The Basement--even lower than the gutter. (Image by Bob Eckstein.)

I just got an email from Bob Eckstein, an old colleague of mine and very witty writer and illustrator, announcing that he’s the editor of a newly launched comedy website called The Basement. The site features a slew of amazing artists, writers and creative people of every sort who will try to make you laugh. These folks regularly work for every excellent publication you enjoy.

Bob has used his talents at Spy, the Village Voice, the New Yorker, etc. He’s the author of a wonderful book, The History of the Snowman, which he’s turning into a movie. In addition to being wildly inventive, Bob’s one of the nicest people I’ve met in the NYC media world. Of course, that may not be the great compliment it seems to be. Others who’d pass for nice in the NYC media world: Idi Amin, Khrushchev and George Steinbrenner’s ghost. But I meant well.