NEW #VentureBros holiday song from @jacksonpublick.bsky.social & @doc-hammer.bsky.social! For 2025, Dragoon and Red Mantle dug deep into the holiday songbook for a Guild Gala performance of “I Like Life”! Go get it (& all the rest) at bit.ly/venturebrosholiday

Kicking off winter in style...

NEW #VentureBros holiday song from @jacksonpublick.bsky.social & @doc-hammer.bsky.social! For 2025, Dragoon and Red Mantle dug deep into the holiday songbook for a Guild Gala performance of “I Like Life”! Go get it (& all the rest) at bit.ly/venturebrosholiday

DROPPING SOON.

HEY! @doc-hammer.bsky.social & @jacksonpublick.bsky.social have been toiling away in the AstroBase workshop to craft some festive joy for you this holiday season, AND YOU WILL HEAR IT SOON. While you wait, listen to ALL of the VENTURE BROS. holiday songs (& more!) at bit.ly/venturebrosholiday

May you all have a berry bear holiday season (and shout out to my pal @noelm.bsky.social)…

May the 2nd issue be someone’s first and the 1st be their 2nd and the rest be their next and it’s all very confusing but incredibly enjoyable, so go forth and spread the joy of a great comic book!

Merry Christmas, I must say.

Here’s one of my favorite songs from FRAGGLE ROCK, which I also think perfectly encapsulates the message behind Jim Henson’s original concept for the show, & its hope to forge a better future through the children set to inherit it…

“There’s a rhythm, there’s a rising There’s a dream of green that needs to wake A password, and a promise That the earth will never ever break It’s coming, feel it humming In the hearts we share with rock and sky So raise your voices high…”

FRAGGLE ROCK was an incredible show, built on a single premise of Jim Henson’s to “make a TV show that brings about world peace”, and promote international understanding. It’s a lofty goal, sure, but sometimes, in the bleakness that can surround us, it helps to remember where the heart is…

Nearly every episode of FRAGGLE ROCK would contain a segment detailing the adventures of Gobo’s Uncle Traveling Matt in “Outer Space” (the Fraggle term for our world) as viewed & interpreted through his Fraggle lens, & the holiday season was no exception…

The original run of FRAGGLE ROCK did its own holiday special, “The Bells Of Fraggle Rock”, which featured Jim Henson in his recurring role as the minstrel Cantus…

And the sincerity of emotion behind Jim Henson’s performance of this song makes you forget that there are two adult men hunched under that pile of fake fur, animating Rowlf. You believe it because Jim’s performance is genuine, & Jimmy Dean’s buy-in is total. You embrace the sincerity.

And then, in a heartbeat, Jim Henson could bring an emotional depth to his performance of Rowlf that elevates a goofy fun comedy sketch into something more…

I’ve mentioned it before, but Jimmy Dean’s own joy & delight in Jim Henson’s performances in these segments is infectious, as Henson brought an easygoing, folksy charm to Rowlf. It’s a shame the character receded so much as Kermit rose in popularity, until his return in THE MUPPET SHOW.

From December 24, 1964, you can hear how excited the JIMMY DEAN SHOW audience was for the Rowlf segment, & how popular those segments were. Long before Kermit became the centerpiece, Rowlf was the character that catapulted Jim Henson’s Muppets into the national consciousness…

Oh, and SCROOGED was one of the many things I discussed with director Richard Donner in the massive interview I shared from my vault (It'd be swell if you all became Patrons so I can continue to post both vintage pieces and do brand new ones): patreon.com/posts/from-vault-part-145504806

SCROOGED has one of the most endearing endings to any holiday film, ever. This finale never fails to lift my spirits and put me squarely in the holiday mood (and firmly establishes "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" as a holiday tune)…

I love SCROOGED. Bill Murray’s Frank Cross is a media age asshole archetype that still resonates, & it has one of the absolute best finales in cinema. Great performances, solid Richard Donner direction, Danny Elfman score, & prime Murray. The comedy snaps, yet the sentiment lands. And Karen Allen!

I've pulled another of my vintage interviews from the vault - This time with Sir Ian McKellen... Check it out! And if you want to see more archival pieces like this, & plenty of new ones, please consider becoming a patron! (It'd be swell...) patreon.com/posts/from-vault-with-140470347

HEY! Here's an in-depth interview (two, actually) from my vault, with the brill Graham Norton, for you to check out! (And if you dig these vault interviews - and my new interviews & stuff - please consider becoming a Patron, as it makes it all possible. More interviews from the vault coming soon!)

As a kid, Mike Nesmith was my favorite Monkee. I even taped a ball of paper I had colored to my pom-less green knit cap so it would look more like his signature tuque. In 2003, I got a chance to have a long conversation with him. From my vault, here's our chat... bit.ly/nezchat

Here's another in-depth interview from my vault, newly added to my Patreon - Cartoonist Berkeley Breathed! (And if you dig these vault interviews - and my new interviews & stuff - please consider becoming a Patron, as it makes it all possible. More interviews from the vault coming soon!)

I've pulled another of my vintage interviews from the vault - This time with Harry Shearer... Check it out and, if you want to see more archival pieces like this, & plenty of new ones, please consider becoming a patron (it'd be swell)... patreon.com/posts/from-vault-with-139000745

With the recent announcement of the new #LordOfTheRings Gollum film, it seemed a perfect opportunity to dip into my archives & share my massive interview with Andy Serkis from 2002... (Becoming a Patron allows me to share more new & archive pieces!) patreon.com/posts/from-vault-with-104094328

From deep in my vaults, here's a massive conversation I had with Stephen Colbert way back in 2003, when he was a star correspondent on The Daily Show and on the cusp of much bigger things... patreon.com/posts/from-vault-with-134374478

Okay, the first of these Vault Interviews is now up, featuring my conversation with @mjmckean.bsky.social patreon.com/posts/121082526 Hope you enjoy it! And, if you want to see me post more from my vault, *please* consider becoming a Patron at Patreon.com/KenPlume Now, who should I post next?

BRAND NEW *FORCE FIVE*! In each episode, I welcome a special guest who shares their Top 5 favorite STAR WARS collectibles from their personal collection, as we discuss why those made their list... In this ep, I'm joined by @broaxium.bsky.social's @chrisryons.bsky.social! Patreon.com/KenPlume

JIMMY OLSEN! SUPERMAN! COMICS! DEADLINES! TIMING! POSERS! PROCESS! AWKWARD ASKS! SEXY CONDIMENTS! And MORE! It's a BRAND NEW episode of A BIT OF A CHAT featuring @stevelieberart.bsky.social! Check it out: patreon.com/KenPlume

GEORGE LUCAS TALK SHOW! BLU-RAY BONUS BONANZAS! MUPPETS! WAX NIGHTMARES! BOUNCY HOUSES! POSTER PITS! And MORE! It's a BRAND NEW episode of A BIT OF A CHAT featuring @patrickcotnoir.bsky.social! Check it out: patreon.com/KenPlume

I love SCROOGED. Bill Murray’s Frank Cross is a media age asshole archetype that still resonates, & it has one of the absolute best finales in cinema. Great performances, solid Richard Donner direction, Danny Elfman score, & prime Murray. The comedy snaps, yet the sentiment lands. And Karen Allen!

Had a GREAT time talking Star Wars, SUREFIRE business plans and cereals that need a reboot with @kenplume.bsky.social on Force Five! Check it out!

BRAND NEW *FORCE FIVE*! In each episode, I welcome a special guest who shares their Top 5 favorite STAR WARS collectibles from their personal collection, as we discuss why those made their list... In this ep, I'm joined by @broaxium.bsky.social's @chrisryons.bsky.social! Patreon.com/KenPlume

JIMMY OLSEN! SUPERMAN! COMICS! DEADLINES! TIMING! POSERS! PROCESS! AWKWARD ASKS! SEXY CONDIMENTS! And MORE! It's a BRAND NEW episode of A BIT OF A CHAT featuring @stevelieberart.bsky.social! Check it out: patreon.com/KenPlume

Steve Lieber @stevelieberart.bsky.social has signed & sketched another batch of the Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen hardcover. We've got them in our etsy shop and will ship them to you IMMEDIATELY. They're signed by a bunch of the artists depicted on the cover, too! helioscopepdx.etsy.com/listing/4311...

This fucking fuck of a fucking year can fuck right the fuck off.

GEORGE LUCAS TALK SHOW! BLU-RAY BONUS BONANZAS! MUPPETS! WAX NIGHTMARES! BOUNCY HOUSES! POSTER PITS! And MORE! It's a BRAND NEW episode of A BIT OF A CHAT featuring @patrickcotnoir.bsky.social! Check it out: patreon.com/KenPlume

I recorded *TWO* new BIT OF A CHAT episodes today, and I’m recording a new episode of FORCE FIVE tomorrow. Wonderful guests all around, & I can’t wait to share them with you. You can find all of them (and more) on YouTube.com/KenPlume (Subscribe!) & you can support it all at Patreon.com/KenPlume…

I recorded *TWO* new BIT OF A CHAT episodes today, and I’m recording a new episode of FORCE FIVE tomorrow. Wonderful guests all around, & I can’t wait to share them with you. You can find all of them (and more) on YouTube.com/KenPlume (Subscribe!) & you can support it all at Patreon.com/KenPlume…

Please watch Aparna Nancherla’s special, Hopeful Potato out NOW on Dropout! Aparna is the best, and the special was directed by the devastatingly gorgeous and very smart guy, me!

May each of us strive for our legacy to also include all of the quiet good we tried to do in the world.

ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN! JEFF! KEN! BLACK CLOAK! BIRDS OF PREY! BUFFY! THE CULL! BLACK WIDOW! DEADPOOL! TASKMASTER! It's a BRAND NEW episode of A BIT OF A CHAT featuring the return of @kellythompson.bsky.social! Check it out: patreon.com/KenPlume

Bat-Politics.

For any fans of Rhett & Link or GOOD MYTHICAL MORNING, I've unvaulted a long-unavailable video interview conducted way back in 2008 by a dearly departed friend, Bonnie Rose, which I published on my site all those (too many) years ago. Hope you enjoy this time capsule... bit.ly/rhettlinkvault

In 1949, the Three Stooges (Moe, Larry, & Shemp) did a pilot for a TV series, which never aired. It's disconcerting to see them doing their schtick in front of a live audience, returning to their vaudeville roots but with primitive television production. (Bonus Emil Sitka, as well.)

This is as good a reminder as any that @kenplume.bsky.social and I chewed this movie up in 4 minute bites so you don't have to… 👉👈 unless you want to? 🚂🎅🏻 waffle.media/polardepress...

Often forgotten in the GREAT BIG LIST of holiday films is @paulfeig.bsky.social's UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, from 2006. Any movie that puts Paget Brewster & Teri Garr together in scenes is worth giving a watch...