These guys still rule.

If you have yet to take part in the time honored tradition of heading to The District and seeing The Travolta's play, you are a sad wreck of a human being. They're awesome musicians and even better people, but they're also not going to be touring too much longer. So drop your prejudices, get off your butt, and actually enjoy yourselves the next weekend they're in town.

Live High

We wrapped up Prenzie's Sixth Season last weekend with our final performances of Life's A Dream. Despite easily being the most controversial show in our history (let alone the Q.C. in quite some time) it was really well reviewed and I was surprised to hear some people state after the show that it was their favorite Prenzie show we've done. Personally, I'm excited to be doing a modern (not to mention a musical) script for my next show as well as working with a new theatre company. (Actually, there are a lot of Prenzie's working with all new theatre companies this summer so get out there and support them all!)

My best friend, his brother, and myself started a production company back in February with the intent of finally getting our ideas out there - be it through skits on YouTube, writing shows, or whatever medium we could use. On a whim, we wrote, produced, filmed, and edited a pilot called Reality Check & submitted it to the Chicago Comedy Pilot Competition. We found out last week that out of 3,000 submissions, we qualified in the top 10 and will have our pilot screened at a theater in Chicago along with 9 other finalists. Copies were also submitted to NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and other stations for voting. If you find yourself in the Chicago area, have $10 burning a hole in your pocket, and have nothing else to do, feel free to stop by the Music Box Theater on Friday, July 18, we'd love to see you there. More information can be found here. (if you're friends with me on Facebook, you can find the trailer over there) We're not expecting a miracle or anything, but are pretty pumped to have placed in the top 10.

And Jon Lester came back from cancer and threw a no-hitter for the Red Sox. So it's been a pretty good week.

In the wonderful world of film...

Steph & I saw Iron Man and, I know fans of Sam Raimi's Spider-man will hate me for saying this, but I think it's the best Marvel film released so far. I don't know if that has to do with the fact that this is the first film released under the Marvel Studios banner, but it just was a great example of things falling into place at the same time: Favereau as the director/screenwriter, Downey Jr. jumping through hoops to prove that he was the right man for the role, the effects team knocking many of those scenes out of the park - it was just a fun movie that will please the general popcorn crowd as well as the die-hard fans of the comic (plus, you need to sit through the credits for a pleasant surprise).

We also saw my most-anticipated movie of the summer, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on opening night. It was a great gracenote to a very popular franchise and the first 20 minutes do a wonderful job of getting you in a 1940's mindset - not to mention giving us some intense action moments right off the bat. It still maintains it's serial movie feel and there are enough subtle (and not so subtle) nods to the previous three films throughout to make even a casual fan of the series smile. Harrison Ford felt like he was actually getting younger as the film progressed and Kate Blanchett was a really good foil for him to play opposite of. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Jason Mraz's new album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things dropped last week and it's a nice return to form for him after taking a year off to tour abroad. He also released three EP's in the weeks leading up to the album coming out which have acoustic versions of the songs on the album. I honestly can't say which versions I like better... (my buddy B-Lo is in the same boat as he picked up the same set I did)

I also have another article up over at SSNN.com.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a challenge date with Mario Kart Wii that I have to cowboy up for and then get to The Travolta's show. Take care & I hope you all have an awesome Memorial Day weekend!

Life's A Dream

Come see it, if you're around. It's a good show.

Great article & the good shows have returned.

Here is an awesome article on ComedySportz from the Quad-City Times. The interviewer attended last weekend's show completely unannounced (what better way to interview an improv troupe) and there's supposedly a couple video interviews online and some show footage as well. With this, the successful gig with Darrell Hammond, and the awesome All-Star Show a few weekends ago with Chicago and Kansas City, we're getting some great media coverage - and are very appreciative for that!

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A final note to Anonymous: I know who you are now...and the tracking software a friend of mine installed on my computer a week ago has confirmed it. I never have claimed to be without flaws and have made many, many choices in my life - some good and some bad. But I've also atoned for my bad choices, apologized to those affected by them, was forgiven, and have moved on. This is the last time I'm acknowledging your comments - some of which may have had merit at one time, but when you decided to make an offensive comment regarding the passing of my grandmother, they kind of lost whatever impact that was desired.

At any rate, I sincerely hope you find whatever it is you're searching for out there.
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As for the pace of these posts that Pete mentioned, I don't know if I can keep it up as we're entering hell week for Life's A Dream & we've also got a surprisingly busy May for CSz.

It snowed here on Tuesday. It was very brief, but it was still snow.

In April.

Yeah...that's not good. Now the Mississippi is flooding downtown Davenport and, while not quite to the extreme yet of the flood of '93, LeClaire Park is entirely underwater and the newly refurbished John O'Donn.....er.....Modern Woodman Park, home of The Swi.....er....The River Bandits, has waters rising on it's sides as well. (that's a local joke. just smile and nod) I may try to take some photos and post them on here, if I've got the time.

Like Star Wars? Then check this out (thanks to Shawn for the link).

Is anyone else enjoying season four of LOST so far? It's been really good and firing away at a blistering pace as well. It's nice seeing 30 Rock and The Office back to form as well. Personally, I'm glad to see Hell's Kitchen is back too. Not too many people enjoy Gordon Ramsey being so mean, but I think it's entertaining television & they keep renewing it so it must be doing something right.

Then again, they keep renewing The Hills too, so take that for what it's worth.

I hope you all are doing well!