VIDEO: Bill Griffith in conversation with writer Paul Di Filippo at MoCCA-Fest in New York, April 2013. G July 25th: Bill Griffith will teach a Master Class in Comics 4 Broadway, Suite •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••ith writer Paul Di

One-Man Show: 43 years of Zippy and more, featuring Griffith's work from Arcade and other Undergrounds, as well as lots of originals from his current daily Zippy strip. At the Society of Illustrators, 128 E. 63rd St., New York NY. Show runs March 5- May 18.

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Zippy Video from 1980: Videowest production, produced & directed by Erik Nelson. Starring Jim Turner as Zippy, written by Bill Griffith. Originally broadcast on San Francisco Public Television, KQED.

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ZIPPY gets his due from Cracked.com: "6 Important Things You Won't Believe Were Invented In Comics" details the true origins of Zippy's oft-used catch phrase, "Are we having fun yet?". Cracked. What an honor.

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READ all about Zippy's favorite supporting character, MR. THE TOAD (sorry, Griffy) on King Features' "Daily Ink" blog by Tea Fougner!

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ZIPPY VIDEO: Unearthed at last! One of the "Videowest" Zippy episodes broadcast on San Francisco's KQED TV in 1980. That's Jim Turner (Of "Duck's Breath Mystery Theatre". etc.) as Zippy. Low budget fun!

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"SEQUENTIAL HIGHWAY" interview with B.G.

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School of Visual Arts: Bill Griffith has joined the faculty of the esteemed New York art school. He's teaching a Sophomore class in comic storytelling. (CID-2050 Storytelling- B. Griffith)
The course explores different storytelling strategies in cartoon form. One-row, half-page, full page and multi-page formats will be utilized. Writing, pacing and dialog will be emphasized, as well as traditional drawing technique and character development. Whether creating humorous, satirical, literary or personal narratives, communications skills will be stressed. Assignments will guide students through the various formats, using elements of written and graphic narrative, as they learn the vocabulary of the comics medium and find their personal "voice" within it.
Contact SVA for more info.

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Perceptive interview of B.G. on WFMU radio's "Too Much Information" show by Benjamen Walker.

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COMICS JOURNAL Review of "Lost and Found" by Matthew Thurber and Rebecca Bird.

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Hour-long RADIO INTERVIEW with B.G. by Robin McConnell of "Inkstuds", the Radio Show About Comics.

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Gary Panter interviews Bill Griffith for The Comics Journal.

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Terrific in-depth audio/slide showinterview with "Glitz-2-Go" cartoonist Diane Noomin in the Jewish Daily Forward:

Buy her new book,inscribed & autographed.
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"Lost & Found" reviewed in the Jewish Daily Forward: By Paul Buhle.

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Interview with B.G. on the Colin McEnroe Show / WNPR, 3/13/12

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NEW Bill Griffith book/ LOST & FOUND: Comics 1969-2003: A huge 392 page collection of B.G.'s early work, most of it from his Underground days. Work from Tales of Toad, Young Lust, Arcade and many long out-of-print comics, magazines and underground newspapers are included. Lots of earl Zippy and non-Zippy. BIG COLOR SECTION. Bibliography. From Fantagraphics Books. Adults only. Available here, autographed and inscribed. In stock & ready to ship!

NEW: Hour-long "Mr. Media" video interview with "Zippy the Pinhead" cartoonist Bill Griffith, one of the longest Mr. Media interviews ever. On the occasion of the new book, "Bill Griffith, Lost and Found".

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"Zippy the Pinhead: The Musical"
NOW AVAILABLE ON iTunes. 19 songs, from the Overture to "Don't Goad the Toad" to "Pinhead Love". All songs by Lorraine Whittlesey. YOW!!

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LAST ZIPPY BOOK

DING DONG DADDY FROM DINGBURG: "Zippy Annual #10".
Zippy dailies and Sundays September 2008 to June 2010.
Day-Glo title! BIGGER than ever---216 pages. Big color section, "God" Chapter,
"Little Zippy" Chapter, Dingburg Chapter. FREE with every order: one autographed copy
of the comic book, "Griffith Observatory".
"I was smart enough to know that Sid Caesar was doing something great, and
that Bob Hope wasn't, just as I know that Bill Griffith's Zippy the Pinhead is great
and Garfield isn't."
- Robert Pinsky, U.S Poet Laureate

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Bill Griffith Interview on NPR: Broadcast on Dec. 20, 2010 with WSHU's Mark Herz. Includes an audio "tour" of Griffy's Connecticut studio. (Click on "Listen" arrow below photo)

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Flattery--or plagiarism? (Tokyo): Zippy, call your battery of high-powered Japanese attorneys!

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"Zippy: The Musical": The Theatre Project of Baltimore presented "Zippy the Pinhead: The Musical". Co-produced, written and directed by Lorraine Whittlesey of Private Sector Productions. The show ran from Nov. 14th to 21st 2010. Audio and video clips will soon be posted.

To see a batch of "Zippy in Baltimore" strips, CLICK HERE.

HEAR Dan Rodricks interview with Bill Griffith on Baltimore's WYPR radio (11/12/10)

THE LYRICS TO THE SONGS FEATURED IN THE ZIPPY MUSICAL:

Zippy The Pinhead: The Musical

 Music & Lyrics: Lorraine Whittlesey

 Book: Lorraine Whittlesey and Bill Griffith

 Copyright 2010 Lorraine Whittlesey,

Bill Griffith and Private Sector Productions, Ltd.

 Based On The Comic Strip “Zippy the Pinhead” by Bill Griffith

MUSICAL SYNOPSIS

 Music: OVERTURE

 Act 1

 Scene 1 - A Baltimore Diner

 Music: TYPE Z PERSONALITY

            DO YOU BLURT OUT OPINIONS AND TRAVEL IN TIME,

            CONVERSE WITH GLAZED DONUTS WEAR MUU MUU DESIGNS ?

            DO INANIMATE OBJECTS BOTH THRILL AND DELIGHT

            AND VENTRILIQUIST’S DUMMIES CONSPIRE IN THE NIGHT ?

            IF RICE PUDDING’S THE ANSWER WHEN LIFE’S BEING CRUEL

            AND YOU VISIT A DINER JUST TO SIT ON THE STOOL

            YOU MIGHT HAVE DISCOVERED THE MEANING OF COOL.

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z  PERSONALITY

            YOU’RE PART OF THAT CULTURAL STEW.

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z PERSONALITY

            YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THE FORTUNATE FEW.

            IF YOUR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES HAVE PERSONAL NEEDS

            AND RANDOM BEHAVIOR CAN HELP YOU SUCCEED

            IF NANCY AND SLUGGO ARE ICONS TO TASTE

            AND ROADSIGNS ON HIGHWAYS HAVE NEGATIVE SPACE

            IF FRONT LOADING WASHERS LEAD MYSTICAL LIVES

            AND HIGH AND LOW CULTURE HAVE NO REAL DIVIDE

            YOU MIGHT JUST DISCOVER WHAT’S LURKING INSIDE

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z  PERSONALITY

            YOU’RE PART OF THAT  CULTURAL STEW.

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z PERSONALITY

            YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THE FORTUNATE FEW.

            (Soloist )

            IF YOU’RE TYPE A, YOU’RE ON TIME EVERY DAY

            AND IF YOU’RE LAID BACK, YOU’RE TYPE B

            BUT IF YOU CONVERSE WITH MUFFLER MEN

            IT’S ODDS ON THAT YOU’RE A TYPE Z.

  (Chorus)

            IF YOU CARPET YOUR CEILING BUT LEAVE THE FLOORS BARE

            WATCH AMERICAN IDOL TO BECOME MORE AWARE.

            WHILE BOWLING YOU STOP AND PAUSE IN THE LANE.

            YOU KNOCK DOWN THE PINS AND THEN FEEL THEIR PAIN.

            IF EARLY BIRD SPECIALS CAN FILL YOU WITH GLEE

            AND BILLBOARDS CONTAIN ALL THE WISDOM YOU NEED

            IF TV’S HIGH CULTURE AND LIFE IS TV

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z  PERSONALITY

            YOU’RE PART OF THAT CULTURAL STEW.

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z PERSONALITY

            YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THE FORTUNATE FEW

Music: TIME TRAVEL 1

(Soloist )

            IT STARTED WITH EINSTEIN IN 1905

            THAT YEAR WHEN HIS THEORIES OF TRAVEL AND TIME,

            THEY ALL CAME ALIVE. AND STILL THEY SURVIVE, SURVIVE , SURVIVE

            NOW ZIPPY HAS PONDERED A THEORY OR TWO

            THE EXPANSION OF SPACE AND THE CONTENTS OF GLUE

            HIS THEORIES OF TIME CAN HELP YOU UNWIND, UNWIND, UNWIND

            (Chorus alternates lines)

            TIME TRAVEL: IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE PHYSICISTS

            TIME TRAVEL: IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE THEORISTS

            UNRAVEL IN A WORM HOLE OR TWO

            JUST KEEP SINGIN’ THE SPACE TIME CONTINUUM BLUES.

Scene 2 - Traveling Through Levittown, N.Y.

Music: IS IT TRUE WHAT THEY SAY (ABOUT LEVITTOWN) ?

            IS IT TRUE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT LEVITTOWN, LEVITTOWN, LEVITTOWN.

            WHERE BILL LEVITT BUILT FIFTY HOMES A DAY

            AND GAVE AWAY FREE TV’S ?

            (Solo w/Chorus humming)

            POTATO FARMS ON NEMATODAL ACRES                                                                       

            YIELD SEVERAL THOUSAND RANCHERS AND CAPE CODS

            THOSE PESKY COVENANTS STATED WHO COULD PAY THE RENT

            AND GUARANTEED YOUR HAMLET FREE FROM FOLKS OF COLORED DESCENT.

            THE LAWNS MUST BE MOWED AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.

            NO BASEMENTS, JUST HEATED CONCRETE SLABS

            AND LAUNDRY CAME OUT CLEAN WITH A BENDIX WASHING MACHINE.

            EACH HOUSE A MODEL OF POST-WAR AND PRE-FAB.

            IS IT TRUE IT WAS ONCE KNOWN AS ISLAND TREES?

            G.O.P.S FELT AT EASE.                       

            ALL FENCES AND SHRUBS MUST BE PRE-APPROVED

            OR BE REMOVED FOR A FEE.

            THE PROTOTYPE FOR SUCH SUBURBAN HOUSING

            REQUIRED JUST A ‘C’ NOTE AND A DREAM.

            YOUR BASIC HOME DECOR, WITH ONE UNFINISHED DOOR

            VENETIAN BLINDS, ASSEMBLY LINES

            WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE?

            IN LEVITTOWN, LEVITTOWN, OLD LEVITTOWN’S DAYS OF YORE;

            IN LEVITTOWN, LEVITTOWN, OLD LEVITTOWN’S DAYS OF YORE.

MUSIC: CHORUS TIME TRAVEL 2

            A NEW DESTINATION IS JUST WHAT YOU NEED

            JUST THINK ‘CONEY ISLAND’ AND STEEPLECHASE STEEDS

            LET’S TRAVEL IN TIME AND LEAVE THIS BEHIND, BEHIND, BEHIND

            TIME TRAVEL: IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE LUNATICS

            TIME TRAVEL: YOU GET A CHANCE  TO REMINISCE           

            UNRAVEL IN A WORMHOLE OR TWO

            JUST KEEP SINGIN’ THOSE SPACE TIME CONTINUUM BLUES.

Scene 3 - Coney Island; Nathan’s

 Music:  THE CONDIMENTS

            THERE’S....

            TACO SAUCE AND BACON BITS

            WHITE VINEGAR AND REDDI -WHIP,

            AND PEPPERCORNS AND FISH SAUCE

            KETCHUP, SOUR CREAM AND ONION DIP                       

            THERE’S OLIVE OIL, MAYONNAISE

            AND WORCESTERSHIRE  AND HOLLONDAISE,

            WASABI, RELISH, VINAGRETTE

            AND MSG AND CURRY PASTE.

            TOBASCO, CHUTNEY, TARTAR SAUCE

            AND CROUTONS, GUACAMOLE DIP

            AND CONEY ISLAND MUSTARD,

            REMOULADE AND SALSA FOR YOUR CHIPS

            HORSERADISH, MAPLE SYRUP,

            AND TAHINI SAUCE AND BLUE CHEESE DIP,

            AND OLEO AND CAPERS, BUTTER,

            HOT SAUCE WITH SOME EXTRA ZIP!

            THERE’S MARMALADE AND MAPLE SYRUP,

            SPECIAL SAUCE AND VEGEMITE

            AND LEMON, PICKLES, SALSA,                                   

            AND PIMENTO, SOY SAUCE,  DARK AND LITE.

            RAITA, PESTO, CAVIAR,

            AND HULI  HULI IN A JAR,

            PIMENTO, JALEPENO JELLY,

            PICAPEPPA, PICCALILLI.

  (Chorus)

            RAITA, PESTO, CAVIAR,

            AND HULI  HULI IN A JAR,

            PIMENTO, JALEPENO JELLY,

            PICAPEPPA, PICCALILLI.

            (Repeat at faster tempo)

            (Soloist)

            THEY’RE MANY OTHER CONDIMENTS                                   

            AND LOTS OF MONEY TO BE SPENT

            SO GATHER ALL YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS

            AND SAMPLE ALL THE LATEST TRENDS

Music:  TIME TRAVEL 3

            (Chorus)

            IT’S BACK TO THE FUTURE;  WE KNOW WHERE IT LEADS                                   

            WILL ZIPPY REMEMBER HIS OWN FAMILY TREE?

            ASSEMBLY LINES MIGHT HELP HIM UNWIND, UNWIND, UNWIND

            TIME TRAVEL: IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE LUNATICS

            TIME TRAVEL: IT’S NOT THE SAME OLD PARLOR TRICK

            UNRAVEL IN A WORMHOLE OR TWO

            JUST  KEEP SINGIN’ THOSE SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM BLUES.

Scene 4 - Traveling in Zippy’s 1958 Nash

 MUSIC:  DON’T GOAD THE TOAD

            (Toad Chorus and Mister Toad)

            MISTER TOAD, THE AMPHIBIAN,

            IS A SYMBOL OF A SEGMENT OF SOCIETY, TODAY.

            HE LEFT HIS SOUL IN THE CARRIBEAN

            ON VACATION FROM HIS HOME TOWN NEAR THE TARPITS OF L.A.

            FROM THE MURKY DEPTHS OF HIS SCUM-FILLED POND

            HE EMERGED, THEN SMIRKED AND BEGAN TO DON

            A TAILORED SUIT WITH SHOULDER PADS

            IT WAS OBVIOUS HE WAS RAVING MAD

            RAWK !! RAWK !!

            MISTER TOAD THE CONTRARIAN

            IS A PLOTTER, A LONER, A CYNIC AT HIS BEST.

            THEY OFTEN CALL HIM LEVIATHAN

            CAUSE HIS VICTIMS KNOW ONCE HE’S ON THEIR SCENT, HE NEVER RESTS.

            HE GOES WAY BEYOND ORDINARY MEANS

            TO ACHIEVE HIS GOALS, HE WILL PLOT AND SCHEME.

            HE’S AN INSECURE EXTORTIONIST

            VOTED MOST UNLIKELY TO BE KISSED

            RAWK !! RAWK !!

            (Alternate Chorus w/Mr Toad)

            HOP UNTIL YOU DROP

            HOP TILL YOU DROP; IT’S A  HIP HOP NATION

            HOP UNTIL YOU DROP.

            HOP TILL YOU DROP; IT’S A TOAD MIGRATION                                   

            HOP UNTIL YOU DROP

            HOP TILL YOU DROP FROM SHEER FRUSTRATION

            HOP UNTIL YOU DROP

            IT’S THE SMELL OF DESPARATION

            (Shouted by Chorus)                                   

            DON’T GOAD THE TOAD

            (MISTER TOAD)

            I’M AN ARROGANT AND MERCENARY MEMBER OF SOCIETY

            INSULTING, REVOLTING, DISHONEST AND A PESSIMIST.

            AN AGENT OF DESTRUCTION WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION

            I EXPECT REJECTION; DON’T NEED NO INTERVENTION

            WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE!

            (Alternate Chorus w/Mr Toad)

            HOP UNTIL YOU DROP

            HOP TILL YOU DROP; IT’S A  HIP HOP NATION

            HOP UNTIL YOU DROP.

            HOP TILL YOU DROP; IT’S A TOAD MIGRATION

            HOP UNTIL YOU DROP

            HOP TILL YOU DROP FROM SHEER FRUSTRATION)

            HOP UNTIL YOU DROP

            IT’S THE SMELL OF DESPARATION)

            (Shouted by all including MisterToad)                                   

            DON’T GOAD THE TOAD

Scene 5 - Zippy and Griffy in Car

End of Act 1

Act 2

Scene 1 -  Dingburg Welcome at entrance to Town

Music: THE DINGBURG VARIATIONS

            IT’S TIME TO VISIT DINGBURG

            D-D-D-DINGBURG

            WHERE ODD CUSTOMS RULE; SPEECH PATTERNS UNIQUE,

            THEY MANUFACTURE UNDERWEAR EACH DAY OF THE WEEK

            THEY SEW ‘EM UP IN DINGBURG

            D-D-D-DINGBURG

            WHERE PINHEADS RESIDE AND EVERY ONE READS

            THE COMICS WHICH ARE WRITTEN BY YOUNG GIRLS IN THEIR TEENS

            WHERE POLYESTER CLOTHES ARE AT THE HEIGHT OF FASHION,

            AND MUU MUUS DE RIGEUR; HAIRBOWS BOTH SEXES’ PASSION.

            HOT TACO SAUCE AND DONUTS GIVE SUCH SATISFACTION.

            THEY SERVE ‘EM UP IN DINGBURG

             D-D-D-DINGBURG

            WHITE STYRO SHOES ARE CONSIDERED TRES CHIC!

            EACH GENERATION LEARNS THE LATEST LAUNDRY TECHNIQUES

Scene 2 -  Dingburg High School Gym

Music a la Gilligan’s Island

            SEPTEMBER 1832

            SIX PINHEADS RAN AWAY

            FROM A MORMON UPRISING

            OUT BY OHIO WAY.

            THEY JOINED A TRAVELING CIRCUS

            BUT SOON WERE LEFT BEHIND

            WHEN THEY FAILED TO RETURN TO THEIR CARAVAN

            A HAILSTORM LEFT THEM BLIND

            THEY BUILT A TOWN THEY CALLED ‘DINGBURG’

            ALONG THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

            THEN RESCUED MANY MORE PINHEADS

            WHO SOMEHOW LOST THEIR WAY

            AND SO TODAY....

            WE’RE HAPPY HERE IN DINGBURG

            D-D-D-DINGBURG

            EMPLOYMENT IS HIGH, AND THE CRIME RATE IS LOW.                       

            AND SPEAKING IN NON-SEQUITORS

            IS SO APROPOS.            (Examples of non-sequitors)

            WE LOOK ALIKE, WE DRESS ALIKE, AT TIMES WE EVEN THINK ALIKE,

            IT”S DINGBURG, THE BEST STATE OF MIND.

            IT’S DINGBURG, THE BEST STATE OF MIND.

Music: PINHEAD LOVE

            LET ME EXPLAIN ABOUT ‘PINHEAD LOVE’

            WE NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT PINHEAD LOVE.

            THERE’S SO MUCH TO SHARE; WE STAND ON COMMON GROUND.

            WE BOTH LIKE TO DANCE TO THAT GLENN MILLER SOUND.

            WE LOVE TO DISTRACTION THOSE ROAD SIDE ATTRACTIONS.

            PINHEAD LOVE, IS WHERE YOU GO WITH THE FLOW.

            PINHEAD LOVE IS WHERE YOU  EACH WEAR A BOW.

            WITH PINHEAD LOVE, YOU GET TO TRAVEL IN TIME           

            PINHEAD LOVE GETS YOU A PARTNER IN CRIME.

 WE THOUGHT THAT WE’D MENTION, WE MET IN DETENTION

            PINHEAD, PINHEAD LOVE

            OH ZIPPY,

            YOU MAKE MY HEART SO FLOPPY FLIPPY

            AND ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE IN COMMON,

            YOU MUST ADMIT IT’S A PHENOMENON.

            ZERBINA,

            YOU MOVE  JUST LIKE A BALLERINA

            YOU KNOW MY EVERY DEEPEST SECRET.

            AND ALL MY FAVORITE CONDIMENTS.

            ZIPPY,

            YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOUR MIND

            NON LINEAR THINKING GETS ME EVERYTIME

            ZERBINA,

            I LOVE HOW WE COMMUNICATE

            EAT CHICKEN FRIED STEAK ON NEARLY EVERY DATE    

            YOUR FIGURE’S SO CHARMING!

            YOUR DIET’S ALARMING!

            PINHEAD, PINHEAD LOVE.

            YOU KNOW I KEEP FORGETTING IF WE EVER HAD A WEDDING

            OR IF  WHEAT THINS AND CREMORA MAKE A MEAL?

            IT’S ALL SURREAL WITH PINHEAD LOVE.

Music: TYPE Z PERSONALITY

            DO YOU BLURT OUT OPINIONS AND TRAVEL IN TIME,

            CONVERSE WITH GLAZED DONUTS, WEAR MUU MUU DESIGNS ?

            DO INANIMATE OBJECTS BOTH THRILL AND DELIGHT

            AND VENTRILIQUISTS’ DUMMIES CONSPIRE IN THE NIGHT ?

            IF RICE PUDDING’S THE ANSWER WHEN LIFE’S BEING CRUEL,

            AND YOU VISIT A DINER JUST TO SIT ON THE STOOL,

            YOU MIGHT HAVE DISCOVERED THE MEANING OF COOL

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z  PERSONALITY

            YOU’RE PART OF THAT CULTURAL STEW.

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z PERSONALITY                       

            YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THE FORTUNATE FEW.

            IF YOUR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES HAVE PERSONAL NEEDS,

            AND RANDOM BEHAVIOR CAN HELP YOU SUCCEED...

            IF NANCY AND SLUGGO ARE ICONS TO TASTE

            AND ROADSIGNS ON HIGHWAYS HAVE NEGATIVE SPACE...

            IF FRONT LOADING WASHERS LEAD MYSTICAL LIVES,

            AND HIGH AND LOW CULTURE HAVE NO REAL DIVIDE,

            YOU MIGHT JUST DISCOVER WHAT’S LURKING INSIDE

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z  PERSONALITY

            YOU’RE PART OF THAT CULTURAL STEW.

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z PERSONALITY

            YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THE FORTUNATE FEW.

            IF YOU’RE TYPE A, YOU’RE ON TIME EVERY DAY,

            AND IF YOU’RE LAID BACK, YOU’RE TYPE B.

            BUT IF YOU CONVERSE WITH MUFFLER MEN,

            IT’S ODDS ON THAT YOU’RE A TYPE Z.

            IF YOU CARPET YOUR CEILING BUT LEAVE THE FLOORS BARE

            WATCH AMERICAN IDOL TO BECOME MORE AWARE.

            WHILE BOWLING YOU STOP AND PAUSE IN THE LANE.

            YOU KNOCK DOWN THE PINS AND THEN FEEL THEIR PAIN.

            IF EARLY BIRD SPECIALS CAN FILL YOU WITH GLEE

            AND BILLBOARDS CONTAIN ALL THE WISDOM YOU NEED

            IF TV’S HIGH CULTURE AND LIFE IS TV

            YOU’VE GOT A TYPE Z  PERSONALITY

            YOU’RE PART OF THAT CULTURAL STEW.                       

            YOU’VE GOT  A TYPE Z PERSONALITY

            YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THE FORTUNATE FEW.

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What is B.G.'s favorite food?: His favorite comics? His favorite movies? Find the earth-shaking answers on Ricardo Mena's blog.

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Roadside Tipster Mike Dickau: A Gallery of his Photos and the Zippy strips they inspired. Thanks again, Mike!

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Bill Griffith interview with Greek comics site: Interview with Thomas Papadimitropoulos of Comicdom.gr---includes an "origins of Zippy" section and a tribute to Scrooge McDuck.

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"Stay Tooned" show: "One Fine Sunday in the Funny Pages" will feature the original art of over 100 different comic strips and panels (including Zippy) appearing in newspapers on the 11th of April, 2010. The traveling show will be exhibited in venues in at least five major cities below the Mason-Dixon Line (and possibly some in other parts of the country) in 2010 and 2011. Curated by John Read, Publisher/Editor - Stay Tooned! Magazine.
Contact magazine for cities and dates.

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NOW AVAILABLE!! "Welcome to Dingburg", with fold-out "Dingburg Main Street" cover and, on the other side, a fold-out aerial view map of Dingburg, "The City Inhabited Entirely by Pinheads", located "17 miles west of Baltimore". 160 pages, big color section. Orders for autographed copies taken now.

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Zippy caught by Photog when he's not working: Reader Brian Greene forwards this incontrovertible evidence that Zippy is simply an actor. Note the complete absence of either Ding Dongs or taco sauce on his lunch table.

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ZIPPY Random Quote Generator: Click HERE, then on new page, click the word "zippy" below the quote box to see a new quote.

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Yale comics anthology: Includes work by Bill Griffith and dozens of other cartoonists, edited by Ivan Brunetti. See VIDEO.

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Read the transcript of a B. G. Chat with Boston Globe readers: Love, hate and the mysteries of Martinizing from an online chat on 10/8/08.

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"Comic Book Resources" Bill Griffith Interview: Learn why Zippy is a "melancholy" strip and who B.G.'s favorite humorists are in this thoughtful interview with Alex Dueben, posted 10/7/08, illustrated.

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Griffy in 1975: Bill Griffith standing in front of framed self-portraits by various "Arcade" cartoonists. Photo credit: Diane Noomin.

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Bill Griffith on the BBC: Listen to an interview with Bill Griffith in his studio conducted in late June, 2008. Bill is interviewed by BBC broadcaster and stand-up comic (and former cartoonist) Phill Jupitus. Also featured on the show, an interview with "Doonesbury" creator Garry Trudeau. Interview is listed near top of new page, along with other Zippy audios.

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1957 Sci-fi magazine cover featuring 13-year-old Griffith: Griffith grew up next door to science fiction illustrator (and later filmmaker) Ed Emshwiller, in Levittown, Long Island. This cover is from Sept. 1957 and also shows Griffith's real father admonishing him on the video monitor (for hijacking a rocketship).

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Zippy fronts for Experimental German band, "The Striggles": The latest CD (and vinyl) from The Striggles ("Expressionism") features a Zippy cover, back cover and interior spread, based on a 1982 Zippy strip. Griffy recommends. Here's the "Zippy cake" the band consumed at the album release party recently. Yum.

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"Up From The Underground With Zippy": Slide talk by Bill Griffith presented on April 19, 2007, at Johns Hopkins University. Covers his long and varied career in comics, from the Underground days in the Sixties & Seventies to the current daily strip. Includes Q & A at the end. Entire talk on YouTube in 10 segments:

Segment 1
Segment 2
Segment 3
Segment 4
Segment 5
Segment 6
Segment 7
Segment 8
Segment 9
Segment 10

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Bill Griffith appearance in comic documentary: Pre-release exerpt from the 1989 Ron Mann film, "Comic Book Confidential" (with Ron Brannan as Zippy--cavorting and singing on the streets of San Francisco). (YouTube)

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Bill Griffith interview on YouTube 2002:
Interviewed by NBC-TV, Hartford CT.

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Bill Griffith interview on YouTube 2003: See the artist at work in his natural habitat!

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WalrusComix B.G. Interview: A particularly interesting exchange between WalrusComix's Branwyn Lancourt and Bill Griffith, ranging fromGriffith's Underground days to his most recent work. WalrusComix.com.

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"Daily Crosshatch" B.G.interview: Bill Griffith interviewed by Brian Heater on the comics website thedailycrosshatch.com on June 18, 2007.

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BILL GRIFFITH NPR Interview: Zippy's creator was interviewed by Aaron Henkin for "The Signal" on Baltimore's NPR station in early April, 2007. HEAR it here.

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DOGGIE NOW A LANDMARK! The last remaining non-privately owned, publicly displayed Doggie head, formerly of the Doggie Diner restaurant chain, has finally been designated an official City of San Francisco Landmark by the S.F. Board of Supervisors. Thanks go to all the Doggie's ardent supporters over the years, especially Joel Schechter and Diana Scott of the Ocean Beach Historical Society. Below--the plaque commemorating this civic triumph, as well as the gloriously positioned and repainted Doggie planted firmly in the median of Sloat Blvd. and 45th Avenue in San Francisco, opposite the S.F. Zoo entrance, where he keeps a watchful eye on the chimps and elephants. The plaque mentions Zippy and his part in the movement to save the Doggie.

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ZIPPY'S Summer uniform? Spotted in a diner somewhere in Maryland: Zippy look-alike (well, sort of) in a short-sleeve muu-muu (actually, "Roadside" mogul Randy Garbin). Notice the snazzy wristwatch--hmmmm...maybe it's Lippy, gone undercover? Photo by Tipster Michael Stewart . Also seated: Tipster Spencer Stewart (that's him in the hat).

COMPUTER-GENERATED ZIPPY at last: This digital masterpiece is by Scott Tygett. Move over, Shrek.

TEAM ZIPPY: Unauthorized, yet in the race to win: "Team Zippy" (wearing homemade Zippy t-shirts and pinheads) pose as they enter the Arcata-to-Ferndale (CA) bike race in May '06. Who are these people? If you know, let us know.

Zippy on Mt. Rushmore at last: The Library of Congress just published "Cartoon America" by Harry Katz, featuring the comics in their collection. The cover shows a few of the LOC's featured comic characters as faces on Mt. Rushmore---Charlie Brown, Ignatz Mouse (from "Krazy Kat"), Popeye and---- Zippy! Order from amazon.com

ZIPPY in Jeopardy!! Well....Zippy on "Jeopardy" was more like it. Zippy was featured on April 12th, 2006 as a visual clue on the popular TV game show, "Jeopardy". Will Alex Trebek soon be wearing a polka-dotted muu-mmu on air? Stay tuned...

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Washington Post Online Chat:

Suzanne Tobin of the Washington Post conducted on online chat with Bill Griffith (and James Sturm, founder of the Cartoon Studies school in VT) on December 9, 2005.

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Zippy and "the built environment":

The Nov.-Dec. '05 issue of ArchitectureBoston magazine features Zippy on the cover (it's the "Pleasure" issue) and a long interview with Bill Griffith by Jeff Stein, AIA, including many color strips on the theme of architecture. The above link will take you to their site, where you can click on the word "Interview" at the top right to download the interview. If you'd like a FREE COPY of the print issue, go to: freeAB@architects.org (say you want the "Pleasure issue").

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Hurricane Katrina charity auction: "Kidrobot", the ultra-hip New York toy company, staged two auctions in New York and Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2005, to benefit the child victims of Hurricane Katrina (through "Feed The Children"). Various celebs, Griffith included, painted blank "Munny" dolls. Here's Griffith's contribution---is it collectible yet?

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ZIPPY as Little Nemo: Reader Wm. Steinmayer (alias Lucius Appaloosius) sent this hybrid drawing of Zippy morphed into a pinheaded "Little Nemo" (a la Winsor McCay's "Little Nemo in Slumberland", 1905-1911 ). Beautiful job!

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The ZIPPY PLAY:
"Fun: The Concept"

Zippy on stage!! The IMPOSSIBLE PRODUCTIONS theatre company of San Francisco CA mounted a new play based on the Zippy strip a few years ago. "FUN: THE CONCEPT" was written by Denzil J. Meyers with Jim Fourniadis, with permission from Bill Griffith. It featured Zippy, Griffy, Mr. Toad, Bill Griffith (an actor, not the cartoonist), the Doggie Diner Doggie, Karen Carpenter, Rene Descartes, Dino DeLaurentis and God. Actors, costumes, lighting, non sequiturs!! Performances took place at the Darkroom Theatre, 2263 Mission St. (bet. 18th & 19th), San Francisco. For more info on the play and Darkroom Theatre, CLICK HERE.

CAST

Zippy: Bryce Byerley

Griffy: Mikl Em

Mr. Toad: Seanetta

Guardian Angel: Sherilyn Connelly

Waitress: Katrina James

Bill Griffith: Denzil J. Meyers

Written by: Denzil J. Meyers

Directed by: Denzil J. Meyers & Jim Fourniadis

Produced by: Erin Ohanneson

Set Design: Pamela Holm

Stage Manager: Melinda Addams

Lights: Ty Mc Kenzie

Costumes/Props: Erin Ohanneson

Sound Design: Jim Fourniadis

Stills: Steve Malik

To see photos of OPENING NIGHT by Scott Beale click here.

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ZIPPY (& Bill Griffith) on TV

A PROGRAM ABOUT UNUSUAL BUILDINGS & OTHER ROADSIDE STUFF premiered last July (2004) on PBS stations across the country . The show is now in reruns and is seen at various times on local stations nationally. Bill Griffith is interviewed as part of the show, spouting off on one of his favorite topics, "roadside attractions" and American vernacular architecture. (Zippy also makes an appearance).

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ZIPPY GETS AROUND: It's always Halloween when you're wearing your own homemade Zippy costume. That's Gary Gellin of Menlo Park CA in the muu-muu. Nice sewing job, Gary. Save a martini for Dingy!!

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ZIP-O-LANTERN!

Sara Corrigan carved this classy Zippy Halloween pumpkin. To get into the spirit, she and her husband both watched Zippy's favorite movie, "Freaks". Gabba, Gabba, Yow!!

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ZIPPY 5K RUN in San Francisco (Mother's Day)

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IGGY POP LOVES CLAUDE FUNSTON!

At least he did in 1985 when he was photographed standing next to David Bowie wearing a Claude Funston "Where's The Party" t-shirt. Photo below from the Sept. '03 issue of "Blender" magazine (pg. 70).

Thanks to Zippy reader George Hook for the media alert!!

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AS OF 8/3/03: NEW BILL GRIFFITH e-mail address: griffy@zippythepinhead.com

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