I always loved my Grandmother Maloney dearly. That hasn't changed a bit, even though she has passed away. However, when I was a kid, love her as I might, I didn't like to visit. You see, she was an amazing cook, who always wanted to feed you. She was unbelievably funny, bursting into song and dance in front of the washing machine just to mix it up a little. In fact, I remember right up to the end, even with her mind ravaged by dementia, she would grab me and try to give me a twirl around the kitchen. She was always way more fun than me.
But for all of her great points, there was one major flaw. She didn't have cable television. I certainly don't think she knew that I didn't like to visit for that reason, because I would always play cards and read back issues of Readers Digest, even if it was way before my time. I still can't hear the word cougar without thinking of one of those stories every single month where people who just couldn't help themselves were in the backwoods of British Columbia alone. Those fools always had some heroic story of how they were forced to fend off a cougar, a grizzly bear and a pack of rabid pit bulls using nothing more than an empty pop can, some chewing gum and a hiking boot.
But I digress.
The cable television was a sticking point for me. Back then, CBC didn't have much going for it besides Hockey Night in Canada and the Raccoons. If you weren't a Don Cherry or Cyril Sneer fan, you were hooped. No matter how hard those rabbit ears tried, you were stuck with CBC as your only option.
Things have changed though. It's amazing. I think it started a nice while ago and snuck up on me. Ever a fan of good fun making, This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Royal Canadian Air Farce came along. That made me grin for a bit, but really, pickin's were still pretty slim.
Then one day, while I was home alone and couldn't find the remote I heard the familiar music of Coronation Street streaming in my ears. Who doesn't know that familiar tune? Chances are good you heard it at your Grandmother's house first. That's where I heard it. As an adult I began to develop a soft spot for the patrons of the Rover's Return. After all, these characters were all quite common, and I could identify with them. I might also mention that there were no devils, ghosts or fancy gowns like the daytime soaps.
Then Heartland appeared out of nowhere. I regret missing the first season and now having to try to play catch up. The light is always beautiful and though I am not a horse fan, I can assure you, it makes me wish I was living on a ranch on those days when the kids are in my face more than I enjoy.
Imagine my surprise last year when I was visiting my parents and fell in love the Dragons Den. I am sure I am not the only person who finds Kevin O'Leary to be an ass but thinks that Arlene Dickenson is awesome. Oh and Brett Wilson? Love! Even with this season's hairdo.
I was doing pretty well with my CBC viewing and then it happened- While I was in St. John's on vacation.
Well, you couldn't go anywhere without seeing parking lots full of production trucks. I had never seen a craft service truck anywhere on the Avalon before. I was pretty darn sure something big was happening. But no one I knew could tell me what was going on. All I kept hearing was "I s'pose they're making a movie or something."
Well, what they were making was something else all together!
Wednesday night is now Doyle night at my house. There is no XBOX or Sports Net or talking. It's only been 4 weeks, but I am not sure what I did on Wednesday's before my main man started solving crimes in the big city of St. John's. Not to mention that not unattractive son of his...
I actually am in awe of how good the show is. The actors play real characters, because most of the crowd from home are just that- real characters. The accents are authentic. The expressions are things we all say, even though we wouldn't admit it or include it in a dissertation. The storylines may seem farfetched, but really Newfoundland, just like any other city has its share of 'arseholes'. Not a single thing that's happened so far, is anything that might not have happened at one time or another, nor is it something that might not ever happen. Some episodes, like last night's, seem to be pretty close to a truth, depending on whose truth you believe.
But it's not just the cases making the show real.
Who doesn't admire that Rose can out and out say that she isn't interested in playing Mommy to her boyfriend's teenaged granddaughter? No Cosby Show sickeningly sweet parenting going on there.
I am just not sure what to make of Jakes relationship with his ex wife. I find it a whole lot of aggravating that he doesn't recognise that she has about 80 layers of crazy piled on that little body of hers. He also clearly hasn't noticed those awful bangs. But really, isn't that how real life works?
So all things considered, hyper critical me has no complaints. Considering I had my suspicions that this show was going to be just another Canadian production that gets taken off the air after we have all had a chance to grumble about how bad Canadian productions always are; I am incredibly impressed. I had initially thought I would tune in to see the scenery, just because it was made back home. But instead my PVR is set to record the series and I have my chips and Pepsi ready long before the show is due to start.
The best part of all of it though, is that for a good hour every Wednesday, my accent comes back again, thicker than ever. And I couldn't be more proud.
