Improv!

Thinking on your feet is a challenge.  Making it entertaining?  Even more of a challenge.  Tonight I took part in an improv workshop with Talia Pura (pictured with me below).

It felt like a hometown version of "Whose Line is it Anyway?" with Talia acting as teacher/Drew Carey, and me, a much shorter Ryan Stiles (or a much paler Whoopi, I haven't decided).  There's a lot of thought that goes in to doing improv, but at the same time there's no time to think.  This makes it a fast-paced, fun dynamic that often goes in strange directions.  So what are the basics of Improv?

1. No Blocking - this is something I learned in radio school as well.  The basic idea is to go along with the scene the other players are trying to set.  Don't shut down what they've started, build on it.

2. Go with your first idea/instinct.  The cool thing about improv is there's no "right" and "wrong", you just go with the flow.  By not second guessing every thought you have, you don't stop your creativity and you bring new elements to the scene every time.

3. Expect the unexpected.  Is it oxymoronic in nature? yes.  Is oxymoronic a word? I'm not really sure.  However, I feel like this needed to be added because some scenes start in reality, and end up on an undiscovered planet.    It's almost impossible to know what the other players are thinking.

So why do improv?

For me, it's all about exploring different situations and staying sharp.  Oh, it's also ridiculously fun and entertaining.  Did I mention FUN?!! It's Fun.

If you ever get the opportunity to do an improv workshop or play theatre games, give it a try.  You may just find a quirky character you never knew lived inside of you.

And you may end up like these guys one day:

 (Though it would help to know someone like Drew Carey ahead of time)

I'd like to thank Theatre 53 and The Pas Regional Library for putting this on as it was - you guessed it - FUN! Also, a thank you to the talented Talia Pura for being our guide through the random!

GCB

Okay, confession time.  Forgive me father, for I love drama.  So maybe that's not a sin, but when it comes to devouring television, it can be quite the addiction.  First, I got hooked on Gossip Girl (which I still watch when it's on each week, religiously).  Now, the newest show that's caught me, is GCB.  It's witty, hilarious, and full of drama.   GCB stands for Good Christian B____s. (you can pick up that last word on your own).   The title itself is clever, and lends itself well to the show.  On top of all that, they play the show on Sundays.  Perfection.

There's a full cast of characters committed to doing whatever it takes to succeed, each in their own way.  Carlene (pictured in the poster above) is trying oh so hard to be the perfect Christian. She's got a son in high school, and her Husband Rip owns a number of establishments (including the aptly named "Boobylicious" which is like hooters, with red, high waisted shorts)

Heather is looking for love while remaining a real estate mogul. She's also the only one of the main antagonists who seems to want to be a good person.

Cricket and her (gay) husband Blake are committed to each other as best friends and stay together for their family, while also running an extremely successful business that seems to run a good chunk of Texas and some other states. 

Sharon is a strange one.  The one time beauty queen is a bit bigger than in high school (but by no standards obese), and she has a lot of self esteem issues she carries out in different ways.  She likes to work for the pastor (while clearly crushing on him), and lose weight using strictly the bible (Which I suppose is no worse than any other fad diet).   She's also married with 2 kids.

And what would the show be without Amanda.

Leslie Bibb brings this character to life in a way that's endearing, with just enough attitude to make it believable.   The premise of the entire show is that Amanda has to move back to Dallas from LA to live with her mother after finding out her husband was not only cheating on her with her best friend, but embezzling money from many, many people.   See?  Drama.   The reason her moving back to town is such a big deal, is because in high school, she was the Queen Bee, and she was Nasty (with a capital N).   After going through so much with her husband and living away from Dallas, she's nicer now and worries more about her two kids in high school, but the girls she taunted haven't forgotten. Thus, hijinks ensue. 

It's a fun show that pokes fun at religion, people's relationships, and really shows how good and bad bribery, backstabbing and scheming can be.   It even inspired a line of those funny online e-cards that litter facebook and twitter (I mean litter in the best way possible here, most of them are good for a literal LOL).

There's also some high fashion, and Kirstin Chenoweth (Carlene) singing.  Cheno singing is never a bad thing, that woman can BELT like nobody's business.

In short, if you're looking for a show that's fast paced, fun and dramatic.  GCB is it.  What other show on television could get away with a conversion joke like "I saw a table full of turbans and just went for it!"  There's nothing sinister about it. Just good, clean, "Christian" fun. 

If you've ever watched anything with Kristin Chenoweth in it and loved it, all her skills are put to use here.  It's awesome.


Side note - Is putting the B word in titles of TV a cool thing to do now?  "Don't Trust The B in Apartment 23" premieres this week.  It looks promising from the previews and reviews, but why so many Bs?  Can't girls just be sassy anymore?

Trailer Park Boys

One of the coolest things about being a radio host is the opportunity to interview the rich and/or famous.  If you're Canadian, you probably know the trailer park boys. I was lucky enough to meet John Dunsworth (Mr. Lahey) and Patrick Roach (Randy). 

The thing about actors is, they're often nothing like their characters.  For example: In real life, Mr. Lahey rarely drinks and is quite pleasant to talk to.  I can't wait to see their comedy act at the Wescana Inn here in The Pas!


Here's the audio from my radio interview with the guys:

Randy and Mr.Lahey - Full unedited interview

Enjoy!  It's about 15 minutes long.

Game of Thrones is back!

***SPOILER ALERT***

If this show is still sitting on your TV unwatched, you might want to hold off reading this blog... 

Okay, so I know I'm a day behind.  This is the PVR/Internet age, meaning I will watch when I want to and there's nothing anyone except my internet provider can do about it(don't screw with me here MTS).  Anyway, Game of Thrones season two is on!  Yay!  I have been reading these books for a while now and am more than half way in to the second one, which is basically what the second season is to be about.  I need to read faster...  or more often.  To start off this episode, King Joffrey is holding a grand tournament.  The thing you need to know about Joffrey is, he's like Draco Malfoy with droopy bird face and a bad attitude... I don't like him (clearly). 

(see the douchyness? That girl used to love him until he had her father killed.  The basis of any long lasting hostage situation/romantic relationship)

After Joff nearly drowns a drunk in wine and is interrupted by Tyrion, we get to follow him.  Great changeover, because Tyrion, though a Lannister, is almost impossible to hate.  He's quick witted, funny and has slapped joffrey many times (bonus points in the game of life in game of thrones).  When Tyrion drops the bomb that he's going to be taking over as hand of the king while his father's at war, his sister Cersei (a real broad, and not in a good way) is angered, but demure.   That Tyrion, always with a surprise to throw people off!  Cut to Bran being all lordly and junk.  For a kid with no experience, he's certainly ballsy when it comes to talking to people at court.  He IS a Stark though, so I suppose it's expected.   I'd also like to throw it out there that the casting in this show is amazing, Hodor looks just as I imagined, as do most of the characters.  HBO is on their game when it comes to quality.   That being said, the "comet" was not as spectacular as I'd hoped.  In the book, it is described as something that takes up the sky and cuts through it in a vibrant and violent red.  In the show, it was like a little tiny comet in the distance with a sad, red tail.   

Once we cut to Daenarys' and the Dothraki, this happened...

 

How am I supposed to focus on what his Khaleesi is telling him when I'm staring at that hair?  It's like a curly mullet/rat tail/pony tail thing.   I guess when you're a dothraki rider, you do what you want, even if it's visually assaulting.  

Before that there was a cool shot of D with her Dragons.  They're so small they just hang out on her shoulders.  I need to get me some CGI dragons to up my cool factor. 

Jon Snow is snippy at some incestuous lord guy from beyond the wall who marries his daughters continuously.  (Yes, you read that right, and yes, it's effing gross).  The amount of incest in this series actually makes me wonder about George R.R. Martin a bit,  but hey, he writes some entertaining fiction, I just won't delve in to where the inspiration comes from.  

Stannis Baratheon is next.  He's not a drunk like his brother Robert was, but is also a warrior.   We see him pull a sword from a flame to become King.  Though at this point, it really does seem like everyone with a bloodline wants a crown.  In the middle of the night meeting Stannis' people hold after the ceremony, they insult everyone else trying to rule, talk religion and drink.  Happy times! Oh, except when the old guy gets poisoned and falls over all bloody. It happens.

Rob Stark is about to talk to Kingslayer (Jamie Lannister), this oughta be good.   So Jamie tries to call him a "boy" and though Rob is all cool looking, he's basically saying back "Oh no you di-in't!" then goes on to tell him  how he knows Joffrey is his son and he sleeps with his sister and it's Jamie who pushed Bran out the window when he saw them together to cause his crippling.  Plus, Rob brought his direwolf for extra muscle.   Nothing scares a guy tied up, quite like a giant wolf in his face.  

Awwww the imp is so sweet to his whore!  This is a legitimate statement of fact - no sarcasm implied.

"Knowledge is power" okay Baelish, whatever you say...  Nope! Wait! Cersei has something to say about that.  She'll threaten you with her guards, you could DIE.  "Power is Power" <--Well played Cersei, well played.  

Catelyn Stark reminds me of young Professor McGonagall.  There I said it. 

(Swords and wands are practically the same thing)

Rob and his mom have a bit of a fight over getting Arya and Sansa back, and Rob needs a favour.   He only trusts his Mommy to do his negotiation with the other Baratheon, Renly. Awwww. Stark Pride! 

Oh look Joffrey's being a douche again!  This time to his mother!  Such a respectful boy.  If anything is truly to be learned from this show, it's don't give a crown to a 14 year old blonde.  Daaayyyuumm Cersei just slapped him!  I almost liked her for a second. 

Next we get to see a demonstration at the whore house.  The "fancy" whore house (there is such thing in this universe, just go with it).  Here come some armoured men searching for a bastard baby.  That man killed a baby with a dagger!  I'm so rattled right now.   They're searching for all the kings bastards, and one of them is with Arya's party of misfits.  This can NOT be good.

WAIT?! It's OVER?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Maybe I'm being a little over dramatic.  But in this instant world of ours, why do I still have to wait a week for a new episode of the TV shows I like.  This is a definite first world problem (as they'd say in a hashtag in the twitterverse).  

Don't forget to comment me with your thoughts on the show!!  

Winter is coming, war is happening, this is going to get intense!