RANDOM PIC OF THE WEEK
When Ted Neeley and Barry Dennen (Jesus and Pilate respectively from the film “Jesus Christ Superstar”) were at my house recently to watch the newly released Blu Ray of the film, Ted had fun pointing out all the scenes in which his wife Leeyan was a dancer. (Ted and Leeyan met on the set and married shortly after!) I promised Ted that I would grab some screenshots from the film and send them over to him. As I was combing through the shots, I noticed one particular image that grabbed me. Even though Ted and Leeyan weren’t dating yet, the camera captured an early spark of love. Don’t you agree? Charming! (Hearts graphic was added by me…in case you didn’t know).
Since I got back from Comic Con last weekend, I’ve had this tune bopping around in my head. It’s from the 1966 “Batman” TV soundtrack and it’s called “Holy Flypaper.” Why this song? Well, as I explained in Wally’s Week last week, I’m elated to FINALLY be witnessing the release of a ton of ’66 Batman-related toys and collectibles! One of my favorite new items is the “Batusi” Batman figure, made by Mattel exclusively for the San Diego Comic Con. It recaptures the magic of watching Batman dance the “Batusi” on the very first episode of the show back in January of 1966. The figure’s arms move when you press a button on his back under his cape, so it looks like he’s attempting the famous moves created by Adam West. During this memorable scene in the show, “Holy Flypaper” was the song Batman danced to in the club called “What A Way To Go-Go.” Unfortunately, the rights to use the song in conjunction with the collectible toy must’ve been too expensive, so the song that plays in the figure’s box is close…but not the same. Yearning for the original song, my mind called up the musical strains of the amazing piece by Nelson Riddle from the TV soundtrack. Listen to it. Dance the Batusi! I dare ya!
Monday the 22nd – BATHROOM FINISHED! – The hotline woke me up at 10:45, and it was my agent telling me to report to work at “The Tonight Show” at 1:45 to record a comedy bit. Electric Bob came over to put the finishing touches on my newly remodeled bathroom; some painting, cleaning, etc. He finished up and I headed to Taco Bell to grab some lunch, then went to NBC. I recorded several comedy bits, opened the show, then worked on Wally’s Week while we taped the show. I got back home after we wrapped and finished up Wally’s Week. My pal Edi and her daughter Ems came over and we walked their doggie Bunny and my dog Roxy over to the Studio Cafe for dinner. Then I came home to nap on the couch for a bit. I got up to do two auditions, then I set about putting my bathroom back together. It’s nice to have it finished! I made some beef stew and watched another episode of “Hawaii Five-O” from the season 11 DVD.
Tuesday the 23rd – SCENT OF THE OCEAN! – The hotline rang again with an admonition to be into “TTS” at 1:45 to record some bits. Electric Bob came back over to replace a decayed pipe under my sink. He finished up and took off. I got into NBC, did two bits then went to the world-famous NBC Commissary to get a salad. I headed back to the studio and I did one more bit. I ate my salad, rehearsed the opening, then waited around until 4:00 when we started the taping. When we wrapped I headed home to walk Roxy around the neighborhood. She really loves kids…and vice versa. I was telling a few neighborhood kids all about Roxy’s breed, why they were bred, their herding instincts, and how she herds. Basically I gave them the full history of Collies in under 5 minutes. I grabbed a hose and washed off the berries that had fallen onto my sidewalk. What a nuisance! I noticed this earlier, but it was really noticeable now…I could smell the ocean in the air! Occasionally the conditions outside are just right, so that the ocean breeze will blow all the way into Hollywood! It smelled great! It doesn’t happen often enough, but when it does it’s awesome! I went inside to do some work and grab a quick nap. Then I got up to meet with Edi and Bunny again. We watched “Hawaii Five-O” from the season 11 DVD, and made pizza, beefaroni and pizza rolls. Just like being kids again!
Wednesday the 24th – HOW ALARMING! – I woke up to a very rude awakening! After “Hawaii Five-O,” Edi got tired and headed to the Puppet Room with Bunny to turn in. Before I turned in I wanted to make sure not to set the house alarm so they could leave in the morning without having to wake me up. Unfortunately, out of habit, I forgot and set the alarm anyway. So at 8:45am I was awakened by Edi knocking on my door and the house alarm going off full blast! I shut it off, and headed back to bed until 12:30. I got up and did a few auditions, and then headed to a lunch meeting with my pal Barry Dennen, who was Pilate in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and provided the voice for Chamberlain in “The Dark Crystal.” He’s a great guy and we had a fun lunch. Then I scurried off to NBC to tape the show. We wrapped up and I came home to walk Roxy and feed Spooky. I went over to church to attend the Wednesday night meditation service. Then I came home to take a dip in the pool and Jacuzzi. I did some work around the house, recorded eight auditions (which took about three hours) and then went to Denny’s to get some food to go. I settled in with my dinner and watched another episode of “Hawaii Five-O” from the season 11 DVD.
Thursday the 25th – BUTTERFINGERS! – For the third day this week, I got another hotline call to be in to TTS at 1:30 to record some more comedy bits. Electric Bob stopped by to fix some lighting in my underground storage area. I’m getting ready to start migrating a lot of my boxes of scripts, tapes, videos, reels, etc. into my new storage area, but I wanted to make sure the lighting was working well before I started. My assistant Sara came over to sit with Bob while I took off for work. I recorded some bits then went over to Plastic Depot to pick up a piece of plastic I had specially cut. I bought a great lithograph at the San Diego Comic Con of a mash-up of several of the classic Universal monsters, with the monster cereals. It’s wonderful! But since I was planning on hanging it in my kitchen, I wanted to make sure it was covered with plastic so it was protected against any spraying liquids that are sometimes prevalent in a kitchen environment. I picked up the plastic piece from Kyle at Plastic Depot, stopped at Jack In The Box for some lunch to go, then headed back to NBC to tape “TTS.” When we wrapped I headed home and walked Roxy, fed Spook, and did some work around the house. I took a short nap, then got up to pay some bills, and do odds and ends. I drilled holes into the corners of my protective plastic and I got up on the ladder to place it over the artwork. I taped it in place so I could drill the corresponding holds into the wall. But the tape wasn’t strong enough and gave way. My plastic piece hit the floor and cracked! OH NO! What a stupid idiot I am. I shook my head in disbelief! I can’t believe I did that! Now I’ve got to go back to Plastic Depot and get another one on Friday. Ugh! I did some bookkeeping, fed and walked Roxy and then hit the hay. I was too tired to watch any TV shows before bed.
Friday the 26th – RESCUER OF ART! – The hotline rang again and it was my agent telling me that I had a bit to record for “TTS” sitting in my inbox. I recorded it, e-mailed it in, and then walked Roxy. On my way to work, I stopped at CVS to pick up a prescription, then went to McDonald’s to grab some lunch. I called my folks and chatted with them about their recent mini vacation to Kansas City with my sister, brother-in-law and my nieces. They went to an amusement park down there and had a nice little trip. I got into NBC, got set up, and taped the show. I spoke briefly with Jay’s assistant Helga about the voice problems he’s been having lately which were the result of a stubborn head cold. I gave her the names of some doctors who always fix me up and get me ready for sessions, and I suggested a few medications which might prove beneficial. We wrapped up the show for the week and I headed over to Plastic Depot to get another piece of protective plastic for my monster artwork. James cut the piece while I waited and he didn’t even charge me! He must’ve felt sorry for me. James and Kyle at Plastic Depot are the best! I was driving down Hollywood Way to head home, and I saw a huge sign promoting a TV/Movie prop and set dressing sale. SCREEEECH! I stopped my car and parked and headed in. There was some amazing stuff there. I walked through the 2,000+ square foot warehouse and checked everything out meticulously. When I went into the back room where they kept the artwork that had been used in various TV shows and movies, I recognized one very particular piece. It was a painting of David Selby (he played Quentin Collins on the old “Dark Shadows” TV Show) from a recent TV show. Figuring that David might like to have it, I bought it and took it to my car. Come to find out, it was done for a show called “Raise the Bar” from 2008. Hopefully he’ll like to have it as my gift. If not I know I can donate it to the charity auction at the next “Dark Shadows” festival. Selby fans would probably LOVE to have it! Though I didn’t buy it that day, I also had my eye on a beautiful Disney display case. It’s a fairly large glass and wood display case, but it has artwork on the top that says Disney Classics. I took measurements and headed home. Before I buy it I want to make sure I have room for it! I stopped to get some groceries before I went home, and I managed to find everything I needed. EXCEPT Twinkies! The shelves were totally bare! Apparently if you want people to buy something, you take it away from them! I went home to unload the groceries, feed Spooky and walk Roxy. Then I went inside to do some work. I put up the new piece of plastic over my monster artwork (VERY carefully) and it looked fabulous! I answered some e-mails, and then grabbed a late nap. I didn’t get up until midnight! I set about dubbing some more of my old family home movies on VHS to DVD. It’s an arduous process, but in the long run if will all pay off! I’m just glad I still have a decent VHS player! I kept working in my room organizing my video library while the tapes dubbed, then I fed Roxy, took her on our late night walk, then made a salad and hit the hay to watch an episode of Roger Moore in “The Saint” from the first season DVD set. I LOVE that show!
Saturday the 27th – SLEEPY SATURDAY! – It was 9am by the time I ended up getting to bed! So I slept most of Saturday afternoon away. I got up around 4 to walk Roxy, but when I came back inside I napped for awhile longer. I got up at 6:30 when some guests came over to take a swim in the pool. I joined them in the Jacuzzi while Sara came over to clean up the place for movie night. We watched “Help!” starring The Beatles on Blu Ray! VERY wacky and enjoyable! I love British humor. After my guests left I spent virtually all night working on my computer organizing my photo albums, cleaning out stuff I no longer needed, retouching some of them, etc. All very time consuming work! I fed and walked Roxy on our late night stroll, then came inside to make some of my world infamous Buffalo Mac and retire to bed with another episode of “The Saint!” I got to bed around 10am Sunday morning!
Sunday the 28th – SLEEPY SUNDAY! – Comic Con must’ve taken more out of me than I thought, because it sure felt nice to catch up on sleep! I slept all day but woke up in time for evening church. I fed Spook, and then walked Roxy over to church for the 5:30 service. Edi and Bunny came too. Poor little Bunny, she has some back issues and was in pain. She’s on a lot of meds right now, but Pastor Louise said some prayers for her and did some of her ‘healing touch’ technique on her. Strangely enough, later that night Bunny was tearing around my house like she was completely healthy! Amanda, Sara, Edi and Ems all joined me for dinner at The Coral Cafe. I was eating my salad and bit down too hard on a piece of cucumber. I bit right through and crunched my front teeth on the metal fork! It didn’t hurt, but it sounded horrible! I had to run to the bathroom to make sure my teeth were still in one piece! They looked fine, so I figured the crunch I heard was the cucumber. Whew! Still, it was a bit of a shock to the senses! I got back to my house and Edi spent several hours on my computer compiling some personal files so we could put them on a disc for storage. While she worked away I napped on the couch briefly. When she finished up I did auditions, and fed and walked Roxy. During our late night stroll we heard an owl off in the distance. It was great only hearing the faint chirping of crickets and the owl broadcasting his hoots for all the area to hear! I came back inside, made some soup and finished up “Hawaii Five-O” season 11 with a two hour season finale…featuring George “James Bond” Lazenby, and Barry “Brad Majors” Bostwick! And a young Victoria Principal! WOW!
And how was YOUR week??!!!
