Treat Me Right

“Arctic Sunrise”

“Treat Me Right” was aired on March 11, 2007 and opens with Gregor prepping Jonathan Goldstein for a meeting with some TV execs. Won’t ruin the outcome here, but Gregor does call out Jonathan on one of his pronunciation quirks (“First of all, it’s Kafka, not ‘Calf-ka’”) and proclaims his own idea profoundly “meta.”

Next, Howard calls up Jonathan Goldstein ostensibly to discuss his new breakfast invention, the “Arctic Sunrise,” but then reveals that he is actually concerned about Josh’s rage. Together, Jonathan and Howard confront Josh in an episode as hilarious as the Howard-Gregor crossover in “Soulmate.”

Later, Jonathan consults a therapist (Katie Rich) and resolves to call his admiring cousin Kenny (Steve Waltien) who is super-pumped to go to Wizard World with Jonathan.

Finally, Jonathan, craving a bit of abuse, calls up a reliable source, which extends into the epilogue.

That’s it for this week. A good episode for those wishing to hear Josh at his rage-iest (coins the term “hate porn,” in the midst of his final tirade).

We also close out with Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab.”

OH and Howard references sandwiches again saying he bribed the CBC security guard, Maurice, with a ham and provolone sammich on whole wheat.

Summary of this episode.

Some More Howard Chackowicz Reading

Here are a couple Howard Chackowicz interviews. This one is quite recent, covering the release party of Howie Action Comix, feat. performances by Nutsak and Bug-eyed Monster (both with Howard on the drums).

First, he talks about his first collection of comics, which featured the now-retired autobiographical “Howie”:

“I can’t do Howie-the-fat-kid anymore,” announces the artist from across the table of his Fairmont Street kitchen, while an impressive array of Ray Harryhausen models stare out from their shelf behind his head. “In the past, when I drew [those comix], I used to find them very funny… my childhood was a source of endless comedy for me for an entire decade. ‘Howie’ is autobiographical – he’s naked, he’s impossibly huge, and he’s the ultimate victim of cruelty, and all he wants to be is good, and to be loved.”

He goes on to say this:

“I love life,” says Chackowicz, by way of clarification. “I think life – trees, birds, people, all that shit – is wonderful, but… I feel like the whole world’s on fire, and we’re all part of it.

[...]

In life, all I give a fuck about is being a good person, and I feel like the angry stuff in the art is an extension of my trying to be a good person.”

Much different sentiment then the lyrics in “I Hate Everything.”

Snubdom.com features a bit more darker-toned interview from 2001. Here are some tidbits:

The reason why I have a hard time doing stuff is because… I do a lot of drawings, I have boxes of sketches & half-finished comics, but I think the thing is… in my life, growing up the way I did there was a lot of underlying pressure to be liked & do something that would make me popular & be a well known artist doing comix & painting. I was born in Chomedy, Laval. My mom’s still here but everybody else moved out of Montreal. The thing with me, which relates to why I don’t “push my career” as much as I should, is that on my 17th birthday I got cancer & shit. I even published a biographical story in Real Stuff about it called “My New York Ball.” I had testicular cancer, I lost a ball. When you turn 17 & you lose a ball, there goes your fucken masculinity & chance of getting laid. Especially when the teacher announces it to the school, the fucken cunt.

Other than that downer, the article notes that Howard:

• Had an acting role in “Resolving Power,” as “Man at desk.”
• Was a nominee in the ‘93 Harvey Awards.
• Noted some additional jobs held: Construction, short order cook, door-to-door salesman, government, telephone solicitation, phone scams, bike courier, bookstores, dishwasher, waiter

There’s also a bit of discussion about cocaine use and bukakke. Check it out.

The American Devices – Howard Chackowicz

Howard Chackowicz plays drums for the American Devices.

Proof?

Here’s him jamming in March 2008 with Electric Vomit.

Here’s another from the same set. This time Howard rocks the toms a bit in the intro.

I think this video is from their pre-Howie days. They had a dancer

Here’s their myspace.

OH!

What’s this?

Howard and Sam Shalabi in a band? Nutsak ! Howard sings in “I Hate Everything.” Lyrics:

I hate, I hate, I hate everything. I hate this whole life

I oughta paint it ?green?
I hate the joy and love with its bitter sting

I hate, I hate everything.

I hate, I hate this whole earth.
Every tree every rock every man woman boy and girl

Big ol' moon
the shining sun the billions of stars as well
I hate the lord above and the devil down in hell

Didn't always be this way

I used to enjoy life

dance in the streets sing a lot

'til i finally understood

that society just ain't no good

It ain't who you are baby
but what kinda job you done

I hate, I hate, I hate everything

I hate me myself and I

I hate the way I am

The way that I doubt
The way that I sing

I hate, I hate, everything

Howard’s distinctive comics are featured on the myspace site too.

Howard and Desmond. Sam Shalabi in the hat.

Cinematic Orchestra

So, if you listen to any This American Life or Wiretap, you’ve almost certainly wittingly or unwittingly heard The Cinematic Orchestra thousands of times. I’d embed some samples here, but I don’t know how…but open this in a new window and listen along.

You will recognize:

• Dawn as the theme for a slightly ominous beginning.
• The Awakening as the theme for an outro to a piece that kinda makes you go “hmmm…”
• “Work It!” as the theme for a suspiciously off-kilter or mischievous unfolding. I.e. “Wait a sec, something’s up here…let’s investigate.”
• “Voyage” as a really obnoxious horn sound.
• “Theme De YoYo” – chase scene, obviously.
• “Drunken Tune” as the oft-usd theme played under the reflection part of a quirky story that teaches us a little bit ourselves.
• “All Things” as a kind of melancholy, foreboding “this changes everything” reflection.

It’s kind of ridiculous how often Ira and Goldstein bust these out – though I do like them. I own this album and listen to it sometimes outside the context of radio essays. Plus, Ira is quite aware that they play the same music in every episode (TAL does a lot of Blonde Redhead, too). Check out the episode 259 “Promised Land” where Ira Glass sings as much as he tries his hand at an “I Wish” song. Quite entertaining.