Photo: imgur.com

First of all, nobody is advocating driving drunk here. Hand over the keys.

But doesn't the graphic on the right capture the Seattle driving experience?

Billy Dee Williams would love to play Lando Calrissian in Disney’s upcoming Star Wars sequels. It’s a character Williams has never really said goodbye to, reprising the role in multiple videogames and on television. “Even now,” he says “I do Robot Chicken, I do (Star Wars) Detours. So it’s ongoing.”

Williams first played the character in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back. “Oh, yeah! It’s a major moment of my life.” Episode V is widely considered by fans to be the best film in the series. “Empire was very good,” Williams agrees. “Of course you had Irv Kershner (directing) the film. It became a really wonderful, exceptional experience.”

So is there room in his life, and the Star Wars galaxy, for one more go-round with the “Mayor” of Cloud City? “Well, I’m like everybody else, we’re all speculating and we’re all wondering. If they want me to participate, I’d love to participate.”

“I love the idea of keeping the character alive. And I specifically want to keep him alive, as long as I’m alive.”

Where does Billy Dee Williams imagine Lando ends up? “There are an awful lot of stories out there… Books that have been written on Lando’s adventures. So he’s all over the place. He’s going from galaxy to galaxy.”

And hopefully making another pass through our galactic multiplexes soon.

Billy Dee Williams appears at the Emerald City Comicon March 1^st through 3^rd in the Washington State Convention Center. He’s looking forward to seeing you.

Dan Roberts is the nighttime radio host at 95.7 KJR-FM in Seattle, Washington. He is also a voice-actor with the online animated cartoons Dilbert and Over the Hedge to his credits. Dan  was 11 years old when he saw the Empire Strikes Back in theaters, and thinks talking to Billy Dee Williams was just about the coolest thing in the world.

Photo: Getty Images

Carrie Fisher has cancelled her appearance at the Emerald City Comicon this weekend. The actress was hospitalized briefly, following a bizarre performance last week cruising the Caribbean aboard Holland America’s “Eurodam.” She sang off key, rambled, and cleaned up after her dog, who reportedly was doing numbers 1 & 2 all over the stage.

The episode appears to be the latest battle in Fisher’s war with bi-polar disorder, which she has been very public about. In fact, her Emerald City Comicon panel, now cancelled, was titled “Shockaholic,” presumably after the controversial shock-therapy she says has been helpful in her struggle. Her entertaining one-woman show “Wishful Drinking,” goes into detail about her experiences.

Great gossip for the water cooler, but there’s nothing funny about mental illness. I wish Carrie the best and, like many Emerald City Comicon fans, hope to see the good Princess Leia reschedule her appearance soon.

Photo: Everett Collection

What was David Gregory thinking? Fast forward to the 1:10 mark in the video below to hear him joke about 'Al Roker's nuts' on this morning's Today Show. Hilarity ensues! Oh, wait... Nope. That's just awkwardness.

The Emerald City Comicon is March 1st-2nd at the Washington State Convention Center. Here are 5 things I think you should check out. Note: the Batman event listed below is on February 28th, off-site, and a separate ticket.

# 5) “THE HUNGER GAMES” COSTUME EXHIBIT

March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
Booth SB-1

An amazing collection of genuine costumes from the smash-hit film “The Hunger Games.”

The exhibit encompasses original screen-worn costumes worn by Jennifer Lawrence as “Katniss," Josh Hutcherson as “Peeta,” Elizabeth Banks as “Effie,” Stanley Tucci as “Caesar,” and many more!

The costumes are all set to be auctioned off in October at New York Comic Con, so Hunger Games fans may never get the chance to be this close to the exhibit again. Don’t miss out!

# 4) CARRIE FISHER: SHOCKAHOLIC

Saturday, March 2^nd

Room: MAIN HALL (6ABC)
Start: 6:00PM
End: 7:00PM

Photo: Getty Images

This is not Carrie’s hysterical one-woman show “Wishful Drinking”, but it should be just as funny and revealing. You may not relate to everything she says, but I guarantee you’ll be fascinated. And hey, as both Princess Leia and the daughter of Debbie Reynolds, she’s Hollywood Royalty!  

# 3) ECCC COSTUME PARTY

Saturday, March 2^nd

Room: MAIN HALL (6ABC)
Start: 8:00PM
End: 10:30PM

Photo Credit: Kathy Bugajsky

These folks don’t just run out and buy costumes. They make ‘em from scratch! From the funny, to the grotesque, to the downright sexy, this is where you’ll find your costumed heroes and villains-all in one place.

Judges for the costume contest this year include cosplay expert Yaya Han, and Elfquest creators Wendy & Richard Pini.

# 2) A GOTHAM NIGHT IN THE EMERALD CITY!

Thursday, February 28th

Location: Cinerama
Start: 7:00PM
End: 8:45PM

Movie/event ticket required: $25.00

Photo: Everett Collection

Batman stars Burt Ward and Adam West swing into the Cinerama to revisit the 1960’s pop-culture (and pop-art) phenomenon that was “Batmania!”

How often do you get to watch a movie with the stars themselves in attendance? Adam West and his television sidekick Burt "Robin" Ward will be appearing together in Seattle for the FIRST TIME EVER for a special screening of an archival print of the 1966 theatrical Batman film!

Also of note:

* Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn's office is declaring “Mayor” Adam West Day in the City of Seattle (Adam is from here).

* Original Batman costume on display from the Paul G Allen Collection

# 1) STAR WARS - THE VOICE ACTOR SHOW

Friday, March 1^st

Room: MAIN HALL (6ABC)
Start: 7:00PM
End: 8:45PM

Easily the most talked about panel about last year. Join Phil LaMarr (Mad TV), Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh), Richard Horevitz (Invader Zim), Grey DeLisle (Scooby Doo), Quinton Flynn (Final Fantasy) and Kevin Michael Richardson (the Cleveland Show) as they re-imagine the adventures of Luke and Leia in some familiar, if out of place, voices. Lots of laughs at this one, and a great way to kick off your comicon experience.

Check out the video of last year's script-reading. Over 1 million other folks have!

In 1977, this beautifully rendered painting from the Hildebrandt Brothers was thumb-tacked to my wall. I think it remained there well into the 80's. For an eight-year-old kid, especially a boy, the arrival of Star Wars in theaters was like the Beatles appearing on the Ed Sullivan show; a touchstone for a generation.

Change was afoot in 1977: The Supremes called it quits, Elvis died, Bing Crosby died, and Lynyrd Skynyrd lost several key members in a tragic plane crash. It's almost as if the musical universe was making room for something new...

The Sex Pistols were rising stars in 1977. Just about every label wanted to sign the band. Two succeeded, and subsequently dropped the group due to their bad behavior. Punk rock was born! It had a short life, but resurfaced in the 90's with bands like Green Day. Much of the thanks should also go to Seattle's grunge scene, because, let's face it, Nirvana was pretty punk rock.

But 1977 wasn't all spiked hair and bruises: disco hit it's stride with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, Jimmy Buffet had his first big hit with Margaritaville, and we heard Hotel California by the Eagles for the very first time.

Now it's 2013. The Eagles have been reunited for years (with documentaries on Showtime this weekend), new Star Wars movies are in the works, and did you hear Lady Gaga's last album? Sounded like disco to me. So, in many ways, it seems like we're still living in 1977. But with better gadgets. I'm okay with that.

Dan Roberts hosts the 70's at 7 each weeknight at 7pm on 95.7 KJR. Every Thursday night at 7pm, he spends a full hour focused on the music and memories of a single year.

Photo: Everett Collection.

I’ve spent the last week binging on the new Netflix TV series “House of Cards,” watching episode-after-episode. Netflix has encouraged this behavior-and taken a gamble-by making all 13 episodes of the first season available at once; something traditionally reserved for end-of-season DVD releases. This may very well be the future of series television. And “House of Cards” has a place in that future.

Check out flag in the program's logo (above). It's a great graphic representation of the program, in which America's ideals have been turned upside-down by the people in office. If “the West Wing” was about how we wish Washington worked, “House of Cards” speaks to our worst fears about how we think things actually work.

Congressman Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) is passed-up for his dream-job as Secretary of State and spends the rest of the season spreading lies and manipulating his way back up the political ladder. Nothing he does is without some benefit to his agenda. And it’s fun to watch. Spacey, also a producer of the program, is fantastic as one of the most delicious villains to taint your television since J.R. Ewing. His words are vicious; fans of Swimming with Sharks or Horrible Bosses will love to hate this sweet-talking, ill-intentioned character who bites as well as he barks.

One thing... Spacey breaks the "fourth wall," and speaks to you and I, the viewer. A conceit usually reserved for comedies (most notably Ferris Bueller's Day Off). I found it jarring during the first episode, but eventually I found myself relishing these moments of honesty, and spirited dialogue.

Robin Wright is cast perfectly as Underwood’s calculating, chilly wife Claire. Did these two marry for love? Or is it just a business relationship? They sometimes seem like the Addams Family, without the passion of Gomez and Morticia.

As for Kate Mara… I have a confession to make: I’ve had a crush on her since she popped up in American Horror Story last year. On “House of Cards” she plays ambitious young reporter Zoe Barnes, who is so desperate to be a star that she’ll do anything for a story. Anything.

Caught in the crossfire of all this power is Congressman Peter Russo (Corey Stoll): a shmuck of a boyfriend and father who is one drink, sniff of cocaine or hooker away from losing everything. He’s rubbing shoulders with Washington’s power players, but he’s in over his head.

Occasionally “House of Cards” drifts into soap-opera territory, but mostly it is filled with juicy political drama, “I can’t believe they just said that” laughs, and plenty of suspense.

I should note: this is not a family show. There is occasional strong language and adult themes; drugs, sex. This is Netflix throwing their hat in the ring for a piece of the “premium channel audience.” Think Sopranos or Weeds. And just as good.

“House of Cards” is like a great page turner of a book. I couldn’t get enough of it, but sadly I am now out of episodes. Binge over. For now. Hurry up with season 2, Netflix! I’m hooked.

This is not your father's urinal. In a hi-tech, if low-brow, interactive ad for Billboard magazine, men using the restroom can play guitar by... you know. And they can later download their 'Mpee3' masterpiece. The tagline claims that music "...comes from everywhere." Even the toilet, apparently. But is it as fun as writing your name in the snow?  Check out this video to see the user experience for yourself.

Billboard - Guitar Pee (ENG) from AlmapBBDO Internet on Vimeo.