If there's one thing we Canadians have perfected, it's that brand of comedy known as "schtick." Just plain, goofy, people in silly costumes doing silly voices, anything for a laugh. The CBC is a proud generator of schtick.
So, it's on a bit of a sad note, that the CBC has announced that they're canceling Royal Canadian Air Farce. Air Farce has it's season finale this Friday, it'll be back for a half-a-season this fall, with it's final episode being the traditional New Year's Eve special on December 31, 2008.
No offense, but it's kind of it's time. Let's not forget, Air Farce started as a radio show back in 1973! It's first attempt to jump to TV, back in 1980, was a dismal failure and it barely lasted one season. They tried again in 1992, this time it was a huge hit, and it's been a mainstay on the CBC ever since. They finally ended the radio show in 1997, to focus on TV.
But, in recent years, with the addition of new cast members Alan Park, Craig Lauzon, Jessica Holems, and Penelope Corwin, it was like there was a visible culture clash going on on the show. We had the traditional schtick of the originals, clashing with the (attempted) edgier stuff of the youngsters. They'd kind of lost their way.
I'll be sad to see it go. Air Farce was a real comfort food kind of comedy.
Now if we could just work to get 22 Minutes off the air. Cuz that show stopped being funny a long time ago.
I constantly blog that one of my favourite things about DVD is how TV shows that barely last a season soon get resurrected in a "complete series" boxed set. That fantastic show that only lasted two episodes that you really liked? Well, now you can watch it forever.
So comic book nerds the world over are rejoicing at today's announcement that we're finally getting Birds of Prey: The Complete Series.
Loosely based on the comic book of the same name, and brought to the smalls screen by the same people behind Smallville, Birds of Prey followed the adventures of Oracle, best known as Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl, as she led her all-female superhero team in defending the streets of Gotham City.
Of course, considerable changes were made for the TV show. Oracle's chief operative, the Huntress, went back to her old parallel Earth origins, where she was the long-lost daughter of Batman and Catwoman, who grew up to follow in her dad's footsteps. (In the show, Catwoman was dead and Batman had long since mysteriously disappeared.) Oracle's other main operative, the Black Canary, was now the daughter of the true Black Canary, and a young telepath learning to control her powers. The main villain was Dr. Harleen Quinzel, who was working within Arkham Asylum to manipulate Gotham's underworld and claim her dead lover's legacy.
Despite having a strong start, popularity quickly waned and it was canceled by the mid-season.
But one of the coolest things is what they're putting on it for bonus materials. Among the bonus features is...the complete run of Gotham Girls. For those who don't remember Gotham Girls.... Cast your mind back around 6 or 7 years.... Before YouTube, the greatest form of online entertainment was Shockwave animated short films. Gotham Girls was the contribution from the creators of Batman: The Animated Series. This series of short cartoons chronicled the lives of the female characters of the Batman universe, with the main focus being on Batgirl, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn.
I tell ya, having Gotham Girls on DVD just absolutly completes your collection of all things DC Universe animated.
July 29 is when this hits DVD!
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