I remember when I first saw Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy — it was on the big screen opening dayin 2004, and as I fondly recall I laughed my ass off many times during that first viewing and then some. Then when the movie was released on DVD I bought it and began to watch it repeatedly. Soon Anchorman became one of my top five favorite comedies. It has become a signature movie in my life, a wonderful comedy loaded with memorable characters, hilarious gags, classic comedic set-pieces, and terrific dialogue that my friends and I never tire of quoting to each other. The movie was so great in fact that I seriously desired for a sequel to be made. That doesn’t usually happen much with comedies I love.

Action, science-fiction, and horror films easily lend themselves to being franchised, but franchising comedy is a much difficult prospect. But the principal cast and crew of Anchorman saw what a hilarious and special film they had made and sought for years to make a sequel, not out of the mercenary pursuit of greater wealth and exposure but out of the love they had for the characters and the world they created. It was just that the studio was adamant against making it for reasons that sound utterly ridiculous when you say them out loud. The project’s future seemed so questionable that the original film’s star was considering it dead in the water as recently as a few weeks again.

Then a funny thing happened just a few days ago….

Earlier this week, we brought you the news that comedy superstar Will Ferrell made a surprise appearance on the late night talk show Conan as the character Ron Burgundy, the egotistical news anchor with a heart of gold and a brain of vanilla pudding he played in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. His appearance was to wow the audience with a jazz flute jam and to make the special announcement that a deal had been worked out with Paramount Pictures for a sequel to the 2004 hit comedy to finally move forward.

Funny or Die, the website Ferrell co-created with friend and frequent collaborator (and co-writer and director of Anchorman) Adam McKay, has posted a video chronicling the moments before and after Ferrell’s Conan appearance. You can check it out here below.

In anticipation of the release of their forthcoming CD The Rize of the Fenix (their first in six years, due out this May) the greatest rock band in the world has returned for their first music video in what seems like ages. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, Tenacious D – the folk metal duo consisting of musically gifted funnymen Jack Black and Kyle Gass – are back to rock our socks off with more rock guaranteed to melt your tits.

You can check out their epic promotional short film “To Be The Best” here below.

The D first appeared in a three-episode HBO comedy series that aired from 1997 to 2000. They released their first full-length album in 2001 and within four years it had gone platinum. In 2006, the duo made their big screen debut in the hilarious rock musical Tenacious D In The Pick of Destiny, but the film was a box office flop. Since its release on DVD it has become a cult film. Black and Gass also released a soundtrack album packed with original songs.

The digital movie rental deal of the day over at Amazon today is the Ryan Reynolds-starring superhero film Green Lantern for only $.99.

Once you activate the rental through Amazon’s Instant Video service, you’ll have access to the movie for 48 hours. If you’re interested in purchasing the digital version, the cost is $14.99.

Also, if you’d like to own a physical copy of Green Lantern, the Blu-ray/DVD Combo is on sale right now for $19.99, the Blu-ray is $15.64, and the DVD is $12.99. The Blu-ray/DVD Combo and DVD are both part of Amazon’s “Buy This DVD and Watch it Instantly” program “” you get the film as a FREE digital rental you can watch immediately when you purchase the physical copy.

Part of Amazon’s digital rental deal for the week is the Ryan Reynolds-starring superhero film Green Lantern for only $1.99.

Once you activate the rental through Amazon’s Instant Demand service, you’ll have access to the movie for 48 hours. If you’re interested in purchasing the digital version, the cost is $14.99.

Also, if you’d like to own a physical copy of Green Lantern, the Blu-ray/DVD Combo is $24.99 and the DVD is $14.99; Both versions are part of Amazon’s “Buy This DVD and Watch it Instantly” program “” you get the film as a FREE digital rental you can watch immediately when you purchase the physical copy.