Holy Animated Gif, Batman!!

     I have absolutely no executive power whatsoever at Warner Bros. Studio... or anywhere else for that matter. Although a hobo did once refer to me as 'chief' ...but that's as close as I've come. If I did have any clout at the WB, my first order of business would be to get the company back into the Theatrical Shorts business. This would mean brand new Looney Tunes shorts, obviously, but I also think that DC's catalog of super heroes would make for some good 7-minute fun on the big screen. The folks at the WB could easily tack these shorts on each of the many DC Universe films that are about to hit the big screen, ensuring the perfect audience for such a venture! Alas, nothing of the sort exists. But I did slap together this cool and very unofficial animation of the Batman logo. It might not be theatrical... but it is short.

"He's Gone Already, Chief."

     Last night marked the final episode of the great David Letterman's 33-year run on late-night television! I still remember watching The Late Show with David Letterman for the first time as a kid. My brothers and I were spending the week at our grandparents' house, which meant we got to stay up late! For whatever reason, we started watching The Late Show one night and couldn't stop laughing! Looking back, I think my grandparents were mainly laughing at how cracked up my brothers and I were getting, but regardless... we were all having fun!

     Paul Shaffer, Biff Henderson, Alan Kalter, Rupert Jee: These were the names of celebrities to me as a kid... and I guess still are. Mr. Letterman and his staff with their corny Worldwide Pants style of humor never has lost its appeal with me. Whether good or bad, it's helped shape my entire sense of humor! Rather than focus on how sad I am that the show is ending, I'm choosing to just be glad that it happened. Hey! How's that for corny?

     Feel free to join me on a walk down memory lane with a few of my favorite moments from the show.

Dave and Steve's Gay Vacation

Moe: The Bad-Ass Meat Slicing Man

Dave Works at Taco Bell

Dave and Hello Deli owner Rupert Jee...annoying people.

Alan Kalter's Celebrity Interviews

The CBS Mailbag.
 

Pat and Kenny read Opera transcripts 

     I AM looking forward to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, but I definitely do not envy Mr. Colbert! Anyone who has to fill Mr. Letterman's shoes... well... Let's just say I wouldn't give his troubles to a MONKEY ON A ROCK!

Order 66 Toys - These ARE the Toys You're Looking For!

     It’s May the 4^th, aka Star Wars Day! I’m sure most posts out there will center on the newest installment in the saga, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Since all I really have to say on that subject is that I’M SUPER PUMPED, I’ll instead share my account of a Star Wars related experience I had recently.

     First of all, it’s a little known fact about me: I love toys! Actually, it’s probably a well-known fact! It'd probably even be safe to say that it’s the third thing people learn about me after we meet. I’m white. My name is Nathan. I love toys, and I’m a dude. Yep! It’s so well known that most people realize it before even learning what sex I am. I’m not sure what that means, but I’m getting off topic. By far, my favorite kind of toys are Star Wars action figures!

     The other day we were having lunch with my family in McKinney, Texas. We had already said our goodbyes and were driving away from the restaurant when my wife spotted the Imperial logo on a small shop around the corner.

HEY! Like in that movie! ...only with LASERS!!

     Order 66 Toys was the name on the door. We decided to check it out. I was hot, tired, and overall a little grumpy, and for those bull crap reasons alone, I didn’t have the highest of hopes for this place. My wife said to just run in to check it out real quick and text her if it was worth anything. Approximately three seconds after I walked through the door, I sent her a text - “Holy crap! This place is awesome!"

My expression in this photo does not accurately display the proper
amount of enthusiasm.

That's more like it!

     My grumpiness wore off instantly as I beheld the wall-to-wall stock of Star Wars action figures. I was suddenly a kid again… along with more than half of the adults in that store! To the best of my knowledge, they had at least one of every action figure that was ever made! It was pretty overwhelming. In the back of the store were glass cases holding some of the original action figures! I darn near ‘squeeee-ed’ with delight as I pushed an original Landspeeder back and forth!

This photo is blurry from excitement tremors.

     My wife came in to approve the financial transaction that was inevitably going to take place, and I have to say, I was proud of myself. I ended up spending around $15 for a couple of action figures, which is only a fraction of what the fanboy monster inside of me was capable of spending.

Three geeky words: Porkins! And! Tarkin!!!

     BUT… this was only my first visit! And as certain as the twin suns setting behind the western horizon of Tatooine, so shall I return. If there are any Star Wars fans in the McKinney area reading this, check Order 66 Toys out!

     If you’re not in the McKinney area, then hop in the nearest mode of transportation and GET THERE! You’ll be glad you did!
   
Oh yeah! And to quote the nice girl that helped me check out... May the Force be with you!

"Oop Doodly Doo!"

That was the catchphrase of this next original character of mine. Yeah...

Meet Ricky Sheldon.

     Growing up, I used to love busting out the markers and drawing all kinds of 1990's-tastic scenarios for this wannabe counterpart of mine to get into. Ricky was cool, had a hilariously snappy comeback for any situation, and would occasionally go to outer space or travel back in time.

     He was everything I wanted to be... with a strange nonsensical catchphrase. Seriously, I don't know where that noise came from.

The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

    Some people dream about going back to high school, or walking around in public without pants. Me? I dream about the guy below: a blue wolf in a suit carrying a golf club.

     I don't know what it means, if anything, but this guy has reoccured several times in my dreams, so I decided to finally sketch him out and give him a name. Say hello to Mr. Snoot!

     I've always thought that Nate and George needed an adversary of sorts. Not a villain, per se, just someone that they don't get along with too well, and Mr. Snoot fits that bill. While Nate and his friends like to keep things pretty silly, Mr. Snoot is the opposite, having absolutely no tolerance for anything remotely ridiculous. The irony, of course, here being that he himself is the epitome of ridiculous.

Happy Birthday, Kurt!

     Some good friends of mine have a son who's turning five and requested that I draw the Paw Patrol as the Avengers to have printed on his birthday cake. Unfortunately, I can't say I've ever seen Paw Patrol, (we're more of a Peppa Pig household) but, hey! I love a good mashup!

...and Friends!

     When I was in the third grade, I came up with the idea for Nate and George. When I was in the fifth or sixth grade, I decided to give the two some more friends.

     First up is Timothy Rabbit. Like George, Timothy here was also based on a stuff animal from my childhood. At the same time I got George, my brother got a stuffed rabbit from the same product line. He named the rabbit, Thumper... but for obvious reasons, I've decided to change the name here. Oh, and yes. My brother and I played with dolls. Wanna fight about it?

     Gusto Squirrel has shown up here before. Gusto gets his name because of his overwhelming enthusiasm for most things... you know? His gusto!

     Arby the Dinosaur has also been on the blog before. I liked dinosaurs a lot as a kid (who didn't?) and thought Nate needed one to hang out with. The joke with Arby is that he's a guy with a very complex personality who also turns out to be a talking dinosaur. Hilarious right? Hmm.
   
     After seeing a few pieces of concept art for Pixar's upcoming The Good Dinosaur, I realize that Arby bares a really close resemblance to the film's main character, Arlo... so this is probably the last we'll be seeing of this guy.

The King Under The Mountain

     Here's one more Hobbit character before my Lord of the Rings enthusiasm temporarily fizzles out for a while. This take on Thorin Oakenshield unintentionally ended up looking a little bit like Tommy Chong. After thinking about it for a little bit, I realized... there is nothing about any of that that I do not like.

     I'm by no means a big Tolkien fan, so maybe someone can clarify for me. In the films, at least, Bilbo's sword is the only one that glows blue, even though Thorin's and Gandalf's were also made by the elves. Why is that? I think it'd look pretty cool if there were a whole army with glowing blue swords?!? Oooh! And what if the villains' swords glowed red?!? AND the whole thing took place IN OUTER SPACE?!? Now that's a film I'd like to see!

Penguin Suits - The Easter Bunny

Happy Easter!