Cartoon Brew TV returns later this week with the exclusive online premiere of an animated short. We’re going to be presenting new films and other goodies throughout the year on Brew TV, but unlike the first season, we won’t be doing it on a weekly basis. Instead, we’ll serve up new episodes only when we have something really cool to show.

In anticipation of the new Brew TV episodes, we thought it’d be fun to revisit the top five most-viewed episodes from our inaugural season. Click on the title of any film to watch:

5. Like Me, Only Better by Martin Pickles

4. The Story of One-Eyed Ophelia Jackson by Kat Morris

3. The Pumpkin of Nyefar by Tod Polson and Mark Oftedal

2. BREW VAULTS: Superman’s Secret Cartoon History

And by a long-shot, the #1 most viewed episode from our first season was:
Doxology by Michael Langan

Funny, the things you find for sale on the Internet. Got a spare $2 million? If so, you can afford Max Fleischer’s house in Miami. From the seller’s listing:

Designed in 1936 by Albert Anis for Winter Residence of famous cartoonist, Max Fleischer, creator of Superman, Popeye and Betty Boop… John F. Kennedy once visited this house… it’s full of history.

Full of history? I’m wondering if the basement is filled with cels from Gulliver or Mr. Bug. Obviously the house has been renovated and not much of original is left - however the shelves in the kitchen do look like something Grampy might’ve installed. Click here and check it out.

The actual game play in the forthcoming game, The Beatles Rock Band, isn’t that impressive to me, but the game’s just-released trailer is beautiful and visually exciting. It was made at Passion Pictures with the Gorillaz crew aboard, including director Pete Candeland and animator Robert Valley. Backgrounds are by Alberto Mielgo. If anybody has full credits, please share.

UPDATE: Download a hi-res version of the commercial HERE!

Bill Kartalopoulos and Mark Newgarden are putting together a one-of-a-kind musical event taking place Sunday, June 7 @ the Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn NY, to coincide with the MoCCA Comic Arts Fest. It’s called Comic Strip Serenade, and it’ll have a slew of stellar musicians playing old songs based on vintage comic strips (Barney Google, Smokey Stover, Krazy Kat, and many, many more) featuring lyrics by Milt Gross, Rube Goldberg, Walt Kelly, and other cartooning legends.

Many of these comic strip songs were never recorded, never filmed, and most have never been publicly performed in the decades since their original publication. The event will also feature some later, post-war songs, including a selection from Broadway’s Li’l Abner and Walt Kelly’s memorable Pogo songs. The archival sheet music used for this special performance was provided courtesy of Newgarden’s legendary collection. The line-up of celebrated musicians bringing these unearthed gems back to life, will include Doug Skinner (The Regard of Flight), Peter Stampfel (The Holy Modal Rounders, the Fugs) and John Keen (Ragtime pianist extraordinaire).

Show starts at 9:00 pm, there’s a $10 cover charge. Jalopy is located at 315 Columbia Street in Brooklyn, NY (F or G train to Carroll St.).

Nashville-based animator Chris Johnson created this piece. The story behind it is sweet:

“It is inspired by Yuri Norstein, Lotte Reiniger, The Science of Sleep, and many other things, but more than anything by the girl I am going to marry and our special relationship. There is plenty of symbolism in the short, but the theme I’m getting to is where one’s heart is. She lives in Mexico which is far from where I live in Tennessee, and I’d go to the moon to get her.”

Sadly, I’m still waiting for somebody to create a cartoon about how special I am.

Sony Pictures Television has dumped its 2008 TV pilot, The Adventures of Captain Cross Dresser on the internet, via its web portal Crackle.com. Had you even heard of Captain Cross Dresser? Neither had we.

George Shapiro and Howard West (Seinfeld, Man on the Moon) produced this. You’ll note no “Created by” credit… we understand Carl Reiner may have been more than just a voice (he’s voicing the psychiatrist, Dr. Fillmore). Fred Willard (Wall-E) does the honors as the Captain. Note: It’s nine minutes long, and is preceeded by a commercial. Ed Wood would be quite proud.

(Thanks, Charles Brubaker)