Who likes Ping Pong ?

Twenty four hours ago I was in Toronto doing ADR for the Dogboy movie that airs next weekend.We rapped that up around 1:00am but it looks like I'll be up until maybe 2 or 3:00am tonight cutting footage together for the actual episode.It needs to be delivered by the end of the week and there is still alot of footage to look at and piece together.

Realistically,I have to have the episode in the can by Wednesday because I am shooting another movie on Thursday and Friday of this week.

"COPS" airs this weekend and my first official radio show on CFMU is this Thursday morning so your old pal JR has lots happenin this week!

Haven't heard that much from you guys lately? What up?

A brand new series by....ME!

Getting this new series on the air has been a lot of work and I suspect that the next few months will be even busier but it's been a while since I have felt this inspired! I'm having a lot of fun making television again!

In the history of my show page on the site,I talked about being asked to act in a student film called "Day of John" shortly after being kicked of the air a while back. Good thing I suddenly had the time to get involved in this little project because the film ended up being screened at the Toronto international Film Festival and has since become the inspiration for this new series.

I found it remarkable to meet so many aspiring film makers who were willing to sacrifice so much to make short films that nobody ever really has a chance to see. I guess that's when I first started thinking that maybe someday I could do for these film makers what I wish someone would have done for me at some point which is to give them a friggin break.

Just one lousy little break,a little exposure for their short film let's say! An opportunity to showcase their talent to a mass audience like on National Network television or something! That would be a good place to start if you want to be strutting your stuff a little bit if you ask me! So that's when I first started thinking about this new television series that goes on the air tonight.

I know a little bit about struggling and doing whatever you gotta do to make things happen for yourself so I can totally relate to these aspiring and unknown film makers. I got myself back on network televison which puts me in a position to maybe do what I set out to do which is good but now the trick is to create a hit Tv series out of all of this and keep things rolling!

It's not going to be easy,I know that for sure,it never has been! Take tonights episode for example. I wanted to kick off the new series with the film that inspired the series so an episode was put together featuring some behind the scenes footage while shooting "Day Of John" and the episode concluded by showcasing the short film like all the episodes will each week.

Then I find out that Chris Nash was recently invited to screen the film at a couple more big festivals which is really cool but guess what? That's right,the festival programmers told him they won't screen the film if it has already been aired on network television.

So.......

I had to scramble and cut together a new episode to go on the air tonight and only ended up being able to feature a few scenes from the movie instead of the short film in it's entirety! Seeing these movies each week at the end of each episode and deciding if they are any good or not is really what this series is all about if you ask me. So keep tuning in guys,tonights episode might not be exactly what you were looking forward to seeing but that being said,next weeks show will feature the short film "COPS" by Shane Cunningham and the week after that it's DOGBOY "the untold story". It will be up to you guys to decide if this story should have been told at all!

I hope you everyone likes this new series and the new direction I'm heading in these days.I hope you stick with it for a while because I'm just beginning to figure out how to put these shows together in a nice little half hour package for television and by the end of this first season I'm sure I'll have it all figured out!

Have a great weekend everyone!

FOUR MINUTES OF FAME!

I have been listening to talk radio for a few years now but not until my show was pulled off the air the second time did I start seriously thinking about exploring the medium as something I wanted to do myself! I think it's an incredibly challenging and creative way to express yourself while trying to entertain people and this morning I dove onto the airwaves ass backwards and upside down.It was awesome!

I have been talking to the program director at CFMU for a while now about doing something on their radio station and it looked like my buddy and I were gearing up to finally go on the air next week somtime.It turned out that some time needed to be filled this morning and before I knew it we were on the air and talking about being on the radio! Seriously,that's all we really talked about and although we weren't really prepared to be on the air this week,I think it helped us figure out how this new adventure is going to go.We are going to build and create a radio show week by week, minute by minute and you guys can listen and help me every step of the way!

This is going to be cool.I know that everyone won't always be able to catch the show live each week on the radio or over the internet so I'm going to figure out how this podcasting thing works.You guys will be able to down load the show each week and it looks like we will be recording some additional stuff after the show ends just for the podcast!

So here it is(drum roll please)my first talk radio show...
click here

Now when I say this is my first talk radio show,I guess I kinda mean that this is my first talk radio experience because we are a long way away from having a actual radio show.Like I've mentioned,this morning was mostly us just talking about being on the radio! The building of this show each week is what you might be listening to but it's not a show until it's been built, right?

I was all over the place this morning.It was crazy ,it was fun ,it was my very first talk radio show that isn't a show yet! Unless of coarse the show is essentially the building and creating of a radio show!Hmmmm...

Let me know how you think it went!

NEWS UPDATE!

I suppose the first ever broadcast of my very first radio show qualifies as news right? So here's the scoop....

Thursday morning somewhere between 9:15am and 9:45am we go on the air and across the airwaves on CFMU which is the college radio station for Mcmaster University! Cool eh!

By next week,we will know for sure exactly what time we are scheduled to be on the air but for this week,the program director is just trying to slide us in sometime after 9:15am.

If 93.3 isn't CFMU where you live then listen to the show on line... www.cfmu.mcmaster.ca

News about podcating,Thursday after the show!

MY NEW RADIO SHOW!

It was great running into a few of you guys last night at Mac. Thanks for all the hoopla and the what up's,the big up's and for reminding me their are so many people out there who are continuing to follow this crazy ass career of mine as it unfolds and plays out! This really has become more of a journey that we all seem to be taking together hasn't it?
Last night I was at the University radio station,doing some stuff and getting ready to go in today to record a little bit of audio in preperation for my first radio show which has been in the works for a while now. I gotta tell ya,it's great to finally be doing it.

As I was leaving the station last night I noticed a poster promoting an appearance by Randy & Mr.Lahey from the Trailer Park Boys.I thought for sure I should stop by and say hi to the guys and it was nice seeing them again! Randy still has a huge gut and an even bigger personality and Mr.Lahey always cracks me up when I see him.He is the best,you gotta meet these guys in real life.They are awesome guys and it sounds like they are doing lots more of these appearances so I'm sure they will be coming your way at some point down the road!Go meet them!

Hot damn,I gotta get rolling here,we are booked to be in the studio at 4:00pm today and I hate always being late for stuff.

I'll continue this blog later on tonight and tell you guys all about this new radio show,podcasting and a bunch of other stuff!

Thursday is the Big day!

DOGPOD!

We aren't shooting another film this weekend because we are shooting it later on this week instead.It's crazy juggling schedules and jammin away every weekend shooting these films for the new series.

I'm spending the entire weekend editing footage that we shot while shooting the second short film to be featured as part of the new series.It's called DOGBOY "The untold story"

Branden and Steve are just two of the film makers that are part of the new series but what sets them apart from the rest of the group is the film I asked them to shoot! "DOGBOY" has a story that just needed to be told so when these guys agreed to make this movie with me, they also took on the huge responsibility of telling this untold story! Some pretty crazy ass shit happened on the first of the two days of shooting these guys have to rap thier movie! My crew caught it all on tape and I can't wait for you guys to see this video footage! The film is featured at the end of the episode but what you guys will see leading up to that point is hilarious! Maybe not so hilarious to Branden and especially not to Steve,but you guys will think it is!

Branden just emailed this to me a few minutes ago so I thought maybe you guys might also want to check it out....

click here

Have a great weekend evryone!

NEWS UPDATE!

Well guys,It's official!

Not only will the new series begin airing on Friday January the 27th but each new episode will be aired again on CH in Ontario the following Saturday night at 12:30! The suits at the Network are getting on board and things are starting to happen.

For years my show was aired Nationally on Saturday night and the show always pulled huge ratings.That's how I ended up landing major Sponsors like Labatt Blue,Coors Light,Sony Playstation ect.

After I got pulled off the air which you can read all about on my show history page of the site,it looked like the dream was over.Getting back on the air was a big deal for me and even though I lost my Saturday night timeslot,I knew that with good ratings and the continued support of some folks who have stuck by me at the Network,I could some day slide back onto the tube on Saturday nights and pick back up where I left off. So here we go........

Having the show now aired on Friday and Saturday nights is going to be huge.I can't wait to get the new series on the air! The next step is to get back into some of the markets where the show isn't being broadcast anymore like out east.

Maybe we can start emailing the Network and get organized so everyone in the Country can see the new series.The folks out east use to love my show and I got tons of emails from people out there all the time.

I'm pumped about you guys seeing this new series but I might need your help a little guys.We need to promote it and let people know it's on TV.We need to make the media aware of this new series and we need more hype! We need lots and lots of HYPE!

Can't wait for my next news update guys.There is lots more stuff brewing and as soon as I find out about stuff you can count on me to pass it along to you guys right here in my blog!

We need more HYPE!!!!!!!

Another what you guys have to say Wednesday....

Actually,it's more like a "what you guys have sent me Wednesday" because I have been getting some pretty cool stuff emailed to me lately! I keep mentioning that it's great to get emails from you guys but I have to admit,it's even better to get pictures and stuff emailed to me from you guys!

...Mathew just emailed me a hilarious picture of himself and me that was taken at some bar up north near my cottage.Never drink and let people you just met take pictures of you,they just might email them to you some day!(lol)


....Guy is emailing me a video clip of the Shins from when they appeared and performed on Conan's show.Cool,thanks Guy!

....Shane,well guess what Shane emailed me? He's suddenly become my favorite person in the world today.Shane emailed me all of Howard Sterns radio shows from last week so that I finally get to hear Howard Stern's new radio Show on satalite radio! It's crazy that we can't get Sterns new radio show here in Canada but thanks to the internet and my new best friend Shane,I can finally hear this land mark moment in satalite radio.I just got home so I haven't listen to any of it yet but I can't wait!

I spent the afternoon meeting directors and writers of some of the short films that will be featured in my new series and I had a huge lunch meeting with the suits from the network about the new series. Every one seems as excited as I am about my new series and I finally got the word about the news I have been wanting to tell you guys about for over a week now.

Maybe this was more of a "what the suits had to say Wednesday".....

I'll tell you tommorrow! It's more exciting for me to think people might actually check out my blog on Thursday because I have something of importance to tell them for a change.

Stay tuned,glued and I'll blog back on Thursday!

THE SEARCH IS OVER!

I found winter guys! Apparently all I had to do was go north two and a half hours because there it was! Below 0 temperatures,lots of snow,frozen lakes and a toasty warm cottage to hang out in all weekend.It was great to relax and do nothin for a couple days except eat,watch a little hockey on Saturday night and then take Emma out for a walk out on the frozen lake between football games.

Winter is great once you find it.The trick is you gotta get out into it and enjoy it. All that cold fresh air really is amazing once you are bundled up so that you don't freeze yourself to death.We are Canadian right? Winter comes every year,it always has and I suspect it always will even though sometimes you have to go looking for it.So why not enjoy it and have some fun this winter. Be careful though,somehow Vic fell face first right into the snow while we were out walking around~


I love getting away and going up to the cottage.I probably like being at the cottage as much in the winter as I do in the summer.It's so quiet this time of the year up there and there are a million gabillion more stars to look at in the winter.The full moon we have had the past few days was amazing. You wouldn't believe how bright it is out on the lake at night with the full moon out.On Saturday night around midnight I took Emma out for a walk on the lake but we didn't get too far.I wasn't exactly 100% sure the ice on the lake was all that thick because I heard they got some pretty warm temperatures up there over the last couple weeks like we have had here in Southern Ontario.I guess I was about 99.9% sure that the ice was pretty solid but if you ever want to freak yourself out a little bit,walk out on a frozen lake in the middle of the night until you hear the ice crack under your feet! I literally crapped myself.It's the loudest sound you could imagine and it's amplified even louder in your head because there's this little bit of doubt about the ice not being as think as you think it is~ Wow!

Needless to say,we didn't venture too far out on the lake Saturday night.

Emma was pretty spooked by the sound of the ice cracking as well but she forgot all about it the next morning. She is hilarious and just in case you don't believe me about finding winter up there,check out this pic of Emma....


Yes guys,we definitely found Winter,so I guess now I can turn my focus back to my new television series and all the work I have to do this week.It's going to be another busy one. Looks like I have some emails from you guys here waiting for me which is nice. I'll spend some time right now responding to a bunch of them and you guys just keep those emails acomin!It's great to hear from you guys!

YES,the search is over!

BIG NEWS BUT.....

I got some awesome news from the folks at the Network about my new series guys but I was asked not to talk too much about it just yet.It's great news for any of you looking forward to this new series of mine but I don't want to screw anything up for myself so I'm going to lay low for a few more days and wait until I get the green light to start talking about it!

I'm actually going to take the rest of the weekend off and head up north until Sunday night.I have to write another draft of a script I'm struggling with so why not go up to the cottage for the night,kick back,maybe watch the Hockey game and eat some chili. Maybe I will find winter up there on the frozen lake if it's even frozen still.Can you believe how warm it has been for the last week or so,it's crazy.

So have a great weekend everyone.I look forward to finding lots of your emails waiting here for me when I get back.I haven't heard that much from you guys lately so maybe a couple days away from my computer will allow my inbox to fill up a little bit and I can feel loved again!

Where's winter? The search is on....

All BY MYSELF!

I think I'm going to go to the dinner up the road and get a western sandwich for lunch.I still feel like eating something breakfest like. I guess I have been working away here all morning and didn't really realize what time it is.

I guess I'll be eating alone today.Everyone I would want to meet up with for lunch is busy by the sounds of it.Next Wednesday I'm having lunch with some suits from the Network.I met with them yesterday to discuss the new series and I'm actually waiting to hear back from them today about some news that I will be sure to pass along to you guys as soon as I hear from them! It's super good news guys,but I can't say anything until I get the word!

So where was I,oh ya,I was about to go to lunch by myself.I actually went to a movie last night by myself as well.I'm not sure if I have ever done that before.

Around 10:30pm last night I kinda wanted to go do something like see a movie and it was too late to call anyone so I just went by myself.Not that I have this multitude of friends I could call to go see a movie with or anything.I usually go with Vic to see movies but she wasn't around so like I said,I just went by myself.I got a big bag of popcorn and watched Syriana.Half the people that were there ended up walking out half way into the movie because it was too slow I guess but I like slow movies if they are good.This movie was slow and I thought it was pretty good.There is a lot of crazy shit that happens in this world we live in.We don't know the half of it!

So anyways,I'm off to go eat some lunch.Blog back later!

THREE MORE WEEKS!

Yes, in just three more weeks I start airing my new series on Network television! I can't tell you all how exciting that is for me. The weather is unseasonably warm,the sun is shining which never happens in January and there is a skip in my step that I haven't had in a long long time.

That being said,my hand is still killing me from a stupid stunt I did for the movie we were shooting over the weekend. Obviously we don't have stunt doubles or anything like that and there was a scene in the movie where "Dogboy" is being chased and I thought it would look cool if "Dogboy" tripped and fell down the stairs then slid face first into the camera.

It turned out to be an amazingly cool shot and I'm glad I did it but like I was saying,my hand is still killing me!

Back when I was a student and an "OUtdoor rec'er" at Lakehead University,we use to stair dive all the time at parties.Getting to the bottom the fastest was all that mattered and I never remember anyone complaining about getting hurt.Maybe being a little younger and alot drunker was kind of a factor in that though. Ah,the good ol days!

Well,now I'm looking forward to lots more good times in the weeks and months to come here guys. I have a meeting this afternoon with the suits at the Network regarding my new series and I might just have some good news to pass along to you guys later on today.

Stay tuned and start spreadin the word!

TOM GREEN CAMEO!

Ok, so to follow up on my earlier blog, I went to Tom Green's website so I could email him directly because he seems indcredibly good at responding to his fans and reading all the emails that get sent to him.

It sounds like Tom is looking for rappers in Vancouver to open for him at his upcoming concert out there. Well maybe he will also want some rappers from the Hammer to open for him when he comes to Hamilton later this month. Hell I can throw it down sometimes when the beats are pumpin! as a matter of fact, the last time I was in Vancouver I was layin it down on the streets and ready to battle anyone.

Check it out, click Here!

Too bad I wasn't out there to open for Tom in Vancouver but maybe he will check out this video and want me to open for him in Hamilton. I'll keep you guys posted as well as update you on any interest Tom might have in doing a cameo apperance in one of our short films.

How's that Josh?

I'm trying to make it happen for you Josh and that's about all I can do right? Later guys.

Little Movies, Big Cameo's!

Later this week sometime I'll post some video and a few pic's from the weekends movie shoot. It's great to hear you guys are so pumped to check out my new series.

Other than an all around inspirational leader and producer of these short films that I'm going to be showcasing on Network Television, it's also my job to help in the casting of these movies. Considering all the film makers are young and completely unknown, I think it will be cool if I can arrange to have some interesting cameo appearances by some well known celebrities in some of these movies.How cool will that be for these guys!

I got an email from Josh who saw Tom Green on my show last week and Josh suggested to me that I should do one of these short films with Tom. I'm pretty sure Tom Green might be a little too busy these days to shoot an entire short film with us but maybe I can work on getting him to do a cameo in one of these movies. I'm sure Tom still has an appreciation for kids out there making movies and doing shit without a budget so it's probably worth trying to get in touch with him to see what he says.

How's that Josh? Stay Tuned...

HOWARDS BIG DAY!

I missed Howard Sterns first radio show this morning on satellite radio! I'm hoping one of you guys recorded it or maybe someone knows where I can download it because I really was looking forward to hearing it.

We can't get it here in Canada which is ridiculous and I just didn't have any time at all over the weekend to figure out how to go about getting set up so that I could listen to the show this morning! I really need your help on this one guys!

It was a crazy and wild weekend working on another one of the short film I am shooting for my new series! Telling the untold story of Dogboy required lots of stamina and the ability to shoot one sex scene after another without ever making any of the beautiful women feel like this movie wasn't all about them.

But seriously,being thrust into the role of inspirational leader/producer/goofball actor,has made me feel,creatively, like this is maybe the greatest thing I have ever done. I am shooting six short films this month with six different writing&Directing teams and these unknown film makers remind me almost every day,why I wanted a career in television in the first place.

It's been an insanely busy start to 2006 but I'm having more fun than I probably ever have on this rocketship ride into TV land! Start spreading the word,JR DIGS is back and this time he has a few new friends.

I'm off right now to grab some lunch then back into Toronto to rap up with the guys regarding "Dogboy" and then I have two more meetings tonight with regards to shoot days and schedules for the next two films we are shooting.

It's nice to have a day off which is what today is for me.Blog back at you guys later ok ? See ya!

DOGBOY "the movie"

Good morning guys!

If any of you have any advice for me with regards to how I can get set up to be able to listen to Howard Stern's new radio show on Monday morning,please email me and give me the low down!

I will be busy all weekend shooting another short film for my new series that goes on the air at the end of the month.I think you guys might really like this one.It's the untold story of Dogboy who in fact isn't actually a dog or a boy.

It's Hockey day in Canada today so keep your stick on the ice guys. If all goes as planned,we will be done shooting today by about 10:00pm. The last scene that is scheduled to be shot today might actually make it a little tougher for me to be thinking about hockey too much considering I'll be in a hot tub with about a dozen girls or so! ~

Have a happy hockey day in Canada everyone.

Howard Stern,my Mom & masking tape!

Got a little time to kill guys? click here

MOVIN ON & ON & ON!

Wow,we are rolling right along here this first week of January in the year 2006. I've never really had a good grasp on how quickly time rolls along and then right on over you, but these days and weeks,months and even years,it's all becoming even more like one big blur than ever before.

This time last year I wasn't sure if I would ever be on Tv again and life pretty much sucked but one year later and I'm back on the tube and gearing up for a brand new series to go on the air.Yep 2005 was another interesting year as my trek into Tv land continues.It's so cool to be able to share the adventure with you guys here in my blog! It's great to use my show history page to allow me to catch people up on this ongoing trek towards a Network deal but my blog allows me to share more of the little things with you guys.The day to day stuff that is sometimes kinda boring but it's life and there's always the hope that tomorrow will be the day I catch that lucky break I've been searching for all this time. I can't wait to tell you guys about it right here in my blog some day.Whats weird is that I would probably tell you guys about something like that before I tell just about anybody else. I guess that's pretty cool but I think it's also kinda strange because I don't even really know most of you guys.I guess maybe it feels like I do somehow! It's weird,Hmmmm.

So anyways,In 2005 I was kicked off the air,I contemplated finally packing it all in,I somehow figured out how to get back on the air and later was inspired to head in another direction yet again! I guess that's where I am at today this first week of 2006 as I gear up for my brand new television series that goes on the air in a few more weeks. I hope you guys like it.

Who knows where 2006 will take me but I just hope most of you guys continue to stay along for the ride. It's all become so much more than a stupid little Tv show and a quest for a network deal hasn't it? It's really all about me and my life and even about you guys as well.Thanks for stickin with me,you guys really are the best!!!!

I really do mean that!

RAIN,RAIN GO AWAY!

I just got back from a meeting with the guys in Toronto regarding the "Dogboy" movie we are shooting this weekend.Looks like it will be a riot to shoot.Lots of locations and lots and lots of girls! Dogboy is a smooth operator I tell ya!

It cost me $15 to park,I hate that about Toronto.It cost $5 to park in the Hammer! Driving home on the QEW was a little sketchy as well. All this wet and rainy weather makes for bad driving. Up north there is snow everywhere and it feels like winter,its awesome. I don't mind the mild temperatures we are getting right now but I hate all this rain and wet stuff.

Ok so it's back to work on the new series.I'm a little behind right now because I thought I would be back here by noon.When I get some time a little later,I'll continue blogging with you guys some more.

It's 2006, but what about 2005 and my year in review blog? You guys are all probably wondering if I'm ever actually going to get around to doing it aren't you? ~~~

Almost 2:00am & six hours later.....

I made rotini and meat sause for dinner.I put mushrooms and onions and olives in the sause as well.It was great!

Now I'm feeling pretty bagged guys.How about I make a more meaningful post tomorrow sometime instead of right now.I'm going to finish looking at this last chunk of video we shot recently for the new series,and then I'm going to crash.

I would like to quick say thanks to Travis who emailed me earlier tonight though.It's great to hear from fans of the show that have stuck with me for a long long time now!Travis is definitely one of those people! I doubt that you guys realize just how inspiring it is to hear from and know there are people out there who still watch the show and are pulling for me to have the opportunity some day to reach my full potential and maybe catch a lucky break in all this maddess.

I got a call from Eskimo Mike tonight as well who has been calling and leaving me voicmails for a couple years now as well.Big up Mike,it was great to speak with you tonight.I look forward to meeting you some day soon.Don't forget to start emailing me instead of calling and leaving voicemails all the time.I'm pretty good at returning peoples emails like I mentioned and I like staying in touch with people and being able to make a bit of a connection.

I hope in 2006,I start getting tons more emails from you guys,and more pictures and lots of interesting insight into all kinds of things I'm not up to speed on. Cool websites to check out and stuff like podcasting which is what Dean emailed me about for example.Thanks Dean.

I may have my own TV show but if you have read my show history or know anything about me,then you know for sure that I'm just one of you guys.We all have these dreams and hopes for things in are lives and who knows,maybe 2006 will be the year it all comes together.

And now (pause)I'm going to go make some chocolate milk to drink! Maybe I'll read for a couple minutes and then I'm going to crash.

HAPPY 2006 GUYS!

I hope everyone had a great New Years! Spending New Years up north was great.I fell through the ice,I chopped some wood and had an all round great weekend! I got home last night,unpacked and did some laundry,then I went straight to bed.

I woke up this morning feeling completely inspired and have been working on my new series all day every second since! I haven't even eaten yet today so that's what I am going to do right now and I will come back here to blog with you guys some more after that,before I go back to working on my first new episode which is what I have been working on all day. I'm lovin this guys!

I'll be back in a little bit.