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December,
2001
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BIG
PICTURE QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"Without Art, Life has no meaning."
- Art's Wife (thanks Kurt Schneider)
.....
BIG-PICTURE-WEBSITES-THAT-WE-HAVE-NOTHING
-TO- DO-WITH-WE-JUST-LIKE-'EM
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MONTH:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/MESCAmoose.html
You're gonna love this one. Then after you check out that most excellent
moose, go back to http://www.roadsideamerica.com and explore. Fun stuff.
Thanks, Madame Moose.
.....
IT'S TIME
TO PLAY "BIG PICTURE TRUE OR FALSE"!!! YA-HOOOOOOOO!
1.True or
False- You can credit the entire format of the rest of this newsletter to
Andrew, Clutch Grabwell saxomaphonist.
A: True.
2.True or
False-You can blame the entire format of the rest of this newsletter to
Andrew, Clutch Grabwell saxomaphonist.
A: True.
3. True
or False- I haven't written a newsletter since October cuz I didn't want
to get out of bed and get dressed cuz I had no clean underwear and I didn't
feel like doing a wash.
A: False.
I haven't written a newsletter since September.
4, True
or False- Poor Kerri (see #3).
A: True.
5. True
or False- Since my August newsletter (see my August newsletter), I've received
more pictures of Heidi Klum than I need for a lifetime (I was gonna say
"more Heidi Klum pictures than you can shake a stick at" but I...Oh, never
mind)
A: False. There is no such thing as receiving enough pictures of Heidi Klum
(to shake a stick at).
6.True or
False- I had an interview with TIME Magazine!!
A: False. Ha. Got ya. But I DID have an excellent interview with the Arizona
Daily Star and Kristen Cook. Thanks for that, Kristen. And the bribes were
minimal. I also got a nice plug coming up from Hogan's Alley magazine (write
to me if you want details). It's a great magazine all 'bout the inside poop
on the cartooning biz and the people within. Lots o' fun. My favorite section
is a section called "Deja Viewed" where they expose cartoons that rip off
previously published cartoons. It's awesome. I'll be in that section eventually,
NO doubt. I ripped off Hilary Price BIG time in a recent Sunday strip (unknowingly,
I swear. At least that's what I told her. Kidding, kidding. I swear it was
an accident. One of those subconscious things). Actually, I should send
that in to "Deja Viewed" just to beat anyone to the punch and show 'em how
"with it" I am, y'know? Anyway, great magazine (and I said that long before
they decided to give me a "Comic Strips You Should Be Reading" plug) and
thanks very much for the support, Tom. Some of you have written to me trying
to find that "Cartoonist Profiles" interview I did back in July. If you
want, just drop me a line at www.planetlennie.com or at P.O. Box 729, Norwell,
Ma. 02061 and I'll put one out to you.
7. True
or False- I had an interview with CNN.
A: False. But I was supposed to (Jeez. That is, after I told everybody I
was gonna be on stoopid CNN). For real . They called me to set up a Thanksgiving
Day interview and then they moved the scheduled time 3 times. Finally, I
was going to have to do it at 9:20 in the morning on Thanksgiving Day from
my sister Christine's house where I was staying overnight after playing
with the band until 3 a.m. at The Plantation Club (CNN: "So, Lennie, tell
us- how does this year's Thanksgiving affect you?" ME: "Uuuhhhnnnn...Wha?...").
But I would have done it. I mean, it's CNN, y'know? Ted Turner. All that.
But then they decided to move it to Friday the 23rd and then to the following
Monday (krikee) and I never heard from them again. Stoopid T.V. people.
I figure one of three things happened- 1) I'm not famous enough and they
got someone who's actually somewhat important in the business to do it.
Like that "Mutts" guy or the "Beetle Bailey" dood or something, 2) There
are more important things named Osama Bin Ladin going on in the world than
an interview with someone who draws dopey cartoons for a living or, 3) They
don't like me. But then I was thinking that's impossible. I mean, what's
not to like, y'know? Or maybe all of the above. At least I'll probably get
a comic strip out of the whole thing.
8.True or
False- I'd like to thank all of the new markets that have decided to add
TBP to their comics page(s) since October and say a big "THANKS" to those
that have written saying they're happy to have me aboard. And "PTTTHHHP!"
to those people who aren't.
A: True.
9. True
or False- http://www.UComics.com is the place to be for all of the best
and coolest, hippest comics on God's Green Earth.
A: True. Bring the wife.
10. True
or False- This newsletter is starting to sound like those idiotic newspaper
columns Larry King used to do.
A: True.
11. True
or False- The guy "Chris" who wrote to me saying that TBP is a Garfield
rip-off is a big Poopiehead.
A: Duh.
12. True
or False- I should just shut up about the whole Clutch Grabwell West Coast
tour for now.
A: True. Ain't gonna happen. At least in February. But it WILL happen eventually
even if I have to go out there and do it alone (just the trombone parts.
Me, alone. On stage. Now THERE'S a show.) The problem is, if i can just
make a few excuses here, recording a c.d. with this kind of production and
this many people and personalities and schedules is always a MUCH bigger
undertaking than one thinks. We originally wanted to have it out by Thanksgiving
(Hey. That goes well with my cancelled CNN interview) then we pushed it
to Christmas and, despite me having hissy fits, even THAT ain't happening.
Oh, well. The good news is, the c.d. is KILLIN''. I PROMISE you that. It's
sounding incredible. We're done tracking all the parts and it's now being
mixed and then it will go into mastering (long story, that mastering process)
then to the factory for manufacturing once the cover is done and all that
crap. So, hey, maybe we WILL tour out there in February after all. February,
2005 that is. Doh! Anyway, we're sorry again for the delay. I don't know
what to say 'cept that I love the band enough to tell you that both the
show and the c.d. are worth the wait.
13. Lennie
has more excuses than O.J. in a drug bust.
A: True.
14. Lennie
is way behind in answering his mail, both e and snail.
A: True. See # 13.
15. True
or False- Dan Dalton, salesman extraordinaire, will be missed to the extreme.
A: True.
Forgive my indulgence here, but sometimes you end up in mutual admiration
with someone that you figured was gonna be "just another work association".
It happens all the time to everyone and it's one of life's little treasures,
y'know? Think about it in your own life. Funny to trace your friends back.
Happened with me and the band, Lisa and Lee at the syndicate and some others
in other jobs 'n such. You go into a job thinking "Okay, I've gotta work
with these people". Then you actually end up respecting them and admiring
them and even (whoa!) LIKING them. Cool stuff. Dan is a man of conviction
and integrity. One of those "no-nonsense" guys but with a sense of humor.
Picture the Tasmanian Devil with wit and heart. There's Dan. Motivated,
knows his stuff and knows a good comic strip when he sees it, and does whatever
it takes to get it out there cuz he believes in it. No matter where he goes
from here, the dood is a guaranteed success story. Hell, he's already a
big success as a person as far as I'm concerned and as far as anyone who
has the privilege of knowing him. He was/is a big part of getting The Big
Picture out there and in the papers and web. The syndicate's gonna miss
him, I'm gonna miss him and TBP will miss him. Thank you for everything,
Dan. See you soon for that brew we've been promising each other.
16. The
Aretha Franklin gig I played in November kicked ass.
A: True.
17. I got
my ass kicked for being late to the Aretha Franklin afternoon rehearsal.
A: True. Well wait. I did get my ass kicked but I was actually right on
time. They started 5 minutes early. So I got my ass kicked for being on
time.
18. Guys
who play those kind of shows all the time (like Tim Kelly) kick ass.
A: True.
19. This
newsletter is even more self-indulgent and "inside" than usual.
A: True.
20. There
will be more "UNSUBSCRIBES" than ever.
A:
Really friggin'' true.
21. For
all the scoop on Clutch Grabwell activities and such visit http:// www.nobodyhere.com/justme/nose.html.
A: False. Visit http://www.grabwell.com.
Oh, and THEN visit http://www.nobodyhere.com/justme/nose.html. Heh heh.
Tell 'em John Boyle sent ya.
22.True
or False. Anyone in Boston wanting to come out tonight to the Hard Rock,
we'll be there.
A: TWOO! We're playing under the premise of one of those stoopid "Battle
of the Band"' things but this one's cooler than most. We said we'd do it
if we could go on early and have a chance to get kids out that have been
wanting to hear us. It's an all ages show at The Hard Rock in Boston for
garageband.com (http://www.Garageband.com). We start at 7:30 p.m. It's one
of those deals where bands "compete" for a grand prize of like, an amp or
something. Woohoo. But the main thing is, for us, we'll get to play for
some kids that don't normally get to hear us play so that'll be fun. I think
the other prize for winning the most votes is a record deal. Like, buy 1
record get 11 for half price. Okay, seriously, I think it's for some kind
of a recording contract. Or something. You know the wacky business of it
all. If you don't, Praise The Lord.
23. True
or False- Clutch Grabwell is getting radio play in France.
A: False. But we ARE getting radio play in Spain. Mark got his ASCAP royalty
statement last week and we're getting played in Spain. Go figure. I'm not
sure the guys in the band know about this even so, excuse me one second-
Hey, guys. We're getting radio play in Spain.
24. True
or False- The guys in the band won't even see #23 cuz they'll all have sent
an "UNSUBSCRIBE" by now.
A: True
25. True
or False- Y'know, I started this comic strip and it's all mine, mine, mine.
I'M the one who came up with the idea, I'M the one who persevered in getting
it syndicated, I'M the one who has to work on it every day and yet KERRI
AND GINGER GET MOST OF THE FAN MAIL and it's REALLY STARTING TO IRK ME,
OKAY???!!!!
A: False.
I don't work on it every day.
26. True
or False- I got a 3 page letter last month from a lady in Florida saying
I was going to burn in Hell for saying "Oh my God" (that's apparently using
the Lord's name in vain) in my comic strip. She was serious.
A: Sheesh. That's really true.
27. True
or False- Lee is in the process of reconstructing, updating and beefing
up the PlanetLennie.com website. So far, what I've seen of it is great.
We're gonna finally get the Lennie doll up there that my good friend Lynne
made and some new photos and new graphics and a whole bunch of other stuff
and I'll keep you posted.
A:True.
28. True
or False- Jeff Campbell's (aka; Andre) breakaway solo effort with his band
beginning in "V" and ending "T" is temporarily postponed due to an extended
stay at Dave's Dude Ranch learning spanking tricks with a small metal chain.
A: Partly true.
29. True
or False- On behalf of The Big Picture, Universal Press Syndicate, Andrews
McMeel Publishing and Clutch Grabwell, I'd like to wish you all the warmest
wishes for a great holiday and VERY happy, healthy and prosperous new year
filled with PEACE. Thanks for helping me, in many ways, through an interesting
2001.
A:True
30. There
is no 30.
A: False.
Say Hi to the
wife for me. Peace, Lennie, Ginger and all of us.
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