Jean MacCurdy as Boss

On the subject of "Animaniacs," it occured to me that Warner Bros. TV animation back then consisted of over a hundred artists, writers, checkers, etc. We were turning out 65 half-hours for the first season of "Animaniacs." At the same time, the division was making "Taz," "Batman," and wrapping up the last "Tiny Toon Adventures."

In the midst of this frenzy, there was only a single executive: Jean MacCurdy.

Jean let the producers run their shows while she ran the division. She trusted them and believed a person with passion for a series might turn out a better product than, say, a committe removed from the creative process.

In time, the WB gobbled up the division. Kids WB spun away from Jean to become its own entity with executives over her. Jean finally stepped down as division president in 2001.

But for a time, there was no place like Warners.

Which goes to prove that anything can happen in Hollywood, even good things.

Animaniacs DVD Interview

Yesterday, Sherri Stoner, Peter Hastings, Paul Rugg and I were interviewed for the second "Animaniacs" DVD. The release date is sometime around Christmas. Our moderator was "The Brain" himself, Maurice LaMarche. We had a lot of laughs recalling the writing of the show fourteen years ago.

I've written many things since then, but I only really appreciate "Animaniacs" now.

Much of life is like that.

Walk to Elmer Once Again

Walked four miles today. I parked in a lot off Windsor St. in Pasadena and moved down an asphalt path that paralleled JPL. I could see down to the parking lot where a little bus shuttled workers from the facility to their cars. Crossing an A-frame bridge, I veered off onto a dirt trail and followed it up to the Elmer Smith bridge. A slap on the sign, then back down.

That's the first time since my 16-mile run in March that I've made it up to Elmer.

A little change was needed from gym-swim-gym.

But I'm not complaining.

Crutches are still fresh in my memory.

Unbaked TNT Alaska

Teammate Natalie reported tough going up in the Land of the Midnight Sun. 'twas not an easy marathon. Rain, heavy at times, a rocky trail, TNTers from other teams dropping out due to injury and fatigue, stones in her shoes, and a moose in the road.

But Natalie persevered.

She IS a marathoner.

TNT Alaska Marathon

Bravo to Summer Team's Alaska runners/walkers. Initial reports from Anchorage place all my teammates safely across the finish line. Coach Kate, on the right in purple in the post below, ran a 3:38:57 marathon, an average of 8 minutes and 21 seconds per mile.

A most successful Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon.

Just printed out 133 pages of outline notes and chapter drafts from a second horror novel. This one, "The Whompago," has been referenced in previous posts. I should put a link here but I'm really in a hurry.

Post-Injury Miles 3

Aqua Ran this morning before TNT practice. Outside the pool, I bumped into Summer Team remnants, waiting to embark on a light, post-marathon run. I joined them and walked 3 miles. That's the furthest I've ambled since before the accident.

The break area felt tender and the right ankle was sore, but overall I was pleased. My last two miles were on par with what I might've walked pre-injury. I'm not yet ready for running, but progress is steady. Naturally, since I did so well, I thought I could've done more. But that's how I get injured.

Cyndi from Summer Team took a host of fine San Diego photos. Here's one she snapped pre-marathon of Summer Team coaches, Katie and Kate. They'll also be coaching Winter Team running events which include the Phoenix Marathon in January. I'm hoping that will be my next marathon.

Charmed at the Health Club

I joined that dandy little health club I mentioned a few posts back. There's nothing like showing up at 1:00 PM and getting your pick of machines. Flat screen TVs show ESPN, CNN, and reruns of "Charmed." Lots of pouty, cute girl witch looks. But it's exerting a strange fascination on me. I grow irritable around 1:00 PM on days when I'm not at the health club. And somehow, turning on "Charmed" at home wouldn't be the same.

More on this.

In addition, I joined the Rose Bowl Aquatic Club. Usually around 12:45 - 1:00 PM is the best time to go aqua run. My head is lathered up with sun block. Sometimes there are "swimming moms" hectoring their children. One woman harangued her two daughers non-stop for over 40 minutes, berating them for bad diving form, encouraging them to do "one more" after four or five "last one and we'll go." What fascinated me was she never paused to inhale. With lung capacity like that, she should be doing deep ocean salvage minus the dive suit.

But I gradually grow stronger in the water.

There's nothing like being tanned, fit, and unemployed.

It's the Hollywood way.