October 2016

Nice Guy, Kevin Meaney

Kevin Meaney died last weekend. You may not know his name, but in stand-up comedy circles and among stand-up comedy nuts like me, he was a mainstay. Only 60, he was a favourite of Johnny Carson’s on The Tonight Show back when that was where comics got their big break. If Johnny invited you over to the couch, you became a star. Kevin always got to go to the couch.  …

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A Tale of Two Celebrities

The Kardashians are selling a brand. I get that. They are prettier than us and richer than us and having more fun than us. Well, they were until Kim was bound and gagged and held hostage in her Paris hotel room while bandits relieved her of millions of dollars worth of jewellery. The incident is said to have changed her life. Let’s hope so.  …

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It’s 11 O’Clock. Do You Know Where Your Children Are?

With those words, Irv Weinstein began the late-night newscast on Buffalo’s WKBW Channel 7. He was the big time, the Walter Cronkite for our generation. He left the airwaves 17 years ago but just his name conjurs up memories of mentions of Tonawanda, Lackawana and other exotic locales he brought to our little southern Ontario ears.  …

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Throwback Thursday – I (Don’t) Remember When

An old friend from the Wingham/CKNX days posted an old photo of me on Facebook last weekend. Usually, I can tell by the hairstyle – or my hair’s lack of style – what year it was. I’m pretty sure this was taken early on in my four-year stint at ‘NX. But I’m not certain.  …

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The Elder Statesman of American Rock

Not quite two-thirds of the way through Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography, Born to Run, I feel confident that I can give it five out of five stars, no matter what else is to come. I can already guess how it ends. Springsteen is still one of the top money-making stars in the business of rock and roll and at 67, he’s in better shape than most men 20 years younger. The book is simply excellent. It entered North American sales charts at number one.  …

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Throwback Thursday – Lee Roy and Lee Roy

When we named our Border Collie, we thought we were naming him after a future star. Lee Roy Parnell was an up-and-coming country singer and guitarist who had the push of Arista Records behind him and the respect of his fellow musicians. We loved his sound. Lee Roy the Border Collie was named in his honour.  …

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