Paul Moth
Encyclopedia
Paul Boothby Simarin Moth was a fictional broadcaster on two CBC
radio comedy
shows: The Great Eastern
and Sunny Days and Nights
. He served as host on those two shows, which often featured comedic sketches of his personal life, presented as cinéma vérité
in audio. Moth was portrayed by Newfoundland actor Mack Furlong. Moth was created by Furlong, Steve Palmer
, Ed Riche and Glen Tilley.
The character resurfaced in March 2010 on urNews.ca, a satirical
Canadian news website.
in 1949, the day his province joined confederation
as part of Canada. He was raised in a working-class family on Signal Hill
road in the neighbourhood of Quidi Vidi
. He received a harsh Fundamentalist Catholic
education as a child.
In the late 1960s, Moth enrolled in Memorial University (or MUN) to study Political Science
. However, he quick became enamoured with revolutionary marxist ideology, and formed the Viet MUN, which occupied the campus weight room as a protest. Moth also became enamoured with the drug culture of the 1960s, and began a long-standing series of narcotics and alcohol addictions that form a major part of his backstory.
After which time, he auditioned as announcer for a fictionalized version of the Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland
(or BCN), and was hired to work during the early 1970s for the radio station's sports magazine show. He became disilliusioned with radio, and became a freelance writer and playwright.
He moved to Hollywood in 1979 after selling a teleplay to the Shirley Jones show. Moth and Shirley Jones
would start a relationship and eventually be married briefly. During this time, he develops a firearms collection which would, combined with his various addictions, cause his downfall. From 1981 to 1987, Moth worked in Mexican Film, making films about a chihuahua (the "Mexican Lassie
") named Pepito.
His final Pepito trilogy
of films would be heavily influenced by his Marxist ideaology and prove impossible to finance. This resulted in a break-up with Shirley Jones, a shoot-out with the Los Angeles police
, and heart failure. Afterwards from 1990 to 1992, he has no memories, but is captured by authorities.
As a result, he is forcibly deported to Newfoundland. He is given a job by his former employer, the BCN. For a year, he was the sole staff member at the BCN's fictional repeater station on the uninhabited Funk Island
s. Upon his return, he becomes the host of the BCN's cultural magazine show, The Great Eastern.
The Great Eastern as hosted by Moth. In the course of his hosting duties, he would do interviews and file audio reports on Newfoundland culture,, entertainnment, and politics.
Over various episodes, Moth would publish an autobiography (The Rocky Road to Recovery), visit the fictional African country of Oogoobombaa, revisit the Funk Islands, go on hunting and fishing trips with childhood friends, attempt to host a late-night TV show and fail, bring down a cult
based on conservative economics
, and other adventures.
The show was cancelled by CBC in 1999 after five seasons. It was brought back for one episode in 2002, where Moth celebrates the 100th anniversary of radio and narrowly survives a zeppelin
ride.
" region of Ontario
. He works with a young journalism student named Julie with whom he becomes infatuated. He is forced to do boring stories and interviews about summer cottage culture and news. The series ran for only one summer.
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
radio comedy
Radio comedy
Radio comedy, or comedic radio programming, is a radio broadcast that may involve sitcom elements, sketches and various types of comedy found on other media. It may also include more surreal or fantastic elements, as these can be conveyed on a small budget with just a few sound effects or some...
shows: The Great Eastern
The Great Eastern (radio show)
The Great Eastern was a radio comedy show on CBC Radio One. It ran from 1994 to 1999.Billed as Newfoundland's Cultural Magazine, The Great Eastern was an hour long summer replacement show on CBC Radio One for the first two seasons, and then became a half hour regular show for the next three...
and Sunny Days and Nights
Sunny Days and Nights
Sunny Days and Nights was a radio comedy show on CBC Radio One that aired during the summer of 2004. It was ostensibly a CBC show set in the "Hundred Lakes" region of Ontario from the CBC affiliate station CBNR, celebrating its 25th year on air...
. He served as host on those two shows, which often featured comedic sketches of his personal life, presented as cinéma vérité
Cinéma vérité
Cinéma vérité is a style of documentary filmmaking, combining naturalistic techniques with stylized cinematic devices of editing and camerawork, staged set-ups, and the use of the camera to provoke subjects. It is also known for taking a provocative stance toward its topics.There are subtle yet...
in audio. Moth was portrayed by Newfoundland actor Mack Furlong. Moth was created by Furlong, Steve Palmer
Steve Palmer
Stephen Leonard Palmer is an English former footballer who played for Ipswich Town, Watford and Queens Park Rangers. He played either as centre-half or a central midfielder....
, Ed Riche and Glen Tilley.
The character resurfaced in March 2010 on urNews.ca, a satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
Canadian news website.
Backstory
The character of Paul Moth had a very large backstory. Moth was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorSt. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
in 1949, the day his province joined confederation
Confederation
A confederation in modern political terms is a permanent union of political units for common action in relation to other units. Usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution, confederations tend to be established for dealing with critical issues such as defense, foreign...
as part of Canada. He was raised in a working-class family on Signal Hill
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 there were 8,137 eligible voters living within the district....
road in the neighbourhood of Quidi Vidi
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 there were 8,137 eligible voters living within the district....
. He received a harsh Fundamentalist Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
education as a child.
In the late 1960s, Moth enrolled in Memorial University (or MUN) to study Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. However, he quick became enamoured with revolutionary marxist ideology, and formed the Viet MUN, which occupied the campus weight room as a protest. Moth also became enamoured with the drug culture of the 1960s, and began a long-standing series of narcotics and alcohol addictions that form a major part of his backstory.
After which time, he auditioned as announcer for a fictionalized version of the Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland
Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland
The Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland was the government-owned public radio service of the dominion of Newfoundland. Following Newfoundland's admission as a Canadian province in 1949, the BCN was absorbed into the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and its three main AM radio transmitters...
(or BCN), and was hired to work during the early 1970s for the radio station's sports magazine show. He became disilliusioned with radio, and became a freelance writer and playwright.
He moved to Hollywood in 1979 after selling a teleplay to the Shirley Jones show. Moth and Shirley Jones
Shirley Jones
Shirley Mae Jones is an American singer and actress of stage, film and television. In her six decades of television, she starred as wholesome characters in a number of well-known musical films, such as Oklahoma! , Carousel , and The Music Man...
would start a relationship and eventually be married briefly. During this time, he develops a firearms collection which would, combined with his various addictions, cause his downfall. From 1981 to 1987, Moth worked in Mexican Film, making films about a chihuahua (the "Mexican Lassie
Lassie
Lassie is a fictional collie dog character created by Eric Knight in a short story expanded to novel length called Lassie Come-Home. Published in 1940, the novel was filmed by MGM in 1943 as Lassie Come Home with a dog named Pal playing Lassie. Pal then appeared with the stage name "Lassie" in six...
") named Pepito.
His final Pepito trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
of films would be heavily influenced by his Marxist ideaology and prove impossible to finance. This resulted in a break-up with Shirley Jones, a shoot-out with the Los Angeles police
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
, and heart failure. Afterwards from 1990 to 1992, he has no memories, but is captured by authorities.
As a result, he is forcibly deported to Newfoundland. He is given a job by his former employer, the BCN. For a year, he was the sole staff member at the BCN's fictional repeater station on the uninhabited Funk Island
Funk Island
Funk Island is a small, barren, isolated, uninhabited island approximately northeast of Wesleyville, Newfoundland, Canada.-Geography:The island is roughly trapezoidal in shape, with a maximum length of 0.8 km and a maximum width of 0.3 km and is nearly flat, rising 14 m out of the North...
s. Upon his return, he becomes the host of the BCN's cultural magazine show, The Great Eastern.
The Great Eastern
From 1994 to 1999, the CBC broadcast the satiricalSatire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
The Great Eastern as hosted by Moth. In the course of his hosting duties, he would do interviews and file audio reports on Newfoundland culture,, entertainnment, and politics.
Over various episodes, Moth would publish an autobiography (The Rocky Road to Recovery), visit the fictional African country of Oogoobombaa, revisit the Funk Islands, go on hunting and fishing trips with childhood friends, attempt to host a late-night TV show and fail, bring down a cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
based on conservative economics
Fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
, and other adventures.
The show was cancelled by CBC in 1999 after five seasons. It was brought back for one episode in 2002, where Moth celebrates the 100th anniversary of radio and narrowly survives a zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
ride.
Sunny Days and Nights
In 2004, the character of Paul Moth was put in a new CBC show called Sunny Days and Nights. Fired from the BCN, Moth gets a temporary job with fictional CBC affiliate CBNR in the "cottage countryCottage country
Cottage country is a common name in Eastern Canada for areas that are popular locations for recreational properties such as cottages and summer homes. The name is often applied locally; that is, any major population centre may have its own popular "cottage country" area...
" region of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He works with a young journalism student named Julie with whom he becomes infatuated. He is forced to do boring stories and interviews about summer cottage culture and news. The series ran for only one summer.
External links
- The Great Eastern Archives
- urNews.ca - Moth's current "employer"