Don’t Believe A Word I Say with Bob Segarini

The Monday Morning Mailbag for December 13^th, 2009

In today’s Mailbag: Letters, Lists, and Holiday Memories!

There’s a lot of stuff today, so let’s get right to it, okay?

Mark Vukovich: ood mailbag Bob…Fitzgerald wrote a column about my Mom and her friends from Stockton High..they were called DeccaBeta…ten friends. Elsie Ratto, Rachel Cavegnaro, Pearl Raggio, Doris Zolezzi, Mag Mazzera, Dody Miglori, Betty Murphy, Doris Abdallah, Juanita Braeton, and my Mom LaVerne Yost..they remained close friends for over 60 years meeting once a month for lunch. Most are gone now cept’ for Pearl, Betty and Mom.

SEG SAYS: Wow! Some familiar names there. The hot and smart Donna Ratto, Lenny Cavegnaro, (Cavegnaro’s shoe shop on Pacific Avenue in the Miracle Mile), David Mazzera, Tom Miglori and his older brother, Pete, their dad, owned a downtown dry cleaners. Were these friends of your mother’s their mothers or aunts? Tom and I were best friends in grade school, Donna lived around the corner on Mariposa Avenue, I knew a Raggio, too, Karen, also a hottie,.  Your list brings back a lot of memories. Fitzgerald is a great writer, and I read his columns every week.

Michael Fitzgerald www.recordnet.com

Lisa McDonald: I adore American Graffiti, Bob! And now thinking of you as the Dreyfuss character, I like it even more. I’m gonna start calling you Curt.

SEG SAYS: Great film, and as accurate a depiction of the time and place as there ever will be. Harrison Ford’s character, Bob Falfa’s late model ’55 Chevy was very similar to the ’56 I drove in high school…

Carla Lockhart: I want that yodeling pickle!

SEG SAYS: If I had a nickel for every time a woman has said that to me…

Denise Keirstead:…and the Elvis talking head would be kinda fun minus the peanut butter and bananas LOL. Still working on my top ten list Bob, have the rough draft done now just have to type it out and email you when I have some time. Merry XMas !!

SEG SAYS: Merry Christmas to you, too, Denise. You have until December 28^th at the absolute latest to submit your year end list.

Leanne Lockwood and the Miracle of Trout Creek Michigan…

Lisa McDonald: OMG, that’s so creeeeepy!

SEG SAYS: Creepy in an “Alien Encounter” way, or creepy in a “Sarah Palin might be President someday” way?

Mark Vukovich: DUDE…you all were in the Twilight Zone…there’s no other explanation…! Another great read that had me laughing out loud. My Mom comes in and say’s “On that Damn computer again..!” She’s 90 and doesn’t understand these new fangled communication devices..!

SEG SAYS: Vuke…she’s 90! She doesn’t have to understand anything! Give her a big hug for me the next time she yells at you. You’re lucky to have her there…

Gary: There’s a sign post up ahead that says, ‘You’re Now Entering the Twilight Zone.’
You never fail to amaze me Bob, thanks for a great read….Gary in Santa Rosa, CA

Pie: Beautiful story! Not to get personal, but I’ve always thought you were my proof that happy endings are possible.

SEG SAYS: Awww…

Don Lamont: This segment sounds like an episode from that old tv show Eerie Indiana. Can’t wait for next Wednesday’s episode!

SEG SAYS: Cool…haven’t thought about that series in years. Great premise, could have used l little better writing pool…

Jim Chisholm: This one was a great episode, Bob. I’m still holding my breathe.

SEG SAYS: If you turn blue, it is NOT my fault…

Carla Lockhart: Wow! This is getting really really good!!! I think you had a “Calling All Angels” moment!

Michele Hartley: I believe!! Great beginning too, I’m saving it to read and think on… wise you are.

Denise: There may be higher forces at work here, and its up to us to choose to believe that.I sincerely believe that there are signs in our lives but sometimes we look the other way or never acknowledge that our angels are watching us, and God has answered our prayers. In this story it most certainly makes sense and I would not try and explain it any other way. Bless you Mrs Lockwood wherever you are!!

SEG SAYS: I have to admit, it is still one of the biggest mysteries I have experienced in my life. Thanks for your comments, Ladies, here’s Melanie Pickrell (Bishop) with some more “Eerie” information…

Melanie Pickrell aka Bishop: Hey Frank Gutch Jr. From your note, I am assuming that you think I live in Canada? I live in Hollywood and am now a special education teacher at a downtown middle school in gritty Los Angeles. eons away from the Wacker daze and I have no connections to anyone that could produce a screenplay or tv reality show. Nice idea though someone else will have to run with this idea, I am up to my eyes in crazy middle school students which are alot like rock and roll musicians except they are not quite as high as they were.

I can remember this like it was yesterday. I thought for sure Paula and I could make it to the little house, but it was so cold the inside of my nostrils were freezing up. I remember thinking of the little engine that could I think Paula and I were even chanting “I think I can I think I can” hiking in knee deep snow which for me being 4? 11? was more like waist deep snow. I knew we had to get to that house! I told her we were traveling and had broken down on the freeway I told her we were with a band and that you all had long hair and were dressed funny but were really good decent people from the far away land California. And could we all please please come in and get warm. She didn’t even hesitate just said “Sure honey go and get your friends.”

When Randy and I drove to Montreal to move there the next year we stopped in Trout Creek to look for Leanne’s house. We drove around for an hour. No bridge, no house, nothing that could be seen from the highway. When we moved back to California in 1975 we tried to find her again…NOTHING! She was real and she did nothing short of save all our lives. Was it a mass hallucination? Nope. There was real food, a real TV, and real beds. I would love for some sleuth out there to prove she existed. She did she really, really did. Just like at the end of Miracle on 34th Street little Natalie Wood says, “I believe, I believe it is silly but I believe.”

SEG SAYS: Still gives me bird-flesh just thinking about the night we spent in that house. Note: In Mel’s original post, she name-checked Natalie Wood’s Christmas Classic as “Miracle on 54^th Street”, and being much closer to Times Square and a rather seedy part of New York back when the movie was made, may have been the heartwarming story of a stripper getting her wings after giving Santa a lap dance…

Holiday Memories…

=Ae=: I still confuse jereboams with those jumping desert rodents …
Minnow and Bagel – I love it.
& =V’Spryte=(tortie) & =Whiskey C. Howl= (tabby)

SEG SAYS: A Jereboam of champagne is a giant bottle of fun…Those Jumping Desert Rodents are called ‘Border Police’.

Kitties, like children, make the holidays that much more enjoyable. The mad dance of chasing paper, tearing it to ribbons, and jumping in and out of every open box is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, who tend to just stay in their barrel and play gin…

Johnny Van Veld: Thanks bob…These are wonderful thoughts @ this time of year…keep rockin’…

SEG SAYS: Yes sir…continuing to rock! Thank you!

Dave Saunders: Bob, another great read, especially the memories part. With regards to the TV shows, I think all reality TV sucks. I have over 900 channels with Rogers and other than the music channels I watch about maybe 20 from channel 39 Showcase to channel 85 National Geographic and that it as I’ve blocked out the rest. You know there’s still nothing wrong with reading a good book, especially with all the titles to choose from these days!!!

SEG SAYS: I LOVE TV…but like you, I am not fond of 99% of the ‘Reality’ shows they keep throwing at us. Most of them are scripted and aren’t very ‘real’ at all. Basically, a lot of them are like “Professional” Wrestling. heroes and villains for us to cheer or jeer. There are a lot of really good, quality entertainments on the tube these days for tastes of all kinds. Check out the lists elsewhere in this column.

Speaking of good books, I’m currently ‘reading’ Stephen King’s latest, “Under The Dome”, a perfect return to form for the horrormeister. However, I’m reading it with my ears…via the downloaded audio book. Over 30 hours covering the entire 1000 word plus novel. Best thing he’s written since “The Stand”., although I’ve really enjoyed almost all of his horror novels, “Cell”, too…

Carla Lockhart: Say it ain’t so!!! No more Flight of the Conchords?!?! I am bummin’ big time. I feel just like I felt when they cancelled Mystery Science Theater. Boo hoo.

SEG SAYS: I’m with you there. MST 3000’s deconstruction of one of the great ‘50’s sci-fi films, “This Island Earth”, still makes me laugh out loud. The Conchords tour live, you know. They played 2 sold out nights here earlier this year. Maybe they’ll show up in your area in the future.

Jim Chisholm: Yeah Bob, there’s very little on TV these days that excites me. The greatest tragedy is the complete failure of the music channels to channel music. It looks like I’ll be working on Christmas day and will get paid double time. Christmas for me is about friends and family and increasingly about the great XMAS music that is out there. But I’ll get my visits in in spite of the holiday shift. Best to you and yours.

SEG SAYS: Yeah. People are always telling me that there isn’t any use for music videos on TV anymore because of YouTube, and other Internet sites like Vevo. Bullshit. Who wants to sit in front of their computer searching for and watching music videos one at a time, trying to remember which ones you liked? I wish MTV and MUCH would fire up video channels and run videos in programs delineated by decade, (‘50’s, ‘60’s, ‘70’s, ‘80’s, etc), now wouldn’t THAT make awesome aural/visual wallpaper? Best to all the Chisholms too, Jim

John Richard Van Veld: Love the stories Bob… very cool..

Michele Hartley: Ah, memories!! I enjoyed yours! …my favorite holiday was spent with a little sister and her two little ones when she was down on her luck.. baking a chicken in a broken oven, (it was sort of rubbery but the laughter while eating it made up for that), making curtains for her windows while we waited for it to cook, crushing beer cans she’d picked up to sell later in the evening.. hopping around on em like the goofy girls we were while singing carols…tap dancin’ when they’d get stuck around our shoes.. : ) our kiddo’s roaring with laughter : )..it was a wonderful day and one of my most favorite memories.

SEG SAYS: Now THAT is a great story. Thanks for sharing, Michele…

John Edwards: Thank you for including Aaliah in your article today.

It is one thing to be acknowledged by you friends and family but your approval of Aaliah’s music Saturday at Studio 9 means a lot to everyone especially Aaliah.

It was a pleasure meeting you and Jade.

Thanks again.

SEG SAYS: Thank you, John…it was our pleasure as well. Waiting for the finished mix of “On the Radio” so I can play it for all the folks here.

John McAdam: I was reading your latest column on FYIMusic and was pleasantly surprised (understatement of the year) to read the nice piece you did on Sans Harbour. We only do these recordings for the fun of it and its great when someone else gets some enjoyment from it.

Every year or so when we have enough stuff recorded we make CD’s and give them to our friends for Christmas presents. We do all the artwork and printing (and cutting) at home so it takes forever. We’ve got another one ready now and this time we’re talking to George about making them for us so we’ll send you one when it’s done. Anyway, thanks again for the nice words.

SEG SAYS: Dude…a great track deserves to be heard. Glad you and the rest of Sans Harbour are still recording. I’d love to hear all the ‘private release’ CD’s you have made, maybe put together a ‘Best Of” and make it available for download at a reasonable price…

Reader’s Year End Lists…

I expected more of you to chime in on your best and worse choices for 2009 and the ‘Noughties’, but so far, only 2 of you have responded. C’mon, gang, share your lists with us! Just email them to segarini@fyimusic.ca and put ‘Year End Lists’ as the subject header. Here’s your chance to express your opinions to a whole raft of people.

Here’s our first two readers submissions, followed by my ‘Best of 2009’ Television list…

Denise Slocum’s 2009 Top Television and Movies…

This is my Top Ten shows/movies that I thought were worthy of getting a mention for one reason or another.

10. Two and Half Men

Charlie Sheen is working his bad boy reputation. Maybe Tiger can get some tips from him

Seriously though It does have the maid who really is hilarious!

9. The Fringe.

Good show if you like Aliens and weird things you will never encounter in your lifetime.

8. The Sopranos

Somebody is going to get beat up or killed and the actors really look like they would

be mobsters in real life.I would hope to never piss one of these people off or their relatives.

7. HOUSE

The reason I watch this show is because you never know what kind of illness they will come up with next. Plus Dr House can be a jerk at times but you have to laugh and be

thankful that your Doctor is not like that.

6. Hannibal.

Really gross I think I really only sat and watched the last 10 mins and it made my stomach turn, looking at something frying in the pan that may have been some guys brain

5. My Name Is Earl.

This is one funny show. Laughing out Loud funny. The guy is going around making amends to all the people on his list something 250 things he has to do to make it up to people he has wronged in his life.

4. Paranormal State, Celebrity Ghost Stories, Intervention

Freaky Scary stuff. All on AE I find myself again wondering why I am watching these

shows. If I had a choice between watching Andy Griffith or reruns or old westerns!.

Today they had David Carradine talking about his recent wife’s departed husband who seemed to enjoy hanging out in their bedroom closet.

3. Marley and Me

Loved this movie, Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson and this most lovable crazy Lab

Made me cry.

2. Hoarders.

Crazy people like to collect a lot of shit. In one episode the old lady hadn’t cleaned out her fridge for a year or so and the guy involved in helping them out almost barfed when he looked in there, then I almost barfed. I don’t watch this show much anymore

1. Criminal Minds.

Bad people they refer to as UNSUBS. The writers must be working overtime because there always seems to be some weird wacko out there needing to be caught and following along with the process to find them can get pretty tense at times.

Denise Slocum

Pie’s 2009 Top Movies…

Wow…I haven’t posted anything for a really long time.
And lucky for you, this entry won’t be a self-indulgent stroke fest of social commentary and know-it-all-ism like all my other entries so far.

No, no, this one will be like so many other articles posted in the month of December:
What were the best three films of 2009?
I must admit, I didn’t see too many movies this year, but I saw my fair share. So let’s get this started.

As you may have noticed by now, I both saw and loved Watchmen and Star Trek. These are definitely my top 2 films of 2009. But which one comes first? I love them both – they honestly made my year. Although I wound up seeing Star Trek a personal record-breaking 8 times in theatres, I think I’m going to have to go with Watchmen for the #1 spot.

Both Star Trek and Watchmen were exciting, well written and directed and perfectly executed. They also both shared the arduous task of re-inventing something that had come before. Both Zack Snyder and JJ Abrams did an amazing job of pleasing the fan boys when it came to making sure the characters in their stories were “fair representations” of the ones in the comic book/original series. Both films also revitalized the fandom they represented: sales of the Watchmen graphic novel and Original Series Star Trek merchandise skyrocketed after the release of these movies. New fans were brought into the fold.

So, if both films were so culturally significant, why do I think Watchmen deserves to be on the top of the list? I have a few reasons. In no particular order….

1. Music – the soundtrack to Watchmen was incredible. They took old songs and, just like the fandom, brought to them a new life. Star Trek only had a score – a good score – but just a score. Watchmen used actual songs – and great ones at that. I always loved Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable,” but I never dreamed it could be played during a fight scene. And Leonard Cohen as baby makin’ music? No way! But they made it work, and I find that incredibly impressive. The soundtrack is on my ipod.

2. Theme – Star Trek had a great plot, but that plot was not meant to inspire people to think differently. Watchmen was very deep. You walked away from it questioning things: Is Rorschach’s black and white definition of morality grounded? Did Ozymandias do the right thing by annihilating NYC? Was The Comedian really a good person? And so on…. Star Trek, although well written and exciting, did not provide an opportunity to philosophize and rethink certain issues. In that capacity it was more juvenile – a classic story with a happy ending that did the thinking for you. No one can really be sure if the ending to Watchmen was a “happy” one – it was left up to you to decide. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not knocking the classic, simple story. In today’s shitty economy, it’s nice to have a little escapism. In real life, Kirk would never have made it into Starfleet in the first place because he would have accidentally driven his step dad’s car off the cliff at age 13. But, it’s not real life, and that’s why it was fun. It’s fun to see things go well for a change – the guy actually gets the girl, the bad guys actually get what’s coming to them, the farm/teen centre doesn’t get torn down, etc. However, if that’s what’s important to you when it comes to movies, then Watchmen is not the movie for you. Realistic shit happens in it. Good people die. Cities get blown up 35 minutes ago. But, personally, I’ve always valued a crappy reality over a perfect fantasy. It may be shit, but at least it’s real shit. *Insert joke about “Shampoo”*

3. Cinematography – Star Trek had some amazing CGI beauty shots of the Enterprise. When they pull out of warp behind the rings of Saturn – it’s breathtaking! But, sorry Mr. Abrams, you used far too many lens flares. I am not a film maker, so if I can tell something was visually overused, it was REALLY overused – to the point of looking cheesy. I can’t think of a complaint regarding Watchmen’s cinematography, which is why they win in this category as well.

4. *Hangs head in shame* Guhhhh…. – Here’s where I lose all credibility and you stop reading. Honest to God, my 4^th reason for Watchmen supremacy is…the cast was super hot. I mean SUPER HOT!!! GROIN-GRABBINGLY GREAT!!! Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian has caused me to ruin more pairs of pants than a toddler with a squirt gun full of mustard. HE LIT A CIGAR WITH A FLAME THROWER, PEOPLE!! YOU CAN’T SAY NO TO THAT!! *Panting* I don’t think I’ve ever seen a character more attractive (that man is going to look SO good in about 15-20 years.) Not only is Mr. Morgan super-fine, the film also stars the gorgeous Patrick Wilson as Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl II, adorable Billy Crudup as Jon Osterman/Dr. Manhattan, so-sexy-I-question-my-sexual-orientation Carla Gugino as Sally Jupiter/Silk Spectre I and the very do-able Malin Ackerman as Laurie Jupiter/Silk Spectre II. And that’s just the “main cast”! Even supporting actors Stephen McHattie (Hollis Mason/Night Owl I), Laura Mennell (Janey Slater) and John Shaw (Doug Roth…moustaches are sexy) are irresponsibly attractive. I have never seen this many beautiful people in one place at one time – not even in Los Angeles. Star Trek had some hotties too – Chris Pine brings more to the table than just that “New Kirk Smell.” He’s got a gorgeous mouth, a great attitude and is squee-worthy on so many levels. Bruce Greenwood as Capt. Christopher Pike is also super hot. (I have a nice clip of him saying “punch it” in a loop on my computer…) But, as fine as these two gentlemen are, the cast of Watchmen has Star Trek beat 8:2 hot actor-wise.

*Deep Breath* Ok. If I haven’t thoroughly creeped you out and you’re still reading, I’d like to wrap up this portion by stating once more my top 2 picks for the year 2009:

1. Watchmen – Zach Snyder
2. Star Trek – JJ Abrams

Wonderful. Now, as you might have guessed, I did see more than just those 2 movies this year. So, “what would your number 3 movie be?” I hear you ask. Actually, I didn’t hear that. Don’t get paranoid – I’m not really listening to you. Just like how you’re not really reading this. So, #3 on my list of best movies of 2009:

District 9.

Wonderful film. I could easily say my favourite thing about this movie is the amazing design on the “Prawns”, but it’s the message behind this story that makes me love it so much. It was a realistic view of what could possibly happen if aliens ever arrive on Earth (and you know how much I love realism.) Why was it realistic? Because that scenario has happened so many times before in humanity’s history. This film provided commentary on racial and religious segregation under the guise of a shoot-em-up sci-fi flick. The bittersweet and open-ended ending felt refreshing and the documentary-style segments woven into the story were very well executed. I love this film and am happy to include it in my “best of 2009” post.

Ok. Final list time:

1. Watchmen – Zach Snyder
2. Star Trek – JJ Abrams
3. District 9 – Neill Blomkamp

Now, I know what you’re saying…not really. You may or may not be saying “how can you make a list of the best movies of 2009 when 2009 isn’t over yet!? What about ‘Avatar’ or ‘Sherlock Holmes’? Those movies look like they’re going to be good!” Yes, they do look good. But I am pretty sure that I will not like either of them any more than the three movies I just mentioned. They set the bar very, very high. The first two – Watchmen especially – are not just my favourite movies for this year, but two of my favourite movies of all time. As much as I may like those upcoming films, I am betting that I will not have to re-write this list after seeing them.

So there you have it.

…Only somewhat of a self-indulgent stroke fest this time.

Jade “Pie” Dunlop

Bob’s 2009 Best Television List…

10. Trauma: Cool characters, beautifully shot San Francisco locations, and excellent accidents, action sequences and close calls. Sure, it is cliché as hell and the characters, though fleshed out and solidly written, are predictable and familiar. Still, this is entertaining television for those of us that are seeking respite from reality, and not looking for deep or profound, (some would say, pretentious) ‘adult’ drama. Already canceled by NBC, they recently ordered another batch of episodes to be completed. Go figure.

09. CSI’s Miami and Las Vegas: Love these procedurals. Great casts, who, like the casts of all of these shows, have become like family to me. More super location establishing shots, tons of hot women for the 21 year old in me, and just enough character driven humor to lighten the rather grim story lines. My one complaint? The music gets too damn loud during the montages…and enough with The Who, already.

08. Lost: Still one of the most compelling serials to have ever hit the small screen, this constantly surprising and involving series not only holds your attention, it actually moves forward plot wise, answering questions while introducing new ones, all of which make perfect sense within the context of the story. I love the fact that it has a beginning and an ending, and will wrap up when it completes its last season next year. Where ‘Heroes’ had one great season before it turned into a morass of bad writing and worse pacing, Lost seems to get better with every episode. Better than most movies, as are all the dramas on this list.

07. 24: The Jack Bauer Power Hour. Even the weak seasons are great. A premise no one thought would work, an odd choice for an action hero in ‘Lost Boy’ Keifer Sutherland, and James Bondian plot lines that manage to keep you on the edge of your seat, while you roll your eyes at some of the absurd coincidences and narrow escapes. Who knew we could have so many corrupt and evil people in high places?

06. Two and a Half Men: Chuck Lorre is a genius. This is one of the funniest old school sitcoms in the history of the medium. Well written, perfectly cast, and funnier than hell. Once the number one rated sitcom, only to be replaced by Lorre’s latest effort, which tops this list.

05. Flash Forward: A workable version of a great science fiction novel, it chews its fair share of scenery, and some of the characters are too self absorbed for their own good, but Flash Forward is revealing its twists and turns at just the right pace, the main premise being glimpsing your future can really fuck you up…and what’s with that kangaroo that shows up every other episode hoping through downtown Los Angeles?

04. Warehouse 13/Harpers Island: Warehouse 13 is an American series staring Saul Rubinek, a Canadian actor with a huge amount of credibility and charm. He plays the curator of a warehouse like the one seen at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark, full of odd supernatural artifacts and wacky inventions. Along with a couple of younger agents, they track down and collect these things and all hell breaks out when the wrong people get their hands on some of the warehouse’s contents. Great fun, imaginative devices, and good story telling. The first season, earlier this year, was not available in Canada. Thank God for the internet. Hopefully, the first, and the 2^nd season, due early next year, will both be available in Canada some time in the new year.

Harper’s Island was a CBS maxi-series that ran over last summer. It successfully combined mystery, a young, hottie, cast, and elements of Friday the 13^th movies and Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Like a page turning popular novel you would read on the beach during your vacation, it had a fast pace and at least one good, violent, and wonky ‘kill’ every episode. I hope CBS does something similar next summer. It was perfect entertainment for warm, summer nights.

03. Bones: I love every member of this cast. Everybody has great on-screen chemistry with everybody else. It continues to be both gross and laugh out loud funny, and the sexual tension between it’s two principles is both palpable and seemingly genuine, right up there with Maddie and David on Moonlighting, and Scully and Mulder on the X-Files. And the women on this show are women, not 20 something hotties dressed like Beverly Hills brats. Odd mysteries and great solutions. Yay!

02. Fringe: If it wasn’t for The Big Bang Theory, this show would have been number one on my list. A slicker, more realized X-Files, (which is even name-checked as an earlier FBI Department in an episode), Fringe raises the bar on far reaching conspiracies, other-worldy events, and monster-of-the-week episodes, all woven into the massive main plot, which is  slowly unfolding as the disparate elements are revealed and fit together like a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle. The creators and writers of this series treat the viewers with respect, presenting a curious, seemingly nonsensical piece of information, then letting us in on its import, drawing us in with constant mysteries and reveals, never giving too much away, never withholding too much information. A daring, amusing, frightening story, an absolutely unique cast of characters, including a scientifically enhanced FBI agent, an explainably insane ‘mad’ scientist and his ‘dead’ son, a cow, either immortal or time traveling ‘watchers’, hybrid machine-humans, and a parallel Earth where, among many other things, the World Trade Center is alive and well in 2009. With all the scientific mumbo jumbo and technically advanced doo-dads, the show still packs enough charm and personality to elicit at least one, “Awww…” moment every episode. I have grown to absolutely love these characters. With Leonard Nimoy as either the Big Bad, or the Big Good, (they haven’t made clear yet which he is), and a continuation of the momentum and well crafted story telling, Fringe could very well be the big show of the next decade. I hope the public embraces this show, and the others on this list, so I can continue to watch them. This is great television. Go to www.findfringe.com for all sorts of cool info. Make sure to check out the ‘Easter Egg’ section.

01. The Big Bang Theory: A show so hip and niche, I cannot believe it is the most watched sit-com on television. Wow. From the dialogue, which sounds almost improvised, to the pop culture trappings in every scene, this show is so current as to be happening as we watch it. The writers know the genre and the latest geek-centric trends, right down to the right comics, posters, and action figures on display in the show’s comic book store set. All the little factoids, comic book/video game/movie references are spot on. The cast has the same charm and chemistry of the other great ensemble comedies from the Mary Tyler Moore Show, through Friends and That ‘70’s Show. Consistently laugh-out-loud funny. Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock, anyone? Who knew Nerds and science could be so entertaining?

Honourable Mention…

King of the Hill: The most consistent long running comedy of all time. Not one bad episode or second rate season, the Hills and their neighbors will always be as well loved by me as my own family and friends. Awash in the kind of sweetness and humanity that seems to elude most animated comedy shows, King of the Hill never lost sight of what it was.

In my all time top ten of television shows. May it rest in reruns for a looong time.

My Name is Earl: Silly as shit, funnier than hell, whoever cancelled this winner needs to lose his parking space and his job…and if you weren’t watching Earl, you should be ashamed of yourself…

Monday Morning Mailbag Bonus…

Found this on Facebook, loved it, thought I’d share. Mini skirts and all, girls looked super sexy back in the ‘60’s without playing the ‘slut’ card…

The Red Button – Cruel Girl

Thanks to all of you ho wrote and shared your stories with us. That’s why we’re here. See you all on Wednesday…

That’s enough for now. Email me at segarini@fyimusic.ca with your comments, complaints, and thoughts, and remember…don’t believe a word I say.

Bob “The Iceman” Segarini was in the bands The Family Tree, Roxy, The Wackers, The Dudes, The Segarini Band, and Cats And Dogs, and nominated for a Juno for production in 1978. He also hosted “Late Great Movies” on CITY TV, was a producer of Much Music, and an on-air personality on CHUM FM, Q107, SIRIUS Sat/Rad’s Iceberg 95, (now 85), and now provides content for radiothatdoesntsuck.com with RadioZombie, The Iceage, and PsychShack. Along with the love of his life, Jade (Pie) Dunlop, (who hosts and writes “I’ve Heard That Song Before” on RTDS), continues to write, make music, and record.