Reliving "Saturday Night"

From NY...the day I met SNL alum, Ben Stiller and Tina Fey ("are you an actor?").
Queens, NY, 2008. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Live from New York… it’s Saturday night… well, afternoon. It’s another punishingly cold, winter day, so I’m just hibernating here at home with my pooch. Fortunately, this month has offered us some interesting “event TV” to distract us from the weather. Indeed, the Super Bowl was one of the most exciting games I remember, and last Sunday they aired a three and a half hour special celebrating the 40^th anniversary of Saturday Night Live.

I enjoyed the SNL40 special (even if, like the regular show, the strongest material was at the beginning). The opening with Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake rapping about the show’s history was impressive, and it was cool to see many of the former cast members return as favorite characters ("Wayne’s World, Wayne’s World!"). Will Ferrell was probably the highlight for me, and Celebrity Jeopardy! was hilarious (with Jim Carrey doing a spot-on Matthew McConaughey). The only true disappointment was the return of Eddie Murphy, who did not do much but thank the crowd. I learned later in the week that Murphy had been asked to portray Bill Cosby (the subject of so many rape allegations) during the Jeopardy sketch, which would have been amazing…but probably smart that he declined.

I was too young to have witnessed the brilliance of the original Not Ready for Primetime Players (John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray), but have fond memories of Eddie Murphy’s stint on the show in the early 1980s. His impressions of Stevie Wonder and James Brown, Mister Robinson’s Neighborhood, Gumby, Buckwheat…  I was particularly mesmerized by the “Who Shot Buckwheat” sketches...  O-tay!

SNL's talented Season 10 cast- clockwise, left to right:
Billy Crystal, Gary Kroeger, Rich Hall, Pamela Stephenson,
Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Julia Louis-Dreyfus,
Jim Belushi, Martin Short, Mary Gross. Photo credit: NBC

One thing I have seen repeated in article after article about the show’s anniversary, is the idea that the show never seems as funny as we remember when we were 13 or 14 years old. This theory seems pretty accurate to me because, to this day, my fondest memories of SNL are reserved for the year I really started watching: 1984/1985. Eddie Murphy had left for the movies, and Season 10 was the year they brought in several “high-profile" comedians to save the show (jokingly referred to as the “Steinbrenner Season”).

Billy Crystal became a bit of a sensation with his “You Look Mahvelous” Fernando bit (my friends and I used to play his comedy album over and over). I was surprised to learn, later on, that he was supposed to appear on the first show with the original cast back in 1975, but his stand-up routine was cut due to time.  He made up for it during this season, where you could say he emerged the true star (his Sammy Davis, Jr. impression was amazing).

Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer were fresh off their success with the hilarious rock mockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap (1984), and they contributed some truly memorable skits and short films (including a hilarious 6o Minutes parody, looking at the manufacturing of fake novelty items like whoopee cushions and fake vomit). 

Guest and Crystal also teamed up for Willie and Frankie, two guys who were always hurting themselves (“I hate when that happens”).

As deadpan as Guest was, I think Rich Hall took the prize. The creator of Sniglets, he had some really funny stand-up segments, impersonated radio host Paul Harvey (“good day!”) and magician Doug Henning, and played a character who used to wander on to the news set.

The cast member who probably made the greatest impression on me that season was Martin Short. The spastic Ed Grimley... defensive lawyer Nathan Thurm… the weird albino performer, Jackie Rogers Jr (that “$100,000 Jackpot Wad” game show segment is a classic)… Short’s manic energy really fit the live show format. He also teamed up with Shearer and Guest for the unforgettable male sychronized swimmers film.

This was the last season before the show's creator, Lorne Michaels returned from a five year hiatus. All of the 84/85 cast, which included a pre-Seinfeld Julia Louis-Dreyfus, left at the end of the year to make room for a horrible cast that included Anthony Michael Hall and Robert Downey Jr. (who else suffered through that? Hands up). The show eventually got it’s groove back in the late 80s/early 90s with the introduction of such talents as Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Mike Meyers, and Dana Carvey (who I think is one of the funniest comedians ever), resulting in a second "golden age" for the show.

But every once in a while I get a bit obsessive, trying to find out more details about that “oddball” tenth season that I remember from my youth. Last week’s special sparked that interest again. I can hear Ed Grimley... “this is insane!” So, in an attempt to put that fascination to rest and perhaps connect with other kindred souls, here’s what I learned (surprise, most of the cast wasn't that happy):

*Harry Shearer left halfway through the season, although he continued to be featured in the really cool Season 10 show opening credits (Who remembers? In the style of the Cars’ music video, “You Might Think”). It sounds like Shearer might have been hard to get along with, and frustrated with the lack of material he was getting on the air. This may explain why, when I met the Spinal Tap cast during an “audition” in Los Angeles back in 1991, they were a little cold about my suggestion to guest on SNL again (although Michael McKean later joined the cast in 1994). Shearer has gone on to do some funny political comedy on a radio show, and contribute several memorable voices to The Simpsons.

*Speaking of The Simpsons, apparently the character of Moe was based on Rich Hall. I was floored to realize this… but yes, can totally see it! I had a chance to see Hall perform comedy in my hometown many years ago, and was delighted to have the chance to meet him afterwards. I’m not sure the SNL format was for him, since he seemed most comfortable doing stand-up. Apparently he has become a big name in the UK... I’m glad to hear it, because I always appreciated his style (as well as the Brits, actually).

*Larry David, the creator of Seinfeld, served as a writer on Season 10. The catch is that he could never get his material on the air, and finally “quit” the show in a tirade against then producer, Dick Ebersol. Realizing what he had done (and the money he would be missing), David returned to work the following Monday, as if nothing had happened. David would later use this real-life event for the inspiration behind the Seinfeld episode, "The Revenge,” where George quits, only to sneak back to the job the next week. Ha ha… amazingly, in real-life, David was able to continue through the season… and he met future Seinfeld collaborator, Dreyfus, so it wasn’t a total loss.

*Martin Short also tried to quit after a couple episodes. Like Guest, apparently he was a little wary about his one-year contract, and the unrelenting pressure of the show was different from his experience on SCTV. Ebersol talked him out of it, and in his awesome new biography, I Must Say, Short notes that he found his groove on the show; perhaps that anxious energy made him so funny and memorable! I was pleasantly surprised by his lengthy part on the SNL40 special (singing against a wind machine alongside a hilarious Maya Rudolph, impersonating Beyoncé).

Of course, Crystal and Short went on to become big Hollywood stars, and Guest went on to become a pretty funny film director. Such movies as When Harry Met Sally and City Slickers (starring Crystal); and Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show (directed by Guest) are certainly classics. Some of their recent work strikes me as annoyingly “showbiz,” but I think that thread was present even back in their lone SNL season.

So, that brings the question… was the 84/85 season really as funny as I remember? On the whole, maybe not fall-down funny... but extremely clever. I admit that it is the type of comedy I tend to gravitate towards, and perhaps resulted in my interest in doing improv and such strange shows as Woman in Mind, Lives of the Saints and Under Milkwood (where I impersonated, SNL-style, a half a dozen bizarre characters). There was also something “heart-warming” about that season; the comedy was far from mean-spirited, with the likable cast and other writers continually presenting a “tolerance” for the weirdness that was unfolding (maybe some SCTV carryover there). A reserved, artistic teen at the time, I think I appreciated that message.

So here’s to Saturday Night Live and, in particular, the season of 1984—this “big brother” has certainly been watching. To my delight, NBC has just posted highlights from every episode and season of SNL on their website... now that looks mahvelous!

Related Links:

"Saturday Night Live" website

"The ‘S.N.L.’ 40th-Anniversary Show: Very Funny, Except When It Wasn’t," 

New York Times, February 16, 2015

"'Saturday Night Live': All 141 Cast Members Ranked," 

Rolling Stone, February 11, 2015

"9 SNL Cast Members Who Made the Most of Their Only Season," Paste, 
January 8, 2015

"Howard Stern Grills Larry David About His Utter Failure at SNL," 
Mediate.com, January 8, 2015

"Martin Short: I watched Larry David's profane 'Saturday Night Live" exit," 
Salon, November 15, 2014

Martin Short interview, "The Howard Stern Show," November 5, 2014

"Martin Short: My 'Saturday Night Live' hell," Salon, November 2, 2014

"The Lost Year of 'Saturday Night Live': 1984," Hollywood.com, May 7, 2014

Harry Shearer interview, "The Howard Stern Show," March 3, 2010

Season 10 (reviews), Saturday-Night-Live.com Forum

Saturday Night Live: 1984-1985 Transcripts, snltranscripts.jt.org

"Revived, from New York, It's 'Saturday Night'! New York Magazine," October 1, 1984

(I’ll continue to add more links here, and if you’re a fellow SNL 84/85 admirer, 

please give me a shout--that would be “pretty decent, you know.”)

Laughing...Until It Hurts

Learning about Robin William's death yesterday was unnerving... to say the least. I was already feeling down, trying to figure out an ongoing challenge at work, and here was news that this actor/comedian, who seemed to have the best job and opportunities, had taken his own life. They say that laughter is the best medicine, so how to reconcile the fact that this comedic genius, who brought a smile to so many faces over the years, had been suffering? 

Good Night, Robin:
Promo photo from Touchstone Pictures'
"Good Morning, Vietnam," 1987

Of course I knew about Williams' past troubles with substance abuse; I am familiar with the darker demons that many artistic individuals struggle with. It's just one of those moments that makes you think about the bigger picture—echoing words from A.O. Scott's appraisal in today's New York Times, Williams was one of those gifted entertainers "we sometimes took for granted or allowed ourselves to tire of."  Someone who, regrettably, we always thought we'd have around.

I feel like I grew up right alongside Robin Williams' career. I remember his debut as the alien Mork (from Ork), first on Happy Days and then in the series Mork & Mindy. It was hard to ignore his manic energy... his zany, "all things go" style. His comedy specials made us think he was "fearless."

Later, it was interesting to see this intensity displayed on the big screen—in both successful comedic and dramatic roles. Some of my favorites include Good Morning, Vietnam (1987); Awakenings (1990); Aladdin (1992); Good Will Hunting (1997); the remarkable One Hour Photo (2002); and, of course, Dead Poet's Society (1989), where he playing the unconventional teacher, standing on his desk, inspiring his students to "seize the day."

Photo courtesy Ellen Mazzer. Los Angeles, CA, August 2014.

Sometimes he could be a bit much, but you can't say he never "went for it" as a performer (even in media interviews). Having done my own share of improvisational acting, I admired and recognized his rare talent—I don't recall watching any of his performances thinking, oh that's Robin WIlliams the comedian doing "Teddy Roosevelt" or a doctor, or what have you. He was a comforting presence on the screen (almost like a family friend), and still delivering the goods after all these years. It's heartbreaking to think that there will be no more.


On a human level, it's hard to hear about another individual who battled and lost out to depression. For the sensitive soul, it can seem especially challenging to find people to relate to and ask for support... if you are reading this and feel that way, I urge you to reach out anyway... to friends, family, acquaintances, or professionals. Life is hard, and I have felt that darkness... we all have at one time or another.

Related Links:

"Robin Williams, an Improvisational Genius, Forever Present in the Moment," New York Times, August 11, 2014

"Remembering Robin Williams," WTF with Marc Maron Podcast, August 11, 2014

U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK

Auld Lang Syne

Wow. It's hard to believe that I started this blog a year ago today, and still managed to meet my challenge of creating a post EVERY DAY to document this significant year! 

Looking back, moving forward! Photo by John Whipple. 
All rights reserved.

To be honest, this was also meant to be a way to get my name out there on the inter-webs (while I work on a professional website), and there were times when I literally groaned at the thought of having to come up with some creative, coherent post by the end of a long day... seriously, it's difficult to talk about yourself all the time! But I did manage to pull it off (often to the late-night chagrin of my patient wife), and must say that it's nice to have a real-time record to look back on the events from the past year. I think there is also something to the idea of putting myself out there to the "universe" because there were some truly great moments and opportunities that came my way. Without further ado, here is my personal Top 10 for 2012 (hey, I told you I liked creating these things!):

10. Connected (Writing's On The Wall)

NYC's Spoken Word Almanac Project (with visuals by yours truly).
Photo by Jonathan Weiskopf. All rights reserved.

As I mentioned, the goal of this blog (in addition to giving my Mom some daily morning reading material) was to get my name out there− seemed to work! A few professional contacts I made this year mentioned finding this site, or asked− out of the blue− about such endeavors as my improv group that they could have only read about here(!). I also continued my work with the Spoken Word Almanac Project earlier in the year, creating visuals for their "news in review" style format of performance poetry. 

"Troy Record," April 26, 2012

2012 also saw further work with Peace Action New York State, where Sarah and I helped out with a July peace march to commemorate the World War II era victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and I videotaped special lectures for the group on such topics as the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. 

I continued to land other interesting, independent video projects, although I had to be conscious of biting off more than I could chew up to and around the time of my July wedding. I didn't come as far as I had hoped this year in terms of advancing my career, but it was a year that saw me making significant strides and remain in the game.

9. King of All Media

Well, it was certainly a year where I stepped it up in terms of my outreach towards the media. 2012 saw me interviewed by such outlets as The Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, The Springfield Republican, The Schenectady Gazette and New England Public Radio in regards to various exhibitions and programs at Norman Rockwell Museum. I took my Manager of Media Services title to new heights by leading the effort to launch our own page on the Google Art Project, and twice appeared as a guest on The Roundtable, produced by the Albany NPR station, WAMC. This past month I even went international with an interview for TV Tokyo's Bi no Kyojin Tachi, regarding the career of artist Norman Rockwell. It felt good to be able to use my experience and knowledge gained on the job in a creative way... after more than a decade of working at the Museum and in TV news, I certainly feel confident in my abilities.

8. We Are Family

  

Updating Norman Rockwell's "The Runaway" with
my nephew. ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

My family grew this year, and part of what made this year so memorable was being able to help celebrate their own milestones and achievements. First off, I became a uncle again... times three! Sarah's two nephews ushered in the new extended family by being the ring bearer and master of butterflies at our wedding. And although she was pregnant and couldn't attend our big day, my sister gave birth to another beautiful little girl weeks later... apparently she hasn't stopped smiling since she arrived! The smiles continued in October as my mother-in-law received a special honor for her ongoing efforts for peace.

Proving that weddings are contagious, my two twin cousins announced their own engagements this past fall, and my sister-in-law just got engaged... I was happy to lend a creative hand in the planning of the latter, where my future brother-in-law took me up on my idea of proposing to his girl during the previously mentioned Japanese TV shoot that my nephew took part in... now THAT was a Norman Rockwell moment.

7. The Art of Improvisation

Another RBIT-ing performance. ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

At the beginning of this year, my friend/groomsman Frank announced that my old improv group was going to start performing in South County of the Berkshires again, which is where I continue to work. "How can I get in on this?" I wondered aloud, and suddenly found myself "back on the boards," playing gigs with The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe at the beautiful new Spectrum Playhouse, located in my old hometown of Lee, Massachusetts. It has been a wonderful experience reconnecting with these old and new friends, and challenging myself with some performing again... the late night karaoke after-parties were pretty great too.

6. I Am The DJ, I Am What I Play

Broadcasting live from the WEXT studios!
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

I was fortunate to return to another favorite activity this year− during and after college, I had enjoyed being a music DJ (including a stint with independent rock station WBER in Rochester, New York).... well, thanks to Capital Region station WEXT, I found myself doing my best Casey Kasem on a couple of occasions this year: first during an hour playing some of my favorite songs on their MyExit program, and also earlier this month as I recorded a tribute show to the Norwegian band, A-ha. The latter program was in celebration of the band's 30th anniversary (and knighting in their home country!), and should be airing at the beginning of the new year. Hopefully there will be more on-air opportunities... did I mention that I'm a bit of a "ham" radio operator? 

home sweet home.
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

5. New Digs

After an extended "transition" period, which included apartments in the Berkshires, New York City, and the Hudson Valley, I finally settled into a lovely old, renovated home in downtown Schenectady with my wife Sarah. In addition to enjoying the resources of "The Electric City" and Capital Region, it is just nice to finally have some room to spread out, get organized and creative again (bonus points for this past week's clean up). Yes honey... "feels like home."

4. Mr. Ed

One of the most satisfying moments this past year was the opportunity to continue furthering my education. I FINALLY took another graphic design course, which is something I have been wanting to do for some time now and made possible by the excellent Arts Center of the Capital Region. The class helped me understand key design principals, come up with ideas for creating a logo and website for my business, and learn the ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator. I also utilized some of this newfound knowledge in the design of our wedding invitations and thank-you cards... turned out beautiful (thanks to instructor Taylor Gillis of Troy's Design It Together for sharing his own knowledge and insight).

Invitation only... by design!
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

The Arts Center also gave Sarah and I a chance to brush up on our swing dancing during a course timed perfectly ahead of our wedding, and offered me a chance to play around with a DSLR video camera during two weekends of their video art course. This was a great, creative exercise... the DSLR takes a little getting used to, but the picture quality is fantastic. 

Extra kudos to the Center for letting me take the camera out on yet another afternoon (outside of class) to further acquaint myself with one of the newest tool for filmmakers, and continued appreciation for my friends at CTSB-TV in the Berkshires for letting me try out a number of other new HD video camera models for various projects. As they say: learning is fundamental!

3. Four More Years

Promo for Darian Dauchan's Obamatry,
a spoken word remix, featuring multimedia
design by JC. Courtesy Darian Dauchan.

The fiscal cliff, Obamacare, gun control... it was a tense 12 months, made more so by the fact that this was an election year. Although I don't approve of everything that unfolded during his first term (read: drones), I still supported President Barack Obama, and felt that he held the conviction and intelligence necessary to lead this country back to greatness. I felt a little guilty that I could not actively help his campaign as I did four years ago, and for a while it got to be a nail-biter... Republican candidate Mitt Romney made some last-minute strides this past fall that had many of us wondering if the country would be heading in another direction. What a relief it was to wake up on November 6th to the news that Obama had won a second term, and that many of the initiatives that progressives had been working so hard to advance (health care, marriage equality, immigration, etc.) would be saved. It's hard to believe that the state of the union was swaying precariously in the balance just over a month ago. Of course we've still got a long way to go, and I wish President Obama the best of luck over the next four years... forward!

2. Hero Worship

Interviewing acclaimed comic book artist Alex Ross
in his Chicago studio. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

2012 found me getting back in touch with my "inner comic geek," and thrilled at the arrival of our new exhibit, Heroes & Villains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross, at Norman Rockwell Museum. I have been a fan of Ross' work since 1994's Marvels, so it was a great thrill to meet the artist again and see his stunning, original art. The icing on the cake: the chance to travel to Chicago and interview Alex Ross for a new exhibition video. I had to push for this one, but it felt great to utilize not only my video production skills, but also knowledge of a medium that I, like Ross, grew up with. 




(Above is a movie trailer I also created for the exhibition− good fun!)

Yours truly... your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights resereved.

Another idea I had was for my colleagues and I to dress up like our favorite superheroes for the exhibition opening and related programming... my childhood dreams came full-circle as I walked around in my own Spider-Man costume, with several admiring youngsters following in my footsteps! Did I mention the billboard?

By the end of the year, I had reconnected with an aspect of my youth that I have sometimes felt embarrassed over the years to admit to enjoying. However, the success this past year of such films as Spider-Man, Batman: The Dark Knight Rises, and especially The Avengers (♥) made it seem slightly less geeky to proclaim my superhero/comic book love... I even proudly represented the Museum's exhibit at the Albany Comic Con in October, and have become a frequent visitor to the area comic book stores... Bazinga! (must-read of the year: Sean Howe's Marvel Comics: The Untold Story). 

1. Our Big Day

Mr. and Mrs. Clowe!
Photo by John Whipple. All rights reserved.

Of course the highlight of the year was finally getting married to my long-time love, Sarah. The first part of the year was great fun, planning all the various details for the ceremony and reception− we both certainly got to use our creativity. It was challenging at times... I admit, it took me longer to find a tux than I would have expected, and it was tricky to figure out some aspects of an interfaith ceremony. However, the sheer joy of planning for our new life together made it an exciting adventure...

The big day arrived fast and was not only emotional, but a little surreal... to have so many of our loved ones surrounding us (and our friend Tom co-officiate the ceremony), and find myself standing at the alter as my new bride walked down to the aisle to The Beatles' "Here Comes The Sun"...

At that moment, the skies opened up on our beautiful outdoor ceremony, and it began to rain. I certainly wasn't expecting this, although it came as some relief to the summer's extended dry spell and intense humidity... but on my wedding day? 

Dance away... Photo by John Whipple. All rights reserved.

As a spiritual person, I couldn't help but wonder what the sign was... I struggled even more when one of my close family members had a bit of a health scare following the ceremony. The day could have taken a dark turn, but luckily things recovered, and we had an absolute blast during our reception (never seen so many people out on the dance floor at a wedding!). I should point out that the ceremony was also truly beautiful, filled with friends and family reading, singing, and even bubbles and butterflies... the intermittent rain showers let up towards the end of the ceremony, and we were treated to two magnificent rainbows later in the day. 

We followed the wedding with an absolutely magical week in Montreal and Quebec City, chasing after more waterfalls, and enjoying getting lost in Canada. Married life has been great! It's good on the other side, and I wonder why I waited so long...

***

As with any year, 2012 was filled with many highs and lows... laughter and tears... I sometimes found myself questioning my faith, wondering how a higher power could allow such tragedies to unfold as the summer shooting in Aurora, Colorado; the destruction from Hurricane Sandy; and the recent fatal shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, and Webster, New York (near my own hometown)... I made a point of going to church on Christmas Eve to have some time to reflect on this past year's events, and try to come to terms with some of my own personal anger at events that took place in my own life this year, which I felt I had little control over...

***

So, I literally just opened today's mail (snail not e), and found a late Christmas letter from my friend Tom, the reverend. At the top of his own yearly review, he noted our wedding and how beautiful it was to take part in the service... in describing the previously mentioned downpour, he referenced one of the scriptures Sarah and I had chosen for the ceremony, from Song of Solomon 8:7: "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it..."

"All You Need Is Love."--The Beatles. Photo by John Whipple. All rights reserved.

What a fitting way to end this memorable year: hearing these lines again and truly taking them to heart... because it's the end of another year, yet my love for life still burns bright. Thanks to friends and family who have joined me during this past year's journey, and here's to a happy and prosperous new year ahead...

Updated Soundtrack for 2012:

Port of Morrow, The Shins

Signs & Signifiers, J.D. McPherson

The Lumineers, The Lumineers

England Keep My Bones, Frank Turner

Laura, Diego Garcia

Django, Django, Django, Django

Boys & Girls, Alabama Shakes

Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen

Delta Spirit, Delta Spirit

A Thing Called Divine Fits, Divine Fits

Making Mirrors, Gotye

There's No Leaving Now, The Tallest Man on Earth

Out of My Hands, Morten Harket

New Year, New Laughs

One of the very positive things about this past year has been my return to performing with The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe. In addition to offering me a rather flexible opportunity (time and physicality) to further hone my performing skills, it also has reconnected me with some of my dearest friends−old and new!

I'm happy to announce that I will be continuing with the group in the new year, and we already have several promising gigs booked for the next two months. Do stop by and see us if you're in the Berkshires and looking for a laugh (where else would you go, right?). Here are the dates planned so far:

RBIT... we even do weddings! Photo by John Whipple. All rights reserved.

The Spectrum Playhouse, Lee, MA

Friday, January 18, 2013, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.

UNICO Dinner: NAMI Fundraiser, Featuring RBIT

ITAM, Pittsfield, MA

Thursday, February 7, 2013, 6 - 8 p.m.

The Spectrum Playhouse, Lee, MA

Friday, February 15, 2013, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.

10 X 10 Festival

The Garage at the Colonial Theatre, 111 South Street, Pittsfield, MA

Sunday, February 24, 2013, 3 – 4:30 p.m.

Making our partners look good... since 2001.

Weekend Update

Our improv show went well on Friday night. The rehearsal earlier in the week helped, and we had a full house (which always helps). It was Lee's Founders Day Weekend, so there was a lot happening in the town... in fact, my in-laws came out to see the show, and were impressed by the energy of the town... kind of funny, since it seemed so dead when I lived there. Regarding the show, some of my fellow improv mates seem newly inspired, which is great--it made me all the more motivated to give a great performance. Of course, with improv you can get anything, so there's no way to predict how a show will go... but this one was good- I think we're getting better at telling stories and listening to each other.

Photo ©Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell
Museum. All rights reserved.

This afternoon Sarah and I trekked back out to the Berkshires to help out at the Girl Scouts Festival being held at Norman Rockwell Museum in honor of the 100 year anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. I basically took photos all day to document the event, which was fun and challenging at the same time. I have felt a little inspired by our wedding photographer's work, and trying to take a few cues from things I observed him doing with his photography. There was watercolor painting on the outdoor campus (leaves are starting to change), horse grooming and tricks (a live horse jumping hurdles), and an actress who portrayed Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low. Sarah was a long-time girl scout, so I was happy to have her join me, and interested in learning more about her times with the service organization. 

Tonight we packed... getting ready to move, and we still have a ways to go. Tomorrow I finally have a true day off... looking forward to it after a long, exhausting week.