How You Can’t Do That On Television Changed Kids’ Television

By Emily Carney

Like many kids, I was obsessed with Monty Python’s Flying Circus growing up. Python was featured on America’s Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), usually sandwiched between Doctor Who (with Tom Baker!) and a terrible British sitcom called ‘Allo ‘Allo. It had a great classically-rooted theme song, and was completely hilarious.

It should be explicitly stated, however, that Python was not, in any way, shape, or form, a kids’ TV show. It presented a lot of adult situations (“I LIKE TITS!” is actually a quote by Terry Jones, the Welsh member of the troupe). I would NEVER let my nephew and niece watch Python, as I don’t want to be collared for child abuse. So, when my parents were actually watching me, I’d switch the channel to Nickelodeon (a relatively new cable offering at the time) and watch the Canadian TV show, You Can’t Do That On Television. YCDTOT at its best was the preteen version of Python, and possessed its own brand of surreal, controversial humor. It also had a great attention-getting classical theme song.
(more…)

Just For Fun: Memories Of SCTV

By Emily Carney

Growing up in the early 1980s, television comedy was all about Saturday Night Live on NBC. Television sketch comedy was still in its infancy. SNL underwent sort of a strange period between 1981 and 1982 with the addition of entertainers like Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo, who elevated the show from being utterly boring and routine after the departure of the “Original Prime Time Players.” However, another television comedy show entered the canon in 1981, imported from Canada. Second City Television (or more commonly known as SCTV) became the “cult” antithesis of SNL, featuring mainly Canadian performers. In many ways, SCTV was “smarter” and more hilarious than its American counterpart, and here’s why.
(more…)

Ten Reasons Rock & Rule Is Here To Slay

By Less Lee Moore

Back in the ’80s, USA’s Night Flight, a late-night “variety” show, played a mix of weird videos and cult movies on weekends, essential viewing for kids who thrived on that kind of stuff. It was Night Flight that first introduced me to the wonders of Fantastic Planet (La Planète Sauvage), Smithereens, Ladies and Gentlemen . . . The Fabulous Stains, Urgh! A Music War, and Rock & Rule, an animated, epic sci-fi musical.

I’ve been watching it for more than 20 years now and Rock & Rule is still one of my all-time favorite movies. Here are ten reasons why.
(more…)

Sloan, The Double Cross

By Jemiah Jefferson

Canadian four-piece Sloan is one of the world’s most enduring cult-item bands (for everyone living outside Canada, that is; in the wily north, Sloan has been a ubiquitous source of pride for a large part of their twenty-year history). There’s a reason for this continued affection, slavishly on display at any of their raucous, friendly live shows: Sloan is a known quantity, and all ten of their albums lie on the spectrum between pretty damn good and iconically brilliant.
(more…)

I Now Pronounce You . . . Allie Hughes!

By Less Lee Moore

Drake Hotel, Toronto ON
February 9, 2011

Did I tell you about that Allie Hughes Valentine’s Wedding Spectacular I attended? I didn’t? Well, let me tell you, it more than lived up to its name.

It was at The Drake—yes, downstairs in that hotel—and perfectly lovely, with tons of votive candles giving the place a wonderful ambiance, and the pews arranged at an angle.
(more…)

Isn’t It Amazing? An Interview With Allie Hughes

By Less Lee Moore

Allie Hughes is a singer-songwriter-musician from Toronto, Ontario, but those three words seem completely inadequate when describing her rather unique, original, and eclectic sound. Though there are only four songs on her debut EP, they are incredibly engaging, veering from theatrical to power pop, and from avant garde to introspective. And everywhere in between. I caught up with Ms. Hughes to find out what it is that inspires her and where she is headed next.
(more…)

Whatever This Is, It’s Free: Ruby Coast’s New Album Download

By Less Lee Moore

If you haven’t yet heard Ruby Coast, now is your chance! I caught them last November (at the Meligrove Band‘s Shimmering Lights release party) and their live set is exuberant indeed.

Their new album Whatever This Is, is now available as a free download on their Bandcamp site.

Check out their tour dates while you’re at it. They play at The Brass Taps in Guelph on March 3 so you’ve got plenty of time to memorize the lyrics before the show.

You can follow Ruby Coast on Facebook to keep up with all the latest news.

Meligrove Band BUS FAIL $$$ RELIEF Party

By Less Lee Moore

From the Meligrove Band‘s Facebook page:

Friends! Our US tour in December hurt us real bad. We had to get our transmission rebuilt, stuck in the worst part of Orlando for five nights, missing the last half of our tour, and having to pay $4500! Our bank account is in ruins. Help us pay by partying with us and our friends!

(more…)

Best Of 2010: Megashaun

Here’s a list of stuff I was really into in 2010.

Music

Electric Six, Zodiac: This album arrived in the mail a few months before its actual release. When it arrived, I was so excited that I actually felt sick. So instead of listening to it right away, I read all the press notes that accompanied it. I listened to it the next day. I have listened to this album over 245 times. This is not a lie. Drive somewhere with me and you’ll hear it twice.
(more…)

Robin Hatch, Sheezer: Best Of 2010

New Music that I was into this year

Anamanaguchi, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Original Videogame Soundtrack
Wild Nothing, Gemini
Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (except for the song “Runaway,” which is the Emperor’s New Clothes of songs)
Anything Nicki Minaj does or is “feat.”-ed on
(more…)