Last Updated on: 25th February 2014, 09:48 am
Roger Abbott, one of the stars of Royal Canadian Air Farce, hasdied of leukemia at the age of 64.
Definitely news I wasn’t expecting to hear today. I had no idea he was sick, but as it turns out almost nobody did. He was diagnosed 14 years ago and kept it secret from all but a few close friends and family until about a week ago. Knowing this makes me respect the guy even more. I’m sure to him it was no big deal, but being as consistently funny and creative as he was for so long while dealing with that can’t have been easy.
Thanks for all the laughs, roger. And while I’m at it, thanks for getting me turned on to so many great comedians back in the days when Comedy Classics was Air Farce’s summer replacement on CBC Radio. I loved that show.
Speaking of laughs, how about a few videos?
A Politically Correct Minute.Writing a more PC version of the national anthem. Sons but no daughters is not ok, and there are a lot of other things wrong with it, too.
Sticking with that theme, here’sA Politically Correct Christmas.
Jean Chretien explains what will happen to health care if the Conservatives are re-elected.This makes me feel really old, and aside from the fact that there’s no more Chretien, it’s an interesting case of the more things change,the more they stay the same.
An Olympic Moment: The Two Man Luge.If you’ve ever wondered what those guys talk about as they’re speeding down the track, now you know.
Leonard Cohen sings depressing songs for a cold dark dreary night.Glad I found this one, it’s one of my favourites. Even now I’ll sometimes catch myself singing “can you believe I’m singing this?”
I tried to find some News From Away clips, but I’m coming up empty. I’m also sure I left out a lot of other great stuff. I could sit here for hours and still not remember everything, there’s so much.
Thanks again Roger, and enjoy heaven. A multi-denominational religion non-specific heaven, of course.