Mike's Bloggity Blog

When the G20 starts this week in Toronto, some of the most passionate, disruptive and dangerous people in the world will also be gathering in Canada’s biggest city.  No, not Blue Jay or Leafs fans, I’m obviously talking about the protestors, not delusional sports fanatics.

Security has easily become the biggest expense of the international conference. By now you’ve probably seen or heard all about the 8-foot tall fence that surrounds the downtown core. Costing the city millions of dollars, the protestors have proven themselves as dangerous group that often commands such security. While I’ll never stand why our world’s leaders can’t just talk over skype like the rest of us, the city seems prepared for what will be a very tumultuous few days.

So what about the protestors?  I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind if we kept them around a little longer.  Sure they can be disruptive, unruly and dangerously aggressive, but since we are Canadians, why not get them to stick around and do some of the stuff we are way to nice to do ourselves?  Afterall, most of the protestors have traveled from all over the world, the least we could do is keep them busy.

So what do you do with a group as energetic and proactive as the G20 protestors?  Here are some ideas:

• Ottawa is only a train ride away.  Since they are so close, I wouldn’t mind if they protested the impending selection of the new Governor General. (At least until William Shatner is rightfully called to duty.)
• Being originally from the Maritimes, I always marvel at the fact that so many Canadians do not know about the deliciousness that is the McLobster.  Making sure that every McDonalds serves the Atlantic Canadian delicacy seems like just the thing these protestors can make happen.
• Mike Bullard.  Where the heck did Mike Bullard go?  The Canadian equivalent of Leno has been in the shadows for way too long.  Lets disperse the protestors and make finding the comedian our top priority.  If this can’t be done, I’d also accept Rita McNeil, The Moffats or the cast of Danger Bay.
• I really hate doing laundry.  These protestors seem to have a lot of time on their hands.  I am optimistic that we could work out some sort of arrangement.
• It may be just a few cents, but how annoying is it that we have to pay for the postage on our tax returns? I don’t know if the protestors have a call to arms or a bat signal, but I would like them to be all over this.

Betty White mania hits Canada!

When Hot In Cleaveland premiered on TVLAND last week, it became the highest rated episode in network history!  Too bad no one in Canada saw it.

The show stars Valerie Bertinelli (TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL), Jane Leeves (FRASIER) and Wendie Malick (JUST SHOOT ME), it also stars some girl named Betty White.

But even though it got huge ratings and only so-so reviews, just like Chelsea Lately and The Soup, Canadians were left out of Cleveland.

However CTV just announced yesterday that it has landed the rights to the new show! Seems like a smart move CTV!  But it also might be a little risky, it in it’s second airing this week in the USA, the comedy lost over 1 million viewers!

But no matter what happens, Hot in Cleveland on CTV means that Two and A Half Men has one less chance to thog another time-slot.  Sounds good enough for me!

Minus The Bear is one of those bands that you love more than anything, or you’ve never even heard of.

I am currently somewhere in between.

However, over the years Minus The Bear have won over fans and critics with an exhilarating live show and a sound uniquely their own. I’ve heard tidbits about them and over this weekend, I met this girl named Kat who said she’s travelled all over the USA and Canada following the band!  Now that is devotion!  Currently on tour across Canada, here’s your chance to win two tickets to see Minus the Bear in Calgary!:

June 25, 2010 Victoria, BC Sugar Nightclub
June 26, 2010 Vancouver BC Venue
June 27, 2010 Calgary AB Republik
June 28, 2010 Edmonton AB Starlite Room
June 29, 2010 Regina, SK The Distrikt
June 30, 2010 The Royal Albert Winnipeg
July 4, 2010 Mod Club Toronto

Let me know the name of their new single and video by Friday, June 25th at 6pm and you’ll be entered to tickets to their Calgary show, deluxe vinyl and an autographed CD of their new album, OMNI.

Leave your answer in the comments section.

Need a hint? It is right below this sentence.
But check out the song, you’ll love it. A perfect way to end a busy week!

Remember a couple of years ago when 50 Cent and Kanye West had a battle of record sales the week both of their albums were released on the same day?

While this past week, Canada had something very similar.  But instead gangsters and yuppy rappers, it was the virtually untested Drake going up against the legendary Sarah McLachlan as they battled it out for the #1 spot on the charts.

In the end, the much hyped Drake debut soundly beat McLachlin.  Final numbers were 31,000 copies vs. 22,000.  The former Degrassi star also topped the US charts with 446,000 copies against Sarah’s 94,000 discs sold.  That is a steep drop from the 361,000 copies sold when she released afterglow 2003!

Sarah McLachlin Lilith Fair starts this weekend, so hopefully that will perk up her sales at least a bit.  For for now, there is a clear winner.  Ladies and Gentlmen, I think we can officially say that Canada has it’s first rapper!

Sorry Snow.

No, you didn’t accidently end up on a technology blog.  But I did what to point up something really strange about this new Motorola phone.

They’ve called it the Motorola Calgary. Nope not the Toronto, Montreal or even Vancouver.  Nope, it is the Calgary.  Why you ask?  I have no freaking idea.  It doesn’t even look like a cowboy or anything!!!

And it isn’t even going to be sold in Canada.  Instead Verizon will be carrying it in the states.

A phone named after Calgary, that is weird, right?

Two pieces of news for fans anxious for two of the most highly anticipated Canadian reality/game shows in a long time!

Top Chef Canada
In a show of coprortate synergy, ET Canada correspondent Thea Andrews has been named the new host of the upcoming Top Chef Canada.  The show’s website says that  Andrews is a “passionate foodie”,( but I think the above picture proves otherwise.)

Thea joins Mark McEwan, who was previously announced at the head judge.

Expect to see Top Chef Canada premiere on Global next spring.

Wipeout Canada

You officially have one week left to get your application in for Wipeout Canada.  The Canadian edition will film in October in Argentina.

I got the chance to talk to the show’s host this past weekend and Ennis Esmer said that if you are going to apply, don’t over think it.  Write the first answer that comes to mind! Don’t try to be specifically funny or wacky, just be yourself!

Click here to fill out the application!

If you are dying for your Grey’s Anatomy fix, Rookie Blue is as close as you are going to get! (I’ll leave that interpretation up to you.)

The show, which was filmed in Toronto, premieres tonight on Global and on ABC in the states. And surely it is no coincidence that Rookie Blue premieres in Grey’s Anatomy’s usual timeslot.

The rookie cops of the Toronto precinct are young, beautiful, naive and most importantly eager.   Their bosses are grumpy, sullen and love to tease the new guys.

There is obviously nothing too new here.  Missy Peregrym is enjoyable in the lead as Andy McNally, since her dad already works in homicide, she is the female cop with something to prove.  She even gets called Bambi in the first day, but what fun would a show be if it started out with a strong, confident female lead be, right? And the Grey’s Anatomy comparisons don’t stop there.  McNally even fights with an older cop who somehow ends up with his both his shirt and pants off, but don’t worry they don’t like eachother, so they probably won’t fall in love. See where I’m going here?

I could see how someone more cynical might not like Rookie Blue.   While it would have been refreshing  if it wasn’t not be so by-the-numbers, it doesn’t pretend to NYPD Blue.

But this Rookie is like that boy or girl you date at summer camp.  You know that it is never going to turn into something serious, but it is summer, so why not?

It what sounds like the making of a really great coming of age drama or really raunchy porn, three teenagers from New Brunswick who almost missed their prom will finally be able to go with their classmates!

On June 11^th, the three boys from Quispamsis, NB streaked through Kennebecasis Valley High School. It was the last day of classes and to celebrate the three of them took off their clothes and ran through the school’s hallway, foyer and parking lot. Since they were wearing masks, they were initially hard to identify. I’m assuming that is when the school slut came forward and named names. (Oh don’t cringe, every school has one.) The boys were swiftly punished by the school’s crotchety old principal and were told that they wouldn’t be able to attend their own prom.

Seriously who streaks through their own highschool? This is something that really should wait for University or even later. Do you remember what you looked like it high school?! Let me generalize and assume, not very good. According to my rough estimates, only 1% of teenagers are not growing hair in weird places and back pimples.

Hilariously enough, the boy’s own parents protested and the principal made revoke his decision. Inteasd the teenagers will have to deal with the fact that their entire class are aware of their shortcoming and have no shot at getting laid on prom night.

If you are creepy and want to know what the boys look like, check out their classmate’s supportive Facebook page.

How are you going to celebrate?

Sure you can be festive with sun, beer and fireworks, but why do that fun stuff when you can finally be able to play Monopoly: Canadian Edition.

I always have such fond memories of playing the game when I was a kid.  You see, my family was uber-competitve and if you ever left the table to get the phone or go to the bathroom, it was like giving my siblings the right to cheat.  Needless to say, the Morrison’s saw more than their fair share of bladder infections.

Upsettingly, not a single maritime city made the entire board game.  And while the choices were made based on Canadian’s votes, it is hard to fathom that four entire provinces are left out of the game.  Seriously Sussex, where the hell were you?!

And the entire city of Chatham-Kent (pictured above), Ont must have incredibly sore fingers, that city won the coveted Boardwalk spot on the board. It’s dark-blue partner is none other than Canadian hotspot Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que (?!)

In total the contest garnered more than one million votes on the Hasbro website during a six-week period earlier this year.

Here is the full list of cities are:

- Dark Blue: Chatham-Kent, Ont.; Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que;

- Green: Calgary; Sarnia, Ont; Edmonton

- Yellow: Windsor, Ont.; Quebec City; Trois-Rivieres, Que;

- Red: Medicine Hat, Alta.; Gatineau; Shawinigan, Que;

- Orange: Kawartha Lakes, B.C.; Chilliwack, B.C.; Montreal

- Magenta: Kelowna, B.C.; North Bay, Ont.; St. John’s

-  Light Blue: Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver,

-  Brown: Beauceville, Que.; Banff, AB

On Tuesday morning I was at the press conference for the Canadian Comedy Awards.  Truthfully, I had never heard of the awards but I’ve always thought comedy was the hardest form of entertainment, so I’m happy to see that so many hard-working Canadians will be getting recognition for their incredibly funny work!

Here are some of the nominees. Make sure you check out the website to see the complete list!  The Canadian Comedy Awards will be handed out this October!

Shockingly the entire cast of Video on Trial was ignored.  (You can take that as a sarcastic remark or not.)

Congrats to all the nominees, I wish I could be 5% as funny as you are!

Male Stand-Up
Chuck Byrn
Irwin Barker
Jeremy Hotz
Mike Paterson
Pete Zedlacher

Female Stand-Up
Allyson Smith
Jo-Anna Downey
Kate Davis
Kristeen von Hagen
Laurie Elliott

Stand-Up Newcomer
Amanda Brooke Perrin
John Hastings
Julien Dionne
Mark DeBonis
Pardis Parker

Web Clip
Being Erica – Erica’s Blog – The Phone Message
Improv Monologue Project #35 George Basil
Running of the Bullshitters
The Button
The Return of Billy Bob on Q (see video below)

Canadian Comedy Person of the Year

Brent Butt
Colin Mochrie
Irwin Barker
Russell Peters
Seth Rogen

And speaking of Seth Rogan, here is the new trailer for yet another comic book movie, The Green Hornet.