Document:

<PAGE>
                                  Exhibit 10.5

                               ABSOLUTE ASSIGNMENT

        This ABSOLUTE ASSIGNMENT (the "ASSIGNMENT") is executed as of the 17th
day of May, 2002, by and between J2 COMMUNICATIONS, a California corporation
("ASSIGNOR"), and JAMES P. JIMIRRO, a natural person ("ASSIGNEE"), with
reference to the following:

A. Assignor and Assignee are parties to that certain 2002 Employment Agreement,
dated as of May 17, 2002 (the "EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT").

B. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Assignor is obligated to convey and
assign to and in favor of Assignee one half (1/2) of all gross revenues of any
type or nature directly or indirectly derived by Assignor from the film entitled
National Lampoon's Van Wilder.

C. Assignor is a party to that certain letter agreement, dated as of November
12, 2001, executed by and among Assignor, Van Wilder Productions, LLC, Tapestry
Films, Inc., and Myriad Pictures, Inc. (the "EXISTING LICENSE").

        NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Assignor and Assignee hereby agree
as follows:

1. Assignor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants, sells, transfers,
conveys and assigns, to and in favor of Assignee, an undivided fifty per cent
(50%) interest in and to all of Assignor's right, title, interest, benefit,
privileges, claim and estate in, to and under the Existing License, all payments
thereon and all payment intangibles arising thereunder or in respect thereof.

2. (a) Assignee hereby accepts the foregoing assignment. Notwithstanding the
assignment evidenced hereby, Assignor expressly, unconditionally and irrevocably
agrees, and acknowledges the reliance of Assignee hereon, that Assignor shall be
and remain solely liable and bound for the performance of each and every duty,
obligation and liability of any type or nature imposed upon Assignor under or in
respect of the Existing License and in no event shall Assignor be or be deemed,
on account of this Assignment, to be released from any such duty, obligation or
liability whether now existing or hereafter arising. Assignor expressly,
unconditionally and irrevocably agrees, and acknowledges the reliance of
Assignee hereon, to perform each and every duty, obligation and liability of any
type or nature imposed upon Assignor under or in respect of the Existing License
as and when required. Assignor further agrees that if Assignor, in its sole
discretion, decides to take any actions to enforce the Existing License for the
benefit of Assignor, then Assignor will also take those same actions to enforce
the Existing License, at Assignor's sole cost and expense, for the benefit of
Assignee.

        (b) Assignor covenants and agrees that if, at any time, Assignor shall
acquire any

<PAGE>
right to receive revenues of any type or nature directly or indirectly derived
by Assignor from the film entitled National Lampoon's Van Wilder under any
document or instrument other than the Existing License (an "ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENT"), Assignor shall promptly (i) notify Assignee in writing of the
existence of such other revenues and (ii) execute and deliver, to and in favor
of Assignee, an assignment of an undivided fifty per cent (50%) interest in and
to such other revenues and all payment intangibles relating thereto.

        3. It is the express mutual intent of each of Assignor and Assignee that
this Assignment is intended to be and constitutes an absolute conveyance of an
undivided fifty per cent (50%) interest in and to the Existing License to
Assignee, and was not and is not now intended as a mortgage, trust conveyance,
pledge, hypothecation or security of any kind. It is the mutual intent of each
of Assignor and Assignee, by the execution and delivery of this Assignment, to
absolutely and unconditionally convey to Assignee an undivided fifty per cent
(50%) interest in and to all of Assignor's right, title, interest, claim and
estate in and to the Existing License.

        4. Upon the written request of Assignee to do so, Assignor will within
thirty (30) days after receipt of such request make available to Assignee, by
mail, email, fax or other means reasonably requested in writing by Assignee, a
true, complete and correct written accounting of all payments received by or on
behalf of Assignor under or in respect of the Existing License and any
Additional Agreements from the date hereof through and including the date of
such request; provided, however, Assignor shall not be obligated (but may
voluntarily choose) to respond to more than one such request by Assignee per
calendar quarter.

        5. This Assignment and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto
shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
the State of California. This Assignment shall be binding upon the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
Assignee may assign this Assignment or any of its rights and powers hereunder
and in such event any transferee of Assignee shall have the same rights and
remedies as if originally named herein in place of Assignee. The recitals to
this Assignment shall form part hereof as though recited herein at length. The
failure at any time to require performance of any provision of this Assignment
shall not affect the full right to require such performance at any later time.
The waiver of a breach of any provision shall not constitute a waiver of the
provision of any succeeding breach. 6. Assignor covenants and agrees,
concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Assignment to and in favor
of Assignee, to execute originals of the form of "Notice of Irrevocable
Authority" appended hereto as Exhibit "A". In addition to and not in limitation
or derogation of the foregoing covenant, Assignor shall, promptly upon request
therefor by Assignee, make, execute and deliver such further documents as may
reasonably be requested by Assignee for the purpose of giving full force and
effect to this Assignment, whether or not after the execution hereof. Assignee
shall be responsible to take any actions Assignee deems appropriate to give
notice of this Assignment to the obligors under the Existing License or any
Additional Agreements or to otherwise make this Assignment effective.

<PAGE>
        7. If Assignor at any time receives payment of any funds to which
Assignee is entitled pursuant to this Assignment pursuant to the Existing
License or any Additional Agreements, Assignor shall hold such funds in trust
for Assignee and shall turn over such funds as promptly as commercially
practicable to Assignee.

        8. This Assignment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one
instrument.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Assignor and Assignee have executed this Assignment
as of the day and year first above written.

        ASSIGNOR:                   J2 COMMUNICATIONS
                                    a California corporation

                                    By:
                                        -------------------------------------

                                    Its:
                                        -------------------------------------

        ASSIGNEE:
                                    -----------------------------------------
                                    JAMES P. JIMIRRO

STATE OF CALIFORNIA   )
                      ) ss
COUNTY OF ____________)

        On _________ __,2002_, before me, a Notary Public in and for said State,
personally appeared , personally known to me (or proved to me on the basis of
satisfactory evidence) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within
instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his authorized
capacity, and that by his signature on the within instrument such person, or the
entity upon behalf of which such person acted, executed such instrument.

        WITNESS my hand and official seal.

-------------------------------------
(Signature)
[Affix Notarial Seal]
[Affix Notarial Seal]<PAGE>
                                  Exhibit 10.6

                    TERMINATION OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

        This Termination of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement (this
"Agreement") is made as of the 17th day of May, 2002, by and among J2
Communications, a California corporation (the "Company"), and James P. Jimirro
of 10787 Wilshire Boulevard, Apartment 1702, Los Angeles, California, 90024
("Jimirro").

                                    RECITALS

A. Jimirro holds certain Stock Appreciation Rights in the Company, as more fully
set forth and described in Schedule 1 hereto (the "SARs").

B. Pursuant to that certain letter of intent dated January 30, 2002 and made
among (i) the Company, (ii) Jimirro, (iii) Daniel S. Laikin, (iv) Paul Skjodt,
(v) National Lampoon Acquisition Group LLC, and (vi) Timothy S. Durham, Samerian
LLP, Diamond Investments, LLC, Christopher R. Williams, Helen C. Williams, DW
Leasing Company, LLC and Judy B. Laikin, it was agreed that the SARs should be
terminated and that in consideration therefor options to acquire shares of
Common Stock in the capital of the Company should be granted to Jimirro in the
same numbers, on substantially the same terms and subject to the same vesting
schedules and exercise prices as the respective SARs.

              NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

        1. Termination of SARs. The Company and Jimirro hereby agree that,
subject to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, as of December
28, 2001 the SARs shall be terminated and shall be of no further force and
effect.

        2. Grant of Options. As of December 28, 2001 the Company shall grant to
Jimirro options to acquire shares of Common Stock of the Company in the same
numbers, on substantially the same terms and subject to the same vesting
schedules and exercise prices as the respective SARs, and for such purpose the
Company shall execute Option Agreements in respect of each of such options in or
substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule 2.

        3. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the State of California as applied to contracts among
California residents entered into and performed entirely within California.

        4. Severability. In the event one or more of the provisions of this
Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement
shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or

<PAGE>
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

        5. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

        6. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full agreement and
understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter set forth
herein.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
date and year hereinabove first written.

COMPANY:                          J2 COMMUNICATIONS

                                  By:
                                      ----------------------------------------
                                  Name:
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                         -------------------------------------

                                  Address: 10850 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1000,
                                           Los Angeles, California, 90024

JIMIRRO:
                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                           James P. Jimirro
                                    Address: 10787 Wilshire Boulevard,
                                             Apartment 1702,
                                             Los Angeles, California, 90024

<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE 1

                    STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS HELD BY JIMIRRO

                                                          As of 12/28/2001

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Grant                 Expiration                          Exercise
Date                  Date                  SARs          Price
----                  ----------            ----          --------
<S>                   <C>                   <C>           <C>
30/12/1994            30/12/2002            16,667          4.107
30/12/1995            30/12/2002            16,667          3.252
28/12/1996            28/12/2003            16,667          3.198
28/12/1997            28/12/2004            16,667          2.202
30/12/1998            30/12/2005            16,667          1.9375
28/12/1999            28/12/2009            25,000         14.76
22/02/2001            22/02/2011            25,000         12.8125
30/12/2001            30/12/2011            25,000          4.63
Total 158,335
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE 2
                            FORM OF OPTION AGREEMENT
                                J2 COMMUNICATIONS
                      NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

James P. Jimirro                          Date Option Granted: December 28, 2001
Name of Optionee

10787 Wilshire Blvd., Penthouse 2
Residence Address

Los Angeles, CA 90024
City, State and Zip Code

        THIS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of the date set forth above
between J2 COMMUNICATIONS, a California corporation (hereinafter called the
"Company"), and the optionee named above (hereinafter called the "Optionee").

                                     RECITAL

The Board of Directors of the Company, or a duly appointed Committee (as such
term is defined in the J2 COMMUNICATIONS Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option,
Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Plan (the "Plan")), acting solely by
"outside directors", as such term is defined in the regulations regarding
performance based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (as amended), has determined that it is to the advantage and interest of
the Company and its shareholders to grant the option provided for herein to the
Optionee as an inducement to associate with, and remain in the service of, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as such term is defined in the Plan) and as
an incentive for increased effort during such service. All capitalized terms
used herein which are not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning
ascribed to them in the Plan.

        In consideration of the cancellation of certain Stock Appreciation
Rights held by the Optionee, the cancellation of which the Optionee hereby
acknowledges and agrees to, and of the mutual covenants herein contained, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

        (a) Grant of Option. Pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions
of the Plan, the Company grants to the Optionee the right and option (the "Stock
Option") to purchase on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth all or
any part of an aggregate of _________________________________ (___________)
shares (the "Shares") of the presently authorized and unissued Common Stock of
the Company at the purchase price of $_______ per share as the Optionee may,
from time to time, elect. The Stock Option shall vest in its entirety
immediately upon being granted.

        (b) Exercise. The right to exercise the Stock Option granted hereunder,
to the extent unexercised, shall remain in effect until __________________, and
thereafter shall terminate and expire.
<PAGE>
        (c) Method of Exercise. The Stock Option may be exercised from time to
time by the Optionee delivering written notice to the Company (in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A) stating the number of Shares with respect to which
the Stock Option is being exercised, together with payment in full of the
purchase price for the number of Shares being exercised. Payment of the purchase
price, in whole or in part, may be made (A) in cash or by certified or cashier's
check payable to the order of the Company, (B) in the form of unrestricted Stock
(if held for at least six 6 months) already owned by the Optionee, (C) by
cancellation of any indebtedness owed by the Company to the Optionee, (D)
through the surrender of shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise of the
Stock Option having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise thereof equal to
the aggregate exercise price of the Stock Option exercised or portion thereof,
or (E) by any combination of the foregoing. If requested by the Board of
Directors of the Company or the Committee, prior to the delivery of any Shares,
the Optionee, or any other person entitled to exercise the Stock Option, shall
supply the Board of Directors of the Company or the Committee with a
representation that the Shares are not being acquired with a view to
distribution and will be sold or otherwise disposed of only in accordance with
applicable federal and state statutes, rules and regulations. As soon after the
notice of exercise as the Company is reasonably able to comply, the Company
shall, without transfer or issue tax to the Optionee or other person entitled to
exercise the Stock Option, deliver to the Optionee or such other person, at the
main office of the Company or such other place as shall be mutually acceptable,
a certificate or certificates for the shares being exercised.

        The Optionee may exercise the Stock Option for less than the total
number of Shares for which the Stock Option is exercisable, provided that a
partial exercise may not (i) be for less than 100 shares, except in the final
year of the Stock Option, and (ii) include any fractional shares.

        (d) Termination of Stock Option. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, this Stock Option shall terminate and
expire as provided in paragraph (b) of this Agreement or at such earlier times
and on such terms as follows:

        (1) Termination by Death. If the Optionee's employment with the Company,
any Subsidiary or Parent Corporation terminates by reason of death, the Stock
Option may thereafter be immediately exercised by the legal representative of
the estate or by the legatee of the Optionee under the will of the Optionee, to
the extent it was exercisable at the time of such termination, until the earlier
to occur of (A) the expiration of the stated term of the Stock Option or (B)
twelve months from the date of such death;

        (2) Termination by Reason of Disability. If the Optionee's employment
with the Company, any Subsidiary or Parent Corporation terminates by reason of
Disability, this Stock Option may thereafter be exercised, to the extent it was
exercisable at the time of such termination, until the earlier to occur of (A)
the expiration of the stated term of the Stock Option or (B) twelve months from
the date of such termination; and

        (3) Other Termination. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph or
otherwise determined by the Administrator, if the Optionee's employment with the
Company, any Subsidiary or Parent Corporation terminates for any reason other
than death or Disability, this Stock Option may be exercised, to the extent it
was exercisable at the time of such termination, until the earlier to occur of
(i) three months from the date of such termination or (ii) the expiration of the
stated term of this Stock Option; provided,
<PAGE>
however, that if the expiration of the stated term of the Stock Option is less
than 30 days from the date of termination, then the Stock Option shall expire 30
days from the date of termination.

        (e) Adjustments. The number and kind of shares subject to this Stock
Option and the price to be paid therefor shall be subject to adjustment as
provided in the Plan.

        (f) Non-Transferability. This Stock Option is not assignable or
transferable by the Optionee, either voluntarily or by operation of law, other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable,
during the Optionee's lifetime, only by the Optionee.

        (g) No Shareholder Rights. The Optionee or other person entitled to
exercise the Stock Option shall have no rights or privileges as a shareholder
with respect to any Shares subject hereto until the Optionee or such person has
(1) given written notice of exercise, (2) paid in full for such Shares, and (3)
if requested, given the representations provided for in paragraphs (c) and (i)
of this Agreement (the "Exercise Conditions"), and no adjustment (except such
adjustments as may be effected pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (e)
hereof) shall be made for dividends or distributions of rights in respect of
such Shares if the record date is prior to the date on which the Optionee or
such person shall have satisfied all of the Exercise Conditions.

        (h) Plan Controls. The Stock Option shall be subject to and governed by
the provisions of the Plan (a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B),
which the Committee alone shall have the authority to interpret and construe. In
the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan,
the Plan shall govern. All determinations and interpretations thereof made by
the Committee shall be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto and upon
their successors and assigns. This Stock Option is not intended to meet the
requirements of an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422A of
the Code.

        (i) Conditions to Issuance of Shares. THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO ISSUE
SHARES OF ITS COMMON STOCK UPON EXERCISE OF THE STOCK OPTION IS EXPRESSLY
CONDITIONED UPON THE COMPLETION BY THE COMPANY OF ANY REGISTRATION OR OTHER
QUALIFICATION OF SUCH SHARES UNDER ANY STATE AND/OR FEDERAL LAW OR RULINGS OR
REGULATIONS OF ANY GOVERNMENT REGULATORY BODY or THE MAKING OF SUCH INVESTMENT
REPRESENTATIONS OR OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS BY THE OPTIONEE OR ANY
PERSON ENTITLED TO EXERCISE THE STOCK OPTION IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM ANY SUCH REGISTRATION OR OTHER QUALIFICATION
OF SUCH SHARES WHICH THE COMMITTEE SHALL, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, DEEM NECESSARY
OR ADVISABLE. SUCH REQUIRED REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS INCLUDE
REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS THAT THE OPTIONEE, OR ANY OTHER PERSON ENTITLED
TO EXERCISE THE STOCK OPTION, (A) IS NOT PURCHASING SUCH SHARES FOR DISTRIBUTION
AND (B) AGREES TO HAVE PLACED UPON THE FACE AND REVERSE OF ANY CERTIFICATES FOR
SUCH SHARES A LEGEND SETTING FORTH ANY REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS WHICH HAVE
BEEN GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE OR A REFERENCE THERETO AND STATING THAT, PRIOR TO
MAKING ANY SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF ANY SUCH SHARES, THE OPTIONEE, OR ANY
OTHER PERSON ENTITLED TO EXERCISE THE

<PAGE>
STOCK OPTION, WILL GIVE THE COMPANY NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL OR DISPOSE OF
THE SHARES NOT LESS THAN FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO SUCH SALE OR DISPOSITION.

        (j) Method of Acceptance. This Agreement is addressed to the Optionee in
duplicate and shall not be effective until the Optionee executes the acceptance
below and returns one copy to the Company, thereby acknowledging that he has
read and agreed to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan.

        (k) Governing Law. THIS OPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA APPLICABLE TO
CONTRACTS MADE IN, AND TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN, THAT STATE.

        EXECUTED as of the __th day of April, 2002.

                                    J2 COMMUNICATIONS

                                    ----------------------------
                                    JAMES TOLL
                                    Chief Financial Officer

ACCEPTED:

--------------------------
JAMES P. JIMIRRO, Optionee

--------------------------
Date

<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT "A"

                                J2 COMMUNICATIONS
             AMENDED AND RESTATED 1999 STOCK OPTION, DEFERRED STOCK
                            AND RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN

                               Notice of Exercise

Corporate Secretary
J2 Communications.

10850 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1000
Los Angeles, California 90024

Dear Sir:

1. I am the holder of an option granted under the Company's Amended and Restated
1999 Stock Option, Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock Plan (the "Plan"). I
hereby exercise my option (the "Option") to purchase ___________________________
(______) shares (the "Shares") of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise
price of ____________ Dollars and __________ Cents ($ ) per Share. Payment to
the Company of the aggregate exercise price for the Shares (A) in cash or by
certified or cashier's check payable to the order of the Company; or (B) in the
form of unrestricted Stock which I have owned for at least six 6 months; or (C)
by cancellation of indebtedness owed by the Company to me; or (D) through the
surrender of shares of Stock now issuable upon exercise of the Option which have
a Fair Market Value as of the date of this notice of exercise equal to the
aggregate exercise price of the for the Shares; or (E) by any combination of the
foregoing; is enclosed.

2. Tax Representation. I understand that I may suffer adverse tax consequences
as a result of my purchase or disposition of the Shares. I represent that I have
consulted any tax consultants I deem advisable in connection with the purchase
or disposition of the Shares (or have knowingly chosen not to consult a tax
advisor) and that I am not relying on the Company or its employees, directors,
officers, attorneys or accountants for any tax advice. The Option I am hereby
exercising is a Non-Qualified Stock Option, which is a taxable event.

3. Other Acknowledgments.

        a. I acknowledge receipt of copies of the Company's current Prospectus
with respect to the Plan and its most recent Annual Report to Shareholders.

        b. I am aware that the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder, may impose limitations on the resale of the Company's stock acquired
pursuant to this option exercise. I hereby certify that any resale of such stock
will be made in compliance with the Act and those regulations and requirements.

        c. I hereby appoint U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation as my agent to
accept delivery of the shares of the Company's stock being purchased on my
behalf pursuant to

<PAGE>
this option exercise, and request U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation to forward the
certificates representing those shares to me at the address shown above.

Date:
      --------------------------       Very truly yours,

                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Optionee

------------------------------
Social Security Number

------------------------------

------------------------------
(Address)

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