Canadian Entertainment, Music and Catch All II

[SignalHillHiker]

He (buddy's grandfather) single-handedly led to two generations of Newfoundland children growing up with the mental impact of doing acid.

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[elly63]

Originally Posted by Architype

his grandfather was an iconic figure in Newfoundland, a Canadian media mogul who had some pretty outspoken social and political ideas.

Of the little I saw of him, he seemed like a loon. You have to admire his chutpah though, calling his SCTV operation Canada's Superstation.

I just found out after signal's post that Buddy's sister was a reality US TV star (Real Housewives of Orange County) I'm wondering what is the Nfld/Cali connection. were they spoiled rich kids who ended up in California, how did all that happen? Apparently gramps had a ranch in Arizona.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

He (buddy's grandfather) single-handedly led to two generations of Newfoundland children growing up with the mental impact of doing acid.
...

He was all for consciousness expansion!

I think "Waiting for Fidel", with Smallwood, was the most iconic masterpiece.

This is an excerpt, but you can find the complete documentary movie on YouTube.

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[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by elly63

Of the little I saw of him, he seemed like a loon. You have to admire his chutpah though, calling his SCTV operation Canada's Superstation.

I just found out after signal's post that Buddy's sister was a reality US TV star (Real Housewives of Orange County) I'm wondering what is the Nfld/Cali connection. were they spoiled rich kids who ended up in California, how did all that happen? Apparently gramps had a ranch in Arizona.

No NL-Cali connection, just this family. The dead guy's grandfather ran NTV (Newfoundland Television) - it still exists. These days it's basically a local version of CTV (kind of like Dominion here is just Loblaws everywhere else, the D logo here is even just the same L logo from the mainland flipped around), but it has quite a few local shows, and the most popular local evening news (CBC held that spot, but cut the NL portion from an hour to 30 minutes ages ago, and bombed in viewership. They've been an hour again now probably since Harper left and they've still never recovered, VERY distant second).

So, you know, one family, got rich, moved to the sun. They all do it. My father crashed the wedding of Danny Williams' kid in Florida, half accidentally.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

He (buddy's grandfather) single-handedly led to two generations of Newfoundland children growing up with the mental impact of doing acid.

We were making videos of that type when I was in TV school in the 80s. But then again we were still teenagers playing around and not adult broadcasters airing content for public consumption.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by Architype

He was all for consciousness expansion!

I think "Waiting for Fidel", with Smallwood, was the most iconic masterpiece.

This is an excerpt, but you can find the complete documentary movie on YouTube.

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Still giggle at this every time I pass it walking downtown.

[Architype]

Here's a little more background on the Newfoundland Cuba connection.

Fidel Castro meets Joey Smallwood and the Newfoundland press
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[elly63]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

No NL-Cali connection, just this family. The dead guy's grandfather ran NTV (Newfoundland Television) - it still exists. These days it's basically a local version of CTV

I know all about CJON, I used to have to deal with them. I knew of Geoff Stirling and have seen him enough on the station to get the picture (pardon the expression). I'm just wondering how Lydia became a star and the grandson was in Cali. I know nothing about them, had no idea who she is.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

I dunno, b'y. But media, we're everywhere. Even the ones you don't think have any connection to NL often do. Rosemary Barton is the only not-ours one whose name I can think of off the top of my head lol. The rest, either from here, or their parents were, or their spouse is, etc.

I'd like to know more. How about Peter Mansbridge? Ian Hanomansing is from NB. David Cochrane, Tim Powers, Tom Power, and a lot of the Canadian comedic world are from NL though. Most of the famous Ontario comedians and actors, etc. are basically American now.

Magnum PEI SCTV 1982 John Candy SCTV Second City TV Television
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[Metro-One]

So over the last seven months I have been making this animation. It’s my most complex (and longest) so far. All the cells are hand drawn (of which there were hundreds) and all the editing, voice work and sound design was done by myself. I can’t count how many hours it took. Of course it will never be seen by many because algorithms only seem to favor AI junk. But, I hope you enjoy. It’s a satirical take on “The Snap” from Avengers Infinity War. I couldn’t help but think of all the people that died in horrible accidents after half the population disappeared.

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[megadude]

Okay, so I know I always liked Harland Williams in his few small movie roles, especially in There's Something About Mary. I've been watching some clips from his podcast lately and didn't realize just how funny this man is in real life. And just like Marty Short and Will Arnett, he is right up there with the quick wit. And then there's his subtle facial expressions and mannerisms. I busted my gut open laughing at some of his off the cuff moments.

As far as I'm concerned, the three most quick witted comedians in the world are all Canadian. And like I mentioned in a post last year, some of the funniest awkward guys in the world are also Canadian, being Nathan Fielder, Michael Cera, Thomas Middlemitch and Jay Baruchel.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y5K3KsuQ_M


https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/arrested-development-will-arnetts-opinion-season-five/


https://www.tvinsider.com/people/martin-short/

Originally Posted by megadude

Staying on the topic of comedy, I've been listening to the Smartless Podcast with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett for about a year now. After listening to a few, I developed the opinion that Arnett might be the funniest person on the planet.

Sure, GOB in Arrested Development was funny, but he was over the top and not as funny as straight man Michael with his subtle humour. Or Michael Cera's awkward George Michael with his excellent comic timing. Or Tobias. I didn't pay much attention to him in his movie or TV roles after, though I did watch Bojack Horseman season 1. But that was just a voice. Where I really appreciate him is when he's just being himself and shooting the 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

I started watching hours of him on talk shows and the guy has me in stitches. He's unbelievably quick witted. Just like on his podcast. He has the funniest quips like .1 seconds after someone finishes speaking. It's like not humanly possible to process what someone is saying and then immediately respond with something funny that quickly. And you'll hear Bateman acknowledge that sometimes.

And interesting fact: His dad was CEO of Molson.

Then there's Marty Short. I never fully appreciated him before a few months ago. I'm not all that into his acting roles, but he's considered to be the greatest talk show guest of all time by many. And I see why. A few months ago I started consuming all his clips on Youtube and he has the same lightning quick wit as Arnett. But he also has that magnetic smile and charisma. He just draws you right in. And who knew he could do so many impressions. He's not known for that but he has quite a few up his sleeve.

And then I watched all clips from Jiminy Glick. Again, he can easily go off script and come up with some of the best improv you'll ever hear.

A lot of comedic actors or just people in the comedy world say Marty is the funniest person alive. It's based just on conversations they have with him. He is incredibly revered.

For stand ups, a lot of them think of Norm as a stand up's stand up. He was the favourite of people doing the same thing.

[megadude]

And here's a funny gal I hadn't known about until yesterday -- Lisa Gilroy. I don't know what took so long, but she's super funny and talented.


https://m.imdb.com/name/nm7060757/mediaviewer/rm1188781312/

[Taeolas]

And the CW in the States continues being the Canadian Network down there

They already air a number of other shows like Son of a Critch, Wild Cards and Sullivan's Crossing.

Now they've picked up both seasons of Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent to start airing this fall.

CITY has already aired both seasons up here (the season finale is this week), and I'm sure they'll green light more seasons with this new deal.

[elly63]

Here's a new one for me. This is the Muppets before Sesame Street and the first appearance of Kermit (as a frog) in this 1969 special shot in Toronto, Hey Cinderella!

Of course the Muppets go back to the mid 50s and they made numerous TV appearances on shows like Ed Sullivan but this is before they exploded on Sesame Street in late 1969.

This production seems timeless, I'm not sure if I could have pinned it to 1969 or saw it as being before Sesame Street.

I found it when I was looking at the IMDB page for the lovely and talented Belinda Montgomery (everything good in entertainment comes from Winnipeg). She made appearances in just about every US TV show in the 70s and 80s (I was just watching an episode of the old FBI)

And speaking of ubiquitous, and a familiar face to this thread, Robin Ward played Prince Charming.

Looking at the comments, it looked like a lot of people have seen it, first time for me.

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[Gresto]

I remember Montgomery from a superb, underappreciated film called The Todd Killings, in which a fellow named Robert F. Lyons gave a standout performance as a murderous cult leader. Montgomery was very attractive. I though she would be older.

[elly63]

While trying to track down a 1978 two part movie on the Massey's, I came across the Massey Commission Report. This along with the later Fowler Report helped create the shape of arts and culture (and for my main interest - television) as we know it in Canada. I've long heard of The Massey Report but haven't read it (until now)

These reports are discussed in When Television Was Young Primetime Canada 1952-1967 by Paul Rutherford

The Massey Report is a broad roadmap for the development of CBC television and even mentions the possible future implementation of colour TV.

It is interesting to see how the categories are prioritized, television is right near the top, so it was likely the primary focus of the study and where the public's interest was. The report was released on June 1, 1951 and television went online in September of 1952 first in Montreal and then Toronto.

Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences
1949-1951 (The Massey Report)

[Architype]

Originally Posted by elly63

...

The Massey Report is a broad roadmap for the development of CBC television and even mentions the possible future implementation of colour TV....

^ Massey was a famous name in Canada (e.g. Massey Hall), including a governor general, and Raymond Massey, one of the first big Canadian TV actors, who became a household name and star in the US, even playing Abe Lincoln in a 1940 movie Abe Lincoln in Illinois, and as a major character in one of the most popular American TV shows of the '60s. Perhaps one of the first American/Canadian media personalities.

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[elly63]

Originally Posted by Architype

Perhaps one of the first American/Canadian media personalities.

There were lots of famous Canadians in Hollywood before Raymond Massey. The family, of course, was derived from the farm implement company and had many noted members. Similar to the Eatons there was even a murder scandal

My favourite Raymond Massey role was as Andy Brock in the 49th Parallel. It was one scene at the end of the movie (Starts at 1:45). He utters a line that is reminiscent of the Duke, "I'm not askin' for those pants, I'm just takin' 'em" Classic.

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[Architype]

Originally Posted by elly63

There were lots of famous Canadians in Hollywood before Raymond Massey. The family, of course, was derived from the farm implement company and had many noted members. Similar to the Eatons there was even a murder scandal

My favourite Raymond Massey role was as Andy Brock in the 49th Parallel. It was one scene at the end of the movie (Starts at 1:45). He utters a line that is reminiscent of the Duke, "I'm not askin' for those pants, I'm just takin' 'em" Classic.

...

I'm sure there were more Canadians, like silent star Mary Pickford, and later Raymond Burr, even though Hollywood as we know it had not been around that long. Of note in the movie; Ruth Gordon of Harold & Maude fame was magnificent as Mary Todd, and you will find the "Trump" name mentioned at 39:37 minutes.

[elly63]

Brother and sister, Douglas and Norma Shearer from Montreal were nominated for Academy Awards 26 times and won eight. She was nominated for Best Actress five times (the first to do so) winning once.

He was nominated 21 times for Sound and Special Effects, winning seven. He won another seven Technical Academy Awards and was considered to have contributed more to sound on film than any other person.

Norma married the boy wonder movie mogul Irving Thalberg who was considered the most influential person in film making until his early death at 37.