This is a true story (as best as I can embellish it).
It is a sunny, glorious Friday in July. I am in traffic on the way to Parry Sound for the weekend. I get a call from Tim Keenleyside at Fingerprint Communications - a Toronto-based creative agency that we had been having great fun working with on commercials. Tim said, "Denny and I have an idea for a TV show for guys." Denzil Wadds is Tim's partner at the firm. They are a dynamic duo to say the least. I bit. Tim says, "Okay...it's called MAN UP and it has guys competing against each other and demanding that they 'man-up'. for points and prizes."
I like the idea already. Then he put the icing on the cake by telling me that each episode would have a RANDOM HOT GIRL. I did not even ask why. I know why. Who cares why? We brainstormed the idea for a while and it just seemed like a good idea for a show.
I told him that I would call Don Gaudet at MenTV and see what he thinks of the idea at 30,000 feet. Tim laughed. We hung up. The phone was still warm so I called Don and ran it by him. He was game to see a pitch.
We pitched the show in person the following week. It added up to be a good idea for MenTV and we were in pre-production. Now...who to host this thing? I toyed with some ideas for about two weeks when I got up the guts to send an email to Humble Howard Glassman. He was getting things happening as the a host on the new EZ Rock Morning Show in Toronto. No way he would be interested, right?
Email to Howard:
"Hi Howard,
Mike Wixson here. I am not sure if you remember me. I worked at CFNY at the same time you did as the guy on the street. Hey, how would you like to host what I think is going to be the most ridiculous show ever? A game show for guys.
Just asking. The morning show sounds great.
Best regards,
Mike...."
His resonse:
"Hi Mike.
I'm in. Call me...."
We have a host...but more. Howard agreed to help create and write the show with Tim and I. As I recall, Howard and I spent most of that time deconstructing this nice show Tim had envisioned and devolved it into pandaemonium keeping the hilarity he desired. Now we had a show that appealed to the juvenile college humor the show thrives on today.
Within 9 weeks sets were build, crew was hired, lights were hung and our first 6 episodes were shot and in the can. Howard killed it and the writing was stellar comedy (for the mentally ill).
The show had legs. Three seasons later, we still kill ourselves laughing making the show.
I promise to post video of the next creative meeting so you can see how much fun it is.
Cheers. Tim and Denny. Thanks Howard. Nice show.
Watch ManUP! on MenTV at various times each week.
