It’s no secret that American cycling has suffered like a dog under the relentless allegations brought to light by the US Anti-Doping Agency, an organization hell bent on seeking due punishment for cyclists who used performance enhancing drugs to better their careers. Spurred by thorough investigatory tactics and irrefutable evidence, countless US cyclists confessed to using PEDs throughout a whole slew of events, from the Tour de France to the Olympics, all typically in the years prior to 2007. The coup de grace came when once-hero Lance Armstrong, whose seemingly untouchable seven Tour de France titles were a symbol of inspiration to millions of Americans, finally threw in the towel and confirmed what countless skeptics had ranted on for over a decade.

As the dust settled, many brilliant careers were cut short or put on suspension, forever casting them as bad men amidst an even worse culture. Regardless of the validity surrounding these judgments, the sport has continued to pedal on, yet where does this leave American cycling, both for the fan and the rider?

America’s Greatest Race. This title, aptly given to the Amgen Tour of California, describes in three words one of the nation’s most prestigious and successful sporting events, with roughly 750 miles of beautiful terrain. The route, which started in Escondido and finished in Santa Rosa, acted as stadium last week as 16 professional teams from around the globe squeezed every last drop of energy into eight days of battle between man, bike and road.

The Amgen ToC has solidified its reputation as the nation’s most triumphant bike race, offering a hearty platform for domestic athletes to showcase their talents to a large audience. Despite the fallout from Lance and his syringe-prone US Postal teammates, this year’s edition saw American riders shake off the naysayers and cynics, eventually leading to a first place overall victory by 24-year-old Washington native Tejay van Garderen, as well as a stage win by Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Sharp.

Can this momentum be carried onward for years to come? Given such anti-drug advancements like the biological passport, which detects irregular blood levels over a period of time, one can hope that integrity and class returns to US cycling’s reputation, much as was exuded in the days of Greg LeMond and his now sole American Tour de France wins.

From the Horse’s Mouth

An insight into these sorts of things can only be stretched so far, however, and there comes a point where it is a blessing to hear from those actually in the trenches, racing side by side against some of the world’s most fit athletes. Bullz-Eye had the chance to cash in on such insider info by recently talking with Ted King of Cannondale Pro Cycling, whose team won two of the eight stages in this year’s ToC and have had an extremely successful European racing season.

Ted is not only known for his stellar international cycling career, but also a razor sharp wit and command of the written word, which both have contributed to him becoming one of the most popular racers from the US.

BULLZ-EYE: You are not only a college graduate, but got started in cycling relatively late. Did you ever look enviously at the riders who were groomed from a young age though junior development squads? Did you feel you had to work extra hard to play catch up?

TED KING: By in large, no. Sure, it’s wild to see the talent coming up from kids racing at the ProTour level at an age that I wasn’t yet even riding a bike. But I think my college education as my entry to the sport has me more well-rounded and ready for what life serves up. I could wax poetically about this all day long, but at the end of the day, I’m thrilled with how this career has unfolded.

BE: Countless US pros were left without contracts for 2013, which is no doubt a major blow to one’s livelihood and identity. Seeing as longwinded careers in any sport are never set in stone, do you feel it is important to have a backup plan, such as a degree, and perhaps be more cautious when plunging straight from high school into the professional circuit?

TED KING: You hit at least one of the points I was glossing over in the question above on the head. Cycling, like any professional sport, is fickle. Contracts run generally one or two years, and after that, it’s what have you done for me lately. In the grand scheme of life, and not just cycling, I think having a backup plan is wise. But that’s why I preach collegiate cycling so much; it’s as fun and competitive as you want to make it, while still providing a college degree and some cultural awareness.

BE: Can one embrace the phrase, “Don’t out all your eggs in one basket,” and still display the vigor and drive needed to reach the upper levels of cycling, or do you feel a 100% commitment is crucial?

TED KING: That’s tough to say. Because if you’re in the tip-top highest rankings of the UCI, then you’ve likely been racing from the age of eight and you’ve likely always been the absolutely highest level of cream rising to the top. You’re the best of the best and you didn’t find cycling on a whim as a collegiate athlete. I think it’s still easy to stay well-rounded while at the top echelon of the sport; read, write, public speak and embrace the culture in which you’re surrounded. That all being said, it’s far, far easier said than done as well as few and far between when you see it in reality, since professional sports are so full of immediacy and living in the now.

BE: Is it safe to say that the Tour of California can hold its own with the European stage races in terms of beauty, competition and overall class?

TED KING: If I’m picking up what you’re putting down… yes. The Tour of California is among the finest races on the planet.

BE: Are there any sights or experiences that are a must for you when in California?

TED KING: A post-race swing through In-and-Out Burger will likely be on the to-do list. Even more than that, I’m pretty stoked to finish in Napa rather than racing north to south as years’ past. I won’t let wine country escape my grasp.

BE: How important is it to have familiarity with a route, and is there any benefit from having some mystery?

TED KING: It’s important but not decisive. Sure, due diligence will certainly help for making up a few seconds here or knowing when to attack there. But in reality, the mass of the peloton dictates pace. Again, I could go on about this one at length, but the two letter answer is no.

BE: When racing the ToC, how does the cycling scene community on the west coast differ from that east where you grew up? Or in Europe?

TED KING: North American cycling culture in general is more enthusiastic. I think European cycling culture is often so commonplace that some fans don’t really embrace just how cool the spectacle of cycling is as it rips by their town. There is certainly some naivety since professional cycling is still considered a foreign sport here in America. But knowing that and recognizing that we’re ambassadors for the future of the sport is special. Then, for east compared to west here in America, I think the biggest difference is just proximity. Everything is closer and therefore more convenient back east. A two-hour drive to a weekend race seems like the standard for us right coasters, but trekking the length of California or from CA to NM would be an apparent eternity.

BE: You’re a major presence on Strava. Do you feel that this international web of online support is an added motivation when times get tough? How about Strava as a training tool?

TED KING: It’s flattering the outpouring on Strava, with people posting comments and virtual pats on the back after big training rides from all over the world — friends and family back home or people whose names I can’t even pronounce. It doesn’t directly evoke added motivation, but for sure it inspires some of my tougher rides or through nasty weather even just subconsciously. As training, I think it’s awesome for the elite amateur. On the high professional level, we’re not comparing race notes or climb times. One of my favorite uses is coming to a new geographic area and using the Explore feature to check out just the right length climb for the specific intervals I have to do. That’s extremely handy.

BE: It seems that Americans have done well in the GC since the inception of the ToC. What do you think it is about the ToC’s route environment that brings out the best in domestic riders?

TED KING: Everyone ups their game when it’s time to race on their home turf. It’s no different in Italy, Spain, Australia, or here in America. Pride? Compatriot one-ups-manship? I don’t know, something like that.

BE: Races can be a bit monotonous to viewers who aren’t involved in the sport, which seems like a disservice to a sport that launches the human body up and down some of the most challenging and beautiful landscape on Earth. Do you think there is any way to make cycling more appealing on TV, such as the GoPros used in 2012?

TED KING: Don’t get me started on this. If we can know every single bit of telemetry regarding car racing down to the ten-thousandth of so-and-so measurement, but we then scan a camera at a bike race and don’t know even what group we’re looking at or where they are in the race, we’re missing something huge. Camera angles, live telemetry, in-race commentary, are a start. It’s a sport steeped in tradition, so we’ll see how long it takes for these things to catch on.

BE: What is the most useful piece of advice you have ever received, in regards to the sport?

TED KING: Wear sunscreen.

BE: Do you think cycling has the ability to enhance a person’s writing skills, given that there are prolonged hours of focus, inner monologue and thought building?

TED KING: For the right person, absolutely. Without being vain whatsoever, are those people rare? Yes.

BE: ToC successes such as Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner have experienced great longevity in their careers, is it a huge relief to know there is the potential to carry on your life’s passion for many years to come?

TED KING: A huge relief? Ha, no, not one bit. I’ve known for years that you peak physiologically in your early 30s and you can maintain some incredible form into your late 30s and early 40s. It’s certainly nice to know that I could continue that long, but I’ve already been at this game of professional racing for nearly a decade. Life is an adventure. Only time will tell what and when the next chapter will bring.

BE: In a recent article by VeloNews, Mario Cipollini told Dan Wuori that riders nowadays lose some of their allure/mysticism by cataloguing their lives to various social media outlets. Personally, one of my absolute favorite things about your influence within the sport is the fact that you do just that and detail your exploits. Taking this into consideration, do you feel that Cipollini has a valid point, or that fans can only benefit from immersing themselves within riders’ lives?

TED KING: While Cipo’s allure and mysticism arguably exceeds mine, I think he’s from an entirely different generation of cycling — not to mention an era that doesn’t really embrace social media. So I lean to the latter of those two; riders who use social media well can put themselves on display, but to whichever degree they please. It’s all about having a filter, both as the person issuing social media and the person absorbing it.

As I’m learning from an upcoming film I’m probably embargoed from discussing in any detail, the documentary “Hey Bartender,” the business of dispensing booze can take from a person’s life, but it can also give. However, the price I’m thinking about right now has mostly to do with the garnish — yes, the garnish — of today’s drink.

Fire is involved, and so is my right hand. I like my right hand. It’s helping me type this blog post and it does other nice things for me from time to time. But more about that later. (The garnish, I mean.)

The Ritz Cocktail was created by a cocktail legend I’m not sure I’ve even mentioned here before, and that’s largely due to the fact that I’m still a relative newbie to serious boozing. Although he’s not quite a household name — even his Wikipedia page is a still a stub — Dale DeGroff is credited by lots of folks as spearheading the revival of the lost art of the American cocktail. This started back in the 1980s, when he was at the Rainbow Rock at Manhattan’s 30 Rock, I was still in school, and most of the oldest of you all were lucky to be past the zygote stage….and DeGroff is still a relatively young man for a living legend. Well, his Wiki doesn’t give his age, so it’s hard to be sure.

Today’s drink is contained in DeGroff’s epochal 2002 tome, The Craft of the Cocktail. It’s named in honor of the several legendary bars of the famed Ritz hotel chain founded by César Ritz. Much as Mr. DeGroff has been dubbed “King Cocktail,” Mr. Ritz was dubbed “king of hoteliers, and hotelier to kings.” So far as I know, however, he had nothing to do with the cracker.

The Ritz Cocktail (the slightly heretical and debased version)

3/4-1 ounce cognac, or brandy alternative
1/2 ounce Cointreau
1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
Champagne or sparkling white wine alternative
Flamed orange peel (garnish, to be explained!)

Combine all the liquid ingredients, except the champagne/sparkling white wine, in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice. Stir (if you want to be like the suave Mr. DeGroff) or shake (if you want to be an uncouth philistine, like me). Strain into a cocktail class and top off with your bubbly.

Then, get out your matchbook or lighter and add your flamed orange peel (more on that below). If you’re fingers are unscorched, you’ll want to toast Mr. DeGroff for his delicious cocktail. If you’re feeling cowardly, and I don’t one bit blame you, an unflamed orange or lemon twist will do fairly nicely.

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Before I get to the flaming orange peel, let’s talk about the other ingredients. As a cheapskate/not-rich-guy I’m not usually swimming in authentic cognac or champagne. Moreover, I’ve found that Reynal Brandy, which has offices in the French town of Cognac, is actually as good or better in a cocktail than at least some actual cognacs selling for about twice as much. I used up some of little remaining Ile de Ré Fine Island Cognac I had for my first attempt, and then went with Reynal after that. I think it’s possible the somewhat blander Reynal might have worked better in this drink.

I also used a bit less of my base spirit than DeGroff originally suggested. That’s because I only received The Craft of the Cocktail from Amazon yesterday, a sad confession, I know. I didn’t know that the online versions of the recipe, which mostly call for 3/4 of an ounce of cognac, differed from the original version which calls for a full ounce of the stuff. I also deliberately went against DeGroff’s advice advice when I found that my usual slight preference for shaking over stirring seemed to apply to this drink as well. Also, I switched out the champagne for some brut sparking blanc de blanc. It’s pretty much the same exact situation as the cognac/brandy switch.

Now, about that flaming orange peel. Basically, this is supposed to be an enjoyably dramatic approach to spreading a bit of carmelized orange oil over your drink. You should probably use the video below before you go by my instructions, but basically what you do is cut a bit of orange peel with very little of the white pith still on it. Then, you hold a lit match or a cigarette lighter to the orange peel. You heat the orange peel, keeping it flat. Then, when the peel is good and shiny, you short of bend the thing, creating a flame that ideally should shoot over the rim of the glass. Finally, you glide the orange skin around the rim of the glass and drop your flamed peel into the drink, as you usually would.

Because I am, no exaggeration, a complete klutz, I was really and truly a bit scared to attempt this mixological parlor trick. Since it’s good to do things you’re scared to do, I tried it several times, even though I was skeptical it would have much impact on the flavor. The fact of the matter is that I only achieved partial success when I stropped trying to use a match and sprung for an easier to use cheap lighter. I don’t think it was just my imagination, but the drink really did taste pretty great when I finally managed a relatively pathetic fire burst. That shows me for doubting King Cocktail.

The “Fast and Furious” franchise is like popcorn movie kryptonite – it’s my only weakness. (Okay, maybe not my only weakness.) But for as cheesy, soapy and utterly preposterous as the movies can get at times, they’re also incredibly entertaining, especially following director Justin Lin’s retooling of the series. Though the sixth installment doesn’t quite live up to 2011’s “Fast Five,” which took the franchise to new heights in more ways than one, it still delivers everything that fans have come to expect over the years. Bigger and dumber but still tons of fun, “Fast & Furious 6” may have you rolling your eyes even more than usual, but that’s part of what make the series so great.

Picking up several months after the events of “Fast Five,” the movie finds Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) laying low in Spain when he’s visited by DSS agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) with some interesting news: his old flame, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), isn’t quite as dead as previously believed. In fact, she’s working with a British soldier turned criminal named Owen Shaw (Luke Evans) who’s planning on stealing a top secret computer chip worth billions, and Hobbs needs Dom’s help to catch him. With the promise of full pardons for everyone involved, and the added incentive of finding out what happened to Letty, Dom enlists the rest of the crew (save for Puerto Rican jokesters Tego and Rico) and heads to London to face off against Shaw and his own team of street racing criminals.

One of the biggest reasons “Fast Five” worked as well as it did was the excellent chemistry between its ensemble cast, and that continues in this installment. Everyone has their part to play, although Paul Walker’s role has been surprisingly downgraded this time around. Johnson, on the other hand, is given more screen time now that Hobbs is playing nice with Dom and Co., while Sung Kang remains the standout of the supporting players. It’s also nice to see Rodriguez return to the series after her limited appearance in “Fast & Furious,” and the reasoning behind her mysterious survival is handled both swiftly and smartly. Lin has even brought in “Haywire” star Gina Carano (as Hobbs’ right-hand man) to serve as the perfect adversary for Letty, leading to a pair of fight scenes that are almost as good as the Diesel/Johnson brawl from the last film.

Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the incredible action on display. Whereas “Fast Five” was more of an “Ocean’s Eleven”-type crime caper, “Fast & Furious 6” feels like a straight-up action film, jam-packed with a series of excellent set pieces that somehow manage to outdo the previous movies in excess and sheer ridiculousness. The over-the-top nature of the “Fast and Furious” franchise has always been its greatest asset and its biggest criticism, and there’s no better example of that than in some of the gleefully entertaining “Oh my god, I can’t believe that just happened” insanity that takes place in the film.

The fact that more than one instance of this occurs throughout the movie certainly favors its detractors, but at this point in the series, you probably shouldn’t be watching these films if you’re still complaining about the types of miraculous, logic-defying feats of physics that have become customary. And in that respect, “Fast & Furious 6” doesn’t disappoint, all while tying together past installments and setting up futures ones (the end credits stinger shouldn’t be missed) with such ease that it’s no wonder why Universal fast-tracked a sequel before anyone even saw this one. And truth be told, I can barely hide my excitement.

Eric Raskin has put together an excellent oral history of the 2003 World Series of Poker in Grantland, one of the seminal events in the poker phenomenon that has grown over the years in the US and around the world.

In 1970, Benny Binion put together a publicity stunt to promote his casino in downtown Las Vegas. He sent out invitations to Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim Preston, and the rest of the world’s greatest card players and called it the World Series of Poker. Seven of them played cash games at Binion’s Horseshoe for three straight days, and when it was over, Moss was named “champion” in a vote of his peers. The next year, six entrants paid $5,000 apiece for the right to play in a no-limit Texas Hold ‘em “freezeout” tournament, in which everyone started with the same number of chips and they played until one man had all the money. A year later, the buy-in doubled to $10,000. In the four decades since, the basic rules of the tournament and the amount of money required to enter have remained constant.

But the number of participants has not. The World Series of Poker main event surpassed 100 players for the first time in 1982. It cracked 200 in ’91, the first year in which the winner claimed a seven-figure cash prize. In 2002, 631 players entered, and the payout was $2 million.

Then came 2003. The 34th-annual World Series of Poker transformed the event into a pop-culture phenomenon. The numbers — by 2006, 8,773 players vied for a first-place prize of $12 million — illustrate how exponential the growth was. Poker went from a game understood by few and played in smoky backrooms to a television staple. In this 10th-anniversary oral history, more than 30 people who were part of the event explain what happened and what it meant for the poker business.

Check out the entire article for a very informative and entertaining read.

You can see the final hand above where Chris Moneymaker wins the tournament. Movies like “Rounders” from 1998 also helped fuel that game’s popularity, but that 2003 tournament helped fans the flames.

There are so many ways to enjoy gambling and poker these days at casinos around the country and online at Metro Play Casino and other great sites that it’s hard to think back to the days when most of the action was in Las Vegas and in back room poker games. Fortunately most people can now drive to a poker room or hone their skills online, and now the World Series of Poker is dominated by guys inspired by Chris Moneymaker. If you’re heading to Vegas and want to test your poker skills, you have to try your hand at this tournament.

After the last “Hangover” film left most people with a sour taste in their mouth, it was no secret that director Todd Phillips would have to change up the formula if he ever made another sequel. Unfortunately, despite heeding that advice on the latest installment, “The Hangover Part III” is a really bad movie (like, worst film of the year bad) – a joyless and humorless cash-in that bears little resemblance to the 2009 original except by name. Say what you will about the first sequel, but at least that one actually felt like a “Hangover” movie. I’m still not even sure if “Part III” is supposed to be a comedy, but the shocking lack of laughter would suggest otherwise.

The film opens with a silly gag involving Alan (Zach Galifianakis) buying and subsequently killing a giraffe while transporting it home, and it only goes downhill from there. (Sadly, that’s also just the start of the movie’s streak of animal cruelty.) When his latest antics cause his father (Jeffrey Tambor) to have a heart attack and die, it puts Alan in a bit of tailspin. Concerned about his well-being, the guys (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha) stage an intervention and convince him to get help at a mental health clinic in Arizona. On the way there, however, they’re kidnapped by a surly gangster named Marshall (John Goodman), who blames them for introducing Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong) into his life. Apparently, Chow stole a lot of money from Marshall and has evaded him ever since, so he tasks the Wolfpack (minus Doug of course, who’s kept as collateral) to track him down, taking them from Tijuana to Las Vegas, the city where it all began.

There are so many holes in the plot that you honestly wouldn’t know where to begin, and that’s just one of the countless problems plaguing the movie. “Part II” may have been a complete rehash in that it utilized the blackout drunk mystery scenario all over again, but at least there were some laughs to be had. “Part III” feels less like a comedy and more like a pitch black revenge thriller revolving around Galifianakis’ Alan, who for some reason has graduated from goofy man-child to borderline mentally challenged. And if “Tropic Thunder” taught us anything, it’s that you never go full retard. Even worse than Galifianakis’ annoying shtick is Ken Jeong’s over-the-top gangster. Jeong is one of those comedic actors who’s tolerable in small doses, but his role in the “Hangover” movies has grown with every installment, and it’s no coincidence that his involvement is directly related to the decreased quality of each film.

The rest of the guys are on auto-pilot, simply going through the motions to collect their paychecks, although Cooper is still enjoyable as the straight man of the trio. And can you really blame them? The script is so terrible and devoid of laughs (despite some half-assed attempts at humor that rarely land) that it’s hard to imagine anyone signing on to the movie for anything other than the great payday. The film mostly runs on nostalgia – a fact made clear by the return of several familiar faces, even if they have nothing to offer the story – but even that little bit of fan service sputters out well before the end, much like the finale itself. Instead of making up for the last movie, “The Hangover Part III” only further spoils the legacy of the first film, leaving audiences feeling even more violated than before.

Note: With the biggest cast in television it can be hard to keep all the names and faces straight. Thus the first mention of each character contains a link to a picture of them which will open in a new tab.

As I’ve often discussed in the past, I generally try to find unifying theme in each episode of Game of Thrones and base my blog around it.  Sometimes it’s hard, and takes a lot of pondering to find. Sometimes, as in “Dark Wings Dark Words,” there isn’t one to be found, as the episode is linked by graceful editing rather than a theme. Other times, as in “The Climb” or “Second Sons,” the writers are kind enough to put the theme right there in the title (although this week didn’t offer a Littlefinger soliloquy to put it in neon lights).

A lot of “Second Sons” is about, well, second sons. We’ve got the literal second-born male children, like Stannis and the Hound, as well as “second-class” sons like Gendry, due to being a bastard. Not to mention Tyrion, who fits into both categories. And how could we forget ol’ Samwell Tarly, a de-facto second son. Recall that Sam’s father stripped him of his birthright (in favor of his actual second son) and relegated him to the Night’s Watch despite his being the eldest.

My Sword is Yours, My Life is Yours, My Heart is Yours

Let’s start with a different, but still literal, kind of Second Sons: the band of sellswords now headed by one Daario Naharis (and thus capitalized). I say now headed because it’s in this very episode that Daario, a mere Liutenant rebelled against the captains of the Second Sons so that he could pledge his sword (and those of the Second Sons), life, and heart to Daenerys (which is especially considering they’re the exact words Jorah Mormont would have liked to have used if not for Westerosi customs and the fact that he doesn’t look quite like the dude in the picture above). Now all that stands between her and the conquest of Yunkai are those big brick walls.

Another, well I wouldn’t call it a theme, but another recurring idea in this episode was the mixture and juxtaposition of the kind, sweet, sugar, spice and everything nice moments with the brutal mean and menacing ones. I say moments here, because that’s how it played out in the majority of the episode. In Daenerys’ case however, it’s her character that’s transitioning from her acting like a “young girl unwise in the ways of war” to swiftly telling Ser Barristan to kill “that one first” (referring to the particularly rude captain of the Second Sons). In the episode, moments of sweetness and sadness are juxtaposed, but this week and in the series and general, it is Dany’s character which defines that juxtaposition. A more dangerous charmer there never was. You know, when she’s not screaming about taking back what is hers with fire and blood. She hasn’t done much of that this year, thank the seven (although in fairness the writers had to scramble about to give Daenerys a semi-interesting storyline last season, since the books don’t really offer one).

The Hound and the Wolf Girl/King’s Blood

I’m combining the highly removed storylines of Arya Stark and the Hound along with Stannis, Gendry, and Melisandre into one section because of they’re contrasting takes on the aforementioned juxtaposition of kindness and brutality. When the Hound snatched Arya up after she ran away from the Brotherhood, she (and many viewers) thought it was just about the worst thing that could have happened. I mean, he’s among the names in her “prayer,” you know, repeating all the names of the people who have wronged her and she intends to kill. No way she’ll ever get back to her family now, right? Arya even goes so far as to raise a boulder above Sandor’s head while he (ostensibly) sleeps. He’s awake though, and offers her a gamble: throw the rock and try to kill him, with the full understanding that if he does survive, he’ll catch her and break both her hands. Things are not looking good. As they ride, Sandor tries to explain that his finding her was actually good luck, as there are people far worse than him out there. She retorts that there’s no one worse than him, and he quips back that she’s never met his brother (which plays back into the second sons theme). Yep, things sure do look bad for Arya. When they reach a river, she asks if it’s the Blackwater, as she’s under the impression that he’s taking her back to King’s Landing and captivity. The Hound laughs and tells her the river is the Red Fork, and that he intends to take her to the Twins, where her brother and mother are headed, so he ransom her. In this case, a story that began menacing turns out well. There appears to be a glimmer of hope that Arya will finally get back to her family.

Arya’s old pal Gendry, however, finds himself on exactly the opposite side of the sweet and sour juxtaposition. Thing’s are looking good, a bastard boy been’s brought to the castle of his wealthy and powerful uncle, placed in a chamber containing more wealth than he’s ever seen, and better food and wine than he could even imagine. He doesn’t know what the plan is, but he’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. The uncles of bastard boys don’t send their red priestesses into the middle of nowhere to find them so they can be pampered and given all the love and affection they never got growing up. Gendry remains suspicious, and rightfully so, until Melisandre is able to get him to relax using her feminine, ahem, charm. She sticks leeches on him to draw out his blood (one of which goes on a particularly painful and entirely unnecessary male organ), king’s blood. Of course, we knew that was coming after hearing Melisandre tell Stannis that she’s “slaughtered many sheep and none of them ever saw the knife.” The reason for all this, she claims, is that the recently freed Ser Davos remains a non-believer, and requires a demonstration of both her power and that of king’s blood. So Stannis drops each of the blood-filled leeches into a pit of fire while reciting the names of the usurper kings: Robb Stark, Balon Greyjoy, and Joffrey Baratheon. 

My Small Short Lannister Wedding

Meanwhile, there’s a wedding going on in King’s Landing. It’s the special day Sansa Stark has always dreamed of, only not at all. When Tyrion first comes to greet her she actually smiles and seems quite receptive, as if she’s taken Margaery’s advice to heart. But as the day wears on her true feelings show more and more. Things are just as rough for our favorite second son, Tyrion, who’s uncomfortable with the whole notion of wedding a girl who hates him, a girl who’s far too young for him, and the girl for whom the woman he’s truly in love with serves as a chambermaid.

Yes indeed, there are no shortage of awkward moments in King’s Landing this week. Whether it’s Tyrion’s interactions with his wife and lover, Joffrey telling Sansa he’s going to sneak into her bedchambers and rape her that evening, oh, and let’s not forget this classic line from the Cersei Lannister school of charm: “No one cares what your father once told you.” She says that to her own future husband, Ser Loras. But the night’s most entertaining interactions come from the awkward exchanges between the groom and his “proud father,” Tywin. Peter Dinklage plays one hell of a drunk. But still, the award for the best, and tensest moment of the episode goes to Tyrion after Joffrey tries to initiate the traditional bedding ceremony, in which the men in attendance strip the clothes off the bride and the women do the same to the groom. Tyrion has endured enough humiliation for one day, and declares that there will be no bedding, despite Joffrey’s angrily huffing that there will be if he commands it because he is the king, yadda yadda yadda. That’s when Tyrion pulls out a dagger and sticks it into the wooden table point first, telling Joffrey that if he continues he’ll be bedding his own wife with a “wooden cock” when his own day of matrimony arrives. Tywin is able to diffuse the situation by pointing out how drunk his son is, and Tyrion, quickly realizing his mistake (if not feeling guilty for it) attempts to play it off as a joke. Intra-Lannister relations in King’s Landing are already quite malicious, and it’s not as if Tyrion and Joffrey were pals prior to the wedding. We’ll have to wait and see if Tyrion’s threat comes back to haunt him.

A Few More Things:

-I didn’t get a chance to talk about Sam’s story in any depth. The long and short of it is that he finally discovers why some unknown man of the Night’s Watch left a cache of obsidian (or dragon glass) weapons at the Fist of the First Men: It’s the White Walker’s Kryptonite. It takes a trial by fire (or rather, ice) to figure that one out, Sam stabs the Other because it’s the only move he’s got. Lucky for him it paid off. Now we’ll just have to see if the rest of the Crows believe him, and what they have to say about the woman he’s got in tow.

-All you non-readers might be interested to know that in the books, Daario dyes both his hair and three-pronged beard blue. You can see why that wouldn’t work onscreen.

-That’s all for episode eight, so hold onto your hats, boys and girls. If you’ve been paying attention to the last two seasons, you know episode nine is when Shit. Goes. Down.

Check out the preview for next week’s episode below and follow the writer on Twitter @NateKreichman.

USB-powered Personal Humidifier

Dry air can become a problem for people, especially in office buildings that recycle air. The static that builds up isn’t exactly good for computers or printers, either. Fortunately, the solution comes in the form of an attractive gadget that takes up very little desk space. The USB-powered Personal Humidifier, available at Solutions.com, plugs into any USB port to provide four pleasant hours of humidity. If someone forgets to turn the Personal Humidifier off, not a problem. It turns itself off after two hours or if the 4-ounce tank runs empty. The best part is the Personal Humidifier is small enough to take anywhere. Just pack the USB-powered Personal Humidifier in an overnight bag or computer bag and go.

Build-On Brick Mug

Coffee is a must to get through those early morning hours, endless phone calls, and tedious office meetings. The problem is what to do with the hands? What to do to keep from drifting off? The Build-On Brick Mug just might have the answer. Available at ThinkGeek, the Build-On Brick Mug is a 12-ounce hot drink holder perfect for coffee, tea, and keeping boredom at bay. This unique mug works with bricks from LEGO, PixelBlocks, and K’NEX Bricks, to name just a few. The potential to build on the mug is unlimited. The only downside is it’s not dishwasher safe! However, BPA-free and versatile, the Build-On Brick Mug can deliver the coffee and the entertainment.

Portal 2 Sentry Turret USB Desk Defender

Entertainment at the office comes in many forms, especially when encouraging those loiterers to move on. Video Game fans and will love the Portal 2 Sentry Turret USB Desk Defender. It’s not only cute (in a futuristic, dystopian kind of way), but also a rather effective desk protector. Equipped with a motion detector, this little gadget opens up its wings when anyone comes near and shoots – harmless little remarks such as “I see you” and “Target acquired”. The Portal 2 Sentry, available at ThinkGeek, will even respond if it is knocked over or moved, stating anything from “I don’t hate you’ to “Malfunctioning” and more. If no one picks the Portal 2 Sentry up within 30 seconds of being knocked over, the entertaining gadget asks, “Are you still there?” It may not actually encourage loiters to stay away from one’s desk, but it will certainly entertain them.

Une Bobine

Most people today can barely stand to be away from their mobile phones, yet trying to complete any task on the phone while syncing or charging is nothing short of a royal pain. The biggest problem is trying to see the screen from odd angles. That isn’t the case anymore, not with the Une Bobine, available from [Fuse]Chicken. The Une Bobine is a rather handy phone stand that comes with a 24” gooseneck metal casing allowing the user to angle the phone for a better screen view while charging or syncing. Need more length? A USB extension does the job, and if the Une Bobine is too long, the Petite Bobine is only 12” long. Now charging or syncing the phone at the office while viewing the screen is not only easy, but convenient.

BOSS Lamps

Those late nights at work are tedious enough without trying to find enough space on a desk for a light. What’s worse is the eternal search for another power outlet or just one more USB port. Imagine if all three came in one convenient, kind of quirky, and very vintage package. Look no further, the BOSS Lamp is here. This interesting little desk lamp, available through Etsy, uses a 40 watt MAX type B13 bulb, comes with 2 USB ports, a 15 amp plug, and takes up no more than a few inches of desk space. The plug is not meant for any appliances, most particularly not a heating device, but works just fine with portable electronic devices such as laptops. Undeniably a conversation starter, the BOSS lamp makes those late nights just a little more bearable.

This article was supplied by Joe Shervell for www.officefurnitureexpress.co.uk.

When Hyundai released the latest Sonata a few years ago, the design was cutting edge, and now that the current design is running close to the end of its cycle, the design still holds true to this day. For 2013, Sonata built on its trailblazing recipe of high-design and high fuel efficiency with more features, higher value and better residual value than ever before. That’s important, as the midsize segment is more competitive than ever, with new competitors borrowing pages from the Sonata playbook with improved fuel economy and design.

First and foremost, you can’t help but notice the panoramic sunroof which is now part of the Limited Premium Package for 2013 as tested. Fluidic Sculpture is a consistent, cohesive design language that is used throughout the entire Hyundai showroom. It considers the interplay of natural, fluid elements with more rigid surfaces and structures to create the illusion of constant motion.

The exterior of the Sonata is long, light and low. The high beltline allows for a long, sleek roofline accented by a third window. A monoform side profile includes flowing lines highlighted by a Hyundai signature chrome accent that spans the length of the car. Normally, this type of trim is only found around the windows. On the Sonata, this trim extends out from the headlamps, juts up along the hood and through the beltline. The face is bold with a large powerful chrome grille and headlamps that integrate precise details. The stance is completed by 17-inch alloy wheels on our Limited edition. It’s amazing how the Sonata design has influenced competitors and reshaped the midsize sedan marketplace.

The sleek design, combined with Hyundai’s expertise in interior packaging, delivers class-leading interior comfort, functionality and practicality. A sleek roofline typically compromises headroom and interior volume, but at 120.2 cubic feet, the Sonata has more interior volume than many of its key competitors. It is so spacious that Sonata continues to be classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a large car, truly a “class above” other categorized midsize cars. The Sonata shines even in trunk volume, with 16.4 cu. ft. of trunk space that gives it a 6.1 percent advantage over direct rivals. Our test model was upscale and loaded with features, including leather seating surfaces with heated front and rear seats, power driver seat with power lumbar support, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, XM Satellite radio, Dimension AM/FM/CD-MP3 with iPod/USB input, HD Radio technology with multicasting, integrated Bluetooth hands free phone system, navigation with high resolution touchscreen display, rear backup camera, and a booming and crystal clear Infinity premium audio system with subwoofer and amplifier.

The 2013 Sonata is powered by the original Theta II GDI 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a Gasoline Direct-Injection (GDI) fuel delivery system, which contributes to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions. This shorter, more direct path of fuel delivery allows for greater control of the fuel mixture at the optimum moment, thus improving efficiency. The fuel is injected by a camshaft-driven, high pressure pump that operates at pressures up to 2,175 psi. Direct injection also utilizes a higher than normal 11.3:1 compression ratio for increased power. The pistons are “dished” to increase combustion efficiency in the cylinder. This power plant still delivers best-in-class fuel economy, best-in-class four-cylinder horsepower, and best-in-class torque more than two years after its initial introduction.

Sonata delivers an impressive 24 mpg city/35 mpg estimated highway fuel economy rating with the standard six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC. The horsepower and torque ratings for the Theta II GDI are 198 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. In the SE trim, which includes a standard dual exhaust, the engine delivers 200 horsepower and 186 lb.-ft. of torque. This high-tech, all-aluminum, 16-valve engine features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (DCVVT) and a Variable Induction System (VIS) for better engine breathing. A version of this engine also meets Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) standards. An advanced four-wheel independent suspension system combines a supple ride with precise handling and steering response for Sonata GLS, Limited and Hybrid models. Sonata uses MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension systems with increased travel for improved wheel control and a smoother ride. All four wheels are controlled by coil springs, fade-resistant dual flow dampers and stabilizer bars. The suspension has been optimized to keep the vehicle flat during cornering and provide quick turn-in response. The rear suspension uses aluminum components to reduce weight and improve suspension performance. The GLS, Limited and Hybrid models also use advanced low-rolling resistance tires to improve fuel economy while maintaining good ride and handling performance.

The 2013 Hyundai Sonata Limited continues to improve on an already top-notch car in all aspects for review. We found the sleek design, roomy and well-appointed cabin, and 35mpg fuel efficiency to be quite a bargain for the sticker price as tested of $29,655. Hyundai has been very successful at going upscale without going over the top in pricing, and that is what we can value in this business. Safety has also been a priority with the Hyundai Sonata, as the car is rich in ultra-high-strength steel, leading to world-class body rigidity. The Sonata is 25 percent stiffer in torsion and 19 percent stiffer in bending rigidity than its predecessor, yet it is lighter than many midsize sedans while offering more interior room. This focus on power-to-weight ratio pays dividends across the board. The Sonata owes its ability to deliver both strong performance and excellent fuel economy in great part to its impressive power-to-weight efficiency.

Given that the sitcom was just renewed for its fifth season, it’s hard to call it anything other than a success, and yet I’m still reminded of something Mark Harmon said about “NCIS” back in 2011: “If it’s possible for a No. 1 show to be still be under the radar, then we’re still under the radar.” That’s kind of where “The Middle” stands, if you ask me…or if you ask just about anyone who who’s involved with the show, for that matter: they know they’re doing good work, the viewers know they’re doing good work, the critics definitely know they’re doing good work, and yet as of this writing “The Middle” has only received one Emmy nod to date (for makeup, of all things). That’s just ridiculous…and that’s why, over at the Onion AV Club, I pulled together a TV Club 10 list of the 10 episodes of “The Middle” which best represent the series and reveal what makes it such a pleasure to watch week after week.

Then, in conjunction with that piece, I thought it might also be interesting to reach out to the cast of the series and see which 10 episodes were their favorites. Not everyone was readily available to contribute, unfortunately, but three out of five ain’t bad, so don’t be afraid to express your gratitude to Patricia Heaton (Frankie Heck), Neil Flynn (Mike Heck), and Eden Sher (Sue Heck) in the comments for offering up their picks.

In closing, I’d just like to say – and I think you’ll probably agree – that there is something so incredibly right about the fact that Eden Sher described the opportunity to select her top-10 episodes as “way too much fun” and then proved it by writing a full paragraph about each one. No actor wants to be told that they’re “just like their character,” but there’s just enough Sue Heck in Eden Sher to make her one of the sweetest and most contagiously enthusiastic young actresses on network TV…but, then, if you read my interview with her a few months ago, then you already know that.

And, now, on with the lists!

PATRICIA HEATON

1. “Average Rules” (season one, episode 24)

Patricia Heaton: Fun episode for the family, and Betty White guest starred. Enough said!

2. “Foreign Exchange” (season two, episode five)

PH: This was based on a true life experience of mine.

3. “Errand Boy” (season two, episode eight):

PH: Brick/Frankie funny episode about Mother/son relationship. Who doesn’t want to run errands with their Mom?

4. “Taking Back the House” (season two, episode 11)

PH: Fun episode about Frankie and Mike being rebellious parents.

5. “Hecks on a Plane” (season two, episode 16)

PH: The Hecks get the heck out of Orson.

6. “Mother’s Day II” (season two, episode 21)

PH: The Mother’s Day gift of Frankie having a day to herself turns out to be disastrous and hilarious.

7. “Major Changes” (season three, episode four)

PH: Frankie runs away from home and spends time with her Mom.

8. “The Map” (season three, episode 13)

PH: Hilarious. I laughed out loud when I read the script.

9. “Second Act” (season four, episode three)

PH: Frankie contemplates a new career. What working mother hasn’t?

10. “The Friend” (season four, episode 13)

PH: Everyone loved the “Fame” dance.

NEIL FLYNN

1. “The Block Party” (season one, episode five)

Neil Flynn: Brick tries playing on a basketball team.

2. “Thanksgiving” (season one, episode eight)

NF: We meet Sue’s boyfriend, Brad.

3. “Siblings” (season one, episode 9)

NF: The family plays football in the street, and Aunt Edie works at the quarry.

4. “The Break Up” (season one, episode 17)

NF: Axl is hurt by a break-up, he cries as Frankie consoles him.

5. “The Legacy” (season two, episode 19)

NF: Frankie plays a tape of Mike crying on the phone.

6. “Back to Summer” (season two, episode 24)

NF: Sue graduates middle school.

7. “The Map” (season three, episode 13)

NF: Car ride home from Aunt’s funeral. It was a long opening scene in the car.

8. “The Wedding” (season three, episode 24)

NF: Brother Rusty’s wedding.

9. “Bunny Therapy” (season four, episode four)

NF: The killer rabbit is loose in the kitchen.

10. “Twenty Years” (season four, episode 10)

NF: The kids plan an anniversary party, but Sue does all the work. The kids were all great in this one.

EDEN SHER

1. “Pilot” (season one, episode one)

Eden Sher: Beginnings are always the most exhilarating. Doing a pilot is an adrenaline junkie / Big Time Feeler’s dream; you’re excited and fearful and hopeful and nostalgic for the immediate past when it’s done because there is a chance you might never see these people again. And it’s so gratifying to see to fruition the actions you imagined would follow the words you read SO many times during the audition process. I’m pretty sure I read those sides a total of 9 times. It’s crazy to me that the people I met during the pilot are the same people I’m so close with now. CHEESEBALL WARNING: I’m so grateful for this experience and knew even then that we were all going to be a part of something beautiful and special. Except the braces. The braces during the pilot were hella cheap and uncomfortable. Also they were my own, so I had to be responsible for them, as opposed to the makeup department now. Way too much responsibility for an actor as flighty as myself.

2. “The Trip” (season one, episode four)

ES: This was the first prominently-featured-Sue episode. I got my first tantrum-esque monologue, my first having-to-remember-a-monologue-for-a-scene-at-the-end-of-the-day-which-was-like-midnight experience. This was also the episode I realized how wonderful my affinity for schmaltz/touchy feely tendencies were juxtaposed against Neil’s aversion to affection. That week started the daily tradition – now four years going – of me hugging him every day and him grudgingly obliging. Only downside, my weeklong proximity to sausage and cheese ruined any chance of me enjoying sausage and cheese in the future. But it’s really not that bad, ‘cause, like, it’s sausage and cheese.

3. “The Neighbor” (season one, episode 11)

ES: The world’s introduction to Sue’s – and my – expert dance skill. To be honest, I am kind of surprised I didn’t get a call from the Alvin Ailey Dance Company asking if I were available to tour with them or something. Also, I met Brooke Shields this week. It took me literally 6 hours of practicing to master the 4-step-barely-moving Kung Fu Fighting dance sequence. Also, Brooke Shields.

4. “Average Rules” (season one, episode 24)

ES: Once upon a time, I dreamed of getting paid to exhibit my thespian skill, act on ‘camer-uh,’ perhaps perform in a ‘Fil-m’ in Hollywood. Then, my dream came true, I became a Big Time Hollywood Television Star, and people decided my talents were best utilized dragging myself on crutches around a track in the mud, while being blasted with cold fake rain, pelted with grass balls, falling flat on my stomach and army crawling on wet cement. On repeat. For twelve hours. But all for the sweetest victory for a character I had grown to love. I think this might have actually been the best work experience of my career thus far.

5. “Hecks on a Plane” (season two, episode 16)

ES: I don’t actually remember the plot of this episode very well, and I don’t think Sue was heavily featured. But I will never forget the experience of being on that tiny, claustrophobic, hot, cramped airplane set for a 13+ hour day. It was pretty awful, but all five of us were together. We haven’t gotten many all-five-of-us-together-for-a-whole-day days in recent months. It’s kind of stupid how much I love my cast mates and crew. Also, there’s something beautiful about suffering in solidarity.

6. “The Map” (season three, episode 13)

ES: The cold open of this episode was a 7-page scene of the whole family just sitting in the car talking. Much like my feelings towards ‘Hecks on a Plane,’ I will always remember that hot, crowded car with unique fondness. I also think that cold open turned out to be one of the best cold opens, and really best scenes, we’ve ever aired. I am also pretty sure this was the day we were introduced to Neil’s unparalleled Gary Busey / “Sling Blade” impressions. I am also pretty sure we all might have been mildly psychologically disturbed from the lack of oxygen in that car. Neil always hogs up all the oxygen.

7. “Leap Year” (season three, episode 18)

ES: LITTLE KNOWN INDUSTRY SECRET INSIDER SCOOP WARNING! Mike’s storyline in this episode, a cat he took care of at the quarry dies, was actually inspired by true events. Neil had taken to caring for a stray cat in his neighborhood – I’m not positive, but pretty sure that’s how he acquired this cat, I really only half-listen to sentences that don’t include my name – and earlier in the season the cat died. In fact, there is a line that I’m pretty sure was taken straight from Neil’s actual life. I think his sister told him that loving the cat humanized him, which Frankie also tells him. I just love everything about this whole everything.

8. “The Guidance Counselor” (season three, episode 21)

ES: I have nothing to say about this except: “Flawless Queen Whoopi Goldberg.” Okay that’s a lie I have just a little more to say. This episode might actually rival the Season 1 finale for greatest work experience. The magical two days I got to spend with Queen Goldberg are in my Top 5 Happiest Life Moments, second after my Bat Mitzvah, one above meeting Taylor Swift. I am crying typing this out right now, alone at my computer, reflecting on the experience. So, yeah, thanks for that. Ugh. Making a grown woman cry. Rude.

9. “Bunny Therapy” (season four, episode four)

ES: This episode included a great family freak-out scene in the kitchen. I live for family freak-out scenes. Additionally, this was the episode I got a mild concussion from doing my own stunt in the mascot suit. I’m not sure what it says about me that nearly half of my favorite episodes are my favorites due to something involving pain or discomfort, but my motto has been, and I’m pretty sure will remain, “If I don’t leave work bruised, scratched, exhausted, sweaty and/or dirty, I did not do my job.”

10. “The Friend” (season four, episode 13)

ES: Okay, I spoke too soon about the Season 1 Finale for sure. The order for greatest work experience thus far goes as follows: 1. The Guidance Counselor, 2. The Friend, 3. Average Rules. Sorry, Average Rules, you’ll still always hold a special place in my heart, but make way for Whoopi and “Fame”! As exhausting as trudging around the track was, it doesn’t hold a candle to the two solid days I spent learning, practicing and perfecting the dance number the wrestlerettes performed in this episode. I treated this dance with an embarrassing amount of gravity. I was completely humorless in rehearsals, which only made for an even more mortifying reveal when I finally saw how it turned out. I loved every second of learning and doing this number. I am so happy not only that it was documented on film, and now a part of Primetime Television History, but also that I have a 45 second video of my friend, a fellow wrestlerette, secretly filming me watching a video on my phone of a 6 year old krumping and attempting to imitate everything he did. I spent a lot of time this week studying the Art of Krumping.

Bullz-Eye: So how did you find yourself involved in TBS’s “Who Gets the Last Laugh?” Did they reach out to you?

Kevin McDonald: They reached out to me! Yes! I was in my nice blue house in Winnipeg, and I got the email from them, saying, “Would you like to do this?” And I thought at first that I’d be too Canadian to do this. Like, too polite. I thought I’d be too nice to pull pranks on people. That’s what I thought in my blue house in Winnipeg. But as it turned out, I could do it!

BE: Did you have to fight your every Canadian instinct to do it?

KM: Yes. [Laughs.] At first I did. Because we’re too polite and too nice, and we feel guilty. But then you get into it, and…it’s not even like the cruel part of me kicked in or anything…until it did. But it wasn’t even that. It was just, y’know, “It’s a job.” And once I started getting into it, it sort of became like a sketch, only with one of the people not knowing what the script was. And that was sort of the challenge, but I got really into it. I really enjoyed it.

BE: Are you a fan of the prank-show genre as a rule?

KM: Well, when I was a kid, “Candid Camera” was one of my favorite shows. I guess that was probably the genesis of it. I’d watch “Candid Camera” at home, and I did quite enjoy it. And because we were Canadians, then we’d spend 20 minutes holding hands, feeling guilty. But then we’d watch it again the next week.

BE: The one-liner they use to describe your prank in the press release is that you leave a confusing impression.

KM: [Laughs.] I think that’s right on!

BE: Did you have a particular way of approaching the prank? Did you plot out the possible reactions you might get?

KM: Well, they sort of just plop you in the middle of it, y’know? Like, I knew what the prank was as I was going there, and, y’know, I’ve seen “Punk’d” and stuff, but I still had no idea what I was going to be doing. Then they plunk you in the middle and all of a sudden say, “Okay, we’ve got to do it now!” And you have to do it, so you just kind of get into it. It’s kind of trial by fire. Everything I’d planned out beforehand just made no sense when it was happening. So it really is like improv. It was so much fun whispering to the actors who were in on the prank, telling them what to say, and they were so good that they could talk and hear and repeat what I was saying. If you’re a control freak, it’s very rewarding.

BE: You’ve done a lot of voice work over the years. Are you still enjoying doing the cartoon voices?

KM: Oh, yeah, I love it. I’m still doing a lot of those, and it’s fun, but it’s very tiring because you scream all day. Well, not all day. It’s actually only about an hour at a time, usally. But you’re screaming for the entire hour. Especially if you’re the kind of guy who I tend to play in cartoons. I end up falling down stairs a lot, so I’m having to make those sounds for an hour.

BE: Do you have a favorite cartoon that you’ve worked on?

KM: Well, I like “Lilo & Stitch,” but I think my favorite one that I’ve done is one for Nickelodeon called “Invader Zim.” I get almost as many compliments for that as I do Kids in the Hall. It was a really smart cartoon, by a young guy who was a comic book guy. I think he was 25 or 26 at the time, but he looked 16. But he was sort of a genius. And it was really fun to do. It was a good comedy, which you don’t always get to do.

BE: Speaking of Kids in the Hall, the last time I saw you was at the TCA Press Tour, when you were promoting “Death Comes to Town.”

KM: Oh, right! Oh, yeah, that was a lot of fun. I got to bring my new girlfriend at the time. And I saw Yoko Ono in the lobby! What was she promoting?

BE: A PBS documentary about John Lennon.

KM: Right! Yeah, that was the most exciting part. [Laughs.] Seeing Yoko Ono was pretty exciting!

BE: So has there been any talk about reuniting for another Kids in the Hall special or miniseries?

KM: Yeah, we’re talking about it now. It’s kind of hard to get us all together. We almost got together last month, and then I had to cancel, so now everyone’s mad at me, including me. But we’re trying to get together to do what we did last time, which is another tour and another miniseries. That’s what the plan is, anyway.

BE: A lot of your fellow Kids tend to pop up on various sitcoms – or, in Scott Thompson’s case, dramas – but you’ve spent a fair amount of time writing for TV as well, including a stint on ABC’s Carpoolers. Would you be agreeable to taking a full-time writing gigs?

KM: Well, yeah, actually, I just did two weeks guest-writing on “Saturday Night Live,” and there’s a chance that I might do it full-time next year if it works out. But I’ve also written a spec TV script that’s getting me offers to be on a staff, so that may happen. I’d never give up performing, but for a year I might write, and my first choice would be “Saturday Night Live.” The pay is less, but who cares? It’s “Saturday Night Live”! [Laughs.]

BE: Did you get any sketches on the air during your guest-writing stint for “SNL”?

KM: I had one that made it to dress. It was very exciting that they picked it. It was on the Melissa McCarthy show. But it was one of the ones that was cut before the show. But I have the DVD of it, so I see it every now and then and cry. [Laughs.] But it was really fun. Melissa McCarthy was great. She was so great. She made the sketch so much better than it actually was when I wrote it. It was so exciting to watch. That’s another case where they just thrust you into it and assume you know what to do, because the writer of each sketch also produces the sketch, so you have to tell the actors what to do, the set designers what to design, talk to hair, makeup, and wardrobe, make sure the cue cards are right, get the music cues set… It was very exciting.

BE: You also did a stint writing for “The Martin Short Show.”

KM: Yes! I was a writer and a performer on that. But my favorite part was the writing. Even though I loved the performing. But it was very exciting to work with Martin Short. I’d write during the day and sometimes do a sketch at night if I got one in, but I’d be in my writing office and I’d go down to the floor where he was filming a sketch and just watch him work. Just to watch his process. I’ve yet to understand his process, but it was exciting to watch. Like, he’d be certain of the lines, he’d be certain of a character, and he’d do take one, take two, take three. But for takes four through seven, he knew he had it, so that’s when he’d start playing with it and finding things and improvising. That was so exciting to watch a true, bonafied comedy genius work. I got to see all those takes and see him improve it and improve it… That was very exciting. That was the best part of the job.

BE: Do you have a favorite project that you’ve worked on that didn’t get the love you thought it deserved?

KM: I liked the movie “Sky High.” I thought that was going to be a bigger hit. I did it with Dave Foley and Bruce Campbell. It was a high school for superheroes. Kurt Russell was in it, too, and he was great. I was the smart guy with the giant head. [Laughs.] I wish that’d gotten more love, because that was actually sort of good. Oh, and there’s another one, one that I wish had gotten more love for the Kids in the Hall: “Brain Candy.” It cost eight million and grossed three million. So that’s my big one for wanting more love.

BE: Lastly, how did you enjoy the experience of working on “That ‘70s Show”?

KM: That was great! That happened because of the Kids in the Hall. Mark Brazill, who’s the creator of the show, and Topher Grace, they came to our reunion show at the Wiltern Theater, and they were about to cast for the part of Pastor Dave. And they thought, “Oh, Kevin McDonald! He looks like a pastor! And he’s Canadian!” If you’re really Canadian, you seem kind of priest-like. I understand that. So they asked me to do it, and that was fun. I think it was for three seasons that I would come do stuff. And those kids, they were so young, but they were all Kids in the Hall fans. And they were all nice. I don’t have any bad stories! They were all nice. Now, I heard bad stories. [Laughs.] From the crew. But I don’t have any bad stories. They were all very nice to me!