I was almost 13 when I joined the cast of YCDTOTV.
Alasdair had already been on the show for a season, as had some of the other cast members such as
Christine, Lisa, Douggie and Vanessa, and of course Les Lye and Abby Hagyard.

If I remember correctly, those were years of transition. Some of the most popular characters
from the first generation of the show such as Brodie [Osome], Kevin Kubusheskie, etc.
were retiring from the show, making way for a whole bunch of new faces. In later years,
YCDTOTV held auditions for cast members, but I do not remember having to go through
anything like a general casting call.

To be honest, I had never heard of YCDTOTV before its producer, Roger Price,
asked me to come down to the studio to read for him in Ottawa. Although I later came to realize
that it was immensely popular in the U.S., I don't think any of the cast members
ever felt anything close to being 'stars.'

Of course, I was well aware that Alasdair was the heartthrob of the show,
but being as young as we were, I don't think Alasdair really paid too much
attention to those things. Throughout our years on the show, he was nothing but
a normal, laid back teenager. Even in later years, when I would run into him after we were
both long gone from the show, Alasdair remained as humble and as good-natured as ever.

Ironically, it is only in the past number of years, since moving to the
United States, that I have come to understand just how popular the show was
down here. I run into students all the time who are remarkably excited when someone
leaks my dreaded history. The first question they ask is if I knew Alasdair, and then
they ask about 'that girl with the dark curly hair' (referring to host Christine McGlade).

What I never reveal, however, is the recipe for green slime.


   







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