "Cooter" Jones
DukesFest '07
_____

Dates: Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3
Location: The Music City Motorplex and State Fairgrounds
CALL COOTER'S IN NASHVILLE @ 615-872-8358
Or CALL COOTER'S IN GATLINBURG @ 865-430-9909

TICKET PRICES:

BUY IN ADVANCE AND SAVE!
1 - DAY ADVANCE TICKET -- $25.00
2 - DAY ADVANCE TICKET - $35.00
AT THE GATE:
1 - DAY TICKET - $30.00
2 - DAY TICKET - $40.00
ALL CHILDREN 10 AND UNDER ARE FREE!!!!
ALL ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONELL WITH AN ID ARE FREE!

GENERAL LEE AND DRIVERS AND CONCEPT CARS ARE ADMITTED FREE (WITH UP TO 3 PASSENGERS) BUT YOU MUST REGISTER.

ACCOMODATIONS:

HEADQUARTERS HOTEL: RADISSON HOTEL @ OPRYLAND 800-333-3333 OR 615-889-0800 SPECIAL RATE IS $129.00 REFER TO DUKESFEST AS THE RATE CODE - ONLY 80 ROOMS LEFT @ THIS PRICE ($129) - SO CALL NOW!

GENERAL LEE HOTEL - SPECIAL $79.00 RATE BUT YOU MUST REGISTER YOUR CAR TO GET THE CODE AND INFORMATION. ONLY 70 ROOMS LEFT SO REGISTER NOW!

OTHER HOTELS IN MUSIC VALLEY WITH SPECIAL RATES:
FAIRFIELD INN - $109. 211 MUSIC CITY CIRCLE NASHVILLE, TN 37214 www.marriott. com/bnaop
FOR INFORMATION CALL - 615-872-8939 - FOR SPECIAL RATE $109. CODE WORD DUKESFESTCOURTYARD BY MARRIOTT - $139.
125 MUSIC CITY CIRCLE NASHVILLE, TN 37214 www.marriott. com/bnaco
FOR INFORMATION CALL 615-882-9133 - FOR SPECIAL RATE $139. CODE WORD DUKESFEST

FOR HOTELS CONTACT THE NASHVILLE TOURISM BUREAU AT: 1-800-657-6910 or www.visitmusiccity. com/visitors/ DukesFestHotels

BRBTV birthdays for March

It's a lean week for the BRBTV News Blog, as we're answering a family emergency, but we'll be back to our normal daily posting schedule next week. Meanwhile, we've got the March birthdays to share with you ...

- Jed Allan, the final and most commanding C.C. Capwell on "Santa Barbara," turned 70 yesterday, 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 turned 53 yesterday.
- Cassie Yates, who was Sarah Curtis on "Dynasty," turns 56 today, March 2.
- Gordon Thomson , a BRBTV double-shot as Adam Carrington of "Dynasty" and the third and final Mason Capwell on "SB," turns 62 tomorrow, March 3.
- Stacy Edwards, the sweet Hayley Capwell on "SB," turns 42 on March 4.
- Linda Gibboney, who played the first Gina DeMott (and really, the one we preferred for the role), turns 56 on March 7.
- Julia Campbell, the cute Courtney Caroline Capwell, turns a young 44 on March 12.
- Steve Kanaly, our own Ray Krebbs, turns 61 on March 14.
- Patrick Duffy, our Bobby Ewing, is one of our St. Patrick's Day (how ironic) birthdays, turning 58.
- Lesley-Anne Down, who played Stephanie Rogers on "Dallas" and Nurse Ellena Corey on "Dynasty," is our other Patty's Day prize, turning 53.

Happy birthday to all!

Make your travel plans now for the Motor City Comic Con in May

Daisy Duke and Boss Hogg's nephew Jamie Lee Hogg -- together again, in one place -- is one of the things you'll see at the Motor City Comic Con in Metro Detroit this May. Yessiree, Catherine Bach and Jonathan Frakes (who went on, of course, to become Number Two / William Riker on the U.S.S. Enterprise on "Star Trek: The Next Generation") will be on hand to greet fans and sign autographs. They played a couple of young'uns just plain smitten with each other in the "Dukes of Hazzard" episode, "Mrs. Daisy Hogg."

And speaking of "Star Trek," there's plenty of that at the con. Connor Trinneer (Trip of "Enterprise," which BRBTV is currently loving rewatching on Sci Fi Monday nights); Grace Lee Whitney of classic "Trek"; Nana Visitor, who was Kira Norys of "Deep Space Nine" and who also played ballerina Georgina Sinclair on "The Colbys"; Ethan Phillips, our lovable Neelix of "Voyager"; and Robin Curtis of "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," as well as "The Next Generation."

If you're a "Six Million Dollar Man" and "Bionic Woman" fan, catch Richard Anderson, too. And if you're a "General Hospital" fan, Frakes will be bringing along his wife, Genie Francis, best known as Laura Webber-et.-al.

The show runs May 19-21 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan, the same site as last year. Check the con's website for a full list of guests and ticket info, and check last year's May 2 and May 21 through May 26 posts of this blog to catch a glimpse of the 2006 fun. BRB had a blast, and she'll be at this year's show, too, at Paul Harrington's "Dukes of Hazzard" museum and car display! (Keep up with BRB's sched, by the way, at the "Events and Media" page of BillieRae.com.) Fabbo!

Archie radio show actor Harlan Stone dies

Archie Comics has issued a news release that Harlan Stone, a longtime radio actor best-known as Jughead on the "Archie Andrews" show, died Wednesday from complications of valve transplant surgery. Stone started out as a child model and went on to direct TV commercials. He wrote a book called "Aw ... Relax, Archie! Re-laxx!" which chronicalled his life in entertainment. He was a frequent guest at the Friends of Old-Time Radio convention, up through last fall. "We at Archie Comics send our deepest sympathy to his family at their time of loss," the release said.

Spotted: His blond thinning hair and eyeglasses may have cloaked him, but his trademark sexy voice certainly gave him away ... Michael Nader, playing a sex-obsessed video voyeur, on "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" during yesterday's all-day marathon on USA cable. Our own Dex Dexter of "Dynasty" was definitely taking a dastardly turn. And one of his video victims was Emily Deschanel of Fox's "Bones." The episode, called "Surveillance," was from 2002.

"Dukes" beginning really begins on ABC Family

What's better than a new "Dukes of Hazzard" movie coming out on DVD next month? The chance to see it on cable before it's officially released!

ABC Family is dealin' up that opportunity, on Sunday, March 4. Yessiree, "The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning" will air at both 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. EST that day, then repeat on March 9 at 8 p.m. That's plenty 'o opportunity to see the beginnings of the Duke family, dating to before the timeline of the original series, in this prequel movie starring Jonathan Bennett, Randy Wayne and April Scott as the three cousins.

The film will be released on DVD on March 13, in rated and unrated versions. Visit the movie's IMDb page to learn more about it, and to see some fan discussion, and see the February 8 post of the BRBTV News Blog for some additional links to the movie's MySpace pages and such.

We'll be there March 4 with bells on! (Or should that be cutoffs?)

Diahann Carroll: tours, memoir and more

Did you know that Diahann Carroll is writing another memoir? Yes, indeed, our lovely songstress Dominique Devereax of "Dynasty," who also happens to be a lovely songstress in real life, has another book due out this year. It will be published by Harper Collins, her official website says. Carroll wrote an autobiography in 1986, published by Little Brown & Co.

Meanwhile, there are tour dates galore for this gal. The beginning of 2007 has been busy. She's already been performing in Palm Beach, Florida, and Atlantic City, and next she's in Naples, Florida. On February 25, she'll be at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. For tickets or more information, call (239) 597-1900 or visit www.thephil.org. On February 28, she travels to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida, for an early afternoon show. For tickets or more information, call (727) 791-7400 or visit www.rutheckerdhall.com.

On March 6-10 and March 13-17, Carroll returns to Feinstein's at the Regency in New York City, where she performed last year (see our April 17 post). For tickets or more information, call (212) 339-4085 or visit www.feinsteinsattheregency.com.

On April 14, Carroll will appear at the Women's Leadership Circle Summit Convention at the Concert Performance Hotel Grand Ballroom in Tucson, Arizona. Then on May 12, she'll be at the Cancer Awareness Lecture at the Georgia Convention Center in Atlanta.