tv show

Frank Zappa and the Monkee’s

March 21, 2011 by Chris

Since I was a kid I was glued to the TV when this musical series called The Monkees were on. I was just introduced to the playing guitar in Miss Lord‘s class and I found the Monkees music was so catchy. I thought that the band had to be popular because it was constantly on the radio. Also the band had to of been even cooler because my older brother and sister were listening to them on vinyl albums. Technology back then rocked!

Now being a little more mature, musically that is, when I view a couple of their earlier shows on line I tend to pick up some unexpected treasures in those shows that I wasn’t really aware of back then. To see what I mean read on.

At work I’m always chatting with surgeons that use to play guitar in high school bands and our talks always revolves around obscure musical topics. This one day one of them told me about this particular Monkees episode that had Frank Zappa on it. Then right after saying this, this other surgeon chirped in and said that he was a massive Frank Zappa fan that went to see Zappa plays Zappa last year. Small world eh?

I then said, Really … Frank Zappa on the Monkees? You’ve got to be kiddin’ me. So off we went to a computer, did a quick youtube search and bang, there it was right in front of us.

Frank Zappa in a short clip on the Monkees show..

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOI-SDYGviM&feature=related

Michael Nesmith playing Frank Zappa and Frank Zappa playing Michael Nesmith interviewing each other as the other person, hilarious!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNJy-OgCzB0

Any Zappa fans out there?

Keep on Jammin’

The Hour on CBC TV

August 28, 2009 by Chris

The Hour is a Canadian TV talk show with host George Stroumboulopoulos. The Hour has had some fabulous guests in the past and I’m more then sure many more to come.

It’s one of those great Canadian shows that allows their guests to be perfectly relaxed to in a public forum. George provides us a candid glimpse into his guests personal and private lives. He it seems to make his new friends feel like they’re all just sitting around the kitchen table, having a coffee and shooting the breeze. in my eyes, George is one of Canada’s greatest interviewers today!

George was first brought to the public’s attention way back when he was a young video VJ from the old Much Music scene. This is a music station in Canada that shares a similar format to music channel MTV in the US.

The musician’s that have been on the show are perfectly suited to his hosting skill set.
Some of the more resent ones that I really liked was the Canadian singer called K-os. George invites him to just relax and chill on his show.

Some non musicians that have been on the show is impressive as well. Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter’s piece was very insightful and moving to my wife and I. You know I did not realize that bob Dylan’s song Hurricane was about this great man, huh!

Has anyone seen The Hour on CBC? If so, what do you think! should he continue in this format Or should he be back at Much Music?

George, Keep on Jammin’

Good Times are making me feel quite old!

August 13, 2009 by Chris

Chelloooooo, remember that greeting? It’s from kid DYNOMITE!!!!!!!!!! Ain’t we lucky we got/had ’em, GOOD TIMES!

The theme song is what made we write a post about it. My wife and I subscribe to this TV channel called Deja View and it’s just full of all our old time favorite TV shows! This is one of those songs that keep running through my mind when something I hear reminds me of it.I love this theme song so much that I sing it at work every once in a while.

While bringing patients from the recovery room back to where ever they are going, I hum a few songs here and there, and from time to time, I catch the patients jumping in with words of just humming along with me! It’s a hell of a lot of fun to do this and it really helps make the patients and their family/visitors relax and feel more at home.

This classic 70’s TV show was first aired in February 8, 1974 and ended on August 1, 1979 It taught us many life lessons and helped brake down some racial barriers that existed at the time.

The cast was Esther Rolle (Florida why did they name me Florida Evans, John Amos was James Evans, Ja’net DuBois played Willona Woods(that crazy neighbour), Jimmie Walker was the unforgettable James “J.J.” Evans, Jr., Bern Nadette Stanis was Thelma and Ralph Carter as Michael.

Trivia about the show.

This spinoff of the TV series, Maude, centered on the Evans family. In Maude Esther Rolle had portrayed Florida Evans, the black housekeeper, but in Good Times Florida and her family were struggling to survive in a South Side ghetto in Chicago.

Michael doesn’t have a room. He sleeps on the couch in the living room with J.J.

Posters that appear in Thelma’s Room: 2 of Sly Stone, 1 of Carlos Santana
In a rare moment for the early episodes of the series, Thelma actually stands up for J.J. and even says how much she misses him after he leaves. I didn’t see that one coming, did you?
Willona states her ex-husband is named Alvin. In the fourth season he is named Ray. I did not know that!

I have so many favorite episodes that it’s just ridiculous! Which ones do you remember the most or had a lasting memory to you?

Temporary lay offs. Good Times. Easy credit rip offs. Good Times. Scratchin’ and surviving. Good Times. Hangin in a chow line. Good Times. Ain’t we lucky we got ’em. Good Times.

Keep on Jammin’

Frank Zappa and the Monkee’s

The Hour on CBC TV

Good Times are making me feel quite old!

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