Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 536

June 29, 2011: Dinner and drinks with Hawkman! Episode 10 on track! Bento Breakfast! And a Sweet Tooth reminder!

Hey, look who it is!  It's Michael Shanks (Stargate's Dr. Daniel Jackson, Smallville's Hawkman) who's in town shooting Saving Hope with Erica Durance (Smallville's Lois Lane).  Michael texted me last week to let me know he'd be in Toronto and that I should set aside a night for catching up.  He suggested drinks, I countered with dinner, and we ended up covering both.  He left it up to me to choose the restaurant and, after much consideration over countless choices, I ended up going with my go-to place: Scarpetta.  There we enjoyed a great meal and an even better conversation, three and a half hours spent talking about past and future projects, life on the home front and, of course, Stargate. About the only topic we didn't cover was the Vancouver Canucks.  I figured it was too soon.

After Toronto, Michael heads back to Vancouver (lucky!) to work on yet another project.  It's great to hear he's been keeping busy between work and family (he received text updates on the latter from the lovely Lexa).  He knows T.O. fairly well – apparently having lived here at one point – and assures me that once the summer events kick into full swing, I'll be much happier here.  Yep, as soon as they finish with all that construction, I'm sure I'll be a lot happier.

Orecchiette with fava beans and mint.

The spaghetti with tomato and basil.

At one point, we were discussing the fantastic Alaina Huffman (who, coincidentally, I had dinner at Scarpetta with just last week).  Michael explained how, during one of her convention appearances, he had sensed her nervousness and sought to put her at ease, reassuring her that, despite the online vitriol directed at SGU, the con fans would be polite to her.  They were sitting on the panel when Michael said something to her along the lines of: "You look worried."  At which point some fan in the front row piped up with: "She should be."

Oooh, scary.  Please, angry fan – don't lasso me with your Dr. Who scarf!

Heard this story before from three other sources, but thought it warranted repeating since there are a few doubters out there.

Speaking of cons, I finally cleared up a mystery that has dogged fandom for years: The Mystery of the Script Surprise.  It went something like this: the SG-1 (minus RDA) are onstage at a con preparing to auction off a signed SG-1 shooting script when Amanda flips through the pages and has something catch her eye. She gives it a quizzical look, then shows it to Michael who seems equally mystified. Ultimately, they tear out the curious page, toss it, and auction off the script. This odd incident has given rise to conspiracy theories, conjecture and countless rumors.  What WAS on that mysterious page? Some say it was the offensive ramblings of some embittered actor.  Others say it was a set of incantations I had scribbled into the margins in a failed bid to curse the winning bidder.  Still others claim it contained the alternate ending to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows in which Snape is redeemed through a final heroic act and it is revealed Dumbledore faked his own death.  Alas, it was none of the above.  At first, when I asked him about it, Michael drew a blank.  And then, casting his mind back, he remembered: nothing anywhere near as exciting.  It was actually personal information in the form of a director's contract that had been mistakenly included along with the script. Damn.  And I was really pulling for Snape!

Uh oh.

Anyway, after dinner, we grabbed a seat in the lounge and reminisced some more.  Even though I've known Michael for years, I never really had the opportunity to sit down and talk to him one on one until last night, and it was great to get his perspective on his time with the franchise, from the early years through the controversial mid-stretch to the fun and incredibly satisfying final two seasons (and on this we are in total agreement).  It was a terrific night.

So terrific, in fact, that we're doing it again on Monday, hopefully, this time, with Paul, Rob, and Marty G.

On the Transporter production – Finally!  Movement on episode 10! Look at how happy Steve is!  We actually got around to spinning his story and breaking it, beating out the teaser and two and a half acts before being distracted by one of those massive conference calls where no one can hear anyone else but ultimately culminates in everyone agreeing on the information already outlined in previous emails.

Today's Bento Breakfast…

Akemi schools me on the finer points of cute meals by informing me that the face on the left is female because – of course – she has rosey cheeeks.

And a final point of interest.  It's been a while since we've brushed my pug Maximus (pictured in this blog's banner).  How long?

THIS long!

Tomorrow, I reveal the three finalists in the "Name Trevor's Baby Contest" after which YOUR VOTES will decide the name of my assistant's newborn.

And, finally, if you're thinking of taking part in July's Book of the Month Club discussion, pick up and read volume 1 of Jeff Lemire's Sweet Tooth…

If you're not thinking about it – well, start thinking about it.  It'll only take you a couple of hours to read!

Then, prepare your questions for author Jeff Lemire.  He'll be joining us next week for the discussion.

Tagged: Daniel Jackson, Jeff Lemire, Michael Shanks, SG-1, Stargate, Stargate: SG-1, Sweeth Tooth, Transporter: The Series

June 28, 2011: Picking up speed on prep…

Akemi's latest bento breakfast gives me the strength to field the day's explosive issue.  I borrow Bobby C.'s shades to keep the shrapnel out of my eyes.

Alexander gives me the "Yes, it CAN get any worse" look.

Steve demonstrates patience and perseverance, coming in to the conference and settling in, fully prepared to work on his episode – only to have us called away to deal with prep-related business.  Over and over and over again.  Despite it all, he's all smiles.  Understanding or one more interruption away from a laptop-wielding bludgeoning spree?

Guess we'll find out tomorrow.

Sue Murdoch is camera shy (I can only assume it's because she has an outstanding warrant for her arrest somewhere in the United States).

When NOT spinning Steve's story today, we were checking out the auditions for the pilot (I believe we have our Fiona, General Weigart and, possibly, Berne. And we should have our Frieder buy tomorrow), chatting with Stephen, our pilot director, who looks A LOT like his brother (He's an incredibly smart guy with great creative vision.  I've already lined him up for a future Q&A), missing out on the Audi test,  perusing costume suggestions coming in for Frank, Delia, Carla, and Tarconi, preparing the supporting materials (preliminary boards, timings, notes) for my next four rewrites, and sitting in on a grueling conference call.  And I'm not even in prep on MY episode yet!

Grabbing a matcha, then off to dinner with Shanks.  I'll tell him you guys say hi!

June 27, 2011: Transporter: The Series Production Update! Jelly! Bento Breakfast!

Hey, look!  It's the new guy!

A.K.A. writer Steve Bailie, formerly of Primeval and The Bill, presently of episode #10 of Transporter: The Series.  Steve, who hails from Jolly Olde England ("Smashing kippers, wot?") got in yesterday and showed up armed with a slew of good ideas.  Now, all we've got to do is pick one.  We managed to get some spinning done on his story but, unfortunately, every time we got started one of us would get sidetracked or called away on prep-related business.  And, as we draw closer to the first day of main unit photography, those distractions are just going to keep mounting.

Paul has had his hands full prepping episode #1, attending various meetings and location scouts, while Alexander forges ahead on his second script.  For my part, I've been keeping equally busy what with my advanced reiki classes and try-outs for the Glee Project (Carl Binder, you've been served!).  Oh, also finished a significant rewrite of my second script and plan to start addressing the network notes on episode #2 as soon as I receive the last batch.  Once that's done, I'm going to help my writing partner out by jumping on the rewrite of his script, episode #5 while he works on the rewrites for episodes #4 and #8.  Whew!

Today, in addition to eating, I also found the time to call up actor Francois Berleand in Paris to discuss the Tarconi character – and, more importantly, practice my French (Attention!  Le zebre de ma soeur est sur le toit!).

Hey, look who got a haircut!

A gentle reminder to get your picks in for the Name Trevor's Baby Contest.  The call for entries ends tomorrow then, on Thursday, I'll present my three favorite names for you to vote on.  Name with the most votes wins!  Today, Trevor was all like "Hey, this is a joke, right?".  A joke?!  The nerve of the guy.

My gal Jelly has suddenly slowed down considerably over the last twenty-four hours.  At the park this morning, she was barely able to support her back end.  I'm hoping it's just a case of her overdoing it after returning to the apartment this weekend.  Just in case, I'm scheduling her for a stem cell booster.  In the meantime, I picked up some D.A.P. (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) air freshener.  It's supposed to have a calming effect on dogs.  Haven't seen any change in them but I certainly feel super-relaxed.

Finally, Bento Breakfast is back on…

June 26, 2011: Yet another entry.

Home!  Just six months away!  Refuel!  Bella Gelateria!  A backyard for the dogs!  My own bed!  My home theater room!  Yep.  2012 is gonna be sweet!

Anyway…

Yet another Toronto weekend segueing into yet another week in Toronto.

Please keep posting your baby name suggestions for the Name Trevor's Baby contest.  I narrow down the list to the three finalists this week and then the voting begins.  Our assistant is understandably uncertain about the whole contest so let's put his mind at ease by offering up a name that would've made Moon Unit Zappa's parents proud!

A quickie reminder to pick up/read/finish up July's Book of the Month Club pick: Sweet Tooth, by Jeff Lemire.  It's a more-than-manageable trade paperback, the first volume of a terrific and unique series, so make the effort!  Author Jeff Lemire will be joining us the week of July 4th to field your questions.

Some news of note…

Next time you're at your favorite burger joint and a customer says "This burger tastes like crap!", he may be right: http://gothamist.com/2011/06/16/video_japanese_scientist_makes_and.php

13 quease-inducing dishes I would even hesitate to sample: http://www.cnngo.com/bangkok/eat/thailands-13-most-repulsive-dishes-242509

From the gang at Cracked.com, If Everything In Life Listed Side Effects: http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_215_if-everything-in-life-listed-side-effects/

Even people from Toronto complain about Toronto.  And with good reason: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/torontos-war-on-fun.html

Steve Eramo's latest interview with Colin Cunningham (Stargate's Major Davis): http://www.themortonreport.com/entertainment/television/mr-opportunist-interview-with-falling-skies-colin-cunningham/

Mailbag:

DP writes: "How do you know the guy who parked half on the street is an -sshole?"

Answer: Yes, it's possible he was rushing to deliver his pregnant wife to the emergency ward before she gave birth – mistaking a convenience store for a hospital.

dasndanger writes: "Quick question, I know you're not a big drinker, but have you ever been a smoker?"

Answer: Nope.

Lewis writes: "What did Carl say when he found out that Rachel Skarsten was cast as Delia?"

Answer: He was delighted because, of course, he worked with her when she was just a kid.  When I told Rachel that Carl was involved in the show, she was equally delighted – but her mother especially so.  Carl, that old charmer.

July 25, 2011: Weary! Toronto = world's douchiest drivers! Additions to the rogue's gallery!

Feeling a little overwhelmed of late on the home and work front, looking ahead to the summer, Christmas vacation and beyond.  Since post-production work on Transporter: The Series will keep me busy through December, it looks like I'll have to push my annual Japan trip to January.  And, yes, I fully intend to go – although, even before the quake, I was considering taking my old Tokyo travel buddy, Stefan, up on his suggestion and maybe do a train tour, starting in Hokkaido in the north and ending somewhere in the South (Kyushu?).  Akemi, however, thinks I should just do my usual two-weeks in Tokyo.  She really misses the city (almost as much as Vancouver) and really wants to go back and visit with me.

Speaking of going back, this marks the last day of our week+ house-sitting Fondy's place and her adorable but badly behaved frenchies, Brie and Stewie.  I thought four dogs were more than a handful.  Try six – competing for your attention, needing to go out, begging for snacks and table scraps, waking up way too early every morning, getting a running start from the opposite end of the hallway and then launching themselves at you from a three foot distance.  It can be exhausting.  Of course, nowhere near exhausting (or frustrating) as the 1 hour + drive each way from the house to the office.  The traffic in this city is miserable. Here's an idea to help alleviate congestion: Finish the work!  95% of the bottle-necked construction zones I pass on a daily basis are devoid of actual workers.  Of course compounding the problem are Toronto's drivers, the douchiest drivers I've ever encountered (and I've been to Paris!) who think nothing of cutting off other cars, swerving into traffic, or double-parking on busy streets…

June 15, 2011, approximately 5:45 p.m., Wellington Street West. Traffic was backed up for miles. What I at first assumed was an accident turned out to be this asshole who seemed to think that only being half on the street meant he would only cause his fellow drivers half the headache.

June 16, 2011 - North York. Sorry, having your own caution sign doesn't give you the right to double-park.

Yes, all sorts of annoyed.  And so, to cheer myself up, I went out for lunch, then stopped by a local comic shop (Cyber City Comix) to pick up a few items and round out the office decor.  My interior designer and I put our heads together and decided on a supervillain theme for my workplace:

Electro.  Sure, the headpiece if borderline silly but, much like Mysterio (who sports an equally silly headpiece), the character takes me back to my youth, reading Spiderman comics and watching the old Ralph Bakshi cartoon (incidentally, I picked up the box set.  Once I'm back in Vancouver, I plan on having a marathon in my home theater room.  Who's in?).

Deathlock the Demolisher.  Technically, not a villain but more a grey area character (like Deadpool who also decorates my office).  Along with the Beast, one of my favorite comic book characters growing up, so I snapped him up.  Hmmm.  Come to think of it, I may already have him back in Vancouver.

Lizard.  Another Spiderman villain.  No nostalgic connection to this character, but I figured that, since I was picking up bad guys and he was available…

Sandman.  Another villain with a Spiderman connection.  In this case, I picked him up not because I grew up with the character, or to round out the collection, but because the sculpt is so damn cool.

Terrax.  Galactus's former herald comes with one sweet swingin' axe.  He'll look great standing beside Thanos (who awaits him back in Vancouver).

Two statues I considered but, ultimately, didn't make the cut…

Kraven the Hunter.  Yes, he's a Spiderman villain but ever since Martin Gero walked into my office back in Vancouver, pointed to an alternate statue of Kraven I had sitting up on my shelf, and asked: "Who's that?  Freddie Mercury?", I've had a hard time taking the character seriously.

Sinestro.  On the one hand, here's a rare DC villain statue.  On the other hand, what's with the base of swirling yellow nothingness.  Also, sadly, working against him: the Green Lantern movie.

Anyway, the new additions will join my Toronto office rogue's gallery that includes the likes of: Dr. Octopus, Deadpool, Bullseye, and Ultron.  Almost makes me eager to get back to work.

Almost.

June 24, 2011: Ensure your legacy in the Name My Co-Worker's Baby Contest!

I was in Trevor's office today going over some production details on episode #3 when, partway through our Harry Potter discussion, I noticed two of my female co-workers staring out the window.

"Ooooh, loooook!"cooed one.

"Soooo cute!", the other.

I hurried over to join them, peering out and scanning the area across the street for a glimpse of the adorable puppy – to no avail.  All I could see was a group of people and a woman holding a baby.  WTF?

"Where's the dog?"I asked.

"What dog?"wondered co-worker #1.

"The cute dog that has you guys all excited."

"It's not a dog.  It's the baby."

I took a second, longer look.  The baby wasn't doing anything particularly amusing like projectile vomiting or driving a car.  It was just there, hanging off its mother's arm like a loaf of soggy bread. Maybe I'd missed it.

"What did it do?"I asked.

"What do you mean 'what did it do'?"

"I mean what did it do that was so funny?"

"It didn't do anything."  Then, fixing me with an admonishing look.  "It's just a cute baby."

"It is?"  It looked pretty much like any other baby to me.

"Babies are cute,"co-worker #2 informed me with the conviction of, say, a "Bananas are yellow" or  a "Vegetarians are flatulent".

"They are?"

In response, I received the type of glares usually reserved for clumsy drunks.

Anyway, all this to ask: Did I miss something?  Is it widely accepted that all babies are cute by the simple virtue of being babies?  Does the fact that every infant looks exactly the same to me – with the exception of those wide-eyed goofy ones – suggest I lack the paternal gene (to compliment my jazz deficiency)?  I mean, I can certainly sympathize with an individual's desire to produce an offspring who'll feel obligated to mark their birthday each year with a requisite salutary phone call and/or banish them to the appropriate nursing home when the time comes but I still don't quite get it.  For my part, I'm more of a dog guy though, admittedly, dogs do require a little more effort than kids.  It's not like you can just line the kitchen with newspaper, put out some food and water, and then go away for the weekend and expect them to fend for themselves.  That would be fine for a child but dogs require companionship and the occasional belly rub.

Anyway, speaking of babies, the wife of one of my co-workers – Executive Producers' Assistant Trevor – is having a baby and, next week, they find out the sex of their child.  Which got me thinking…this would be a perfect opportunity to hold a little contest.

Slap on your creative caps and start thinking as this blog kicks off the: NAME TREVOR'S BABY CONTEST!

Trevor says: "I've got nothing. Thank goodness for Joe's readers."

First post, first served, so if you want to claim the rights to a name early (I've already taken Rubella and Spearmint), start posting.  I'll choose the top three candidates from the list of suggestions after which it will be up to YOU to vote in a winner!

"Hey, wait a minute!"some of you are no doubt saying. "We thought Joe fired Trevor!".  Well, I certainly should have after THIS incident (June 9, 2011: Oatmeal Snowman! Trevor screws up my page count! Stargate: SG-1 season 9! News of note!) but soon after letting him go, I was informed that it's actually cheaper for the production to keep him.  Apparently, his departure would require us to purchase a scarecrow to prop up in his workspace to keep the wolverines at bay (and away from our lunches).  And so, I had to re-hire him.

Of course no sooner was Trevor back in the office than he was up to his old tricks.  After hopping onto my laptop and fixing a formatting glitch with my screenwriter software, he starts explaining what the issue was and how he'd fixed it.  "Look,"I told him, "don't come to me with problems.  Or explanations of solutions to problems.  Just come to me with solutions."

Geez!

Tagged: The Transporter, Transporter, Transporter: The Series

June 23, 2011: Transporter: The Series! Dark Matter! Stargate SG:1 Season 9!

Busy-busy on Transporter: The Series.  Notes on episode 2 (Carl's) and episode 7 (Alexander's) have slowly started trickling in.  Once I've received input from all 4+ players, I'll jump on the rewrites – just as soon as I've finished the rewrite on episode 6 (mine).  Paul continues his pass on episodes 3 (his) and  4 (Carl's), Alexander presses on with a first draft of episode 9 (his) while we all prepare to spend much of next week breaking episodes 10 (Steve's), 11 (probably mine), and 12 (probably Paul's).  Oh, and of course prep continues on episode 1 (Paul's).  This afternoon, I checked out the auditions for General Weigart.  A couple of good candidates, depending on how we choose to go.  Also perused the Fiona auditions before heading home.  Again, some really interesting possibilities including one that may be too young for the part but would be perfect for a future episode.

Things have been equally busy-busy on the comic book front – though, admittedly, it's been my editor at Dark Horse (Patrick Thorpe) and artist Garry Brown who've been the busy ones.  It's been nothing short of amazing watching Dark Matter come together from layouts to pencils (so far).  Garry also tried his hand at the cover for issue #1 – with fantastic results.  Patrick forwarded me a pic of the cover colors this morning.  "Whoa!" indeed.

Continuing my reminiscing on Stargate SG-1′s ninth season…

THE SCOURGE  (917)

One of the biggest challenges of this episode was the bugs themselves.  In the original draft, they buzz along the ground like a giant moving carpet.  I limited the cutaways to the swarm figuring that, while expensive, it would not be prohibitively so.  The cold reality of the Visual Effects budget hit me like a punch in the face – followed by three swift kicks to the mid-section and the subsequent removal of all the cash in my wallet.  We simply couldn't afford sweeping bug swarms.  And so, I came up with the idea of having the bugs travel underground which, while not as visually satisfying, lent them a certain creepiness.

One of my favorite guest stars makes a return in this episode as Robert Picardo reprises his role as the insufferable Richard Woolsey.  This, I think, was the first episode I wrote in which I gave the character a little humor – and, as a result, really started to enjoy writing for him.  Sure, he was a stuffed shirt, but he also reveals glimpses of vulnerability that make him amusing, even likable up to a point.  And Bob, of course, did a terrific job of delivering those subtle and, sometimes, not-so-subtle nuances that – like the point late in the episode where SG-1 and the I.O.A. reps are hurrying away from the bugs, only to have Woolsey speed by them, arms madly pumping.

ARTHUR'S MANTLE (918)

Oh, damn, the whole "out of phase" debate that rears its ugly head whenever we do these types of episodes.  As Paul always points out: "Why don't they just phase through the floor?".  While we've dealt with some equally far-flung SF notions, Paul always argued that those notions, at the very least, adhered to certain self-contained theoretical laws of physics phasing did not.  The mechanics of gate travel while "out of phase" was another matter entirely.

After Carter explains their situation to Mitchell, he responds with: "That was alternate reality, this is alternate dimension. Hell, all I need is a good time travel adventure and I've scored the SG-1 trifecta. "  He completes the trifecta in the season 10 series finale, Unending.

CRUSADE (919)

Actress Claudia Black returns in time for Executive Producer Robert C. Cooper's directorial debut.  An ambitious episode that delivers action, humor, and patho.  It also marks the introduction of the Ori warship.  My first reaction to the design: "Uh, it looks like a flying toilet seat."  One of the rare instances where my input was NOT appreciated.

CAMELOT (920)

One of my top ten favorite episodes (August 15, 2010: MY Top 10 Favorite Stargate Episodes) owing to the cliffhanger to end all cliffhanger endings: Earth's battlecruisers and their allied Asgard and Lucian Alliance ships are getting their asses kicked, Daniel and Mitchell aboard a doomed, Korolev, Carter floating alone and vulnerable in space while a pregnant Vala – carrying "the will of the Ori"  - watches it all from her vatange aboard one of the Ori ships.  See ya next season!

On the day we were to shoot the big Mitchell vs. the Black Knight swordfight sequence, it was pouring rain on location.  Most any other actor would have complained, but not Ben Browder.  He embraced the rain and the mud, going all out – stumbling, slipping, falling, rolling – to outstanding effect.  It couldn't have turned out better had we planned it.  The sequence was mentioned in a piece done by our old buddy, Ross Hull, for the Weather Channel…

Tagged: Dark Matter, SG-1, Stargate, Stargate: SG-1, The Transporter, Transporter

June 22, 2011: Gifts (finally)! Transporter: The Series production update! Bully Brie! Maximus – creature of habit!

Just the other day, I was telling Angela (aka Mega) from across the hall that I felt I wasn't receiving proper acknowledgement for all of my hard work of late.  I mean, sure, I get paid and I work with very nice people who tell me how much they enjoy my scripts, but when's the last time someone gave me a handmade thank you card?

Well, you'll never guess what I got this morning.

Compliments of Mega.  How thoughtful of her!

And she isn't the only one in the office who's been thinking of me…

Der Ritter Sport hazelnutten chokolat!

The other day, Executive Producer Alexander Ruemelin surprised me with some geschmackvolle Festlichkeiten.  Great.  Now I've to be nice to the guy for the rest of the week.  Who says this job isn't demanding?

Oh, in addition to being nice to Alex and proudly displaying my handmade thank you card prominently on my desk in order to guilt my co-workers, I also did a quick polish on Carl Binder's second script (which is going to air in the #2 slot).  As always, Carl's first drafts are terrific, incredibly tight.  BUT NOT PERFECT! Shame on him!  Like my father used to say when I'd score 95% on a test: "Where's the other five percent?".

We're assembling some mighty impressive directors for the show.  Can't wait to tell you more – but will have to for the time being.  Prep continues on the pilot (appropriately named Pilot) with my writing/producing partner Paul out and about on all sorts of location scouts.  Over the next week or so, our cast start arriving.  Tomorrow, the lovely Rachel Skarsten (Delia) comes in for her wardrobe fitting after which she'll participate in what the prep schedule terms "Audi Driving Practice".  Our uber-awesome Stunt Coordinator, Cyril Raffaelli, finally gets into town this weekend…

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Also coming in on Saturday is our new writer (The Bill, Primeval) who'll be in Toronto for a week or so to break his episode (#10).

Looking ahead, our Frank – actor Chris Vance – gets into town early next week and we'll be celebrating with (says the prep schedule): Props " Show & Tell" (GUNS).  No details provided but I assume I won't be required to to show off any of my firearms.

If Alex gives me one more damn script note, I'm challenging him to a duel.

 On the not-home front (I'm babysitting Fondy place – and her dogs until Saturday), Akemi phoned me in a panic this afternoon.  Apparently, Brie – who has been bullying the other dogs – got into it with Bubba, knicking him.  I checked him out when I got not-home.  He doesn't seem to be in any pain, but he's leaving little bloody smudges wherever he goes.  My attempts to locate the wound have proven fruitless so we're just going to keep an eye on him.  Poor little guy.

Brie bullying Lulu.

Akemi's latest culinary creation…

Apple salad somethingorother. Coconut ice cream is tastier but looks nowhere near as nice.

Finally – dogs are creatures of habit.  Maximus, for instance, always follows the same chair-ducking/wall-hugging path from the front door to the kitchen. Check it out.

June 21, 2011: Chat and Chow with Alaina Huffman!

Last night, Akemi and I went out for dinner with the lovely Alaina Huffman (SGU's Lieutenant Tamara T.J. Johansen, Smallville's Black Canary, and MTV's Agent Mom).  We went to what is fast becoming my go-to restaurant for entertaining out-of-towners: Scarpetta.  Alaina was kind enough to defer to me on the menu selections and so, as always, I emphasized variety by ordering four appies, three pasta plates, a fish dish, and four desserts (with double scoops of ice creams all around as I wanted to be sure the ice cream to cake/pastry ratio was at the ideal 1:1).

Akemi loves the bread at Scarpetta (look at how quickly she snatches up a piece) and I always have to make it a point to either hide the bread basket or ask the waiter to take it away lest she finish it before the first dish has even hit the table.  Anyway, between mouthfuls of crust (or "margin" as she used to refer it when she first came to Canada), Akemi found time to chat with Alaina about Alaina's modeling days in Tokyo and Osaka.  Although I'm sure she wasn't able to keep up with all of our rapidfire table discussion, Akemi came away from dinner mightily impressed with Alaina.  "I like her!"she informed me. True.  Talk to her and she's very hard not to like!

Some of the appetizer highlights:

I'm not a huge lentil guy, but they're delicious and lend a wonderful textural contrast to this tasty medley of carrots and almonds.

Onions agro-dolce served with goat cheese.

One of the things I appreciate about Scarpetta is there ability to occasionally switch up the menu without sacrificing any of my favorites. Last night, we enjoyed a couple of Chef Scott Conant's signature creations, the duck and foie gras ravioli and the simple yet immensely satisfying spaghetti with tomato and basil.  Also…

A heavenly new addition to the line-up: delicate little agnolotti stuffed with braised short rib and bone marrow. Yep, those are mustard seeds.

Our dessert foursome was made up of the restaurants Amedei Chocolate Cake (missing its standard delightful gooey center on this visit), a strawberry shortcake the gals seemed to enjoy, the outstanding coconut panna cotta, and…

The Grand Marnier Souffle with the requisite double scoop of ice cream.

The topic of conversation ranged from her kids, conventions, and home life in L.A. to some terrific-sounding projects she and husband John have in the works. By the time we were done, we probably ended up talking more in those two and a half hours than we did in two years on SGU.

Hey, did you know Alaina has her own comic book?  Check it out here: MTV Geek | MTV.com – Comic – Agent Mom #1, pt. 1

Finally, this was too cute not to post.  Akemi looks forward to one of her favorite shows.  At least it wasn't Million Dollar Money Drop!

Today's entry is dedicated to gforce.

Tagged: Alaina Huffman, Scarpetta, SGU, Stargate

June 20, 2011: Dog Day Afternoon!

You know who enjoys sunshine?  The dogs!  And so, when the weekend rolled around, I was all ready to hop in the car and head downtown for the afternoon when I started getting "the look".  You know what I'm talking about.  The "What?  You're just going to leave us?  Okay, okay.  Go.  Have fun.  We'll just stay here.  All alone." staredowns.  Like -

This!

And…

These!

So, instead of going out for the afternoon, I ended up staying in to spend quality time with the dogs.  To be perfectly honest, the dogs weren't all that enthusiastic about spending quality time with me.  Ultimately, all they really required was someone to open the back door for them – and, of course, document their wacky antics -

Stewie chows down while Lulu works on her tan.

Stewie and Lulu battle it out.

Note at the end of the video – Brie's subtle way of letting Lulu know she doesn't appreciate her making the moves on Stewie…

Akemi treats Lulu and Bubba to a little walkie.

Brie and Stewie scrap…

Jelly and her ginormous tongue.

Bubba considers Stewie's stick-chewing.

You've got something on your nose. I said you've got something...

Ah, forget it.

Jelly looking uber-relaxed.

A thoughtful Lulu

Once they'd enough, we headed inside for dinner…

Speaking of dinner – off for Italian with the lovely Alaina Huffman (SGU's Lieutenant Tamara Johansen) tonight.  Photos and videos of Alaina eating pappardelle to follow…