DEADLINES COME AND DEADLINES GO, BUT THE FUN NEVER ENDS

As you all are probably aware, the new sketch-writing deadline looms. I think this may explain the absence of abstract thoughts on the board lately. Or we could all just be empty vessels. Or lazy bastards. I'll let you figure it out. Another deadline, however, has come and gone. The Chicago branch of GR did not make the entry requirements for the Sketch Comedy Festival in January. But rumor has it that the Austin gang did, so here's hoping we get to cheer them on there this time instead of rooting for them again at SnubFest.

The good news about missing the boat this time around is that come next year, we should have a cream of the crop entrance DVD. Why, you may ask? Because we're shooting in the studio my friends! That's right, boys and girls. We've got a 3 camera, boom and lavalier miked, professional-grade project in the works and it is SWEET! Friday night was our first night taping and we managed to squeeze out 4 sketches in a couple of hours. Now, I know that may sound like very little output, but that just goes to show all of you how little you know about the grunt work behind the glamorous world of television and film. There are sound checks, lighting checks, camera angles (especially whenever Ben stands up to his full 6' 5") and all sorts of other technical crap that I really don't understand, nor do I pretend to understand. Not to mention trying to get all of us to say our lines correctly without giggling or gurgling or anything else weird or wrong. I just try to do what they ask of me and pray I don't look too fat with that whole 10 pounds of camera crap. (Of course, now I realize why Barney gets so cranky and rumoredly has a drinking problem. He's been doing this for how many years? It's got to wear on a character after a while. That's why I didn't take the whole "bitch" comment to heart. I feel your pain, my purple pal.)

The only bad news about filming at the studio thus far is that Marla, Lord, and Lisa didn't get any camera action this time around. But since this is going to be our Friday nights for a while, it will only be a few more days until they get their turns, too. I just wonder if they'll shoot any of the nude scenes when I'm out of town this coming weekend? I'd hate to miss seeing that! Screw local access...we're aiming straight for Skinemax! Actually, there aren't any nude scenes that I'm aware of...just Ben and Charlie taking off their shirts in separate sketches. I won't say which ones. You'll just have to wait for the shows to be aired to ogle those two.