munchman: Whoa, I am Lovin’ on Ernie Kovacs

…No matter how dead he is.

Which is my sweet, munchy, little way of saying that the very nice people at Shout! Factory have sent us a review copy of The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Volume 2, and I’m very glad I managed to, um, talk LB into giving it to me to review.

Kovacs was one of television’s founding fathers of comedy, goosing TV with his weirdness in the ’50s. To say he was offbeat is to barely scratch the surface. A true original, Ernie Kovacs was Bizarro without the white face, and you can spot his influence in the Monty Phython gang, the Muppets, and just about everything on Adult Swim. read article

Another Monty Pythoner Shows His Utmost Respect for Graham Chapman

Awhile ago, John Cleese talked about his former MONTY PYTHON mate. Now Terry Jones has a few words on the same subject. These dudes are so @#$!ing sweet, you know?

Monty Python’s Terry Jones on Graham Chapman’s Biopic – by Steve Marsh

When the five surviving members of Monty Python are photographed nowadays, there’s always a witty allusion to the dead one: an upturned urn or a disembodied pipe. So it’s no surprise that when an old recording of Graham Chapman reading his 1986 memoir A Liar’s Autobiography was discovered, a project came together nearly as quickly as it takes to ask “What’s all this, then? Are they going to make a 2Pac hologram of Police Constable Pan Am?” Chapman’s recording became the basis for A Liar’s Autobiography, a surreal new animated movie (in select theaters and on EPIX on November 2), to which the surviving Pythons (except for Eric Idle) contributed their voices. We talked to original Python Terry Jones about Chapman’s drinking, his mum’s influence, and Terry Gilliam’s bossiness. read article

Peer Production: Update on ODDS OF WINNING

The other day we ran Josh Hudson’s piece about his new web series, ODDS OF WINNING. Now it’s time to include the all-important info about how you can be part of this production.

TV Writing Isn’t as Easy as It Looks

Nor is it always fun.

Alan Kirschenbaum by himself, on Instagram

PASSINGS: Alan Kirschenbaum (L.A. Times)

Alan Kirschenbaum, a TV producer and comedy writer who worked on shows including ‘Raising Hope,’ ‘My Name is Earl’ and ‘Yes, Dear,’ dies at 51.

Alan Kirschenbaum, 51, a television producer and comedy writer who worked on such shows as“Raising Hope,”“My Name is Earl” and “Yes, Dear,” which he co-created, was found dead Friday at his Burbank home.

Early reports indicate he may have committed suicide, according to a spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. No other details were released. An autopsy is pending. read article

The Doctor Puppet Prepares for the Storm

Q. What’s the difference between The Doctor and The Doctor Puppet?

A. One of them seems eminently sane and reasonable. (And we don’t mean The Doctor.) Check it out:

read article