anastasia tubanos

If you’re a Journalist or in Journalism school I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve already seen this.

But if you’re a complete n00b when it comes to news, this video gives a frighteningly accurate breakdown of how to structure a news piece for television.

Seriously, my professors could’ve simply shown us this video and then thrown us out into the world to get our hands on experience immediately after.

I’ve never seen this Charlie Brooker character before, but BBC likes him, and he’s British, which to me is synonymous with HILARIOUS.

Every year the CBC holds an annual televised event called “Test the Nation” where Canadians (in-studio and in their homes) participate in a LIVE two-hour interactive IQ test.

There are half a dozen in-studio teams, and this year I was called upon to join arms with the NERDS heh heh. Quite frankly, it was a team of Nerds AND Geeks, but the difference between the two (whether there really IS one) will be left for another blog post.

There were a total of 180 participants divided into six teams, including Twins, Politicians, Believers, Atheists and Contact Sports Athletes. It was a “star-studded” event with the likes of Justin Trudeau, Marc Garneau, Little Mosque on the Prarie’s Brandon Firla and Dragons’ Den’s Brett Wilson. And the TV special exceeded a million viewers across the nation. Pretty rad.

Naturally Team Nerds won. Could it be any other way?:)

Here are some pics of our hijinx:

Check out the episode and cheer along with the Nerds in all their glory:)

The past few days have been rather interesting, as I’ve been adjusting to life back in bustling and teeth-chatteringly cold Toronto.

Why, you may ask?

Because I just came back from my dream trip to India! (No, I’m not gloating. I’m just grateful for being able to say that:) I just spent 3 1/2 weeks wandering through central, north eastern and southern India and my GOD, all the reading and interviewing and research in the world couldn’t have prepared me for the raw and unapologetically chaotic world that is India.

People have often asked me why I decided to go to this land of spices, mythology and aggressive development. My answer is simple: I’ve always been drawn to it. Ever since I was about 12, I used to sit in my parents’ living room every Sunday morning and watch Bollywood movies on TV. I usually didn’t understand a word of it, but something about the stories and the way they were presented always drew me in. As I grew older, more and more things about the culture and society intrigued me: the spirituality; the vibrant clothing and jewelry; the mouth-watering cuisine; the traditional values and how it clashes with the rapid westernization of their youth today; the music and movies; the dichotomy of rich and poor; the sheer factor that once you’re there you can’t believe that all the little pieces that make up that society somehow manage to grate against each other and function. It’s like a beautiful engima.

So you see, I could never avoid going. And thus begins my love affair with India. Because once you’ve had a taste of her, I sense you’ll always be drawn back for more.

My partner in crime in my day-to-day life, Matt, joined me on this spicy adventure. And I gotta say, when you stick a journalist and a filmmaker together, you get some pretty informative AND entertaining video diaries:)

Our journey starts in Mumbai then goes up to the mountains of Darjeeling, down to Buddha’s home of enlightenment, Bodhgaya, then over to the holiest point of existence for Hindu’s, Varanasi. It then treks over to Agra, home of the Red Fort and Taj Mahal, then to the palaces of Jaipur and a hop, skip and jump down to the southern state of Kerala, infamous for its backwater boat rides and ayurvedic treatments. The final destination? Notorious Goa, known for its white-sand beaches (spotted with cows, of course!) and echoes of the trance party scenes of the 90s and long-haired hippies before then.

First Oprah announced the implausible. The impossible. She’s going off the air. I always knew I would see it happen someday, but I never expected it would happen so soon.

So then, I naturally thought “who’s going to take OVER for talk shows?” I love The View, but clearly not quite the same with the ensemble of women (and let’s be honest, as brilliant of a career as Barbara Walters has had, she’s pretty much the weakest link on that show in terms of entertainment value. She’s BORING to watch.)

There’s the Ellen DeGeneres Show, but as knee-slappingly, can’t-breathe-because-I’m-laughing-so-hard funny as she is, she doesn’t offer the same kind of serious and in-depth journalism Oprah occasionally offered her viewers on her show. Nor does she unveil some of the most provocative and poignant books I’ve read in the last decade. Or offer a slew of incredibly useful info through carefully selected experts. I love Ellen, but let’s be honest - her show’s fluff.

Rachel Ray isn’t even on my radar because, as sweet as she is, I can’t STAND her voice. Not the accent, the tone of it. I find it grating.

Then there’s Tyra Banks with The Tyra Show who clearly strives to be just like Oprah, except interviews people like Tila Tequila and has already proven to the world, quite gleefully might I add, that she’s gone bonkers. I thought “Well I can’t stand her talk show, but she’ll probably try to fill Oprah’s shoes, right?” And then, about a month later SHE decides she’s retiring from talk shows to produce movies.

Not sure where the talk show landscape is going. Being in the industry, I know that talk shows are a wonderfully strippable format (meaning a solid format you can easily “fill in the blanks” with as a daily show) that networks are seeking out. But WHAT kind of talk show is going to resonate with viewers these days?

Similar to the way the Internet has become the domain for niches to flourish and find their audiences, talk shows seem to be moving in that direction. Sort of.

Look at the recent launch of The Dr.Oz show and his focus on health. Or Dr. Phil with his focus on relationships and metal health (please note I can’t stand this man either). Rachel Ray has her cooking niche deeply integrated into her talk show. And even Maury Povich serves to entertain the former Jerry Springer audience (that’s a niche too!).

Should the next talk shows that pop up be more general, topical and offer that journalistic angle Oprah did so well, along with her hefty dollop of compassion?

Perhaps the biggest question is, is there even a need for that kind of talk show anymore?

I was recently called by a gal pal with whom it was inevitable I would become friends with, Amber Mac, to guest star on her new-ish (well, re-booted) show Webnation on CP24.

Obviously I was ecstatic to join her and got to come on to do a review of an app that has recently become very popular on the iPhone due to T-Pain’s shenanigans online -  Auto-Tune.

Although I thoroughly embarrassed myself trying to sing the Canadian anthem into it (though my most intimate friends assure me I was bubbly and adorable AS WELL as informative) I also got to review two of my personal faves on my iPhone, Shazam and Recorder.

I still need to get the video to embed to my site, but for now here are some pics and the URL where you can watch me in action:

Anastasia Tubanos on Webnation (October 14 - Part 2)

As you know, I’m a pretty big fan of Battlestar Galactica (I know, I know, that goes without saying if you’ve started your own BSG aftershow…:).

I also happen to have a great appreciation, and growing adoration, for the art of interviewing (or the art of fluid conversation, as I like to see it).

So when I was presented the opportunity to mashup two of my passions, it gave me the chance to speak face-to-face to two actors I have gained a great amount of respect for over the last six years (yes, it’s been THAT long since the show started. Oiy!).

Chatting to Mary McDonnell (who played President Laura Roslin) was an absolute delight. On a professional level, I was excited to have the chance to interview a a two-time Oscar-nominated actress (My adorable mom will be excited to know she acted alongside Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves). But on a fan level, I couldn’t wait to pick her brain about Battlestar’s finale, Laura’s fate and even the up-coming series, Caprica! Let’s also take a moment to note what fabulous, voluminous hair she has:)

I may or may not have geeked out, just a bit ,when I got to interview Alessandro Juliani, better known as Lt. Felix Gaeta on BSG (obviously, I totally geeked out.) He was a character that started off as a fairly minor role and grew into one of the most dark, tormented and sympathetically flawed characters on the show. I fell in love with him after the episode “Final Cut” where you saw him “letting his hair down” for the first time, or in this case, undoing his collar…and lighting up a cigarette…AND sharing his tattoo with the audience. I knew at that instant that there was more MAN-stique to this seemingly straight-edge military boy than anyone could’ve expected. I’m glad to see I was right:)

~Anastasia “Nat” Tubanos

P.S. Although I’m still developing my interviewing skills, I’m genuinely thankful for the overwhelmingly positive feedback I’ve gotten about these segments on BSGcast. Truthfully, the response blows my mind. But it makes me so grateful that I’ve been able to make the conversations entertaining enough that fellow BSG fans feel like they’re getting something new and valuable out of it. So, thank you:)

As a creator and consumer of reality and lifestyle television, occasionally I find myself sitting back and wondering “Why? Why am I wasting my time watching such exploitative, pointless tripe on the boobtube?”

And then I remember, like pretty much all human beings on this planet, I’m a voyeur, a simple seeker of “panem et circenses” (bread and circuses), and I can’t help but get some sort of kick out of watching a bunch of catty women outdo each other in a beauty contest, or a family of little people living their little-sized lives or even that poor Atlanta reporter getting caught in a grape-crushing escapade gone horribly wrong. (I’m ashamed to admit I’ve watched that video at least seven times in a row whilst laughing uncontrollably. I’m definitely a sad combination of 80% voyeur and 20% sadist; a sadistic voyeur if you will *sigh*).

I posed the question to my friends one day and got responses like “it’s for the entertainment factor.” Or because “people can live vicariously through it.” Or simply because of the drama factor; Rowdy characters + Friction = DRAMA. And drama, my friends, is entertaining. There’s also that “let’s all stare at that car accident and jam up the highway” voyeur factor. Ugh.

I’m sure it’s a combination of all of the above and more.

Nowadays, with the ever-growing popularity of the Internet and easy-to-use technology and dozens of video hosting sites, just about anyone wanting to be an insta-celebrity can embrace their inner-exhibitionist and publicize every itty-bitty moment of their lives!!!! And the flocks of voyeurs are eagerly waiting. Aching. For the next thrilling moment when they’ll get to engage and influence and simply have a SAY in someone else’s life.

Having said ALL that, I need some help deciding on which puppy to choose. (Yes, I am fully aware of the irony. It also occurs to me that this element of uber-engagement and interactivity on the Net is the perfect forum for indecisive people…*ahem*)

My mom’s toy poodle Sarang recently had two precious little puppies and I’m in a bit of a rut at this point because I canNOT decide on which one to take.

This one is Roxanne, or Roxie for short (yes…I’ve already named them. Don’t judge me.) She’s the runt of the litter, but is the fairer of the two. She likes the colour red and has the entrepreneurial spirit in her. We also like to call her Red-Light Puppy. Just take a moment to think about that one…it’ll come to you.

Then we have Romero (aka. Zombie Puppy) because, yes, he’s a zombie (long story short, his mother thought he was dead at birth and my parents had to resuscitate him). Don’t be fooled by this adorable picture where he’s cuddling with Granna Puppy, Agapi. Not unlike the two-legged worm lizard that calms its prey before the attack, Romero is simply setting Agapi into a sedated trance before he goes for her brains. We also think he might be a little slow. And he’s definitely the chubbier and lazier of the two.

As you can see, it’s impossible to decide on which puppy to take. Because they’re both so ridiculously, obscenely adorable with ridiculous, cool personalities and names.

So let’s just bring this blog post full circle to a poetic end by saying I think the only way I’m going to be able to choose is to pit the puppies against each other in a match to the death. And yes, you can watch PUPPY PANDEMONIUM for free.

Right here.

Next week.

*cue Ride of the Valkyries*

Okay. So if you notice the last date on my blog, it says March 14. To me that means I’ve been a bit lamesauce with trying to keep us all up to date with what work/play-related hijinks I’ve been up to the past two months. Two months my friends. What kind of regularity is that?! Given, I didn’t actually make myself promise how often I would be writing in this self-promotional website of mine (ah excellent, past Nat is taking future Nat’s “spontaneity” into account…yes) but I deserve a slap in the hand for cheating myself here.

That aside, I’ve been excited to write about ONE of my most recent projects that just got a little cooler a couple of weekends ago. Essentially a dream opportunity for a) a girl aspiring to do more on-air hosting and b) a Battlestar Galactica geek like me:)

From May 8 to 10, I was invited down to Pasadena, CA along with my partner in crime, Matt Campagna, to co-host the Battlestar Galactica Propworx Auction for the Auction Network.

What that translated into was Matt and I on camera ALL of Saturday and ALL of Sunday, rifling through some of the most memorable, frightening, emotional and epic set and prop pieces from a series TIME magazine called “one of the greatest shows on television.”

Honestly, it was insane getting to see and talk about the resurrection tub we saw SO many Sixes and Eights emerge naked from. Or Gaeta’s artificial leg piece! Or that exact FTL control we saw in the show’s finale where Starbuck typed in the final coordinates to Earth.

And of course, we couldn’t get away from the event without taking away our OWN piece of Battlestar Galactica history - Matt won Baltar’s “dream sequence” chaise for $400! Can’t WAIT for that to get to Toronto!

Needless to say, the LIVE hosting experience was an awesome rush. As much as I’ve done reporting or hosting or interviewing in the past, I had never done anything LIVE before. Although I was a little anxious about it, as soon as the camera began rolling, it was SMOOTH sailing from there. I would definitely do that again.

I would love to share some clips from the auction with you, but the network hasn’t posted it yet. So in the interim, here’s a video from Matt’s blog to give you a bit of a taste of what the auction was like:) And yes…there were hijinks;)

~Anastasia “Nat” Tubanos