I stole this from Flooby Noobly but then...
Monday 30 April 2007
Sunday 29 April 2007
Coming Up Rosie
With my mind free to wander I was thinking back to a show I used to watch years ago. I think there was a creative buildup in the CBC in the '70's that could only manifest itself in kid's show. Though I was a "grown-up" I watched a show called Coming Up Rosie on the CBC and I distinctly remember Dan Ackroyd as Mr. Bickel (sic) as the superintendant of the building all the characters lived in. Soon after I watched him with relish on SNL. Also on the show was John Candy as Wally Wipperzpperchuck (sic).
I did not know until I googled (having learned my lesson about asking people) the show, Catherine O'Hara was also on the show as well as Fiona Reid. (Fiona, "King of Kensington" Reid is an excellent actress and a gracious person in person.).
Yet all the history and books I've read about these creative people (Paul Schaffer was Godspell) is this show mentioned. I'm sure the CBC would have troted it out except for that nasty subject of right to all the actors.
Anyway, my Google research led me to a show called Dr. Zonk and the Zunkins. I'd never heard of this show. I've copied the cast list below.
John Candy
Robin Eveson ... Billy Meek
Dan Hennessey
Robert McKenna (as Bob McKenna)
Rosemary Radcliffe
Gilda Radner
Fiona Reid
If only a(n) (il)legal version were to show itself on the web somehow. And that cool CBC computer let us know about it.
John Stocker
I did not know until I googled (having learned my lesson about asking people) the show, Catherine O'Hara was also on the show as well as Fiona Reid. (Fiona, "King of Kensington" Reid is an excellent actress and a gracious person in person.).
Yet all the history and books I've read about these creative people (Paul Schaffer was Godspell) is this show mentioned. I'm sure the CBC would have troted it out except for that nasty subject of right to all the actors.
Anyway, my Google research led me to a show called Dr. Zonk and the Zunkins. I'd never heard of this show. I've copied the cast list below.
John Candy
Robin Eveson ... Billy Meek
Dan Hennessey
Robert McKenna (as Bob McKenna)
Rosemary Radcliffe
Gilda Radner
Fiona Reid
If only a(n) (il)legal version were to show itself on the web somehow. And that cool CBC computer let us know about it.
John Stocker
And Yet Again
Been a hectic two days. "Rudolfo" (X'torg) or whatever his name is, our Brazilian exchange student has arrived to spend the summer with us. My Bushmanese is practically nil and his English was learned, oddly enough, from watching old Spiderman shows. Whatever I say to him he looks at me like he understands but all he says is "Dr. Noah Body! Nobody! That's it!" Anyway, he's been asleep the last twenty hours which is good. My sister Stella called from Kamloops where she went for the funeral of our Father. I guess he wrote a letter expressing his apologies for not being a good father to us. I asked her not to read it to me but she did.
Friday 27 April 2007
At least squawk!
Okay Wendall, this is the last of these that I'm posting
Okay, my sister Stella has left for Kamloops, leaving my dog Biscuitface and myself to some peace and quiet. Except it's become too quiet.
My sister signed us up to be host to a Brazillian Bushman who's coming to study at St. Mary's University. During this last week, his "stuff" has been dropped off by various movers, like fifty boxes. Now the capper, a mover delivered two huge parrots to the apartment today. These things are massive, it looks like their wingspan is longer than Hu Quan, the tallest living man in the world, is tall. (7' 4")
Now I like animals but these birds make me uneasy. They just sit on their perches staring at me. Biscuitface has withdrawn, tail between his legs to the bedroom. (Thanks faithful companion! At least don't gnaw on my bones after these vultures rip into me!)
I thought the whole thing about parrots was that they would talk. And maybe the thinking behind having two as a pet would be that they would talk to each other and keep each other company when the family was off working in the bush. (like people do with cats except cats like to ignore other cats so it pretty stupid thinking).
But these two beasts haven't made a peep since they were unboxed. I've cajoled them, fed them and talked to them. Nothing.
Just staring at me. I can feel their eyes on the back of my head now as I type.
If only I could leave the apartment.
Okay, my sister Stella has left for Kamloops, leaving my dog Biscuitface and myself to some peace and quiet. Except it's become too quiet.
My sister signed us up to be host to a Brazillian Bushman who's coming to study at St. Mary's University. During this last week, his "stuff" has been dropped off by various movers, like fifty boxes. Now the capper, a mover delivered two huge parrots to the apartment today. These things are massive, it looks like their wingspan is longer than Hu Quan, the tallest living man in the world, is tall. (7' 4")
Now I like animals but these birds make me uneasy. They just sit on their perches staring at me. Biscuitface has withdrawn, tail between his legs to the bedroom. (Thanks faithful companion! At least don't gnaw on my bones after these vultures rip into me!)
I thought the whole thing about parrots was that they would talk. And maybe the thinking behind having two as a pet would be that they would talk to each other and keep each other company when the family was off working in the bush. (like people do with cats except cats like to ignore other cats so it pretty stupid thinking).
But these two beasts haven't made a peep since they were unboxed. I've cajoled them, fed them and talked to them. Nothing.
Just staring at me. I can feel their eyes on the back of my head now as I type.
If only I could leave the apartment.
Movies and Celebrity Daze
I saw a really good film today called The Ring. Actually pretty spooky and not in a "saw" way. I got it through my video club; its like a book club where friends from my Los Angeles days and myself, mail a video to each other so that we can all watch it and then discuss it on a conference call. I've been putting it off for weeks until I received a voice mail from Alec, good-naturedly riding me for taking too long.
And he called me and my Mother some names.
I really didn't sleep well that night.
I don't normally dive into the world of international celebrities but I have to say I was quite happy to see that the fate of Anna Nicole Smith's baby has finally been decided. In this world of greed and everyone out for themselves it was heartwarming to see that this little orphan was wanted by so many people. My God, how many men came out of the woodwork to claim the baby as their's just so that they could be a part of her life. Anna Nicole would truly be in a blissful haze were she to know that all the men in her life were fighting each other to prove they were the father (though I thought Richard Simmons making the claim was stretching it.) and that they would give up everything to raise the baby. And to the holder of the winning sperm, here's to you sir and I hope you can make it as a single dad in this tough crazy world. To the other wannabe fathers, although this is disappointing, there are many crack babies out there still looking for a daddy. Your love will grow.
In other celebrity news, Hugh Grant was arrested for throwing a fit at a photographer and throwing beans at him. Honestly, shouldn't this photog do something useful with his life rather than stalk celebrities doing a bean run?
Saw Alec Baldwin on The View today. I can't say how much I support the guy in his latest tabloid troubles. Okay, calling his daughter a pig was not a good thing but we've all been called worse things by our Father's, right? (anybody?) But the guy's a class act, he apologized but not in a wimpy "I'm sorry" way and he didn't ask for anybody's sympathy or pity. He said his mother who has had a stroke, cancer and a lot of health issues was keeping him strong.
Once again, I am standing up to support Alec Baldwin and Kim is a real beyotch!
And he called me and my Mother some names.
I really didn't sleep well that night.
I don't normally dive into the world of international celebrities but I have to say I was quite happy to see that the fate of Anna Nicole Smith's baby has finally been decided. In this world of greed and everyone out for themselves it was heartwarming to see that this little orphan was wanted by so many people. My God, how many men came out of the woodwork to claim the baby as their's just so that they could be a part of her life. Anna Nicole would truly be in a blissful haze were she to know that all the men in her life were fighting each other to prove they were the father (though I thought Richard Simmons making the claim was stretching it.) and that they would give up everything to raise the baby. And to the holder of the winning sperm, here's to you sir and I hope you can make it as a single dad in this tough crazy world. To the other wannabe fathers, although this is disappointing, there are many crack babies out there still looking for a daddy. Your love will grow.
In other celebrity news, Hugh Grant was arrested for throwing a fit at a photographer and throwing beans at him. Honestly, shouldn't this photog do something useful with his life rather than stalk celebrities doing a bean run?
Saw Alec Baldwin on The View today. I can't say how much I support the guy in his latest tabloid troubles. Okay, calling his daughter a pig was not a good thing but we've all been called worse things by our Father's, right? (anybody?) But the guy's a class act, he apologized but not in a wimpy "I'm sorry" way and he didn't ask for anybody's sympathy or pity. He said his mother who has had a stroke, cancer and a lot of health issues was keeping him strong.
Once again, I am standing up to support Alec Baldwin and Kim is a real beyotch!
Thursday 26 April 2007
Thursday Night
God, I hate it when my sister Stella exits the bathroom at 9:28 exactly every night reciting her catch phrase "That was a good crop." How much longer am I expected to endure?
I guess that's better than my computer nerd brother Stuart who always excuses himself to the washroom saying that he has to "log off".
Anyway, Stella's two friends, Margaree and Eloise, have come over to help her pack for her trip to Kamloops to bid farewell to our late father. And please, Stella, pass along my sincerest "whatever" as they lower him into the ground.
You may think me harsh but my Father (I inadvertently capitalized that) left Stella and me with an ill-equiped mother when we were six and four years old. Then again three years later and four years after that and ....well, etc. At different times I thought the man was the tooth fairy, easter bunny and Santa Clause all in one, if those mythological figures arrived drunk on our doorstep and shook the hell out of our piggy banks looking to get enough money to score a litre (quart for any americans reading this.)
I really don't know why Stella needs help packing four identical brown tops, her 2 blue sweatpants, her grey sweatpants and her black sweatpants (presumably for the funeral.) Her maroon sweatpants with Saint Mary's University written on the butt (truth be told there's enough room to put "first, second and third year of a useless arts degree that will ensure that I'm never gainfully employed".) will be for the plane trip out. These particular sweatpants have an elastic that can accomodate the swelling that occurs when she's at 30,000 feet. But enough about Stella and her friends (I swear to God they all share the same one eyebrow!)
Tv, TV, TV, I was thinking about my blog last night (you read it didn't you?) and realized I've been missing out on a lot of Canadian TV and that has to change. "Jeff Inc?" tuned in once but too many cosmopolitans made me fall asleep on the futon. "Rent a Goalie" tuned in to see the signature bit where he's skating naked, presumably to win a bet. Was he wearing a cup at least? Don't know. Also saw a part where they were swearing in the bar. Seemed forced as if they were trying to make it edgy, not natural to the characters like TRB. I'll have to watch it again.
"Billable Hours"? Saw it last year I think, not outstanding.
"Robson Arms"? Its on Saturday night opposite "Cops" so I haven't seen it. And the VCR doesn't work so good since my dog Biscuitface, threw up on it after eating a whole onion.
So, that said, I'm really going to try and watch all these Canadian shows this upcoming week. I haven't even watched Rick Mercer or 22 Minutes in years. What have I been doing with my time? It just seems to slip away these days. Anyway, on with the blogging.
God! Stella and her friends are yakking like a herd of chickens as they paint each other's toenails. As I look at these wretches of humanity I can't help but think the term "athlete's feet" is so inappropriate. Of the three, I've only see Eloise do any actual exercise. And that was when she was choking on some hickory sticks while lying down watching "Grease" on television.
Sorry, I was distracted there. I was surfing for a picture and apparently I've won a free laptop! I must tell my friend in Nigeria! Abuto's actually more than a friend, we're going into business together. As soon as I'm able to leave the apartment again, I'm heading straight to the bank to cash in Mom's canada savings bonds for some start up capital.
More to come.
This just in:
Jack Valenti, film lobbyist and former White House aide, dies at 85
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jack Valenti, the former film industry lobbyist who instituted the modern movie-ratings system, has died at age 85.
He died Thursday of complications of the stroke at his Washington, D.C., home, said Seth Oster of the Motion Picture Association of America, which Valenti headed for almost four decades.
I think he was part of the Nixon administration (that went well) but to canadians I think he'll always be remembered for begrudging us the .000001% of the american film industry's spending in Canada.
I guess that's better than my computer nerd brother Stuart who always excuses himself to the washroom saying that he has to "log off".
Anyway, Stella's two friends, Margaree and Eloise, have come over to help her pack for her trip to Kamloops to bid farewell to our late father. And please, Stella, pass along my sincerest "whatever" as they lower him into the ground.
You may think me harsh but my Father (I inadvertently capitalized that) left Stella and me with an ill-equiped mother when we were six and four years old. Then again three years later and four years after that and ....well, etc. At different times I thought the man was the tooth fairy, easter bunny and Santa Clause all in one, if those mythological figures arrived drunk on our doorstep and shook the hell out of our piggy banks looking to get enough money to score a litre (quart for any americans reading this.)
I really don't know why Stella needs help packing four identical brown tops, her 2 blue sweatpants, her grey sweatpants and her black sweatpants (presumably for the funeral.) Her maroon sweatpants with Saint Mary's University written on the butt (truth be told there's enough room to put "first, second and third year of a useless arts degree that will ensure that I'm never gainfully employed".) will be for the plane trip out. These particular sweatpants have an elastic that can accomodate the swelling that occurs when she's at 30,000 feet. But enough about Stella and her friends (I swear to God they all share the same one eyebrow!)
Tv, TV, TV, I was thinking about my blog last night (you read it didn't you?) and realized I've been missing out on a lot of Canadian TV and that has to change. "Jeff Inc?" tuned in once but too many cosmopolitans made me fall asleep on the futon. "Rent a Goalie" tuned in to see the signature bit where he's skating naked, presumably to win a bet. Was he wearing a cup at least? Don't know. Also saw a part where they were swearing in the bar. Seemed forced as if they were trying to make it edgy, not natural to the characters like TRB. I'll have to watch it again.
"Billable Hours"? Saw it last year I think, not outstanding.
"Robson Arms"? Its on Saturday night opposite "Cops" so I haven't seen it. And the VCR doesn't work so good since my dog Biscuitface, threw up on it after eating a whole onion.
So, that said, I'm really going to try and watch all these Canadian shows this upcoming week. I haven't even watched Rick Mercer or 22 Minutes in years. What have I been doing with my time? It just seems to slip away these days. Anyway, on with the blogging.
God! Stella and her friends are yakking like a herd of chickens as they paint each other's toenails. As I look at these wretches of humanity I can't help but think the term "athlete's feet" is so inappropriate. Of the three, I've only see Eloise do any actual exercise. And that was when she was choking on some hickory sticks while lying down watching "Grease" on television.
Sorry, I was distracted there. I was surfing for a picture and apparently I've won a free laptop! I must tell my friend in Nigeria! Abuto's actually more than a friend, we're going into business together. As soon as I'm able to leave the apartment again, I'm heading straight to the bank to cash in Mom's canada savings bonds for some start up capital.
More to come.
This just in:
Jack Valenti, film lobbyist and former White House aide, dies at 85
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jack Valenti, the former film industry lobbyist who instituted the modern movie-ratings system, has died at age 85.
He died Thursday of complications of the stroke at his Washington, D.C., home, said Seth Oster of the Motion Picture Association of America, which Valenti headed for almost four decades.
I think he was part of the Nixon administration (that went well) but to canadians I think he'll always be remembered for begrudging us the .000001% of the american film industry's spending in Canada.
Wednesday 25 April 2007
Technical Difficulties
Anyway, I haven't blogged in several days as my sister, Stella and I recently lost our father. (Which is an odd term because its the first time we've known where he is in thirty years!) Any way, he apparently died on Monday and Stella wants to go to his funeral in Kamloops, B.C. wherever that is. (sounds like a breakfast cereal to me). Since I can't leave the apartment it sounds like she's the family rep from Nova Scotia.
But that leaves me to deal with the foreign exchange student from Brazil, Ling Ling or whatever his name is. Although there's been no sign of him, boxes of his stuff keep appearing and I have to shift them around the apartment to make room to breathe. But I did think of a joke;
ME: (huffing and puffing and feeling faint) I can't feel my right arm!
MOVING GUY: Stroke?
ME: No thanks, just had one!
Have to remember that for my next spec/unwanted script.
In TV news:
Robson Arms is renewed for another (third season). I missed the second season but I heard it was good.
Falcon Beach has been cancelled. A beach frolic in Winnipeg didn't hit with ABC Family? But why? I will miss those bikini shots of the Nova Scotia girl in a bikin the local paper published whenever they had an excuse. Can't say much about the show, though as I never saw it.
I think I'd better start watching more Canadian TV or else change the name of this blog.
Anyway, Martin Lurther Cho'ping is due to arrive on Saturday. I hope that after living in the jungle of Brazil his whole life, he's able to slip seamlessly into the culture of nova scotia.
But that leaves me to deal with the foreign exchange student from Brazil, Ling Ling or whatever his name is. Although there's been no sign of him, boxes of his stuff keep appearing and I have to shift them around the apartment to make room to breathe. But I did think of a joke;
ME: (huffing and puffing and feeling faint) I can't feel my right arm!
MOVING GUY: Stroke?
ME: No thanks, just had one!
Have to remember that for my next spec/unwanted script.
In TV news:
Robson Arms is renewed for another (third season). I missed the second season but I heard it was good.
Falcon Beach has been cancelled. A beach frolic in Winnipeg didn't hit with ABC Family? But why? I will miss those bikini shots of the Nova Scotia girl in a bikin the local paper published whenever they had an excuse. Can't say much about the show, though as I never saw it.
I think I'd better start watching more Canadian TV or else change the name of this blog.
Anyway, Martin Lurther Cho'ping is due to arrive on Saturday. I hope that after living in the jungle of Brazil his whole life, he's able to slip seamlessly into the culture of nova scotia.
Monday 23 April 2007
And Another Thing...
Anyway, my sister's exchange student arrives this weekend to start summer school at St. mary's. How a "bushman" from Brazil is going to adapt to Halifax, I don't know. (and for those of you writing in to say I'm being politically incorrect, I'm not. "Bushmen" is a name they use to distinguish themselves from the "howlies", but I may be mixing that up with Hawwaiians. And for the rest of you surfers who found this under Bushmen, it is not a site featuring trans-sexuals!)
Anyway T'sing Tao, or what ever his name is, has forwarded about sixty boxes of his
"lugagge". Really, if you live in a hut in the interior of Brazil, thousands of miles from civilization, and hundreds of years away from hygiene, how much stuff can you have.
And some of these boxes are oozing some sort of liquid and there's a definite smell. I want to call Homeland security but my sister Stella says they'll just take Chang Khi Chek or whatever, outside and blow him up.
Anyway T'sing Tao, or what ever his name is, has forwarded about sixty boxes of his
"lugagge". Really, if you live in a hut in the interior of Brazil, thousands of miles from civilization, and hundreds of years away from hygiene, how much stuff can you have.
And some of these boxes are oozing some sort of liquid and there's a definite smell. I want to call Homeland security but my sister Stella says they'll just take Chang Khi Chek or whatever, outside and blow him up.
Sunday 22 April 2007
But Just One More Squeeze
Even after 20 years this song means nothing and too many things to wrap my head around. Never heard this acoustic version before. Terrific with a capital T!
And then this! I'm my own best audience!
And then this! I'm my own best audience!
Back to TV
I think I've been getting off this blog's topic; television. (God, I love semi-colons. They're the equivalent of a rolling stop at a four way intersection!)
A new Larry Sanders dvd boxed set has debuted. Years after season one they've released, not season 2, but a best of collection. With 23 favourite episodes and hours of extras including current interviews. This sounds like a must see and I'm sending Stella to Futureshop to get my copy.
But I try not to get to get my hopes up; the time I sent her to buy the 1st season of Saturday Night Live, she came back with Bloopers from Monday Night Football! WTF? Why would doctors skimp on ogygen when a baby's being born?
Anyway, last night I started to watch AquaTeen Hunger Force, again. It just seems like the premise is so rediculous and out there that it can't help but be funny. But that damn, meatball! I can't understand a word it says! It's irritating. If you're going to have a meat based character itegral to the plot make him enunciate, for God's sake! Henry Higgens weeps.
More info from Stella this morning on our impending roommate from Brazil. Apparently the noises Stella was making, were her attempts to pronounce his name, but the collection of clicks and whistles is to me, incomprehensible. Apparently St'too glang or whatever, is coming to Halifax to go to school from the interior of Brazil. He's a bushman who's never seen civilization before. For the love of GOd! I have to cruise the internet and hopefully find a pamplet in Bushmanese that explains basic bodily functions in a small apartment. The internet has never failed me before but I expect I'll be googling till late in the night and will experince many sites not fit for humans.
A new Larry Sanders dvd boxed set has debuted. Years after season one they've released, not season 2, but a best of collection. With 23 favourite episodes and hours of extras including current interviews. This sounds like a must see and I'm sending Stella to Futureshop to get my copy.
But I try not to get to get my hopes up; the time I sent her to buy the 1st season of Saturday Night Live, she came back with Bloopers from Monday Night Football! WTF? Why would doctors skimp on ogygen when a baby's being born?
Anyway, last night I started to watch AquaTeen Hunger Force, again. It just seems like the premise is so rediculous and out there that it can't help but be funny. But that damn, meatball! I can't understand a word it says! It's irritating. If you're going to have a meat based character itegral to the plot make him enunciate, for God's sake! Henry Higgens weeps.
More info from Stella this morning on our impending roommate from Brazil. Apparently the noises Stella was making, were her attempts to pronounce his name, but the collection of clicks and whistles is to me, incomprehensible. Apparently St'too glang or whatever, is coming to Halifax to go to school from the interior of Brazil. He's a bushman who's never seen civilization before. For the love of GOd! I have to cruise the internet and hopefully find a pamplet in Bushmanese that explains basic bodily functions in a small apartment. The internet has never failed me before but I expect I'll be googling till late in the night and will experince many sites not fit for humans.
Saturday 21 April 2007
Cosmopolitans Kicking In
I can't get anymore info from Stella at the moment about her Brazilian, as she's totally enraptured with Rollie Polie Ollie. I like a lot of kids shows, but for some reason this one gives me the creeps. I'll do some more blogging until I can wrest the remote from her as "Cops" is on soon.
During a "10-20" as the police say, I was perusing the latest issue of Vanity Fair in the washroom. (Leonardo is on the cover with that bear cub, Knut from the Berlin zoo. I don't know which is more adorable!)
Anyway I was reading the letters to the editor and there were several about last months topic, this guy Collard, who was a freakazoid hollywood agent putting everything but his nose up his nose, and who now has become a hero to the right in the U.S. He's gone to Iraq, hung out with the troops, plundered an Iraqi drugstore for fun pharmachuticals (not that they need pain killers over there. I guess a U.S. checkpoint is a painkiller.)and in a show of support for the troops shared them with his army buddies. Has Iraq become the disneyish RamboWorld now for the hedonistic bored american republican seeking a thrill? Has the administration unleashed it's secret asshole arsenal on the war on terror? (I guess Ann Couletr keeps the home fires burning.)
If this guy's looking for a challenge, maybe he should live with an average Iraqi family, Shite or Sunni, if he knows the difference, and see how well he gets along without a team of marines covering his ass.
I feel total sympathy and my heart goes out to the troops over there. I just don't get why they are there. I guess they want to bring the american ideal of freedom to the rest of the world.
Sorry, I have to go watch "Cops" now. Tonights episode is all about teen-age girls gone wild.
During a "10-20" as the police say, I was perusing the latest issue of Vanity Fair in the washroom. (Leonardo is on the cover with that bear cub, Knut from the Berlin zoo. I don't know which is more adorable!)
Anyway I was reading the letters to the editor and there were several about last months topic, this guy Collard, who was a freakazoid hollywood agent putting everything but his nose up his nose, and who now has become a hero to the right in the U.S. He's gone to Iraq, hung out with the troops, plundered an Iraqi drugstore for fun pharmachuticals (not that they need pain killers over there. I guess a U.S. checkpoint is a painkiller.)and in a show of support for the troops shared them with his army buddies. Has Iraq become the disneyish RamboWorld now for the hedonistic bored american republican seeking a thrill? Has the administration unleashed it's secret asshole arsenal on the war on terror? (I guess Ann Couletr keeps the home fires burning.)
If this guy's looking for a challenge, maybe he should live with an average Iraqi family, Shite or Sunni, if he knows the difference, and see how well he gets along without a team of marines covering his ass.
I feel total sympathy and my heart goes out to the troops over there. I just don't get why they are there. I guess they want to bring the american ideal of freedom to the rest of the world.
Sorry, I have to go watch "Cops" now. Tonights episode is all about teen-age girls gone wild.
What the...?
A quiet Saturday night and I'm searching for nova scotia films/videos on YouTube and naturally all I can find are a gazillion renditions of Good-bye to Nova Scotia, arrgggh! Say good-bye, kiss your mother goodbye and stop singing that song!
Anyway, I'm just trying to digest the latest news that Stella has passed on to me. My normally mute (and that's the way I like it, Stella!) sister has advised me that she's signed us up to be a host to a foreign exchange student. She handed me a brochure from and details on our new "roomy". Apparently X'Tringg, a student from Brazil, will be living with us for the summer studying at St. Mary's University, a few blocks away.
This already crowded one bedroom apartment has just gotten smaller.
Anyway, I'm just trying to digest the latest news that Stella has passed on to me. My normally mute (and that's the way I like it, Stella!) sister has advised me that she's signed us up to be a host to a foreign exchange student. She handed me a brochure from and details on our new "roomy". Apparently X'Tringg, a student from Brazil, will be living with us for the summer studying at St. Mary's University, a few blocks away.
This already crowded one bedroom apartment has just gotten smaller.
Pete Townsend and randomness
More than just a member of The Who! Thank god for U-Tube. I never saw all these videos from the 80's as I was out in the real world having fun. But not now. sigh.
And okay, the following one is as far away from Pete Townsend as possible but it's funny. It's from "How I Met Your Mother" where one of the characters always tries to hide her "Canadianous". But another character unearths the fact she was a pop star in Canada in the ninties. After they watch this another character says it's pretty '80's to which she reacts the 80's happened in Canada ten years later. It's a well done parody. (Not satire! Give it a rest!)Sorry I may ramble tonight. New meds and I'm still working out the balance with my cosmopolitans.
And okay, the following one is as far away from Pete Townsend as possible but it's funny. It's from "How I Met Your Mother" where one of the characters always tries to hide her "Canadianous". But another character unearths the fact she was a pop star in Canada in the ninties. After they watch this another character says it's pretty '80's to which she reacts the 80's happened in Canada ten years later. It's a well done parody. (Not satire! Give it a rest!)Sorry I may ramble tonight. New meds and I'm still working out the balance with my cosmopolitans.
Thursday 19 April 2007
Some Ramblings, Some Musings
Hi there,
My sister Stella has taken my cock-a-poo, Biscuitface, out for a walk leaving me alone in the apartment for the first time in a long time. Finally. It's bad enough I can't leave the apartment, but having Stella living here is not exactly a barrel pf monkies. As I tend to pontificate, (regular readers are going "duh, yeah!") I feel sometimes I might as well talk to Biscuitface for all the feedback I get from Stella. When I talk and look into her eyes, I have to wonder if her "sentient being ratio" is half-full of half empty.
Anyway, they've gone and although I enjoy the break, I feel sorry for poor old Biscuitface. Like other cities, Halifax has a poop and scoop law, but Stella tends to overdue a lot of things including this. Not only does Biscuitface have to stand there after he's done his business and watch Stella pick up his night deposit, he has to endure the stares of strangers while she wipes his butt with toilet paper! I watched them one night just outside the apartment and I must say the Whopper with cheese that Stella brought home for me that night (as she does every night), had lost its appeal.
Anyway, just some random thoughts to get out of my head...I've been trying to throw away an old garbage can that I've hated since I bought it. I don't know why I bought anything in baby blue as I detest it. But I can't seem to get rid of the damned thing. Everytime I put it on the curb for garbage day, those stupid garbage men refuse to take it away! I must call an Ombudsman or something. ..... what's with those meals on airplanes! Yech!....A friend (now "ex") got totally pissed at me and has broken off all contact. He let me borrow some old comics of his (includin Khamandi! Last Boy on Earth!, my favourite) and became very upset because I had written a critique in the margins. I may have drawn glasses on the Lizardmen too, but that's not reason to throw a tantrum. Christ, put tham back in the little plastic holders for future generations, already!.....Banks are screwing us on service charges!...Oops, there's Stella and Biscuitface with my burger. May be back.
So, I've just finished my Whopper with cheese, not an easy task given what I described earlier and even more difficult for me as Biscuitface continuously circled the room returning to his position in front of me, all the while hungrily looking at my burger. With toilet paper stuck to his butt. Stella and I have an understanding; whichever of us first notices something like that (which encompasses vomit, pee, unrecognizable detritus, on the floor or anywhere else) would be the one to clean it up. Or out, whatever. But I may have underestimated Stella as she has done a yeoman's job of not seeing what we both know is there. Am I forced to rectify (so to speak) the situation or let the chips fall where they may. God, my obsessive compulsion vs. my stubbornness. I don't know who/what will win. Stay tuned.
It's later and Biscuitface has returned from the washroom, of all places, sans the "wilnot". That's what we used to call them as they "will not" come loose. (or "klingons circling uranus" for you Star Trek fans.) But my pup has managed to free himself, knowingly or not, we'll never know. The only question that remains is where and when, we'll find his treasure. Anyway, Stella, as you watch American Idol for the tenth time!, I can play as dumb as anyone.
For God sakes, Stella is crying about Sanja again, like its the first time she found out he lost!
My sister Stella has taken my cock-a-poo, Biscuitface, out for a walk leaving me alone in the apartment for the first time in a long time. Finally. It's bad enough I can't leave the apartment, but having Stella living here is not exactly a barrel pf monkies. As I tend to pontificate, (regular readers are going "duh, yeah!") I feel sometimes I might as well talk to Biscuitface for all the feedback I get from Stella. When I talk and look into her eyes, I have to wonder if her "sentient being ratio" is half-full of half empty.
Anyway, they've gone and although I enjoy the break, I feel sorry for poor old Biscuitface. Like other cities, Halifax has a poop and scoop law, but Stella tends to overdue a lot of things including this. Not only does Biscuitface have to stand there after he's done his business and watch Stella pick up his night deposit, he has to endure the stares of strangers while she wipes his butt with toilet paper! I watched them one night just outside the apartment and I must say the Whopper with cheese that Stella brought home for me that night (as she does every night), had lost its appeal.
Anyway, just some random thoughts to get out of my head...I've been trying to throw away an old garbage can that I've hated since I bought it. I don't know why I bought anything in baby blue as I detest it. But I can't seem to get rid of the damned thing. Everytime I put it on the curb for garbage day, those stupid garbage men refuse to take it away! I must call an Ombudsman or something. ..... what's with those meals on airplanes! Yech!....A friend (now "ex") got totally pissed at me and has broken off all contact. He let me borrow some old comics of his (includin Khamandi! Last Boy on Earth!, my favourite) and became very upset because I had written a critique in the margins. I may have drawn glasses on the Lizardmen too, but that's not reason to throw a tantrum. Christ, put tham back in the little plastic holders for future generations, already!.....Banks are screwing us on service charges!...Oops, there's Stella and Biscuitface with my burger. May be back.
So, I've just finished my Whopper with cheese, not an easy task given what I described earlier and even more difficult for me as Biscuitface continuously circled the room returning to his position in front of me, all the while hungrily looking at my burger. With toilet paper stuck to his butt. Stella and I have an understanding; whichever of us first notices something like that (which encompasses vomit, pee, unrecognizable detritus, on the floor or anywhere else) would be the one to clean it up. Or out, whatever. But I may have underestimated Stella as she has done a yeoman's job of not seeing what we both know is there. Am I forced to rectify (so to speak) the situation or let the chips fall where they may. God, my obsessive compulsion vs. my stubbornness. I don't know who/what will win. Stay tuned.
It's later and Biscuitface has returned from the washroom, of all places, sans the "wilnot". That's what we used to call them as they "will not" come loose. (or "klingons circling uranus" for you Star Trek fans.) But my pup has managed to free himself, knowingly or not, we'll never know. The only question that remains is where and when, we'll find his treasure. Anyway, Stella, as you watch American Idol for the tenth time!, I can play as dumb as anyone.
For God sakes, Stella is crying about Sanja again, like its the first time she found out he lost!
Tuesday 17 April 2007
Note to Self
If I ever feel the need to shoot a whole bunch of other people and then myself, let God keep my faculties intact so I can reverse the order.
Monday 16 April 2007
Sunday 15 April 2007
Corner Gas is Ruining The Industry!
I was just sitting here stroking my cock-a-poo, Biscuitface, and reading various blogs about the state of television and decided I should muse openly. With my dependence on the internet for all things entertaining and fufilling I've become very good typing with one hand, but I've asked my sister Stella to take my beloved dog for a walk, so I can give this my full attention.
Anyway, I realized I let a news item a few weeks ago, pass me by without commenting. Writer Paul Mather, fomerly of 22 Minutes and The Mercer Report is leaving his writing gig ("gig" is a word writers use for "job") at Corner Gas to write and showrun for CBC's Little Mosque on the Prarie.
What is totally bizzare about this is that it is "news". It was actually in the Globe and Mail (or National Post, same thing). When was the last time a Canadian comedy writer made the newspaper? Other than someone who couldn't get a gig in Canada moved to California where he made a cajillion dollars writing for top network shows and then died. Of course his obit will always recognize him as a Canadian writer and lost treasure to this country. But I digress.
Canadian writers in the news is recognition of a growing trend in this country to let comedians or comedy writers aka funny people, dictate how a comedy show should be written.
This to me is disturbing.
For years broadcasters worked hand-in-hand with producers to come up with concepts that combined "canadianous" with cliched premises and corny characters. Then they would hire the one canadian writer working and tell him what was funny. This was a comfortable way of doing things and it left creativity out the door where it couldn't complicate the funding process.
New ideas are scary, I think we all know this. So why are they putting writers, and not lawyers/accountants in charge of the creative? There's one answer - "Corner Gas". This show was developed and originally 100% produced and paid for using the CTV Benefits package. This was a crapload of money that BCE promised the CRTC they would spend in order to devlop Canadian shows that would be popular to Canadians. Now envision after this press release, the two groups got together for a snicker and clinking of glasses at a posh Toronto bar.
When a network promises to spend money to develop Canadian shows, it normally works like this; they throw millions of dollars (a drop in the bucket compared to how much they make from advertising on simulcast U.S. shows) at the independent producers in this country. Nobody expects much to come out of the process (Train 48, Blackfly, The Itch, Comedy Inc.), the networks say to the CRTC, "hey look we tried" and the CRTC says "there, there, come on over and we'll watch something British on my grey market satellite dish".
But Corner Gas has ruined all that and I'd like to know how it happened. A show stuck out in the middle of Saskatchewan sounded like a sure loser but someone (I want names!) decided to throw in interesting characters played by good actors, funny scripts and a self-referential attitude. How did this all slip by?
People watched it. CTV and The Comedy Network (I love Ed MacDonald's line about this name being ironic) quickly moved it around the schedule. No luck. People actually went looking for it and found it.
Mr. and Mrs. Lunchbucket talked about it the next day at work. They told their friends about it.
It got good ratings.
It got better ratings.
It has upset the status quo in this country's television industry and that makes me uneasy.
And maybe Corner Gas didn't start us on this slippery slope of "good" television but it sure was the wax on our skiies. Trailer Park Boys, The Jane Show (though I've never seen it, I hear its good and a funny person came up with the idea, writes it and....stars in it! I'll try and tape it if I can find it on the schedule as I'm occupied every night until nine with my treatments. Where was I?) The Mercer Report, This Hour and I'm sure there's others as well, are all writer driven. And no, I didn't accidentially forget The Butcher Brothers, what the hell's with all that screaming anyway?
So now, I have a longer list of shows to watch along with my American favourites. Shows like House, Sopranos, 30 Rock...hey, wait a minute...those are all writer driven shows. Its the american influence again trying to change our long entrenched culture of mediocre television! Damn them, is nothing sacred to their creative Rube Goldberg machine!
Oh, well, with the latest rejigging of Telefilms guidelines, at least I know our movies are safe.
Anyway, I realized I let a news item a few weeks ago, pass me by without commenting. Writer Paul Mather, fomerly of 22 Minutes and The Mercer Report is leaving his writing gig ("gig" is a word writers use for "job") at Corner Gas to write and showrun for CBC's Little Mosque on the Prarie.
What is totally bizzare about this is that it is "news". It was actually in the Globe and Mail (or National Post, same thing). When was the last time a Canadian comedy writer made the newspaper? Other than someone who couldn't get a gig in Canada moved to California where he made a cajillion dollars writing for top network shows and then died. Of course his obit will always recognize him as a Canadian writer and lost treasure to this country. But I digress.
Canadian writers in the news is recognition of a growing trend in this country to let comedians or comedy writers aka funny people, dictate how a comedy show should be written.
This to me is disturbing.
For years broadcasters worked hand-in-hand with producers to come up with concepts that combined "canadianous" with cliched premises and corny characters. Then they would hire the one canadian writer working and tell him what was funny. This was a comfortable way of doing things and it left creativity out the door where it couldn't complicate the funding process.
New ideas are scary, I think we all know this. So why are they putting writers, and not lawyers/accountants in charge of the creative? There's one answer - "Corner Gas". This show was developed and originally 100% produced and paid for using the CTV Benefits package. This was a crapload of money that BCE promised the CRTC they would spend in order to devlop Canadian shows that would be popular to Canadians. Now envision after this press release, the two groups got together for a snicker and clinking of glasses at a posh Toronto bar.
When a network promises to spend money to develop Canadian shows, it normally works like this; they throw millions of dollars (a drop in the bucket compared to how much they make from advertising on simulcast U.S. shows) at the independent producers in this country. Nobody expects much to come out of the process (Train 48, Blackfly, The Itch, Comedy Inc.), the networks say to the CRTC, "hey look we tried" and the CRTC says "there, there, come on over and we'll watch something British on my grey market satellite dish".
But Corner Gas has ruined all that and I'd like to know how it happened. A show stuck out in the middle of Saskatchewan sounded like a sure loser but someone (I want names!) decided to throw in interesting characters played by good actors, funny scripts and a self-referential attitude. How did this all slip by?
People watched it. CTV and The Comedy Network (I love Ed MacDonald's line about this name being ironic) quickly moved it around the schedule. No luck. People actually went looking for it and found it.
Mr. and Mrs. Lunchbucket talked about it the next day at work. They told their friends about it.
It got good ratings.
It got better ratings.
It has upset the status quo in this country's television industry and that makes me uneasy.
And maybe Corner Gas didn't start us on this slippery slope of "good" television but it sure was the wax on our skiies. Trailer Park Boys, The Jane Show (though I've never seen it, I hear its good and a funny person came up with the idea, writes it and....stars in it! I'll try and tape it if I can find it on the schedule as I'm occupied every night until nine with my treatments. Where was I?) The Mercer Report, This Hour and I'm sure there's others as well, are all writer driven. And no, I didn't accidentially forget The Butcher Brothers, what the hell's with all that screaming anyway?
So now, I have a longer list of shows to watch along with my American favourites. Shows like House, Sopranos, 30 Rock...hey, wait a minute...those are all writer driven shows. Its the american influence again trying to change our long entrenched culture of mediocre television! Damn them, is nothing sacred to their creative Rube Goldberg machine!
Oh, well, with the latest rejigging of Telefilms guidelines, at least I know our movies are safe.
Saturday 14 April 2007
Johnny Cash in Nova Scotia?
Probably not. Just wanted to catch those people searching for Johnny Cash in Nova Scotia.
I couldn't find any local films so I thought I'd put up this video. Saw it on CMT today and thought it was really cool. Cheryl Crowe (hot, hot and hot!), Kid Rock, and that guy from U2. So then I went to the bookstore (well actually I sent my sister Stella, because as my loyal readers know I can't leave the house) and I now have an autobiography of the Man in Black. (With some ketchup from N.Y. Fries, thank you Stella!)
Anyway, although I've only read the first few chapters (or "prison terms" as Johnny calls them ) I'm fascinated. He grew up poor in the dustbowl/depression in the hardest hit area of the southwestern U.S. and picked cotton as a child. Also, I did not know that as a young man he was in the AirCore based in Germany and helped develop the concept, if not the means to send, e-mail, or "Electrically Sent Letters to Folks at Home", they used to call it. (So this is where the acronym "ESLFH", popular with IT geeks, comes from! Throw it at the next geek trying to hook your computer up to the network and watch his eyes mist over in nostalgia.)
But, the man's name is Cash, rhymes with Class and he is it. There's two videos here, both sound sad but listen to the man and he fills you with life.
I couldn't find any local films so I thought I'd put up this video. Saw it on CMT today and thought it was really cool. Cheryl Crowe (hot, hot and hot!), Kid Rock, and that guy from U2. So then I went to the bookstore (well actually I sent my sister Stella, because as my loyal readers know I can't leave the house) and I now have an autobiography of the Man in Black. (With some ketchup from N.Y. Fries, thank you Stella!)
Anyway, although I've only read the first few chapters (or "prison terms" as Johnny calls them ) I'm fascinated. He grew up poor in the dustbowl/depression in the hardest hit area of the southwestern U.S. and picked cotton as a child. Also, I did not know that as a young man he was in the AirCore based in Germany and helped develop the concept, if not the means to send, e-mail, or "Electrically Sent Letters to Folks at Home", they used to call it. (So this is where the acronym "ESLFH", popular with IT geeks, comes from! Throw it at the next geek trying to hook your computer up to the network and watch his eyes mist over in nostalgia.)
But, the man's name is Cash, rhymes with Class and he is it. There's two videos here, both sound sad but listen to the man and he fills you with life.
Wednesday 11 April 2007
From the Desk of Belinda Stronach
Dearest Daddy,
Hope all is well. I am fine and things here in Ottawa are going along, as well as can be expected.
Peanut and Cleo came up for a shopping spree and we had a blast as always. It's always fun to watch Peanut walk behind a civilian and mimic the way they walk down the street, especially if its an immigrant.
We went clothes shopping and I found the most scrumptious black off the shoulder dress. But I thought, in this dreary town, where am I going to wear it? A party? Ha!, I say. "Parties" here are photo opportunities and not of the Entertainment Weekly kind. The Ottawa Citizen, maybe, but really....
So, there's not much new, I go to that house thingy when Beatrix, my assistant says I have too. My God! This is the most boring thing I've been a part of since Jalinka had six kittens. Really, I'm glad I only stayed for the first half of one kitten as the video tape really didn't offer anything new after that. Maybe if a cat gave birth in the House of Parliament it would be interesting. For like ten seconds!
But Daddy, I'm writing for a super important reason. You know, I've always wanted to be president of Canada, like Bill in his country, but it's just not working out. It was okay when we first got elected to an MP seat, but all the cool kids were on the Liberal side. So I, of course, went over there, cause even Beatrix said the Conservatables were going to lose. And you know me, when there's a popular party!
But then, Petey, got so PO'd at me! He said I couldn't just switch like that as if there were no differences between the parties. If I had talked to him in person I think I would have laughed.
Instead Beatrix passed along a message that was at once strident and sad. Then he's like all that on tv on his Daddy's farm, with his dog, saying our breakup was a surprise and boo hoo hoo. Please! The man does not understand women! Or future leaders of the, whatever, party's in power.
So then great, the conservatibles win. Christ, pardon my french, heh, heh. But what can I do? I sit in that damn house, poor lighting, uncomfortable and unfashionable as it is.
I ask questions about the lighting... about the static colours... I am ignored and sometimes even mocked! Meanwhile, people keep calling me from my riding complaining about property taxes and zoning laws. I guess I care like this much (I holding my thumb and finger, like a millimeter apart)!
And then Petey calls me a dog! In front of all my friends!!!!!!! Jerk!!
But still I held my head up high. And when they lost, the Liberals did what they always do and quit. Everyone was soooooo shocked when Paul quit. I knew, call it my political instinct, that he was going to quit. The day of the announcement he wore a solid red tie. Need I say more.
But, the wine is kicking in so I'm going to say what I've been meaning to say. I have been a very strong girl and I have come further than anyone, but you, in accomplishments in our family.
Daddy, I want to come home. I hate it here. It's too cold and the people are so unattractive.
You were right. About politics. And girls. And me.
I hope that you can find a place for me in the family business, cause I've gone out, spread my wings and now I'm willing to work for my supper as you're so often saying.
I'm willing to work hard, starting at the bottom in Magna, not just being a name on the door but to contribute as much as I've contributed to this country (references available). I'm hoping that I can ensure your trust as the new Executive in Charge of Something and I hope the person who had this position previously gets a good compensation package, though I may need them to assist me for a while.
Belinda
Hope all is well. I am fine and things here in Ottawa are going along, as well as can be expected.
Peanut and Cleo came up for a shopping spree and we had a blast as always. It's always fun to watch Peanut walk behind a civilian and mimic the way they walk down the street, especially if its an immigrant.
We went clothes shopping and I found the most scrumptious black off the shoulder dress. But I thought, in this dreary town, where am I going to wear it? A party? Ha!, I say. "Parties" here are photo opportunities and not of the Entertainment Weekly kind. The Ottawa Citizen, maybe, but really....
So, there's not much new, I go to that house thingy when Beatrix, my assistant says I have too. My God! This is the most boring thing I've been a part of since Jalinka had six kittens. Really, I'm glad I only stayed for the first half of one kitten as the video tape really didn't offer anything new after that. Maybe if a cat gave birth in the House of Parliament it would be interesting. For like ten seconds!
But Daddy, I'm writing for a super important reason. You know, I've always wanted to be president of Canada, like Bill in his country, but it's just not working out. It was okay when we first got elected to an MP seat, but all the cool kids were on the Liberal side. So I, of course, went over there, cause even Beatrix said the Conservatables were going to lose. And you know me, when there's a popular party!
But then, Petey, got so PO'd at me! He said I couldn't just switch like that as if there were no differences between the parties. If I had talked to him in person I think I would have laughed.
Instead Beatrix passed along a message that was at once strident and sad. Then he's like all that on tv on his Daddy's farm, with his dog, saying our breakup was a surprise and boo hoo hoo. Please! The man does not understand women! Or future leaders of the, whatever, party's in power.
So then great, the conservatibles win. Christ, pardon my french, heh, heh. But what can I do? I sit in that damn house, poor lighting, uncomfortable and unfashionable as it is.
I ask questions about the lighting... about the static colours... I am ignored and sometimes even mocked! Meanwhile, people keep calling me from my riding complaining about property taxes and zoning laws. I guess I care like this much (I holding my thumb and finger, like a millimeter apart)!
And then Petey calls me a dog! In front of all my friends!!!!!!! Jerk!!
But still I held my head up high. And when they lost, the Liberals did what they always do and quit. Everyone was soooooo shocked when Paul quit. I knew, call it my political instinct, that he was going to quit. The day of the announcement he wore a solid red tie. Need I say more.
But, the wine is kicking in so I'm going to say what I've been meaning to say. I have been a very strong girl and I have come further than anyone, but you, in accomplishments in our family.
Daddy, I want to come home. I hate it here. It's too cold and the people are so unattractive.
You were right. About politics. And girls. And me.
I hope that you can find a place for me in the family business, cause I've gone out, spread my wings and now I'm willing to work for my supper as you're so often saying.
I'm willing to work hard, starting at the bottom in Magna, not just being a name on the door but to contribute as much as I've contributed to this country (references available). I'm hoping that I can ensure your trust as the new Executive in Charge of Something and I hope the person who had this position previously gets a good compensation package, though I may need them to assist me for a while.
Belinda
Friday 6 April 2007
Shaun Majumder's New Pilot
Fox TV has released details of shows on its development slate and a familiar local name has grabbed our attention. Shaun Majumder as "Dr. Bill". Here's a brief description from a press release.
RULES FOR STARTING OVER, THE
currently in development (2007-2008 season)
DEVELOPMENT STAGE:
ordered to pilot
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Craig Bierko as Jack "Gator" Gately
· Johnny Sneed as Tommy
· Rashida Jones as Kate
· Shaun Majumder as Dr. Bill
· Bobby Farrelly as EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Peter Farrelly as EP (Cool. the Something About Mary guys! Also, Bobby owns (owned) a house on the south shore of Nova Scotia)
DESCRIPTION:
(from FOX's press release) Dating is like going to the farmers market if you get there early, there's plenty of fruit, all ripe, juicy and yours for the taking. That's dating in your 20s. But if you get there at closing time, it's a completely different story. What little fruit is left has been sitting in the sun all day. It's been dropped, squeezed and handled by a thousand different people. That's dating in your 30s. From the creatively fruitful minds of the Farrelly Brothers, THE RULES FOR STARTING OVER is a single camera comedy, set in Boston, about a group of newly single friends learning the painful lessons of starting over in their 30s. They'd all love to get re-married, if they could just find their true loves. JACK "GATOR" GATELY (Craig Bierko, "Cinderella Man," "Boston Legal") is a charismatic, optimistic leader who never expected to be single again. But now that he is, he's determined to make the best of it. He's going to sift through all the bruised, damaged, occasionally psychotic fruit until he finds "the one." Along the way, Gator and his buddies will chronicle their dating misadventures in a cautionary list of dating don'ts, such as: "if she's still nursing, it's too soon," "learn to identify gang tattoos" and "Pretty Woman' is not a documentary." Joining Gator in bachelorhood redux is his thrice-divorced best friend TOMMY (Johnny Sneed, "The Guardian," "Fever Pitch"). The founder and brewmaster of an upstart microbrewery, Tommy has a voracious appetite for everything food, beer and women. He falls in love easily and always disastrously, yet truly hopes his fourth starter marriage will be "the one." Also single again is Gator's college roommate BILL (Shaun Majumder, "24," "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle"), a successful but hopelessly nave surgeon. Bill is probably the least equipped of the group to handle this life change. While he can execute a triple bypass in his sleep, he's all thumbs when it comes to the opposite sex. Rounding out the group is KATE (Rashida Jones, "The Office"), a smart, successful attorney who handled all three of the boys' divorces. Having just turned 30, Kate finds herself dumped after a seven-year engagement. She reluctantly joins the guys in negotiating the treacherous waters of dating after 29. Kate owns the brownstone next to Gator's. Over time, this pair may find that "the one" is just a brick wall away.
RULES FOR STARTING OVER, THE
currently in development (2007-2008 season)
DEVELOPMENT STAGE:
ordered to pilot
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Craig Bierko as Jack "Gator" Gately
· Johnny Sneed as Tommy
· Rashida Jones as Kate
· Shaun Majumder as Dr. Bill
· Bobby Farrelly as EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Peter Farrelly as EP (Cool. the Something About Mary guys! Also, Bobby owns (owned) a house on the south shore of Nova Scotia)
DESCRIPTION:
(from FOX's press release) Dating is like going to the farmers market if you get there early, there's plenty of fruit, all ripe, juicy and yours for the taking. That's dating in your 20s. But if you get there at closing time, it's a completely different story. What little fruit is left has been sitting in the sun all day. It's been dropped, squeezed and handled by a thousand different people. That's dating in your 30s. From the creatively fruitful minds of the Farrelly Brothers, THE RULES FOR STARTING OVER is a single camera comedy, set in Boston, about a group of newly single friends learning the painful lessons of starting over in their 30s. They'd all love to get re-married, if they could just find their true loves. JACK "GATOR" GATELY (Craig Bierko, "Cinderella Man," "Boston Legal") is a charismatic, optimistic leader who never expected to be single again. But now that he is, he's determined to make the best of it. He's going to sift through all the bruised, damaged, occasionally psychotic fruit until he finds "the one." Along the way, Gator and his buddies will chronicle their dating misadventures in a cautionary list of dating don'ts, such as: "if she's still nursing, it's too soon," "learn to identify gang tattoos" and "Pretty Woman' is not a documentary." Joining Gator in bachelorhood redux is his thrice-divorced best friend TOMMY (Johnny Sneed, "The Guardian," "Fever Pitch"). The founder and brewmaster of an upstart microbrewery, Tommy has a voracious appetite for everything food, beer and women. He falls in love easily and always disastrously, yet truly hopes his fourth starter marriage will be "the one." Also single again is Gator's college roommate BILL (Shaun Majumder, "24," "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle"), a successful but hopelessly nave surgeon. Bill is probably the least equipped of the group to handle this life change. While he can execute a triple bypass in his sleep, he's all thumbs when it comes to the opposite sex. Rounding out the group is KATE (Rashida Jones, "The Office"), a smart, successful attorney who handled all three of the boys' divorces. Having just turned 30, Kate finds herself dumped after a seven-year engagement. She reluctantly joins the guys in negotiating the treacherous waters of dating after 29. Kate owns the brownstone next to Gator's. Over time, this pair may find that "the one" is just a brick wall away.
Thursday 5 April 2007
WKRP on DVD! But wait.....
Season 1 of WKRP has finally been released on DVD but reports are that its ....not that good. Because of music rights issues, a lot of the original music has been replaced by generic music and some scenes, because the music was vital to them, have been cut entirely; like the following one with Les. Sigh. But I'm also attaching the Thanksgiving Day episode which is a classic, and probably is intact, cause there's no music. Who would have thought that one line over the ending credits, a throwaway would become an icon.
Wednesday 4 April 2007
This Just In - CBC cancels Wayne and Shuster
Not really, but the shows the CBC has cut are no surprise: Moving On (Is that still on?), Country Canada (ditto) 72 Hours: True Crime (a series like America's Most Wanted without the class), Jozi-H (A Canadian/South African hospital show? Without someone named Dr. MacDreamy, it didn't have a chance), Hatching, Matching & Dispatching (I'm going to miss Mary Walsh being abusive. Oh, wait now she has a movie, now I can pay for the privledge.). Rumours (I watched this once and laughed till I realized they were trying to be funny. Then I nodded off)
Venture, (this was actually interesting) the acclaimed performing arts series Opening Night (darn no more... what the hell was this?)
So looks like the new CBC regime has cleaned house, but what do they hidden behind their backs?
"CBC also announced on Wednesday a handful of new additions to the TV lineup, including the star-studded new Henry VIII drama The Tudors, with Jonathan Rhys Meyers portraying the British king." (Is this about Princess Di's son? Cause that would be totally relevant and "now" for a young audience.)
"Among the programs returning to the schedule will be favourites like Marketplace, (Where is this in the schedule? They never got back to me on my letter about the dangers of pop rocks and coke! Probably went with the mentos and coke story which has more pizzazz) Hockey Night in Canada, (love a good hockey match. Now what night is this on?) and the comedy trio This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Rick Mercer Report and Royal Canadian Air Farce, (Should Air Farce be The Next Generation like Degrassi 'cause I don't recognize anyone when I'm flipping by. The show still seems just as funny as it ever was.) as well as recent hits such as Test the Nation (I gait an egcellent in the langruage part) and Little Mosque on the Prairie.(a show about wacky characters in small town Saskatchewan. What took you so long? CBC has ordered 105 episodes of this hit show)
But what else do they have cooking? Surely the "new" CBC is going to offer us some original, new talent oriented tantalizingly new shows. More BBC than NBC. We shall C.
Venture, (this was actually interesting) the acclaimed performing arts series Opening Night (darn no more... what the hell was this?)
So looks like the new CBC regime has cleaned house, but what do they hidden behind their backs?
"CBC also announced on Wednesday a handful of new additions to the TV lineup, including the star-studded new Henry VIII drama The Tudors, with Jonathan Rhys Meyers portraying the British king." (Is this about Princess Di's son? Cause that would be totally relevant and "now" for a young audience.)
"Among the programs returning to the schedule will be favourites like Marketplace, (Where is this in the schedule? They never got back to me on my letter about the dangers of pop rocks and coke! Probably went with the mentos and coke story which has more pizzazz) Hockey Night in Canada, (love a good hockey match. Now what night is this on?) and the comedy trio This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Rick Mercer Report and Royal Canadian Air Farce, (Should Air Farce be The Next Generation like Degrassi 'cause I don't recognize anyone when I'm flipping by. The show still seems just as funny as it ever was.) as well as recent hits such as Test the Nation (I gait an egcellent in the langruage part) and Little Mosque on the Prairie.(a show about wacky characters in small town Saskatchewan. What took you so long? CBC has ordered 105 episodes of this hit show)
But what else do they have cooking? Surely the "new" CBC is going to offer us some original, new talent oriented tantalizingly new shows. More BBC than NBC. We shall C.
Local Filmmakers Get Exposed
Hey, cool headline, eh? Just like the Daily News when they try to make a story seem a little risque.
We were just reading about local filmmakers Jason Eisener, Rob Cotteril and Jonathan Davies who won a contest for best trailer for "Hobo With a Shotgun", even the title gets your interest. But even more important, the trailer received the interest of Robert Rodriguez and will be show during intermission of Grindhouse, the Rodriqez/Quentin Tarentino's ode to "never enough blood" filmmaking.
Alliance/Atlantis will cut the trailer into 150 prints of the film for distribution across Canada. (I hope the president of Alliance isn't too disappointed when he finds out that Nova Scotia is in Canada.)
Anyway, congrtulations to the filmmakers on a triumph and hopefully you will be able to parley this into developing a thriving career. And they did it for the grand total of $150! To put that into context, The Halifax Film Company could have made 33,649 of these same priced trailers for the money it received through our public funding agencies last year.
We were just reading about local filmmakers Jason Eisener, Rob Cotteril and Jonathan Davies who won a contest for best trailer for "Hobo With a Shotgun", even the title gets your interest. But even more important, the trailer received the interest of Robert Rodriguez and will be show during intermission of Grindhouse, the Rodriqez/Quentin Tarentino's ode to "never enough blood" filmmaking.
Alliance/Atlantis will cut the trailer into 150 prints of the film for distribution across Canada. (I hope the president of Alliance isn't too disappointed when he finds out that Nova Scotia is in Canada.)
Anyway, congrtulations to the filmmakers on a triumph and hopefully you will be able to parley this into developing a thriving career. And they did it for the grand total of $150! To put that into context, The Halifax Film Company could have made 33,649 of these same priced trailers for the money it received through our public funding agencies last year.
Halifax Depot Caves to Christ
Home Deport's plans to stay open on Good Friday have been reversed due to a huge public outcry. Ironically, it would have been the only place to buy a hammer and nails on the holy day.
Monday 2 April 2007
Private Broadcasters and Homegrown Fare
"The Directors Guild of Canada and ACTRA are again calling for enforced, higher spending on domestic drama following a report released Wednesday that says broadcasters put less money into the genre last year than in 2005.
According to the CRTC's annual report on broadcaster finances, conventional TV outlets across the country spent $70.9 million on domestic dramas in 2006, down roughly 14%.
Ad revenue also rose last year -- albeit only slightly. Local ad sales were up 3.4% in '06 to $375.4 million, while national ad revenues held steady at $1.5 billion. The same report noted that sluggish sales and overall higher spending on programming drove profits at conventional stations down by 62% to $91 million.
"Canadian private broadcasters bid against each other at the L.A. screenings each May and spend more on U.S. programming in one day than they do on Canadian drama in one year," added ACTRA national executive director Stephen Waddell.""
According to the CRTC's annual report on broadcaster finances, conventional TV outlets across the country spent $70.9 million on domestic dramas in 2006, down roughly 14%.
Ad revenue also rose last year -- albeit only slightly. Local ad sales were up 3.4% in '06 to $375.4 million, while national ad revenues held steady at $1.5 billion. The same report noted that sluggish sales and overall higher spending on programming drove profits at conventional stations down by 62% to $91 million.
"Canadian private broadcasters bid against each other at the L.A. screenings each May and spend more on U.S. programming in one day than they do on Canadian drama in one year," added ACTRA national executive director Stephen Waddell.""
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