King's Chronicles

Username:	Password:
Forgot your password?	Remember Me

Circus
Michael Jackson is scheduled to be buried in a few hours at Forest Lawn, which is not even two miles from our house. The helicopters were circling the area all afternoon. They will probably kick in early tomorrow, too. TV reporters say the road in front of Forest Lawn is already filled with fans and news crews and my gym, located almost directly across from the cemetery, sent all its members e-mails cautioning us that getting in to work out tomorrow AM my be "difficult."

I don't really have a lot to say about Michael Jackson. There are maybe four songs of his I like, and yes, when he was on his game, he was a hell of a showman. But I was never much of a fan. I think the only record of his I own is the ET story album and I only kept that because his narration was so damn weird sounding. Misty says we have THRILLER somewhere, but I swear I've never seen it. We rearranged our CD collection the other day, so hang on while I go look for it...

Huh, son of a bitch, we do have it. It was on the same shelf with that Willie Nelson CD of Cindy Walker songs I've been looking for. I was going to play "Human Nature," but now I'll fire up Willie's version of "Cherokee Maiden" instead. Oh man, that's sweet. Now where was I? Oh yeah, Michael Jackson. Kinda sad. Just because you have enough money to keep yourself in permanent childhood doesn't mean you should. Also no good can come from living ones life surrounded by enablers, yes-men, hangers on and other parasites. The doctors report may eventually reveal prescription drugs took their toll on the King of Pop's heart, but I think we all know Michael Jackson was really torn apart by scavengers.

And with that, it's back to Willie Nelson.

Current Mood: grumpy

I am mad at the Museum of Natural History
So I am in New York today.

Now before all my New York and New Jersey pals get mad for me not calling, lemme explain. I came in early yesterday for a wedding that lasted most of the day. Most of last night and this AM I spent writing in my room and I had an afternoon meeting today that wound up going well over two hours. That left me with maybe 90 free minutes, which made it hard to call or see anyone, much as I would have liked to.

Still, I did have 90 minutes before my meeting, and I had been meaning for some time to get a nice photo of my favorite exhibit at the New York Museum of Natural History, the thylacine, or Tasmanian wolf.

Now the Tasmanian wolf is my favorite animal of all time. No doubt my affinity for the creature was sparked forty-odd years ago when caught my first glimpse of the museum's stuffed specimen as I was wheeled around the AMNH as a tot. The AMNH has no set area for Australian mammals, and over the decades the thylacine has been placed here and there, often as a free-standing curiosity or a sad commentary on recent extinctions (I have a differing opinion on that, but it's a story for another time -- a pretty good story, too, but I digress). Anyhoo, the AMNH thylacine is probably the best preserved example in the US. I think it was mounted by the museum's master taxidermist Carl Akeley, but I'm not sure. It also maybe the same thylacine that lived in the Bronx Zoo circa 1912, but again, I can't confirm. It sure is a pip of a specimen, though. Take a look:

http://www.50plusny.com/Tasmanianwolf_JB.jpg

The one in the Smithsonian is okay, though kinda ragged, and the one at the Harvard museum was collected in the 1880s when the animal was little known and, thanks to inaccurate stuffing, looks more like a distempered dog. But like I said, the AMNH's thylacine is the ne plus ultra of carnivorous marsupial mounts and I was looking forward to taking a few photos for my collection.

So I get to the museum determined to be in and out in under 90 minutes and I decide to be a good little naturalist and reup our museum subscription. I shell out roughly a dollar amount equivalent to the minutes I have to spend there, and set off to hunt down the thylacine. It's not down by the dodo, which was the last place I saw it, and after inquiring of a docent, I am told it has been moved to a new temporary exhibit called Extreme Mammals. Now that sounds great to me and lo and behold, as part of my sign-up package, I have been given a free ticket for the event. I arrive at the fourth floor ready to go, with brand new camera in hand, when I am told in no uncertain terms by security guards and venom-tongued volunteers that there is NO PHOTOGRAPHY in the exhibit.

Well, that is a big HA HA on me as I have come all this way, especially to snap a critter that was sitting in an ignored plastic cube down by the coat check area the last time I saw it. I call the mammal curator to see if mayyybe, I can snap just one li'l ol' picture, reupping member paying well over the renewal price and all, and besides, I draw a thylacine character named Hobart in the Little Rashy cartoons that you've never heard of before but are pretty cool anyway and I and am told again no, sorry, no photography in the exhibit.

Damn.

Once again I am face to face with Thylacinus cynocephalus and once again I miss my shot. (That story for another time again.) The curator bent a little, and said as I was a member I could make an appointment to see some other thylacine bits and pieces (including another fair, but not as nicely preserved full body mount) they have off exhibit but I'd have to wait a few days. As I am only in the Apple for today, that helps me not, but I resolve to plan ahead for next time.

And for what it's worth, the Extreme Mammals exhibit is pretty bitchin'. Definitely worth checking out. The thylacine is at the end, in, as always, the extinction section, and close by it is a newly accquired striped rabbit, a recent discovery from Laos, I think.

One goes out as one comes in. That's the way of the animal world.

Current Mood: mad, getting over it
Current Music: Animal Crackers in My Soup - Shirley Temple

Pups
I guess I'm on a chuck wagon cooking kick this weekend. First it was buffalo habanero chili for dinner on Friday, then tonight I whipped up a batch of spotted pup (rice pudding with raisins) for dessert. Old Side Meat himself would be proud.

And speaking of pups, spotted or otherwise, here's Deuce:

Pretty cute, huh? He's modeling his "What the huh?" expression. We see that a lot when the subject of walks, treats and such comes up. We'll post one of his brother Mugsy when we get a nice one. Jackie Bass, our photographer on the upcoming calendar shoot, did a tremendous job on our Boston bulls. I will post info. on the calendar when it becomes available. All proceeds go to Boston Buddies, a very worthy cause around here.

Current Mood: happy
Current Music: "Hey Bulldog" - The Beatles

Kibbles and Bits
First, thanks to everyone who dug the Bat-Mite episode of BRAVE AND BOLD and wrote here and at Twitter to tell me so. No writer, least of all myself, is responsible for the success of an animated cartoon, but when you are working with great cartoonists and directors like those on the B & B crew, you can get a perfect jam going, kind of like musicians all playing together and making something sweet. And speaking of sweet cartoons...

***

Misty and I really REALLY loved UP. I felt it was Pixar's best in a long time, even moreso than last year's WALL-E, visually stunning, but a bit too predictable and preachy-green for me. I think UP may be the first cartoon feature ever made for married couples as it really struck an emotional chord with other husbands and wives we know who saw it. I've had the pleasure of working with Ed Asner a number of times and I thought he would never find another vocal role that would top his turn as Granny Goodness. Happily as I was wrong.

Cheers to my old pal Ronnie Del Carmen, credited as head of story on the project. Even though UP had a great script, I'm sure many of the picture's most heartfelt moments were born from Ronnie's renderings. I've been lucky to work with Mr. Del Carmen on a couple of comic projects, including a couple Batman stories and an issue or two of Jingle Belle. Ronnie came up with the final character design for Polly the Witch, and I've gone into animation studios all over the world and seen his model sheet pinned up over many an admiring animator's desk.

Also, as a kid who grew up in the East Bay, I cheered at the inclusion of Oakland's long time ice cream haven Fentons. Their rainbow sherbet was always a big favorite of mine and I couldn't help but think its wild color scheme influenced the plumage of Kevin, the giant bird. Well, maybe not, but it was fun seeing the old place there, logo and all. That's a small but telling difference in the thought process between Pixar films and Dreamworks. A Dreamworks flick would have had Russell talking about Baskin and Robbins, which would have had a huge tie-in with the picture. But Pete Docter put in Fentons, a little neighborhood parlor where I imagine many of the animators go with their kids. What a nice, classy touch.

***

Our house is decorated for Christmas six months early. Deuce and Mugsy are doing a photo shoot for the Boston Buddies 2010 calendar tomorrow. They are having their baths now and I must pay William, their dog groomer.

Later.

Current Mood: cool
Current Music: "Serenade to a Poodle" - Slim Gaillard

And another thing...
I'm posting at Twitter.

http://twitter.com/Paul_Dini

Follow along as I regale you with anectodes about our dogs, descriptions of what I had for breakfast and other items of little or no interest.

Current Mood: wiped
Current Music: Everybody Eats When they Come to My House - Cab Calloway

A bunch of junk
Missed the recent Monsterquest episode on thylacines -- tonight's offering is on deadly jellyfish. I had an encounter with some nasty stingers about twelve years ago in Indonesia. I got away unscathed. Some of the other divers I was with -- not so lucky.

***

I really kind of hate that SNL Gilly character -- she reminds me too much of my old enemy, Laffin' Sal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfc43S55dvY&feature=related

Still, her "Sorry" catch phrase is pretty damn infectious. You win another round, Kristen Wiig.

***

Very pleased with the just released MAD LOVE HC. Nice to see Bruce and mine's first published story in such a cool archival package.

***

Stephane Roux rules the Earth. His art on Zatanna is a wonder to behold. This book will knock out a lot of eyeballs. Dunno when it actually debuts though. I'm thinking late fall but I could be wrong. Will try to clarify by next post.

***

Bought a swell chrome uke this week from Ruth and Coop. It has a great sound and plays really nicely. And yes, that's Coop as in mega-cool devil girl rock and roll hot rod artist Coop. His latest show opens this Friday at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City. Anyone reading this here in LA should check it out.

***

Pilot casting starts soon. I'm getting excited...

***

Deuce and Mugsy have decided all squirrels everywhere are mocking them and so must be destroyed. It makes our daily walks interesting.

***

Current books I'm reading or have just finished: "Our Magic" by Maskelyne and Devant, "The Energy of Money" by Maria Nemeth and "The Batman Annuals" by various people claiming to be Bob Kane.

***

I am convinced that Don Mossi was the coolest-looking guy ever to play pro baseball. Take a peep at his card if you dare:

http://eastwindupchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/6e_1.jpg

Man, there's a mug even Basil Woolverton couldn't touch. Too bad Don never hooked up with Laffin' Sal. They would have popped out some wicked cool mutants.

***

So let me get this straight -- America no longer manufactures anything of consequence any more because running all those factories and paying all those workers living wages got too expensive. So the CEOs fired everyone, closed the factories and outsourced most of the jobs overseas to save money. And what did the CEOs do with all the money they saved? Spent it on bonuses for themselves, it sounds like. And we wonder why we're in trouble for what reason?

Current Mood: grumpy
Current Music: "Different Drum" - Linda Ronstadt

The Saturday Scramble
Misty is in the living room brainstorming with her musical improv group. Mugsy and Deuce are providing creative imput and hoping for doughnuts. I'm setting down a few blurbs too short for full posts, yet too long for Twitter.

***

Saw a run-through of Conan's new Tonight Show last night. It was pretty funny. Nice to see Andy back riding shotgun. Rebecca Romijn and Patton Oswalt were the guests. Patton was hysterical. I hope he comes back and dos his routine for the rest of the country to see it. The Conan set is great, probably the best talk show set on TV. They are really pulling out the stops for this -- I hope he does well.

***

Comic-con is looming on the horizon. People have already started asking me what panels I'm doing and where the parties are. I don't have any answers yet. I want to keep a kind of low profile this year, not commit myself to anything and try and enjoy the con like a fan again. I'm hoping to have a new small press book out for the show, available at my table only. It'll feature one of my own characters, I'll reveal which one shortly. I'm also toying with the idea of releasing some gorgeous but unseen girl designs on baby doll tee shirts for the show, and then for sale on the Dinicartoons website. I'm thinking Ida Red, Polly and maybe Tashi. Any takers?

Current Mood: busy
Current Music: Kangaroo Hop - George Gershwin

Home again
I'm back and recovered from England. Actually the recovery time is less and less as I am getting more used to my quarterly "commutes." I'm still not flying United next time over, though.

My last day I did a lot of Batman game press for some European magazines - nine interviews in two hours. They had me holed up in a swanky hotel suite, the perfect place for a media bash. Luckily most of my interviews were just on the phone. Afterwards some of the press folks and I dashed across Rathbone St. to the Newman Arms for a pie and a pint. I recommend the chicken and broccoli in pepper sauce. Fantastic.

I finished up the trip with a business dinner at La Porte Des Indes. It remeinded me of the dear, dead days when Flint Dille and I would goof ourselves on Chef Saad's hallucenogenic ten star curry at LA's Canard De Bombay. Next morning I was back on the plane, listening to a half dozen Theme Time Radio Hours graciously provided by TTRH announcer Pierre Mancini. I love that show and sure hope they come back for a fourth season. However given the current state of flux at XM/Sirius and Bob Dylan's non-stop tour schedule, it's looking kind of dicey.

Back home to my loving wife, the pups and a pile of work to chew through. My pilot is nearing production at Cartoon Network which is exciting in an overwhelming kind of way. Maybe I'll do a daily blog once we start shooting. Shouldn't be too long now.

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: Pompton Turnpike - Charlie Barnet

London Calling part two
I spent all Wednesday and Thursday working, and that's all I have to say about that.

Today I did a lot of press for the Batman Arkham video game coming out late this summer. Its release has been pushed back to the end of August. If you were expecting it in early June, I apologize for the delay and if it's any consolation I can assure you it will be worth the wait.

On my way back to the hotel today I walked through Cecil Court, a small, Victorian-style alley near Covent Garden lined on either side with antique bookshops. I thought I'd surprise Misty with some books from theatre and magic book shop but sadly they are closed this week. A visit to a rare print shop was equally frustrating. I was looking for nature prints of strange animals, but none of them it turned out, were stranger than the owner of the shop. "What 'dyou want?!" she demanded in a cockney screech as I neared the shop. She had been outside having a chat with a friend on a bike and seemed outraged that she would have to break off and attend to someone who actually wanted to buy something. I mentioned animal prints and the owner responded with a put-upon nod. "I've been running this shop thirty years and I know every print." She said as she sourly lead the way through the door. "What animal you looking for?" "Tasmanian tiger." I said. "WHAT?!" She snapped, obviously unfamiliar with the creature. "It's like a striped dog," I began, but she shut me off with a shrill "I've been running this shop thirty years, I never seen anything like that!" As the owner seemed anxious to get back to her task of stripping the bed curtains from the dead miser's suite above her shop, I meekly left.

To be continued...

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Music: I've Got Dreams To Remember - Otis Redding

London Calling part one
Dogs always know what is going on.

They may lick spilled eggs off the floor, or pee on your priceless collection of Li'l Abner reprints or bark insanely at squirrels until they have to be forcibly dragged down the sidewalk, but on a purely emotional level, your dog has you pegged coming and going.

Such was the case earlier at home this week. Both Deuce and Mugsy knew "something was up" and the closer we drew to my departure on Monday, the more aggitated they became. Mugsy would leap up and gently bat me with his front paws whenever I headed toward the front door, as if entreating me to stay. While working in my office, I would often look up to find that Deuce had carefully arranged all his beloved toys in a line at my feet, his way of saying I had my pick of his things if only I would not go. Even his treasured now-stuffingless gray squirrel and the moist rag that once was a pheasant. Yeah, I have a lump in my throat, too.

Still, business is business and my business demanded that I be in London this week. I said good bye to the sad Boston muzzles moping in the window, and did a fair amount of moping of my own as my already-missed Misty drove me to the airport.

The flight over was terrible. I don't know what happened to United. Fifteen years ago it was great, with comfortable cabins serviced by a friendly and attentive staff. I know the days of the crisply uniformed stewardess with her perky pilot hat and sparkling smile are long gone, but I think we deserve better than the Gorns and Mugatos prowling the aisles of today's impersonal sky barges.

And your fellow passengers - Kee-rist! I had barely settled into my seat - J9, when a hundred year old harridan with all the charm of a scalded ratel attacked me for seemingly taking her seat. "Get out! Get out!" She wheezed, shaking a ticket that clearly read H9 in my face. "Me and my family have these seats! Move his bags!" She croaked to her rather addled-looking 60 year old daughter. "Just put them in the aisle! Let him deal with them! GET OUT!" It took no less than three flight attendants to finally convince Lady Magoo she had the wrong seat. As it was I wound up spending the entire trip seated next to her husband, a whiny elderly gent who wore brown sandals and white socks and stank of chorizo.

Magic.

It was early Tuesday AM when I finally got to my hotel room. I checked in with Misty and the boys (all fine) as I unpacked. Having no business scheduled until the next day, I took a run over to the Duke of Uke, a great funky ukulele and banjo emporium in Whitechapel. I spent a blissful hour plunking away and chatting with the store's owner about George Formby, the merits of the concert uke over the soprano (and vice versa) and the new Beansprout banjolele I received for Christmas and am still struggling to master. I walked out with a new concert Pono uke in a flight case. Got a decent deal on them, too. Back at the hotel I got about halfway through "The Old Chisholm Trail" before jet lag got me and I passed out.

More to come...

Current Mood: tired
Current Music: "The Coffee Song" - Frank Sinatra

Leaving the table
A week ago I received an email from a relative, a college professor, with the heading: Worf: batlh Daqawlu'taH!

At first I had no idea what that meant. I recognized the name of our dog, but the rest of the phrase looked like the writer had suffered a stroke while typing it.

"Is that Hebrew?" Misty asked as we tried to puzzle it out.

"No," I said, it slowly dawning on me, "I think it's Klingon."

Sure enough, a fast Google search translated the phrase as "Worf: You will be remembered with honor." Very fitting as the Klingon Worf was always this relative's favorite Star Trek character. We smiled, cried a little, and agreed our much loved professor had found a very touching and sweet way to remember our little guy. Many thanks, Prof.

And thanks again for everyone who expressed kind thoughts here, or in person or with a card or a call. It really meant a lot to us as we went through a hard time and a pretty awful start to the new year.

One thing is for sure, there's nowhere to go except up. And as this is a new year with new challenges and changes, I've decided to also make a big change here. This is probably my last Livejournal post for a while, maybe not forever, but definitely for the forseeable future. I've always been aware life is fleeting and nothing brought that home like the events of the last month. While I love being part of the on line community, over the last year I've gradually become aware of how much time I was spending on the net, either checking out news pages, posting in forums, reading trivia, or just dinking around when I had nothing better to do, and, even worse, when I had better things to do. And when I start to notice certain indulgences becoming habits, like the weekly cup of coffee becoming daily, or the monthly cocktail becoming nightly, I quit. Just drop it like the business end of a branding iron and move away.

It looks like I've got a busy year coming up and when I'm not at the computer actively writing a project, I'm going to force myself to not be at the keyboard at all. Hit the gym, practice the uke, annoy my neighbors, make more Rashy films, anything to get me up, out and away. I'll still be writing the 200 Words column over at iFanboy at least until someone over there wakes up and throws me off, but for the most part I'm putting myself on an internet free diet.

So as I make ready to pay the check on this extended breakfast, I feel I should impart some final summation on the four years of fun we've shared here. Maybe wistfully recall certain notable past posts, or give a nod to the fine friends who have always dropped by to share their thoughts and post funny comments. Or perhaps leave you with a few philosophical thoughts of my own, humble as they are, on life, on love, on man and his ever-evolving relationship to God and the universe.

Or maybe just run this photo of the Loch Ness Monster wearing Aretha Franklin's hat:

Yes. I think that says it all.

Adios, muchachos.

Paul

Current Mood: resolved
Current Music: "So Long Saddle Pals" - Riders In the Sky

A sweet old soul
We lost Worf last night.

It came at the end of a day when we had extra time to visit him. He was happy to see us and strong in our arms. His doctor was surprised and encouraged by the progress he was making. We left in good spirits and at peace, telling ourselves if this was the last day we were to have with him, that would be enough.

And, as a higher power, and most likely Worf himself agreed, it was.

Misty and I can't begin to express the gratitude we feel to everyone who posted a comment, called with a kind word or otherwise sent positive energies to ourselves and the boy.

Bless you all.

Up and down

We've been visiting Worf twice a day. The doctor says his x-rays looked a little worse today (he has pneumonia) but he is expected to get worse before he gets better. At any rate he seemed stronger tonight, standing up more and trying to push his way out of the oxygen cage when we opened it. We know it's touch and go, but we are putting out all the positive energy we have. Big thanks again to everyone who has sent good wishes. I know our little guy appreciates it, as do Misty and I.

Current Mood: grateful

Worf

Our little guy is in the ICU after having surgery. It doesn't look good, but he has a small chance.

Here's hoping Lady Luck is on his side.

Current Mood: sad

Christmas Wrap-Up
More positive notices on this year's Jing comic even though the season is on the wane. Here's what the Washington Times had to say:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/25/offbeat-holiday-offerings/#

And Tony Isabella wrote this at his site, www.worldfamouscomics.com :

TONY’S TIPS XTRA
for Monday, December 29, 2008

My favorite Christmas story this year is JINGLE
BELLE: SANTA CLAUS VS. FRANKENSTEIN [Top
Cow/Image; $2.99] by Paul Dini and Stephanie
Gladden. Here’s the short version sans spoilers:

When the ever-rebellious daughter of Santa shirks
her sock monkey production duties to go snow
boarding at the North Pole, she finds the
Frankenstein Monster in a block of
ice. Meanwhile, back in the U.S.A., a town
council is on the verge of banning Santa Claus
from its environs. Talk about your war on Christmas!

Dini delivers a very funny adventure with a
satisfying ending, all in 20 pages. We even get
a guest appearance from Polly Green, the
self-appointed “official witch of
Halloween.” When he’s not tied to DC’s dumb
events, Dini is as good as or better than any writer in the room.

Gladden’s art and storytelling is so good that I
want to have her comic-book babies. Her layouts
are crystal clear and full of life. Her drawings
practically move on the pages. Moreover, the
coloring by Felix Serrano is as bright and lively as the art.

As an added stocking stuffer, this holiday
special also brings us news of more
“Dinicartoons” books in the new year. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

JINGLE BELLE: SANTA CLAUS VS. FRANKENSTEIN earns
the full five out of five Tonys.

Thanks, Tony. Happy New Year to you.

Hmm, more Polly Green love. I think a Halloween one-shot or a mini is a must for her next year. I'll see if I can get that in the works.

It's that quiet week between Xmas and New year's. As this looks to be the closest thing I will be getting to a vacation until the San Diego Comic Con (how sad is that?) I'm taking it easy. Spent Christmas Day playing my new banjolele (oxoxx, Misty!) and the days after watching Dr. Syn and Donald Duck DVDs (more xs and os). Other Yuletide surprises included an assortment of offbeat DCAU figures I had no idea existed (B'wana Beast, yes!), the Lionel R27 Subway set, and a hand-thrown and fired dish from my mom. Best Christmas ever.

Hope yours was just as nice. I'll be back around New Year's but right now I'm going to make like ol' Joe Bear and continue hibernating:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVEBgESH4Ew

"Shuddup! Quahht! You deef or som'thin'?!?"

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Music: "Hello Mr. New Year" - The Coolbreezers

You Scrooge, you lose
I've seen live productions of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London. Watched animated versions featuring every character from Scrooge McDuck to Mr. Magoo to Yosemite Sam. I was even in an East Bay production years ago as both young Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
However, I ain't never seen no version of Christmas Carol like the one I saw last night. It was at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, and Misty, my brother Steve and I attended with our good friend and rare raconteur Mark Evanier. I'll let Mark fill you in on the gruesome details. From the pre-curtain selection of Victorian mood music ("Santa Baby") to the last flubbed scenery change, I can safely say it was the most unforgettable version of Dickens' venerable holiday classic any of us had ever seen. Read Mark's account of the debacle at the link below, then click back for closing thoughts from me.

http://www.newsfromme.com/

One detail Mark left out, at one point during most productions of Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Present opens his robe to reveal two shivering skeletal children named Ignorance and Want clutching at his legs. I think what was to happen in this version was that spotlights were to be shined through the scrim behind the ghost and the two smaller spectres were to be revealed on either side of him. Or something. The lights never went on, the kids missed their cues, and Scrooge and the Ghost pressed on as if the tiny apparitions were still there. Halfway through the ghost's monologue, we did see two panicked kids dressed as mummies running back and forth behind the scrim, proving that ignorance, of a sort, did make it on stage after all.

Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "Santa Baby" - Eartha Kitt

This year's Christmas film
Misty and I had a sweet holiday sugarplum to post today on Quickstop Entertainment, but then Rashy got into the editing room, and well, you know Rashy.

http://www.quickstopentertainment.com/2008/12/23/paul-dini/

With apologies to screaming children everywhere.

Current Mood: rushed
Current Music: A Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

Home today...
...Sicker than a possum. Always seems to happen right before Christmas. Must be all that handshaking at parties. The Meltdown event last night was fun. No one really came in costume, but I gave out Cds anyway. Today I went to the Doc and he said take it easy next week, so I'm doing just that. Today I'm relaxing and enjoying one the greatest Xmas presents I've ever received -- a copy of every Puppetoon short George Pal made. Most of them, especially the Jaspers, are completely new to me. All thanks and hosannas of glee to Cartoon King Jerry Beck for making this an awesome Christmas -- and it's only just started.

Another spoonful of medicine and it's back to Puppetsville for me.

Current Mood: Out of it
Current Music: Christmas Cake - Rilo Kiley

Reminder...
Party tonight at Meltdown, Hollywood. I'm bringing along a few of the just-released limited edition BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES soundtracks. Finally, fifteen years later, we get the soundtrack album. Have to admit, it was worth the wait. The 2 disc set (and yes, it's a volume I, there will be more coming) is a fitting tribute to Shirley Walker who unfortunately did not live to see its release. I miss her a lot. CD has liner notes by myself, Xmas With the Joker writer and all around comedy master Eddie Gorodetsky, and many notations by Bruce Timm on virtually every score.

As I said, I'll be bringing a bunch of CDs to Meltdown and handing them out as prizes to people who come dressed in the best Yuletide-themed outfit. Sure a Santa hat counts, but let's see a little of that comic con cosplay creativity applied to the holidays. Come as a reindeer, a spinning dreidel, a bag of gelt or Futurama's Kwaanza-bot. You could be Mary Bailey, an ungifted fruitcake, or a Wal-Mart gift card. Think about it, what other season offers a chance to dress up as such iconic heroes and villains? On the good guys side we've got Santa, baby Jesus, Hannukah Harry, Frosty, the virgin Mary, Befana the witch, and Buddy the elf (to name just a few) and in the dastard's camp there's Scrooge, Mr. Potter, the Miser Bros., the Grinch and the very first name in Christmas eve-il, King Herod.

Hey, you! Yeah, YOU! Come to my party!
That's right -- Meltdown and Top Cow are hosting a Christmas bash this Friday night, Dec. 19th. in Hollywood. I'll be there signing copies of the new JINGLE BELLE book and hosting a Q & A in their gallery. We'll have cool music, treats and a bunch of surprises. Click below for all the information.

http://www.meltcomics.com/blog/2008/12/11/paul-dinis-jingle-belle-christmas-party-dec-19/

See you there!

Current Mood: excited
Current Music: Christmas Island - Ella Fitzgerald