Once again I find myself humming a catchy tune from the Camera Obscura CD “Let’s Get Out of This Country.” Lots of catchy stuff on there with a decidedly retro feel. This is “If Looks Could Kill!” Just TRY not to tap your foot and hum along to this one!
Monday the19th – MONDAY MADHOUSE! – I was up bright and early and headed to Buzzy’s in Hollywood for another day of Garfield voice sessions. We recorded two cartoons that day. But then I was on my way to grab my dog Sassie and head to the vet. She had pee pee’d in her bed last week, and this morning she pee pee’d a little bit on the carpet by my bed during the night. I wanted to make sure she didn’t have some sort of UTI, so I took her into get checked. They took some samples and said they would call me the next day with the results. After that I met Georgette at NBC. She wanted to get in to see the taping of “The Tonight Show” because the band Phoenix was on. She had missed seeing them at the famous Coachella concert series the previous weekend, so this would kind of make up for it. After the show we went out to grab some dinner.
Tuesday the 20th – TUESDAY TEMPEST! – I went back to Buzzy’s again to record voice tracks for two more Garfield episodes. Today we had Laraine Newman in again, which is always a hoot. I had her sign my SNL Season 3 boxed set, and when she opened the flap of the box to sign it she saw the cast photo from that era. She said, “Look how young I was!” She’s a terrific talent and it’s always a thrill to get to work with her, especially since I was such a HUGE SNL fan in the 70’s. After Garfield I stopped by the grocery store and picked up some supplies. $300 worth!! I hadn’t gone shopping in awhile and I was low on groceries. Plus my folks were coming in the following day for a week-long stay and I wanted to be stocked up. Then I went to ‘The Tonight Show” taping. Afterwards I went to the bank to deposit some checks and headed home. Late in the day the vet’s office called and come to find out, Sassie DID have a UTI, so I would need to go to the vet and get her medication first thing tomorrow morning. Her vet said it might be because her teeth need cleaning again, so I called to schedule a non-anesthetic cleaning for this week.
Wednesday the 21st – PARENTS ARRIVING! – First thing in the morning I went to the vet’s office to get Sassie’s meds. Then I went to Voice Trax West to do another session for HH Gregg electronics stores. I also checked the mail in my mailbox and headed home to get Sassie started on her meds. Then it was over the hill to Beverly Hills and into the offices of Regenix to have my periodic hair check-up. They said the two plus years I’ve been on the program have made my hair clean and strong. Soon I’ll be able to go to a maintenance program to maintain the results I’ve achieved so far. Then it was off to my tailor’s to pick up my Tony Clifton tuxes that I bought a few weeks ago on eBay. Back in the car, and off to tape “TTS.” Afterwards I hit the local cleaners to have the tuxes cleaned. I got home and started cleaning up the place in preparation of my parents’ visit. That night I got to the airport, picked them up and we went to grab a bite to eat at the Coral Cafe in Burbank. It’s always fun to have them visit!
Thursday the 22nd – THIS DAY IS STARTING TO SUCK! – I got up VERY early to meet the groomer who was coming over to bathe Sassie and clean her teeth. But when she got there the tooth cleaning machine wasn’t working! I guess I got up early for nothing. They took off, but I still wanted to have her bathed. So the truck came back and now the machine worked. It needed a new fuse apparently. So she got her teeth cleaned and got a nice bath while I napped. (Right! I went back to bed!) I got up when my dad knocked on my door to tell me the carpet cleaners were there. I wanted to have some spot cleaning done on my carpet, but they suggested a full cleaning, since the clean spots would be brighter than the rest of the carpet. I supposed they were right, so I told them I would call to make an appointment for a full carpet cleaning after my company left. Sassie looked great, so I got her situated with her medication and some water. Then I took my folks to NBC for the taping of “TTS.” I had them on the list for the show. We hadn’t eaten anything all day because of all the chaos going on at my house. So I took them to the NBC commissary and we had some delicious food! My dad enjoyed his Ruben and mom and I loved the beef stew. While we were eating, Jeff Corwin was there with his crew eating too. One of the reasons I wanted my mom to go to the taping today, was that Jeff was going to have his animals on the show. I got them seated in their seats and I went to the studio to record some voice-over stuff. My friend Edi and her sister Angie also arrived so they all sat together. After the show the ladies were going to the bathroom, and they saw Jay in the hallway. He told them, “I’ll be right in ladies!” They laughed and were so tickled to see Jay in the hallway. What a great guy he is. Just a few minutes later my dad and I were standing in the lobby of studio 11 and Jay dashed up the stairs. My dad got to say hi to him on his way up the stairs, which tickled my dad. All in all a day that started out poorly was ending wonderfully. On the way home I picked up my tuxes at the cleaners, and that night a bunch of us met at Jerry’s Famous Deli for dinner. My friend Bruce Kulick’s producer Jeremy Rubalino came over to try on some 80’s clothes for an 80’s themed party he was attending on Saturday night. When he was all outfitted with wig, hat, shirt, jacket, boots and leather pants, he and Bruce went on their way. The rest of us watched “Young Frankenstein” on Blu Ray. What fun!!
Friday the 23rd – ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ PART 1! – The non-stop activities of the first four days of the week had exhausted me. I told me folks I’d be sleeping in late, and I did. I got up in time to see my chiropractor, and then do the taping of “TTS.” After that a bunch of us went out to dinner at Barone’s for some delicious Italian food! The rest of the night I got all of my items together for the autograph show going on Saturday!
Saturday the 24th – AUTOGRAPH MANIA! – Another autograph show was going on at the Burbank Marriott. It was one of the reasons the folks came to town this particular weekend. They enjoy these almost as much as I do. It was great meeting Cloris Leachman, Mike Connors, James MacArthur, Valerie Perrine and Cheryl Tiegs. In addition to all the celebs, it’s just great seeing the usual gang of folks who come to these things that I’ve come to know over the past few years. I had a LOT of autographs to get. I had a great conversation with Cloris Leachman about Mel Brooks and “Young Frankenstein,” Mike Connors about “Mannix.” James MacArthur about “Hawaii Five-O” (the show I’m currently watching on DVD) and others. But my mom enjoyed meeting Ryan O’Neal and getting a photo taken with him. She whispered to him that she was very sorry to hear about Farrah, and he said thanks and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She loved that! After we finished getting all the autographs we needed, we went next door to the Daily Grill and had lunch. Sara, Edi and Angie all exchanged stories about being felt up by Gary Busey! What fun!
Superman’s Valerie Perrine was at the autograph show, and I had her sign my Superman DVD boxed set. She added her name to several other of the actors from that film series!
My mom met Ryan O’Neal, and when she whispered to him that she felt bad about Farrah he gave her a kiss on the cheek!
Nicholas Hammond played Peter Parker and Spiderman in the original TV series. Here we do a little webslinging!
Mannix (Mike Connors) meets the parents!
Gary Busey REALLY liked Sara!
Gary Busey LOVES Edi!
Hawaii Five-O’s James MacArthur and I, after he signed all 8 seasons of my DVD collection! He’s showing the camera how I gave him writer’s cramp! BOOK ‘EM DANNO!
Cloris Leachman, the first lady of funny in many of Mel Brooks’ films, poses with me after a discussion about how I believe Mel Brooks may be the funniest man who ever lived!
GRRRRR! The very first SUPERMODEL Cheryl Tiegs shortly after I proposed marriage. I thanked her for getting me through puberty as I owned her poster and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, both of which I had her sign!
Then we got home and I got Planet Wallywood readied for a camera crew who were coming to interview me for a Canadian TV program. I had Georgette and Sara come over and put on the Catwoman and Batgirl costumes respectively. The interview with Marshall Kaplan went very well, and all the while people were showing up for Blu Ray Trek night. So we were constantly dodging new guests. It was crazy and fun! Plus my friend Emily brought her 2 little dogs over, Georgette had her little doggie, and I had Sassie and Spook. So in addition to all the animals, the film crew, my parents and friends, the house was hoppin’! I love it! I love activity and stuff happenin’! When they wrapped, we settled in for a couple of original “Star Trek” episodes on Blu Ray. Another busy day of livin’ the dream!
Sunday the 25th – ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ PART 2! – I warned my folks again that I would be sleeping in fairly late. And I did. When I got up I put some of my autographed items away, and got ready for evening church. After my folks and I went to church, we grabbed Sara and headed to Ernie’s Taco House for some Mexican food. My dad doesn’t ordinarily like Mexican food, but he’s used to the stuff he gets in South Dakota. He said he really enjoyed the authentic Mexican food at Ernie’s. A nearby church was holding a carnival and we saw the lights of the ferris wheel on our way to Ernie’s. But after we finished our meal, the carnival was closed. So we went to get frozen yogurt instead. I ran into a lot of my friends from the church who were there as well. When I got back home my folks went right to bed. They were exhausted, plus they wanted to rest up for their road trip to Santa Barbara the next day. I got my auditions recorded and Wally’s Week written. Wow! What a rich, anointed, blessed week!
And how was YOUR week??!!
