RANDOM PIC OF THE WEEK
Awhile back I received about a dozen personal photographs from the family of the late Jonathan Frid, TV’s Barnabas Collins from “Dark Shadows.” I asked the family if it was OK to share these historical pictures with Jonathan’s fans on my website, and they said it would be alright. I posted one a few weeks back, so here’s the second one for you. Jonathan trying to ride some sort of bike through a yard. A wonderful, candid glimpse into the homelife of a wonderful actor who brought joy to many!
I have absolutely NO idea why “Gimme Dat Ding” by the Pipkins was in my head this week. But frankly. the thought frightens me. But it IS a fun and catchy song!
Monday the 11th – AS IF BY MAGIC…! – I hopped in the Gran Torino and headed over to Voice Trax West in Studio City to record some radio commercials for Old Navy. When I finished the session, I went into the lobby and ran into legendary voice director Ginny McSwain. We chatted for awhile and caught up. Some of the people she works with on a show called “Rescue Bots” came by Planet Wallywood the week before for a grand tour. I was telling her about the guys coming by for a tour and she said, “A tour?” I explained that I have a lot of collectibles in my house, and it’s set up like a museum. Then I whipped out my i-Pad and showed her some shots from my house. While looking, I stumbled across a picture of Paul Michael Glaser and myself at a car show, sitting in front of my “Starsky-ized” Gran Torino. I explained that Paul was a pal of mine and I take my car to some of his appearances. Just then, Paul walked through the door and entered the lobby! Almost as if on cue! I couldn’t believe my eyes, as I had no idea he was in one of the other studios at Voice Trax! What are the chances!? I’m sure something like that would never happen again in a million years! I introduced him to Ginny and they chatted for awhile. Then Paul took me into the studio to listen to the progress they’ve made on his audio book for “Chrystallia and the Source of Light.” It’s an amazing piece of work! It sounds like a fully produced radio show! It will surely inspire the imaginations of all who listen to it. Then I sped off to Vitamin Land to pick up some supplements, and it was back home to walk Roxy. I got called in early to “The Tonight Show” to record some comedy bits. When I finished I hit the world-famous NBC Commissary and got some chili and a hot dog. Then I just hung out until the show started. Everybody was kind of tired because of Daylight Freakin’ Savings Time which happened the day before. (See my rant about DST in the last week’s Wally’s Week!) We taped the show, and when we wrapped I went out to find my agent Sumeet in the audience with friends. I gave them the backstage tour, and just as we were leaving the building we ran into Jay, who said hello and shook their hands. I gave him a signed Mannix photo I had gotten from “Mannix” star Mike Connors. Jay was elated and said he was going to hang it up for sure! He’s a huge “Mannix” fan and had mentioned his love of the show twice in two weeks on “TTS.” He’s watching some of the episodes on DVD, and since I’ve seen every episode through season six, I consider myself somewhat of an expert. I think his folks used to watch the show all the time and it brings back good memories for him. When we finished our chat, I dropped Sumeet and his friends at their car in the Gran Torino. On the way home I stopped at my mailbox and picked up some packages and other mail. I got home, walked Roxy and then hit the jacuzzi. I settled down for a short nap on the couch, and when I got up I did a bunch of auditions. I prepped for a session the next morning, and then watched another episode of “Kojak” before bed.
Tuesday the 12th – TUMULTUOUS TUESDAY! – I didn’t sleep all that well. Maybe it’s because I was all “slept out” from the previous week’s hiatus. (I DID catch up on a LOT of sleep!) I was back at Voice Trax West again, but this time to do an internet narration for a company called Factory Labs. It was a short and sweet half hour session, so I had a goodly amount of time to get some errands done. I went to my printer and had him print the pages for my niece’s Flat Stanley book I’ve been working on. It took awhile to complete, but it was all ready and looking good! I went back home to do some work, and record three bits for “TTS.” I drove the Torino over to my pal Bodie’s shop (BS Industries) to get a new knob on my window crank, and to get the clock reset on my satellite radio/GPS/CD/DVD system. Unfortunately the knobs they ordered didn’t fit on my particular window cranks. So it was back to the drawing board. I just barely had enough time before work to stop by Guns Direct and drop off some guns to have cleaned and oiled. Then I headed to NBC to tape the show. Afterwards, I headed back to Guns Direct and picked up my guns. It was 80 degrees today, and a beautiful day to be driving around the Torino! Simply gorgeous! I had the 70’s music on the satellite cranked all the way home! I grabbed a shower and walked Roxy, then headed to Jerry’s Famous Deli to have dinner with my pal Glow Mike from Chicago. He owns Windy City Novelties there, and sells a ton of glow stuff. After a fun dinner I got back home to take a jacuzzi, and a nap on the couch. I got up later that night to record four auditions in my home studio and e-mail them to my agents. Then I did some work around the house, and it was time for another “Kojak” episode before bed.
Wednesday the 13th – MONEY CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS (BUT A WARM, SUNNY DAY CAN!) – I got to sleep in, and there were no hotline calls from “TTS” to disturb my slumber. I decided it would be a great day to bike to work, especially since it was 85 degrees out! I had a great ride to NBC, and I got there in time to get a salad at the commissary. We did the show, and I hopped on my bike and had a great ride home. It was absolutely gorgeous out! Plus my endorphins were on fire! At the end of my ride, I opened my garage door and saw a gleaming Torino sitting there! I LOVE my life! I went upstairs and opened my mail, did some work, fed Spook my cat, and enjoyed an ice cold Grape Crush! MMMMM! Just the thing after a hard ride! It reminded me of when I was a kid and had a paper route. After I finished I would take 10 cents to the local Tractor Supply store and get a cold bottle of Grape Crush out of old fashioned soda machine. Ahhh the good old days! I walked Roxy, took a dip in the jacuzzi, and even took a refreshing swim in the pool. The pool temp in my complex is rarely to my liking, but on this particular day it was like swimming in warm, liquid velvet! I did my auditions while waiting for my friend and contractor Terry to come over to do some work. I was also waiting for my friend Dan to come over with a Beetlejuice mannequin that I was buying from him. He’s had the figure for awhile, but he’s looking to move some stuff out. Since I played Beetlejuice at Universal Studios in Hollywood from 1994 to 1998, it was a figure I was interested in having in the collection. Plus, the figure is wearing my costume! I loaned it to Dan awhile back to put on the figure when he had it on display in his collection. So it’s good to have it back in the house again! Terry put a cabinet he built up in my bedroom. I needed it to stash supplies in. Bottled water, batteries, lint rollers, tape, scissors, napkins, microwave popcorn, etc. My bookshelves had become overpopulated with a wide variety of stuff, so this will keep things more organized, and my bookshelves will have a cleaner look. We went over to DuPar’s to grab some dinner, and our old pal Chuck McCann just happened to stop by. We had a great time catching up and having some laughs! I got home and did some work around the house, populated my new cabinet with supplies, and made some of my world infamous Buffalo Mac so I could watch “Kojak” in bed. When I finished the episode I dialed around the TV for awhile to see what was on, and I happened across Boomerang. I didn’t know it, but from 6a to 7a they run “The Garfield Show.” It was fun to watch the episodes fully animated and produced, since the last time I heard them we were recording them!
Thursday the 14th – HOT DAY! – I got a hotline call in the morning to be into “TTS” at 3 to record some bits. So I slept until 2, and then got dressed and headed out. I stopped by my mailbox and picked up a big box of St. Patrick’s Day stuff from Glow Mike in Chicago! I took the box up to the “TS” offices and passed them out to the crew. I recorded a few bits, then opened the show, and headed back upstairs to chat with a few of the writers. One wanted to get my advice about a voice-over coach for his daughter. And another writer sat me down to develop a voice for a bit he was working on. My assistant Sara was at the taping to see James Franco. After the show she followed me to Ford so I could drop off my Mustang to get repaired. I had a small leak coming out of the back. Apparently some seal had failed and needed to be replaced, which meant removing the entire transmission. I love my Mustang, but it is a 2003 so it’s now 10 years old. I only have 50k miles on it, so it’s still got a LOT of life left in it! I LOVE that car! Sara drove me home, and I got a quick nap before my pal Terry came by to do more work. It had been a VERY hot day (in the middle of a warm streak) so I took advantage of the pool again and got a nice swim in. Meanwhile Terry replaced my front screen doorknob, fixed the hook on the bathroom door, fixed my kitchen drawer, and did a few other odds and ends. It’s good to have a pal like him who can do everything! We went out to dinner at the Coral Cafe afterwards and had a nice, relaxing meal. I had a full night ahead of me though, with 12 auditions waiting in my inbox. I finished them up, walked and fed Roxy and got set to watch another “Kojak” episode. I also enjoyed watching some more “Garfield” episodes on Boomerang.
Friday the 15th – PERFECT END TO A PERFECT WEEK! – I got a hotline call to record a bit for “TTS,” so after I finished it I went back to bed for awhile. Roxy joined me. I got up around noon to wait for my maids to show up, and Sara dropped by to stay with them while I split to head to work. While the maids were working a second bit came into my inbox, so I had to ask them to turn off their vacuum cleaners for a second while I recorded. I sent the bit in and then got ready for work. I was going to bike to work again, but I was running out of time. So into the trusty Gran Torino I went, and it was down the road to NBC. When I got there they had me record some more comedy bits, and then we opened the show. I got a salad at the commissary and enjoyed it while we taped the show. After we wrapped it was off to It’s a Wrap to do some shopping. I stopped by Ford to pay for my Mustang (which was ready to go), but I would have to pick it up later after they closed. I just love showing off the Torino to the hardcore Ford guys. I stopped by my house quickly to grab four blue long-sleeved t-shirts I bought a few weeks ago, and four beautiful embroidered Superman logos. I wanted to have the logos sewn onto the t-shirts, and I knew the local tailor was closing in 20 minutes, so I sped over there and got in just minutes before they closed. They’ll be ready by Tuesday. I got home and did some work, fed Spooky and walked Roxy. I took another swim in the pool (the temperature of the water was STILL perfect!) and floated on my back while watching the sky turn from a bright blue to dark blue. And it was great to watch a beautiful crescent moon gradually appear in the sky above. Just then my pal Brittney Powell came by to take me to Ford to get my Mustang. I got my car, drove home and hit the jacuzzi. Then it was nap time on the couch for a few hours. When I got up I walked and fed Roxy, then went to the grocery store to get some supplies. Shopping in the middle of the night is great. Aside from stepping around the guys stocking shelves, you virtually have the store to yourself! I came home, put the groceries away, did some work and got ready to watch another “Kojak” episode before bed. I didn’t get to bed until about 8am Saturday morning, but it was a cool and foggy morning. Nice!
Saturday the 16th – THE END IS HERE! – I woke up around 3 in the afternoon, walked Roxy and then went back to bed to sleep until 6:30! My friends Emily and Nancy came over to use the jacuzzi and help me get set up for movie night. But I got a phone call from a friend who is having marital difficulties, so I excused myself and went upstairs to talk to her in private. When I finished the call I went downstairs and the house was full of people! We watched another episode of “Van Dyke and Company,” and then finished up our James Bond series with “Skyfall” on DVD. Over the past 22 Saturday nights we’ve watched every James Bond movie in the new Bond 50 Blu Ray collection. It’s been very educational and informative. When it was all over our pal Bob polled us to see what our favorite Bond gadget was, our favorite stunt, favorite theme song, even our favorite Bond and Bond girl! My friend Micki arrived late and didn’t get to see the “Van Dyke” episode, but she loves the Andy Kaufman appearances. So after everybody left I ran it for her. It was one of the first times Andy performed his Elvis act on primetime TV! I then took her upstairs to the Chaney Room so we could study the actual Elvis costume on my mannequin. Then I did some work around the house and got ready to watch “Kojak.” Saturday night is usually salad time for TV viewing before bed, but when I went downstairs to get my salad fixins ready, the lettuce had all turned brown. So, I fired up my grill at 8am to make chili dogs! WHO makes chili dogs at 8 in the morning?!
Sunday the 17th – HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY! – I slept until 4:45, then got up for evening church. After church Amanda and Sara joined me for a St. Patty’s dinner at the Coral Cafe. Irish Sara had corned beef and cabbage, but Amanda and I opted for more American choices. We got an ice cream cone at McDonald’s on the way home. Then I switched the Torino for my Mustang, and headed back inside to do some auditions, and other work before bed. I watched “Kojak” and then hit the hay.
And how was YOUR week??!!
