tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62714402009-11-16T17:49:18.759-08:00Make Mine MikeI type, I gripe, I hype. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comBlogger587125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-54465559823797743092009-11-16T17:46:00.001-08:002009-11-16T17:49:18.767-08:00You know the drill about me not posting. I admit to joining Facebook, mostly to be part of the conversation... only to discover that no one has anything intelligent to say. Neither do I, of course, but when I have a thought that's over two sentences, I'd still like to spell it out somewhere. So here's something:Finally watched last week's "Glee", and liked it... but one storyline was done on "Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-88618000603051314102009-10-19T15:45:00.000-07:002009-10-19T15:54:23.775-07:00As usual, sorry I haven't written here. But my writing elsewhere is getting notice: My sister-in-law is a very clever video games writer who's won awards in her field. Recently, she was instructed to pen things more in the style of the dating reality show I worked on for 5 seasons. When she told her bosses about me, they said I was a minor celebrity around their office. I don't play much Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-77464161037067532242009-10-07T15:30:00.000-07:002009-10-07T15:40:44.762-07:00Back.Yeah, I'm back. But so are my boys -- the Yankees are in the post-season again. I'm particularly excited because I think they started getting it right this season, acquiring good, young talent who would do well in NY. I'm also psyched because I just finished Joe Torre's book, The Yankees Years. It was a gift from my wife (the 1-year paper anniversary), and surprisingly engrossing. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-25759951720104655132009-08-27T10:14:00.000-07:002009-08-27T10:17:47.388-07:00Damn, I didn't get to blog yesterday, blowing my streak already. I was stuck at work 'til really late, and then got up at 6 this morning to finish writing another script. Meanwhile, apparently Bernie was busy with paperwork of his own. "'Caught in the act'?! No way, dude. It was like this when I got here."Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-79470527122972228812009-08-25T22:05:00.000-07:002009-08-25T22:44:10.648-07:00If blogging is dead, then consider me the Jason Voorhees or Mike Myers of the cyberworld. I may lay dormant for a while, but I'll come back with a vengeance to slash the internet with further variations on old themes. Or just call me the html herpes.Writing mindless TV all day has kept me from doing the same here. But I'm gonna try to finish up August with a post every day. Now, what to writeMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-71051842908566070692009-08-01T17:52:00.000-07:002009-08-01T18:46:42.043-07:00Only in LA.A casting agent approached us about our dog. Yeah, my puppy could have representation. Why not? He's cute yet becoming distinguished with age, and probably quite talented... kinda like the Leonardo diCaprio of canines. Probably he could do a few commercials, make a few guest appearances on today's equivalent of "Growing Pains" (what would that be? "2 & 1/2 Men"? I've never seen itMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-75217238876365694052009-06-29T07:09:00.000-07:002009-06-29T08:20:28.409-07:00The double-whammy of Farrah Fawcett and then Michael Jackson got me considering if MJ's demise was the biggest celebrity death of our generation. It's easily had more of an impact than Kurt Cobain or Princess Di. Andy Kaufman, by the way, is still alive. For me -- more of a punk/heavy metal aficionado than a pop fan -- I was particularly saddened when Joe Strummer of the Clash died a few yearsMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-51949343657713747452009-06-20T12:34:00.000-07:002009-06-20T13:00:08.069-07:00So busy yesterday, I didn't have time to include a day 5 entry for Week at Bernie's. But now, it's time for...WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S I've discovered that having a puppy is a great way to meet the neighbors. Although we've lived on this street for 2 years now, and I'm out and about almost every day, it wasn't until I was accompanied by Bernie that everyone's come up to us to chat. This is mostly Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-56444483179142834682009-06-18T15:55:00.000-07:002009-06-18T16:02:43.845-07:00WEEK AT BERNIE'SDay 4Bernie's three phases of walking:1. Nope. Not going anywhere. Don't care if you'll make me sit here all day and ignore my cries for attention. I'll get plenty of love from the neighbors passing by. Now, 'scuse me, gotta get my cute on. *whimper, whimper*2. Yay! Home! Screw the leash training, it's dinnertime!3. Oh wait, that means that Purina crap. Can't be as Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-16661870679706731042009-06-17T13:03:00.000-07:002009-06-17T15:12:10.472-07:00WEEK AT BERNIE'SDay 3A few days after we first brought Bernie home, he weighed 6.2 pounds. Last night, he tipped the scale at 9.4 pounds. That's 3.2 lbs., or a 50% increase, in 10 days. So if he continues at that rate, he'll be over 30 pounds in a month, over 200 by the end of the summer, and come Thanksgiving, expect to see Bernie vs. Godzilla, and the winner gets to devour all of Los Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-58238862948547904932009-06-16T17:24:00.000-07:002009-06-16T17:23:17.777-07:00WEEK AT BERNIE'S Day 2Raising a puppy is hard work, but some of it has been surprisingly easy. House-training, for example, has been a breeze. Leash-training is a little more challenging. And then there's getting him to stop nipping. We're working on this, but it requires a lot of patience, knowing it's natural for a teething Labrador who's also part terrier... or T-rex, I dunno. Perfect Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-82183886216611107332009-06-15T15:22:00.001-07:002009-06-15T15:45:14.765-07:00Even though I'm back working the TV gig, that doesn't mean I won't blog about my puppy again. In fact, I plan to make these next several days... WEEK AT BERNIE'SBut since I'm pretty busy, today I'll just take a quick moment to explain his name -- it's not an homage to the late Bernie Mac or that schmo Madoff, but in fact, to the great Yankee centerfielder, Bernie Williams. My wife denies it, Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-78541377572390108772009-06-04T22:01:00.000-07:002009-06-04T22:24:09.174-07:00Man, the excuses we throw out there to explain the lack of blogging. For me, it was enjoying my new marriage, then my long hours at work, and honestly, lately, by the time I get to write about something, my wife has already twittered it to nearly everyone I know. Most people are already privy to the fact that someone busted the window to Adelphia's car in order to steal her iPod... which we Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-31052261884457163082009-05-31T11:23:00.000-07:002009-05-31T14:05:58.328-07:00Behold Makeminemikeum lethargicus, better known as the Great White Vacationing Blogger. Native to New York, this ornery creature has managed to survive in the harsh climate of Santa Monica. But it has also been spotted in exotic ecosystems such as La Quinta, California, near Palm Springs. There, the animal's pace is much slower, slathering its blindingly reflective skin with a protective coat Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-36737112174188620942009-05-28T09:25:00.000-07:002009-05-28T10:18:47.065-07:00Anyone who knows me understands that steady exercise is the one thing that could keep me semi-sane. So here's why I'm starting to go nuts:With my time off and weather getting too hot some days, I've substituted my compulsive running with more frequent visits to the gym. Pumping iron, getting buff like Hugh Jackman or Daniel Craig or Jason Statham minus the weird accent. I went Saturday, MondayMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-72535279240722399902009-05-18T23:02:00.000-07:002009-05-18T23:56:16.563-07:005 Lists of 55 things I've done on my work hiatusSleepA hundred loads of laundry, wait for the stupid cable guy and phone company dude to fix thingsLeft the house to avoid getting stuck with household choresExercised twice as hard to make up for time lost working long hours on the jobDid I mention sleep?5 books I've finished and enjoyed recentlyWhen You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris (notMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-66715889491110062212009-04-22T11:47:00.000-07:002009-04-22T12:08:51.460-07:00Two weeks later, I'm back. See, I thought our show was done at the beginning of April. So as we wound down our season, I tried to get started on blogging again, thinking, when I was on hiatus, I'd be posting so much, I'd be the poster boy of posting.Turns out, they kept me on for another week, and another after that. Also, I got hired on another show here. But just to help finish up the Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-66873091987352523742009-04-07T14:58:00.000-07:002009-04-07T15:15:49.231-07:00Friday:Got outta work early, came home.Slept.Got up, went to a party, had fun, came home.Slept. But only, like, 4 hours.Saturday:Got up early and ran race. Lightning fast.Slept. In car.Went to the track, lost money, drove home.Slept.Went out for Chinese food, walked off the kung pao, came home.Slept.Got up to read and watch dumb TV.Slept. For, like, 14 hours.Sunday:Made coffee and Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-75731525474887224062009-04-03T13:45:00.001-07:002009-04-03T13:50:57.621-07:00Time is money. And lately, my mind is on both.Time: I'm doing a 5K race soon, and when I ran this course last time, I set a personal best of a few seconds under 21 minutes. So I was wondering if I can do, say, 20:30. Well, I was at the gym with only a half hour to spare, so I got on the treadmill and did a 3.1 mile sprint. Just under 20 minutes. Really? Of course, running a race is totallyMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-19653733278004043092009-04-01T10:58:00.000-07:002009-04-01T11:01:59.520-07:00Good news: Our show got picked up for another season, and I'll be going back.Bad news: That means more ridiculously long hours and even weekend work.Good news: Hey it's a job. And a good one. In this economy, I'm super lucky.Bad news: You realize reality TV is cheap which is why networks prefer it.Good news: That sounds like good news for me. Bad news: But what about the viewers, man?!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-16999021622847090332009-02-16T11:48:00.000-08:002009-02-16T11:48:00.769-08:00Why is it that the Valentine's Day dinner I prepared -- while it tasted delicious -- doesn't look as good as it does in the cookbooks? Chicken saltimbocca, theirs vs. mine Cherry gingerbread, on paper and in real life. Maybe because I'm no Giada Di Laurentiis, even in my wife's apron... Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-92012315072123683292009-02-02T11:00:00.000-08:002009-02-02T11:08:40.924-08:00Blog identity crisis: • Haven't seen my nephew in a week. Going to stop by tonight; he should be double in size by now. Baby blog.• On Saturday I slept late and watched my new favorite show, "Spectacular Spider-Man". Awesome. How do I get in on that gig? Animation blog.• That night, I took Adelphia to Primitivo, a tapas restaurant in Venice. Really good short ribs, paella, tuna tartare andMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-28957641614277433902009-01-29T18:28:00.001-08:002009-01-29T18:33:08.073-08:00My wife and I have switched places.When the guys at the office wanna stop at the local Hollywood grease vendor, I politely decline. Like always, I've brought my healthy high fiber lunch to work. Besides, as delicious as Molly's Hamburgers could be, the problem is I couldn't possibly calculate the Weight Watcher Points value. I tell my wife, sure, we can check out that new tapas place on Main Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-65429638224204520402009-01-19T11:40:00.000-08:002009-01-19T12:36:29.519-08:00Scattered weekend revelations:1. Yahoo news is plagiarizing my blog. They had an article recently that echoed my post from a while back about how Facebook usage has diminished real-life interpersonal contact. It's like I've been saying all along. Last week I asked a friend how he's doing, and he said, "Well, if you were on Facebook, you would know." 2. The New York Times also had an articleMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6271440.post-87944088851810279512009-01-13T18:37:00.000-08:002009-01-13T18:38:27.637-08:005 thoughts regarding my nephew's bris last week:1. Are all rabbis frustrated stand-up comedians? Or just the mensches I've met lately -- the ones we interviewed for our wedding, who officiated my mother's recent headstone unveiling and this schticky alter cocker? He had a jokey rejoinder for every occasion. ("No thanks, if I ate a bagel at every bris, I'd look like a bagel!") Still, you don'tMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655319942904634388noreply@blogger.com