A Very Special Episode - Golden Girls - Rose Has AIDS

In this first official post on the [sic] Joeks Network I bring you an installment of "A Very Special Episode" The monthly staged reading show that I did at the Charm City Comedy Project in Baltimore, MD for about a year and a half.

I've already posted 5 of these on my Soundcloud Account and I'll Eventually re-post that content here, but for now I'm just going to keep moving forward on this new outlet.

Quick Synopsis of the Concept.

• We start with a transcription of an old sitcom, particularly the ones of a "Very Special" nature, wherein the otherwise happy go lucky cast is suddenly faced with an intense situation.
• I then script out a commentary/ play-by-play of the stage directions and other actions, which often includes contextual and comedic notes on what is happening in the show...
• Sound effects, transition music and other comedic/editorial sound choices are developed and triggered during the performance
• We perform the whole thing (comedians, actors, improvisers and me) for a live audience.

As I read the commentary and supply extra direction and misdirection it sometimes leads us to unscripted territory. We use several different comedic tools and vehicles to spice things up from show to show. Sometimes I'll ask a scene to be re-read with different accents, or we'll swap parts, or I'll ask my cast to improvise the whole scene over again with a new input or switch to the attitude.

All that being said, heres the episode specific information:

AVSE - Golden Girls - Rose Has AIDS 

This is an episode of "Golden Girls," one of the finest sitcoms of our time that can still be seen in syndication. As they say at the Friars Club "We only roast the ones we love," so I'm not even going to mince words... I love the Golden Girls. I am a stright, cis man and I loved that show as a kid, when I didn't get half the jokes and I love it even more now that I'm old enough to get all the jokes. 

It's a really sharp show and the gags are relentless, so I really enjoyed giving it a once over with this episode reading and I'm pretty sure my cast loved being part of it as well. You'll hear, in order of appearance:

Melissa Lamartina - Dorothy
Heather Miles - Sophia (also sang the theme)
Vii Lee - Blanche
Meg Vidler - Rose
John Bennet - the Doctor

We kept the comedic tools pretty minimal with just a straight-up reading of the scripts and my commentary. We didn't do our usual dramatic reading of the theme (opting for an a capella version by the multi-talented Heather Miles) and I kept the "editorial sound drops" simple by just using my "sitcom soundboard" app. 

We had a ton of fun performing this one and I hope you all enjoy it.

Please "like" it share and spread it around. There are many more in the archives and I'm hoping to revive the live show in NYC where I now live.

For more information on the issues addressed in the episode please consult the following:

HIV/AIDS research and charities:

//red.org/
//www.aidsalliance.org/
//www.amfar.org/

Save the Wetlands:

//www.americaswetland.com/
//www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/saving-wetlands
//www.habitat.noaa.gov/protection/wetlands/whatyoucando.html

Gallbladder Health:

//www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/gallbladder-diet-foods-for-gallbadder-problems#1
//bodyecology.com/articles/gall_bladder_what_it_does_how_to_get_healthy.php
//drjockers.com/25-ways-to-improve-gallbladder-health/