Greetings from Colta City,

Dogboy Adventures was a self-published book series I worked on from 2015-2016, inspired by the first screenplay I got an option on with a minor studio way back in 2005, inspired by a short story I wrote in college. So, I’ve been living with Dogboy for most of my adult life. Dogboy sounds like a silly superhero ripping off the Dogman books (mine came first), but it’s mostly my attempt to use the language of superhero stories to process my past, including the fact that my father (an actual magician!) passed away before I was born. Silly-sounding story, some real heart behind it.

I used an Everly Heights screenplay I wrote a few years ago, Fanboy, to fold Dogboy into the world of Everly Heights as a 90s syndicated kid’s show in the vein of “My Secret Identity.” Fanboy’s plot involves a fan of the show reviving it after it was abruptly cancelled between seasons when he was a kid.

In the world of Fanboy, Dogboy Adventures was cancelled after an ill-advised Christmas episode focused on the villain—a choice parents felt sent the wrong message. This week’s podcast adapts that story, originally written as a mailing-list exclusive short story in 2016 to promote the books.

Listen to Hot John Hates Holidays

Experience the infamous broadcast that allegedly got Dogboy Adventures cancelled, presented exactly as it aired following WART-TV’s Festive Greetings Holiday Parade. In the shadow of the rusted Curleyworld theme park, former carney Jon “Hot John” Pyre and his son Scotty scrape by in a freezing Winnebago, surviving on cold beans and hard truths. Desperate to give his son a better future, John concocts a yuletide lie to drive Scotty away, all while secretly selling his muscle to the Guild of Thieves. A gritty, tear-stained holiday noir about sacrifice, “bad” dads, and the lies we tell to protect the ones we love. Once thought lost, the episode was recovered in a YouTube video featuring the full parade, an interview with Full House’s Jodie Sweetin, and the only known recording of “Hot John Hates Holidays.”

In the aftershow, Bill Meeks reunites with Nathan Beatty, the original “voice of Colta City” who narrated the Dogboy audiobook series a decade ago. Nathan shares what it was like stepping back into the cowl after all these years and debates which character is more fun to play: the gruff Hot John or the verbose Osbert. Plus, Nathan shares his own most memorable Christmas in this special look behind the mask of Everly Heights’ favorite pulp hero. Includes several promotional video clips for the original book series.

It was an absolute blast to collaborate with Nathan Beatty on a new Dogboy story. Dogboy and this story will feature early next year for another podcast episode, in a roundabout way. Stay tuned!

 

SPONSOR

CAST LIST

Nathan Beatty – Dogboy / Bronson Black / Hot John / Osbert Collingwood
Bill Meeks – Mr. Matheson / Scotty / Curleyworld Announcer
Jodie Sweetin – Herself (via archival footage)

Archival footage of the the 1992 Wheeling, WV Christmas Parade  sourced from YouTube.

LINKS

Everly Heights
Infinite Tina: Worlds Apart
Join the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the show
Dogboy Adventures Audiobook/Ebook Collection
1992 Christmas Parade Wheeling WV Presented By Elbys Big Boy
Beyond the Deck Box
Everly Heights Tales Merch
Subscribe on YouTube
Universe Box – Theater