You can see the recreated atmosphere and furnishings of the Maple Leaf Hotel, now inside the Shania Twain Centre, in the background for Shania's performance of a new song, co-sung by her sister, accompanied on banjo by Cory Churko, and accompanied on guitar by her cousin Kenny.

Shania explained why she was there, and who she'd invited to join her. She had a lot of tension about trying to write and sing in public again. She wanted those who she trusted most, to help her relax, and hoped it would let her vocal chords work. Even performing in front of these persons she trusted most in her life, scared her, she said.

Carrie Ann her sister, had been through all the family turbulance since early childhood, and also the good times with Shania. Shania had supported Carrie when they were younger. Now Carrie Ann was returning the favor, in Shania's time of need.

Kenny was the cousin who taught Shania as a child, how to play the guitar. She has played with him, longer than anybody.

Corry Churko is one of the members of her band, the only one from her own Canada. And both of them had performed during their early careers, at the original Maple Leaf Hotel in Timmins. And they have known each other for quite a long time too.

All three of these people have been very supportive of Shania, in good times and bad.

There were over a half dozen venues for the video footage of this first episode. I think two of them were from inside Shania's current home(s). She explains the various parts of her story for this episode.

The segments switch to other venues, including the inside of two of her family's homes in Timmins when she was young, the cemetery where her parents are buried, her bus on the road, and why she prefers it to a hotel, and a visit to a home with a family of children and teens, who have unexpectedly lost both of their parents.

There is a lot of interaction and dialog between Carrie Ann and Shania. Also some from Shania's husband Fred, as well as from Carrie's husband for quite a few years. It was partly Fred's interest in photography and videography, that caused Shania to dream up this video series and propose it to Oprah.

Here you can see Carrie singing, Cory picking, Kenny accompanying, and Shania during one of the moments when she was enjoying herself. She was clearly not enjoying herself during the entire session in the mini-Maple Leaf Hotel/museum. She was very nervous, and at times, indecisive. She didn't know from one moment to the next, what she would be able to do, or what she would name the song title.

I've always liked Cory. Swapped some emails with him quite a long time ago, back when he had his own website messageboard.

I've also always liked Carrie Ann. At least for the last 10-12 yrs since I've known about her.

I've never known anything about Kenny, until recently. But if he was an older cousin who taught Shania how to play her first chords on a guitar, as a very young child, and they've played together at times ever since, you kinda feel confident, he's a supportive and reliable fellow.

Now in this next photo, I've dug up a good friend of my recent neighbor and archeologist, Charlie Rinehart.



No I don't mean the cameraman. That's Shania's husband Fred.

I'm talking about the lady at far lower right.

That's the lady to whom I made my suggestion, in May of 2004, to build a music performing facility at the Shania Twain Centre, for persons who wanted to learn to write music and sing.

I never knew she would do it.

Or that it would have such dramatic results, as I saw on TV tonight, on Oprah's OWN channel.

Thanks Bob for your review, I haven't seen the show -yet?- because we don't get OWN over here. So this means a lot to me. Thanks!

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"Music is what feelings sound like.."

You're welcome Esther.

I only finished posting those between 3 and 5 am. Thought you were getting up awfully early when I saw your post already. Then remembered the time zones between here and there.

Sorry about the poor quality photos of TV screen. Best I could do with my temporary technology. Sometimes it's the context that counts, more than the megapixels.

I took a peek at the Forums before I signed off and headed for bed.

Saw a link, I think by you, which was reportedly excerpts from the first episode of "Why Not?". Some of those excerpts were in the first episode, but many were not. Probably left on the cutting room floor. The quality of that video was SOOOOO much better, than what I saw. I guess computers and High Definition are a long way ahead of my 100 yr old Aunt's former TV from 25 yrs ago, which I am now using.

Well, I will try to get to bed again now. Haven't slept in almost 24 hrs. I was headed to bed, when it suddenly dawned on me, that Charlie was an archeologist, not an anthropologist. So I came back to edit that quick. My memory ain't what it used to be.

Thanx for your report Bob. It is a little frustrating to have to wait to see it here in Canada. BTW you mention the Judds. They were on OWNCanada a week or so ago.

_________________
Roger

Haha... there's Andrea.

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Nice catch Bob
woah on Andrea and Tracy being on Oprahs network woah!

Great show, I was watching but could not record it due too a miss hookup somewhere I'll try too find a download of it somewhere on this internet web thing and post it up here in the thread.

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Shania FAFA #1 in the Captains log
http://captainstevephoto.carbonmade.com/
http://www.myspace.com/steveloop

Inside the Creative Mind, is a potentially fascinating subject. But it can be a challenge to develop and portray well. Some folks are intimidated by the potential for it to fail, as well as to succeed.

I think you're right, that Eilleen has been doing some things she's always wanted to do, but did not feel free to do previously.

However the first episode makes it unavoidably clear, that 'since the split', she's been doing a LOT of things she never wanted to have to go thru.

As for the direction and effect of the show, the verdict is not fully in on that yet, especially since only 1 episode has aired for most viewers, out of the half dozen or so episodes produced. Some viewers are complaining about it being another reality tv show. Eilleen has replied pointedly during interviews, that it is NOT a reality show. Perhaps some viewers have different length or shape of reception antenna than others, or different predispositions.

But that 1 episode is enough to develop considerable insight, for a viewer, about some of the things going on, not yet described or perhaps even noticed completely, by those involved in creating and producing the show. I've got notes on that to write up, when I get the time.

I agree about the need for serious content. So far, after seeing one episode, and the release of the book, and the many interviews, I think there is a good effort at serious content. This might be a content, that is not easily developed to serve two masters. Those being pleasant absorption by viewers, as well as insightful lessons, not easily learned elsewhere.

I'm very tempted to respond to the gender issue. But those circumstances can vary with the individual situation or persons involved. So for now, I will leave that alone. I sense that this is not the best time or place to pursue that topic.

I tend to agree about reality TV shows.

I do not fully agree with you view about Oprah. Not sure whether you dislike her for some reason, or just some aspects of her programming. I've only seen a half dozen of Oprah's shows. At times, there does seem to be some overexposure of guests, as well as public presumptions. I don't always agree with her. But on the whole, I like what I see, hear and feel from her shows. I think she's opened a lot of new and valuable ground.

So far, from what I've seen, I think your assessment and your prediction, were both accurate.

However there is not a total absence of some aspects of a reality show. Perhaps that would be impossible to avoid completely, and still hold public interest.

Hi Ren,

Glad you spoke up.

I recognized Tracy, but was undecided whether the gal between her and Fred, was Anita, Sue or maybe Andrea. Some of those gals change their hair color faster than I do. Mine is changing gradually, to more gray and white, every year.