Indy widget

I added this widget to the bottom of the page but it deserves more explanation. It's been kicking aorund the internet since the trailer was launched but as we get closer to the release date, it's getting cooler and cooler. You'll notice the countdown on top which may as well be my lifeline. Now you can also scroll to find the new tv spot and the trailers for the original three films. Rumor has it a second trailer will be launched within the widget this week. It's finally good to be an Indy fan.

Writer's Room This Sunday!

Because sometimes the anti-social need to talk.

With:

Adam Newman (The Tyra Banks Show)
Kumail Nanjiani
Ed Murray (Black20.com)
Mike Drucker (23/6.com)
Jon Clarke (Yankee Pot Roast.com)
Keith Alberstadt (VH1)

hosted by Ross Hyzer


· Venue: Rififi/Cinema Classics
· Times: Sunday, May 4, 8:00 p.m.
· Address: 332 E 11th St between First and Second Aves East Village
· Price: $5
· Phone: 212-677-1027
· Travel: Subway: L to First Ave

NY Comic Con Wrap-Up

Here's every other article I wrote for figures.com about the con. I was cranking.

Gentle Giant Star Wars

DST Star Trek

NECA bobbleheads

Mezco Spirit

Jack Kirby Tribute

DC Direct

Marvel Legends

Hellboy II panel

Gentle Giant Indiana Jones

I also wrote four articles someone else already did. I didn't have time to notice.

Ben Week 43

This is Ben at his first Comic Con. He's lucky. I had to wait until I was 11.

Happy Anniversary!

The world can completely change in four years. I know mine did.

Happy Anniversary, Renee.

Lucasfilm panel

If you wanted confirmation on that giant Millennium Falcon, forget it. The Hasbro reps wouldn't tell me about it one-on-one. But the panel did cover the new Clone Wars movie and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Here's what I thought.

X Files: I Want to Believe

Friday night I saw the trailer for the new X Files movie and a Q&A from Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz. Here's what I thought.

The Firehouse Gig

There's LOTS to report about the New York Comic Con and we've got the rest of the week to do it. But here's something without a link to figures.com

Saturday night Mark Normand, Mike Drucker, Lara Yaz, Dan St. Germain, Alex Grubard, Dan Curry and I did a charity show out in the middle of New Jersey. Right in the firehouse. They moved the trucks, set up a stage, sold some raffle tickets and we had a show.

Everyone did well. I destroyed. Coming from a family of firefighters definitely gave me an edge. The crowd could not have been better and treated us not only like artists, but human beings. That almost never happens.

Here's a picture of us and a truck:

Ben Week 42

Last week Renee took him to the farm. This weekend, I'm taking him to the comic convention. Who wins?

I'm @ NYCC too!

The NYCC put me on their blog too. Twice today as a matter of fact (which is is good because I forgot to post here Tuesday).

Here's a list of Things I Love About the NY Comic Con It's funny.

And here's my entry on Hellboy. It's not funny, it's just about Hellboy. Cause I like Hellboy.

NY Comic Con is this week!!

I'll be covering it for figures.com but it looks like Ed Murray will be covering it with the promoters. He's already featured on the official blog. Out of the nerd closet, Ed!

New Play Cole Animation!

We're particularly proud of this one. It came out of a voice Drucker was doing the summer when Ben was born. As I had to come up with a LOT of animation ideas for figures.com, this one was a natural. The final stroke of genius was when I cast Mark Normand in the part of the Riddler. He nails it.

Enjoy "Batman: Kidnapped!"

Impossible Toys

Not a lot of pictures of Ben this week (strange!) so here's some of the toys he will grow up with.

If you're a child from the 70's and 80's this is an incredible time for toys (it's a bad time for the economy and plastic prices but that's besides
the point). We were the generation that never grew out of sci-fi (I blame George Lucas) and I, like many of my friends, have gone into the toy industry and tried to improve some of the toys we had.

For example, here's the Indiana Jones figure I had at 10:



And here's the one that's coming:



This is the Millennium Falcon. I got one in 1979 and it's been in production ever since:



Until now. This is the one that just leaked on the internet:



It's three feet long, two feet wide and no kid will be able to lift it. Hasbro denied this was coming at Toy Fair but let's see what they say at the New York Convention next weekend.

Ben's going to grow up in a world where these toys are the norm. Where electronics do things designers can't even imagine. Where there's a Democrat in the White House.



You're welcome.

Charlton Heston

I love Charlton Heston. Not for the biblical epics of the 50's (which are mentioned in all the obituaries) but the crazy sci-fi pictures he made in the late 60's to mid 70's. No matter the plot, they were sure to give me the creeps.

In honor of his passing, here's two jokes I can do for the next 10 days:

Charlton Heston died today at the age of 84. I’m surprised he lived that long. You’d think the remake of “Planet of the Apes” would have killed him.

He made the “Omega Man” which was remade this year as “I Am Legend”. Charlton Heston was the Wil Smith of his day. He made “Ali”. “I will float like a butterfly and shoot you in the face.”

Yesterday

I woke up at 4 a.m. with a massive sinus headache. Must be spring. Finally got back down at 6 but that's when Ben got up. A tooth is coming in from the top and it looks like it really hurts. Renee left but came right back with car trouble. She took the train and Ben and I spent two hours at the dealership. By 11 it was the longest day we had in a while.

The rest of the day was driving around and teething. And I forgot to post.

Sorry!

Yay Comedy!

Last night's Writer's Room was possibly the best we've ever done. Everybody brought their A game and had a fantastic time. I even killed while hosting, which you are not allowed to do.

Thanks to everyone who came out and laughed at everyone who went up.

Don't Forget Writer's Rooom!

I haven't.

· Venue: Rififi/Cinema Classics
· Times: Sunday, April 6th, 8:00 p.m.
· Address: 332 E 11th St between First and Second Aves East Village
· Price: $5
· Phone: 212-677-1027
· Travel: Subway: L to First Ave

Jon Clarke (McSweeneys) hosts
Ted Alexandro (Comedy Central Presents)
Liam Macaneeny (VH1)
Ed Murray (The 4 Hour Workweek)
sketches by Murderfist
Jeff Cerulli
Barry Rothbart

Ben Week 40

Ben likes people. And crawling.

Dad Update

A lot of you have been asking how Dad is doing so I figured I'd address it here.

He's doing much better. He came home last Tuesday and his recovery has been miraculous. The day he got home he went up two flights of stairs with no effeort. His color has come back and honestly hasn't looked better in years. He still gets tired quickly but that's to be expected ten days after open heart surgery. He wouldn't say so himself but he's touched by all the comments and messages you've sent.

He's still watching FOX News so he's not all better yet.

Band Names That Now Make Us Uncomfortable

Anthrax

Katrina and the Waves

Blind Faith

B-52s

Midnight Oil

Gloria Estefan