The other day, I mentioned the late comedy writer Ray Jessel as the writer of that Love Boat episode with Carol Channing, Della Reese, Ann Miller and Ethel Merman. My great friend Shelly Goldstein, who knew Ray pretty well, informs me — and I quote — “The Follies scripts (and songs) were written by Ray Jessel and his wife, Cynthia Thompson. She didn’t always get full credit on the songs, but they definitely wrote them, and the scripts for Love Boat, together.” Good to know.
My pal Jeff Wasserman found this online obituary for George Dougherty, the mysterious hero of the comic book industry I mentioned here.
Is it possible that what’s in the notorious, much-discussed-but-little-seen Epstein Files is as bad for Donald Trump as his critics believed or maybe hoped? It’s sure starting to look that way but I’ll believe it when everyone sees it.
The all-mighty algorithms that control what I see on certain websites keep showing me videos where folks are covering What New at Costco. Which is fine but about 75% of what they found at their local Costco is not to be found at the Costcos in Southern California. I also keep seeing raving positive endorsements of certain restaurants that look like someplace I’d love to dine…and then I find out the restaurant is in Saddlesore, Wyoming or some other city I’m unlikely to ever visit. Couldn’t there be a little box to check somewhere that says “Only show me stores, restaurants and events within 50 miles of my zip code”?
I’m also seeing an awful lot of short videos of Porch Pirates — people who sneak up and steal your Amazon deliveries off your front step — and then the package explodes, knocks them on their asses and spraypaints them in purple glitter. I suppose some people get a smug feeling of “They deserved it” but I keep thinking of that nice gardener of mine who sometimes moves my packages closer to my front door.
Oh — I haven’t mentioned this in a couple of hours…
Here’s a reminder that this coming Saturday (November 15), I and others who contributed to the above book will be appearing at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California. There’s a panel discussion about the book at 2 PM and it’s sold out but it’s still a great opportunity to buy a copy and get it signed by Yours Truly and many other cartoonists and Peanuts scholars who helped make this book possible. It’s also a great opportunity to see that wonderful museum. Details are here. And on Sunday, I and most of the same folks will be at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. Details about that event are here.
Also, in case you’re in need of reminding: Open Registration to attend next year’s Comic-Con International is this Saturday. The convention takes place July 23-26 but I’m going to be hosting so many panels for it that I’m going to get started and host some here at my house in late May and all throughout June. If you drop by, be careful about moving any Amazon packages you find on my porch.
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