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Monday, September 17, 2012

Tootsie


I've got a question for all of you reading this right now. How far have you gone in order to land yourself a job?

Seriously...have you gone out of your way in order to land your dream job?

I imagine that most of us have at some point, particularly in recent years with the economy being the way that it is. We all have tried to do something that makes us stand out more from the competition.

I know that I have tried to do that whenever I have applied for jobs in the past. I'd always try to jazz up my resume so that it would stand out. I wrote cover letters explaining why I wanted the job. I even wore my best clothes to job interviews because I wanted to make the best impression possible. Sometimes it worked, and I ended up getting hired, and sometimes it didn't exactly work. But the important thing is that I did try. And I'm sure that when another job opportunity comes along, or whether I have to have an interview in regards to reapplying to college, or something else along those lines, I will likely do my best to try to stand out. After all, I have to keep telling myself that I have just as much of a shot as anyone else to do the best job possible.

But there are some instances in which people sometimes go above and beyond what is expected of them in order to land that dream job. I have heard of some people using social media in order to get the job of their dreams...using sites such as Twitter or Facebook to get their names out there. In yesterday's blog, I talked about Taylor Swift and her road to success, and one detail I forgot to mention was that she actually used her MySpace profile as a promotional gimmick to help her land concert gigs. Granted, MySpace in 2012 is about as current as the 8-track tape player, but back in 2006, it was a decent tactic. I've also heard of people buying ad space online to promote the company that they want to work for. I've even heard of people setting up demonstrations in front of the building of the place they want to work for to round up business, and it has actually worked out for them. But, I warn you...if you want to go that route, you may want to check the legality of it so that you don't end up getting put in jail for trespassing.

And then there's the idea that a man by the name of Michael Dorsey came up with. He ended up having a very difficult time finding work in his industry (largely due to his demeanor), and he was at his depths of desperation. What he ended up doing was something that was incredibly bizarre, but incredibly creative...and in the process, he learned a lot more about himself.

I should note that Michael Dorsey is a fictional character in the Monday Matinee feature that we will be discussing in this blog today. But what a character he was. He was larger than life, had creative genius...and looked good in a red sequined dress?!?



Yes, the movie that we're going to be looking at is the classic film “Tootsie”, which starred Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, and Bill Murray.

Released on December 17, 1982, “Tootsie” was a movie that was produced and directed by Sydney Pollack, and was adapted by the team of Larry Gelbart, Barry Levinson, Elaine May, and Murray Schisgal (though Levinson and May were uncredited in the film's credits). It seems hard to believe that this movie was released thirty years ago, but a lot of people still have fond memories of this film.

And why shouldn't they? It was one of the few movies made within the last three decades that the United States Library of Congress deemed “culturally significant” and which was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. The movie made over $177 million dollars during its initial screening, making it one of the most successful films of 1982. The movie was ranked by the American Film Institute as the second most funniest film of all time, earned ten Academy Award nominations, and one Academy Award win for actress Jessica Lange.



Tootsie” begins in the city of New York where we're first introduced to Michael Dorsey (Hoffman). His occupation is that of working actor, but his overinflated ego causes him to see himself as a thespian in the making. Initially, Michael had no trouble finding acting jobs, but he had one Achilles heel that prevented him from moving forward with his career.

He was a pain in the butt to work with.

You know those co-workers that you might have in your life that expect everything to be one hundred per cent perfect? The ones who go out of their way to be perfect no matter how much it may rub their colleagues the wrong way? We all have had them.

In Michael's case...he WAS that colleague.

His inability to work well with others and his perfectionist attitude gave him a really bad reputation all over New York City. Nobody would hire him. He couldn't get a job on a movie soundstage, sitcom, dramatic series, theatre production...he even got rejected from a television commercial because he questioned the idea of portraying a tomato!

Because of this, Michael ended up being unemployed for months. With the possibility of him living on the streets over his head, he knew that he had to find something fast. Luckily, Michael's friend Sandy (Garr) managed to alert him to a potential job offer. It turns out that a television program is looking for someone to play the role of a hospital administrator for an upcoming storyline, and Michael thinks that it could be the role that will get his career back on track. So he goes to audition for the role, which turns out to be for a soap opera “Southwest General”. Unfortunately, he once again loses out on the part.



Now it is here where Michael decides to grasp at the straws of desperation. He decides to audition for the job again...but this time, he changes his complete appearance. Instead of a thirtysomething actor, he donned a wig, a dress, and a high-pitched Southern accent to transform into actress Dorothy Michaels. And surprise, surprise...”Dorothy” ends up getting the part!

There are a couple of reasons why Michael ended up taking such a risk in order to get a job. First, it gave him money to live on. But secondly, he could use the money to help his friend Jeff (Murray) produce a play that he wrote entitled “Return To Love Canal”.

As Dorothy, Michael didn't realize just how huge a star that “she” would eventually become. A true test of his acting abilities stemmed from the idea that he would be playing a character that was completely unlike himself. As a result, Dorothy Michaels was feisty, had feminist tendencies, and a strong will...all traits that seemed to shock, yet delight the others who worked on the show. Within a matter of months, Dorothy becomes a television sweetheart.



Of course, keeping the secret proves problematic for Michael. Sandy almost busts his secret after she walks in on him in his underwear (at the time, he had the idea of trying on Sandy's clothes to get some fashion ideas for Dorothy's wardrobe), but he successfully covers by admitting that he has always desired her and wanted to make love to her. Michael briefly considers telling Sandy the truth, but decides against it, believing her to be too emotionally fragile for her to handle the truth.



To add to the stress, Michael ends up falling for his attractive young co-star, Julie Nichols (Lange). Nichols happens to be a single mother who is unfortunately shacked up with one of the directors of the soap opera, Ron Carlisle (Coleman), who has sexist and amoral beliefs. Michael tries his best to get Julie to notice him, but both times he tries, he fails. In an amusing scene, Michael even tries hitting on Julie, completely unaware that he is dressed as Dorothy, which leads to some awkward conversation.

Initially, only Jeff and Michael's agent (played by Sydney Pollack) are made aware of Michael's ruse, and they watch as the situation involving Michael continues to spiral out of control. The more lies that Michael ends up telling, the deeper the mess. It also doesn't help matters much that two men end up falling in love with “Dorothy”, one of whom is Julie's father Les (Charles Durning).

The climax of the film takes place when producers inform “Dorothy” that her character has proven to be so popular that they want to sign her for another year. And faced with the stress of keeping up the charade another year, Michael decided that enough was enough...which lead to this classic scene.



And I think that's a great place to end this discussion of “Tootsie”. You didn't think I'd reveal what happened AFTER the reveal, did you?

But I will say this. Michael ended up learning a valuable lesson in regards to how he treated other people...and I think that his experience in dressing as a woman helped him relate to them a lot better than he ever could as a man. I suppose in that aspect, Dorothy helped Michael grow up a bit.



So, what movie are we looking at next week? I'll give you some word association. Crocodiles. Australia. Knife.  

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Taylor Swift - Songs for a Teenage Generation


It’s Sunday, September 16, 2012, and you know what that means?  It’s time for another “Sweethearts of Country Music” feature.  I must say that when I first came up with the idea to feature more country music artists in this blog, I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of a reaction it would get.  I mean, I consider myself largely a rock and roll/pop/rhythm & blues kind of guy, so I readily admit that doing studies on a genre of music that I never really listened to was a bit of a challenge.  But, you know something?  I enjoy a challenge. 

As it so happens, it looks like you all seem to approve of this theme month as well, and I’ve gotten a few compliments on it.  And, you know what else I discovered?  I’m starting to get a whole new appreciation for country music as a whole.  How about that, huh?

Today’s artist is one that could be considered a modern crossover princess.  Not only has she had hits on the country music charts, but she has also managed to score quite a few hits on the pop charts as well.  She has sold millions of albums, and has won a slew of awards for her hard work. 

And she’s only twenty-two years old!

But there’s so much more to her than just her music and her awards.  It could be just my opinion, but today’s featured artist seems to be one of the most grounded young starlets today.  She may have been bestowed with tons of honours and accolades, but she hasn’t let that go directly to her head.  Her priorities aren’t about making sure she has the most expensive handbags or wanting to film a self-serving reality series.  She just wants to make good music that her millions of fans can appreciate, reflect on, and be inspired by.

But, when you’re greeting her in person, it might not be such a good idea to do this.


Boy, she went down hard, didn’t she?  Luckily Taylor Swift is such a good sport, and she has been back on Ellen DeGeneres’ show since that incident.


And Taylor Swift is the subject of today’s blog, as “Sweethearts of Country Music” month continues.

If you haven’t heard of Taylor Swift, you’re either dead, or have been in a coma for the last six years.  Ever since the young country singer broke into the music charts with the 2006 single “Tim McGraw”, she has had one hit right after the other.  She’s already released three successful albums, with a fourth album, “Red”, slated for release in October 2012.  She has sold 22 million albums, and has had fifty million song downloads worldwide.

So, where did Taylor’s story all begin?

Well, it began in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania on December 13, 1989.  On that day, Taylor Alison Swift was born to Scott and Andrea Swift.


TRIVIA:  Taylor was named after another famous “Taylor”...singer James Taylor.

Anyway, Taylor spent the first few years of her life in Pennsylvania.  Her first home was at a Christmas tree farm in Montgomery County.  When she was nine, the family relocated to Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, where Taylor attended elementary school and junior high.  During her summer vacations, she and her family would stay at a vacation home located in New Jersey.  Taylor Swift would later admit that a lot of her songs were directly influenced by the time she spent at her family’s vacation home in New Jersey.

Taylor Swift didn’t jump into the world of music and entertainment right away.  Her first love was horseback riding, and when she was a young girl, she actively competed in horse shows.  It wasn’t until Taylor was nine years old that she soon developed a love of singing and performing.  In those days, Taylor was keen on musical theatre, and performed in the Berks Youth Theatre Academy.  She performed in such productions as “Grease”, “The Sound of Music”, and “Bye, Bye Birdy”, and frequently went to New York City for vocal and acting lessons.  Unfortunately for young Taylor, she had many auditions that ended without a callback.  Eventually, Taylor decided to focus on a different style of music, hoping that it would get her noticed.

She decided to focus on country.

Throughout her pre-teen years, Taylor Swift often performed at various festivals and events in order to get her name out there.  She performed everywhere and anywhere...carnivals, coffeehouses, street fairs, karaoke contests, even Boy Scout meetings!  She was young, but she was also determined to succeed.  It also helped that she loved singing and performing.  When she was eleven, Swift ended up winning a talent contest singing a LeAnn Rimes song, and the prize was a beauty...she won the opportunity to appear as the opening act for Charlie Daniels!  For someone who was into the country music scene, this was a grand opportunity.  It would only be the first of many for Taylor Swift.

When Taylor watched a special on Faith Hill on television, Taylor was determined to go to Nashville...the place where Taylor believed dreams came true.  During one Spring Break, Taylor’s mother took her to Nashville, where she took a demo tape to several record labels...all of whom rejected her.  The whole experience was a sobering fact for the young singer, and she quickly realized that the only way she could get noticed was to think outside of the box.  One way that she accomplished this was by volunteering to sing the American national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner” at the beginning of sporting events.  It was perfect for Taylor because it allowed her to sing in front of thousands of people without a record deal.  She also learned how to play the guitar at a young age in a rather unusual manner...she learned a few chords from a computer repairman! 

When Taylor turned fourteen, her family relocated to Hendersonville, Tennessee after her father asked for a job transfer.  Taylor recalled the experience as a huge sacrifice for her family to make, but she was also quick to point out that at no time did her family suggest that the move was to help Taylor establish a career...they instead promoted the move as a chance to live in a nice community with friendly people.

Just before Taylor and her family moved to Nashville, she had met with New York based music manager Dan Dymtrow, who ended up being a man who kickstarted Taylor’s career.  He ended up getting her a job working as a model for clothing company “Abercrombie & Fitch” as a model, and took her to meetings with various record labels.  At age fourteen, Swift was signed to RCA Records under an artist development deal.  She hadn’t even finished eighth grade when the contract was signed.  At first, Taylor enjoyed working with the experienced songwriters who were at RCA, especially Liz Rose, who would later admit that she was impressed by Taylor’s ability to create incredible hooks for songs.  But Taylor’s relationship with RCA Records (and Dan Dymtrow) was short-lived.  When RCA felt it was best for Taylor to wait until she was eighteen to release a debut album of independent material, the then 15-year-old Swift felt that it was too long to wait, and she left the record company, determined to launch her own career on her own terms.


And in 2006, a chance meeting with Scott Borchetta ended up being Taylor’s lucky break.  After seeing her performing at the Bluebird Cafe as part of an industry showcase, Borchetta immediately offered Taylor a recording contract to a brand new record label that he was starting up.  Taylor immediately signed herself onto Big Machine Records...one of the first artists to join the new record label.  Shortly thereafter, she began work on her self-titled debut album, “Taylor Swift”.

Little did anybody realize that this album would explode in popularity...after all, with songs such as the one below, it’s easy to see why this was the case.


ARTIST:  Taylor Swift
SONG:  Our Song
ALBUM:  Taylor Swift
DATE RELEASED:  August 22, 2007
PEAK POSITION ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS:  #16
PEAK POSITION ON THE COUNTRY CHARTS:  #1 for 6 weeks

Funny story about “Our Song”.  Did you know that it was a last-minute addition to Taylor’s debut album?  The song was actually written by Taylor when she was in her freshman year of high school.  She initially wrote the song as her entry for the school talent show, and Taylor wanted a message that her peers could relate to.  At the time, she was dating a boy, and he noticed that they didn’t exactly have a song that they could associate with their relationship.  So, Taylor decided to write one.  It reportedly only took her twenty minutes to jot down the lyrics.  Taylor performed the song at the show, and several months later, Taylor was surprised to hear some of her classmates singing portions of the lyrics, and it was really the first instance that Taylor Swift realized that she may have a future hit on her hands.


But when the record company executives were putting the tracks together on the album, they weren’t sure that “Our Song” would be a suitable addition to the album.  Taylor insisted that the song go on the album because she had the feeling that it was meant to be a huge success.  In fact, Taylor insisted that the song be the final song listed on the album, as she felt that the lyrics “Play it again” would inspire the listener to do exactly that.  Subliminal advertising at its best!

And “Our Song” was definitely a hit.  Not only did the song manage to be a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Charts, but it also ended up topping the country charts for six weeks between December 2007 and January 2008 - Taylor’s very first #1 hit single.

The main praises that critics had for the song was its great hook, and very personal lyrics.  And, certainly “Our Song” was a song that had a lot of personal meaning for Swift.  But if you were to take a look at Taylor’s massive singles catalogue, a lot of her songs are very personal, and have a little bit of Taylor’s life experiences inside each one.


Take “Teardrops on My Guitar” for example.  That song is about a girl who has feelings for a boy, but for whatever reason they go unnoticed.  It was also based on a personal experience that happened to Taylor as well.  “Picture to Burn” was a song that was written by Swift during a shift at an after school job about a boy she thought was cocky and narcissistic.  “Love Story” was a modern retelling of Romeo & Juliet, in which Taylor sang about a boy that she was crushing on that her family didn’t exactly approve of (except that in the song, neither one of them died, obviously).  “Fifteen” was a song about heartbreak, and was a song that was based on the experiences that she and her friend went through during their freshman year of high school.  Taylor actually had to get permission from her friend to record the song due to the personal references (which she agreed to).


And then there’s the song “Mean”, which was released in March 2011.  If there was a song that was the best description of autobiographical, it would be this one.  It was written at a time in which Taylor was getting attacked by the media following a performance at the Grammy Awards with Stevie Nicks.  During that performance, some people made note of the fact that Taylor sounded a bit off-key.  While some publications made note of it, and explained that even the biggest stars could have an off day, some critics were ruthless, and savagely attacked her in the media.

And that was something that prompted Taylor to write “Mean”...as a response to these critics who were offering up criticism that wasn’t exactly constructive.  Although the song was a personal message to the worst critics of the bunch, the song also became a sort of anthem that promoted the cause of fighting against bullies...a cause that is near and dear to this blogger’s heart.


And certainly Taylor’s had to develop a thick skin over the years.  She did have Kanye West interrupt one of her acceptance speeches at an awards show back in 2009, after all.

But I think it is Taylor Swift’s fearlessness to talk about her personal life in her music that makes her such a huge influence to her fan base...young girls who have used Taylor’s songs as a soundtrack to their own lives.  Certainly every teenage girl has gone through having teenage crushes that have gone unnoticed, dating a boy that makes the wrong impression on loved ones, experiencing teenage bullying, and high school angst.  Knowing that one of their favourite stars have also gone through these issues and survived must give them some hope that they will survive their teenage years as well.

I think that’s what Taylor Swift takes the most pride in...not the awards, the #1 hits, or the millions of albums she sells...but the impact that her music has had on her fans.  And I think that’s why so many people enjoy her. 


Coming up next week, we take a look at a legend in country music.  She’s the godmother of a girl who likes to live the “best of both worlds”, she has her own theme park, and she spent part of 1980 working a “nine to five” job.

That’s coming up on Sunday, September 23.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Zoobilee Zoo


Welcome to another Saturday on the Pop Culture Addict’s Guide To Life.  Today we’re going to be featuring a television series that I used to be addicted to when I was a small child, aged only five.

I’m serious about this as well.  When I was that age, I was completely obsessed with this show.  Ever since I saw my first episode of this show on PBS during a break from school, I had to watch it every day.  This proved to be a bit problematic when I was younger, as the program often aired during the 10:00am time slot, when I was still stuck in school.  But on days in which I was home sick from school, or had a P.A. Day, or was off on Christmas vacation, it was there waiting for me.  I think I must have watched at least every episode of the series at least five times in my childhood.

Sadly, the program didn’t last too long on the air.  After about three years, the show was taken off the air and replaced with some other show that I cared nothing about.  How could I love a show that kicked my favourite television show off the schedule?

Luckily, other cable channels picked up the television show for a few years, and on a rare occasion, I watched a few episodes of the program again years after it aired.  I’ll admit that watching the program through adult eyes was a lot different than watching it as a five year old boy.  But you know something?  I make no apologies in admitting that I still love this show.  And, you know what?  If I ever have a child, they WILL watch this show.  I will force them.  J

So, what is the topic of today’s blog?  Well, why don’t I let my seven best friends (well, at least when I was five anyway) introduce themselves in these opening credits.


Are all of you ready to take a trip to the wonderful, magical place known as “Zoobilee Zoo”?  I hope so.


“Zoobilee Zoo” was a creation of the popular greeting card company “Hallmark”, and the show aired on the Hallmark Channel for many years.  Debuting in September 1986, the show depicted the lives of seven animals living in a zoo.  These animals were known as “Zoobles”, and each episode usually centered around one or two of these characters.

What made the show such a success was partly due to the different backgrounds of each of the characters.  Not only were they all different animals, but each one had their own individual hobbies and likes which sometimes worked to their advantage when trying to solve their problems.

We’ll talk a little bit about what sorts of problems that the Zoobles ended up getting themselves into a little bit later in this blog entry.  But for now, I think we should talk about the characters of Zoobilee Zoo...who the actors were, what characters they played, and some of the situations that the characters found themselves in during the program’s 65-episode run.


Mayor Ben – portrayed by Ben Vereen

Mayor Ben is a leopard who lives just outside of the zoo (or at the very least, out of sight of the rest of the Zoobles).  As his name suggests, he is perhaps the most important Zooble, and the one who holds the most power in the whole zoo.  Luckily, he’s not one of those corrupt politicians at all.  He really does care for all the Zoobles, and he is often filled with great advice.  He often acts as the narrator of sorts for each episode of the series, as he opens and closes each episode with a story about one of the six other Zoobles in the zoo.  He very rarely interacts with the other Zoobles inside the zoo, but is known to make a few rare appearances.


Bill Der Beaver – portrayed by Sandey Grinn

Bill Der Beaver is one busy beaver.  Quite literally too.  Judging by the fact that his home looks like one gigantic tool box, it becomes quite clear that Bill Der Beaver’s gimmick is building various things around the zoo.  I would like to believe that Bill was responsible for building not only his own house, but the houses of all the Zoobles in the zoo.  Bill even managed to build a time travel machine that allowed the Zoobles to travel back through different eras.  Talk about a crafty beaver!  Some of the story arcs that Bill was a part of included getting into a sticky situation after testing a new glue he invented, temporarily sharing a living space with Bravo Fox, and trying to learn how to play the piano.



Lookout Bear – portrayed by Michael B. Moynahan

Living up to his name, Lookout Bear is always on the lookout for adventures, fun, and mystery.  Of course, some of the adventures that Lookout got himself into had the other Zoobles crying out “Look Out!!!”

Anyway, Lookout Bear is often the one who likes to venture outside of Zoobilee Zoo the most, and some of the adventures that Lookout happened to get involved in during the show included a desire to become a detective after receiving a crime kit for a gift, trying to find a job, and trying to break a world record...with help from his friends, of course.


Whazzat Kangaroo – portrayed by Stevie Louise Vallance

These days, the actress that played Whazzat Kangaroo goes by the name Stevie Vallance, but back in 1986, she went by Louise.  Hence the reason why I included both of her names up above.  Would you like to know how this pink kangaroo got her name?  Simple.  Her inquisitive personality and natural curiosity always lead her to ask the question “Whazzat?” about ten thousand times.  It made sense, given that Whazzat was the youngest Zooble of the group (and if memory serves me, Stevie was the youngest cast member of the show as well...I could be wrong though).  But Whazzat’s inquisitive nature wasn’t the only thing she was known for.  Having a huge love of music and dance, she lived in a house that resembled a giant song book filled with dozens of musical instruments.  And some of the stories that Whazzat was involved in included her losing her first tooth, making impulsive wishes on a magic ring, and learning how to make someone else laugh from a clown who visited the zoo.

MINI-ADMISSION:  Whazzat was my favourite Zoobilee Zoo character.


Van Go Lion – portrayed by Forrest Gardner

While Whazzat was my favourite Zoobilee Zoo character, I thought Van Go had the coolest house.  And if one were to look at the paint splotches and paint brushes all over the place, you would quickly discover that his hobby is visual art.  I mean, come on, his name is loosely based on famous artist Vincent Van Gogh!  Van Go is known for more than just his artwork and his loud roar.  He ended up having some rather interesting storylines.  He went through Bill’s time machine to visit the Louvre in Paris, he has to deal with the fact that he might have to wear eyeglasses, and he even wins an art contest...while at the same time learning a valuable lesson on friendship.


Bravo Fox – portrayed by Gary Schwartz

I will admit that when I started watching Zoobilee Zoo, I didn’t initially care for Bravo at first.  I thought that Bravo was sort of a mean character.  He was always complaining about something that was going on at his home...a gigantic stage with his name in big, bold letters on top.  He seemed to have an ego the size of Greenland, and I suppose as a five year old boy, I didn’t feel as though he was as nice as the other Zoobles.  But watching the show now as an adult, I think that Bravo was quite misunderstood.  Looking back on it now, he was so desperate to be a star that he didn’t realize that he already was a star in the eyes of the other Zoobles.  He let the Zoobles perform plays and talents on his stage whenever they wanted, and when the opportunity came for Bravo to leave the zoo to seek stardom, he chose to stay with his friends, because that was where his home was.  I think that episode helped me start to warm up to the fox a little more.


Talkatoo Cockatoo – portrayed by Karen Hartman

Talkatoo was a cockatoo after my own heart, and I think that had I not already declared Whazzat to be my favourite Zooble, Talkatoo would also rank highly on my list.  After all, she loved everything to do with books, reading, language, and writing.  She lived in a giant dictionary, after all!  And, naturally, all of Talkatoo’s storylines revolved around reading and writing.  She creates her own newscast at Zoobilee Zoo, imagines herself as Cinderella after reading the classic tale in a book, and even enters a dance contest to try and prove something to herself. 


It’s hard to believe that it has been 26 years since Zoobilee Zoo debuted on television.  That fact alone makes me feel very old.  Despite this, Zoobilee Zoo is still fresh on some people’s minds.  Did you know that in 2000, fourteen additional direct-to-video episodes were released on VHS, and a stage show entitled “Zoobilee Zoo Live” was launched featuring most of the original cast members?  I thought that was the coolest thing ever because it showed me that what I believed was a long-forgotten show wasn’t quite so forgotten.  And if a new generation was being introduced to one of my favourite shows, then I think that’s always a good thing.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Doogie Howser M.D.


Every classroom in elementary school had that one kid in there who seemed to know all of the answers. They were always the first ones who had their hands up in class, they were always the ones who turned in perfect homework papers, and they were always the ones who managed to master the multiplication tables faster than anyone else in the class...especially the “sevens” section.

I should know from experience. I was that kid. Or, so a lot of people seemed to believe.

I was the kid who always brought their homework in on time. I was the kid who always managed to score a perfect hundred on spelling tests (I'm actually ashamed to admit that I pitched a fit when I received a 95 one particular week). And, yes, I knew my times tables...especially the sevens.

And yes, I let kids copy off of my work. I think I told this story before...oh yes...here it is, in case you want a little extra reading.

But I am also the first to admit that I didn't have an ego about my intelligence either...well, except for spelling tests. Oh, heck, I'll admit it. In my thirties, I STILL cringe over words that are spelled incorrectly. I suppose that's part of the reason why I enjoy writing so much.

Because as far as one would like to think that they are the most intelligent person that has ever existed, there is always someone whose IQ is just a point or two higher.

(That is, if you consider IQ to be a fair assessment for intelligence. I don't.)

Besides, I'm about to introduce you to someone who as far as intelligence goes blows myself and about 90% of the global population out of the water. Although he is a fictional character, it's not that hard of a stretch to believe that there can be people who are just like him in the real world.

I never had to take the SAT's in high school, as Canada doesn't currently have a program like that for entrance into college or university. But our case study for today's blog ended up getting a perfect score...at age SIX! Most people can get through high school in four years. Our blog subject breezed through it in a little over two months...at age NINE! Most people graduate from medical school in their mid-to-late twenties. This person graduated from medical school at fourteen...the same age most kids graduate from junior high!

And by the age of sixteen, our blog subject is a full-fledged doctor in a hospital. Too young to buy beer, but able to prescribe drugs to patients who need them.

Yes, we're going to take a look at the life of Dr. Douglas Howser M.D. (but to most people, he's just known as “Doogie”).



The name of the show is ABC's “Doogie Howser, M.D.”, which ran from September 19, 1989 until March 24, 1993 for 97 episodes. The actor who played the title role was, of course, Neil Patrick Harris, who was just sixteen when he was cast.



The show was co-created by Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley (who were also responsible for the ratings juggernaut L.A. Law which had debuted three years earlier). Initially, Bochco was the only showrunner involved with the program, coming up with the concept himself. But he needed someone to help him write the pilot episode. So, David E. Kelley was recruited for the job, and as a result, he earned a co-creator credit.

When it came time to pitch the show, Bochco ended up locking horns with the executives of ABC. The executives were apprehensive about the program, but were more opposed to the idea of Neil Patrick Harris playing the title role. Bochco explained to the executives that Harris was the only actor that they felt could step into the role of a teenage doctor convincingly, but ABC still didn't like him, and wanted the role recast.

Luckily for Neil Patrick Harris, Steven Bochco had a little ace up his sleeve. You see, there was a teensy clause that was written into Bochco's contract, and that contract stated that if ABC canceled the Doggie Howser M.D. Project before it made it to air (which ABC was considering doing at that time), then the network would be responsible for paying Bochco a penalty fee which would end up costing the network thousands...potentially millions of dollars. So, rather than lose a large chunk of their profits and having nothing to show for it, ABC was forced to greenlight the filming of the pilot, despite their dislike of the pilot, and the show's star.

Luckily, test audiences responded positively to the project, and it went to air during the 1989/1990 season.



When the show aired its pilot episode, we're introduced to Doogie as he is taking his driving test. He has just turned sixteen and wants his license more than anything. And at first, the viewer is lead to believe that we're witnessing a standard rite of passage for any teen boy to experience.

That is until they happen to pass by an accident scene in the middle of a street, and Doogie actually stops the car and jumps out to tend to the injured victim of the crash. That's when the viewer picks up on the fact that Doogie Howser is no ordinary teenager.

Sure enough, we soon discover what his real job is. He works as a resident surgeon at Los Angeles' Eastman Medical Center where he prescribes medicine to patients, performs surgery on them, and other medical related things.



Unlike most doctors though, Doogie Howser still lives at home with his parents David and Katherine Howser (James B. Sikking and Belinda Montgomery), or at least he does in the first couple of seasons. Doogie's decision to go into the field of medicine after an incident that happened when he was a baby. Doogie's father discovered suspicious bruises on his son, and as a family physician, he was concerned about his son's health. It was a good thing that Doogie's father was so diligent about checking the bruises. As a result of this, he ended up surviving pediatric leukemia...twice.

And, by all accounts, Doogie makes a fantastic doctor, and he saved quite a few lives during the show's four year run. But, life was not all roses and sunshine for the sixteen year old physician. With Doogie trying to gain acceptance from co-workers and patients and being under pressure to perform potentially life-threatening medical procedures...it's hard enough to cope with that stress as an adult. Imagine doing that as a teenager!

And, on top of that, he also had to deal with typical teenage angst. How much more could a kid go through?



Luckily, Doogie had his best friend, Vinnie Delphino (Max Casella) to keep him connected to his teenage side, and kept Doogie grounded. After all, Vinnie was the only friend that he let climb in through his bedroom window. And Doogie also had to deal with the stresses that came from dating, having two girlfriends during the series run. One was Wanda Plenn (Lisa Dean Ryan) and the other was Michele Faber (Robyn Lively).

The show was also a bit of a social commentary of sorts, where certain episodes dealt with the biggest social issues of the early 1990s. These included AIDS awareness, racism, homophobia, sexism, gang violence, and access to quality medical care. I think that the show took a lot of risks talking about such sensitive subjects, but did it in such a way that it was sensitive and compassionate towards those who might have experienced these issues themselves.

Unfortunately, all good shows come to an end, and for Doogie Howser M.D., it came in the spring of 1993, when Doogie resigned from Eastman, and moved to Europe. But if Steven Bochco had his way, the last episode would have lasted a whole season, as his plan was for Doogie Howser to rethink his whole career in medicine. But before Bochco could plan the whole season out, the show was canceled. I wonder if it would have worked had it been allowed to proceed.

I suppose we'll never know. But it would be fun to speculate. But one thing that Doogie Howser and I have in common was that we would write our thoughts down at the end of each day on a computer.



Wow...who would have thought that Doogie Howser would have had one of the very first blogs? You learn something new every day.



Coming up next week, we're looking at a character from another show that Neil Patrick Harris stars in...but not the character that he plays.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Fromage-Fest - The Cheesiest Music Videos Ever


Since I made the decision to give up the Thursday Confessional, I have been trying to come up with a new theme for this and every Thursday from now on. And, it's been a bit of a challenge. So, for right now, Thursdays are sort of one of those “hodge podge” categories, where I'm talking about whatever happens to be in my mind at the time.

And what is going through my mind right now is music videos that used to air on MTV and MuchMusic before Snooki and her Jersey Shore pals took over the network.

When MTV premiered on August 1, 1981 (and when MuchMusic debuted in Canada on September 1, 1984), it marked the beginning of a brand new era in the world of music. Prior to 1981, music videos did exist, but they were more or less concert performances, or appearances filmed on television programs such as “The Ed Sullivan Show”, “American Bandstand”, “Solid Gold”, “The Midnight Special”, or “Soul Train”.


The very first video played on MTV was The Buggles' “Video Killed The Radio Star" (not this version though), and since then, thousands of music videos have been created.  Almost overnight, it became the number one method of promotion for a new single by an artist or a band.  Many musical acts took advantage of the medium known as music videos, and many were considered works of art.  Madonna and Michael Jackson were among some of the biggest stars of music video, as were Janet Jackson, Peter Gabriel, U2, and the Beastie Boys.

But for every "Take On Me", "Like A Prayer", and "Thriller" that was released, there were also videos that we wondered why they were even made in the first place.  Some music videos were so terrible that many of them stood out from the rest...and not in a good way.

So, for today's post, I thought that I would take a look back at some of the cheesiest music videos that I have come across in my thirty-one years on this earth in a blog post I like to call "Fromage-Fest".

Now, I suppose you might be wondering why I have entitled this piece "Fromage-Fest".  Well, I'll tell you.



In Canada, our version of MTV was called MuchMusic.  It was almost similar to MTV in that it played music videos non-stop (well, at least it did until approximately 2003), and it contained original programming that was music themed.  There were some differences between the two stations.  MTV had Total Request Live, MuchMusic had RSVP. (later changed to Much On Demand".  MTV had "Remote Control", MuchMusic had "Test Pattern" (ironically enough, the hosts of both shows are now deceased).  MTV had Martha Quinn and Mark Goodman, MuchMusic had Erica Ehm and J.D. Roberts (shown above).

And, yes, J.D. Roberts did grow up to become FOX News correspondent John Roberts.

At the beginning of the year, shortly after Christmas, MuchMusic used to have two annual traditions.  One was the annual tree toss, where they would take the Christmas tree that they had inside the main studios and throw it off the roof of the building into a dumpster.  The other was a retrospective look at some of the worst music videos of all time in a special entitled "Fromage" (which is French for cheese, in case you were wondering).



Oh, one more thing.  The Fromage specials were hosted by Ed the Sock.

Anyway, Ed the Sock was, to put it lightly, a dirty old sockpuppet.  He told it like it was, often with salty language.  If he hated a music video, he would make merciless fun of it, and explain why he was doing it.  These days, the Fromage specials have taken a back seat to a series of shows entitled "Video On Trial".  They're not bad, but I miss Ed the Sock's perspective because it was snarky...and deservedly so.

In fact, I'm going to try and take a page out of Mr. Sock's playbook (did I really just call him Mr. Sock?!?) and try to be just as snarky with some of these music videos.  Believe me, they need it. 

So, let's begin our look back at some of the cheesiest music videos of all time.  We'll start with one that got a lot of buzz last year.



VIDEO #1:  "Friday" by Rebecca Black (2011)

I'll just make one thing clear.  This isn't so much because of Rebecca Black that the video stinks.  Certainly the song isn't exactly Adele or Joss Stone here...but I'm cutting her some slack, as she is only a teenager, and I don't believe in bullying teenagers at all.  But the people who produced this video are fair game as far as I'm concerned.  Yes, I am well aware that the music video only cost $4,000 to make.  But I have a feeling that a better video would have been produced using a Smart Phone.  There was no need for the lame special effects, cardboard bus stop sign, constant auto-tune (I still would like to hear an unedited version of "Friday" so I can really listen to her vocal ability) and other oddities within this video.  I suppose I'm not surprised that so many people disliked the video, but in my case, it was less about the singing ability of Rebecca Black and more about the video production...or lack there of.

VIDEO #2:  "I'd Rather Jack" by the Reynolds Girls (1989)

Have you ever heard of the Reynolds Girls?  Me either, until about a few years ago.  Apparently they were sisters who scored a one-hit wonder in the United Kingdom in 1989 with this track produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman.  I'm not entirely sure what "Jack" means as far as an adjective goes.  It could be something innocent.  It could be something obscene.  But what IS obscene is the accompanying video.  Go ahead and watch it.  It's like a bad train wreck, believe me.



So, where should I start with this one?  Apparently the message of the song is "screw your Rolling Stones and Dire Straits, I'd rather listen to something from last week".  And, in theory, the song does make a firm point about every generation having their own likes and dislikes of music.  Apparently the Reynolds Girls would rather "jack" than "Fleetwood Mac"...whatever that means.  It's just a shame that the horrible choreography distracts from that message.  I mean, seriously, in one scene it looks like they're trying to pick each other up using only their back muscles!  And in another scene, they actually give each other piggyback rides!  Who choreographed this mess, then three-year old twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen? 

Oh, and if you thought this video was the only dead horse people kept poking with a stick from the crew known as Stock, Aitken & Waterman, think again.

VIDEO #3:  "I Want You Back" by Bananarama (1988)

I was prepared to give the band a pass because this was the first video that the group shot after the departure of Siobhan Fahey, who was replaced by Jacquie O'Sullivan.  To re-record the song to replace Siobhan's vocals with Jacquie's was no easy task.  But then it was complicated further with a rather...interesting video.



You know, Bananarama had some rather awesome videos during their career.  "Venus" was fantastic.  "I Heard A Rumour" was probably one of their best songs with a video to match.  "I Want You Back" was just...no.  It felt like I was watching three different videos at once, none of which were related to each other.  Bananarama as the Supremes would have been a fine concept on its own.  Instead, we have the Bananas dancing in front of a boring blue background, random 60s garbed dancers, and some guy in a go-go cage doused in neon body paint.  I really could have done without that last one, thanks.

This next video is again, a Stock, Aitken, Waterman production, and this one pains me to add in, but I have to do it.

VIDEO #4:  "Hand On Your Heart" by Kylie Minogue (1989)

You know, contrary to what you might think, I do like quite a few Stock, Aitken & Waterman acts.  Bananarama (prior to "I Want You Back") were quite good.  I think that Rick Astley (aside from the Rickroll phenomenon) had a great set of pipes, and even disco diva Donna Summer recorded with the famous trio.  Of course I have a soft spot for Kylie Minogue (who also happens to be a celebrity crush that I have), and most of her songs are fantastic.  But then I watched this video, and I was like, HUH?



Now, I will give Kylie a few allowances.  This was filmed in the period after her cutesy-poo "I Should Be So Lucky" phase and before her "Better The Devil You Know" sex kitten phase.  Consider 1989 Kylie's "puberty" phase in regards to her music.  Not a girl, not yet a woman.

Oh, wait.  That's Britney Spears, never mind.

Really, there's nothing wrong with the song itself.  The video is a bit weird.  Is it just me, or does the whole video set look like it was stolen from Legoland?  Even the colour scheme of the video makes me think that it belongs in a Lego kit.  Though, I must admit, the matching dresses that Kylie periodically changes out of are a nice touch.

And, really, what is up with that annoying CGI heart that flies around Kylie like an annoying tsetse fly?  Whose bright idea was that one anyway?  That's one heart that I would gladly break myself if I could.

You know, I seem to be unfairly picking on the female artists (and Stock, Aitken & Waterman).  Let's shift gears a bit by choosing a bad video by a male rock band.  Oh, here's one.

VIDEO #5:  "Rock Star" by Nickelback (2007)

I'm well aware of the fact that Nickelback is probably one of the most hated rock bands in the entire world for reasons that I still have yet to fully understand.  Believe it or not, I don't really have that much hate for the band.  I'll even admit that there are a couple of Nickelback songs that I can admit I like.  This is NOT one of them.


Well, I hope some of you can see the video, because apparently it is blocked in Canada (imagine that, a video by a CANADIAN band blocked in Canada).  Just one more reason to hate this video, I suppose.  Here's a LINK to a "hopefully" unblocked video.  The main problem I have with this video is simple.  Getting a bunch of people to lipsynch your song instead of performing it yourself.  Bad idea.  Getting celebrity guests such as John Rich, Kid Rock, Nelly Furtado, Wayne Gretzky, Gene Simmons, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Ted Nugent, and the Naked Cowboy to sell out to appear as themselves lipsynching a Nickelback video?  Worst idea ever.

VIDEO #6:  "Short Skirt Long Jacket" by Cake (2001)



Though I'd rather have people lipsynching to a popular song than TALKING THROUGH IT!!!  It's really unfortunate as well, because the song is fantastic, had a great beat, and I could easily listen to the whole thing on a road trip a bunch of times.  But I would keep my opinion to myself until AFTER THE SONG STOPPED PLAYING SO I COULD REALLY ENJOY IT!

VIDEO #7:  "Saturday Night" by Whigfield (1994)



I imagine that not a lot of you know this song, but those of you in Canada who picked up a copy of the MuchMusic compilation "Dance Mix '95" will know that this song was the first song listed.  I admit that as a fourteen year old boy who was really into techno and Hi-NRG music, I listened to this one a lot...but the video was disappointing.  It was just Whigfield singing in front of a mirror and styling her hair and getting dressed.  By the end, I didn't know whether I had watched a music video or a commercial for Avon.

VIDEO #8:  "Viva Forever" by the Spice Girls (1998)



I'll admit that I was never really a huge Spice Girls fan to begin with.  The only song that I ever liked of theirs was "Too Much".  And, yes, I am aware that the band had to scramble to make a video for this single because it was the first one after Geri Halliwell decided to quit the band.  This does not excuse the terrible video.  First, it seems contrived for two boys to go running after what looks like a possessed Corn Flakes mascot.  Then there's the fact that the Spice Girl fairies look like evil witches (Claymation is not flattering on them at all).  And, oh yeah, they abduct one of the boys by trapping him inside a giant Rubix Cube, and then having his friend sacrificing him to the great gumball machine in the sky.  Yeah, like that happens every day in England.  Does it?

VIDEO #9:  "Use It Up Wear It Out" by Pat & Mick (1990)



I have no words.  I really don't.

So, that's my list...and I tried to mix it up a bit so people of quite a few nationalities could be represented.

Now, I open the floor to you.

What are some of the cheesiest music videos that YOU have seen?