Working madly on a deadline. I did take time out today to lunch at the Magic Castle with my longtime pal — and a heckuva good writer — Buzz Dixon. If you're not visiting his blog, you're missing out on a sweet spot of the Internet.
I expect to have an Amazon link here shortly for those of you who wish to pre-order the forthcoming boxed set of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World…and tip this website at the same time. If you have any affection for this movie, you will want this set. You may want to hold onto some previous home video copy if it includes the "making of" documentary, "Something a Little Less Serious" because that's not included on the new set, which will be out in January. But so much else is that you'll want it…and not just to hear me on the commentary track. Although, there is that.
Several folks wrote to ask a question about that 1981 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson I embedded. Yes, that was Chuck McCann and Jim MacGeorge playing Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy in an Arby's commercial about ten minutes in. Another vintage Carson show will be along momentarily.
Jon Stewart has lately been taking a couple of shots at the Arby's chain ("Arby's…it's technically food"). I have no great love for that chain but I do think there are worse places in the world one can get a fast lunch. If in a situation where it was fast food or a headache from not eating at all, I'd put Arby's well above Burger King, Roy Rogers, KFC, Jack in the Box and about a hundred others. (I'd put the headache ahead of dining at Carls Jr or its twin, Hardee's.) Wonder why Stewart's picking on Arby's, especially when there's a Subway sandwich place right next to where The Daily Show tapes.
I will soon be making it up to you for the paucity of postings these last few days. Keep visiting.