RANDOM PIC OF THE WEEK
There’s no explanation necessary for this week’s Random Pic of the Week.
A friend of mine and I were discussing the wave of early 70’s spiritual-based songs that made the top 40. Sprit in the Sky, The Lord’s Prayer, Put Your Hand In The Hand, Day By Day, My Sweet Lord, etc. were all great songs, the likes of which you would never hear on modern-day secular radio. But my friend was shocked to learn that “If Not For You” by Olivia Newton-John was one of those songs. Sure, it sounded like she was singing to the man of her dreams, but actually Bob Dylan wrote this song as a spiritual homage. However Olivia adds the word “babe” to give it a more secular feel.
Monday the 18th – HAPPY PRESIDENT’S DAY! – I slept in for a bit, then got a hotline call to record a bit in my home studio. I laid it down, sent it in to “The Tonight Show” and went back to bed for a little while. Then I got another hotline call to re-do the bit I did earlier with a different voice. So I did that and sent it in. I decided it was time to get up and start the day. I walked Roxy and checked e-mail. I got a note from the guys at Captain Action Enterprises that Toys ‘R’ Us had Captain Action figures on sale for half price. Since I had two CA uniforms on old Hasbro bodies, I jumped at the chance to get some REAL CA figures for my Spider-Man and Captain America uniforms. I drove over to the Toys ‘R’ Us in Burbank and picked up 2 CA figures, and another What Not Muppet. (Those are the Muppet puppets that are blank and you can make your own character with different eyes, wigs and noses!). I also bought a bunch of Girl Scout cookies while I was at it, since they were camped out in front of the store. Always good to support the Girl Scouts! I got lunch at Burger King and then sped off to NBC. I recorded another bit before we taped the show. It was very moving, because wildman Dennis Rodman was on the show, but got very serious and sad when Jay mentioned the recent passing of former Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss. We finished up the show and I headed home. I called my folks to find out the latest on my Grandma Hazel. Last July she turned 100 years old and was doing very well, but recently she’s taken a downward turn apparently. My dad said, “She’s just wearing out.” Apparently there’s some stupid law on the South Dakota books that says if you’re on some sort of public health assistance for pain management, somebody needs to check on you periodically to see if there’s a way to reduce your medication to save the state costs. Well, that’s all good and fine if you’re 35. But at 100 years old you don’t want to have anyone reducing your pain medication under any circumstances. Sure enough they did, to comply with the stupid law, and then she started feeling worse. Pain in her back and left knee. So after my folks raised a stink with the officials, somebody decided to put her pain medication back to full strength. But she’ll probably never be the same. Of all the idiotic things. That’s what you get when you let the government interfere with a doctor’s diagnosis and treatment. I went home to finish up Wally’s Week, I fed my cat Spook and walked Roxy, and then I took a dip in the jacuzzi. I went inside and put on the Tranquility channel on DirecTV and napped on the couch by the fire. Spook was nestled in his little blanket by the fire, and Roxy was cozy on her beanbag chair. Later I got up to do an audition, then I watched the final episode of “Six Million Dollar Man” on DVD.
Tuesday the 19th – PERFECT TIMING! – I got up in the morning and was getting ready to head to Voice Trax West in Studio City to do some voice work for a new Old Navy radio commercial. (I play the swingin’ pilot in the current series of O.N. TV spots) When I got up my agent called and said the session was not on for today, but was postponed until Wednesday. But by the time I came back inside from walking Roxy, my agent had called again and said the session was back on because the script just got approval. So off I went. I did the session, then went over to Office Depot to pick up some more items for my new corporation Planet Wallywood, Inc. Then I went to CVS to get a refill on my nose spray, and I went to Von’s supermarket to get a big sub sandwich for lunch. I got home for a bit, did a bit for “TTS,” and then drove into the studio to tape the show. The great Bonnie Riatt was on the show again! She’s always fantastic, and she looks amazing! During the show Jay mentioned that he just watched “Mannix” season 1 on DVD. He said his parents used to love watching “Mannix.” I thought that was cool since I just finished watching “Mannix” season 6, and I have two more seasons to go. It is a darn good show! (Maybe I should loan Jay the other seasons!) I got home and walked Roxy and fed Spook, then did some work around the house. I took a dip in the jacuzzi, though there were no ducks around to join me this time. Just as I had settled down for my nap on the couch, it started to rain outside. That put me RIGHT to sleep! Nothing like the sound of rain to lull you into a deep rest. I got up later in the evening to do auditions and start my next viewing project. “Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” Season 2; Part 1″ had just been released on DVD, and in fact Part 2 had just come in the mail THAT DAY! Talk about perfect timing, since I had just finished “Six Million Dollar Man” the night before! The Avengers cartoon is amazing, and I’m proud to have worked on it.
Wednesday the 20th – WORK-FILLED WEDNESDAY! – I was up early because I had gotten a hotline call from “TTS” to record a bit. I laid it down, sent it in and headed back to bed for a few hours. I got up and stopped by Subway to get a footlong tuna, then dropped some tax docs off at my accountant’s, then went to Studiopolis to do a videogame for Marvel. Before heading to NBC though I stopped by It’s A Wrap to look into getting some tuxedo pants. I was invited to an post-Oscar party at the Andaz Hotel Sunday night, and while I had a cool tuxedo jacket, I didn’t have matching pants. I found the perfect pair, but they would require a bit of alteration. The guy who wore them before was slightly thinner than I, but much shorter! Then I went to NBC to tape the show. My pal Loren was there at the taping as my guest. She’s a friend from church, but she’s been out of town for the last 6 months working on a film. So it was good to see her again and meet her friend Tanya. When the taping was over we had a nice dinner at Paty’s. By the time I got home Spook was giving me the stink eye, since his dinner was late. I walked Roxy, then gave Loren a tour of Planet Wallywood, to show her the new acquisitions to the collection. Then I worked around the house. I organized my jeans in my closet and categorized them by fit and style, I also did some work with my new tuxedo pants, and I went into the Chaney Room to “spike” the positions for some of the mannequins. I have three mannequins that are positioned directly in front of my wardrobe closet, so occasionally I have the need to move them. Since I wanted to make sure I got them back in their exact positions, I decided to spike their positions (or mark their positions) with white tape. That way they would go back exactly the way they were. It took a little work, but it was worth it. I also drew up plans for a “puppet workshop” in The Puppet Room. As I mentioned before, I got the blank Muppets called What Not Muppets. So I thought it would be fun to display in them in the Puppet Room, along with a board filled with all of the alternate eyes, wigs, noses, and accessories. That way my guests can play with the puppets an create their own Muppet. I also got some laundry done. I didn’t have any auditions that night, so I had all night to get work done.
Thursday the 21st – LOOOOONG DAY! – I got up early for another Old Navy session, but this one was in Santa Monica. So I hit the freeway and headed over. After the session I went to a tailor’s shop to get my tux pants altered. Then I went to Kit Kraft (a craft store in my neighborhood) to get supplies for my Muppet workshop. Then I headed home to walk Roxy and get organized. I headed off to “TTS” to tape the show. And when we wrapped I got home to feed Spook and walk Roxy. I was a bit tired, but I was very excited to get my Muppet workshop display finished. I also organized my office drawers, which was a huge job! My old pal Dan Roebuck stopped over for a chat. And then I did my auditions in my home studio and e-mailed them into my agent. I didn’t get a nap tonight, but I felt pretty good. I had too much to do anyway. Later I fed and walked Roxy, and it started to hit me. I was really getting tired. So I made chili dogs and headed to bed to watch another episode of “Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.”
Friday the 22nd – READY FOR THE WEEKEND! – After today, we have one more week of “TTS” and then we’re on hiatus for a week. I’m looking forward to it since we haven’t really had a break since the Christmas hiatus. I got a hotline call to be in at 1 to record a bit, so I slept another hour and then got up to get ready. My Mustang was filthy because of all the recent rain, but the car wash at NBC was packed full of cars! So I’ll have to get it washed Saturday. I recorded the bit and then headed to the world-famous NBC Commissary to get a salad. During the rehearsal, Jay stopped the action to let the crew know that news had just been released from the February sweeps. Apparently NBC had come in at fifth place. Behind CBS, ABC, Fox and Univision. However, “TTS” is still number one! So Jay kindly thanked all of the staff for their hard work. He’s just that kind of guy! We taped the show, and then I went home to change to go to my hair appointment at Floyd’s. After I got my touch up, I went back home to walk Roxy and feed Spooky. I grabbed a quick nap on the couch, then my pal Edi showed up so we could go to dinner at Miceli’s. We were joined by my friend Brittney Powell and we had an awesome dinner. Then I went home to do some work and watch another episode of “Avengers: EMH” and turn in.
Saturday the 23rd – ERRANDS APLENTY! – I slept in until about 2pm (I needed it!) and then I started my errands. I picked up my assistant Sara, got some lunch to go, and then took the Mustang to the car wash. We ate lunch while my car was being washed. We went to the tailor’s to pick up my pants and they fit perfectly! I hit the vitamin store to get some supplements, and then hit the grocery store to pick up some food items for movie night. I went home to walk Roxy and feed Spook, and then started cleaning up Planet Wallywood for movie night. I cleaned the living room and the kitchen, while Sara put the groceries away and vacuumed the floor. My pal and webmaster Scott Sebring brought our old pal Ben Bentley who was visiting from the U.K. I hadn’t seen him in awhile, and he brought with him some DVDs he bought across the pond. It was a cartoon I did a few years back called “Gormiti.” Only six episodes ever aired here in the U.S., so it will be good to see the first season. For movie night we started watching the 70’s variety show starring comedy legend Dick Van Dyke called “Van Dyke and Company.” We had just finished watching all the Laurel and Hardy films, and I thought “V D & Co.” would be equally as enjoyable. I watched all 12 of the episodes on my own, and just knew that my movie night gang would love them as much as I did. That night we watched the pilot episode which was done at NBC, and done a full year before the show went to series. Then we watched the final Pierce Brosnan James Bond film “Die Another Day.” My pal Amanda dropped by to see everybody too. After everybody left I did some work around the house, and then watched another episode of “Avengers: EMH” and hit the hay.
Sunday the 24th – BAD LUCKS TUX! – I slept very late, but got up in time for evening church with Roxy. Then I came home to get ready for the post-Oscar party my pal Brian invited me to at the Andaz Hotel on Sunset. The tux was looking good and it was ready to rock! I got a shower, did my hair and got dressed. But my pal Edi was running very late and hadn’t gotten to my house yet. She had a bad wardrobe issue she was dealing with. I told her we needed to be there at the party before the Oscars finished up to avoid the crowd. But as the evening went on it was looking more and more like that wouldn’t be the case. I checked on-line and it looked like all the awards had been given out. Uh oh! Edi arrived at 9:30 and we started the drive over the hill. But when we got to Sunset we hit major traffic! Sure enough, the Oscars were done and everyone was making their way to the various parties. Traffic was down to one-lane at one point, because of the Vanity Fair party. They needed a lane for all of the limos who were pulling up to drop off celebs. So we didn’t get to the Andaz until about 10:40pm. As we drove by the hotel, it didn’t look like there was anyplace to park (even the valet area was packed with parked cars!) and there was a line of people coming out of the hotel, wrapping around the front of the hotel, and extending down the street a long ways. At that point I realized that trying to get in would be pointless, and that we wouldn’t be gaining entry to the party any time before midnight! So I made an executive decision and turned around to go home. I was starting to think that my tuxedo was bad luck. This was the second time a function to which I had planned to wear the tux had been aborted. The first time was a photo shoot with a bunch of James Bond girls at an autograph show. They ran out of time to do it when I was there, so it never happened that day. I guess I’ll see what happens the next time I want to wear it, and be very aware of what happens. If it happens a third time, I think my time in a tuxedo will be at an official end. We picked up my assistant Sara and headed to Jerry’s Famous Deli to get some dinner. We looked fabulous though! After dinner I came home, ditched the tux and put on my pajamas. I did a bunch of auditions, some work around the house, and then I went to bed to rest up for an early session the next day.
And how was YOUR week?!!
PIX FROM THE WEEK
All dressed up with no place to go in my “Bad Lucks Tux”
“Do you think I’m overdressed for Jerry’s??”
