Ryan Kesler on After Hours, Scott Oake Loves PITB

Here's Ryan "Astro Boy" Kesler on After Hours. As usual, the segment's a must-watch, and you have to admire Scott Oake's skill as an interviewer to make it so. Kesler's not an easy interview. He's a surly guy that punches questions, and ends sentences abruptly. There's simply no avoiding dead air when he's the guest.

This one also features the best PITB mention yet (and the second time on the evening someone on the HNIC crew said my name; it was Harrison Night in Canada). At 17:55, Oake asks Kesler another @passittobulis question, marking the third time we've gotten a tweet on the show (first, second). The question in question? Ask Kesler if it's just a coincidence that his son was born exactly 9 months (to the day) after he signed his big contract extension. Regular Bulies might know that we stumbled across this suspicious synchronization of dates while putting together the 2010 in review year-end retrospective.

Kesler is so caught off guard by this question that he a) cracks a disbelieving smile, then b) is briefly rendered speechless, then c) proceeds drop a swearbomb live on the air. He explains how it was during the postseason and he caught crap from AV about sex in the playoffs. Except he doesn't say crap, no sir, he certainly does not. Move over, George Stromboulopoulos, Ryan Kesler's the new badass in town.

This video is also worth watching for Kevin Weekes' blue velvet blazer. Do you like blue velvet? Well, tough, because Kevin Weekes does. And so does David Lynch.

Cory Schneider on After Hours, PITB Remains Famous

As though he weren't already doing enough to make himself eminently desirable to other organizations, here's Cory Schneider on After Hours, proving he's a downright fabulous interview to boot. Turns out he's as great in front of the camera as he is in front of the net. He's open, he's honest, and he's funny. For example: when asked about his days playing baseball, he deadpans, "I played catcher, so I must have some sort of equipment fetish." And if dry wit's not your flavour, he even does... wait for it... impressions. Yes, you heard correctly. Cory Schneider's Jannik Hansen impression is deadly accurate, and therefore hilarious.

This interview also marks the second time Scott Oake has read a Pass it to Bulis tweet to an interviewee (after the Brendan Morrison sitdown from late October). We are so famous. The question in question, at 7:52 of the clip: "Ask Schneider if he's ever considered putting laxative in Luongo's water, like Dany Sabourin did to get some playoff minutes."

Schneider's a pretty solid sport, again deadpanning a humorous response: "You never get your hands dirty. You gotta have someone else do it for you. You gotta stay away from the crime scene."

It was a solid night for Canucks' tweeps overall, as @Bieksa_Luvver3, @Guts_Mctavish24, and @TheFalconer all had questions read on-air as well. The Falconer's was my favourite, as it led to the Jannik Hansen impression I had no idea existed. We might need to pick his brain in the future, as he appears to know a lot of things we don't. Who are you, Falconer? Are you Batman?

Kevin Bieksa on After Hours

Here's Kevin Bieksa on After Hours, and it's definitely a good watch. Bieksa's a funny guy, and his deadpan delivery never fails to amuse.

Things we learn: Bieksa is that guy that never shuts up about his "two young kids at home." We get it, loser, you love your family. Also, Bieksa claims he was approached by Firstar sports before Kesler, but he turned down the offer. In response to a question about when the KB3 line is coming out, he quips, "Not for awhile. I gotta be hurting for money."

A high point: Oake and Hrudey badger Bieksa about the trade rumours that swirled this past offseason, and he denies ever really being concerned. Bieksa's been asked this question a billion times, and he's successfully avoided any appearance of concern. I wasn't worried. I just committed myself to playing my game. It's out of my hands. I've got two young kids at home to worry about. But give Kelly Hrudey credit for his follow-up question, which successfully pierced Bieksa's veneer. Turns out he and Gillis met for brunch, and Gillis calmed any fears he might have had.

PITB Gets Mentioned on After Hours, is Incredibly Famous

Here's a little weekend amusement for you. At 3:42 of the above clip, Scott Oake asks Brendan Morrison a question, but it's not just any question. It's our question, tweeted to Oake earlier in the day. It's kind of neat. Oake leads into already smiling, confident that it will "lighten the mood" (previous questions were about despair, existentialism and why god has forsaken man). Then, not only do they say our full name on-air (take heed, Jeff Klein), they take a moment to chuckle at it. They are undeniably amused. I'm fairly sure what B-Mo mumbles there is "that's pretty good." Yes. It is pretty good.

Now, I don't mean to get ahead of ourselves, but Skeeter, I think, now that we're a pretty big deal (at least as big as Tim from Bellevue), we should quit our dayjobs. This week alone, we've landed twice on Puck Daddy (here and here), once on the New York Times, and finally, in our coup de grace, Hockey Night in Canada. Yes sir, the PITBul is running rampant in the media (btw, first time using that nickname, and I agree it doesn't work). I'm just saying, we've earned the right to be unemployed, at least.

Also: does anyone object to us calling this our first interview? We're going to call this our first interview. If anyone asks, we just interviewed Brendan Morrison.