Wednesday, January 31

The Annekenstein Monster Oscar Pool 2007

Last year, I had 30 people entered into The Annekenstein Monster Oscar Pool.  I think our good friend Matt Rainnie won.

This year, since the blog has dwindled in postings and, most likely, readership, there probably won't be as many entries.  Still, if you want to enter, please do so.  Click on this link:  The Annekenstein Monster Oscar Pool and make your choices.  Entries will be accepted until the morning of the Friday before Oscar weekend.

The winner, if I can remember, will win two tickets to a Sketch22 performance this summer.  Of course, since I'm going to win, I get to keep the tickets myself.  (If there's a tie of winners, I'll make a draw from them to see who gets the tickets)

Once again, here's the link:  Click here to make your losing picks for The Annekenstein Monster Oscar Pool.

Good luck!

Edit:  If there's a tie for the most correct picks, the winner will be the person who was earliest with sending their picks in.



The Annekenstein Monster Oscar Pool 2007

Last year, I had 30 people entered into The Annekenstein Monster Oscar Pool.  I think our good friend Matt Rainnie won.

This year, since the blog has dwindled in postings and, most likely, readership, there probably won't be as many entries.  Still, if you want to enter, please do so.  Click on this link:  The Annekenstein Monster Oscar Pool and make your choices.  Entries will be accepted until the morning of the Friday before Oscar weekend.

The winner, if I can remember, will win two tickets to a Sketch22 performance this summer.  Of course, since I'm going to win, I get to keep the tickets myself.  (If there's a tie of winners, I'll make a draw from them to see who gets the tickets)

Once again, here's the link:  Click here to make your losing picks for The Annekenstein Monster Oscar Pool.

Good luck!

Edit:  If there's a tie for the most correct picks, the winner will be the person who was earliest with sending their picks in.



Anuzzer Band Reunion

There was a time when I, along with many others, was a big fan of The Police.  My wife (then fiance) was an even bigger fan.  Then, years after they broke up, I found I couldn't stand listening to Police songs.  Couldn't get through them. (I'm finding the same situation now with many REM songs, another band that I was once big in to)
Maybe a year or two ago, I reconnected with The Police songs and can happily and enthusiastically enjoy them again (you can all release your breath now, as I'm sure you were holding it awaiting the outcome of my Police affections)

So, the rumours news that The Police were going to reform and tour this summer piqued my interest.  And now the news that they'll be playing at the Grammys this month (as of tomorrow), I gotta admit I'm kind of excited, kinda like a schoolgirl.  I'd never seen them play live, but have seen numerous clips of them on stage.  With my excitement, though, comes the natural trepidation too.  How will they sound?  Will they be old and safe and pedestrian, or will they try to rock the house?  If they do try to rock the house, will they fail miserably?  I'm hoping they blow the roof off the joint.  Failing that, I hope we at least catch glimpses of the synchronicity (clever, no?) they obviously shared when they performed.  It would be really sad (yet acceptable) to see three egos failing to connect with each other, fakely bopping their way through a medley of hits.  I'm ready for that scenario too.

So, if you were The Police, and you were reuniting, what songs would you play in your, say, six minutes allotted time?  Me, I'd have to go with Every Breath You Take (only because it was so huge).  I'd love to hear Canary In A Coalmine and Walking On The Moon.  I want to hear them as the pop songs they were (and still are) and not slowed-down jazzy interpretations (you hear me, Sting?).  I am ready to hear the lame-ish medley of hits.

Whatever happens, I'm looking forward to watching it all unfold.


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Anuzzer Band Reunion

There was a time when I, along with many others, was a big fan of The Police.  My wife (then fiance) was an even bigger fan.  Then, years after they broke up, I found I couldn't stand listening to Police songs.  Couldn't get through them. (I'm finding the same situation now with many REM songs, another band that I was once big in to)
Maybe a year or two ago, I reconnected with The Police songs and can happily and enthusiastically enjoy them again (you can all release your breath now, as I'm sure you were holding it awaiting the outcome of my Police affections)

So, the rumours news that The Police were going to reform and tour this summer piqued my interest.  And now the news that they'll be playing at the Grammys this month (as of tomorrow), I gotta admit I'm kind of excited, kinda like a schoolgirl.  I'd never seen them play live, but have seen numerous clips of them on stage.  With my excitement, though, comes the natural trepidation too.  How will they sound?  Will they be old and safe and pedestrian, or will they try to rock the house?  If they do try to rock the house, will they fail miserably?  I'm hoping they blow the roof off the joint.  Failing that, I hope we at least catch glimpses of the synchronicity (clever, no?) they obviously shared when they performed.  It would be really sad (yet acceptable) to see three egos failing to connect with each other, fakely bopping their way through a medley of hits.  I'm ready for that scenario too.

So, if you were The Police, and you were reuniting, what songs would you play in your, say, six minutes allotted time?  Me, I'd have to go with Every Breath You Take (only because it was so huge).  I'd love to hear Canary In A Coalmine and Walking On The Moon.  I want to hear them as the pop songs they were (and still are) and not slowed-down jazzy interpretations (you hear me, Sting?).  I am ready to hear the lame-ish medley of hits.

Whatever happens, I'm looking forward to watching it all unfold.


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Tuesday, January 30

The Cup Three-Quarters Full

I pretty much drink one coffee a day. An extra-large-double-double.  Sometimes I'll go for a second one.  I buy my coffee at Robin's Donuts, mostly.  Sometimes at Timothy's.
The following has happened to me four times so far:  Robins Girl, when filling my cup, empties a pot of coffee. My cup will be, roughly, 3/4 or 4/5 full.  Rather than getting a new pot, she asks me if i want it topped up, or if that's enough.
I honestly don't understand the question.  It's not the extra-large cup that I'm interested in purchasing.  It's the coffee that goes into it.  I don't want a "large" amount of coffee in an extra-large cup.  I want an extra-large amount of coffee.

So, yes, I want it topped up.




The Cup Three-Quarters Full

I pretty much drink one coffee a day. An extra-large-double-double.  Sometimes I'll go for a second one.  I buy my coffee at Robin's Donuts, mostly.  Sometimes at Timothy's.
The following has happened to me four times so far:  Robins Girl, when filling my cup, empties a pot of coffee. My cup will be, roughly, 3/4 or 4/5 full.  Rather than getting a new pot, she asks me if i want it topped up, or if that's enough.
I honestly don't understand the question.  It's not the extra-large cup that I'm interested in purchasing.  It's the coffee that goes into it.  I don't want a "large" amount of coffee in an extra-large cup.  I want an extra-large amount of coffee.

So, yes, I want it topped up.




Friday, January 26

My Peter Pan Complex

Apparently, last night the Smoker's Helpline television campaign started to air on the local CBC.  It's the campaign where I portray a 7 foot tall cigarette.
I know it started yesterday because today I received (so far) 4 separate comments from people (3 of them relative strangers) saying they saw it last night.  That's the power of advertising, right there.

While I do like the ads, like what I do in them, and enjoy the comments, I do have an apprehension about them due to my experiences after a certain series of Peter Pan ads aired almost 2 decades ago.  Even now, I still get the occasional comment from people reminding me that I was in fact the guy in those Peter Pan ads.







My Peter Pan Complex

Apparently, last night the Smoker's Helpline television campaign started to air on the local CBC.  It's the campaign where I portray a 7 foot tall cigarette.
I know it started yesterday because today I received (so far) 4 separate comments from people (3 of them relative strangers) saying they saw it last night.  That's the power of advertising, right there.

While I do like the ads, like what I do in them, and enjoy the comments, I do have an apprehension about them due to my experiences after a certain series of Peter Pan ads aired almost 2 decades ago.  Even now, I still get the occasional comment from people reminding me that I was in fact the guy in those Peter Pan ads.







Weeeee!!!!

Yesterday, I managed to procure a Nintendo Wii for our home.  My son was wanting one for Christmas, but because of lack of availability we made arrangements to put that off until they were a bit easier to come by.  Even though they're still rather hard to get, I was fortunate to have Albert at Microplay put one away for me when the next shipment came in.  That was yesterday.

Set it up last night.  Set up is ridiculously easy.  I had been anticipating that first moment when the Wiimote would become active, and had prepared myself to be impressed with the feel of the wireless point and click device.  Well, when I tried it, it was so impressive!  I was like a little fan-boy.  Very cool.
We only have the bundled Wii-Sports game, but played that for about 4 hours last night.  While the game-play is somewhat limited, it easily contains enough fun and skill-requirement to be a blast.  Through the Sports game, you get a really good idea of the vast potential for this new way to play video games.
I'm looking forward to getting the Madden for Wii game (I hear it's pretty good), and, if the rather simple (but fun) golf game on Wii-Sports is any indication, the Tiger Woods game for Wii should be rock on solid.

Can't wait to get home from work and play some more.  Also looking forward to the day when we get a wireless router for our internet connection and get to sample the online component of the Wii too.



Weeeee!!!!

Yesterday, I managed to procure a Nintendo Wii for our home.  My son was wanting one for Christmas, but because of lack of availability we made arrangements to put that off until they were a bit easier to come by.  Even though they're still rather hard to get, I was fortunate to have Albert at Microplay put one away for me when the next shipment came in.  That was yesterday.

Set it up last night.  Set up is ridiculously easy.  I had been anticipating that first moment when the Wiimote would become active, and had prepared myself to be impressed with the feel of the wireless point and click device.  Well, when I tried it, it was so impressive!  I was like a little fan-boy.  Very cool.
We only have the bundled Wii-Sports game, but played that for about 4 hours last night.  While the game-play is somewhat limited, it easily contains enough fun and skill-requirement to be a blast.  Through the Sports game, you get a really good idea of the vast potential for this new way to play video games.
I'm looking forward to getting the Madden for Wii game (I hear it's pretty good), and, if the rather simple (but fun) golf game on Wii-Sports is any indication, the Tiger Woods game for Wii should be rock on solid.

Can't wait to get home from work and play some more.  Also looking forward to the day when we get a wireless router for our internet connection and get to sample the online component of the Wii too.



Snow Squalls, Weather Bombs and Thunder Farts

I can only assume that weather forecasting is so boring that meteorologists are forced to come up with new exciting terminology for weather events that we've already experienced.
I know what a "weather bomb" likely is, but seriously, what the hell are they doing using a phrase like "weather bomb"?

Yeah, I made up Thunder Farts.  What new weather terminology can you come up with?



Snow Squalls, Weather Bombs and Thunder Farts

I can only assume that weather forecasting is so boring that meteorologists are forced to come up with new exciting terminology for weather events that we've already experienced.
I know what a "weather bomb" likely is, but seriously, what the hell are they doing using a phrase like "weather bomb"?

Yeah, I made up Thunder Farts.  What new weather terminology can you come up with?



Thursday, January 25

Sketch22 Season 4 - 154 or 161 Days away!!!

Not exactly sure when Season 4 of Sketch22 will begin.  Maybe we should start the last Thurs/Fri of June this year, rather than our traditional first Thursday of July?

Either way, I just started writing my very first sketch for the new season.  It's a video concept and hopefully will make it into the show.  Graham would play an impoverished street urchin child named Umbazzo Unwollyo.  That's all I'm gonna say on that.


Technorati Tags:



Sketch22 Season 4 - 154 or 161 Days away!!!

Not exactly sure when Season 4 of Sketch22 will begin.  Maybe we should start the last Thurs/Fri of June this year, rather than our traditional first Thursday of July?

Either way, I just started writing my very first sketch for the new season.  It's a video concept and hopefully will make it into the show.  Graham would play an impoverished street urchin child named Umbazzo Unwollyo.  That's all I'm gonna say on that.


Technorati Tags:



Wednesday, January 17

PEI Revue

Hey, the PEI Revue hits the stage this Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Jan.18-20) at the Carrefour Theatre at 8pm each night.
Tickets are $22.00 tax included.  Well worth the money.

If you like to laugh, and like to see/hear jokes/sketches about this province called Prince Edward Island, you should check it out.  Sketch comedy, songs and Lorne Elliot stand-up.  A great way to spend a night in the dead of winter.


Website:  www.peirevue.com



PEI Revue

Hey, the PEI Revue hits the stage this Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Jan.18-20) at the Carrefour Theatre at 8pm each night.
Tickets are $22.00 tax included.  Well worth the money.

If you like to laugh, and like to see/hear jokes/sketches about this province called Prince Edward Island, you should check it out.  Sketch comedy, songs and Lorne Elliot stand-up.  A great way to spend a night in the dead of winter.


Website:  www.peirevue.com



Saturday, January 13

Little Mosque - 9:20

I made it to 9 minutes and 20 seconds into Little Mosque on the Prairie before I decided it wasn't for me.



Little Mosque - 9:20

I made it to 9 minutes and 20 seconds into Little Mosque on the Prairie before I decided it wasn't for me.



Friday, January 12

I got Tag (Body Sprayed)

Seeing other blogs getting tagged by the "5 things we don't know about you" game of blog-tag that's been going around, and not being tagged myself, made me so very depressed.  Not because I wasn't getting tagged, but because I knew I ultimately would be tagged, and then I'd have to choose whether to go along with it and join in, or ignore it.  Well, I was tagged and now the question is:  will I or won't I?

Well, here's my answer:

1) I am bothered by that Brita television ad.  You know the one: There’s a glass of water on a table in an apartment (or house?).  We hear a toilet flush, and see the water in the glass lower and then rise up, as if it was a toilet.  The woman comes out of the bathroom, sits down at the table, and goes to drink the glass of water.  The text comes up and says something like:  The same water that goes to your toilet goes to your kitchen tap".  I get bugged when I see that ad because I don’t like the way it manipulates people.  It implies that the water from your tap is dirty because it’s from the same source that goes to your toilet.  So what if the same water goes to your toilet and to your tap?  As long as the water isn’t going from your toilet to your tap, then no worries about the toilet, right?.  That bugs me.  (And don't even get me going on those forest-shitting bears who wipe their hairy asses with toilet paper!)

2) In the entirety of my life to date, there hasn’t been a lot of death in my family, or even my extended family.  Now, though, many of my relatives (parents, aunts, uncles, brothers) are getting up there in age.  For the past few years, I’ve been preparing myself for an onslaught of death to people I love and the emotional mess that this will cause me.  Any time a phone rings at home, at an unusual hour, I expect and prepare for it to be a call telling me so-and-so just died.  I’ve got death on my mind.

3) There are a few words I continually mis-type, every time I type them.  For instance, I always type it "Charlottetwon".  Not as bad as Rod, the guy I work with.  He always types "discount" as "discocunt".

4) I just turned down what may have been pretty easy money on a potentially long-term, periodic acting gig because I wasn't very impressed with the material or the .  I am torn between feeling good for having standards and feeling bad for not taking the easy money.  I will probably hate myself when the project succeeds and improves, and I am left with nothing.

5) I rarely arrive late to things. While this is often a good thing, sometimes I take measures too far to ensure I arrive on time or earlier.  I have begun to allow myself not to be on time if doing so causes me too much agitation.  I have begun to be more selfish.


So, I've done the first part of the assignment.  I will not, however, forward the request to others.  This arm of the 5 Things Meme ends right here.



I got Tag (Body Sprayed)

Seeing other blogs getting tagged by the "5 things we don't know about you" game of blog-tag that's been going around, and not being tagged myself, made me so very depressed.  Not because I wasn't getting tagged, but because I knew I ultimately would be tagged, and then I'd have to choose whether to go along with it and join in, or ignore it.  Well, I was tagged and now the question is:  will I or won't I?

Well, here's my answer:

1) I am bothered by that Brita television ad.  You know the one: There’s a glass of water on a table in an apartment (or house?).  We hear a toilet flush, and see the water in the glass lower and then rise up, as if it was a toilet.  The woman comes out of the bathroom, sits down at the table, and goes to drink the glass of water.  The text comes up and says something like:  The same water that goes to your toilet goes to your kitchen tap".  I get bugged when I see that ad because I don’t like the way it manipulates people.  It implies that the water from your tap is dirty because it’s from the same source that goes to your toilet.  So what if the same water goes to your toilet and to your tap?  As long as the water isn’t going from your toilet to your tap, then no worries about the toilet, right?.  That bugs me.  (And don't even get me going on those forest-shitting bears who wipe their hairy asses with toilet paper!)

2) In the entirety of my life to date, there hasn’t been a lot of death in my family, or even my extended family.  Now, though, many of my relatives (parents, aunts, uncles, brothers) are getting up there in age.  For the past few years, I’ve been preparing myself for an onslaught of death to people I love and the emotional mess that this will cause me.  Any time a phone rings at home, at an unusual hour, I expect and prepare for it to be a call telling me so-and-so just died.  I’ve got death on my mind.

3) There are a few words I continually mis-type, every time I type them.  For instance, I always type it "Charlottetwon".  Not as bad as Rod, the guy I work with.  He always types "discount" as "discocunt".

4) I just turned down what may have been pretty easy money on a potentially long-term, periodic acting gig because I wasn't very impressed with the material or the .  I am torn between feeling good for having standards and feeling bad for not taking the easy money.  I will probably hate myself when the project succeeds and improves, and I am left with nothing.

5) I rarely arrive late to things. While this is often a good thing, sometimes I take measures too far to ensure I arrive on time or earlier.  I have begun to allow myself not to be on time if doing so causes me too much agitation.  I have begun to be more selfish.


So, I've done the first part of the assignment.  I will not, however, forward the request to others.  This arm of the 5 Things Meme ends right here.



Wednesday, January 10

Ugly Bitty

Is there anyone in the entertainment world uglier than Rosie O'Donnell?  And I'm, in no way, talking about physical appearance. And then to get embroiled in a ridiculous, petty argument with Donald Trump, who himself is downright ugly.

I've been trying to avoid paying attention to this dispute, but it's so gloriously ugly that I'm finding myself enjoying the one-downsmanship.

Oh, and Barbara Walters is ugly too.



Ugly Bitty

Is there anyone in the entertainment world uglier than Rosie O'Donnell?  And I'm, in no way, talking about physical appearance. And then to get embroiled in a ridiculous, petty argument with Donald Trump, who himself is downright ugly.

I've been trying to avoid paying attention to this dispute, but it's so gloriously ugly that I'm finding myself enjoying the one-downsmanship.

Oh, and Barbara Walters is ugly too.



Tuesday, January 9

Ow! My Balls!

I watched Mike Judge's ("Beavis and Butthead", "King of the Hill", "Office Space") latest film, "Idiocracy" the other night.  The movie was completed in 2004, but the studio basically abandoned it and chose not to promote or distribute it in any meaningful way.  Apparently, it was released only in seven cities, three of them in Texas, none in New York.
First off, I can understand if someone watched this movie and hated it.  I laughed way more than I thought I would, and I quite enjoyed it.  It's got some down-time moments, and there are scenes that don't quite work, but I suspect some of that may have been a result of Judge not getting money from the studio to polish those scenes.
Luke Wilson plays an average guy who is hibernated for 500 years (Maya Rudolph plays his average female co-hibernator).  They wake up in the year 2505.  In the interim, the population of the world has been totally dumbed down.  Imagine a world where the height of culture is a TV show called "Ow! My Balls!".  Idiocy, crass commercialism, and instant gratification rule the day and everyone is a moron.  So, compartively speaking, Wilson's character is seen as the smartest person in the world.  He has trouble fitting in, though, since language has devolved to such a state that someone who speaks even semi-coherently is considered "faggy".  Wilson is terrific, and Rudolph avoids playing herself as an SNL character and plays it straight and effectively.  There are also some terrific performances by others in the cast who are playing the idiots.
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie.  Grateful for the laughs it gave me, I was able to look beyond the few trouble spots it has.  Definitely a comedy worth searching out.


Technorati Tags: , , , ,



Ow! My Balls!

I watched Mike Judge's ("Beavis and Butthead", "King of the Hill", "Office Space") latest film, "Idiocracy" the other night.  The movie was completed in 2004, but the studio basically abandoned it and chose not to promote or distribute it in any meaningful way.  Apparently, it was released only in seven cities, three of them in Texas, none in New York.
First off, I can understand if someone watched this movie and hated it.  I laughed way more than I thought I would, and I quite enjoyed it.  It's got some down-time moments, and there are scenes that don't quite work, but I suspect some of that may have been a result of Judge not getting money from the studio to polish those scenes.
Luke Wilson plays an average guy who is hibernated for 500 years (Maya Rudolph plays his average female co-hibernator).  They wake up in the year 2505.  In the interim, the population of the world has been totally dumbed down.  Imagine a world where the height of culture is a TV show called "Ow! My Balls!".  Idiocy, crass commercialism, and instant gratification rule the day and everyone is a moron.  So, compartively speaking, Wilson's character is seen as the smartest person in the world.  He has trouble fitting in, though, since language has devolved to such a state that someone who speaks even semi-coherently is considered "faggy".  Wilson is terrific, and Rudolph avoids playing herself as an SNL character and plays it straight and effectively.  There are also some terrific performances by others in the cast who are playing the idiots.
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie.  Grateful for the laughs it gave me, I was able to look beyond the few trouble spots it has.  Definitely a comedy worth searching out.


Technorati Tags: , , , ,



Monday, January 8

Sore Neck

So, last week I spent two afternoons dressed up as a giant cigarette.  It was for some TV ads for Smoker's Helpline.  It was a great looking costume.  However, for one of the ads, I was required to be in the back seat of a minivan.  At over 7 feet of cigarette and me, I didn't really fit, so they had to take the seat out and I kind of crawled in and perched myself on the floor. It wasn't that uncomfortable a position, but I came out of the experience with a sore neck.  Kind of like a pinched nerve type of dealy.  That was Thursday, and today my neck is still sore.
Part of the problem is that I've been having difficulties with my pillow in bed.  It's too flat, yet if I combine it with a second pillow, it's too tall.

Anyway, is there any way I can sue Big Tobacco for my sore neck problem?  Successfully sue, I might add.



Sore Neck

So, last week I spent two afternoons dressed up as a giant cigarette.  It was for some TV ads for Smoker's Helpline.  It was a great looking costume.  However, for one of the ads, I was required to be in the back seat of a minivan.  At over 7 feet of cigarette and me, I didn't really fit, so they had to take the seat out and I kind of crawled in and perched myself on the floor. It wasn't that uncomfortable a position, but I came out of the experience with a sore neck.  Kind of like a pinched nerve type of dealy.  That was Thursday, and today my neck is still sore.
Part of the problem is that I've been having difficulties with my pillow in bed.  It's too flat, yet if I combine it with a second pillow, it's too tall.

Anyway, is there any way I can sue Big Tobacco for my sore neck problem?  Successfully sue, I might add.



Saturday, January 6

PEI Revue!!!!

Hey!  Did you know that the first annual PEI Revue is less than two weeks away?

What's the PEI Revue, you ask.  Well, it's a comedic look back at the year that just passed by on PEI.  It plays at the Carrefour Theatre Jan.18-20.

It's gonna be pretty funny, I think.  More details to come as the event approaches.



PEI Revue!!!!

Hey!  Did you know that the first annual PEI Revue is less than two weeks away?

What's the PEI Revue, you ask.  Well, it's a comedic look back at the year that just passed by on PEI.  It plays at the Carrefour Theatre Jan.18-20.

It's gonna be pretty funny, I think.  More details to come as the event approaches.



Friday, January 5

The Illusionist

After a couple of roles where I kind of got turned off of Paul Giamatti, I'd like to thank him for his performance in The Illusionist.  I thought he was terrific.  And I quite liked the movie, too.

And speaking of illusionists, those who are into being deceived and misdirected and befuddled, and who know how to find things on torrent sites, well, you should download search out "Derren Brown: Something Wicked This Way Comes".  It's a taped performance of his most recent stage show.  It's quite enjoyable, and the ending should really impress.  Thanks, by the way, to DaveM for turning me on to Derren Brown.

(See how I misdirected you there?  I started off by talking about Paul Giamatti in the movie The Illusionist, but I ended up selling you a pitch for a video.  Sorry, no links in this post)



The Illusionist

After a couple of roles where I kind of got turned off of Paul Giamatti, I'd like to thank him for his performance in The Illusionist.  I thought he was terrific.  And I quite liked the movie, too.

And speaking of illusionists, those who are into being deceived and misdirected and befuddled, and who know how to find things on torrent sites, well, you should download search out "Derren Brown: Something Wicked This Way Comes".  It's a taped performance of his most recent stage show.  It's quite enjoyable, and the ending should really impress.  Thanks, by the way, to DaveM for turning me on to Derren Brown.

(See how I misdirected you there?  I started off by talking about Paul Giamatti in the movie The Illusionist, but I ended up selling you a pitch for a video.  Sorry, no links in this post)



Thursday, January 4

SAG Nominations - Television & My Picks


Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Thomas Haden Church / BROKEN TRAIL
Robert Duvall / BROKEN TRAIL
Jeremy Irons / ELIZABETH I
William H. Macy / NIGHTMARES & DREAMSCAPES
Matthew Perry / THE RON CLARK STORY
Annekenstein Pick: Robert Duvall

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Annette Bening / MRS. HARRIS
Shirley Jones / HIDDEN PLACES
Cloris Leachman / MRS. HARRIS
Helen Mirren / ELIZABETH I
Greta Scacchi / BROKEN TRAIL
Annekenstein Pick: Annette Bening

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
James Gandolfini / THE SOPRANOS
Michael C. Hall / DEXTER
Hugh Laurie / HOUSE
James Spader / BOSTON LEGAL
Kiefer Sutherland / 24
Annekenstein Pick: (tough category) Hugh Laurie  (personal fave: Michael C. Hall)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Patricia Arquette / MEDIUM
Edie Falco / THE SOPRANOS
Mariska Hargitay / LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
Kyra Sedgwick / THE CLOSER
Chandra Wilson / GREY’S ANATOMY
Annekestein Pick:  Edie Falco

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin / 30 ROCK
Steve Carell / THE OFFICE
Jason Lee / MY NAME IS EARL
Jeremy Piven / ENTOURAGE
Tony Shalhoub / MONK
Annekenstein Pick:  Steve Carell

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
America Ferrera / UGLY BETTY
Felicity Huffman / DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
Julia Louis-Dreyfus / THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
Megan Mullally / WILL & GRACE
Mary-Louise Parker / WEEDS
Jaime Pressly / MY NAME IS EARL
Annekenstein Pick:  Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
24 - FOX
BOSTON LEGAL - ABC
DEADWOOD - HBO
GREY’S ANATOMY - ABC
THE SOPRANOS - HBO
Annekenstein Pick:  Deadwood

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - ABC
ENTOURAGE - HBO
THE OFFICE - NBC
UGLY BETTY - ABC
WEEDS - SHOWTIME
Annekenstein Pick: The Office



SAG Nominations - Television & My Picks


Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Thomas Haden Church / BROKEN TRAIL
Robert Duvall / BROKEN TRAIL
Jeremy Irons / ELIZABETH I
William H. Macy / NIGHTMARES & DREAMSCAPES
Matthew Perry / THE RON CLARK STORY
Annekenstein Pick: Robert Duvall

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Annette Bening / MRS. HARRIS
Shirley Jones / HIDDEN PLACES
Cloris Leachman / MRS. HARRIS
Helen Mirren / ELIZABETH I
Greta Scacchi / BROKEN TRAIL
Annekenstein Pick: Annette Bening

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
James Gandolfini / THE SOPRANOS
Michael C. Hall / DEXTER
Hugh Laurie / HOUSE
James Spader / BOSTON LEGAL
Kiefer Sutherland / 24
Annekenstein Pick: (tough category) Hugh Laurie  (personal fave: Michael C. Hall)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Patricia Arquette / MEDIUM
Edie Falco / THE SOPRANOS
Mariska Hargitay / LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
Kyra Sedgwick / THE CLOSER
Chandra Wilson / GREY’S ANATOMY
Annekestein Pick:  Edie Falco

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin / 30 ROCK
Steve Carell / THE OFFICE
Jason Lee / MY NAME IS EARL
Jeremy Piven / ENTOURAGE
Tony Shalhoub / MONK
Annekenstein Pick:  Steve Carell

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
America Ferrera / UGLY BETTY
Felicity Huffman / DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
Julia Louis-Dreyfus / THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
Megan Mullally / WILL & GRACE
Mary-Louise Parker / WEEDS
Jaime Pressly / MY NAME IS EARL
Annekenstein Pick:  Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
24 - FOX
BOSTON LEGAL - ABC
DEADWOOD - HBO
GREY’S ANATOMY - ABC
THE SOPRANOS - HBO
Annekenstein Pick:  Deadwood

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - ABC
ENTOURAGE - HBO
THE OFFICE - NBC
UGLY BETTY - ABC
WEEDS - SHOWTIME
Annekenstein Pick: The Office



SAG Nominations: Film & My Pick

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:
Leonardo DiCaprio - Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling - Half Nelson
Peter O’Toole - Venus
Will Smith - The Pursuit Of Happyness
Forest Whitaker - The Last King Of Scotland
Annekenstein Pick:   Leonardo DiCaprio

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:

Penelope Cruz - Volver
Judi Dench - Notes On A Scandal
Helen Mirren - The Queen
Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet - Little Children
Annekenstein Pick: Helen Mirren

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Departed
Jackie Earle Haley - Little Children
Djimon Hounsou - Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls
Annekenstein Pick: Leonardo DiCaprio

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:

Adriana Barraza - Babel
Cate Blanchett - Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi - Babel
Annekenstein Pick: Rinko Kikuchi

Best Ensemble Cast:

Babel, Bobby, The Departed, Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine
Annekenstein Pick: The Departed



SAG Nominations: Film & My Pick

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:
Leonardo DiCaprio - Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling - Half Nelson
Peter O’Toole - Venus
Will Smith - The Pursuit Of Happyness
Forest Whitaker - The Last King Of Scotland
Annekenstein Pick:   Leonardo DiCaprio

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:

Penelope Cruz - Volver
Judi Dench - Notes On A Scandal
Helen Mirren - The Queen
Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet - Little Children
Annekenstein Pick: Helen Mirren

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Departed
Jackie Earle Haley - Little Children
Djimon Hounsou - Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls
Annekenstein Pick: Leonardo DiCaprio

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:

Adriana Barraza - Babel
Cate Blanchett - Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi - Babel
Annekenstein Pick: Rinko Kikuchi

Best Ensemble Cast:

Babel, Bobby, The Departed, Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine
Annekenstein Pick: The Departed



Wednesday, January 3

Tuesday, January 2

Television

So, watching football on CBS this past weekend, and they were really pushing the advertising for a new "reality" show they have scheduled.  Cops & Stars or something like that.  Where "real stars" try to become "real cops".  It looks awful, and I'll not be checking it out.
Over on the History Channel, they're promoting a show they have.  I forget the name of it, but it's gotta be one of the dullest premises for a show I've ever heard. It's all about Canadian historical family trees?  I think that's what it's about.  Anyone ever see this program?  The commercial tries to make it all seem so exciting, but, man, I gotta imagine it's dull, dull, dull.  Is it as dull as I imagine it to be?



Television

So, watching football on CBS this past weekend, and they were really pushing the advertising for a new "reality" show they have scheduled.  Cops & Stars or something like that.  Where "real stars" try to become "real cops".  It looks awful, and I'll not be checking it out.
Over on the History Channel, they're promoting a show they have.  I forget the name of it, but it's gotta be one of the dullest premises for a show I've ever heard. It's all about Canadian historical family trees?  I think that's what it's about.  Anyone ever see this program?  The commercial tries to make it all seem so exciting, but, man, I gotta imagine it's dull, dull, dull.  Is it as dull as I imagine it to be?



Rob's Top Five Goals To Strive For...

5. I will strive to not view the Saddam Hussein Gets Hanged (or Hung) video(s).  I've never seen E.T., and I'll be damned if I watch this.  Further to this, I will also strive to continue my life-long goal of actively eradicating most celebrity gossip and "news" from my life.  (My friend, DaveS, vows to force me to watch E.T. when I'm old and infirm.  I swear to god, I'll fight it.)

4. I will strive to contribute at least one post a day to this blog.  I've gone blog-soft in the past couple of months.  it's not that I no longer have anything to say (not that I ever did), it's just that lately, any time I think about posting, it's followed by an "ah, why bother?".  It's time to either bother again, or never bother.  Before I never bother, I think I should try to bother.  One post a day.  At least.  How hard can that be?

3. I will strive to become more fit.  I know I'm not a "go to the gym" guy (but I'm not ruling out that I may, someday, be that kind of guy), but I can sure do more than I'm doing now, which is nothing.  I will try to develop and maintain a regimen of daily activity, even if the activity amounts to nothing more than a half-hour walk.  From fat acorns mighty oaks lose weight.  (I've been contemplating making a wild resolution where I vow to not eat KFC for a whole year.  But I'm smart enough to know that there's no hope of me keeping that one)

2.  I will strive to spend less time on the computer.  This may be counter-productive to goal number 4, but would most likely be of benefit to goal number 3.  Too much of too many days is spent idly surfing through the internets.  I realize that less time on the computer may result in more time watching TV (and may increase the difficulty of achieving goal number 5), so, as a sub-strive I vow to keep my television viewing habits in reign.

1. I will strive to engage more people in conversation this year.  I will also strive to be more engaging when people try to begin conversations with me.  Over the past couple of years, I've succumbed to a social-anxiety disorder, mired in an ever-empowered dread of social situations.  I have been letting my ultra-shyness beat me into a corner.  I need to begin to engage the world more (this one, by the way, will be even more difficult than not eating KFC for a whole year).



Rob's Top Five Goals To Strive For...

5. I will strive to not view the Saddam Hussein Gets Hanged (or Hung) video(s).  I've never seen E.T., and I'll be damned if I watch this.  Further to this, I will also strive to continue my life-long goal of actively eradicating most celebrity gossip and "news" from my life.  (My friend, DaveS, vows to force me to watch E.T. when I'm old and infirm.  I swear to god, I'll fight it.)

4. I will strive to contribute at least one post a day to this blog.  I've gone blog-soft in the past couple of months.  it's not that I no longer have anything to say (not that I ever did), it's just that lately, any time I think about posting, it's followed by an "ah, why bother?".  It's time to either bother again, or never bother.  Before I never bother, I think I should try to bother.  One post a day.  At least.  How hard can that be?

3. I will strive to become more fit.  I know I'm not a "go to the gym" guy (but I'm not ruling out that I may, someday, be that kind of guy), but I can sure do more than I'm doing now, which is nothing.  I will try to develop and maintain a regimen of daily activity, even if the activity amounts to nothing more than a half-hour walk.  From fat acorns mighty oaks lose weight.  (I've been contemplating making a wild resolution where I vow to not eat KFC for a whole year.  But I'm smart enough to know that there's no hope of me keeping that one)

2.  I will strive to spend less time on the computer.  This may be counter-productive to goal number 4, but would most likely be of benefit to goal number 3.  Too much of too many days is spent idly surfing through the internets.  I realize that less time on the computer may result in more time watching TV (and may increase the difficulty of achieving goal number 5), so, as a sub-strive I vow to keep my television viewing habits in reign.

1. I will strive to engage more people in conversation this year.  I will also strive to be more engaging when people try to begin conversations with me.  Over the past couple of years, I've succumbed to a social-anxiety disorder, mired in an ever-empowered dread of social situations.  I have been letting my ultra-shyness beat me into a corner.  I need to begin to engage the world more (this one, by the way, will be even more difficult than not eating KFC for a whole year).