Olympia Time

History, politics, people of Oly WA

Category: bring back John Keister

“Emmett Watson selling condos for Paul Allen”

January 17, 2008 / / 1 Comment

I feel so sad for John Keister, because now even Knute Berger is making fun of him for the Renton thing:

A sure sign that something is going on is the new TV ad from Renton which aired during the Seahawks playoff game last week, featuring former Almost Live! comedian John Keister shilling for the town which, we’re told, is “ahead of the curve.” John Keister selling Renton? What’s next, the ghost of Emmett Watson selling condos for Paul Allen?

The only way for Keister to redeem himself at this point is to go on Seattle Untimely and explain himself.

Don’t bring back John Keister: Seattle Untimely Lives!

January 7, 2008 / / 0 Comments

For awhile now, I’ve been grinding in the back of my head about the fate of Almost Live! and that John Keister was unfairly off the air.

I even posted a little while ago saying that someone could easily to an Almost Live! on the internet.

Well, hell ya: someone is.


John Keister has sold out to Renton and Almost Live! re-runs are impossible to watch. Long live Seattle Untimely!

Seattle PI Blog: “Seattle Untimely:” Local comedy takes to the Web
Have Bat Will Travel: Seattle Untimely
Citizen Rain: ‘Seattle Untimely’ jokes about the news

Here is their vodcast feed.
Here are their forums. Thank them.

John Keister sells out to Renton

January 7, 2008 / / 0 Comments

Ok, maybe that’s a bit too harsh, but that was my immediate reaction to John Keister pimping Renton during the Seahawks’ game on Saturday. It was a good ad, especially for people who actually remember almost ten years ago when Almost Live! was making fun of Renton.

People who’ve moved here since 2000 probably have no idea who John Keister is or why making fun of Renton still might be fun.

The one reason why I’d say Keister was totally selling out was that the content of the ad really gave no reason why Renton is ahead of the curve. Most of the ad could have been stock footage of any “I want to be a great suburb” town: kids playing with soccer balls, a pool.

The two concrete reasons, The Landing and the new Seahawks headquarters, are still future projects. The images of the Boeing plant, well that hearkens back to the blue collar residents that Keister and gang were actually making fun of.

Ok, everyone has to make money and if Keister feels like cashing in on Almost Live!, more power to him. But, this puts even more distance between reality and Almost Live! ever coming back.

Why hasn’t Almost Live (or something like it) become a Youtube thing?

November 19, 2007 / / 0 Comments

Reading this:

Even so, Keister isn’t so sure that the issues today — as good as they remain — could prop up the show once famous for its parodies of local politics, neighborhood stereotypes, Seattle quirkiness and anything regarding Renton or Kent.

The city has lost its oddball manner and its regional distinction, he said, in ways that have muted much of “Live’s” local flavor. Former “Live” cast member Nancy Guppy agreed.

“I don’t know if it could exist now,” she said.

Everything is becoming more homogeneous, with condos stacked on Subways, luxury markets, Pottery Barns. Said Guppy: “I’m not sure who cares about the local thing — the Seattle thing.”

Makes me think of this, this and this.

Ok, taking into their reflections that “Seattle has changed, but we’re totally cool about that,” is more about “We didn’t change dude, you changed,” there is no reason there isn’t an “Almost Live on the internet.”

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