Tom's blog

Scottish Comedy

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:43:53 GMT

Had a good day working on Donny and Sanj's sitcom - it's really , really good - I'll be surprised if it doesn't end up on TV.

Off to see Ricki and Me this Thursday, looking forward to it. I think Gerard Kelly and Tony Roper are legends, and I still get a buzz whenever I bump into them - I grew up watching these guys. Doing Tutti Frutti, I was always aware of the legacy of Scottish theatre and Scottish comedy that I was playing a part in.

Rab C was always event television when I was growing up - I've had the absolute pleasure to have worked with Gregor Fisher and Barbara Rafferty, both of whom gave me the impression that they embrace the new generation of performers that are coming through - a view not often shared by everyone in the "old school," but that's my opinion. My "generation" I suppose are people like Karen Dunbar, Gabe Quigley, Marj Hogarth, Ford and Greg, Julie WN etc, all of whom I think are amazing.

Talent like Elaine C Smith - an absolute legend, and an amazingly underrated actress, she was a big influence on making me want to get into the business. I know she was also a huge influence on Karen as well - we're both fans. I've never seen Elaine be bad in anything - she's always completely on the ball with both realism, spontenaeity and star quality. I've only met her a few times, but she's always gone out of her way to encourage me and give me good advice without being patronising.

I count my blessings at being able to work in this business, and to, on occasion, work with some real heroes. Thankfully the arseholes are few and far between. And now I'm pushing 40 (yikes) it's a buzz to see people like Leah MacRae, Bruce Devlin and Teddy make their mark. I hope I can always be a good guy and support the young 'uns the way I've been supported.

MySpace

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 12:33:55 GMT

Just to remind everyone, the new blog is up and running, and can be found at http://blog.myspace.com/tomskers

I'm finding it much easier to access than this one, stop by and let me know what you think.

New home

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 16:57:22 GMT

Temporary new home. Find me at

http://www.myspace.com/tomskers

There's a new blog on there. I'll add more to it when I get time. I've also managed to put a couple of bits of music on it - daft TV themes I've done.

All good things......

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 16:17:44 GMT

Hey peeps.

I've been doing a lot of thinking over the past few days, and a lot of research into phone networks and internet suppliers. Basically, the decisions I've made will mean the end of this blog. It's been going for 9 months now, and it's been amazing. It's had almost 15,000 hits (ignore the hit counter, it reset a couple of months ago) However, there are a lot of big changes coming up, and I think it's time for me to stop talking shite on the internet for a while!

I will, however, still have a web presence, and that will contain a blog of sorts - I've not looked into it yet, but I would ideally like a website that I can have my music on too. So, it may well be the end for this blog on AOL, but hopefully, I'll come back with something bigger and better, maybe something on mySpace. I'll stay in touch with all of you, and this blog will still continue through the house move and the inevitable nervous breakdown.

PS - Check this out! Someone has made a real life version of the Simpsons opening credits - it's genius! http://youtube.com/watch?v=49IDp76kjPw

Less than a week

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 08:59:28 GMT

I get my keys next wednesday. It's now got to the stage where I'm even dreaming about the place - I can't stop thinking about it. It's going to be a huge life change, and I can't wait.

Heather MacLeod from the Herald interviewed me yesterday for their "My Weekend Getaway" feature. As I don't ever get away at weekends, we've made Jumpin' Jaks my weekend getaway! I spoke about how, at the weekends, I get to pretend I'm a pop star. Hope I didn't come accross as a loser. It'll probably be in The Herald a week on Saturday.

I'm struggling to move today, I started a really intense weights programme at the gym yesterday, so today I'm walking about like Quasimodo.

The house is still a tip. I'm so utterly disorganised. I keep trying to sort things out, then I find a box of old photographs and that's me for an hour.

Ach, it'll be fine. I'll get it sorted out at the weekend. One problem next week - I'm working every day. And the following week, I'm doing a Sound Of Music in Edinburgh then I'm straight down to London to do the publicity for the Rogers and Hammerstein stuff. So it's going to be stress, stress, stress!

Smoke on the water

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 21:28:24 GMT

Today is national no smoking day. What does that mean? Is it like mothers' day? Do you get "congratulations on not having a fag" cards?

Eight years ago tomorrow, I gave up smoking. I was in a terrible state, I was up to sixty a day and had been warned by my doctor that I would be dead if I carried on. I was on an inhaler, I gasped for breath all the time and I was constantly ill with colds. My fingers glowed in the dark, my complexion was grey.

I had tried giving up a couple of times before, using gum, patches, inhalators etc. But the thing that made me give up was fear. Fear that it would kill me. That's what it came down to. I was already feeling a physical wreck, and remember, at this time I was also a heavy drinker. Regular bloggers might remember me telling the Titanic story about the day I gave up - it's back there in the archives somewhere, I can't find it.

In a nutshell, I had been unable to sit through Titanic in the cinema because I was so desperate for a cigarette. I was so angry that this bastard thing was controlling my life, that I threw the packet of cigarettes into the Clyde and walked away. That was it! Once the decision was finally made in my head, the craving left almost instantly. Sixty a day chainsmoker, to nothing in one action. Within months, the difference was amazing.

One of the side effects was putting on weight, but I tell you - I'd rather be a big fat guy than a smoker any day. Both have their health concerns, but at least I'm not harming those around me too.

So, as for the smoking ban? BRING IT ON! I reckon that, when I started drinking in pubs as a teenager, that if smoking wasn't allowed, I probably wouldn't have started.

And as for the people who say that ex-smokers are the worst kind of fascists? It's because we know what it feels like to finally stop - and to finally stop being controlled. I can't physically sit in a room where someone's smoking now. It makes me feel sick. Maybe that's a thing that's specific to ex-smokers.

Rant over!

Now all we need is a national no alcohol day, and I can get even higher on my high horse!

PS - Want to stop smoking? Check this out. http://www.hebs.scot.nhs.uk/topics/smoking/e-smoke.cfm

It's Chico time!

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 20:33:16 GMT

So Chico's number one? Good on him. I'd bet my worldly belongings that he'll be a one hit wonder, but it's good to have some personality back in the charts again. I can't bear reality TV snobbery - I can't get enough of it, and I don't think that, because you've been in Pop Idol, that you shouldn't deserve success. On the contrary, a lot of these kids actually prove, week after week, that they can sing. How many boyband/girlband muppets actually sing on their records?

I was working with Karen Dunbar and Gerard Kelly today, on a radio pilot. It was good fun, and it was great to see Kelly again. He's such a fantastic laugh, and, of course, got on his high horse about the smoking ban! It really was great to see him, he's a good sort.

I've had a gnawing headache for the past couple of days - really sinus-y. I think I'm also beginning to feel the stress that, in just over a week, I have to pack up my life and move house!

Yep, I get the keys a week tomorrow. My first house. I can't wait - I'm swapping the noisy, messy city for the tranquil Ayrshire countryside. I feel like I'm retiring!

I've been working on a new food plan these past couple of days, based on the Glycemic Index. It seems to be working well, so far. Just had a batch of new publicity photos done, and I've scrapped them cos I look huge in them. If only photographers had lenses that made you thinner! Nah, they're okay, but I reckon that a bit of country living might get me out on the bike again.

Oscar predictions

Sun, 05 Mar 2006 23:07:36 GMT

Best actor - Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Best actress - Reese Witherspoon

Best movie - Brokeback mountain

Best director - Ang Lee

As I do every year, I'm waiting up to watch the whole thing. just as well I slept all weekend!

Rip van winkle

Sun, 05 Mar 2006 13:05:46 GMT

Nazareth, live in 2006. Jimmy (guitar) and Lee (drums) were my flatmates at college in Perth.

Just checked out my "not at all erstwhile" best friend's blog, in which he describes my blog as "actory nonsense." Probably true - Shug has never been one to pander to my showbizzy leanings. Good thing probably, I've seen a few people (naming no names) get a measure of success and change beyond all recognition. He also describes the phrase "best friend" as "the person you feel most comfortable arguing with." It really is like that, every moment we see each other is a battle of wits.

I've got a lot to do today, and I can't get up off my lazy fat arse. The house still looks like Paddy's Market, and I've got music work to do for the Comedy Unit today. But all I want to do is sit on the sofa and watch cartoons.

I had a bizarre weekend. On Friday night, I went to see rock gods Nazareth at the Cathouse. They were awsome. They're old friends of mine, so it was great to catch up with them. It's weird, they have fans from all over the world that follow them. Strange Scandanavian and German people.

After the gig, I did Jumpin Jaks, which was a great night. Then, the weekend started to get weird. I came home on Friday night, went to bed......and woke up this morning (Sunday). I've lost a day. Either I went through some sort of time warp, or I really needed some sleep. I've been so keyed up about the move that my sleep patterns have been crazy. But anyway, I feel pretty refreshed this morning, and, whilst an afternoon Road Runner marathon seems like a fantastic idea, I really must get on.

Razamanaz!

Fri, 03 Mar 2006 16:39:27 GMT

Managed to get the Still Game song finished, hopefully it'll be okay. I've got quite a lot of work to get through over the weekend. I need to get everything finished before the move, so I can dismantle everything. I'm also not sure when I'll be able to get my broadband connected at the cottage, so I maybe offline for a while.

Obsessing about the cottage. Morning, noon and night, it's all I think about. I am so excited. i know it'll be a big stress moving, but the end result will be worth it.

I suppose I'll be a bit sad moving out of here - this has been a good, if cold flat. I'll miss Molly, my next door neighbour. She's an old lady, but amazingly fit for her age. I tend to help her up the stairs with her shopping and get her messages when she's ill, but I know the guy who's moving in, so hopefully he'll keep an eye on her.

Also, the cats don't know what's about to hit them - a new house, central heating, open countryside....

Tonight I'm going to see Nazareth! They're old pals of mine, and they phoned up to see if I wanted to go and see them at the Cathouse, so I'm meeting up with some friends and going along before Jaks.