Imagine, if you will, a massive Venn diagram with aquatic salamanders, lesser-known passages from Revelations, “The Last House on the Left,” fried pork byproducts, and hot air balloons.
We can’t definitively state that Season 2 of the Fxx series “Dicktown” is the lone inhabitant of that sliver in the middle, but it’s almost certainly the only animated detective show that also has an impish parody of Tintin arriving with fanfare at the heart of its sophomore season.
The show is driven by the same expansive web of Things that preoccupy its creator/writer/stars John Hodgman and David Rees, a creative engine that made its first batch of episodes in 2020 so distinct. “Dicktown” tracks the ongoing hyphenated tribulations of down-on-his-luck, out-of-work John Hunchman (Hodgman) and his foe-turned-friend investigative partner David Purefoy (Rees).
This new season, available to stream on Hulu, is still parceled out in 12-minute segments (it’s...
We can’t definitively state that Season 2 of the Fxx series “Dicktown” is the lone inhabitant of that sliver in the middle, but it’s almost certainly the only animated detective show that also has an impish parody of Tintin arriving with fanfare at the heart of its sophomore season.
The show is driven by the same expansive web of Things that preoccupy its creator/writer/stars John Hodgman and David Rees, a creative engine that made its first batch of episodes in 2020 so distinct. “Dicktown” tracks the ongoing hyphenated tribulations of down-on-his-luck, out-of-work John Hunchman (Hodgman) and his foe-turned-friend investigative partner David Purefoy (Rees).
This new season, available to stream on Hulu, is still parceled out in 12-minute segments (it’s...
- 4/1/2022
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
As someone who grew up anticipating each new Encyclopedia Brown that Donald J. Sobol published, I couldn.t be more jazzed with Warner Bros.. recent interest in reinvigorating a feature version of the child detective book series. I.m well aware of its potential for failure, but sometimes optimism is key with cherished properties. It.s something of a mystery in itself that Warner has chosen Matthew Johnson, the director and star of the recent drama The Dirties, to write a draft of the script, according Deadline. It isn.t quite like asking Takashi Miike to make a Winnie the Pooh movie, but there.s an equal amount of bizarreness to the decision. It seems like he.d be more in line for a Mystery Team-like film over something geared towards kids. For those unaware, The Dirties is a darkly comedic and bothersome look at how high school bullying...
- 10/15/2013
- cinemablend.com
Exclusive: Matthew Johnson, who wrote and directed the Slamdance winner The Dirties, is in talks with Warner Bros to draft Encylopedia Brown into a family film. Since it’s aimed at a young audience, his first challenge is to explain to them exactly what an encyclopedia is. You know, those heavy volumes you got with gas station fill-ups or grocery purchases that lazy kids like me used to crib information from to use as their own in research papers for school — kind of like what most of the Internet does with news generated by Deadline. Kids got to know those books so well that I can actually remember the breaks in each volume, starting with A-Apu, and Apu-Bay, and onward through Z, if one of your siblings didn’t lose volumes in between. Encyclopedia Brown is an adaptation of the venerable kiddie book series by Donald J. Sobol, which the...
- 10/14/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
There's been a break in the case of "'Encyclopedia Brown' and the Long-Awaited Film Adaptation." Deadline reports that the beloved children's series, which was officially optioned by Warner Bros. this summer, is eying writer Matthew Johnson to pen a script.
Johnson made his feature directorial debut earlier this year with "The Dirties," a film exploring a school shooting from the killers' perspective, which he also wrote. But his script for "Encyclopedia Brown" should be a bit milder, since it's based on the children's book series about the titular boy detective who solves petty crimes out of his parents' garage.
The series, written by Donald J. Sobol, ran from 1963 until Sobol's death in 2012. Several failed attempts to adapt the books into a feature film include one movie that was set to be directed by Ridley Scott in the early 2000s.
There's plenty of source material to work with --...
Johnson made his feature directorial debut earlier this year with "The Dirties," a film exploring a school shooting from the killers' perspective, which he also wrote. But his script for "Encyclopedia Brown" should be a bit milder, since it's based on the children's book series about the titular boy detective who solves petty crimes out of his parents' garage.
The series, written by Donald J. Sobol, ran from 1963 until Sobol's death in 2012. Several failed attempts to adapt the books into a feature film include one movie that was set to be directed by Ridley Scott in the early 2000s.
There's plenty of source material to work with --...
- 10/14/2013
- by Katie Roberts
- Moviefone
Warner Bros. is acquiring the rights to the book series Encyclopedia Brown, and they plan to adapt it into a feature film. I never read any of these books growing up. They never looked interesting to me.
The novels were written by written by Donald J. Sobol. He wrote 28 of them throughout his life, from 1963 all the way until his death in 2012. Each book was filled with around 10 stories, all of them had clues that would help readers solve the mystery. Of course you could always cheat, and there was an answers section in the back of the book
The books centered on Leroy Brown, a.k.a. Encyclopedia Brown. He was the son of a local police chief and ran his own detective agency out of the family’s garage. "The books featured Brown, often with his friend and bodyguard Sally Kimball, solving various petty crimes, often committed by the local bully Bugs Meany.
The novels were written by written by Donald J. Sobol. He wrote 28 of them throughout his life, from 1963 all the way until his death in 2012. Each book was filled with around 10 stories, all of them had clues that would help readers solve the mystery. Of course you could always cheat, and there was an answers section in the back of the book
The books centered on Leroy Brown, a.k.a. Encyclopedia Brown. He was the son of a local police chief and ran his own detective agency out of the family’s garage. "The books featured Brown, often with his friend and bodyguard Sally Kimball, solving various petty crimes, often committed by the local bully Bugs Meany.
- 6/26/2013
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Because no book series from your childhood is safe from studio executives, it was announced this week that Warner Bros. is developing an Encyclopedia Brown movie, a development that comes not even two weeks after 20th Century Fox revealed its own plans to put Choose Your Own Adventure on the big screen. Though the two literary franchises are different in one key way — the Encyclopedia Brown books followed the continuing adventures of the titular boy detective and his adversary Bugs Meany, while the Choose Your Own Adventure series started fresh every time — they both come correct when it comes to their book titles. Independent of any context, then, we've ranked every one of those Donald J. Sobol–penned books from the most to the least exciting, based on their names alone. (And you won't have to flip to the Answers section in the back of the book to find...
- 6/25/2013
- by Kyle Buchanan
- Vulture
Following the success of an intrepid reporter turned detective and adventurer in The Adventures of Tintin, another iconic book series favorite detective is heading to the big screen. THR has word that Warner Bros. is picking up the rights to Encyclopedia Brown, the series of books that started in 1963 and continued all the way until author Donald J. Sobol passed away just last year. Each book followed Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown, son of the local police chief, who runs his own detective agency out of the garage. Brown never gotten into much danger, solving petty crimes usually committed by the bully Bugs Meany. More below! Accompanying Brown on his adventures was Sally Kimball, his friend and bodyguard. In the books, there were several stories with a mystery to be solved, and the clues were laden throughout for the readers to figure it out themselves. The property has been circling around Hollywood...
- 6/25/2013
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
While all those adult-types have been ravenously forking over gobs and gobs of cash to see some "Veronica Mars" movie sleuthery happen, the kiddos are gonna get one on the Warner Bros. house by way of that brainy kid detective series "Encyclopedia Brown."
The studio has snatched up adaptation rights to the long-lived book series, just a year after author Donald J. Sobol's death, in the hopes of whipping into shape for a potential family film franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
For those not familiar with the classic youth series — hello, childhood much? — it centers around a boy named Leroy Brown (no, not the baddest cat in the whole d**n town) as he follows in his police daddy's footsteps to solve his own little kiddish mysteries, usually involving the villain Bugs Meany and with the aid of his trusty pal Sally Kimball.
He works cheap (25 cents a...
The studio has snatched up adaptation rights to the long-lived book series, just a year after author Donald J. Sobol's death, in the hopes of whipping into shape for a potential family film franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
For those not familiar with the classic youth series — hello, childhood much? — it centers around a boy named Leroy Brown (no, not the baddest cat in the whole d**n town) as he follows in his police daddy's footsteps to solve his own little kiddish mysteries, usually involving the villain Bugs Meany and with the aid of his trusty pal Sally Kimball.
He works cheap (25 cents a...
- 6/25/2013
- by Amanda Bell
- NextMovie
Warner Bros. Pictures is in final negotiations for the film rights to Donald J. Sobol's iconic kids book series "Encyclopedia Brown".
The story follows Leroy Brown, a local police chief's son who runs his own detective agency out of the family’s garage.
Brown and his friend and "bodyguard" Sally Kimball solve petty crimes, usually committed by local bully Bugs Meany.
Sobol penned the books over a five decade period. Roy Lee and Howard David Deutsch will produce.
Source: Heat Vision...
The story follows Leroy Brown, a local police chief's son who runs his own detective agency out of the family’s garage.
Brown and his friend and "bodyguard" Sally Kimball solve petty crimes, usually committed by local bully Bugs Meany.
Sobol penned the books over a five decade period. Roy Lee and Howard David Deutsch will produce.
Source: Heat Vision...
- 6/25/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
A year after the sad death of his creator Donald J. Sobol, boy detective Encyclopedia Brown finally looks set to make his big screen debut. 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the well-loved children's books series, but better late than never, eh? Warner Bros. are in final negotiations to pick up the film rights, and with around 280 short stories in the 28-book series, they should have plenty of adaptation options once the ink is dry on the contract.Making his debut in 1963, Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown (he's American so he's got an "a" missing) is the son of a police chief in smalltown Idaville, Indiana. He runs a detective agency from his garage, charging a mere 25c a day (plus expenses). He sometimes enlists the help of his friend and "bodyguard" Sally Kimball, who's actually a bit smarter than he is and apt to notice clues that he's missed. The young Sherlock even had his own Moriarty,...
- 6/25/2013
- EmpireOnline
If at first you don't succeed, pitch it again. Hollywood has been trying forever to make a big screen version of your favorite library book series when you were a kid; "Encyclopedia Brown." Talent as wide-ranging, diverse and bizarre as Robert Luketic, Ridley Scott, Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn have all toyed with it at various points in different capacities. Well, the white board was been wiped clean and execs are ready for some new ideas as it's making the rounds again. THR reports that the Donald J. Sobol books will now start a journey to the big screen over at Warner Bros. with powerhouse Roy Lee ("The Departed," "The Woman In Black," "Bates Motel") and Howard David Deutsch producing. In case you missed it when you were a kid, the books followed the adventures of Leroy Brown -- nickname "Encyclopedia" because he was so smart -- who sets up a neighborhood detective agency,...
- 6/24/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Hollywood just can't seem to get enough of beloved children's book series. Following news that there's now a "Choose Your Own Adventure" feature in the works, the Hollywood Reporter broke the story that "Encyclopedia Brown" will also get a shot at the big screen.
The series starred Leroy Brown, nicknamed Encyclopedia, a young boy detective who solved petty crimes through his own agency run out of the family garage. Brown also had frequent run-ins with local bully Bugs Meany, perhaps the most literal-named character in all of children's literature.
There were 28 books in the series, written by Donald J. Sobol, from 1963 until his death in 2012. Each book contained about 10 different mysteries, so there's plenty of fodder for a feature to explore.
THR notes that several previous attempts to adapt the franchise never took off, including a 1980s movie that was to star Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn. This time around,...
The series starred Leroy Brown, nicknamed Encyclopedia, a young boy detective who solved petty crimes through his own agency run out of the family garage. Brown also had frequent run-ins with local bully Bugs Meany, perhaps the most literal-named character in all of children's literature.
There were 28 books in the series, written by Donald J. Sobol, from 1963 until his death in 2012. Each book contained about 10 different mysteries, so there's plenty of fodder for a feature to explore.
THR notes that several previous attempts to adapt the franchise never took off, including a 1980s movie that was to star Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn. This time around,...
- 6/24/2013
- by Katie Roberts
- Moviefone
The adventures of Encyclopedia Brown are heading to the big screen. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Donald J. Sobol's boy detective is going to be the subject of a feature film, to be produced by Roy Lee and Howard David Deutsch. Leroy Brown (nicknamed "Encyclopedia" for his tremendous intellect) is the son of the police chief of smalltown Idaville who solves cases with his friends for "25 cents per day, plus expenses." The subject of dozens of books (each containing 10 short stories), Encyclopedia Brown has previously been adapted as both a comic strip and an HBO television series in the late 1980's. The Encyclopedia Brown books were partially famous for the way that they encouraged audience participation. After Brown's investigation into each...
- 6/24/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Writer encouraged generations of nerds to stand up to bullies with brains rather than brawn.
The world of crime writing lost one of its most important and prolific voices last week with the passing of Donald J. Sobol.
For those who are unfamiliar, it was Donald J. Sobol who first brought Leroy “Encyclopedia” Brown to the public eye in the early 1960′s. Brown was the son of the Idaville Chief of Police, and according to Sobol, the uncredited braintrust for the bulk of the Idaville Police Department’s investigations. Thanks to Sobol, Encyclopedia would become known for his ability, after a brief period of meditation upon the facts, to solve a case by asking a single, pointed question.
Sobol was able to circulate the tales of the young Brown’s prodigious crime-solving skills about the country without compromising the safety of Brown himself, or the reputation of the “Idaville” Police Department,...
The world of crime writing lost one of its most important and prolific voices last week with the passing of Donald J. Sobol.
For those who are unfamiliar, it was Donald J. Sobol who first brought Leroy “Encyclopedia” Brown to the public eye in the early 1960′s. Brown was the son of the Idaville Chief of Police, and according to Sobol, the uncredited braintrust for the bulk of the Idaville Police Department’s investigations. Thanks to Sobol, Encyclopedia would become known for his ability, after a brief period of meditation upon the facts, to solve a case by asking a single, pointed question.
Sobol was able to circulate the tales of the young Brown’s prodigious crime-solving skills about the country without compromising the safety of Brown himself, or the reputation of the “Idaville” Police Department,...
- 7/18/2012
- by Josh Converse
- Boomtron
He gave the world a young hero whose superpower was simply his smarts. Donald J. Sobol, the famed children's author who penned the Encyclopedia Brown series of books, died on Wednesday in Miami. He was 87. His son, John Sobol, confirmed the sad news to the New York Times, saying the cause of death was gastric lymphoma. After serving in World War II's Pacific Theater, Sobol started out as a copy boy and then reporter for the New York Sun and Long Island Daily Press before turning to writing full time, penning nonfiction tales, mostly directed at children. In 1959 he wrote a syndicated fiction column called Two-Minute Mysteries. But eventually Sobol would become obsessed with a story he had...
- 7/17/2012
- E! Online
Bryan Fuller was a little coy at Comic-Con on the subject, but it sure sounds like he's trying to get Pushing Daisies to Broadway, with the original cast. Who would stand in line for days to get tickets?
I'll be the first to admit that 50 Cent has said some anti-gay things that really ticked me off. But as for his opinion on Frank Ocean? “Obama is for same-sex marriage. If the president is saying that, then who am I to go the other way? Anyone that has an issue with Frank Ocean is an idiot.”
My buddy Brett Berk has compiled a list of the Five Best and Five Worst Batmobiles, and I have to admit I've never seen some of these cars, especially the older ones. Where did they hide the weaponry in the convertibles?
I've kind of avoided talking about Usher's stepson Kile Glover, who was seriously injured in a boating accident.
I'll be the first to admit that 50 Cent has said some anti-gay things that really ticked me off. But as for his opinion on Frank Ocean? “Obama is for same-sex marriage. If the president is saying that, then who am I to go the other way? Anyone that has an issue with Frank Ocean is an idiot.”
My buddy Brett Berk has compiled a list of the Five Best and Five Worst Batmobiles, and I have to admit I've never seen some of these cars, especially the older ones. Where did they hide the weaponry in the convertibles?
I've kind of avoided talking about Usher's stepson Kile Glover, who was seriously injured in a boating accident.
- 7/17/2012
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Of all the commercial operations, real and imaginary, ever launched by entrepreneurial children—from lemonade stand to Lucy’s advice booth—the one nearest and dearest to my heart is this: Brown Detective AGENCY13 Rover Avenueleroy Brown, PRESIDENTNo Case Too Small25¢ Per Day Plus Expenses Leroy Brown, President: that’s Encyclopedia Brown, to you. His creator, the journalist and author Donald J. Sobol, died last week at the age of 87, though the news wasn’t widely reported until today. Whereupon I promptly took myself to my local library and reverted to a habit, last practiced in 1984, of checking out, in one fell swoop, a dozen of his books.A quick recap, in case it’s been a while since you too checked out his books: Encyclopedia Brown is the son of the police chief in a town so famously tough on crime that “Hardened criminals had passed the word: ‘Stay clear of Idaville.
- 7/17/2012
- by Kathryn Schulz
- Vulture
Entertainment Weekly has picked up on news of the death of Donald J. Sobol, an author best known for creating the "boy detective" Encyclopedia Brown, one of the most enduring characters in children's literature. Sobol died on July 11 at the age of 87, though it was just reported today. After beginning his fiction career with the serialized Two-Minute Mysteries in 1959, Sobol brought that same knack for creating condensed, standalone mystery stories to writing for a younger audience with the long-running Encyclopedia Brown, which launched in 1963. Though he embarked on scores of adventures in Idaville, the story ...
- 7/16/2012
- avclub.com
Donald J. Sobol, the creator of the beloved children's book series Encyclopedia Brown died July 11 at the age of 87. His son John Sobol told the Associated Press that his father died of natural causes in Miami. The books followed Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown as he solved mysteries in his hometown of Idaville for "25¢ per day plus expenses." Sometimes he would help his father, the local police chief solve a crime, and sometimes he would be helped by his friend Sally Kimball (who noticed clues boys missed). "Thanks to Donald, generations of children have learned to read
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- 7/16/2012
- by Andy Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Donald J. Sobol, the author of the popular Encyclopedia Brown and Two-Minute Mysteries series, died on Wednesday, Reuters reports. He was 87. Born in New York City, Sobol served with the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. He went on to earn his Bachelor's Degree from Oberlin College in Ohio. Starting out his professional career writing for the New York Sun, Sobol eventually worked his way up to reporter, and then worked at the New York Daily News for two years. But it wasn't until a move to Florida that his career really took off. Creating the popular Two-Minute...
- 7/16/2012
- by Dahvi Shira
- PEOPLE.com
Donald J. Sobol, the author who created the rich world of junior detective Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown, is dead at 87. The circumstances of his death are not yet known, but news of his death quickly trended on Twitter with tweeters sharing how Sobol's books had affected their lives.
"Rip Donald J. Sobol," tweets one fan. "Encyclopedia Brown let me briefly feel like being a nerd was cool."
"Encyclopedia Brown was the reason why I loved the library as a kid," adds another. "Thank you, Donald J. Sobol, and may you rest in peace."
"Encyclopedia" Brown was the son of a detective who sometimes helped his dad, but more often than not worked to solve his own cases in a series of books that ran from 1963 to 2007. The books have never been out of print since he started writing.
Sobol started out as a copy boy for the New York Sun before...
"Rip Donald J. Sobol," tweets one fan. "Encyclopedia Brown let me briefly feel like being a nerd was cool."
"Encyclopedia Brown was the reason why I loved the library as a kid," adds another. "Thank you, Donald J. Sobol, and may you rest in peace."
"Encyclopedia" Brown was the son of a detective who sometimes helped his dad, but more often than not worked to solve his own cases in a series of books that ran from 1963 to 2007. The books have never been out of print since he started writing.
Sobol started out as a copy boy for the New York Sun before...
- 7/16/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Encyclopedia Brown comprise a triumvirate of great twentieth-century American child-detective book series. But while the first two were created by the same person (Edward Stratemeyer), the latter came from the brain of Donald J. Sobol, who has died at the age of 87. First reported this morning in a bare-bones Publishers Weekly tweet, Sobol's death occurred last Wednesday, according to Entertainment Weekly. The series, starring the titular character (whose real name was Leroy Brown, no relation to the Jim Croce song), began in 1963 and has since stretched to more than two dozen titles. Each book follows the same format: a collection of curious and unrelated mysteries take place in the town of Idaville. Readers are encouraged to try to solve them all alongside young Encyclopedia Brown, whose father is the police chief. The answers to each puzzle appear in the back of the...
- 7/16/2012
- by Gilbert Cruz
- Vulture
Encyclopedia Brown never suffers crippling crises of confidence. At the start of each book, it takes all of 10 minutes at the dinner table for Donald J. Sobol's fictional whiz-kid to solve his police detective father's cases before wrapping up two more over the next 100 pages. This has gone on for an apparently puberty-less four decades. But in Derrick Comedy's first feature-length film, Mystery Team, which just this month secured national distribution rights with Roadside Attractions, the titular group of small-town problem solvers has turned 18, and everybody finds their know-it-all crap completely insufferable. So they decide to prove their relevance by taking on a double murder.
- 5/29/2009
- Pastemagazine.com
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