“Mystery Alaska” hit the big screens in 1999…you’ve probably seen it. A lot of great actors in the film. If you’re a Kings fan, the movie probably hit home a little more with one particular character…Jim Fox, who of course played himself as a TV commentator alongside Mike Myers (aka Donnie Shulzhoffer).
LA Kings Insider had a chance to speak with Fox about his experiences working in the movie and memories of being on the set with Myers.
Q: Talk about your experiences on the set of Mystery Alaska
A: Well, I think the first thing I have to say is that it was extremely professional. Certainly I had heard a lot about the movie industry, but never had experienced it firsthand. I had to go get fitted for clothes, you get [to the set] and you have a little bit of a dressing room and food is there any time you want it. Everyone is there to help you do whatever you’re trying to do. I was of course was only a small part of it, but I was very impressed with how organized they were, how professional they were and how serious they took their job.
Q: Talk about your scene with Mike Myers
A: Well, I only did one scene with Mike Myers. The whole taping was done at Sony Studios in Culver City and we had a green screen behind us, so they could make us look like we were at an event like we were inside of a studio covering a game. You get an understanding of what actors go through with a whole bunch of cameras right in front of us, and then you have 10-15 people behind the cameras: you have camera operators, the director and a whole bunch of bunch of other people behind there, but you’ve got to try to focus on what your job is. Obviously Mike has a lot more experience at it than I do. The first time I had three or four lines, and I remember the first take I asked a question to Mike Myers, and I had it pretty much all memorized, so I asked him the first question, he gives his answer, and I just paused and remembered, “Oh ya, I have another question there!” So they had to cut there and start all over again. That was basically the only time we had to start over and do it again. With Mike, he didn’t really have lines. He was able to improvise and do whatever he wanted to do. I think from that standpoint he knew what the theme was going to be, he knew the questions that were to be asked and he knew the situation…but he just went at it. The thing for me a couple times was I knew that they had different cameras, and shot from different angles, but I’m breaking up laughing. He’s going off on his lines, and I’m just howling and almost rolling on the floor at times, and I’m trying to stay out of the way of the camera, I’m trying to keep my voice down, a whole bunch of different things. I would say everyone else was professional, but I don’t know if I was because I wasn’t able to keep my cool under those circumstances.
Q: How did you get the call that they wanted you to be a part of this movie?
A: I think that’s an interesting part because I got a call from David E. Kelley’s office and I obviously took it. I’ve played with David in a few charity games over the years, so I knew who he was and talked to him in the past, but I wouldn’t say we were friends or anything like that. So we talked for a few minutes and he told me about his movie and at the end he tells me about an old timer’s tournament coming up and asked if I would play on their team. So I was wondering if he called me for the movie or called me to play on his team, so that was kind of funny. I appreciated the call and was kind of caught off guard by it because I had no idea he had this project going, and he was one of the main writers and producers, so that was certainly a call I will never forget.
Q: When you watch the movie today, what is the first thing that goes through your mind?
A: In all honesty, the first thing that goes through my mind was how funny it was. I thought it was hilarious. When I watched it, I thought it was very well done. I thought the inside-the-locker-room scenes were almost dead on in the way it is in a team’s locker room, so that really caught my attention. Of course, the on ice scenes I was looking to see how people were skating and things of that sort. I wasn’t there when they did all the shooting for hockey, but obviously they picked a lot of solid hockey players. Russell Crowe obviously had not skated before so they had to do all the angles, and make sure it looked like he’s skating and those types of things. All the kids that they got to play the real hockey players did an outstanding job. Overall, I just thought it was interesting how it all comes together, and like I said I thought it was hilarious, and of course at the end you have the inspirational part like a lot of sports movies. I know there was some language that was not appropriate for a lot of people, but again that to me is what brought more of the reality to it, especially when I was talking about the scenes inside the locker rooms and how hockey players talk.
Doesn’t the pre-mature ejaculator in the movie look an awful lot like Dustin Brown? Identical almost..
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This is the last set of games the NHL can cancel without losing the whole season so we will know within two weeks where the sides really stand.
Bunch of buttmunchers!
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DesertKing Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
@KOHO,
Woo Hooooi! A light at the end of the tunnel! But will the light be the glare of of the arena spotlights or the orange glow of fire as the season goes down in flames.
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luc20rules Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
@DesertKing, That is all from the viewers prespective. Are you in Vancouver it may just be a riot?
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DesertKing Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
@luc20rules,
The burning things there are porta-potties.
Thanks Jim, and Happy Holidays!
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thanks JIM…
happy holidays to you and yr family…:)
what else can you say about the announcement of more games being cancelled…???
i feel like we are on a slow fentanyl drip being administered by jack kevorkian…
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luc20rules Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
@variable, That or already dead with the occasional D-Fib panel shocks creating an artificial heartbeat from the few times it looked like a deal may of happen.
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Just netflexed that movie a couple of months ago. Really enjoyed it even after already seeing it a couple of times including the theater. Well done. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
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Next post…..Going on a cruise with Bob,Jim, and gang.A 90 day cruise around the world….
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Remember to fill your tub with water tonight. According to Amagedon theories tomorrow is the end of the world. It maybe by the lack of utilities and NHL. Not really sure at this point which one is more important to long term human survival.
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DesertKing Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
@luc20rules,
Stupid Mayans. Couldn’t even predict their own downfall and now they want to predict ours? I bet that Bettman is a descendant of their last king.
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Lake Forest Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
@DesertKing, I’m sure Mayan people are not happy with you and that comment!
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DesertKing Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 7:50 pm
@Lake Forest,
I apologize to the Mayan culture for connecting Gary Bettman to their legacy. I was wrong. Gary Bettman is actually the descendant of the leader of the Martian army in “Mars Attacks!” WAAAAAAACK!
luc20rules Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
@DesertKing, We all know you have made a mad dash to Costco and filled you tub with Nacho Cheese and bought a room full of Tortilla Chips.
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DesertKing Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
@luc20rules,
Just the front bathroom tub. The master nathroom tub is filled with Bohemia and Jack Daniels.
economic turmoil for stores and resturants in Hockey Venues.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl-lockout-chilling-effect-business-201623942–nhl.html
Also, don’t forget about the people working on game nights as a 2nd or 3rd job. My guess is alot of Kids will have very sub-standard Christmas due to Bettman and his disgruntled 7 owners. Bettman only need 7 lackies to have a stranglehold on NHL Lockout negotiations. Owners need a 24 yes votes of 30 to take a dump more or less a new CBA.
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DesertKing Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
@luc20rules,
The ultimate revenge will be when all of the restaurant and bar workers spit in all his food and drinks.
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variable Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
@luc20rules,
the real damage done…thanks for posting…:)
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King Alex Reply:
December 20th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
@luc20rules, Great read. It’s money lost, never to be recovered for the working class. I place full blame for this lockout on Bettman & the Scrooge owners. The players wanted to play while negotiations went on but Bettman & the owners chose this path all on their own. They (owners & Bettman) have shown they could care less for the damage they have caused to the businesses, workers, fans and the NHL brand. The sad thing is this will all go down again when and if a new agreement is reached and then expires.
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Sebastian Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 10:54 am
@King Alex, Although I agree with you about Bettman and the owners being mostly to blame, i disagree about playing without a CBA while “negotiating”. any league that plays while it negotiates is just stupid, and opening itself up to player strike when it hurts most (playoff time), and loses all leverage in negotiations….See the MLB players strike (94-95)
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 12:40 pm
@King Alex, Of course they would choose to play while negotiations were on going….that gives the players leverage in Nego’s by giving them the choice to walk out or strike when they deem it neccessary as @Sabastian already stated (Fehr has already set that precedent in MLB and anyone who thinks he wouldnt flex that muscle this time if things wernt going the NHLPA’s way is delusional). Another reason players would be willing to play while bargaining is because they would be playing under the terms/pay of the old CBA which proved to be very lucrative for the players and in spite of record revenue wasnt so much for owners. While I feel the owners created this monster themselves, its easier for me to side with the owners that realize the system (ill even say “they created”) is broken (cant argue with red ink on finacial statements on over half the league) and want to fix it to keep the NHL and its 30 teams a viable business going forward (which is in every players best interest). They are also pushing for a longer CBA so the fans dont have to go through this again in 6 years which I back 200000%. The cow (NHL) is short on milk, and no matter how much the milker (NHLPA) want to sit there and try to get more, or what they believed they would get, the cow can only produces so much. I really hate this saying but “it is what it is”….the NHL cannot pay players what they want, whether contractually binded or not, if they want to keep this league and its current format (30 teams) intact. Either the players except the owners offer or the NHL as we know it currently will cease to exist (maybe in light of all this that might not be a bad thing). I personaly though like the NHL and the current 30 team format, and if keeping that means millionaire players have to take wage cuts (and still get paid millions) and 5 year contracts limits (GARAUNTEED contracts I might add) than I am all for it! Pro owner here!
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:22 pm
@King Alex, Sorry dude….didnt mean to sound like a d-bag. Ive had a rough couple weeks here non lockout related and sort of vented alittle in that paragraph. The cow bit was especially awful. My apologies
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disclaimer of interest approved!
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Why did it take so long to approve the disclaimer of interest. if the NBAPA did it before the NHLPA time line and they started later WHY did it take so long?
Also maybe I remember they were negotiation well before the NHL/NHLPA started to????
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Mayan Apocalypse – Day 1
It must be starting, the end of the world! I can see signs of impending doom. My son went to school in a happy mood. I found out I will be making more money at one of my jobs starting next month. Both dogs got groomed for Christmas and the bill was less than usual! I had to eat reheated pizza. The horror! My wife made 2 Mexican casseroles for my son’s school Christmas party and she isn’t Mexican! More updates to follow, but you all need to fire up your generators and stockpile your ramen noodles.
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The Weasel Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 1:16 pm
@DesertKing,
Maybe the the Mayan calendar is really just a Hockey calendar. After today, bo more hockey in North America?
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goldielocks Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 1:35 pm
@DesertKing,
LAST MINUTE CONFESSION … Sorry guys. I was the one who deleted the Mayan calendar. It was just a joke …
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goldielocks Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 1:44 pm
@goldielocks,
Seriously people. I know exactly what happened. The guy who made the Mayan calendar didn’t have sex with his wife for months. And finally, his wife demanded one when he just finished 12/21/2012 on his calendar. Unfortunately, he had a heart attack that night and died. Very sad story behind it.
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luc20rules Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:55 pm
@goldielocks, I just figured he ran out of stone, but your way is better the best way to leave this world. Based on your description as a prophet he may have saw his fate and decided its been months I need this plus there won’t be any hockey in 2012-13 so I really don’t need to continue on the calendar.
DesertKing Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 3:20 pm
@DesertKing,
Signs of the end continue to appear. I cleaned the bathroom! I checked the calendar and there are dates still on it, a sure sign of Mayan conspiracy. I saw a ham radio operator buy a turkey! @Duncanz hasn’t posted today indicating Pahrump has been lost to the world. Buy more batteries!
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:23 pm
@DesertKing,
What? Pahrump took it in the……..rump?
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Duncanz Reply:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:51 pm
@DessertKing, We were all hunkered down over at the Tombstone Tavern where old Ike the bartender was pouring tequila shots by the dozen and serving up cauldrons of authentic though luke warm Mexican chili while we all prayed to a faded, dog-eared poster of the Virgin of Guadalupe for an ultimo minuto reprieve.
There were quite a few tears shed and many quaint anecdotes of decades of drunken desert debauchery recounted before most passed out on pool tables or in a (hopefully) non-urinated-in corner.
33 of the 35 of us in there made it out alive and off home to their cots, which is about normal for a friday night/saturday morning around this ol’ neck of the tundra so life goes on (for the most part) it seems.
Anyhow, the bush telegraph being a bit sluggish (‘cos we don’t have much bush out this way) did everybody else wake up this afternoon without getting caught up in a flood or a rapture or anything, I hope?
Extra importantly, is there a chance of finding a pulse in the withering carcass of the ’12/13 hockey season or do I need to take it out back to the shed and render the tallow and salt the hide already?
Might manage to fashion a decent pair of riding boots and a crop out of the thing with any luck …
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Damn … I’m still alive. Well then … Vote for the Kings!
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-5-biggest-sports-stories-20121221,0,3998876.story#pd_a_6785871
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KingsFanftw Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 3:05 pm
@goldielocks, LOL arent we all
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It is December 21st, 2012. The world has not come to an end. And, neither the San Jose Sharks, nor the Vancouver Cannucks have won a Stanley Cup.
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Duncanz Reply:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:57 pm
@King of Pop,
… and the Ducks will be on 1 for eternity!
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The silver lining, if the NHL has to cancel the season, is that the Kings are guaranteed to be reigning Stanley Cup Champions for 2 years instead of just 1.
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mars Reply:
December 23rd, 2012 at 6:23 pm
@Pumpernicholl, If like the last lockout, they will leave the season 12-13 blank.
I am pissed that we cannot sue the NHL for denying us a service, failure to supply or something.
The NHL sucks. Bettman and Daly need to choke on a yule log.
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I honestly have not even heard of the movie, but then again, the time frame it came out i was traveling all over the US drag racing so I didnt get to watch much tv.
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Duncanz Reply:
December 22nd, 2012 at 3:06 pm
@Exospeed, Drag racing must be quite entertaining.
Did you ever compete at the track in Queens?
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Ok, I’m coming out of my self-imposed exile from the blog. I’ve just been too pissed off to write anything, especially after having a couple of tasty craft beers.
Did anyone else see this piece from Backhand Shelf? Who is the Tim Tebow of the NHL? I’m guessing you already know the answer…
http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2012/12/21/who-is-the-tim-tebow-of-the-nhl/
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KC23 Reply:
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:46 am
@Cav Pilot, My name is Craig Button and I do not approve of this post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRw7n2CNAv8
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OK, the world is saved. I figured out, while watching a Star Trek episode, that we needed to appease the old Mayan gods so they would not destroy us. The best way to do that was to eat a feat of food that most closely resembled Mayan cuisine. I therefore headed to Del Taco and got myself an order of nachos, 3 tacos nd a chocolate shake (with whip creme).The second I took my first hit off that chocolate shake, I could feel the evil Mayan powers affecting the planet relax and a sigh of relief in the Force. You can all thank me later.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:27 pm
@DesertKing, ummm…. History is not my expertise but I don’t think they had Del Taco back then….
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:36 pm
@HockeyNerd, what about el polo inka?
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luc20rules Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 7:02 pm
@HockeyNerd, Perhaps the menu started there as grain roots sure sound like they would give one the runs.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:19 pm
@DesertKing,
I knew it! Del Taco is Mayan!
I’m going for Macho Beef Burrito for dinner! Thanks!
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DesertKing Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:32 pm
@Kingsfanone,
Don’t forget the guacamole. I am sure that the Mayans loved guacamole mixed with Del Scorcho sauce.
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Such a downer. Whwere can a guy get a rub and tug around here?
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Marty's Knuckles Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:58 pm
@Marty’s Knuckles, where…
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stagger Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 10:54 pm
@Marty’s Knuckles,
Guess the moderators left with Rich.
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Well, Dec. 21 apparently isn’t the end of the world. That actually happens when the season gets cancelled.
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The only thing keeping us from NHL games is 4 of the 7 Deadly Sins Greed, Sloth, Envy, & Pride. Boy even if they do hammer something out to save the season. I can only imagine that the next CBA’s end will be even more contentious.
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Stupid NHL owners. Gonna celebrate the Cup win over the holidays. Good times ahead.
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Yesterday a year ago was the day I bet $20 that the kings would win the Stanley cup. Surprised nobody mentioned the 1 year anniversary of TM being gone…..
This is about the time we had Stevens coaching before shutter came along…….
Remember it like it was yesterday………
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Lake Forest Reply:
December 21st, 2012 at 11:28 pm
@Lake Forest, sutter……..
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DesertKing Reply:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:25 am
@Lake Forest,
TM who?
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Lake Forest Reply:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:44 am
@DesertKing, don’t you mean TM boo?
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DesertKing Reply:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:31 pm
@Lake Forest,
Ooooooooh yea, now I.remember that guy. A cross between Rain Man and Agent 86.
luc20rules Reply:
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:57 pm
@DesertKing, Just look at him through a scope it will come right back to you once you see him wearing Cross hairs.
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New data indicates that the “Mayan Apocalypse” was actually a prediction of when Mel Gibson’s career could be finally considered as “over” following his release of the movie “Apocalypto.”
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It is ugly sweatee night at the Reign game, I was going to wear a Ducks jersey but then figured someone would wear a Canucks jersey and out-ugly me,
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Toffoli got another hat trick tonight in Manchester’s victory. Toffoli now has 13 goals, 9 assists and is a plus 8 in 28 games. I think we’ll be seeing him in a King’s uniform before too long. This kid is a true sniper.
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The Reign game tonight was incredible. They had to come behind after 7-9 minutes of being on the wrong side of 5 on 3 powerplays. They won oin OT and you have to xhexk out the behind the back, between the legs, spim-a-rama, drag and pull shoot-out goal by Colton Yellow Horn. One of the greatest goals you will ever see.
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I hope all Insiders enjoy a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a unforseen NHL Season in 2012-13 well I guess it would only be 2013 (no 12 about it).
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Robert R Reply:
December 23rd, 2012 at 4:07 pm
@luc20rules, ’12 already was pretty good.
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Duncanz Reply:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:23 am
@luc20rules, +20, Cheers!
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A very Happy Holidays to all!
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Duncanz Reply:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:34 am
@GailWeb, + 21, Thanks!
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Must be hard to find something to write about on this blog. Fox’s mystery Alaska? Really?
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Al Michaels just congratulated the Kings as Stanley Cup Champions on the NBC Football pregame show. Then Bob Costos said the Kings will probably end up being the eternal Stanley Cup Champions since there won’t be anymore NHL. I could live with the Kings being called the eternal Stanley Cup Champs.
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CB14 Reply:
December 23rd, 2012 at 4:09 pm
@CB14, Costas, not Costos
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DesertKing Reply:
December 23rd, 2012 at 5:09 pm
@CB14,
Does he own Costco?
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Why is the NHL treating its formerly loyal fans this way?
Why is it that the two sides can be so close, yet we still don’t have a deal?
Why is the league trying to back out of contracts? Why did you sign them in the first place if you can’t pay? It’s makes you look inexperienced and naive.
Why are the owners asking the players to give up so much, even though we’ve been told the sport WAS growing and doing so well every year?
Why are the owners acting like bullies and telling the players “Take it or leave it.” and then when the players (obviously) don’t take it, you refuse to talk for two weeks and go into hiding, only to return with a new offer? How does this build trust with the union, or the fans?
Why does the league/Bettman do 2-faced things like say, “We don’t want to negotiate publicly.” only to release the FULL details of a proposal the very next day? Do you realize how bad this makes you look? It makes us think we can’t believe anything you say.
Why does either side think that the fans will come back as strong post-lockout? We won’t by the way. Not by a long shot. Not for years, if at all.
Why did the NHL & the PA not start talking earlier? It’s been working for baseball.
Why is the league willing to lose a whole season and billions of dollars just so SOME teams can make a few extra million every year?
Why is there such a strict gag order on team employees? Is there really that much more fuel they can throw on the fire? Are they not united enough to be trusted to speak, at all?
Why have both sides deprived long suffering Kings fans of seeing the team play a season as champions?
Why haven’t we heard Bob Miller say, “Ladies and gentleman, the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings!”. What’s really sad is I’m starting to not care if I ever hear it.
Why? Because it’s obvious that, no matter what either side says, they are not out for the best interest of the sport, let alone its fans. The league especially. You have asked for so much from the players. They have given up something on almost every position. What have you given up? Nothing. Not a damn thing. How is that fair? You refuse to negotiate.You throw out player proposals minutes after receiving them because, like a spoiled child, you didn’t get everything you want. You are not negotiating, you are demanding.
We as fans are embarrassed for you. This is the reason the NHL is, and always will be, a second class league. If a league exists at all after this debacle.
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mars Reply:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:40 pm
@stagger, Too bad we as fans cannot start some kind of lawsuit.
Antitrust for not delivering the product.
Failure to negotiate and not provide services as expected.
“Consumer protection laws seek to regulate certain aspects of the commercial relationship between consumers and business, such as by requiring minimum standards of product quality, requiring the disclosure of certain details about a product or service”
“Monopolization and attempted monopolization are offenses that may be committed by an individual firm, even without an agreement with any other enterprise. Unreasonable exclusionary practices that serve to entrench or create monopoly power can therefore be unlawful. Allegations of predatory pricing by large companies can be the basis for a monopolization claim”
Well in any event, Bettman and Daly need to choke on two chestnuts and a yule log.
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Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:21 am
@mars, last sentence for the win haha
Merry Christmas to all the die-hards out there and GO KINGS…eventually D:
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It is Christmas Eve. I hope Santa’s elves are loading a huge piece of coal into Santa’s sleigh with Evil Load’s name on the tag.
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Bah humbug……… I seriously miss the dump & chase
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http://business.time.com/2012/12/19/hockeys-wealth-redistribution-problem-whats-really-behind-the-nhl-lockout/#ixzz2G0Dwd6an
“Don’t believe them, not for a minute. First, as I’ve written about before, sports team accounting is misleading at best, given that club owners can claim to be losing money when a) the losses are on paper only; b) there are tax benefits from whatever losses happen to be real; and c) the value of their teams continue to rise.”
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Lockout over. YA!!!!!!!!
Now the bad news
Kopi injured his knee last night. Expected to be out for 3 weeks. This really pisses me off. A lot of (or at least some) of the other players made their way back from europe with expectation that this lockout would end. But instead we now have our best player sidelined in an already shortened season. Total B.S.
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Kopi? No!
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