R.I.P. Joe Barbera

Legendary cartoonist Joe Barbera died today, and if I had my soot together I'd be posting an extract here from an interview I did with him about 10 years ago. Unfortunately (and, alas, typically) I have no idea where that tape might be right now, so instead I'm considering this sad day as another reminder that I must increase my efforts to get things together, so that someday I can blog like a real boy.

R.I.P., Joe--save me a celestial pic-a-nic basket!

Vince Vaughn & "Rescue Me"

Minutes after meeting each other for the first time on the set of "Live with Regis and Kelly," comic actors Denis Leary and Vince Vaughn were hatching a plan for Vaughn to appear on an upcoming episode of Leary's hit FX series "Rescue Me."

"I'll come and do a show," Vaughn said. "I definitely would."

"As a big, giant, funny fireman?" Leary joked.

"We'll figure something out," Vaughn said.

Realizing Vaughn was being sincere, Leary pressed further. "What would you want to do?" he asked. "How booked are you?"

"I'm a little bit booked," Vaughn replied, "but I'm not gonna be the guy who's like, 'Yeah, I'll come do something,' and then say, 'Hey Denis, listen pal, I'm booked.' I would. I'd come do something."

Vaughn's film "The Break-Up" opens today, while the third season of "Rescue Me" debuted last Tuesday and repeats this weekend. Who's this Gary character?