Yellin' into a phone at Benny's

Church

The past few weeks have been stressful. There have been all sorts of attacks by the enemy and I am physically and mentally drained. All the pain and stress came to a close on Sunday...

Yesterday, my church shut it's doors... at least for a time.

Change comes often in this life. Sometimes it is hard to figure out why it happens, but we know that God has a plan. God never sets something in motion that does not further His Kingdom. How can a church closing down further His Kingdom? The answers to that are plentiful. There are churches that abuse and hurt their memebers all the time, those are the churches that should be shut down.

But then there are churches like mine. We were a small gathering of people that loved one another as far as I could see. We enjoyed one anothers company. There were problems and short comings, but there is no perfect church.

As we reflected and said good bye to Sunday mornings as we knew them yesterday, the one thing that God kept speaking to me was that this was His time. God used the people of our church to minister to one another. Life change happened. All of us could look back and see the times when God spoke or set in motion changes in us at our church.

Now, He's moving again. Where? I don't know yet. That's half the fun though, isn't it?

God's timing is so perfect. Even when it seems inconvenient, it always works out to be just what we needed. Look back at the tough times in your life. He is there. He is perfecting us. He is molding us. He is loving us.

His time is always the right time.

Audio Excitement!

Next iPod?

What will they think of next?

It looks like Apple will be unveiling some type of new and improved Video iPod soon. The iPod to the right has a 4 inch screen. The entire screen is touchpad with the controls to operate your iPod and when you watch your favorite movie or video, you just turn in sideways and watch it on the widescreen...

You gotta' love technology!

Don't Give Up!

So, God has an incredible sense of humor... Let me explain.

Just a little background here: Cheryl and I are always trying to figure out what to have for dinner. It's one of the toughest decisions we make on a daily basis. Everything is complicated by the fact that having dinner these days is cheaper than making in most cases. We can pick up a Little Ceasars Pizza for $5 and the Taco Bell or Wendy's $1 menu is always cheaper and easier than cooking. Plus, we are on the go at least 3 out of 5 weekdays, so something quick is always the way to go.

All that to say, tonight was another, "What should we eat tonight?" quandry and I had to decide all on my own. As I was headed to Taco Bell, something told me to go elsewhere.

So I decided to order some Curbside service from one of our local eateries. As I was driving through "rush hour" traffic, I was dialing through all the presets on my radio. I hit that horrible time when all the stations were playing commercials.

From my past experience in radio, I have no idea why all these stations decide to play there commercial breaks at the same time. Why not be the only station not doing that so that you attract more listeners? Anyway, I was really reaching to find some music. I was so desparate in fact that I even tuned into WMUZ.

Just a little background here - I used to work for WMUZ during my 6 year radio career. I don't want to ruin anything for you, but working for WMUZ was not what I expected when I applied to work there. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful that we live in a country where we can have freedom to have Christian Radio. But... my time there was eye opening to say the least.

So as I tuned into WMUZ, I heard talking (as usual) and started to change the station, but something stopped me. As I listened to Robin talk she mentioned something about how some people were unable to have children after years of trying. O.K. you have my attention. I was expecting it to be a commercial for a fertility clinic or a chiropractor that could make you fertile, but that was not it at all. God was about to speak to me through WMUZ... this is no small feat since I think of the station as quite a joke.

Robin had someone call in and talk about how he and his wife were unable to have children and had gone to doctors and done various things to get pregnant, to no avail. Then he just gave it to God and trusted that He knew what was right. The caller said that even though conventional methods said he and his wife were not able to have children that God had a different plan. He told Robin that he and his wife just had their 5th child this year.

Robin wrapped it all up by saying, "Don't Give Up." She repeated it over and over. God was speaking to me. In fact the day before I received a card in the mail from my mother in which she wrote, "Don't Give Up."

That phrase spoke to me on many different levels. It was not only a reassurance of a promise that I know He is going to fulfill, but it was a reminder that I must not lose hope, never give up. I have to trust in Him... "lean not on my own understanding..." just trust that He has my best interests in mind.

So all this to say, look and listen for His voice. Sometimes God even speaks through strange places like WMUZ... you never know when He has something to say.

Walking the Identity Line...

Wow!

How did I miss out on, "the Man in Black," all these years?

Thankfully, A@ron exposed me to his music on our Road Trip across America. Honestly, I wasn't sure what I thought about it at the time, but just like a lot of music I was exposed to on that trip, it grew on me.

Cheryl and I watched the movie, Walk the Line, from Netflix on Saturday. There was something about the movie that just resonated with me from the opening scene to the end of the film.

One of my realizations about why I loved, Walk the Line, so much comes down to my love for the beginnings of Rock n' Roll music. There's a purity to it. It really was new and exciting. Passion flowed through it. It may seem simple to some people, but there is just something amazing that draws you in.

After the movie, Cheryl and I started chatting about what we thought. I was emotional through the entire movie. Why is that? What is about movies like this that just move me so deeply that tears well in my eyes for 2 hours straight? Now this is going to get really deep into who I am, so if you are not up for it, stop now...

I love the underdog. I identify with them on so many levels. Johnny Cash grew up with people telling him he would never make it, that he was not worth it, a nobody. While I never heard that sort of thing from my parents as Johnny did from his father (and first wife to some extent), I did hear it from many other adults in my early years.

It's very interesting, because I was part of a conversation on Friday night where this came up as we talked about my time at my amazingly judgmental Christian school. Someone asked me, "When did you graduate?" I responded, "1990." Then the statement that killed me, "Yet, you're still talking about it."

Whoa. I mean, listen, I understand that I graduated 16 years ago and I should get over it. That is true, but my identity was formed (unfortunately) by a lot of those things that were spoken over me. I was beaten down emotionally/mentally from 2nd grade until graduation with a lot of not so nice identity traits put on me by some people who probably had no idea how it would affect me all these years later (still no excuse). But I am dealing with it right now. This is where God has taken me... maybe I missed the bus many times. Maybe God wanted to heal me of those wounds millions of times over the years, but I can't change that now. This is the time and the place where I am saying, "God, show me how YOU see me."

This "identity crisis" has been brewing for as long as I can remember and I know that God has a purpose in all this. It's amazing to me that my Friday conversation and watching Walk the Line all came together at just the right time... God's time.

God keeps speaking to me about my identity. He keeps bringing it into all aspects of my life. After watching the movie I had a long conversation with A@ron and God again brought "my identity" to the forefront. I am reminded again, "And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)" Uncomfortable conversations, movies and conversations with great friends... all of it, the good, bad and the ugly are part of His love for me.

I know that I am on my way to finding my indentity in Him... in His time.

----------------------------------------------------------------

By the way, congratulations to Reese Witherspoon on her Oscar for her work in Walk the Line! Her portrayal of June Carter-Cash was great...

I was bummed the Paul Giamatti didn't win, but Phillip Seymour Hoffman was my second choice.

The "What the ?!?" moment had to be the Oscar for best original song, "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," from the movie Hustle and Flow. At least the boys from Three 6 Mafia were excited to win... some of the recipients were not as thrilled as you would think they would be.

The Dog Whisperer

If you have not seen the man known as, "The Dog Whisperer," you are missing something amazing. My Mom told me about Cesar Millan just about the time that we got Bailey and from the way she described him, I thought he sounded like a kook.

After I watched his show on the National Geographic Channel, I was amazed. I started trying his techniques and they actually worked!

Now, if you have met Bailey, I know what you are thinking... First of all, shut up, I love that dog. Secondly, the only reason he may not be the best dog in the world yet is because of my own inconsistent behavior. He will only follow my lead.

So all you puppy people out there who find yourselves frustrated with annoying dog behaviors... give Cesar Millan a shot and watch his techniques work on your favorite furry friend.

Microsoft iPod...

I couldn't resist posting this one... enjoy your new Bill Gates designed iPod.

CLICK HERE

You're welcome...

And We're Back!

As I read thru the Blogs of my friends, I realized it was time. Time to update the world on what is up with Scotty. As readied myself to type, I heard on of the few funny things Jimmy Fallon ever said... "And we're back!"

Fallon screamed out this little ditty in his best, "Morning Radio Show," voice and it really made me chuckle. Mostly I enjoyed it from my time in the Radio Biz, but like most SNL Sketches, it lasted way too long... as most SNL Sketches do. The other amazing thing about this sketch is that Fallon didn't laugh his way through the entire thing.

So all that said, "Aaaaaaannnnnnndddd, I'm Baaaaaack!"

What's been going on? Well, I just turned 34 years old. No big thing. I still consider myself young, so as long as I keep thinking that way in my mind, I AM young.

February has been filled with church stuff. Tons of planning, tons of stress. Lots going on there. Don't know how I feel about everything in that regard, but I am ready for a break. I actually had an amazing recharge weekend in Marysville, Ohio. Yes, Ohio. Thanks a lot A@ron! Anyway, I will definitely be going again. Cheryl and I felt like family among all the Buckeyes. Dave and Kelly let us stay with them and we loved it. We had the best time. I get excited just thinking about heading down there again... Needless to say, this was one of the best Birthday weekends I have ever had.

While we were gone, Mom and Dad watched Bailey Boy. He was no trouble for the most part... except when he went out on the ice of the pool cover and fell in!!! Thank goodness my Dad saved his little pupy life. Speaking of Mom and Dad, they have joined the ranks of the one and only Mac families that I work to convert one at a time. Dad was reluctant, but I think he is enjoying the beauty of his Mac more and more everyday.

I want to take some time now to talk a little about a good friend of mine, Todd Bolton. I have new found respect for this guy. This year during the Winter Olympics, I have been recording Cross Country Skiing events for Todd. He has done quite a few Cross Country events himself this season. Let me just put it this way, it is no wonder that Todd is in such great shape... CC Skiing takes a lot of hard work. Not sure Todd will get me to record cycling events this summer (his other passion) but I really admire his dedication to his sports.

The other thing that has been taking up a lot of my time lately is Guitar. Yes, I am learning. I love it. Last night in fact I got a crash course in Theory from Bryan. He, Josh and myself had a two hour jam and learn session at Josh's place. A@ron has also played a big part in teaching me as well. Who knows, in a few months I may be good enough to play while leading worship at church!

So there's the update. Hope it was all you were waiting for.

More to come.

Not N'Sync

Every year something very strange happens to me. During the Holiday Season and all the way after the Super Bowl my life is not on its normal track. Things are a bit out of whack for me.

I'm not saying this is a horrible thing, but it makes me feel a bit off. I tend to feel like this time from December through the end of February really is event driven. There is all the Christmas parties and all the holiday craziness that goes along with that. Then we have the New Year. New hopes and dreams. Recovering from the last month of family and friends and then... the Super Bowl!

This year that was especially grand due to its location in the Motor City, but for me it is always a good time to hang out with friends, scream at the TV, laugh at commercials and stuff my face with too much food. This year was no different.

To add to the madness, Cheryl took vacation this year. It was great! I loved spending all that time just hanging with her. We had a good time.

Then a momentous occasion comes along every year at the end of February, known as MY BIRTHDAY!! So for me the party never stops until March. Let's really wrap our minds around this... I am in party mode from the end of November (Cheryl's Birthday & Thanksgiving) until March. That is three full months!

Maybe out of whack is the wrong way to look at it. This is just how I am, how I live life. The reality is I love my life and the people in it. There is nothing wrong with enjoying that is there?

I didn't think so.

By the way, when Spring shows up in Michigan, the party starts again!

Super Bowl XL

I couldn't resist. It's only miles away from me and honestly how often does this happen?

Cheryl and I hopped in the car and headed Downtown. It wasn't too bad down there either. As long as you know where you are headed, Detroit and the citizens and civil servants are directing you where to go for the most part.

We jumped on the People Mover, which sounds like it may jump off the track at any moment, from Cadillac Center down to the Ren Cen. There we were able to walk around and see all the "Stars," whom are calling the Motor City home this week.

My first job was to head to the NFL Network and snap a few shots of Rich Eisen (far right) for Chris. Chris, the lighting made snapping a good shot tough, but there he is with Boomer (center) from the Bengals and CBS along with Terrell Davis (left) from the Denver Broncos.

As we traveled around the loop, known as "Radio Row," we came upon the NFL on Sirius Satellite Radio. Shannon Sharpe from the Broncos and Ravens was preparing for a special guest, Chris Carter, Hall of Fame receiver from the Minnesota Vikings and HBO's, Inside the NFL. Not to be mean - and I can say this - Carter was not in game shape and was definitely enjoying all the free snacks before the show. All the pics I took of him were him eating and this was the least non-flattering picture of the bunch.
The biggest thrill for me was seeing Dan Patrick. He's old school ESPN. One of the originals on ESPN's, Sportscenter. Dan was doing his show, The Dan Patrick Show, on ESPN Radio. You could actually get close enough to see him. Like I said, it was pretty cool seeing him. The guy knows sports.

ESPN was the main attraction as you walked into the Ren Cen, but nothing cool was going on. On top of that, they had this huge tent covering everything up. It was really tough to get a good shot of what was going on in there. Ron Jaworski, former Eagles QB and now an analyst for the NFL on ESPN was the best shot I could get. He is also co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League with none other than Mr. Jon Bon Jovi... he wasn't there, but if he was it would have been my goal to sing, Livin' On a Prayer, as loud as possible. I'm sure he would have enjoyed that.

From the Home of Super Bowl XL, Detroit, Michigan, GO STEELERS!!

Detroit

I wish I had written this, but it's worth a read. We all say we want to leave, but there is something about this place that makes it home.

The Sporting Blog

Detroit Sports thoughts:

1) Love the Marinelli hire by Matt Millen and here's why...

- The guy is going to kick some major arse and that is exactly what these malcontents known as the Detroit Lions need
- Unlike most of the Lion's coaches over the years, this guy is adored by many and praised by his previous players
- He didn't promise anything about the playoffs or wins and losses, just hard work and hard hitting in the trenches (O-Line and D-Line)
- Eventhough he was didn't commit, I think he will give Joey a chance (he loves character, so he should love Joey)

2) Very happy to see the Steelers in the Super Bowl. It will be even better if they win it. It was also nice to see Jerome Bettis, "The Bus," talking about how "great" the city of Detroit is. Thanks Jerome.

3) Not much to complain about with my real true love in sports, the Red Wings. BUT... Robert Lang is lame. The guy looks like he is skating in slush. He takes penalties all the time. I just don't see the fascination with this guy. Everybody talks him up, but he just exists on this team. Stevie would be better off getting his minutes.

4) 33 Wins and 5 Losses... The Pistons rule!

Confession

Forgive me Bloggers. It has been 11 days since my last Blogging.

I guess the thing is, I've not had a lot to talk about lately. There are a few things that normally I would just put out there and share about the deep inner secrets of who I am, but it just doesn't seem like the right time.

There have even been some ideas for Blogs recently. At church last Sunday, we were talking about the new amazingly controversial show, The Book of Daniel, on NBC. I was mere moments away from waxing eloquent about my thoughts on this new show and all the hub-bub it has created, but even that has not led me to Blog.

What is this Blog avoidance that has overtaken me? I am finding that I am not the only one who has been silent though. Many of my fellow Bloggees have either been as uninspired to write as I have been or just too darn busy.

Life is about ebbs and flows. Sometimes you can't stop yourself from doing things and other times it is a struggle. Even the things you love to do can become a task if you are not careful. I guess we all need to allow for times when we just might not have anything to say...

So until the next Blogging inspiration hits, you will have to accept this little confession.

God Bless.

It's Finally Over.

After a season of hopes dashed, the Lions season comes to an end... with a loss. How appropriate.

The losing is over for now. The men in Honolulu Blue and Silver get to pack up and leave Detroit to enjoy themselves until it all starts over again next year. But this next season may not be just like all the others. Too much has happened this year. Too many bad situations to just forget it all and jump back on the band wagon... at least I hope so.

I know one man who has had enough. One of my best friends, Chris, will not be watching the Lions again next year. During the season we talk each week about the ups and the downs of the Lions. Mostly downs, but we break it down and play Monday Morning Quarterback... it's a lot of fun. Next year that is over. You see, Chris lives in Las Vegas, so he subscribed to the NFL Ticket through DirecTV to see the Lions. This horrendous season has helped him wise up and realize that paying to see the Lions is not worth it. Can you blame him?

I get to watch the Lions for free and sometimes I feel like I am paying to watch them. I don't pay with money, I pay with pain. Pain that comes from feeling devoted to this franchise that is in so much disarray that fans would rather come to the games to make fun of the team rather than cheer for them.

Truly, I just wish people would stop coming to the games. I empathize with the players on that somewhat. If you're not there to support the team, move on. The problem is, in this town we are dying for the Lions to win. At this point, we would be happy with a Wayne Fontes season or two, eventhough he was a bigger buffoon then Morningwheg. This town needs a winner at Ford Field!

As I watched the game yesterday, my brother, Matt, asked, "Why do you even watch these guys?" I'll tell you what I told him... I watch because there is that chance that someday this team will win. When they do, all the struggle and turmoil that I watched and sometimes felt them go through will make the winning that much sweeter. I reminded him of what it felt like when we watched the Red Wings continue to lose ever year and then how sweet it was to see them lift the Stanley Cup. Either my stupidity or hope tells me to keep watching, so next season I will be back rooting for the Detroit Lions to make it to Super XLI with their MVP QB, Joey Harrington.

It could happen... a guy can dream can't he?

Ezer Kenegdo

I have a flair for the dramatic. Most people like me do... not saying that I like it or even plan it, but I can make something out of nothing very quickly.

The past month or so has been a real down time for me. Not depression, but true joy and contentment has escaped me. I have had my up and down days. My eyes have not been on the prize and I have allowed the Enemy to creep back into some of the places he has worked his magic in the past. Of course I have felt like a failure, thinking, "Here we go again."

The New Year always brings with it an examination of the past year and a look forward to the upcoming year. Maybe this year I will learn to play guitar or speak Gaelic. Those are fun to think about. Dreaming about what you might be able to accomplish in 2006 and beyond.

Where things get messy for me is thinking about what needs to be fixed. I can fall down a pit of despair rather quickly when I think of all my faults. The word I used this evening was, "hopeless." As I write it I cringe. As I said though, a flair for the dramatic.

To add insult to injury, I am very stubborn. I dig in even when I know I am wrong. So you add the dramatics and the stubborness and a terrible mixture takes place.

You see, my ever-loving wife, Cheryl, does her best to help me through these times of illogical thought by being logical. Even as I hear and agree with her logical thoughts in my head, I dig in with my stubborness and stay in my pit of despair knowing I am wrong. What is wrong with me?!?

Cheryl stands alongside me and tries to "love" me out of the pit. She never gives up. No matter how much I dig in, she looks at me and sees the man she loves, not this dufus who whips himself into a frenzy.

I read something in Cheryl's favorite book, Captivating, tonight that helped me understand something amazing about her. I always wonder what allows her to stick with me through these "episodes," and I think that the book sheds some light on it.

In Genesis 2:18, it says, "It is not good for the man to be alone, I shall make him a [ezer kenegdo]." The Hebrew scholar, Robert Alter translates ezer kenegdo "sustainer beside him."

The author of Captivating goes on to explain:

The word ezer is used only twenty other places in the Old Testament. And in every other instance the person being described is God Himself, when you need Him to come through for you desperately...

Most of the contexts are life and death, by the way, and God is your only hope. Your ezer. If He is not there beside you... you are dead. A better translation therefore of ezer would be "lifesaver." Kenegdo menas alongside, or opposite to, a counterpart.

You need an ezer when your life is in constant danger...

...He (God) does not want to be an option in our lives. He does not want to be an appendage, a tagalong. Neither does any woman. God is essential. He wants us to need him - desperately. Eve is essential. She has an irreplacable role to play. And so you'll see that women are endowed with fierce devotion, an ability to suffer great hardships, a vision to make the world a better place.

Fierce devotion. Ability to suffer great hardships. Vision to make the world a better place. That is my darling wife. She really is my lifesaver. She'll never leave my side.

The amazing thing is that I learned to love God more tonight. God showed Himself to me through my ezer kenegdo, "lifesaver alongside me," Cheryl.

I need Him desperately. Forgetting that is what leads to the drama.

Chronic - WHAT- cles of Narnia

A couple of weeks ago I spouted my ire over the downfall of SNL... well it's time to print a retraction - - at least for this past week. Jack Black hosted and there was actually some pretty funny stuff, but the best part of the night was the SNL Short of "Lazy Sunday."

Chris Parnell (right) and Adam Samberg (left) are really growing on me. Parnell has done some funny stuff, but you know how funny people can get lost on some of those sketches that run on forever. Samberg is brand new this year and this was his shining moment.

I am not going to give it away, because you need to see it and laugh your butt off a few times.

iTunes is giving the video short away free this week, so bust a move and nab it. If you don't have iTunes, what is wrong with you? Download it!

If you just hate all things Apple, you can watch it here too. Just click on the video and tell me how hard you laughed.

There is one bleeped out word on it, so if that offends you - don't let it offend you... sorry I had to say it.

We Are Family

When I was a kid, I hated visiting relatives. There were exceptions, but when it came to traveling to or spending time with the adult relatives, you could count on me being bored out of my mind.

In 5th grade, we went to Scotland to visit my Uncle Matthew & Aunt Ellen. I have no real memories of that trip and it really bugs me. The main thing I remember is being bored and driving around the country in my Uncles mini-van complaining about how long we had to drive. That is sad. If I only knew then what I know now. If I could transport the 33 year old Scott back into the mind of 5th grader, I would get to enjoy all the breath-taking scenery. But alas that is impossible.

My dad is a bit of a home-body and is very content to just be in his surroundings and I think a bit of that obviously rubbed off on me. There is nothing wrong with that, but we have never been the type of people to take off and visit relatives on a real consistent basis. Cheryl's dad and her brother, Jim, both live about 45 minutes to an hour away from us and even that seems like too far sometimes. How ridiculous is that? For my family everything was close... School about 5 minutes away. Dad's job 5 minutes away. Church, maybe 7 - 10 minutes, tops. Even now, my brother and his wife are literally a mile away and mom & dad are maybe 2 miles.

The thing is, the older I get, the more I love seeing family. My Uncle Gary, Aunt Jeanne and my cousin, Wendy were all here last night and we had a great time. It's just fun to be around them. I used to dread it sometimes as a kid, but now I wish we saw them more often. I always think about visiting them, but I get that feeling like my family that lives far away might think, "Oh, now he wants to visit." That of course is stupid, but it really goes through your head.

There have been many times where I thought about visiting my uncles in Texas and Indiana, but I feel like I would be imposing on them. Like, "Where have you been for the last 15 years?" I guess it is just another one of those things that Satan puts in your head to stop you from enjoying something special that God gave you.

The first visit may be weird, but they will get better and better. Sometimes you just have to take a chance. My trip with Aaron across the country this fall taught me that. I did things and met people that normally I wouldn't have.

So before everyone starts making New Years Resolutions, take a moment and think about some of those lies that have stopped you from experiencing something great that God has put in your life.

Ed Horn

I just wanted to ask for prayer for a guy named Ed Horn.

A friend from our old church put me on an email list that told me about Ed. I checked out his webiste and started reading about what he was going through and God consumed my thoughts with him. So I started praying for Ed whenever God reminded me of him.

It just so happens that Ed went to the same school that Cheryl and I attended. He was a few years younger than us, but when I looked at the pictures on his site I thought, "I know this guy from somewhere." I had just clicked on the link from the email and not looked at his last name up to that point. I finally realized it was him and was just amazed.

Ed was disgnosed with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma on October 6, 2005. Since that point, things have gone up and down for he and his family. Just last week the family prepared to say goodbye to Ed and take him off of a ventilator. The good news is that God had other plans!

I don't want to spoil the story for you, so I will just tell you this... Ed is doing better. God is working miracles, but I am asking you all now to pray for Ed. Pray for his family. Pray that Ed will be CANCER FREE and enjoying his wife and children again soon. God is not finished with Ed yet and his testimony will bring glory to our Father in Heaven, so again, keep Ed in your thoughts and prayers.

Check out Ed's site and sign his guestbook. He and his family love to read your encouraging thoughts.

Thanks.

SNL

What happened?

When did SNL become so bad? I mean, honestly, I can't remember the last time that the show made me laugh with any regularity.

I honestly had given up on the show years ago, but the past two weeks (one of them a rerun) the guests intrigued me. Last week they re-aired the episode with Steve Carrell and this week Dane Cook hosted (by the way, both funny men auditioned for SNL and didn't get on). While I find both hosts funny in most everything else I have seen them do, somehow SNL sucked the funny right out of them.

To me that comes down to the writing and deciding what sketches make it to air that week. There are so many poorly written sketches on the show these days that I find it hard to understand why NBC has not canceled this show. While I was at Second City in Detroit, I was able to see sketches written by my colleagues that were so superior to this stuff it's unbelievable. SNL sketches, to me, seem like a bunch of inside jokes. Somehow when these guys are pitching sketches enough people giggle or think that the concept is strange so it gets on the show.

On this past Saturday's show, one entire sketch was all about an itchy sweater. When I write that I think of plenty of possibilities for some funny to happen, but where the amazing writers of SNL take it is not to Funnyville, USA. They just had Dane Cook act like a crazed maniac and eventually do a few pratfalls before crashing through a table. Don't get me wrong, a good table crashing or someone falling down does have laugh possibilities, but is that the best they can do?

The next big problem is the cast itself. With the exception of Amy Poehler, who on this show is funny. Tina Fey has her moments and Horatio Sanz gets my sympathy giggles because he is the "big guy" like me, but other than that, this cast is pretty bad. It's not like this just happened either. It has been bad with a few bright spots for a while now. Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri, Molly Shannon and Chris Kattan (you love him or hate him) were the last group of funny people on that show. They were all together the last time in 2000. Again, there have been funny people for stretches over the years, but when was the last time a truly great cast was on that show, writing and performing great sketches?

I think you have to go back to the 1990-1991 cast to really see a cast that held up the standard set by the first cast back in 1975. Listen to the group of people on during the 1990-1991 season:

Dana Carvey, Chris Farley, Al Franken, Phil Hartman, Victoria Jackson, Tim Meadows, Dennis Miller, Mike Myers, Kevin Nealon, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Julia Sweeney.

It's hard to believe now that that much talent was all on the same show at the same time. I know that some of it is nostalga for me. That was when I was growing up and hitting adulthood, so I'm sure that I'm biased, but come on, those were some very funny people. There may be some people in there that you detest, but how does a guy like Jimmy Fallon compare to them? He to me has to be one of the worst ever on SNL. His only song and dance was to break character and have giggle fits during sketches, which can be funny when it happens every once in a while, just not every sketch!!

The long and the short of it, is SNL needs to get back to the things that make comedy, comedy. The everyday with a twist. You know what? Itchy sweater sketch could have worked, we've all had an itchy sweater. That being said, an itchy sweater is only funny for a certain amount of time. Learn when and how to end a sketch SNL. That may never happen...

Maybe - just as the Lions did this past week with the firing of the Mooch - it's time to say goodbye to Lorne Michaels. He is the coach and it all falls on him in the end, doesn't it?

Whatever happens, somebody be sure to let me know when SNL gets good again...