Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 308
Date: Wednesday, 10 November 1999
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 308
Wednesday, 10 November 1999
Today's Topics:
Death of a Man....
Re: xTc TrIBuTe - FiNAl!
250k AV1's sold
A Little Homespun Religion
Trent Reznor/XTC
The Power of Suggestion
Rumblings & Ramblings
Backdating punishments for bad etiquette
Avon, a vow, aw, ova, nova!
2 XTC notes
The Ugly Underneath
MISSED IT
Ding Dong
fishbone..
MST3K-XTC
Huh?
Bowie, bad tapes, boorishness, and bad connections
In the not-too-distant future ...
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There are no secrets in Star Park.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: " " <macthedad@excite.com> Subject: Death of a Man.... Message-Id: <942180237.26129.335@excite.com> Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1999 12:43:57 PST > From: "Duncan Kimball" > > No offence, DavidOh - I'm sure Greg whatsisname was a nice >guy, and 24 is very young to die, and you seem to like him ... but to be >blunt - you pays your money, you takes your chance. I had to think long and hard on this one. It's not my intention piss any one off....but Dunk, baby, your comments on Greg and his LIVING (yes he chose it, yes he knew he could die). . .stink! I tried to use some other word for it but 'STINK' works for me. Isn't this the XTC list?. . Where we MOSTLY discuss XTC? "But there's always one Who wants to talk shop. We'll drive him through the door With a broom or a mop." Moulding- works fer me! PEACE
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3828B7B5.E87B0C9C@mailorder.com> Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1999 16:09:25 -0800 From: Kerry Chicoine <kchicoine@mailorder.com> Organization: American Computer Group Subject: Re: xTc TrIBuTe - FiNAl! Hellough Chalk-chalkers, Here's the finalized track list for my stab at an xTc tribute CD: 1) Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen Kevin Kelly 2) Making Plans for Nigel Leighton 3) Humble Daisy James Campbell 4) I'm Bugged Todd Bernhardt 5) Dear Madam Barnum Nipper and the Seaturtles 6) This is the End Harrison Sherwood 7) Mermaid Smiled Kerry Chicoine 8) Melt the Guns Steve Stearns 9) Knights in Shining Kharma David Lake 10) One of the Millions David Storm 11) Ball & Chain The Dave Smoke-Detector 3 12) Lady Bird May O'Mahoney 13) Books are Burning Peter Fitzpatrick 14) Reign of Blows Vee Tube 15) Grass Mike Livingston 16) Vanishing Girl The Maggies 17) Dance Band Melissa Reaves Reserves (in case of any cancellations from list above) 18) Chain of Command Randy Christopher 19) Rook Jennifer Geese 20) Your Gold Dress Jim Slade 21) Extrovert Leviathan Chihuahua 22) Garden of Earthly Delights Chris Arter Quite an ambitious collection of musical gemstones! If all goes well, look for an early Spring, 2000 limited release. I'll post the purchasing info here once the project nears completion. Thanks again for climbing aboard the balloon, you contributors! Sincerely, Kerry Chicoine aka Kompost http://www.mp3.com/artists/15/kompost.html http://www.cdbaby.com/buy/kompost.htm http://www.popstar.net/kickstand/ P.S. AV1 is sheer genius. After an initial 'cold' reaction to AV1 about a year ago, I now find myself returning to this CD over and over again, like a salmon to its birth stream. Very nourishing and an incredibly beautiful, mature work. I love you, Andy and Colin!
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19991110024953.12244.qmail@wwcst088.netaddress.usa.net>
Date: 9 Nov 99 18:49:53 PST
From: vee tube <veetube@netscape.net>
Subject: 250k AV1's sold
XTC NEWS at 'Bungalow' has
been updated. It includes the (temp)
track listing for AV2. And other
stuff you might like to know.
}---:)
"The beauty of love is that
it'sknowing!"
********
******
****
**
*
------------------------------ From: WTDK@aol.com Message-ID: <0.67f38d3a.255a4257@aol.com> Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 22:36:55 EST Subject: A Little Homespun Religion I seem to recall a question a little while ago asking what was up with Joe Jackson.The lad's been busy writing. His autobiography (covering at least the first thirty or so years) has just been published. XTC content: I thought this was interesting- >>Wuellig@aol.com >First about Homespun. I am surprised that you all guys and gentle ladies seem to "bend down" before it, as when I listened to it (but I did only once, in a shop, so I can be mistaken) it appeared to me that the versions were obviously less interesting that the "real" ones : for example the choirs in Easter Theatre are sung by Andy on Homespun, and it sounds horrible compared to Colin doing it, no ? Well, of course the songs remain extra-terrestrially wonderful but what's the need of it ? Interesting observation, but, I believe it misses the point. It's the very fact that Homespun is different and allows one to observe a work of art in the formation stage (similar to the Beatles Anthology as I pointed out before). I would disagree that Homespun is inferior. Certainly certain tracks aren't up to the AV1 versions, but, on the whole, Homespun allows one to appreciate other elements that are buried in the mix of AV1. It's a little like looking at the rough sketches of a painting. The rough sketch allows one to understand the creative process and appreciate the end result a little more. It's rather sad that Dear God wasn't put out during the 2nd pressing of Skylarking in Europe or on R&B Buffet. The Canadian version I picked up in 89 has Dear God as a bonus track at the end. Since the sound quality was superior to the poorly mastered Geffen version, this replaced the versions I had on vinyl and CD. It's a pity Mobile Fidelity didn't take the Canadian approach when they issued Skylarking on their Ultradisc. I asked Andy about this at the signing in San Francisco and he indicated that he wasn't very happy that no one from Mobile Fidelity asked his opinion about it. He indicated he would have had Mermaid Smiled reinstated with Dear God as a bonus track (or at least that's what I understood him to say). Speaking of which, does anybody know who is in charge of reissues at Virgin or Geffen. I'd like to start a campaign to have the XTC discography remastered in 24 bit or HDCD with the bonus tracks at the end of the CD. If either company believed that fans might replace their old versions they might consider reissuing them. -Wayne
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199911100410.UAA21320@sgiblab.sgi.com> Subject: Trent Reznor/XTC Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 22:10:48 -0600 From: zos <zos@SoftHome.net> I noticed a few posts recently regarding Trent's confessed fandom of XTC and thought I'd share Trent's latest XTC-related comment in the media. Since NIN continues to remain my favorite band/musician (sorry XTC, they're right up there though) I've read most every interview I could get my hands on. I've noticed mention of XTC a few times throughout his interviews and he is indeed a fan. But here's the comment (Trent is talking about favorite bands and influences): "And then I liked the lyrical nature of the Smiths and the Cure, and add to that XTC's songwriting. The musicality of XTC appealed to me, although it really wasn't apparent in my other stuff. But it all kind of seeped in." The interview in it's entirety can be either picked up free of charge in the form of the latest issue of Tower Records' Pulse magazine, or if you're like me and don't particularly like the place or have no access to a Tower, it can be read at their website. -Kort
------------------------------ From: unna@worldmailer.com Date: 10 Nov 1999 04:40:55 -0800 Message-ID: <19991110124055.16169.cpmta@c008.sfo.cp.net> Subject: The Power of Suggestion I never thought I would have a dream about xtc, but after reading about the dreams of others I went home and made one, too. The place had these dark rocky cliffs that went straight down to the ocean. At the bottom of the cliffs the rocks formed a horseshoe and the water looked clear and green and lit from beneath the surface. People were there (Chalkers?) and they were swimming in the horseshoe's enclosed waters wearing sleeveless shorts and trousers. Everyone could swim like seals! People would swiftly dive down about 10 feet deep and then race to the surface, breaking through to catch at least 5 feet of air. I saw Andy across the way and he had on a sleeveless shirt and trousers, too. I think he was taking a break from the swimming. I don't think there's any symbolism here. I think we were all just playing.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s8292307.074@pigeon.dallas.isd.tenet.edu> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 07:51:23 -0600 From: "David Martin" <dmartin@pigeon.dallas.isd.tenet.edu> Subject: Rumblings & Ramblings Seventh Grade says 1. N' Sync is now known as N' Stink 2. XTC will always be the ever popular tortured artist. 3. Deep Purple would sing a good "Jason and the Argonauts" 4. Monica Lewinsky does "Down in the Cockpit". Not metal but I still like the idea. 5. Bill Nye fronting Stone Temple Pilots doing "Senses Working Overtime". Great science tune. 6. Necklace tatoos are in; butterflies with spring wings are out. 7. Named my son Andrew but not after Partridge. What does this mean? 8. Pat Travers doing "Bike Ride to the Moon". Smoking baby; smoking!! 9. Canned goods are fun to donate. Remember, it's ThanksGIVING. 10. Randy Moss is a genuine Mack Daddy. There once was a young lady named Bright Who could travel much faster than light She started one day In the relative way And came back on the previous night. Mr. Martin
------------------------------ Message-ID: <004301bf2b8f$6d5a10c0$2b7b8bd0@t17fw> From: "Simon Deane/Gina Chong" <ginsim@netvigator.com> Subject: Backdating punishments for bad etiquette Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 23:22:38 +0800 Dominic Lawson wrote in #5-306 about my etiquette recommendations: >This isn't going to be backdated is it? I only ask because Harrison and I will have to sit out the next two years and I wouldn't want to miss out on the first logical argument that old Sultana "Officer" Dibble loses. You'd be a fool to miss it!< A good question and one to which I have given serious consideration. My view is that my recommendations_should_ be backdated. The indignities suffered by some on this list are such that, in my view, the perpetrators deserve some kind of retribution. That may indeed involve the likes of Harrison Sherwood and Dom missing out on a few "Chalkhills", but it may at least make them think twice before attempting to ridicule others. I believe there is a precedent for this - in the form of the infamous (no racial slur intended) Charlie Buck (not his real name). Charlie wound up a good many people in his time on this list (and indeed was wound up by one or two himself for good measure). But Charlie, perhaps the forerunner of what I am proposing, did the decent thing and effectively expelled himself. This list has been a good deal quieter since then and we are all now reaping the benefits: good solid XTC content (with the odd lapse now and again into musings about Jeff Beck - "Hi! Ho! Silver Lining" was always my favourite - and Billy Bragg etc.) As for when Mr. Diablo loses his first logical argument, I volunteer to send interested parties copies of relevant postings, assuming I have not been expelled myself. In any event, "Chalkhills" can still be followed on the "Chalkhills" website. Dom added: > but either I'm going mad or I really have got a SSL 4000 "G" with G+ Automation in my garage< If this is true, then I think the first etiquette offender has now been duly exposed, in the form of the pseudo mild-mannered Joe Funk who got me started on all this bollocks in the first place. Mr. Relph, I invite you to do your worst. Simon Deane
------------------------------ From: WTDK@aol.com Message-ID: <0.59af3c76.255b04fe@aol.com> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 12:27:26 EST Subject: Avon, a vow, aw, ova, nova! Re: the comments on Respectable Street. and Virgin "censoring" the song. I doubt that Virgin was trying to censor the lyric sheet. If that were the case they would have had Andy change it when he redid the vocal for the single. (as they did the more controversial lyrics in the song). Usually the BBC will require (or used to anyway) to change a product brand name in a song before they will play the single (for example the re-recorded single version of Lola with Cherry Cola instead of Coca-Cola). So if anyone was to make a stink about the lyrics it would probably be the BBC but since Avon is a brand name (like Sony) and not a specific product (Coca Cola is both) They probably didn't make an issue of it. I don't believe that Virgin would have been concerned about litigation for the printed lyric vs. the actual recording. After all not everyone reads the lyrics (we at Chalkhills happen to be an exception). It was probably a transcription error (Andy's enunciation isn't always the clearest and one might mishear it if it wasn't listened to very closely). It's also possible that the lyrics in the booklet were originally done for the Japanese edition and were adopted by Virgin for all other editions since it was already done. I 've noticed a lot of errors in the transcription of lyrics for Japanese CD's (and some of those errors have shown up in later editions for other markets as well). Wayne
------------------------------ From: "Michael D. Myers" <mmyers@telcordia.com> Message-ID: <85256825.0064544A.00@notes950.cc.telcordia.com> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 13:15:44 -0500 Subject: 2 XTC notes Chalksters and Chalkettes; Just a couple of quick thoughts: - Does anyone else remember this? About a year ago, Andy said that one problem in putting together Fuzzy Warbles was the almost total lack of Colin Moulding demos. Now, Mr. Ian Stewart says to us all, "hold on, I've got 2 zillion Colin demos (actually about 20-something) up on my Website". This sounds like great news since it seems to prove the existence of these treasures. Now, does Mr. Stewart have to get in touch with the band and present to them some things that he might have and they don't? If it is necessary, I vote yes and maybe FZ will end up being a 6-disk set! Does anyone else but me think that this would be so great our collective heads would explode? - I'm on hiatus this week in Dublin (in between 2 work trips) and have been digging through every record/CD shop I can find. So far, I have only found a couple of XTC vinyl 45s but most decent-sized shops have a pretty good range of their CD catalog. Interesting to note that the big HMV shops have 5 or so copies of Homespun each. Your cub reporter, Mike
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19991110182745.22594.rocketmail@web2903.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 10:27:45 -0800 (PST) From: nross <PhoenixYellowRose@rocketmail.com> Subject: The Ugly Underneath Gary's open letter to Dom: >>Sometimes you really make me laugh out loud, but then the really ugly, bullying side of your personality rears to bludgeon any goodwill thus generated. You may well exhibit this trait in person, but over the net it just looks pathetic, and a kind of cowardice. >snip< Do you think your supercilious posturing has a place on a list devoted to the works of artists whose entire careers would indicate contempt for such nonsense? What would they think?<< boy, I must have missed a great discussion there (sarcasm). by the way, can we all please try to stick to relevant topics, like, say, XTC (sarcasm). but really, is there room for another prick-wannabe on this list, I DON'T THINK SO. Leave it to the professionals! :-) XTC? Is there ANYONE out there that REALLY likes "I can't own her" ? I LOVE that song... but it seems to be the most disliked one on AV1. Its my favorite one! Well. ===== Nicole's internet music station: http://www.imagineradio.com/mymusiclisten.asp?name=phoenixyellowrose
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3829BC9F.DB75571D@which.net> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 18:42:39 +0000 From: B Blanchard <b.blanchard@which.net> Subject: MISSED IT DAMN!!!!! Came in at 10 past 6 ie.10 past Top Of The Pops 2 - it just finished and I must have missed XTC in the first 10 minutes. WHAT DID THEY PLAY and what did that obnoxious smug little shit Steve Wright have to say about them please anyone? (Note to US readers - NOT the excellent stand up Steve Wright - our DJ Steve Wright is a rather sad ridiculous DJ - but that's just my opinion). And now you're gonna tellme he was really nice about XTC! Tell us all! Love from BELINDA and hello James Dignan in NZ - I do not wear makeup let alone Avon and there's only one thing that fills my creases and he'll be on the bike with me. SMUT ALERT SMUT ALERT SORRRRYYYYYYY OUT OF ORDER COMMENT VERY RUDE GO HOME. zzzzzzz
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3829BD40.41BC6B7C@which.net> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 18:45:20 +0000 From: B Blanchard <b.blanchard@which.net> Subject: Ding Dong And anotherthing: As it happens I just did a voiceover on an Avon Cosmetics documentary here in England and yes it is still going strong in the form of home sales parties in ladies' homes up and down the land. Along with Ann Summers parties. . . . . . Yours in good vibration Belinda
------------------------------ From: Chauncy14@aol.com Message-ID: <0.3ec196b6.255b1840@aol.com> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 13:49:36 EST Subject: fishbone.. For those Chalksters who like Fishbone: Story below... FISHBONE, KOTTONMOUTH KINGS TO PLAY AT CANNABIS CUP Fishbone, Kottonmouth Kings, and Culture are among the artists lined up for the 12th Annual High Times Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on Nov. 21-25, 1999. FULL STORY: http://p01.com/s.d?IkCJq2K-=/cdnow.com/allstararticle/fid=155752 * _____________________________________________________ Regards, John Gardner Chicago
------------------------------
Message-ID: <001201bf2bb2$40744d00$25851818@we.mediaone.net>
From: "Drew MacDonald" <drewmacdonald@mediaone.net>
Subject: MST3K-XTC
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 11:31:57 -0800
It figures that people witty and tasteful enough to like XTC would also
enjoy Mystery Science Theater 3000. Have the MST3K fans on this list noted
that at least two XTC songs were referenced on the show over the years?
("Senses Working Overtime" and "Dear God", and no, I don't remember the
specific episodes.).
Unfortunately, the show is definitely dead as far as new episodes go, but
the official fan site is alive and well at www.mst3kinfo.com It's the
Chalkhills of MST3K fandom and well worth a visit.
Drew
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s8297bad.026@OAG.STATE.TX.US> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 14:04:57 -0600 From: "Steve Oleson" <Steve.Oleson@OAG.STATE.TX.US> Subject: Huh? In C-hills #5-307 Gary Hooper wrote "An Open Letter to Dom Lawson", in which he lambasts Dom for his "supercilious posturing", chides him and suggests that he: "Go back to kicking sick dogs in the street - at least then there's the chance one will bite back and give you rabies." Then he insults the UK's parliament. Dom, what did you do to deserve this? I dont get it. I assume that this diatribe comes as a response to a past post by someone suggesting that Mr Relph delete lists of musical equipment, because his feelings were hurt. If this is the case, I still dont get it, because Dom's list was pathetically small (probably much like certain of his...er appendages). Also, Dom was only one of several people who exposed their "short comings" in Chalkhills. Personally, I love Dom's posts, and would miss his piquant sense of humour, if he were not a contributor to Chalkhills. I think that Mr Hooper's comments were much more intended to hurt than anything Dom ever posted. Remember the Wiccan rede: Do what you will, but fer fux sake, have a LARF! peaceout, SteveO
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19991110200634.71270.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Megan Heller" <hellerm@hotmail.com>
Subject: Bowie, bad tapes, boorishness, and bad connections
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 14:06:33 CST
fheaney@erols.com mocks--
>Megan (insert clever synonym for "said" here):
ha ha.
and continues--
>"Earthling" was very good; I don't know why it got so stepped on by
>critics. If they felt he was just jumping on a bandwagon, well, it's not
>the first time, and he sounded great at it.
I don't think Bowie invented glam, either. Doesn't mean he couldn't perfect
it.
>Has Bowie learned
>nothing from Tin Machine?
pah! I thought Tin Machine were quite good, and they made me *so* very
happy after the utter dreck Bowie released in the mid-to-late 1980s. (Never
Let Me Down-- bleh!)
>But what the hell, I'm going
>to scapegoat him anyway! It's my right as a boorish American.
oh, well when you put it that way...
This reminds me-- I saw "Velvet Goldmine" last night finally (flinch to
dodge any blows dealt for dredging this up again). Hm. Vaguely
disappointing. I liked the cast (although didn't Jonathan Rhys-Myers look
like Milla Jovovich? look at the pictures of her in "The Messenger",
especially). I liked the concept-- for one thing, the construction of the
film was inspired. Actually, directly inspired by "Citizen Kane" (the
reporter talks to the former business associate, the ex-wife now working as
a lounge singer, and the often inebriated former best friend). Clever.
Anyway, I also got the impression that Haynes wasn't trying to *really*
tell the story of what happened with Bowie and Iggy Pop. Haynes was an
American in his early teens in the mid-seventies, perhaps going through the
requisite discovery of sexual inclinations, and he probably romanticized
the glam era.
When Bowie went bleached and yuppie in the mid-eighties, he was probably
quite disappointed. So this isn't what really happened, no. But it's how
it was perceived. That's why I kidn of liked the Wilde opening. No, Oscar
Wilde did not come out of the sky, and everyone knows that (although I
think some of his fellow Victorians wondered occasionally). But people
don't perceive him at all as he was. His entire life is viewed through his
epigrams and appearance and eventual trial, or he is over-sentimentalized
(like my other vague disappointment of a movie this year, "Wilde"). It's
hard to see the regular man (it took Ellmann's biography and being up to my
elbows in his personal letters in Oxford for me). So, maybe this film was
the vision as Haynes wished it had been. But, unfortunately, the film was
a bloody half hour too long, boring as shit by the end, and had too much
gratuitous sex (I don't mean that in a moralizing way-- it had no feeling
of connection to the plot or anything at all, and felt, well, boring.
There is something sorely wrong if I find the sight of Christian Bale and
Ewan McGregor having sex boring).
I still appreciated the Haynes staples in the film-- shots of people naked,
still, face-down ("Poison"), and Barbie dolls ("The Karen Carpenter Story").
I liked the soundtrack, though. Thom Yorke could sing a shopping list and
I'd like it, though-- love his voice.
Bob Estus<restus@san.rr.com> muses--
>Which reminds me that Fuzzy Warbles will help a lot of us who don't burn
>our own cd's to finally bury some old cassettes. Hurrah! Though I doubt
>anything really flatulent will be committed to cd so we'll never be rid
>of those smelly old tapes.
I would love to get rid of some tapes. I have 11 1-hour tapes stuff with
XTC obscurities, rarities, and demos, and I would be very happy if I could
even just toss a few. But, you're right-- each tape will probably have at
least one fragment of a track I won't want to part with, and I'll have them
forever, or until they melt.
(hm, buried in the midst, XTC content!)
Tom Johnson<Thomas.Johnson@ARZ.Boeing.com> reveals--
>Reeves is not in the touring band, if that means anything to you.
hm? is this a new development? I remember him at the concert.
Gary Hooper <hooperg@bigpond.com>, well, says--
>Subject: An Open Letter To Dom Lawson
>Sometimes you really make me laugh out loud, but then the really ugly,
>bullying side of your personality rears to bludgeon any goodwill thus
>generated.
wow, Gary. You know, Dom's posts have at best made me laugh until I fell
out of my chair, at worst made me roll my eyes. Your post made me tense,
uncomfortable, and not a trifle annoyed. Thanks!
(I don't mean to be a part of "flamage", but if you're going to have an
"open letter", I'm going to post an open response. Flaming would be if I
wrote what I *really* said when I read your post.)
ugh, away from that now...
Steve <spitts@thesaurus-computers.co.uk> laments--
>Anyone else out there having trouble playing files DLed from this site?? I
>have a fairly recent version of the RealPlayer (v6.0.5.27) but I've DLed
>eight or nine .RM files and the only one I can get to play is Chickenhead,
>the rest either produce an error dialog, crash the RealPlayer, or simply
>don't produce any noise (ie. the counter and slider move but I don't get
>any sounds). I've tried both the single song files and a couple of the
>multi-song files without any success.
I wonder if it's the RealPlayer and not the site. I can't even bother to
listen to Real Audio samples on CD Now anymore, because it does exactly what
you described. My friends don't seem to have trouble, though. Hm... I have
a Macintosh, if that helps (if you do, too, maybe that's the trouble)--
anyway, it's quite the pain in the arse.
I am really, really sorry my email is so epic.
m.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <130CB597E04ED211B2A400104B93AAC4C21050@ESCORP1> From: "Wiencek, Dan" <dwiencek@crateandbarrel.com> Subject: In the not-too-distant future ... Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 14:14:37 -0600 Tom quoted, then said: > >Yeah, I love MST3K!!! But, Ithought that they had decided that > >they had made enogh episodes, sort of like Seinfeld. > > They were indeed cancelled. SciFry has decided that they need to be > "serious" and MST3K didn't fit. From what I heard, they were headed up by > someone who dearly loved MST3K and that's why it ended upon SlyFry in the > first place. He recently left/was terminated and was replaced by some > schmuck who absolutely *hated* MST3K, and he killed it off. It's a very > sad thing. They weren't in their prime, but it was still one of the few > consistenly funny shows on TV these days. Hopefully, someone (TNT > perhaps) will pick it up. Go a-searchin' for MST3K sites, you're bound to > find one with the campaign to resurrect the show on a decent network. That's interesting, and sad, that a network would be so misguidedly self-conscious as to cancel one of their best programs in an effort to appear "serious" ... when people who aren't fans of science fiction will *never* take them seriously, whether MST3K is on or not. (And as long as we're trying to appear serious, how about finding a name other than "SciFi"? Even Spice knew better than to call itself "The Porn Channel.") I only wanted to chime in and say that, while it's true the show was cancelled, Mike Nelson said in interviews that 10 years was a respectable run and that it was probably time for the show to end anyway. So even if another network agreed to pick it up, Mike and the team probably wouldn't be very enthusiastic about coming back. Speaking of MST3K--this has tangential XTC content, which you will see if you hang with me here--when it was first cancelled on Comedy Central and picked up on SciFi, I moved to a new town whose cable provider didn't carry SciFi until MST3K was well past its first (new) season. I recently moved again, and find that my new cable provider doesn't carry Cartoon Network. So when Andy appears on Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast, I'm going to miss it! I can't win. I'm contemplating stealing a satellite dish. So circling, Dan W.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #5-308 *******************************
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