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Goodbye Peter Sallis and Thank you
While a student in 1983, animator Nick Park wrote to Sallis asking him if he would voice his character Wallace, an eccentric inventor. Sallis agreed to do so for a donation of £50 to his favourite charity.[26] The work was eventually released in 1989 and Aardman Animations' Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out went on to great success winning a BAFTA award
While a student in 1983, animator Nick Park wrote to Sallis asking him if he would voice his character Wallace, an eccentric inventor. Sallis agreed to do so for a donation of £50 to his favourite charity.[26] The work was eventually released in 1989 and Aardman Animations' Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out went on to great success winning a BAFTA award
Sallis reprised his role in the the Oscar and BAFTA Award winning films The Wrong Trousers in 1993 and A Close Shave in 1995.
Though the characters were temporarily retired in 1996, Sallis returned to voice Wallace in several short films and in the Oscar-winning 2005 motion picture Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, for which he won an Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
n 2008, Sallis voiced a new Wallace and Gromit adventure, A Matter of Loaf and Death. His last role as Wallace was in 2010's Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention.[6] Sallis then retired due to ill health, with Ben Whitehead taking over the role.
Thank You Peter Sallis. and Good bye.
Updated on March 1, 2018
Mourning A Loss
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Coping With Loss: Remembering and Honoring The Dead At a Wedding
Remembering the Dead at a Wedding
by Frank Kermit
Sometimes, couples who marry want to do something
at the wedding in memory of the people who passed away.
This happens, especially when the death was recent.
At my wedding, my wife and I did a little ceremony at the reception where we lit a candle and read an inscription, announcing it was in memory of various relatives that had died, who would have wanted to attend.
It was very short, but it did bring us come comfort, and it was also comforting to some of the attendees who were still in mourning.
We all cope with loss differently.
It is important for the wedding couple to also remember,
that not everyone will appreciate your efforts
to pay tribute to your lost loved ones.
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make,
is they try to tell someone else that how they grieve is wrong.
For example, this story is of a wedding I attended:
A father dies a few months before his son is set to be married.
At the wedding, a special tribute is made in honor of the late father.
The groom and his mom dance to a song that was in memory of his dad.
All the guests were invited on the dance floor to circle them.
Then it happened...
at one point, the groom and his mom started to cry a little.
It was not a hysterical cry at all, but the tears were evident.
Everyone around them formed into a circle continued to move to the music.
...except one man.
He started to raise his voice to tell the DJ to stop the music.
He was an uncle in the family, and felt that the song and tribute
was making them cry and that it was wrong.
So he made a fool of himself
trying to stop the tribute.
Luckily, the DJ and the rest of the guests ignored him.
The uncle was not comfortable with seeing, or dealing with, grief.
He tried to "protect" everyone else from grief as well.
That was the worst thing he could have done, and lucky for
everyone at the wedding,
the DJ was smart enough not to listen to him.
Make sure that you let the DJ,
or other wedding professionals involved
know about any potential trouble-makers,
and let the wedding professionals also know exactly what your wishes are in case a wedding guest decides to act out.
If you can predict who might be the kind of person to act out, at your wedding, it might be a good idea to let that person know ahead of time what you are planning.
This is not about getting that person's permission.
It is more about letting that person know,
so the shock of surprise
in combination of the grief and mourning
does not motivate that person
into doing something
that will turn your wedding
from spectacular
to a spectacle.
-Frank Kermit
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Remembering "Outlaw" Ron Bass
Remembering OutLaw Ron Bass 1948-2017
by Frank Kermit
I have a soft spot in my heart for professional wrestlers, as I have been a long time wrestling fan.
I remember Outlaw Ron Bass from the years I watched wrestling as a kid. He was a menacing Texas cowboy that wasn't above using his spurs and real bull whip on his opponents. He did not care if he won the match or not, as long as he got to inflict pain.
by Frank Kermit
I have a soft spot in my heart for professional wrestlers, as I have been a long time wrestling fan.
I remember Outlaw Ron Bass from the years I watched wrestling as a kid. He was a menacing Texas cowboy that wasn't above using his spurs and real bull whip on his opponents. He did not care if he won the match or not, as long as he got to inflict pain.
In 1987, Bass went to the WWF. He was part of the Honky Tonk Man's five-man team at the inaugural Survivor Series and the very first Royal Rumble. Bass began a feud with Beefcake in August 1988, gouging Beefcake's head open with his spurs ("Bret" and "Bart")
-Facts listed in Wikipedia
One of the first times I saw blood spill in a wrestling show was when Outlaw Ron Bass attacked another wrestler (named Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake) and used his spurs to cut open the other wrestlers forehead, spilling blood. Most television censors the visuals by turning it black and white or having a censor image covering the scene. Below, I managed to find a youtube video of the scene that is uncensored. I remember the impact it had on me watching that as a kid and quickly hating Outlaw Ron Bass.
Sometime later, the wrestling storyline would have these same two wrestlers travel from city to city and fight (in front of live crowds and packed arena) in revenge matches. None of those matches were ever televised, and people did not get to see what wrestling shows advertised in other cities except for their own (this was way before the Internet existed).
It was through happenstance that I would hear a story about Ron Bass. At these non-televised shows, he would once again wrestle "The Barber", and the barber would get his revenge by knocking out Ron Bass (with a move called "The Sleeper"), and true to his gimmick, The Barber Brutus Beefcake would cut some of Ron Bass's hair. Not all of it, but just enough to send the crowd home happy that the "good guy" got some retribution.
Well, the story goes that Ron Bass would have to stop off occasionally at an airport barber shop or salon on a regular basis during that feud, as Beefcake would leave Bass's hair lopsided at times. That is when Ron Bass ran into the friend of the sister of a buddy of mine (also a wrestling fan). She was the one who cut his cut and styled it for the next wrestling non-televised arena show. She mentions how he was such a nice man, and very polite to her, and was basically, not the mean, nasty, gruff man that appeared on the television set.
Some time after that, Ron Bass would have one of his final matches with Brutus Beefcake where Beefcake, now on Saturday Night's Main Event television program would shave off Ron Bass's entire head, while Bass was supposed knocked out cold (he was faking it, but SHHHH!!!! no one was suppose to know back then). I have included that youtube video below as well.
Outlaw Ron Bass played a great bad guy during his time in WWF (now WWE), and was willing to let the guy good win the war, and only take victory in initial battles.
Many years later, when video rental stores (remember those?) started to carry videos of wrestling shows and promotions I had never heard of (remember, it was waaaaay before the Internet existed), I got my hands are some of them, and was surprised to learn that in different times during his career, he wasn't always the "bad guy" Outlaw. I watched him wrestle as a "good guy" and he wasn't called Outlaw, he was then known as "Cowboy" Rob Bass,
I think be played a better heal (bad guy) than he did a baby-face (good guy). Then again maybe I just did not get to see enough of his performance as a good guy Cowboy.
Regardless, I mourned his death last week, as I always mourn when a professional wrestler dies.
Thank You Outlaw Ron Bass, and Good Bye.
Help To Get Out Of Bed
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Remembering Arthur Anderson voice of "Lucky Charms"
Remembering Arthur Anderson 1922-2016
During the weekend of St-Patrick's Day, my mind wanders off to all things green and Irish.
Growing up, Saturday morning cartoons were only bested by Saturday morning cartoon characters from cereal commercials.
That is where the Character "Lucky The Leprechaun" mascot of the Lucky Charms Cereal would present his adventures of trying to run and hide from kids (the Lucky Charms Gang) who were after his cereal.
Lucky Charms is a brand of cereal produced by the General Mills food company since 1964. The cereal consists of toasted oat pieces and multicolour marshmallow shapes ("marbits" or marshmallow bits). Lucky Charms was created in 1962 by John Holahan
During the weekend of St-Patrick's Day, my mind wanders off to all things green and Irish.
Growing up, Saturday morning cartoons were only bested by Saturday morning cartoon characters from cereal commercials.
That is where the Character "Lucky The Leprechaun" mascot of the Lucky Charms Cereal would present his adventures of trying to run and hide from kids (the Lucky Charms Gang) who were after his cereal.
Lucky Charms is a brand of cereal produced by the General Mills food company since 1964. The cereal consists of toasted oat pieces and multicolour marshmallow shapes ("marbits" or marshmallow bits). Lucky Charms was created in 1962 by John Holahan
Do you remember the song?: Pink Hearts, Yellow Moons, Orange Hearts, Green Clovers, Blue Diamonds, and Purple Horse Shoes ? Lucky Charms cereal had no theme jingle; action was accompanied by a light instrumental "Irish" tune. Soon, however, a simple two-line tag was added:
Frosted Lucky Charms,
They're magically delicious!
On the left is a collection of the Lucky Charms commercials over the years showcasing all the changes.
Frosted Lucky Charms,
They're magically delicious!
On the left is a collection of the Lucky Charms commercials over the years showcasing all the changes.
The marshmallows are meant to represent Lucky's magical charms, each with their own special meaning or "power." The following are explanations of the permanent marshmallows:[12]
- Hearts - power to bring things to life
- Shooting Stars - power to fly
- Horseshoes - power to speed things up
- Clovers - luck, but you will never know what kind of luck you'll get
- Blue Moons - power of invisibility
- Rainbows - instantaneous travel from place to place
- Balloons - power to make things float
- Hourglass - power to control time
Arthur Anderson, starting working in 1963 as the voice of the General Mills Lucky Charms mascot Lucky the Leprechaun, continuing the character for 29 years even though he is not Irish. In 2005, he recalled:
People have expectations. I just have an Irish-sounding name. I have reason to celebrate. I had the luck of the Irish to get that part. I never got free cereal, but they gave me lots of green money. And it was a fun character to play. Hardly a day goes by when somebody doesn't ask me to sing the Lucky Charms jingle, and I'm proud of that
Remembering Arthur Anderson voice of "Lucky Charms"
In An Actor's Odyssey, The Autobiography of Arthur Anderson, Arthur Anderson claims he's been in every branch of show business but grand opera and the circus. He became a professional actor at twelve on radio, including eighteen years on the children's fairy tale program Let's Pretend. His first Broadway stage appearance was with Orson Welles in the Mercury Theatre's Julius Caesar. Summer stock, winter stock, musical stock, television, and motion pictures, including Green Card and Zelig followed, and for twenty-nine years he was the original voice of Lucky The Leprechaun for Lucky Charms Cereal, as well as doing dozens of on-camera commercials. He also appeared in Midnight Cowboy (1969) with Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight, Jump Tomorrow (2001), and Oh, Sister (2011). This is his story, illustrated with many photographs that capture his work in Hollywood films, Broadway, and television.
Born Arthur John Miles Anderson on August 29, 1922 in Staten Island, New York and Died April 9, 2016 (aged 93) in Manhattan, New York City.
As a kid that always felt sorry that Lucky was always on the run (after all, the other kids were ALWAYS trying to STEAL his lucky charms), I want to thank you for leading your voice to such an iconic character trademark that made a mark on my childhood.
THANK YOU ARTHUR ANDERSON and Good bye.
As a kid that always felt sorry that Lucky was always on the run (after all, the other kids were ALWAYS trying to STEAL his lucky charms), I want to thank you for leading your voice to such an iconic character trademark that made a mark on my childhood.
THANK YOU ARTHUR ANDERSON and Good bye.
Help With Moving On
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Remembering Andre Maisonneuve Catfish Morgan
A Tribute to Andre Maisonneuve aka Catfish Morgan (1961-2016)
Today marks the anniversary of Andre's birthday, that would have been the first since his passing in 2016.
The following about Andre was written by friend and colleague Nat Lauzon at the time of his death. It originally appeared on the blog of Steve Faguy.
In a terrible year where we have lost so many of the greats, I consider Andre among them.
Andre could do anything. He was that rare blend of uber-talented jock but with the kind of vulnerability that allowed listeners to know him as a person, too. He was warm, kind, interested, creative and genuinely, naturally funny.
On the air, Andre would take you places that were silly and ridiculous, then grow them and explore them without fear. And if they bombed, so what? And if they were winners, so what?
The joy was in getting there, the reward was in trying.
He was never afraid to be the foil or take chances. But more so, he was happy to stand back and let you shine. He could trust a moment and let it breathe instead of filling it will noise.
He knew how to work WITH people, on the air.
He was a careful listener and built the moment instead of clamoring for punchlines. (I don’t need to tell any “radio person” how rare a quality this is.)
He was a master of voices, with an impressive and ever-expanding stable of impersonations and characters. In a radio age, where so many “bits” come packaged from prep services, we wrote our own.
Because Andre could handle any special voice requirements those bits entailed — from impersonations to accents to singing … it was endless, often surprising even himself!
We laughed. So much. Andre had a winning, engaging laugh.
What I’ve said here of course, is all radio-related and barely scratches the surface of who he was personally (and at one point, I hope to write more on that), but it’s not difficult to find echoes of these same sentiments from across the country, from folks who knew Andre at various points in his lengthy radio career.
Andre was my colleague, but he was also my big brother and my teacher and my friend.
His is a huge loss to radio — but also to those who loved him.
My heart breaks for his two amazing kids, who he was fiercely proud of. I am hardly alone in admitting that losing him has me roiling with grief and anger.
Very simply, I adored him.
I will love and miss him always.
-Nat Lauzon
Help With Change
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Remembering Steve Shuster
Remembering Steve Shuster
1949-2017
1949-2017
find closure
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Remembering Bill Paxton
Tribute to Bill Paxton 1955-2017
I liked Bill Paxton as an actor. He was known for many roles in many iconic movies such as The Terminator (1984), Weird Science (1985), Aliens (1986), Predator 2 (1990), True Lies (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Twister (1996), and Titanic (1997).
But it was the TV show Big Love that solidified my fandom of Bill Paxton.
Big Love is an American television drama series with the intent of creating a fair, non-judgmental portrayal of polygamy in America that aired on HBO between March 2006 and March 2011. The show is about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah that practices polygamy. Big Love was a success for HBO, running for five seasons before concluding its run on March 20, 2011. It is one of the few TV series that my wife and I own on DVD.
Big Love received widespread critical acclaim, and earned several major awards and nominations throughout its run. The series left behind a legacy as one of television's most complex studies of American family life. It has been the subject of seminal pieces in top academic journals, including the Columbia Law Review, Law and Contemporary Problems, and Michigan Journal of Gender & Law. Several publications listed the series' first three seasons as among the best television of the decade 2000-09, and its final season ranked among the best-reviewed scripted series of 2011.
Although the story lines of Big Love seemed almost unbelievable, the writing was very skilled and made the near impossible seem plausible. The pacing of the storytelling was some of the best I experienced and keep me interested. Mostly the continuity was on point, and with each viewing there was something new to experience as there was so much going on, it was easy to miss a detail in one episode that set up the story arc for a later episode.
On February 25, 2017, Paxton died at age 61 from complications following surgery
Thank you Bill! And Good bye.
Here are some videos featuring Bill Paton:
I liked Bill Paxton as an actor. He was known for many roles in many iconic movies such as The Terminator (1984), Weird Science (1985), Aliens (1986), Predator 2 (1990), True Lies (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Twister (1996), and Titanic (1997).
But it was the TV show Big Love that solidified my fandom of Bill Paxton.
Big Love is an American television drama series with the intent of creating a fair, non-judgmental portrayal of polygamy in America that aired on HBO between March 2006 and March 2011. The show is about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah that practices polygamy. Big Love was a success for HBO, running for five seasons before concluding its run on March 20, 2011. It is one of the few TV series that my wife and I own on DVD.
Big Love received widespread critical acclaim, and earned several major awards and nominations throughout its run. The series left behind a legacy as one of television's most complex studies of American family life. It has been the subject of seminal pieces in top academic journals, including the Columbia Law Review, Law and Contemporary Problems, and Michigan Journal of Gender & Law. Several publications listed the series' first three seasons as among the best television of the decade 2000-09, and its final season ranked among the best-reviewed scripted series of 2011.
Although the story lines of Big Love seemed almost unbelievable, the writing was very skilled and made the near impossible seem plausible. The pacing of the storytelling was some of the best I experienced and keep me interested. Mostly the continuity was on point, and with each viewing there was something new to experience as there was so much going on, it was easy to miss a detail in one episode that set up the story arc for a later episode.
On February 25, 2017, Paxton died at age 61 from complications following surgery
Thank you Bill! And Good bye.
Here are some videos featuring Bill Paton:
Help With Abandonment
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In memory of Mitch Hedberg
A Tribute to Mitch Hedberg
by Jessica Di Palma
“You might have seen this next comedian on the David Letterman Show” but I believe more people have seen me AT THE STORE” and that would be a better introduction!”
That was the first excerpt I randomly watched of Mitch Hedberg; Mitchell Lee Hedberg to be precise! I sat and watched in awe as this absolute comedic genius spewed brilliant one-liners in the most subdued, quirky and down-right coolest of ways. I instantly became obsessed! Which rock had I been living under?! Well, apparently a huge boulder! I delved deeply into my elated state of Mitch-Mania.
At the same time, I was also forced to immediately accept the sad truth that he had passed on from a drug overdose a couple of years prior.
“I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to too!”
He clearly made fun of his drug use on stage and yet, listening to him; you never deemed him to be a crazy man but rather an extraordinary comedic genius.
He was a kid at heart, making you feel like you shouldn’t forget to laugh and get lost in the simplicity and humour found in the mundane.
“My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them.”
You’re left curled over from laughing so hard because his jokes were witty, clever and also left you thinking. You eventually “get it” and hope that everyone else “gets it” too. He was brilliant! A mastermind when it came to creating humour.
A fellow comedian once said that “Mitch didn’t have to worry about whether or not his stuff was funny because anything he said became funny!”
“Dogs are forever in the push up position!”
Hiding behind his long hair, sunglasses and shy smile; Mitch’s spirit radiated across the room. You watch a video performance of him and can’t resist smiling. You begin to feel an empathy towards him as you eventually realize the reality of his crippling stage fright and anxiety.
There was an air about him that we connected to!
What would have been of Mitch had he still been with us?! A question I choose to let go of.
As a fan, I miss him dearly and take joy in exposing my son to this legendary and revolutionary comedic appeal. There was only one of him! The mold crumbled and that dust settled into the hearts of those who loved him. To the master one-liner…thanks for the laughs xo
-Jessica Di Palma is a forever Mitch Hedberg fan
by Jessica Di Palma
“You might have seen this next comedian on the David Letterman Show” but I believe more people have seen me AT THE STORE” and that would be a better introduction!”
That was the first excerpt I randomly watched of Mitch Hedberg; Mitchell Lee Hedberg to be precise! I sat and watched in awe as this absolute comedic genius spewed brilliant one-liners in the most subdued, quirky and down-right coolest of ways. I instantly became obsessed! Which rock had I been living under?! Well, apparently a huge boulder! I delved deeply into my elated state of Mitch-Mania.
At the same time, I was also forced to immediately accept the sad truth that he had passed on from a drug overdose a couple of years prior.
“I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to too!”
He clearly made fun of his drug use on stage and yet, listening to him; you never deemed him to be a crazy man but rather an extraordinary comedic genius.
He was a kid at heart, making you feel like you shouldn’t forget to laugh and get lost in the simplicity and humour found in the mundane.
“My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them.”
You’re left curled over from laughing so hard because his jokes were witty, clever and also left you thinking. You eventually “get it” and hope that everyone else “gets it” too. He was brilliant! A mastermind when it came to creating humour.
A fellow comedian once said that “Mitch didn’t have to worry about whether or not his stuff was funny because anything he said became funny!”
“Dogs are forever in the push up position!”
Hiding behind his long hair, sunglasses and shy smile; Mitch’s spirit radiated across the room. You watch a video performance of him and can’t resist smiling. You begin to feel an empathy towards him as you eventually realize the reality of his crippling stage fright and anxiety.
There was an air about him that we connected to!
What would have been of Mitch had he still been with us?! A question I choose to let go of.
As a fan, I miss him dearly and take joy in exposing my son to this legendary and revolutionary comedic appeal. There was only one of him! The mold crumbled and that dust settled into the hearts of those who loved him. To the master one-liner…thanks for the laughs xo
-Jessica Di Palma is a forever Mitch Hedberg fan
Help With Loss
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In memory of Steve Irwin
This past week was the 55th birthday of Steve Irwin The Crocodile Hunter. Steve Irwin, a wildlife expert, was 44 when he died in 2006 after a stingray barb pierced his heart.
I remember his passion for his work with dangerous animals, I remember his infectious enthusiasm...but what I think I will remember the most was how Steve got so many people to cheer for the snake.
No kidding. I remember how people would react while watching the show, and how people started to cheer for the snake in the hopes that the snake would actually bite Steve as Steve manhandled the creatures. Personally, I think that is why a lot of people tuned in...just to see if this week, Steve would get bitten.
Steve made learning about snakes, reptiles and dangerous animals a fun experience.
Never forgotten. The world STILL talks about this remarkable person.
Here are some of Steve Irwin's inspired appearances:
#steveirwin #steve #irwin #crikey #crocodile #dundee #australia #bindi #bindisue #dwts #thecrocodilehunter #hunter #snakes #rip #obit #stingray #zookeeper #terri #bindiwear #animalplanet #beerwah #queensland #australiazoo #robertclarenceirwin #bindiirwin #stevelives #crocfiles #terriirwin #TheCrocodileHunterDiaries #paulhogan
Help with Loss
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Remembering Jim Myers aka George The Animal Steele
Remembering George The Animal Steele 1937-2017
by Frank Kermit
I first saw George The Animal Steele on WWF's Saturday Night's Main Event. It was a segment where he and Gene Okerlund were visiting a zoo.
by Frank Kermit
I first saw George The Animal Steele on WWF's Saturday Night's Main Event. It was a segment where he and Gene Okerlund were visiting a zoo.
I did not know what to make of it. I was new to wrestling (and have since been a long time fan). I loved the character and at times felt that he might not be acting. George Steele played his character of "The Animal" so well, that at times, he could make fans forget that he was actually a very educated and intelligent human being.
He was a sight to see. He did not care about winning the matches. He was there to entertain the fans, with his green tongue and his desire to eat and destroy the turnbuckles. He was a prime example that you do not have to win championships to make a living in professional wrestling.
Then came a wonderful story line that George Steele tends to be remembered for. George was set to wrestling Randy Macho Man Savage, and during that match, George first saw Miss Elisabeth (the manager and wife of Randy Savage) and The Animal fell in love with her. It was playing on the theme of the elusive beauty who was with a controlling partner and the endearing beast that everyone wanted to see end up with her.
This feud would go on to be one of the most memorial and emotionally tapping wrestling feuds of its time. In real life, they were all friends, and Miss Elisabeth was in no real danger, nor was there any chance she would leave her husband for Steele. With that said, Randy Savage was in fact very jealous and the friends (Savage and Steele) would get into real life arguments because of Savage's jealousy. But nonetheless, it was a great show.
The story line came to an end at Wrestlemania 3, where Steele helped Ricky The Dragon Steamboat beat Randy Savage for the Intercontinental Championship. George never got the girl, but he did give the "bad guy" Savage some come up-pens.
I will always remember you George The Animal Steele (aka Jim Myers). Thank you for the memories. I know that I only watched you during the later years of your career and missed so many of your great moments prior to your feud with Savage, but nonetheless, you made on impact on me, and countless others that grew up watching wrestling at the same time I did.
Good bye George, and Thank You.
#WWF #wrestlemania #NXT #wwe #smackdown #TNA #AttitudeEra #wweraw #prowrestling #wwesmackdown #wwenetwork #ECW #MainEvent #professionalwrestling #ROH #wrestling
#georgesteele #theanimal #jimmyers #myers #jim #death #machoman #randysavage #misselisabeth #meangene # wwehalloffame #halloffame #hof #saturdaynightsmainevent
Help With Mourning
