Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Update

Upcoming Writing
Living Articles in the Journal
Friday, December 1 - Kid Stuff

Upcoming Comedy
Monday, December 11 - The Comic Strip

Television(as 'Martial' Art McNeil)
MPW Madness airs every Friday night (Saturday morning) at 1 AM

Dan Brodribb's headLINES appears every Saturday in the ed section of the Edmonton Journal

Be Dan Brodribb's friend on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/danbrodribb

Quiet week this week (at least professionally). I've been getting lots of writing done though, so that's always a nice feeling. People often ask me where I get my ideas. I actually find ideas easy. It's turning those ideas into a decent column that's the work. My next column, on kids, runs this Friday in the Edmonton Journal.

As well, a new episode of MPW MADNESS airs this week at the usual time. It'll feature SHANE O'RYAN's return to action and the INSANE IRISHMAN/FINAL CHAPTER match I went on about at some length a few weeks ago. Filming the lead-ins for the show was as smooth as it's ever gone. RIPPER and I are working like a well-polished machine. Or a well-oiled shoe. Or something.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Wednesday Night.

If you're wondering what every comic in the city will be doing Wednesday night, they'll be listening to CJSR at midnight. Here's why:

Powermann and Lars co-host a weekly radio show with a focus on stand up comedy every Wednesday at midnight (MST) on CJSR 88.5 FM. or you can tune in online at www.cjsr.com This week their guest is Doug Stanhope! He was host of the Man Show and Girls Gone Wild. But to comedians he is known for comedy and he is the HUGE!!!

"Ask anyone whose opinion matters, and they'll tell you Doug Stanhope is one of the top ten stand-ups in the world today. [...]" Chortle UK

If you have a question for Doug email us here at kkcjsr@hotmail.com.
Doug Stanhope myspace http://www.myspace.com/dougstanhope
Doug Stanhope website http://www.dougstanhope.com/"

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Update

Upcoming Writing
Living Articles in the Journal

Friday, November 17 - The Best Announcer in the World

Television(as 'Martial' Art McNeil)
MPW Madness airs every Friday night (Saturday morning) at 1 AM

Dan Brodribb's headLINES appears every Saturday in the ed section of the Edmonton Journal

Be Dan Brodribb's friend on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/danbrodribb

First of all, thanks to all who sent in birthday wishes. It means a lot.

My next Jounal article runs this Friday, and it's on my experiences as an announcer for Monster Pro Wrestling. Speaking of MPW, no pies in this week's MPW show, but it will feature two title matches: NITE vs. HEAVY METAL for the Jr. Heavyweight championship (It was a show-stealer live) and MASSIVE DAMAGE vs. DARREN "THE BOMB" DALTON in a barbed wire match. And yes, the shorts to which I refer in the article, are indeed the ones Massive Damage is wearing in the match.

The XM radio tapings at Yuks went well last Friday. I was the first act up on the late show, which means I didn't get as much of a chance to suss out the crowd as I would have liked. Still, I had a decent but not spectactular set. A lot of guys from Calgary came down, so it was great to see them. If I was better at names, I'd mention them, but they definitely established themselves as guys to watch. I also was glad to see KERRY UNGER again. On and off stage he's such a cool guy. If you get a chance to see him, do so. If you've seen the cartoon Yuk Yuks ads that run in SEE magazine every week, he's the guy behind them. Funny stuff. He's also part of THE NE'ER DO WELLS, a band that does some really funny songs. Look 'em up on myspace.

KATHLEEN MCGEE was co-middling Sunday at the Comic Strip with ANDREW IWANYK, while WELBY SANTOS headlined and KELLY SOLODUKA hosted. I enjoy watching all four of these guys (and gal), but I was most blown away at how much Kathleen and Kelly have both improved over the past few months. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Watching other people grow and develop is one of the coolest things in comedy.

Rehersals are underway for SURE-SHOT DUMBROWSKI, a feature length movie directed by TIM MCKORT. I have a small role, but I intend to be the best Russian Goal Judge ever. In other movie-ish news, BILL GEE, LARS CALLEIOU and I shot a short teaser to promote the Edmonton Journal's ed magazine with the help (and camera of DON CAMPBELL). Alternate takes also included a cameo by the one-and-only MAX MAULT. If it makes the website, I'll let everyone know.

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting the home of wrestler "MR. INTENSITY" MARK POSEY (and of course his wife, the lovely Mrs. Intensity). ECLIPSE and HEAVY METAL came along as well, and we discovered that Mark has a box full of old wrestling magazines from the days when the territories thrived and wrestling was treated as real. It made me realize how much times have changed, and how fortunate the MPW guys are. As far as I know, MPW is the only independent Canadian wrestling promotion with television, so our wrestlers gain some invaluable experience. If you happen to be reading this and are interested in getting involved in MPW as a wrestler, contact them through the www.monsterprowrestling.com website.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Update

Upcoming Comedy
Friday, November 10 - Yuk Yuks (Edmonton)

Upcoming Writing
Living Articles in the Journal
Friday, November 17 - The Best Announcer in the World

Television(as 'Martial' Art McNeil)
MPW Madness airs every Friday night (Saturday morning) at 1 AM

Dan Brodribb's headLINES appears every Saturday in the ed section of the Edmonton Journal

Be Dan Brodribb's friend on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/danbrodribb

They're having XM radio tapings at Yuk Yuks this Friday night. I'm on the 10:30 PM show with SEAN LECOMBER and a number of others. Hope to see you there.

This Friday night on MPW MADNESS I'm told we'll see the footage of my character getting pied by the Heatseekers. I expect there might also be some wrestling too, so tune in.

I MC'd Monday at the Comic Strip. MCing is one of the most personally challenging spots for me, but it's also one of the most rewarding. A good MC warms up the crowd and convinces them that the show they're going to see is the greatest show they will ever see. I've noticed a good MC also affects the way other comics, especially less experienced ones approach a show. A bad attitude is contagious and if the crowd isn't responding well, sometimes comic will go on stage already surly and hostile towards the audience. Other MCs are so great that when you go up, you feel ready to give your best, because they've made the crowd feel so welcome and comfortable, that you have a lot of freedom to do what you want.

Rehearsals for 'Sure-Shot Dombrowski' in which I'll be playing a small role start this Sunday. BILL GEE, LARS CALLEIOU and I are also planning to shoot something for the Edmonton Journal website on Monday. I'll keep everyone posted.
Upcoming Comedy
Sunday, November 5 - The Comic Strip (Edmonton)
Monday, November 6 - The Comic Strip (Edmonton)

Upcoming Writing
Living Articles in the Journal -TBA

Television(as 'Martial' Art McNeil)
MPW Madness airs every Friday night (Saturday morning) at 1 AM

Dan Brodribb's headLINES appears every Saturday in the ed section of the Edmonton Journal

Be Dan Brodribb's friend on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/danbrodribb

MPW Vendetta went really well. (My latest Art Gallery column is finally written and posted at www.monsterprowrestling.com in the News section.) There was some chaos backstage before the show and that's when you really appreciate having veterans around. WHile MASSIVE DAMAGE dealt with logistics, STEVE RIVERS really stepped up and got everyone organized for the promos and the show. I really enjoyed SHARP vs. INFERNO and NITE and HEAVY METAL told a cool story in their tag match.

My favorite though was FINAL CHAPTER vs. INSANE IRISHMAN. FInal Chapter was wearing a mask and a jumpsuit which makes him more initmidating, but also means that Irishman had to really use his face and body language to convey the story. Ironically, when you're trying to make someone look like an unstoppable monster, it's the guy getting his butt kicked who makes or breaks the match, and Irishman did a great job. It's always more fearsome when the guy fighting impossible odds is someone you care about, and considering he hasn't been back long enough for us to really get to know him as a competitor, Irish did an awesome job of making himself both likeable to the crowd, and also gutsy as he put everything he had into the match and refusing to back down. I hope that match makes it to TV as it is a great example of two guys putting a match together in a way where regardless of the outcome, they both leave looking better than when they went in.

(Funny story: My parents came out for the night and Mom had a great time clapping and cheering and joining in for all the chanting (this is especially funny if you know what my mom is like). Anyway, during the NITE/SICILIAN ASSASSIN vs. HEAVY METAL/STEVIE SAINT tag match, Stevie was playing the role of the plucky, resilient good guy, who despite taking a severe pummeling from the bad guys, can't be put away despite the villains' best efforts. While Nite was choking Stevie, a "Let's go Stevie!" Clap-clap-clap! chant broke out with my Mom joining in. The funny part was, Nite's mom was sitting beside mine looking all sad. When my mom talked to her, Nite's mom was like, "I know he's supposed to be a bad guy, but I really wish people would cheer for my son. Deep down, he's a very nice boy.")

At The COMIC STRIP last night, Radio personality PAUL BROWN was the host. Paul's a great guy, and even offered to listen to some of my commentary and give me some pointers. THE PAUL BROWN show takes place Weekday mornings on 100.3 the Bear and also features YUKON JACK who I've worked with for MPW. So give them a listen. The shows were great and also featured POWERMANN who hosts his own radio show with LARS CALLEIOU on CJSR FM 88, Wednesdays at midnight.

Anyway, I'm up again at The Comic Strip tonight. CHRIS NANNARONE is headlining, and ANDREW IWANYK will be the MC, so it should be an interesting evening. Hope to see you there. I'm also MCing tomorrow at the Strip for Hit or Miss Monday, which is a great chance to check out the UP and Coming comics in the Edmonton scene. I find MCing the most challenging spot on the show, but also one of the most rewarding. I hope to see you there. Come up and say hello.