July 12, 2002
DIB: Dog in Black
By now, everyone knows how much Tom enjoyed the movie Men in Black II. He's even gone on record as saying it is his favorite movie of the summer. The film is the sequel to 1997's smash hit Men in Black, and reunites stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as super secret agents that are on a mission to protect the Earth from the alien scum of the universe. Though the film has its share of human stars, it is a smaller and often forgotten cast member from the first movie that is stealing scenes as well as the hearts of movie-goers. Frank the Pug plays the part of Smith's new partner until he is replaced by the return of Jones to the agency. Tom says the talking dog is the best part of the movie, and we all know how tough Mr. Griswold is on actors. Could this mean an Oscar nomination is on the horizon for this up and coming canine co-star?

July 12, 2002
Shane Caldwell
and "Friends"
Having multiple personalities really comes in handy while performing in a one man show. Shane Caldwell banked on this when he put together his own one man show Nuff Said, and again when making his album Drive Time. In both cases, he used his award winning talent as a sketch artist to create memorable and lifelike characters, that almost anyone can relate too. Caldwell has dubbed himself as a self-styled "cultural zoologist of the Southern male animal," and promises to either make you laugh or offend you so much that you’ll be laughing at how mad he’s made you. Either way, it should be a good time.

July 11, 2002
Tracy Smith
She’s a fresh, folksy Canadian comedienne described as "the girl next door after being dragged around the block a few times." Tracy Smith has a comedic charm that keeps audiences off balance and laughing with her on-target “hindsight” brand of comedy. Smith’s TV appearances include Evening at the Improv, MTV's Half Hour Comedy Hour, Comedy Central, and Make Me Laugh.

July 11, 2002
Road to Perdition's New Young Star
Every Father is a hero to his son. This theory is put to the test when a hitman’s son finds out what his father does for a living. In the new film Road to Perdition, young 13-year-old actor Tyler Hoechlin plays the son of small town mobster. One night he witnesses his father take part in an organized crime murder, and is discovered watching. To save his son, from his crime family, the father must take his son on the run.

"I've done some other acting in commercials and small roles in films, but nothing like this," says Hoechlin about his first big feature film role. This movie may only be Tyler’s third, but after working with such Hollywood elites, he is gaining more experience than many other actors do in a lifetime.

"Tom Hanks and Paul Newman are just like you'd think they would be. It's cool to be watching a movie and be like, I worked with him," says Hoechlin.

The film stars Oscar winning actors Tom Hanks and Paul Newman, Oscar Nominee Jude Law, and is directed by the Oscar winning director of American Beauty, Sam Medes.

Though this is soon to be a big hit at the box office, Hoechlin is keeping busy with school work and baseball. "I am actually trying out for my High School baseball team today. I play short-stop."

FACTOID - The word Perdition means eternal damnation, and or hell. Tyler says this makes perfect sense if you see the movie.

July 10, 2002
Take a Trip With the Dead
Dennis McNally, historian and publicist of the legendary band The Grateful Dead for more than 20 years credits much of the bands success to one man, legendary San Francisco rock promoter Bill Graham.

"He was an extraordinary man," says McNally. "He opened the doors for a lot of bands. There will never be a better rock promoter than Bill Graham."

McNally is just one of the many rock n' roll insiders discussing the importance of the famed promoter in the A&E's Biography based on the life of Bill Graham.

"The show takes you all the way from where he walked across Germany to escape the Nazis, to his success in the 60's," says McNally. "There was about a two year span in San Francisco during the 60's that are considered to be the biggest party of all time, and a lot of that is due to Bill Graham helping bands like the Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and the Doors. He just knew how to present them to audiences."

Graham's influence on the Dead's career, along with rest of the history of the band is covered in McNally's new book that he began writing back in the early eighties.

"Jerry Garcia approached me about writing there history back in the 80's and I agreed. After awhile, he hired me on as their publicist. They kept me so busy that I didn't get to start writing the book again till just a few years ago. A Long Strange Trip is the definitive history of the Grateful Dead," says McNally. "It has been approved by the band, and they have all agreed with it's content."

This is much more than a chronology of events, he also includes interesting insights into the band’s intricate stage setup, and the magic of a Grateful Dead concert experience.

McNally continues to work with the remaining members of the band, and is in the midst of another tour. "I still work with them, but it's harder now because I have four bands to deal with,"

A Long Strange Trip is to be released later this year, but before then catch McNally as he talks about how Graham's work helped pave the way for the Dead's success on A&E's Biography, Monday, July 15.

July 10, 2002
Michigan's Finest
Michigan native J. Chris Newberg began as a singer, songwriter and guitarist for a small local band named the Vudu Hippies. His comedy career developed during concert performances when technical problems would force the band to stop playing. To keep riots from breaking out, Newberg would entertain the crowd by improvising acoustic comedy songs. Since becoming a full time comedian, he has been described as having Dennis Miller's wit while playing the guitar like Bob Dylan. He was also voted as the most likely local Michigan comic to hit it big.

July 9, 2002
Chick & Kristi Get Plastered
Kristi Lee's belly is about ready to pop, and the new baby could be birthed at any moment. Though she's sick of being pregnant, she did want a memento to remember this most joyous time in child bearing. That's where Jane Owen from The Artist Palette entered the picture by noting there is no better way to accomplish this than with a plaster cast of Kristi's swelling, baby-filled belly. Expecting mother's all over the country are finding these "Belly Masks" to be the next best thing to actually birthing the child. While in the seated position wearing a trash bag, Kristi's upper torso was coated in a plaster gauze, and just 45 minutes later a life size, punch bowl likeness of her tummy (and other parts) were"set in stone." The monument to motherhood was complete. Once finished, Kristi began debating whether to decorate the artwork or just leave it in its natural state. We say it to hell with hanging it on the wall. This should be used as a serving bowl for chips and dip... perfect for every occasion.
We have photos! >>>

FACTOID - This process was also be used to create a cast sculpture of Chick's ample ass. We predict that this will become a pop culture phenomenon and a legendary piece of art to be placed in the same category as Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and The Last Supper

July 9, 2002
He's Very Excited
It's time once again for America's favorite game, Fix the Joke Baby... Live, and its pre-show, The Zany Report. For two weeks in a row, Bob Zany has had to deliver his reports in unfamiliar territory... Wednesdays. Now, back on the day he made famous, Zany is very excited to bring us a fantastically funny report, one that will get us laughing along with him instead of at him (no pressure Bob). Though this edition of The Zany Report won't require any fixing... there are plenty of past fixer-uppers archived at BobZany.com. That's also the site where one can purchase the always-popular "Eat Salmon The Other Pink Meat" T-shirt, perfect for changing oil, painting houses, and many types of yard work.

July 9, 2002
Controversy Surrounds Hot Dog Champion
Since 1916, people have been flocking to Coney Island, NY every 4th of July to see the annual display of gluttony known as Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. However, for the second year in a row, controversy surrounds the winner of the contest. Heavily favored 24-year-old Takeru Kobayashi of Japan beat his own world record by devouring 50 1/2 hot-dogs in just 12 minutes. This was over 20 wieners more than second place finisher, Eric "Badlands" Booker. Controversy arose in the final seconds of the competition when Kobayashi was finishing off his record breaking dog & bun. After swallowing, spectators say he appeared to regurgitate ever so slightly. According to the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) this is grounds for immediate disqualification, but judges say this didn't happen till after the competition was over, so no rule was broken. President of the IFOCE Richard Shea says this is last year's Raiders-Patriots game all over again. Could instant replay for hot dog eating be the next logical step?

July 9, 2002
The New Kid of NASCAR
She's only four months old, but this kid has all the makings of a star. Make that "markings" of a star. Meet Lil' Dale, a goat with one heck of a coat that has race fans flocking to the tiny town of Interlachen, Florida. The brown, Nubian goat was born with a distinctive white "3," the number of racing legend Dale Earnhardt, on her right side. While poised to become the darling of NASCAR, Lil' Dale's owners hope this one-of-a-kind kid can make it in showbiz as well. If a Chihuahua can hawk tacos and a gecko can sell car insurance, why can't a goat get a piece of the spotlight too? "How couldn't she be something to NASCAR or auto racing," goat owner Jerry Pierson pondered. "All you have to do is put an oil can in front of her and it'll sell."

July 8, 2002
Jason Priestley
Is On the Fast Track Now!
.You may have a hard time believing it, but actor and the former teenage heartthrob of FOX's Beverly Hills 90210, Jason Priestley, is making a name for himself in auto racing. As a racing enthusiast and part time driver, Priestley decided to step out of the ABC broadcast booth, where he spent most of last year, and into the cockpit of an Indy Car. Though he's new to open wheel racing, Priestley has had success in various other forms of motorsports, including IMSA, the SCCA Pro Rally Series, the Magna Enduro Series and the FIA World Rally Championship.

"I have been driving for 12 years now," says Priestley. "I got started driving by myself on dirt tracks, and just kept working my way up."

His goal now is to make a name for himself in the inaugural, seven-race season of the Infiniti Pro Series. He started off on the right foot by finishing second in the first race of the season. "I finished second behind AJ Foyte IV (AJ's grandson), so I think I was in good company."

The races in this series are short 100 mile "sprints" that take place on the same tracks and on the same day as the larger, longer Indy Racing League events. "My hope is to make it into the IRL series. If someone were to offer me a ride, I would be a fool not to jump at the chance."

Look for "Brandon Walsh" racing around the track on ESPN 2, the home of the Infiniti Pro Series, or keep flipping through your cable channels and you're sure to see him in a more familiar Beverly Hills setting somewhere in syndication.

July 8, 2002
The Show That Might Save Your Life
TBS Superstation is doing something that Tom Griswold has suggested for a long time, turning one of his favorite books, The Worst-Case Scenario Handbook, into a reality television series. It may not be the Mr. Ed movie he's been longing for, but where else can you find the proper way to leap from a tall building into a dumpster, fend off an attacking shark, make a fire without the aid of matches, or escape from a sinking car? Worst-Case Scenario host Mike Rowe helps teach viewers how to become a domestic MacGyver and an everyday stuntman by taking through situations and real life events these survival techniques came in handy.

"The disclaimer at the beginning of the show is 45 minutes long," joked Rowe about the opening to his program. "But what else can you do? We tell people that they should never do any of this stuff unless they absolutely have no other option."

Worst Case Scenario is the "Boy Scout handbook on steroids" according to Rowe, and it's no game show. "This is reality TV but we don't give away prizes. What can you do to top a show that gives away a million dollars beside give away $2 million? This program was made with ADD in mind. It's very fast paced and delivered in a magazine style. We present the problem and then show you how do solve it... whether it be leaping from a building, or sliding under an 18 wheeler on a motorcycle.

Much like the books, the show has a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor about it. "It's ridiculous to be talking about escaping from quicksand, but the books have always present problems as a 'when it happens,' not 'if this happens.' We try to do the same thing."

If Rowe's voice sounds familiar, you may have been watching some documentarys lately. "If there is ever a wildebeest running across the dessert, you can bet I am narrating it." Worst-Case Scenario premiers July 10th on TBS.

July 8, 2002
The Ace of Comedy
T.P. Mulrooney joined Bob & Tom for the first annual Fuzzy Navel Open a few weeks back, and entertained the participants with his comical views on the game of golf. Along with providing the laughs, Mulrooney also took part in the tournament. Everyone made fun of his wardrobe, but he says its important to always wear two pairs of pants on the golf course in case you get a hole in one. Later in the day he was regarded as a hero when he helped a woman who had been stung on the links between the first and second holes... turns out her stance was too wide.