Some people hang the holly, others decorate the tree, and a few even terrorize the neighborhood with off-key caroling.
Not us.
Here at Quick Stop Entertainment, we’re celebrating the holiday season by giving a little something back to you, our readers (you know who you are).
Every weekday leading up to the holiday break, we’ve got uber-exclusive gifts provided by a whole range of artists, actors, comedians, and studios. One a day, straight from them to you (and you can check out last year’s fun here).
Ain’t that cool?
Today, we’ve got an exclusive sketch from UK comedy duo Mitchell & Webb – a little piece called “Lazy Writers”.
Chances are, to most Americans, the names David Mitchell & Robert Webb mean very little… unless, of course, they have a friend, relation, or acquaintance by that name. I speak, however, of a pair of brilliant comedians by the sobriquet Mitchell & Webb who currently ply their trade in the sceptred isle of England.
A cursory glance at the offerings on YouTube will bring you up to speed on Messrs. Mitchell & Webb – who, since their Cambridge Footlights days, have written and starred in Edinburgh Fringe productions, radio (That Mitchell & Webb Sound), a live tour, and a trio of sketch shows (Bruiser, The Mitchell & Webb Situation, and That Mitchell & Webb Look – all of which are currently available on DVD). They’re also the stars of the Britcom Peep Show, the feature film Magicians, and were cast as PC (Mitchell) & Mac (Webb) in the British versions of the popular Macintosh ads.
Check ’em out… But first, check today’s Holiday Havoc from Mitchell & Webb…
Download “Mitchell & Webb: Lazy Writers – Space“:
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Check out the rest of this year’s Holiday Havoc – and past Havoc – HERE
Paul and Storm are a comedy music duo, and they have been performing as a duo since 2004. Before that, they were one half of a cappella band Da Vinci’s Notebook for about 12 years. A Paul and Storm show is part music concert and part standup/improv comedy”“just enough of both to fit neatly in neither category. They like to engage the audience, and are known to award snack cakes and/or other prizes for good (and sometimes bad) behavior. Their show would be PERFECT as a cable special, and would make lots of money for whichever brave channel decides to air them first.
Jeff MacDougall 2: Electric Boogaloo – You may know Jeff from his short-lived stint as reigning challenger in MoSF#1 – ultimately losing to master Jonathan Coulton. He’s back and ready to make the holidays his bitch. Because really, nothing says Christmas music like the sweet sounds of Jeff MacDougall.
I suppose I am what you could call a “Multi-Instrumentalist”. That is a nice way of saying “Jack-of-all-trades, Master-of-none”. I began playing drums as a teenager and spent a great deal of energy during my 20’s trying to “make it” in the music biz. As a drummer, I have had the opportunity to play with some pretty incredible musicians, garnering literally DOZENS of fans over the years. In 2004 I joined the band Celestial Static, and spent several years melting some face with good friends Jeremy and Julie Elzerman. Once that ran its course, I decided to spend more time locked away in my studio, writing my own songs and learning to play guitar, bass and sing. It doesn’t pay the bills, but I have a good time doing it.
My name is Joe Lamb, I’ve been known online as JoeCovenant, or JoeCov, Or just Cov for the last decade or so. I’m 45 and have been performing for 40 of those years. Up until 2005 I was solely a professional actor/singer, but I am now also a Civil Servant and work for Her Majesty. I’ve been playing guitar since I was 10, but still think Bar Chords are things played in pubs. (I can’t do ’em!) I’m not too bad on the Bhodran and can pick out a tune on a keyboard when pushed… really hard. I’ve always been frustrated that my ideas outdistance my abilities, so my output is always rather simplistic… But I like to think that, occasionally, synergy does it’s job well! My last album, a passel of LARP songs written ‘in character’, was recorded in the same way the songs for this contest will be recorded… Analogue, in my living room, through a quickshot stick-mic (Yes, really!) Hearing some of the songs that have been created through this contest I feel privileged to be involved! I’ll do the best I can!
“BucketHat” Bobby Matheson is an awkward teenage accordionist and multi-instrumentalist who specializes in superhero-themed and “Comedy” music, and who works for minimum wage in the fast food industry. With his style varying from polka to folk, punk to pop, and then again from rock to bluegrass, we’re left unsure what to expect. One thing for certain is that Bobby doesn’t like talking about himself in the third person, and therefore will stop this silliness right now.
Charlie Wolf has always been much better at writing songs than at writing third-person biographies about himself. While still a teenager, Charlie Wolf is already an accomplished ‘multi-instrumentalist’, playing guitar, bass, accordion, and keyboards. In the past year or so, Charlie has began playing private parties and coffee-house gigs in the Los Angeles area, which sounds way more interesting than it actually is. His music ranges from hilarious comedy songs to tender ballads, and more often than not, somewhere in between. He would like to thank the academy, but cannot, because he does not know where the academy is or how they would like to be thanked.
“Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree” is a one-man, music and comedy show for family audiences, starring Russ Rogers. While in college, twenty-some years ago, Russ Rogers was in a band called, “Buc Blaster and His Ukulele Rangers.” There are several noteworthy alumni of “The Ukulele Rangers,” including Song Fu Master Michael J. Nelson. Later, Rogers and Andy LaCasse (also a Ukulele Ranger) partnered to form the almost near famous, children’s music and comedy duo, “Kit and Kaboodle.” After ten years and three albums (still available on iTunes and CDBaby.com), “Kit and Kaboodle” broke up over musical differences. LaCasse was musical … an d Rogers was just different. Now, “Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree” has been entertaining family audiences around Minnesota for the past five years.
The Masked Stranger (a.k.a Neal John Mac Rae), is a self proclaimed noise/folk artist from Nova Scotia, Canada. Although his work has gone completely unnoticed on an official level, he has still managed to garner several fans from Australia and amoungst his close friends. The Masked Stranger project started in 2004 when Neal John recorded “The River Song”, a simple panflute tune he furiously augmented and destroyed on his computer. Since then he has created roughly 30 other distinctly more destroyed and demented tracks under the moniker of The Masked Stranger. His music has been described as “a total disregard for musical theory”, “aaaaaaaah!”, “raw and grating”, “annoying”, “Twisting is a word I want to use to describe it… Very natural and earthly”, and “disturbing and yet… strangely enjoyable”. His most well liked and most consistant piece “Rue The Red” was described by Cape Breton goregrind artist Devin Meaney as “a posessed man jigging out on the strings of his creator. Like a puppet, devouring the flesh of god. And this is exactly what it reminds me of, no joke.”. This awkward and soil laiden musician’s journeys into the abrassive and the tribal only threaten to continue.
Heather Henderson has been entertaining America since she was seven years old. She got her start as a mini dancing superstar and co-host on Dance Party USA. Her career then made the natural progression towards Sesame Street and most recently a principal role in the Disney film Annapolis. Striving constantly to develop as an artist, The Big H sings with the bad-ass 60’s retro soul group SOULAMITE!, performs with the Revival Burlesque troupe in philadelphia, makes short films, writes funny songs, and is always looking for the next good audition. She hopes to have her own totally crappy and misquoted Wikipedia entry one day.
Scott Wolfson has been performing and recording since he was 13 years old. For more than half of his life he’s been a part of the New York City music scene – most notably, as the guitarist and songwriter for the “freak pop” band The Right Bastards, and most recently as the front man for The Buzzkill All-Stars. A graduate of NYU, he majored in musical performance and minored in music theory and composition. His songwriting strives to combine the wit and wisdom of Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, and Tom Waits with the pop sensibilites of Squeeze, XTC, and Crowded House. His unique voice and stylings add another dimension to the already strong songwriting.
Bryce Jensen has been writing songs off and on for over twenty years, but he has rarely shared any of them beyond his friends and family. His styles range from a capella to heavy metal with a lot of wimpy finger picking stuff in between. As most of his songs are horrible, Bryce has agreed to enter this contest as a service to the other contestants, making them appear even more talented by comparison.
Chances are, to most Americans, the name David Mitchell means very little… unless, of course, they have a friend, relation, or acquaintance by that name. I speak, however, of a brilliant comedian by that sobriquet who currently plies his trade in the sceptred isle of England.
I’ve banged on about for years, and I’m going to keep going virtual door to virtual door until the word gets out about QI. If you’ve never heard of the UK quiz program QI, you’re missing out on one of the funniest “educational” shows ever devised (the devisee being creator/producer John Lloyd, formerly of Blackadder, Not The Nine O’Clock News, and Spitting Image). The key to QI (which stands for “Quite Interesting”) is the central tenet of its philosophy – it’s not always being correct that counts, but being interesting (and funny). The interesting nature of a given piece of information spurs conversation and debate, eventually leading round to the learning of said informational nugget. Did you know that the Earth has more than one moon, for example? Or that otters kill crocodiles? Soon to make its debut on BBC1 (with its 5th season), it’s hosted by Stephen Fry and features a rotating panel of four comedians (one of which is mainstay Alan Davies) – and it’s one of the most hilarious shows I’ve ever seen… Honestly, you’ll laugh as much as you learn, and I still hold out hope a network in the US is smart enough to pick the show up uncut, as BBC America have been nothing but boobs about it (Hello, Comedy Central! Hello, Discovery Channel! Hello, PBS! Somebody!). Until then, you can grab a copy of both the first (
And while we’re on the subject of Stephen Fry, let me take a moment to heartily recommend the DVD collection of his recent documentary series, 
Few could have predicted that over 25 years later, Ralphie Parker and his Christmas quest for a Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action BB Gun would be a must-see holiday tradition. Based on the childhood stories of humorist Jean Shepherd, its impact continues to grow – the sales of Leg Lamps have skyrocketed, people are more conscious of eye safety, and no one will ever pronounce “Fragile” the right way again. Now, the 2-disc special edition has been repackaged as 
My good friend Glen Oliver and I waited years – YEARS! – for a company to treat 
Although the story is rather flat and doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny, 
I admit – I tried to avoid the pressure to fall in lock step with the “It’s the second coming” crowd who banged the drum loudly for 
There were plenty of worrisome moments over the past few years, where it seemed like the wonderful Walt Disney Treasures line of collector-friendly vault releases were doomed. This uncertain fate was particularly heartbreaking as it would have put the release of the complete run of Donald Duck cartoons in jeopardy. Thankfully, though, we’ve made it to the end of the Duck’s theatrical run with 
The second of this year’s Walt Disney Treasures sets focuses on the most beloved of all the Mouseketeers – Annette Funicello. This 2-disc set contains the complete run of 
Finally, the third and final release from this year’s Walt Disney Treasures wave contains the complete adventures of 
In a perfect world, shows like Freaks & Geeks never would have been prematurely cancelled, but in a near-perfect world, at least creator Paul Feig has carved out a niche for himself as an author who successfully mines all of the social and physical awkwardness of adolescence and turns tragedy into comedy – first in his non-fiction essays on his own childhood, and now in the laugh-out-loud functional adventure 
It was only a matter of time before the classic James Bond flicks made their high definition debut, and we’ve got a clutch of 6 to ring in the holiday season. You can whet your Blu-Ray Bond appetite with the fully restored 
Now that you’ve got the adults squared away, how are you going to keep the kids occupied? How about with the newly-revamped with sound FX silly skill game, 
This holiday season, I feel compelled to guide you towards a handful of UK (that’s Region 2, so be sure you have the capability to play them) DVDs from some stand-ups you should be following. First up is the latest offering from comedian Jimmy Carr, who supplements his too-numerous-to-mention hosting gigs to periodically return to the stage for some pocket money. This year, it’s 
If Jimmy’s humor isn’t pitch black and acerbic enough for you, then the first live DVD from Mock The Week regular Frankie Boyle might be what you’re looking for during the bleak midwinter festivities. Titled, wouldya believe it, 
Another Mock The Week regular getting his very first live DVD is Russell Howard. Imagine taking the Ritalin away from a hyperactive child, then sitting him down with a bowl full sugar. That, in a nutshell, is the comedic energy you’re dealing with here – and even better, it’s intelligent comedy that belies Howard’s age (he’s younger than me, the bastard). Bottom line – pick up a copy of 
To further reinforce Mock The Week as a veritable breeding ground for launching inaugural stand-up DVDs, another regular gets his first with 
We haven’t run out of Mock The Weekers yet, as the host of the show has also got his second stand-up DVD dropping this holiday season. 
Surely that’s all of the UK panel show regulars, right? Well, no, because 8 Out Of 10 Cats team captain and QI regular Sean Lock has got his very own debut DVD, 
Oi! I almost forgot that Bill Bailey has a new DVD out, from his last stand-up tour, in the form of 
And while you’re at it, pick up the 
Prior to laying eyes on the 
However, if you can’t afford the big fig, a very nice alternative is Sideshow’s 
If you’ve yet to spend some time with the addictive fun of Nerf Darts and their accompanying launchers, rectify that particular black hole in your life with the ultimate Nerf Dart launcher – the 
Well, Nerf even has an answer for that, too, as they’ve produced an adult version of their blasters in game form, perfect for office conflicts of domestic disputes – the 
While I still wait (it seems) in vain for the DVD release of Car 54, Where Are You? and Sgt. Bilko, I can at least console myself by watching the complete 4-season run of 
For criminy’s sake – it’s taken forever, but we in the US have FINALLY gotten a box set containing all of the various travel documentaries hosted by Python Michael Palin in the uber-wonderful 
Even though they’ve done just about everything possible (including throwing the kitchen sink at it) to tear down the beloved characters and stories of their relaunch, time and unfortunate editorial machinations have only made the Keith Giffen/J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire run of Justice League International look all the more enjoyable by comparison. Ignore all of that Uber Final Infinite Crisis of Something Or Another business and pick up the collected 
Speaking of the League, Roger Stern and John Byrne re-teamed last year for a JLA story arc that’s now been collected in 
Try as we might, there’s not doubt that this holiday season will cause at least some small amount of aggression. How to deal with it, then? Why, your very own 
The first major HBO miniseries to make the transition to high definition is the Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg produced 
I admit – I was wary of Wall-E. Cars had left me a little cold (and the creepy, post-apocalyptic, human-less but made by humans world it was set in was just disturbing), but Ratatouille was more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be, and my faith in Pixar was ready to be fully restored. And it was. It helps that I experienced the film sitting beside my 4-year-old nephew, who was in the process of taking in his very first movie on a movie theater’s BIG SCREEN. It was a magical time from start to finish, and the DVD brings it on home. If standard definition is still your cup of tea, then I recommend the 
Kudos to Stephen Colbert for reviving the tradition of a pundit holiday special – just like the George Plimpton celebrations of yore – with 
The fourth season of 
The Brits have a knack for taking the tired old sitcom format, blowing it up, and creating some absolutely brilliant television. Those bastards. Most definitely to be included in their long line of triumphs is Spaced, a show about a pair of twenty-something slackers – Tim & Daisy (Simon Pegg & Jessica Stevenson) – who pose as a professional couple in order to get a North London apartment. Sure, Tim could be a comic book artist if he tried, and Daisy’s quite a good writer, but being successful in either of those careers would mean applying themselves… By, of all things, *working*. Gah! With a gaggle of off-the-wall friends and acquaintances, if you think of it as a twenty-something Seinfeld with a postmodern pop culture twist (there are frequent surreal diversions) you wouldn’t be far off the mark. After much legal wrangling, fans and soon-to-be fans in the US can now pick up 
Just when the summer doldrums were beginning to set in, I found out just why everyone has been fawning over 
They took a little while to wade in, but the wait was definitely worth it when one of the first two high definition releases from the cinema mavens at Criterion is their already-stunning special edition of 
The other Criterion release to go Blu-Ray is 
When I was but a wee lad still fresh in this phenom called Star Wars and eagerly awaiting the release of Return of the Jedi (we knew there was a third one coming, because they went off to save Han), one of my favorite Christmas gifts of all was the Millennium Falcon. I still remember tearing open the box and then spending what seemed like hours putting all of the decals on before finally sliding the lock-legged Han & Chewbacca into the cockpit and navigating the starship around the room courtesy of the center handle (later that morning, all of my figures took turns playing holo-chess in the cabin area while Luke whacked the training ball around). I can only imagine the jaw-dropping joy that me from then would greet the new 
If you still haven’t treated yourself to the complete run of Monty Python, now’s the time to pull the trigger and pick up 
It’s not Wall-E, but there’s plenty of wonderful production artwork to be found in the pages of Chronicle Books’ latest Disney “Art Of” book, 
Also from Chronicle, you can explore the fascinating history and groundbreaking output of a true videogame pioneer in 
As a good friend of mine says often – and practically lives his life by – a robot makes everything better. Make your holidays better with the 
I’ve made no secret in the past of my love for the various vinyl Disney figures that Medicom has been releasing in Japan and that are, thankfully, now distributed in the US by Sideshow. The Medicom sculpts are always spot-on and put any of the domestic licensees to shame. For the holidays, I wanted to spotlight a trio of Vinyl figures based on the original comic book versions of 
Ask people what their favorite classic film is, and most often it’s a toss-up between Citizen Kane and Casablanca. Personally, I’ve always been a Kane-ite, but Casablanca is high up on the list. Even though the film has been on DVD for quite awhile, Warner Home Video worked their digital mojo, crafting a deluxe, fully-restored special edition. The film never looked better… in fact, it almost looked *too* good. The frame is so clean, I’d almost expected to see someone wearing a digital watch. Some purists don’t like this level of restoration, but I’m all for any process that makes a film look as good as it possibly can. That restoration is now beautifully packaged in the 
If Casablanca has left you wanting a little more classic cinema to explore, then you might want to pick up (be careful, though – it’s heavy) the 
If you’re holiday isn’t nearly bizarre enough, achieve the proper level of bizarreitude with 
Yeah, I’m a sucker for the Guinness Book of World Records. There’s just something so compellingly exciting yet sad about the various and sundry attempts at dubious immortality “achieved” by the people, events, and tragedies included in the 
Trekkies wanting to wipe the pain of JJ Abrams Trek High can take some solace playing with their very own 
Nothing says “perfect gift” like something with no practical purpose except to entertain, and that’s certainly the case with the 
Home Movies is one of those shows that – despite making it 5 seasons – was cancelled before its time. Victim of apathy at Cartoon Network (a few influential individuals though it didn’t fit into their vision for the Adult Swim line-up), the animated adventures of budding filmmaker Brendon (Brendon Small) who, along with his friends Melissa (Melissa Galasky) and Jason (H. Jon Benjamin), crafted some truly Ed Wood-ian movies, was one of the most well-written character pieces ever to grace the small screen (be it live action or animation). The most vibrant character, though, would definitely have to be the kid’s gym teacher and emotional man-child, Coach John McGuirk (Benjamin, again), who had designs on Brendon’s single mother. Discover the series via the now comprehensive 
For the little kiddies on your list, the Beeb have released the complete first and second seasons of their Disney Channel hit 
I caught an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba! the other day, and if any show can rightfully claim the mantle of “Kiddie Show Beloved By Stoners”, it’s this intriguingly bizarre combination of music and costumed characters, If you doubt me, check out 
After her turn in the Christmas special “The Runaway Bride”, some were worried about Catherine Tate reprising her role of Donna Noble as the 10th Doctor’s new companion in the fourth series of 
I’m going to give you one reason – and one reason only – to pick up Cartoon Network’s 
If your idea of chestnuts roasting by the open fire is spending time with a vengeful Vietnam vet, then you’ll probably want a copy of 
I’ll be honest with you – Freaks and Geeks was a painful show to watch when it originally premiered (for far too brief a life) on NBC in the Fall of 1999. It was painful because I could relate to every bit of the awkward adolescence that the characters on screen were going through – my high school years were reflected in the tribulations of Sam and Lindsay Weir, and their assorted friends and enemies. Freaks and Geeks was the first (and so far only) show that presented the teenagers as they really are, and what high school is really like. And it was painful to see that on screen, because it dredged up my bitter memories of gym class, of disastrous social situations, and just the perpetual teenage ennui. But the beautiful part is that once you get past the pain it dredges up, Freaks and Geeks became a catharsis. It became a way of measuring your growth as a person against the mirror being presented on screen. And it was a damn good show, to boot. Well-written, funny, and emotional, it was… Well, it was life. Not a comedy, not a drama, and nothing as hackneyed as a “dramedy,” it merely existed as one of the most well-crafted shows ever to get slaughtered upon the network altar of quick returns and poor judgement. Credit goes to creator Paul Feig and producer Judd Apatow for giving us a glimpse of greatness, however briefly it shone. Of course, the coda on all of this is that we eventually got the long-awaited DVD set, collecting all 17 episodes (with their original period song-packed soundtracks intact) alongside a ton of bonus features. Originally a limited edition, now the general public can purchase the 8-disc special 
For the headbanging Adult Swim fan on your shopping list, there’s the uncensored complete second season of 
Make the season shagadelic (yes, I just used that old chestnut) with the high definition release of 
It’s a Yabba Dabba good time for Hanna-Barbera fans with 
Comprehensive box set fever has also hit 
While kudos must go to Rhino for keeping the Mystery Science Theater 3000 DVD releases coming over these long years since the show’s cancellation, the show’s new DVD home – Shout Factory – has really elevated the game with their 
Glad tidings from the folks at Cinematic Titanic (MST3K creator Joel Hodgson and alums Trace Beaulieu, Josh Weinstein, Frank Conniff, and Mary Jo Pehl) comes in the form of a fresh take on that horrid holiday perennial, 
When HBO’s brilliantly dark western Deadwood began its first season, the time was only a few weeks following the massacre of Custer’s troops in 1876. Into the lawless South Dakotan town rode two men – one a bitter ex-lawman, and the other a man looking to start a new life – and both ran afoul of the local heavy who owns half the town. What followed was an epic drama of operatic heights, and one you can watch in its entirety with 
Ah, but that isn’t the only HBO series you should be picking up. Empty out your wallet at the same time by snagging 
If you’ve been patiently avoiding the single-disc releases for the next seasonal batch of that happy chap that lives in a pineapple under the sea, then you’ll rejoice in your purchase of 
If you want your holiday gift-giving to be full of blood, battle, and none-too-thinly veiled homoeroticism, then you’re probably going to want to pick up the 
Every comic book series seems to be getting the snazzy deluxe treatment nowadays – with some bewildering choices – but certainly deserving of the honor is Mike Mignola’s Hellboy. The clothbound, hardcover 
I’ve spoken in the past of just how much I love the mental acrobatics of magician Derren Brown, but one of the sore points is that his specials have been absent from DVD even as his series have gotten released. Well, all of that is rectified with 
As a child of the 80’s, I was absolutely taken with Ghostbusters when it came out. I had the toys, I used to pretend I was a Ghostbuster, and before everything turned sour with Ghostbusters 2, I delighted in the Saturday morning adventures of the guys on The Real Ghostbusters. After a few disappointing single-disc collections from Sony, Time Life has hit the ball out of the park with the wonderfully packaged 
I’d say that watching George Carlin’s 14th and final HBO special was a bittersweet affair, but it seems like such an inappropriate word considering just how funny 
A long time ago, not too terribly far away, there was a company that produced some of the most wonderful and faithful Star Wars prop replicas to be had. Sadly, due to corporate issues both various and sundry, the timeliness of the releases began to wane, and then the company decided to drop the license entirely. What became of it? Well, the core group who handled the license at that other company decided to strike out on their own, and they formed 
I remember always looking forward to watching Mr. Bean whenever it would air on HBO (remember that?). Rowan Atkinson’s devilish character never failed to entertain. Like an ersatz Harold Lloyd, Bean is an almost silent physical comedy, and I’m delighted that all 14 episodes are on DVD in 
For all of the dramatics found in the stage and screen versions of Frost/Nixon, the kinetics found in the actual interviews – collected for the first time on 
There’s nothing quite like seeing the stop motion magic of Ray Harryhausen in high definition, which is exactly what fun you can have with the Blu-Ray 
Rights issues prevent regular Rifftrax commentaries from being released as physical DVDs with the movies they’ve riffed, but no such issues exist with the public domain short subjects Mike, Kevin, and Bill have been doing over the past year. What does that mean, exactly? That means we get almost 90 minutes of goofy fun with 
Transformers fans both young and old will have something to snag this year, with the younger crowd enamored of the current Transformers Animated series able to get their very own talking, and incredibly large 
For old-timers with too much nostalgia and cash on hand, there’s the 
You may not think “horror” when you think “holidays”, but John Carpenter’s 
The “Judd Apatow” brand of comedy has always been hit or miss with me, but when it does hit a sweet spot – as it does with 
If you’re not all politicked out this holiday season, then you might want to pick up the 
Fans of Jack Sparrow can now get the entire swashbuckling trilogy – The Curse Of The Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, & At World’s End – in high definition courtesy of the Blu-Ray 
Eager to suck every last nostalgic dollar out of my long-suffering wallet, the re-launched classic GI Joe line that hooked so many kids in the 80’s is still going strong, with their lovingly updated versions of old school favorites. This year has brought – alongside the regular figures ($5.99 SRP each) – the addition of vehicles, including the 
There are some flaws here and there, but I was incredibly impressed with 
It’s certainly a case of diminishing returns, but the Brendan Fraser-led Mummy films are a far sight better than the cursed Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, and there’s no better way to watch the technical hoo-ha at hand than via the Blu-Ray editions of 
Previously only available as a Time Life exclusive, now one and all can pick up the complete 
Every once in a while, a truly spectacular, must-have catalogue release makes its way to DVD. Add to that exclusive list the Blu-Ray edition of the Cinerama epic 
Just when you think that there can’t possibly be another collectible line that will hook you, along comes 
And just as subversively cute and irresistible are the various tiny, cartoony “Heroes” lines by Hasbro, featuring well-known characters in kiddie-friendly tooned-up forms and sold in ready-for-fun two-packs ($5.99 SRP each). Marvel Comics characters are featured in the “Super Hero Squad” line, Indiana Jones has “Adventure Heroes”, The Transformers are featured in “Robot Heroes”, and GI Joe has now got 
You know, Will Smith’s I Am Legend is actually a decent adaptation of the Richard Matheson novel – up to a point. That point is when we leave behind Smith’s Dr. Robert Neville – who has stayed behind in a decimated New York City to try and find the cure for a virus that has wiped out mankind, leaving a small survivor base of violent humanity, the immune Neville, his dog, and the hope of more people out there somewhere. The film begins to flail about in the cesspool of Hollywood mediocrity when the crappy CG infected monstro-humans show up, with their implausible anaconda mouths and plastic skin. It’s a shame it all falls apart, because they had something there. See for yourself with the new 
And now, because I have to shop for little nephews, how about a digression into some toys geared towards the little ones on your list? In fact, the first pair of items comes from that somewhat disconcerting yet oddly ingratiating Nick Jr. show The Wonder Pets. First off is the titular rescuers in their 
For the slightly older kids, there’s the 
He has yet to make the transition to the US, but Alan Carr – currently riding high in the UK – is a comedian worth keeping an eye on, should he make his way across the pond. Until then, I’d certainly recommend you pick up a copy of his first stand-up DVD, 
Let pure evil keep your tootsies warm with the big and fluffy 
It’s goofy, but darned if my nephews don’t have a ball (no pun intended) with 
He just had to be sick of answering the question.
LEARY: My mother has obviously been a big influence in my life and my brothers and sisters and everybody so I just thought if I’m going to be talking about raising kids in America and what I think is wrong with a lot of the ways in this country that we treat and raise kids, my mom is just, as I say in the book, there has never been a day that she has been on this earth that she isn’t who she is.
You can’t have it both ways.
Far from being a stuffy intellectual, a loathsome toff, or a smug git, Stephen Fry has managed to walk the fine line of being not only a wonderfully intelligent man who unashamedly exhibits said intelligence, but also a very funny performer and an all-around humble and likeable guy.
FRY: Well, through John (Lloyd). Through his remarkable persuasive powers. I’ve known him for years and years. Really, he was a great hero. When I was at university – he had been, like me, at Cambridge in the Footlights club, which is a famous club at Cambridge. It produces comedians, and has done so for over 100 years. John Cleese and Peter Cook and Ali G – and myself, Emma Thompson, and Hugh Laurie were all in the same year at Cambridge, and we were all in the Footlights as well. And as I say, it’s that sort of Python tradition. And John Lloyd had been in about five years before me. Same time as Douglas Adams who wrote The Hitchhiker’s Guide. They were very good friends. John had become well known to those of us aspiring toward the comedic world because of a TV series called Not The Nine O’Clock News, that he produced. When we left university, I sort of got to know him a bit.
KP: So, you know how to play the game as well…
KP: Who knew you would develop into an amazing comedy duo?
FRY: (Laughing) That’s nonsense! A, he can keep up with me, plus – I mean, he’s so brilliant, Hugh. And also, of course, he has so much charm that he’s always absolutely brilliant anyway.
KP: Does it feel different to you? For years you’ve done panel shows, but being the host, was it a completely different feeling to then be put on the panel?
Navigating the treacherous waters of launching an independent comic book series into the already crowded marketplace of the early 1990’s – one still dominated by the “Big Two” companies, Marvel & DC – could be seen as a foolhardy endeavor. That said comic would be a success in those circumstances – particularly when it was kid-friendly black & white book in the age of bloody antiheroes – seems even more insane.
KEN PLUME: First off, I wanted to mention that I just saw the hard cover collection of Shazam: The Monster Society Of Evil, which is a beautiful presentation of a wonderful series..
KP: Well, there was the sense that – almost from a story perspective – that the ending arc was almost like pulling teeth for you.
KP: Are there any thoughts of doing a second edition of the hard cover?
KP: So there was definitely concern that any time away might find people moving on?
KP: And Bone.
KP: One thing I do miss in the one volume edition, which was always a fun part of picking up each new issue of Bone, was the letter section.
KP: You talk about how tightly written this already was before you went in. Were there any happy surprises – like a Bartleby – that came in just within your own development of the story?
KP: And speaking of that something else, where did the initial conceptualization of RASL originate? How far back does that go?
KP: Or does it feel like what you’re used to?
KP: And the complete Pogo collections you’re designing are coming up…
KP: Oh, and when are we gonna see more Bone?