For Hanukkah

For Hanukkah, I give you this gift: www.MyFamilyIsMoreJewishThanYours.com.

RIP Stephen J. Cannell

Yes, Stephen Cannell was responsible for my childhood. But he was also one of the nicest guys around. So nice, in fact, that when we wanted to use the Greatest American Hero theme on the soundtrack for The Book of Lies, I called him to ask who owned the rights.

Sony told me Warner Brothers owned them.

"Warners doesn't own them," Stephen told me in his beautifully insistent and wise-by-time tone.

"Then who does?" I asked.

"I do," he replied.

"Uh," I stuttered. "Can we have them?"

And that's all it took. He gave them to us -- free -- just one novelist helping another. (And yes, for those who didn't know, Stephen spent the rest of his career as a novelist -- a dyslexic one -- struggling to put the words down, but never letting it stop him. Go buy his books). I loved him for that persistence. And for teaching me about ownership. And for giving me the A-Team, the Greatest American Hero, and those end credits with him pulling the paper from the typewriter. As I said, my childhood.

Rest well, Mr. H.

Comicon Report

Just now back from taking my son to Comicon for the first time for the full indoctrination. And while so much of the fun of Comicon these days is bitching about how good Comicon used to be in the old days, lemme just say, it's still a wet dream for me. I did one panel, but avoided all meetings, all interviews -- and just spent days talking comics with my boy and taking him to see Iron Man armor, Cap's shield, dead Green Lantern bodies, and even HR Puff n Stuff (to make me feel young). Puff n Stuff! Plus lots of time at Legoland and the San Diego zoo.

Special thanks to all those who came to the panel with myself, Paul Feig, Chip Kidd, Whitney Matheson and Michael Uslan. Was convinced that -- being up against Green Lantern and Harry Potter -- it might just be the five of us there, but you saved us and made our collective months.

Also, super thanks to the marketing guy who let my son in to see the Tron arcade even though it was officially closed. I didn't ask for any special favors. I didn't play the "I work in comics" card. And unlike the reporter guy who snuck in behind me, who was insisting that he works at a "huge site," and hinting that he'd get them free press or crush them below his heel, I just stood there and told the truth: "My boy just digs Tron." So thanks for that. You brainwashed him the best way of all: with kindness.

I know, I know, collective awwww. But still, Tron! Plus, HR Puff n Stuff!

Meltzer's Greatest Dance Mix

Last night was my wife's 40th -- and in honor of it, I spent the afternoon reassembling the original greatest dance mix known to humankind -- the mix that was used in every single college party I was at: Please Meltz Don't Hurt Em.

Admittedly, it was missing a few of the songs from the seminal mixes -- Meltz E. Fresh -- and the controversial Meltz E. Soul (c'mon, iTunes, like I'm gonna buy the whole De La Soul album to get one song. I forever boycott such dickishness).

But with this, you will be able to recapture your youth. Special thanks to the Notorious W.E.I.S.S for helping recreate it (it was like building Frankenstein -- with lighting and thunder and extra Miami beats). Enjoy the weekend. And notice how I slowed it down in the end...just for you...

Please Meltz Don't Hurt Em - Greatest Dance Mix to Humankind by Brad Meltzer:

• Apache, The Sugarhill Gang
  
• Supersonic, J.J. Fad
  
• Bust a move
  
• IT takes two
  
• Baby got back
  
• Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice
  
• Peter Piper, Run-DMC
  
• Joy and Pain
  
• Party Up, DMX
  
• Big Pimpin', Jay-Z
  
• It's Tricky, Run-DMC
  
• Work It, Missy Elliott
  
• Poison, Bell Biv DeVoe
  
• Mercy (feat. The Game)vDuffy
  
• Let Me Clear My Throat, DJ Kool
  
• Throw the 'D', 2 Live Crew
  
• Give It to Me (feat. Justin Timberlake & Nelly Furtado), Timbaland
  
• The Show, Doug E. Fresh
  
• Kiss, Prince And The Revolution
  
• O.P.P.
  
• Creep
  
• Shoop
  
• Tootsie Roll, Boyz
  
• Just a Friend, Biz Markie
  
• Keep On Movin', Soul II Soul
  
• Double Dutch Bus, Frankie Smith
  
• Going Back to Cali, LL Cool J
  
• Rapper's Delight, The Sugarhill Gang
  

Sesame Street

Happy 40th Sesame Street. And still have my favorites... Sing it with me. Imagine the old animation and that trippy ball: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... (YouTube)

Forget Kanye

Forget Kayne. Norman Borlaug died. One of my true heroes (and yes, he's in the heroes book i'm doing).

Penn & Teller on Dr. Borlaug

Summer Books And Movies

Finally back from two weeks away, and just need to recommend one book and one film that're worth checking out.

For the book, it's Stitches by David Small. Yes, I read it months ago, but I think it's so douche-y to talk about a book no one else can buy -- and it's now finally on sale. It was the only book I brought back from BookExpo in May. Yes, it's a comic. And yes, I wish the ending were a hair more self-examining, but man, I promise you will be blown away. Just heartbreaking and wonderful in all the right places.

As for film, for sure, go see the Basterds and District 9, but when you're ready to really get king nerd going (and here comes the douche-y part because you can't buy it yet. God, I'm a hypocrite), go see the independent movie Last Son by fellow Jerry Siegel obsessed Brad Ricca. It'sf packed with never before seen footage/images/facts about Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and the creation of Superman. And to totally steal from him: There is just "an Earth-2 (and 3) level of cool that two Brads were at different times in the same library having these big OMG moments in seeing this stuff. And (ready for this?) In the EXACT SAME ROOM where Joanne Siegel spread out her mail from her newspaper ad and chose Joe's to answer."

How's that for a benefit? Watch this film and see proof that another Earth exists.

That's the summer catch-up. Novel is coming along. First Buffy script is in. Art is just starting to show up. And big news coming about the non-fiction book, which is now coming out in May.

Back on Topps

They're my friends so I plug for them. But this is good stuff. So here it is, season 2 of the Emmy-nominated original online series, Back on Topps starring The Sklar Brothers.

Back on Topps

Old Jews Telling Jokes

I am now going to do you a favor. I used to hate Father's Day. It was a fake holiday. Until I got presents on it. So take this link, send it to your Dad, and wish him a Happy Father's Day with it. He deserves it.

Thanks to Jason S. for finding it.

Old Jews Telling Jokes

Weekend in Pop Culture

Just back from a beautiful weekend in Charlottesville, so thanks to all who came to the Virginia Festival of the Book and introduced themselves. Was one of my favorite events in a long while.

On the plane, was submerged in pop culture, which really just seemed to be peeking since I was eating it all at once:

• The end of Battlestar Galactica - Loved and felt totally satisfied (even ignoring my minor geek tweaks), and made me wish more shows ended before they overstay.
  
• My MacBook (yes, made the switch 10 months ago), but this was the first time I felt it, when, in the airport, I realized I'd only downloaded half the Battlestar ending on iTunes and had to get the final half before I boarded the plane. Love the internets.
  
• Favorite new show to replace Battlestar: Friday Night Lights. Football, jocks, remake of a movie -- all of these things kept me away from the show, but (and I'm halfway through season 1, so don't ruin it), this is clearly the best written show on TV for me. I love it. I love it. It shouldn't work, but it all does. Amazing that I love this like I love The Wire. (I said it).
  
• Wrote the intro for Absolute Promethia (such goodness)
  
• And just digging the hell out of Kings, by my pal Michael Green. Go support him!
  

Lego

For any conversation about how awesome Legos are. This is the awesome.

I LEGO N.Y. (New York Times)

And this is the spaceship Lego I was OBSESSED with when younger. By the end, I could build it by heart.

The Worst Seats

The other night, in Florida, I had the fun of going to see the Broadway show Avenue Q with my pal (douche-y namedrop time) Jeff Marx, one of the creators of Avenue Q.

I'd seen it before. I love it like candy. Good candy. Like Chaleston Chew when those were the best.

But there was something about getting to see it with the guy who dreamed it up -- with his parents and family and friends and all of us there. Broadway and the Tony are nice. But at intermission, we were talking about the beauty of having YOUR play come to YOUR theater in YOUR hometown.

And as I mentioned this beauty to Jeff, he turned to the back of the theater, pointed up to crappy seats up in the balcony, and said, "That's where I used to sit when I came here years ago and saw Phantom."

Let me be clear here: most people, when they find success, never want to think of those days when they had the suck seats. But we should never forget those seats. Those are the best seats we'll ever have in our lives.

What you see below is the picture Jeff took -- of his Tony-award winning play -- from his old seats up in the balcony.

I love him for never forgetting. But I love him more for leaving our amazing center-orchestra seats to take in the view from way back.

PS - Other best part? When the 99-year-old lady usher shooed him (and us) out of the theater, threatening that, "The show's over, young man, time for you to get out."

Halloween!

I love Halloween. I really love it. And not just because my wife pulls out the Wonder Woman costume that she usually just saves for my birthday. (I know...you just can’t help wondering if that’s a real joke or not.) But beyond the magic lasso, I love the memories of dressing as Batman for that one night...and then wearing the cape for the rest of the year(s). See below photo.

So a treat for you: this list of the best and worst candy.

It’s true. Don’t argue. But do add additional items if you please.

Also, would love to hear what you’re going as. Cori and I got invited to an actual superhero party. Oh the irony. I so wanted to pull out all the stops, and try for an amazing Power Girl or Hawkgirl and Red Arrow. Or even get back into our Wondertwin costumes we made years ago. (It take a real man to wear that much purple.) But instead, we’re doing Supergirl and Lex Luthor. Yep. Shaving the head totally.

Safe tricks and treats for all.

Love each other. And vote.

Back On Topps

Okay, here’s the fun stuff. I’ve plugged my pals Randy and Jason Sklar on here before (and not just because they wrote the first bit I ever did on stage. Sock puppets. For Real!). But here’s their new series, all on the web, all free, all goodness.

If you don’t laugh at the photographer in the 2nd episode, you have no heart. Or smile.

Please do check it out here, new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday and culminating in a big end at the end of October:

www.backontopps.com

Last Lecture

Yes, you've probably heard the story. And yes, it's everywhere. But that doesn't mean it's not still a great story.

Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture" was put together and chronicled in book form by my pal Jeff Zaslow, who is a true nice guy. And on those days when you start stressing over the crap stuff of life, this is the thing that reminds you what really matters.

So take a look at www.TheLastLecture.com and enjoy the message. It's a vital one.

Mamet Gets Older

I'm passing no judgment on this. But that sound you just heard was a cultural icon admitting he's getting older. It's easy to ride him for it, whatever your politics are. When babyboomers whine, I just can't wait to take potshots. But I admire David Mamet. I admire his self-exploration. And I just love love love the idea that at base, he thinks everything in this world is always wrong. He's wrong (taste the irony there?). But absolutes are wrong. And can't wait to see how this affects his writing.

David Mamet: Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal' (Village Voice)

Best Readers Ever

This was the nicest letter I got this week from reader Deni. I liked it so much, I needed to share (and recommend a book in the process).

Considering the familiarity of your blogs, your writing, your seemingly-approachable self, I just finished reading The Airman by Eoin Colfer. Always nice to refer good read to others who may appreciate.

You may already know Eoin Colfer. His Artemis Fowl series is very well known (love it).

But his break from Artemis to The Airman is what great classics are made of. Like a Marvel hero in the swashbuckling 1800s.

Stuff White People Like

I take such joy in this site. Good stuff.

Sci-Fi vs. Literary

This one was just fascinating. I love the theory.

Also, trying to finish a first draft of the new novel here. So close and so far far away.

Why "Reality Fatigue" Has Made Science Fiction More Interesting Than Literature [Rant]
via io9 by Annalee Newitz on 1/21/08

One of Wired magazine's brainiest writers, Clive Thompson, has a great essay in the latest issue about why science fiction novels have become more philosophically rich than literature. He points out that scifi often gets the short shrift in literary circles, partly because it's perceived as just so generic. And yet so-called realistic literature is just as generic. In fact, there is a kind of poverty to literary fiction that refuses to bend the rules of social (or material) reality -- one can only describe the world in such books, not suggest ways to change it.

Argues Thompson:

There are, at the risk of sounding superweird, only so many ways to describe reality. After I'd read my 189th novel about someone living in a city, working in a basically realistic job and having a realistic relationship and a realistically fraught family, I was like, "OK. Cool. I see how today's world works." I also started to feel like I'd been reading the same book over and over again.

Here's my overly reductive, incredibly nerdy way of thinking about the novel: Consider it a simulation, kind of like The Sims. If you run a realistic simulation enough times -- writing tens of thousands of novels about contemporary life -- eventually you're going to explore almost every outcome. So what do you do then?

You change the physics in the sim. Alter reality -- and see what new results you get. Which is precisely what sci-fi does. Its authors rewrite one or two basic rules about society and then examine how humanity responds -- so we can learn more about ourselves. How would love change if we lived to be 500? If you could travel back in time and revise decisions, would you? What if you could confront, talk to, or kill God?

Teenagers love to ponder such massive, brain-shaking concepts, which is precisely why they devour novels like Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, the Narnia series, the Harry Potter books, and Ender's Game. They know that big-idea novels are more likely to have an embossed foil dragon on the cover than a Booker Prize badge.

I wonder if reality fatigue is going to affect television-watchers, too. With the writers' strike forcing studios to roll out so many awful new reality TV shows, maybe there will be a much greater hunger for speculative and scifi series.

SciFi is the Last Bastion of Philosophical Writing [Wired]

Most Pirated Movies And TV Shows

Sad part? Still haven't seen Transformers.

Movies

Ranking Movie (downloads on Mininova)

1. Transformers (569.259)
   
2. Knocked Up (509.314)
   
3. Shooter (399.960)
   
4. Pirates Of The.Caribbean At World’s End (379.749)
   
5. Ratatouille (359.904)
   
6. 300 (358.226)
   
7. Next (354.044)
   
8. Hot Fuzz (352.905)
   
9. The Bourne Ultimatum (336.326)
   
10. Zodiac (334.699)
    

TV-Shows

Ranking TV-Shows (downloads most popular episode on Mininova)

1. Heroes (2.439.154)
   
2. Top Gear (1.217.923)
   
3. Battlestar Galactica (706.209)
   
4. Lost (705.724)
   
5. Prison Break (608.487)
   
6. Desperate Housewives (457.805)
   
7. 24 (524.303)
   
8. Family Guy (522.839)
   
9. Dexter (435.670)
   
10. Scrubs (427.420)
    

Top 10 Most Pirated Movies and TV Shows of 2007
via Digg on 1/1/08

TV-shows are by far the most popular files on BitTorrent sites. On Mininova alone, some episodes are downloaded more than 2 million times. Movies are a good second, with over 500.000 downloads for the most popular titles.