FBOTU Book Club: Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
November FBOTM Marc was hanging out in varying states of undress at the FBOTU compound the other day, and I told him, “I just finished this great book; you should read it.” Then I thought, “Let’s make everyone read it!” So, I’m pleased to announce our next selection for the FBOTU Book Club: Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. Wishful Drinking is based on Carrie’s recent one-woman show. Carrie writes openly and candidly about her struggles with fame, drugs and mental illness, all in her hilariously dark and twisted way. Wishful Drinking is a rare glimpse inside the mind of a troubled genius, as well as a peek behind the Hollywood curtain. You can find Wishful Drinking at your local bookstore or from the online retailers below. I would suggest going to Borders and signing up for a Rewards Card. It’s free and you get discounts and coupons on your purchases there. The Barnes & Noble membership costs to join, but if you don’t have a Borders near you, it might be a good option as well.
Since it’s the holidays, and I know money is tight, we’re also giving away three copies of the book to the first three folks who post: “Help me, FBOTU, you’re my only hope!” in the comments section on this post. The FBOTU Book Club meeting is January 21. At that time, the Book Club thread in the Forum will open, and we’ll have a discussion. Happy reading!
“I used to have this fantasy that in some distant Star Wars sequel, we’d finally stop all the shooting and screaming at each other and would go to a shopping-and-beauty planet, where the stormtroopers would have to get facials, and Chewbacca would have to get pedicures and bikini and eyebrow waxes.” -Carrie Fisher , Wishful Drinking
The brilliant uberfans at Star Trek Phase II have just uploaded the latest episode of their new vision of the classic Star Trek series. What makes this episode so special is that it’s actually written by David Gerrold, an original Star Trek writer, based on a script that was rejected for The Next Generation. Rejected? What could it possibly contain that was too outlandish or outrageous for the world of Star Trek? How about two guys in love? Oh, and one of them is the captain’s nephew! Rewritten for the classic series timeline, you can now download and watch Part One of “Blood and Fire”. I just watched it myself, and it’s pretty fabulous! It looks and feels just like a classic Trek episode, only with cute guys kissing each other! Part Two will be available in February. Episode downloads are completely free, too, so check it out! Here’s the trailer:
Our very own August FBOTM Paul (aka Gay Comic Geek) has become a major internet superstar and the darling of the publishing world! In addition to being featured in the November issue of Instinct, Paul has now been transformed into a comic book character himself, thanks to Brizy Comics. Check out Paul’s doppelgänger “The Geeker” in Issue #1650 of Comics Buyer’s Guide. Paul’s world domination doesn’t end there, though. You can also get some insight into what makes him tick in an exclusive interview by Patrick Fillion in the new issue of Boytoons Magazine. And if the photos accompanying the interview look familiar, it’s because they’re from Paul’s FBOTM shoot, which is still available for viewing in the Gallery. Here’s the Gay Comic Geek himself with more details about “The Geeker”:
Awww. Look who sent me a holiday card! Our friends at DC Comics! I will have to send them a FBOTU fruitcake. Still no card from Marvel, but then again, they’ve been distant ever since I said the new Hulk looked like porn star Michael Lucas. I will try to make amends in the new year. For now, be sure you buy a lot of DC titles for everyone on your holiday shopping list! They’ve been very kind to us here at FBOTU this year. In addition to letting us attend their party at Comic-Con, they also donated some amazing stuff for the FBOTU gift basket that was auctioned off in New Orleans this year. So please show them some love. I was going to suggest using DC comics as stocking stuffers, but then you’d have to roll them up, which I’m guessing would make collectors cringe. Unless it’s Terror Titans. Then go ahead.
In addition to being smart and creative and sexy, December FBOTM Trenton has the distinction of being the first Fanboy of the Month to ever bring me a present. I don’t know if it was because he was posing for December, or if he’s just a thoughtful sort of guy, but at the end of the shoot, he presented me with a vintage Masters of the Universe Clawful figure, still on the card! By now, you’ve probably guessed I’m a He-Man geek of the highest order (though site member Havoc would disagree, since I didn’t know what the Fuerza-T figures were). So, I turned from “professional photographer guy” into “squealing goofball guy” as soon as Trenton handed Clawful over. And maybe that was his intention all along, disarming me and catching me unguarded. He is an enigma. Luckily, Trenton also has a gift for all of you. Be sure to check back on Thursday, December 25 for a special treat! For now, read all about Trenton on the FBOTM page and check out the latest pics from the shoot in the Gallery. Have a great weekend!
As an adult, I have much more sympathy for my parents than I ever did as a child. Looking back, I can’t help but feel sorry for them, actually. They’re a couple of perfectly normal, down-to-earth people. They didn’t ask to have the weirdest kid on the block who was completely obsessed with Star Wars and He-Man and Muppets and, oh yeah, also happened to be gay. But they did their best, and they persevered. One of my favorite Christmas memories is waking up to find not one, but two Kenner tauntaun figures under the tree, ready to be ridden into battle against the evil Empire or Hoth wampas. Only later did I discover that my reserved and stoic father, the strong and silent type, drove hundreds of miles and searched every store in the surrounding parts of the state to find them. As much as I loved my tauntauns, the vision of him on a quest, asking toy store employees for help, then driving on to the next store, outshines any toy I could have received. I didn’t even realize my father knew what a tauntaun was, much less how to ask for one or where to find one. So, as you can imagine (and can probably relate), I have a special fondness for the fan film Christmas Tauntauns, which was all the rage a few years ago. So, in the immortal words of poor, doomed Mrs. Davenport, “Won’t you join us in a carol before we open our gifts?”
Woohoo! A new Muppets Christmas special, Letters to Santa, is on tonight on NBC at 8:00PM/7:00PM Central. I don’t know how they can top It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie from 2002, but frankly, any Muppet special is better than no Muppet special. Gather your family or friends or enemies and watch together! We’ll discuss tomorrow. Here’s a promo:
Sorry Charlie Brown. Sorry Mr. Grinch. For me, it’s just not Christmas without an annual screening of He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special. This year, I recruited site members and longtime Heroic Podboys of the Universe Allen, Razz-Bel, Johnny M and Havoc for a little post-show discussion and analysis of this venerable holiday classic. Highlights include:
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Queen Marlena
After 20 years of life on Eternia, Queen Marlena suddenly remembers Christmas back home on Earth. That’s 20 years of Christmas cards she forgot to send.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas Transformers
The spin-off that never was, the Manchines and the Monstroids do their best to make Christmas a little more soulless and metallic for our heroes.
O Holy Bony Night
All it takes is a puppy to transform Skeletor from Evil Lord of Destruction into that creepy uncle you only see at Christmas. He-Man should have thought of that sooner.
Hark, Hear the Bells New FBOTU Theme Song
Our very own Johnny M has composed an awesome new theme song for our podcast and for the site! A download will be available soon. For now, be sure to listen to the podcast to be the first to hear this breakaway hit! You can also hear more of Johnny M’s music on MySpace Music.
Whether you’re on Earth or Etheria or Eternia or my ass, have a very merry He-Man Christmas! Thanks for listening!
