kingofbreakfast: Dinkin' around

Paul Dini (

kingofbreakfast) wrote,
@ 2008-01-02 23:17:00

Current mood:

awake

Dinkin' around
Misty and I dashed out of the Sierras late yesterday, putting a good couple of days between us and a storm that threatens to blanket the entire area with ten feet of snow. I have no problem with being snowed in if nothing else is going on, but the world is pounding at our door early this year, so it's best we are back home and launching into the new year before Suzy Snowflake starts tappin' at our windowpane. As it is, it looks like L.A. is in for a week of rainstorms starting tomorrow, good news as we haven't had a real rainy season in a couple of years.

***

Earlier today while sorting through my Christmas recordings and filing away this year's new acquisitions, I realized I could play one a day until next Christmas and still not hear them all. I'm tempted to try it, but then again, do I really want to be listening to Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd rendition of "Silent Night" or Korla Pandit's version of "White Christmas" in May? I think even my tolerance would be sorely tested at that point. Back they all go into the nearly-bottomless record collection until next November.

***

2007 was a big work year for me. There was of course, the weekly COUNTDOWN book, plus more or less monthly editions of DETECTIVE and MADAME MIRAGE. Outside of comics there was GATCHAMAN, several animation developments (both features and TV) and scripts for the upcoming CLONE WARS series, not to mention podcasts, interviews, Monkey Talk films and some personal projects that may finally see fruition later in 2008. For this year I have a couple more months of COUNTDOWN to go, along with more TEC, probably MIRAGE season II and more fun with my other family of characters (Jing, Polly, Rashy, Ida, etc.) Anything else, I expect to deal with as it comes up.

(Post a new comment)

	zatara2000 2008-01-03 09:32 am UTC (link)
	Hey Paul. Did you and Misty ever recieve the holiday CDs I sent you, as well as the musical instruments I sent Rashy and SuperRica? (Reply to this)(Thread)

kingofbreakfast
2008-01-03 10:46 pm UTC (link)

We did, thanks. We picked them up a few days late as we were away, but everything you sent was much appreciated. The monkeys are running around making noise, so the instruments may be put away soon. The Christmas CDs are lots of fun. Several unheard goodies there from Red Sovine, Sum 41 and Tenacious D, and more. Your letter was pretty awesome, too. Thanks again and have a wonderful New Year.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	steveflack 2008-01-03 10:22 am UTC (link)
	Gatchaman? -Steve! (Reply to this)(Thread)

	kingofbreakfast 2008-01-03 10:51 pm UTC (link)
	Coming sometime next year. (Reply to this)(Parent)

nachtswerg
2008-01-03 04:12 pm UTC (link)

I think the important question here, Paul, is at what point would Misty present you with either new headphones or commitment papers? I think I like Christmas tunes as much as the next guy (as long as the 'next guy' isn't you, obviously), but 365 days of 'Silent Night' and its ilk would tax my patience.

One question, out of the collection, how many are novelty and how many are sincere renditions of Christmas songs?

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kingofbreakfast
2008-01-03 11:19 pm UTC (link)

Yeah, as far as Xmas tunes go, I'm good for most of November, all of December and a short bleed into January to enjoy any musical gifts I've received and didn't get to before the 25th. Exceptions can be made for stuff I might find in old record stores or collector shows and I want to hear them before the holidays. I don't make Xmas mixes myself, but I will pass along interesting songs to the couple of folks I know who do, especially if I'm sure they haven't heard those particular songs.

I don't go in much for "sincere" renditions as they all tend to sound alike after a while. And yet I have a limited tolerance for goofy songs like "The Chipmuks Song" or "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." I have a lot of jazz and blues versions of classic songs as well as a lot of holiday themed songs no one has ever heard before. They are fun because they will be in a genre many people don't automatically associate with traditional Xmas music, i.e., ska, reggae, Zydeco, early rock and roll, old country/western, Hawaiian, etc. Also, the subject matter is all over the place, from Santa bringing presents by rocket ship (and outriggers in Hawaii and missiles during the Cold War) to teens using Xmas eve as an excuse to sneak off for some lovin' to drunken daddies landing in the jug again after another holiday hootch binge. I think there's something for everyone if they look beyond the Li'l Drummer Boy and White Christmas for a change.

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	nachtswerg 2008-01-04 12:42 am UTC (link)
	It sounds as though your tastes go towards mine. While I get hit with some of the silly songs (it comes with the territory of having a 10 year old daughter), I prefer jazz, blues, and accoustic versions. Did you catch the Studio 60 episode last season that had the New Orleans' jazz band? A wonderful piece of music there. (Reply to this)(Parent)

zatara2000
2008-01-04 05:09 am UTC (link)

Hey Paul,

I'm always looking for new and interesting Christmas music for my annual mixes. I was wondering, what is the song where Santa brings the presents by rocket ship, and missiles during the Cold War?) I'd love to seek those ones out. Sounds like you have a fantastic collection yourself.

Also, have you ever heard William Shatner doing Good King Wenceles? I have a bad recording of it on cassette but have been looking for a better copy for years. I think a local radio station is going to help me get a good MP3 copy of it made.

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	kingofbreakfast 2008-01-04 07:03 am UTC (link)
	A big chunk of my collection is in storage, so I don't have those recordings on hand, nor can I tell you right away who recorded them. The songs were "Outer Space Santa" and "Santa Came on a Nuclear Missile." Another big favorite of mine is "Santa's Comin' In A Whirly-Bird," recorded by Gene Autry, among others. (Reply to this)(Parent)

megalanzero
2008-01-04 03:31 pm UTC (link)

What was your opinion of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Lost Christmas Eve? It's the only Christmas album I can tolerate for extended periods of time, because I love TSO but some of the classics have been so overplayed that I don't want to hear them anymore.

Also, let the record state that I have yet to find a good rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy" in any format, sincere or joke.

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	icanfly 2008-01-03 06:56 pm UTC (link)
	Are you from the midwest? I always though of Suzy Snowflake being a Midwest tradition because of Bozo, but out in LA very few people seem to know the joy of the little black and white short. (Reply to this)(Thread)

kingofbreakfast
2008-01-03 11:43 pm UTC (link)

I was raised in Orinda, just a stones throw from Berkeley (and San Francisco) where a white Christmas was a rarity unless we schlepped it the 200 miles to our friends cabin at Tahoe. If they ran Bozo locally in the Bay Area, I don't remember seeing it (I was on it once when we lived in Boston, though). About six or seven years ago my DUCK DODGERS compadres Tony Cervone and Spike Brandt (both Windy City expatriots) first introduced me to the glories of Suzy Snowflake and Hardrock, Coco and Joe. This past Christmas the Museum of Communications in Chicago brought out a beautifully remastered DVD of the original shorts. I ordered a few and passed them out to family and friends who had never seen them before.

The three little drawfs are creepy enough, but there is something especially unsettling about Suzy Snowflake. Maybe it's because in most shots her face has that weird black and white "Frank Gorshin-as-Star Trek-alien" thing going on, or the way she "playfully" conjures up a mini-avalanche and transforms an innocent passer-by into a snowman. Sheesh, even Mr. Freeze ain't that cold-hearted. That said, I liked the character enough to deliberately parody her in JINGLE BELLE, reworking Suzy into Jing'sometimes adversary Heidi Hoarfrost.

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	icanfly 2008-01-04 05:30 am UTC (link)
	I always thought the Santa in Hardrock, Coco, and Joe was the most disturbing myself. His teeth! Ack! LoL yeah looking back both of the videos are pretty freaky in essence, but somehow watching them when you're five on winter break eating cereal on the living room rug makes it less creepy. And Yay for interesting Trivia about Jingle Belle :D Thanks! (Reply to this)(Parent)

	mutant_buster 2008-01-04 04:51 am UTC (link)
	Holy Crap, your working on Gatchaman?! That is freaking nuts. Gatchaman is like my favorite thing ever. I probably wasted 200$ this year buying the whole thing on DVD. (Reply to this)

	brermatt 2008-01-04 07:29 pm UTC (link)
	Curious - have you gotten a chance to see the Goofy short "How To Install A Home Theater"? It's playing before National Treasure 2. Thoughts? (Reply to this)(Thread)

	kingofbreakfast 2008-01-05 12:14 am UTC (link)
	I have. Please see my newest post for my answer to that very question. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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