Reaction: "The Heavy"

Jeanne Becker did  a Q& A with Dara-Lynn Weiss published in today's Toronto Star.  Weiss made waves with a Vogue article about how she put her 8-year old obese daughter on a strict diet to lose the weight. It created a lot buzz, and she found herself the object of some pretty nasty criticism.

It struck close to home for me.  When I was young (probably about the same age), I was among the chubby kids; and was made fun of because of my weight.  I totally understand wanting to save your kid from that; kids can be unbelievably cruel to each other. 

But also when I was a kid I managed to spend a lot of my summers outside playing with friends; playing organized sports.  Not all of my time was scheduled. Parents now seem to want to almost "bubble wrap" their kids keeping them inside; scheduling every second of their day.  This is probably born of the feeling they have to protect them from the tough crowd.

The thing about 7/ 8-year olds is they take everything literally.  So, being told they're fat or obese, sticks with them.  And having that opinion enforced by their own mother by putting them on a diet is mean. Mothers are the one person in your life who doesn't judge you.  Putting them on a diet could be almost like saying- I'll love you more when you're skinny.

There was probably some medical evidence behind her actions.  But there are other ways to explore.  Try exercising; walk to the park, get her into a sport or dance lessons find a fitness class for kids.  Start cooking the family healthier meals; use the "obesity" diagnosis to make the entire family change its lifestyle.

Most of all though wait for her to grow.  It's possible she gets taller, like I did.

Les Mis at the movies? No thanks, I'll see it on DVD

I must be one of the only people in the world right now who finds themselves firmly on the fence as to whether or not I should see it.  I love the story; compassion, forgiveness, love, and fighting for what's right.  A little of something for everyone.

I've read the book twice (once in French).  And I've seen the Liam Neeson version of the movie, as well as own both the 10th, and 25th anniversary concert DVDs.  This version of the movie has a fantastic cast- Hugh Jackman as Jean ValJean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, and Sacha Baren-Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter as the Ternardiers.  I should be slapping down my cash right now... but I'm not.

I love the cast, and I love the story.  But I just can't bring myself to plonk down the money to see it. There are some shows for me that demand a grand stage production; some numbers like Bring Him Home that demand the intimacy of just one person on stage singing to a group of people.  I know that's what the extreme closeups of the movie are supposed to recreate- from the quick clip shown at the SAG (Screen Actor's Guild Awards) Awards, it just looked so cheesy.  For me, this is a story that deserves better than that.

For their 25th anniversary, they put the show on in a concert format, at the 02 arena in London.  Playing the role of Jean ValJean was a tenor named Alfie Boe.  Watching him sing "Bring Him Home" which, is "the" song in the whole show was like  watching him cast a spell over an audience.  It was like he disappeared to another world and took the audience with him. 

 

 

He's great isn't he?

 

It's a matter of timing really.  Hugh Jackman's a great actor, and a good singer.   But unfortunately for him Alfie Boe, Colm Wilkinson, and Michael Burgess, and all the other fantastic casts over the years came before them.  I'll take a pass on this one; maybe see it on  DVD.  

True Blood Season 4

On Sunday night I did something I rarely do to a television show I like.  I turned off True Blood with about 20 minutes to go in its season four finale... and I didn't care.  I still don't.  It's a symptom that a show may be past its prime for me to do something like that.

True Blood is based on the Sookie Stackhouse/ Southern Vampire novels written by Charlaine Harris.  I love their wit, charm, and their readability.. I can finish one in as little as a few days.  The show has strayed a little too far away from the books for my liking. 

Season one started off as horror; a tightly paced original show; a typically high-quality HBO series. Seasons 2, and 3 continued in the same direction using the  horror-fantasy genre introducing witches, werewolves, and shifters.  I loved Russell Edgington; probably the best bad guy of the whole series so far, but that was also where the series started to go camp.

Where do I start with season 4? The Sookie Stackhouse character has gone from the kick-ass heroine portrayed in the books to the damsel in distress, poor defenseless and waiting for Eric and Bill to rescue her.   The vampire women seem to have gotten all the good lines in the season too.The Sookie character in the novels is the books' heart, and humour.  She also has a more steely side to her.

Speaking of Eric and Bill.  Bill as vampire King doesn't act very kingly.  He's not as dangerous, as you'd might expect, and really you might hope for.  And Eric; in the book season 4 is based on he has to fight for her affections, it's more like the beginning of a relationship.  In the show there's barely any hints of that. 

Tara was useless.  Honestly if she left the show, I wouldn't care.  Her only purpose on it seems to be as the angry, and bitter character towards the entire supernatural world.   And also to discourage Sookie from choosing Bill or Eric; Tara doesn't have a life of her own besides her anger. Too much anger can be boring after a while.
 
Season 4 lacked cohesiveness for me.  Usually there is an 'aha' moment where all the puzzle pieces fall into place, and that there wasn't for me.  Does this mean I won't watch season #5 when Space shows it? I want to give it a second chance, so that means yes I probably will.  It's just not appointment viewing for me anymore.

Upcoming CBC Season

This Fall, the CBC will apparently contain up to 175 fewer hours of original programming... at least according to an article in today's Toronto Star. It's set against the backdrop of the network having its funding cut over the next few years, and an ongoing debate over the network's role in Canadian culture.

There is definitely a role for the CBC as it comes to Canadian culture, and news.  They cover international news better than the other networks, and go into more depth on the national news than the  other networks.  On the fictional side I'm a huge fan of Republic of Doyle, and also the move to bring Murdoch Mysteries over from CityTV... in fact it's my dream lineup to have those shows on back-to-back on say Wednesday nights?? I wouldn't change the channel if that were to happen.  And based on that cliff-hanger ending I'm pleased Adam Beach is returning with Arctic Air as well.

I think like every other television network on the planet the CBC fell into the trap of too much Reality TV, because it was easy, and got lots of ratings.  I'm not surprised at the cancellations-I never watched Battle of the Blades or the Debaters.  Judging from the bits I've seen of Michael Tuesdays and Thursdays it seemed to be a very niche, very smart show and that doesn't always appeal to the mainstream.  I might have added This Hour has 22 Minutes to the cancellation pile; it was very hit and miss funny for me- sometimes I'd tune in and I'd spend the whole time laughing.  Other times I'd scratch my head wondering "how is that funny?"

There's plenty of decent homegrown shows out there.  Global's found them in Rookie Blue, CTV's found them in The Listener, and Flashpoint.  Space has found it in Sanctuary (shot in British Columbia), and Being Human (U.S.) shot in Montreal featuring mostly Canadian cast.  Showcase has found it in the Toronto-shot Lost Girl, and Bravo has found it in its co-production of The Borgias featuring Francois Arnaud (Cesare Borgia), and Colm Feore (Del La Rovere)

I know most of those shows have some hefty price-tags that come with them so given its cost-cutting mood that buying homegrown television shows isn't option.  But that still leaves developing its own talent- and perhaps that's where the network could excel and become a true voice in Canadian culture.  You could even make it a reality show- call it "Pitch Me, get people pitching their ideas for the next CBC hit.

Dear Leafs

Leafs Owner Larry Tanenbaum has in a one-page letter to fans in most of the Toronto papers apologized for the team's bad season.  As every letter deserves a response, here's mine:

Dear Leafs,
On behalf of my fellow disgruntled Leaf fans,I'd like to say that I'm sorry.  I'm sorry that I haven't found another team to root for; I just didn't pay more attention to say the Habs, or the Penguins or even heaven forbid the Senators.  But call it a misguided sense of eternal optimism, or hope but I really thought you were going to do better this year.

I'm sorry too that I can potentially see myself never going to a game.  You have long priced your tickets out of the realm of affordability for anything but the nosebleed sections.  Granted, they probably have more fun up there- still there's a lot to be said for watching the hockey game without binoculars.  If you wanted to reward us for putting up with seven years of bad hockey perhaps a price reduction on tickets may be an order?

I'm sorry that Brian Burke comes across as being well to put it nicely a bit of a jerk.  Let's face it: in hindsight being  he probably should've fired Ron Wilson a long time before he actually did. If it happened at the all-star break maybe you guys might well be playing hockey right now.  And that whole fiasco with a certain well-known Toronto morning show host? He was just doing his job; asking the question any journalist or fan who has five minutes alone with Burke would ask.  

I'm sorry Leaf management is delusional.  Your constant search for the next Gilmour, or the next Gretzky, or the next Crosby keeps you distracted from surrounding the decent players you have with other equally decent players through drafts and trades.  You are "The Leafs," one of the richest franchises in all of sports, it wouldn't go amiss if you spent some money out on the players? There probably is an endless supply of players who would do anything to play here.

Perhaps though what I'm sorriest of all about is that you guys don't appreciate  the fans passion.  The fact that this whole hockey thing.. has sinisterly morphed from being about those fans to being merely a game of dollars and cents.  It has gone from being the game that is practically a national religion in this country to being based on a philosophy of "how can I make the most money?" And you don't even realize it.  It's so bad that it's as if the passionate fans; the ones that paint their faces for every game... the ones who watch on television with the endless supply of hope this would be the year aren't being heard. 


I hope I've given you a lot to reflect as you hit the links and spend time with your families.  Have a great summer.

From:
One Sorry Leaf Fan
 

Bell/Astral Merger: The Eternal Optimists perspective

Bell Media has bought Astral Media.  The sentence means nothing if you don't follow media business, but if you do it means that Bell media has become one of the largest media companies in the country.  They say they made the purchase to gain a foothold in Quebec, where their largest competitor is QuebecOr parent company to the Sun Media Newspaper chain.  In small part it is about that, but a much larger part is providing content for smartphone, and web platforms.

Critics raise concerns about the concentration of ownership.  With the purchase Bell Media adds to their properties television stations TMN (The Movie Network), and HBO Canada, as well as radio stations in Quebec, and Ontario.  In Toronto alone the purchase will bring NewsTalk1010, Boom97.3, and Virgin 99.9 under the same banner as the Chum family of radio stations.  Another concern has to be about editorial voice; I'd have to imagine  the new company will speak with one singular voice across all platforms, for example: if the company is pro Conservative on a given issue then that could be reflected in the way stories are covered across all platforms. For people who crave a different point of view having that singular voice isn't a good thing.

I don't think it's a done deal yet. The CRTC (Canadian Radio Telecommunications Commission), and the Competition Bureau still have to look at it. I think both will have to consider the big picture; how this deal will impact on Bell's last deal which saw them purchase a chunk of the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (including the Air Canada Centre, LeafsTV, and Raptors TV). 

The competition bureau will look at the monopoly angle of it.  Using the Toronto example, that will bring several stations in the Toronto under the same banner.  I'd imagine Bell Media would be asked to likely sell at least one of them off.  In an obvious position to benefit would be Rogers Communications.  However, I don't think they would being in a similar position to Bell Media; the two companies are rivals in a sense.

This is where the short-term confusion becomes long-term calm.  Being an eternal optimist I believe that after all these deals are put under a microscope, and all the negotiations finished; the smaller companies will eventually benefit.    There is always room for another voice; Astral may have merged with Bell.  But there could be someone out there getting ready to create another company  to replace Astral or that will do something better than what came before.  In an era of constant demand for content there could eventually be a place where freelancers prosper.  The Bell-Astral Merger could be doom and gloom now, but it could all work out in the end.

Arcitc Air: Season Review

Arctic Air ended its first season on Tuesday.  It starred Adam Beach as a kind of wayward son type; Bobby Martin, who left home for school, and never looked back until he took a business trip to The Yukon from Vancouver on a business trip, and ends up staying to run the airline.   The series tells the story of his bid to readjust to life in the North, and as a co-owner of Arctic Air.

At first I wanted to give up on the show.  But I kept saying to myself  "it's Adam Beach, I've got to give it one more week."  And before I knew it,  I really got into it; loving the characters, stories and humour.  And the Northwest Territories plays just as much of a character was a plus too exposing many viewers to a place of beauty few know about.

Even though I loved the stories, they could be the show's weak point as well.  The writers would hint at one development; and then not deliver for weeks, and we would barely see the characters as well.  I'm thinking specifically of the storyline about Bobby discovering his kid.  They'd hint about them finding out about each other, and then nothing would happen.  I suppose it's meant to build the tension, and draw the viewers in, and it's worked for me.  But the only way the anticipation works if you see the characters on a regular basis and a few episodes would go by before we'd see either.

The season finale had a great payoff at the end. It ends with a kiss, and cliffhanger.  It was an emotional kiss between Bobby (Beach and Krista (Pascale Hutton) as her father lay dying on the operating table.  And the cliffhanger was just as the doctor came and talk to her.  Would her father live? Would she finally get it together with Bobby, a childhood sweetheart of sorts? These questions await the announcement of another season.

I hope there is one, because I'd love to know the answers.