Archie's getting married? Betty or Veronica? (or Cheryl?) The lucky girl is ...

We generally hang on to the Archie Comics PR items until the release dates of the issues draw closer, but this is such a hot item, we just had to get it up on the blog right away ... History is about to be made, folks ...

From Archie Comics

The eternal love triangle is the cornerstone of Archie Comics for over 65 years — and the bane of Archie Andrews' existence! In fact, over the years it has not only defined the Betty / Archie / Veronica relationship, but has even threatened to dismantle it a time or 20.

Never was this more evident than in the landmark “Love Showdown” storyline from 1994 and ’95. When Archie Comics announced that Archie Andrews may finally choose between Betty and Veronica once and for all, the response from the media, fans and retailers alike was unprecedented — and with good reason! The landmark "Love Showdown" storyline threatened the certainty of the love triangle and all it stood for, nearly bringing an end to the friendships of all three characters as Archie chose old flame Cheryl Blossom at story’s end!

Readers had nothing to fear, as ultimately Cheryl wore out her welcome in Riverdale. While she’s been an occasional presence (and to Betty and Veronica, an occasional nuisance) in the past 15 years, life has returned to normal for Archie and his friends. And that includes his seemingly never-ending inability to choose between Betty and Veronica, no matter how many times he takes them out.

Without question, the “Love Showdown” was the most talked-about, most publicized and most popular Archie Comics story ever … until now! The past 15 years’ worth of love triangle status quo really could be facing extinction in a story that will rock the world of everyone in Riverdale and be sure to keep people talking for months on end!

In fact, we’ll even go so far as to call it the Archie Story of the Century. With a title like “Archie Marries Veronica Part 1: The Proposal,” how could we call it anything else?!

Could it be true? Has Archie finally decided to take the plunge and propose to comics’ favorite rich girl? It sure looks that way! Earlier this year readers got a chance to relive “Freshman Year” with the famous teens of Riverdale High. Now make way for this special story that takes a look at Archie and his friends after they graduate college! What careers will they seek? Will the friends stay in Riverdale or disperse? What would lead Archie to have marriage on his mind? And why would he choose Veronica over Betty? How will Betty react? Can Archie shake off his klutzy past and hold down a steady job… for more than a month? Two things are certain: with the Lodges as hosts, this will be the biggest wedding Riverdale has ever seen … and the biggest Archie Comics story since the famous “Love Showdown!”

Acclaimed superhero movie producer Michael Uslan draws upon his lifelong love of Archie comic books to write this very special tale, rendered by legendary Archie Comics artist Stan Goldberg! The Archie story of the century begins here… don’t miss it!

ARCHIE #600
Shipping: August 12, 2009
On sale at comic specialty shops: August 19, 2009
On sale on newsstands: September 1, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

Spotted: James Farentino

A cocky young kid in white high-waisted pants. That's our boy Nick Toscanni of "Dynasty," known to the rest of the world as James Farentino. At least that was our boy back in 1962, when this episode of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" originally aired.

A couple decades before his character fell for Krystle Carrington, Farentino played Bernie, the son of the owner of a boarding house in the Sydney Pollack-directed episode, called "The Black Curtain." Bernie notices something strange about one of the boarders, discovering he's secretly a mobster accused of murder. Bernie decides to cash in on this fact, in-between verbally harassing unsuspecting young ladies. And Farentino is pretty handsome as a young street-smart guy.

Watch the episode courtesy of Hulu and MSN TV here:
http://beta.video.msn.com/play/?pid=om_S9FOCZ4_nQFh1Jo2D4Dzxzx3C6qNG&v=hulu

John Schneider sells TV shows to 2 cable networks

Our own Bo Duke, Mr. John Schneider of "The Dukes of Hazzard," updated fans via email today, noting how he's been workin' some interesting angles on future TV lineups.

"I managed to sell two shows last month based on stunts!" he says. "A reality show, 'Crash Test Dummies,' and a drama, 'The Dead Ringer.' One is to Spike and the other to USA. Right now I am pitching a show about finding the next world-class jockey and also a half-hour sitcom called 'Johnny Black.' 'Johnny Black' is one meeting away from being purchased by CMT! It centers on a world-famous bad-boy singer who is actually quite subdued at home. Me."

OK, well ... further testament to the fact that our John-John's not slowing down anytime soon. And pursuant to that, another note on what's coming up on Schneider's agenda:

Lightning Fest
August 7-8
Dyersville, Iowa
http://collector.johnnylightning.com/?xcid=jlhome

Joining Schneider will be BRBTV's bud Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, along with his vast "Dukes of Hazzard" museum and car display.

Coming up in Archie Comics

ARCHIE #597
"A Typical Day": In this issue-length epic, a documentary film crew follows Archie and his friends through a "typical" day. But will the kids really act "typical" when they know they're being filmed? Will their true colors come out, or will the crafty film crew conspire to conceive contrivances for the "candid" kids? Don't miss this anything-but-typical issue!
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Stan Goldberg
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 27, 2009
On sale on newsstands: June 9, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

ARCHIE DIGEST #254
"The Last Day of School": The last day of school has arrived, and the teens may be surprised to find that the faculty is looking forward to their "vacation" as much as the kids are!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Tim Kennedy
"Swing Time": Archie, Reggie and Jughead reminisce about how they used to swing from and through the trees as little kids, but when they attempt to try it again, they learn just to "leaf" some memories alone!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Bob Bolling
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 20, 2009
On sale on newsstands: June 2, 2009
88-page, full color digest
$2.69 U.S.

ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #199
"Thinking of Sinking": Archie is given a boat that's a real fixer-upper, but will this rickety-raft be enough to float Betty and Veronica's boats?
SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare
ART: Jeff Shultz
"Old Fashioned Guy": Tired of a world addicted to high-tech gadgets, Archie "takes a hike" – literally – to get away from it all!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Pat Kennedy
"The Report": The local newspaper sends its newest interns, Archie and Jughead, to cover girls' sports and safety, but the only ones out of the safety zone are Archie and Jughead!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

BETTY #180
"The Prom Crashers, Part 2": Picking up from VERONICA #194, the prom crashing continues! Betty and Veronica have both endured their fair share of memorable proms since Archie's debut in the 1940s. A constant source of drama and mayhem, the school prom has long sent the eternal love triangle of Veronica, Archie and Betty to the brink. Now, Betty and Veronica form an alliance to face the source of much of their past prom grief: Cheryl Blossom! They've crashed Pembrooke's prom, and Archie has followed along for damage control – but what if the girls don't want Archie to save them? Do they have designs on Cheryl's date and the other eligible Pembrooke pals? Will Archie take his chances with a Pembrooke gal? And what's happening back at Riverdale's own prom? Grab your tux, gown, cummerbund and corsage and join the fun!
SCRIPT: Dan Parent
ART: Stan Goldberg
On sale at comic specialty shops: June 3, 2009
On sale on newsstands: June 16, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #89
GET SET TO WAX UP YOUR BOARD AND RIDE THE WAVES IN THIS SURF-TACULAR ISSUE!
"Surf's Up": When a reality show about a hunky surfer hits Riverdale, guess which rich girl is first in line to be an extra? "Catch the Wave!": Rainy days don't put a damper on Betty and Veronica's surfing – not when they can "surf indoors" with their interactive "Whee" gaming system!
SCRIPTS AND ART: Dan Parent
PLUS: Summer fun fashions and quizzes!
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 13th, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 26th, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #194
"Class Action!": The girls think summer means a break from education, but little do they realize just how educational their recreational plans are!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Jeff Shultz
"All at Sea": Veronica is happy to have Archie to herself for the maiden voyage of her dad's new cruise ship, but when circumstances cause Archie to stay behind with Betty, he's cruising for a bruising!
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: May 13, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 26, 2009
88-page, full-color digest
$2.69 U.S.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #171
"My Father's Betrayal, Part 2": The latest "New Look" saga has rocked Riverdale, with Veronica and her friends facing off against Mr. Lodge and his constituents as the teens try to keep a beloved nature preserve from becoming an industrial park! Last issue, the problem came to light. This issue, it's time for action! Petitions...posters...publicity...public meetings...it's all part of a multi-tiered strategy by the teens to bring the plight of the forest to the public. They even enlist a botany professor to join their protest! But when people on both sides of the issue debate, the problem is grayer than ever. Who will prevail? Can a compromise be reached before the trees all come down? It's the story you just can't afford to miss, served up in the "realistic" art style that made Betty and Veronica's "Bad Boy Trouble," Jughead's "Matchmakers," and Moose and Midge's "Breakup Blues" some of the most talked-about Archie stories in recent years! Famous superhero art team and Eisner Award nominees Rick Burchett and Terry Austin lend their formidable penciling and inking talents to this intriguing tale, brought to you by "New Look" scribe Melanie J. Morgan.
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan
ART: Rick Burchett and Terry Austin
PLUS: Other new and classic tales
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 27, 2009
On sale on newsstands: June 9, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

JUGHEAD #195
"The Milkweed Lament": Who is Pop Tate's best and steadiest customer? Everyone would say Jughead, of course, but they've somehow overlooked the mysterious Mr. Milkweed! What lengths will Jug go to in order to ensure that he is number one? "The Sandman": Jug's pals build a sand sculpture worthy of the big award. They just should have looked more closely before building it on top of Jughead! "Appetitement Excitement!": Jughead gets more thrills, chills and spills at the theme park's snack stand than the rest of the gang does from the rides!
SCRIPTS: Craig Boldman
ART: Rex Lindsey
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 20, 2009
On sale on newsstands: June 2, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #150
150th ISSUE SPECTACULAR
"Rip Van Juggie": After gorging himself in a hot dog eating contest, Jughead falls into a deep sleep...and envisions a future that can cause more nightmares than even too many hot dogs!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
"Meat of Champions": Reggie is certain that Jughead's choppers have finally met their match when Jughead accepts the new steakhouse's "eat a 72 ounce steak in 60 seconds" challenge!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Fernando Ruiz
"Family Resemblance": Put on your hazard gear – it's an Andrews family reunion, and clumsiness runs in the family!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Bob Bolling
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 13, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 26, 2009
176-page, full-color digest
$3.99 U.S.

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #102
"Finders Keepers, Part Two": The thrills and spills continue as we look back on Salem's life as a young wizard! Salem and his Uncle Mort are deep inside the cavern fortress of the evil Lizarmyn in search of treasure – and nothing is going right! Can Salem change the frog-wizard Todicus back to normal, or will they wind up on a Lizarmyn dinner table?! This dilemma is more than the pair can "digest," but they're determined to be removed from the menu!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
PENCILS: Chad Thomas
INKS: Jim Amash
Massively magical cover by Chad Thomas!
On sale at comic specialty shops: May 13, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 26, 2009
32-page, full-color comic
$2.50 U.S.

Bowling champs Chris and Lynda Barnes make an Archies appearance

From Archie Comics

Over the years, Archie Comics has presented many "real people" in its pages. Sometimes they appeared in parody form, with satirical versions of their names and likenesses used. Other times, the actual people lent their names and likenesses. A wide-range of "real" folks, from school librarians to comic shop owners to famous celebrities like Don Kirschner, Glenn Scarpelli and The Veronicas have appeared in Archie Comics-form.

The trend of having real people appear in Archie comics continues this issue. Real-life husband-and-wife team Chris and Lynda Barnes are noted for winning the most prestigious titles in bowling: Chris is the PBA player of the year and Lynda the 2008 USBC Queens champion. Now, bowling’s reigning championship couple thrills Archie Comics readers in the story "7-10 Slip" from PALS 'N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #131.

It all starts when Pop Tate breaks his arm in a fall. Naturally, the kids want to help, so they rally together to raise money for his medical bills. While their individual efforts to use their talents to raise funds are noble, the gang soon realizes they need some extra-special help. They call in Chris and Lynda Barnes for a special charity bowling event that attracts the attention of the whole town. With Chris and Lynda on board, it’s the most "striking" Archie story yet!

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

Bat-Blog does a guest shot in the L.A. Times, and Motor City is the place to be this weekend!

Our buddy Tommy of the Bat-Blog lends his expertise to the Los Angeles Times today, listing the top 10 Batman vintage collectibles! Is that fun or what? Check it out:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/05/top-10-vintage-batman-toys-for-your-inner-boy-wonder.html

Meanwhile, now's the time to drop in on the Motor City. At least this weekend's the time, when the annual mind-blowing Motor City Comic Con gets underway once again at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan. Not only will Dan Parent of Archie Comics be there to chat with fans and draw some cool stuff, but you might just be blessed enough to encounter two of the Big Three of "The Dukes of Hazzard." John Schneider (Bo Duke) and Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke) are scheduled to appear! (And speaking of the Big Three, call it one-and-a-half-and-another-half for our beloved "Three's Company": Joyce Dewitt, Priscilla Barnes and Richard Kline!)

And in the "Dallas" corner, the Ultimate Dallas site has a brand-spankin'-new interview up with Mr. Patrick Duffy, our own hunky Bobby Ewing, man of our dreams. (Did we mention he's hot?) Get it while it's hot off the press, so to speak: http://ultimatedallas.com/dallasinterviews/

Archie Comics launches mobile comics program

From Archie Comics

MAY 11, 2009, MAMARONECK, NY—Archie Comics makes the leap into the digital world of mobile content today with the launch of a new app for the iPhone.

Co-President Victor Gorelick explained: “Archie Comics has always worked with legendary creators to create funny stories. Over the years, we have been successful in bringing those stories to each new generations. The new iPhone application allows us to better reach the next generation of Archie fans. We have always provided our readers with the best reading experience possible, and this new endeavor is no exception. People have come to expect high-quality, humorous entrainment, and we always do our very best to deliver that to our fans with every comic.”

Co-President Fred Mausser said, “We are excited about the possibilities of the new iPhone application. This will be another format for our fans to enjoy digital Archie Comics. The iPhone is an evolution for the comics industry and we look forward to bringing our tradition of humor and mirth into this new medium.”

Managing Editor Mike Pellerito said, “iPhone apps an area where Archie Comics foresees significant growth. We are focusing on iTunes with our partner iVerse. Selling our comics directly to fans electronically will expand our ability to get our comics in the hands of our fans in a whole new way. We have been included in the iPhone app with Comicology since their launch earlier this year and comics as a whole are doing very well on iTunes.”

Spotted: George Kennedy

Walker-wielding but still looking good, George Kennedy, our own Carter McKay of "Dallas," was a delight to see in the 2007 flick "Sands of Oblivion" on the Sci Fi Channel. In the movie, Kennedy is John Tevis, a rather exuberant and obsessed older gentlemen searching in the California desert for a piece of the set of Cecil B. DeMille's "Ten Commandments" buried many decades earlier. The item, purported to be an actual Egyptian artifact, is of special significance to him.

Kennedy shares the desert scenes with the hunky Victor Webster of the syndicated "Mutant X," who plays his grandson, as well as Adam Baldwin, the non-Baldwin-Brother megahunk BRBTV just can't get enough of on NBC's "Chuck."

You can't really say that Kennedy is slowing down since his days at Weststar Oil. He has a brand-new project in the works, "Six Days in Paradise."

Morgan Fairchild, Linda Gray featured on celebrity merchandise site

"Your online store for purchasing authentic celebrity memorabilia from some of your favorite stars" ... so says FanSourceCelebritySales.com, which starts out its biz with three classic TV stars. All of them are female, all are liked by BRBTV, and two are part of the BRBTV family!

Morgan Fairchild and Linda Gray of "Dallas" -- the former, one of the Jenna Wades, and the latter, the one and only Sue Ellen Ewing -- are two of the three, and there's an assortment of fun stuff you can buy in their name. Quite literally. Because often they sign the stuff. It's one-of-a-kind stuff, too.

Fairchild's assortment is mostly clothing, but there is a nice little nugget -- an autographed script from her "Dallas" appearance. For Gray, you can snag a Southfork watch, her own flashlight gift to the "Dallas" crew members, and other goodies.

Since the third actress featured on the site is our beloved Lindsay Wagner (and we already own that Bionic Woman doll and board game ... alas ...), let's hope FanSource plans to expand this site to many, many more great classic TV stars.

BRBTV birthdays for May

- Lance LeGault, who is a BRBTV triple-shot as Al Halliday on "Dallas," Ray Bonning on "Dynasty" and Les Sloane on "The Dukes of Hazzard," turns 74 on May 2.
- Melissa Gilbert, the "Little House on the Prairie" star who was the original voice of Barbara Gordon and Batgirl on "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 45 on May 8.
- Jeanna Michaels, who was Lydia Saunders on "Santa Barbara" and secretary Connie on "Dallas," turns 53 on May 9.
- Denver Pyle, the venerable Uncle Jesse of "The Dukes of Hazzard," was born on May 11, 1920, and died on December 25, 1997.
- Karen Cellini, who took over the role of Amanda Carrington on "Dynasty," celebrates her 51st birthday on May 13.
- Nina Arvesen, "Santa Barbara"'s long-suffering Angela Raymond whom you kinda had to keep your eye on, turns 48 on May 16.
- Priscilla Pointer, who played Pam's mom Rebecca Wentworth on "Dallas," turns 85 on May 18.
- Pointer's castmate on "Dallas," Gail Strickland, who portrayed Veronica Robinson, was also born on May 18, turning 62.
- Richard Hatch, who put temptation in the face of Claudia Blaisdel as Dean Caldwell on "Dynasty," and also was a brief (original) Stephen Slade on "Santa Barbara," turns 64 on May 21.
- Priscilla Presley, the lovely (third and final) Jenna Wade on "Dallas," turns 64 on May 24.
- Barbara Stock, who was Liz Adams on "Dallas," turns 53 on May 26.
- Shannon Kenny, who was the voice of villain Inque on "Batman Beyond," turns a young 38 on May 26.
- Adrian Paul, who was Kolya (Nikolai) Rostov on "The Colbys," turns 50 on May 29.
- Ted McGinley, the handsome Clay Fallmont on "Dynasty," turns 51 on May 30.
- Omri Katz, the bright John Ross Ewing III on "Dallas," turns a young 33 on May 30.
- David Ackroyd, who was the original Gary Ewing on "Dallas," then played Lt. Fred Merrill on "Dynasty," turns 69 on May 30.

Happy birthday to all!

Welcome, Bobby Ewing, to official cyberspace ...

... along with Mark Harris, and Frank Lambert!

Yes, Patrick Duffy has gotten himself an official website:
http://www.patrickduffy.org/

Check out the News page and you can keep up-to-date on stuff like Duffy's YouTube series with "The Crab." It's cute. Because he's cute. Just because he's hot. And he can't help being hot. (Did we mention he's still hot?)

Duffy will also be one of the TV dads honored at the Academy of Arts and Sciences on June 18. AND ... Duffy tells fans from the home page that he's planning a "Man from Atlantis" book trilogy.

Keep an eye on the site; Duffy says he's going through "old boxes of my life's treasures" to share.

Meet Greg Evigan at the Professional Stuntman Invitational

Have you booked your hotel yet? What are ya waitin' for? It's your chance to meet Greg Evigan, who was the star of the '80s "B.J. and the Bear," as well as Willie Gust on our beloved "Dallas" and many, many other roles over the years: Dan Hathaway on "Melrose Place," Robert Russo on "Pacific Palisades," Jake in the "TekWars" movies, and of course Joey on "My Two Dads."

Evigan will be joining Don Pedro Colley, Sonny Shroyer, Byron Cherry and Rick Hurst of "The Dukes of Hazzard" at the Professional Stuntman Invitation (Carnival of Thrills) event in June. As we reported in our February 20 post, the show happens at the Concord (N.C.) Speedway on June 26-28, 2009. The stunt show will feature some of Hollywood's best and brightest stunt guys: Ted Barba, Buzz Bundy, Corey Eubanks, James Smith, Lee Smith, Al Wyatt Jr. and A.J. Thrasher.

BRB also will be there signing copies of her "Dukes" reference book, "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!"

The event website is up and open for business:
http://www.professionalstuntmaninvitational.com/

Check it out to get your entry form if you want to participate in the hot rod, antique and muscle car show. You'll also find all the hotel info you need. So get crackin'!

Relive Archie's "Freshman Year" saga in trade paperback collection

From Archie Comics

For years, Archie readers have thrilled to the adventures of their favorite comic book teens as they traversed the latter years of high school. But many have also wondered what happened in the years before. How did everyone meet? Were the teachers always at the high school? Did all of Archie's friends always live in Riverdale? Have Midge and Moose always dated, and just when did the "eternal love triangle" first start?

Although pieces of the puzzle have been revealed in various stories through the years, there has never been one, all-encompassing story presenting all the details and how they fit together... until now! In the "Freshman Year" saga, originally presented in the pages of ARCHIE #587-591, readers finally learned the back-story behind Riverdale's fabled cast of characters. This new classic is now set to join the list of other famous comic book "prequels" as all four stories are collected together in the first edition of "The High School Chronicles!"

This trade paperback collection will make an excellent addition to any Archie fan's bookshelf. This special storyline is brought to you by fan-favorite writer Batton Lash. Archie fans know him as the man behind the intriguing "House of Riverdale" multi-part storyline and the legendary "Archie Meets the Punisher" cross-over classic. Handling the art chores is popular Archie Comics writer and artist, Bill Galvan. So get your Homecoming dress, pack your brand-new backpack, and pick up your school map to find your way to the biggest Archie story of the year!

THE HIGH SCHOOL CHRONICLES VOLUME ONE: FRESHMAN YEAR
SCRIPT: Batton Lash
ART: Bill Galvan
On sale at comic specialty shops: April 29, 2009
On sale on newsstands: May 12, 2009
112-page, full-color trade paperback
$10.95 U.S.

Archie Comics for April

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Dynasty" stars head into daytime

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This year, Hair Dare Dukes Weekend moves to September

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

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

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

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

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

From Archie Comics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don Schisler: An appreciation

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

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

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

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

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

BRBTV birthdays for April

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

Happy birthday!

Knight Rider Festival: The stars, part 2

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


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

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

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



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

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

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



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

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

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

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

Knight Rider Festival: The stars, part 1

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


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

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

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

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

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

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

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Knight Rider Festival: The cars

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


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



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

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

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