Because I’ve been peeling around town in my Gran Torino for several days in a row, I’ve not been able to get the “Starsky & Hutch” theme out of my head. What a great tune which really epitomizes the character of a great TV show!
Monday the 12th – WORKING WITH AN EMMY WINNER! – I was up early and on my way to Buzzy’s Recording in Hollywood for another Garfield session. As I was pulling up Maurice LeMarche was getting out of his car and going into the studio. Mo had just won an emmy for his work on “Futurama” a few nights earlier. I congratulated him and we went inside to get set up for the session. Other greats joined our cast that day…Laraine Newman, Stan Freberg and June Foray! What a day! What a cast! Toward the end of the session my new friend Esme Bianco showed up, watched the remainder of the session and then we went to lunch. She just moved in from the U.K. last April and our mutual friend Roger in Japan suggested we meet up. I’m glad he did. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, but she’s really cool! We had great lunch, but then I had to get moving up to NBC for the taping of “The Tonight Show.” While all this was going on, my computer guy was at my house with my assistant Sara trying to install my new computer. But apparently it had been damaged in shipment and was leaking fluid. Back to the company it went. They’ll either replace it or repair it. The taping of “TTS” went well, and then I was heading across the street to Mai Tai studios to record some spots for Old Navy. When I was finished I was in desperate need of a shower. After all those sessions, especially the Old Navy one where I always expend a lot of energy in those high-energy spots, I headed immediately to the shower. When I finished I met up with my friends Joe and Zandra Pendleton, and their daughter Katie and grandson Jamison. We had a great dinner at DuPar’s, but afterwards I was beat! I grabbed a little nap and my pal Brittney came by for a quick visit. I did my auditions in my home studio and e-mailed them off to my agents. At first I didn’t have any audio coming out of my computer. Apparently the computer guy didn’t hook everything up quite the same way. But after some phone calls and hectic maneuvering I got my audio aback. Later Sara came over for an episode of “The Saint.”
Tuesday the 13th – ODD COINCIDENCE #1! – I got up early for my pal Jim Hulihan, who has had me narrate his presentation for Multi-Media Assemblies for about a dozen years. In fact, MMA is probably my oldest, still-running campaign. We met at Voice Trax West and spent a few hours recording the narration for his new presentation. This will go to schools all over the country, and promotes positive thinking, anti-drug and drunk driving stories, as well as stories about those who have overcome adversity and physical obstacles in their lives. Immediately after I finished with Jim, I got 3 bits for “TTS” in my e-mail. I recorded them at Voice Trax West and sent them over to NBC. I got a call from Mario, the guy who was painting my Torino, saying my beloved 1974 Gran Torino was ready to roll! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go pick it up today. Too busy! When I got home I had a rewrite of one of the bits for “TTS” in my inbox. I recorded that and then changed clothes, and it was off to NBC for the taping. When I pulled in I saw a big, black SUV pulling into the driveway with the windows down. On the street corner was a VERY happy guy holding a freshly signed portrait of Ellen DeGeneres. What a nice gesture, stopping on her way into the stage to sign something for a fan! After the taping I headed home and got ready for dinner with my pal Bruce Kulick, his girlfriend Lisa, and my friend and webmaster Scott Sebring and his wife Vickie. While we were eating Vickie was telling us about a trip to New Orleans she was making in October with some friends. Come to find out Bruce will be in New Orleans that same weekend playing with Grand Funk! So he arranged tickets for her group. He asked when she was flying in and come to find out…her flight is the exact same flight as Bruce’s! So they’ll get to fly in together as well! What are the chances of that?! And to think, the only reason Scott came my way is to help me out with my computer audio problems. I guess there are no accidents in life. Which is what he did after we finished dinner. Bruce and Lisa also came by to help me with this funny, new country song I’m writing with a friend. Lisa is going to sing it for the demo, and Bruce will play guitar and maybe bass. I did my auditions and e-mailed them to my agents. Them my friend Kristy came by to pick up the CDs of Paul Michael Glaser’s audio book “Chrystallia: And The Source of Light.” She had an errand to run in the area where Paul lives, so she agreed to hand deliver them. It’s better than waiting a day for Fed Ex to get them there, or God knows how many days for the Postal Service to get them there. The rest of the night I spent putting clothes away from my laundry, and then I settled down to watch another episode of “The Saint.”
Wednesday the 14th – MY BABY’S BACK! – In the morning I was back at Mai Tai Studios in Burbank doing another spot for Old Navy. Normally in a script you’ll have a group of lines to read, and an occasional alternate line. But in this script I had 6 lines, and each of the 6 lines had an alternate line (or “alt” line, as it’s called) beneath it. So the session turned into a game of mixing vo lines with alt lines. So for one take the director would say, Ok…do VO, VO, ALT, ALT, VO, ALT. And then we would mix it up for the next take VO, ALT, VO ALT, VO, VO. It was a lot of fun and really kept me on my toes. It was a lot like being on a gameshow! After the session I met up with my assistant Sara at NBC. I parked my Mustang at NBC, then Sara took me to Mario’s shop in Glendale to pick up my Gran Torino! It turned out beautifully! He did a great job. Not only on the paint fixing the tip of the stripe, but the color sanding he did. It really did the trick! Showroom shine! I headed home to change clothes, do some work and head off to NBC. I showed a few guys in the office at “TTS” the car, and let one of them take it for a test drive. On my way out the door to go home, I heard Rickey Minor, “TTS” bandleader, call my name. I asked him if he had time to see “my baby.” He said, “I always have time for you, Wally!” He’s a great, very cool, down-to-earth dude. He loved the Torino, but he loved my stereo system even more. He said he had a similar system in one of his cars, but his doesn’t have GPS like mine. So I told him I would hook him up with my car guy and get one installed whenever he wanted. As I was pulling out of the parking lot, I drove right by Jay. He smiled and said, “Starsky & Hutch!” He asked me what kind of engine it had. I told him I just had it color sanded and he said it looked great. He would know! I drove over to CVS to get some more prescription nose spray. My sinus headaches were starting to disappear so I want to stay on the regimen my doctor has me on. While I was waiting for the prescription to be filled I just sat out in the parking lot looking at the car. It was something! A dream come true! I shot a few pics while I was waiting.
I got home and grabbed a nap on the couch, and then Sara drove me to NBC so I could get my Mustang and drive it home. But for the next few days the Mustang would be getting a rest and the Torino and I would be hitting the town! Sara and I had dinner at Bob’s Big Boy, then I went home to start QCing Paul Glaser’s book on CD. I also prepared a bank deposit and watched another episode of “The Saint.”
Thursday the 15th – TORINO ON THE TOWN! When I got up my friend and contractor Terry came over to start working on patching a crack in my tub. I drove the Torino to Mai Tai Studios and when I walked in the studio the owner Kevin said, “Did you drive the Torino?” I said yes and asked him how he knew. He said he could hear the rumble from inside. TOO COOL! I spent a few hours doing Old Navy commercials, then I got home, changed clothes quick and headed off to NBC. Charlie Sheen was on the show and he’s doing well. He’s got his act together and he’s clean! Well done, Charlie! After “TTS” I went home, did some work, grabbed a quick nap and then got up to meet my friend Loren from church for dinner. She had been out of town for about 8 months working on a film, so it was fun catching up. I drove over to Jerry’s Deli to meet her in the Torino. After dinner I drove around on the empty, late-night streets of L.A. It was magical! I was having a few issues with it though. Apparently some stuff didn’t get hooked back up the same way, and the chrome trim on the front wheel wells was coming off. So I just need to have them epoxied on. My left speaker on m y driver’s side door had stopped working (though I suspect I may have blown it cranking tunes) and the cigarette lighter extension wasn’t juicing my red, magnetic teardrop light. Probably just some wire that didn’t get hooked back up right after the painting. I picked up the mail at my box, and headed home to relax! I used to get all sorts of comments about the car before, but now people are stopping in the streets! I’ve never gotten this kind of reaction before. it’s fun! And it’s all goodwill. People love it when you honk, wave, give the thumbs up, or speak to them over the car’s PA system. It’s fun to watch people’s faces!
Friday the 18th – ODD COINCIDENCE #2! – I got up early, got a hotline call from my agent to be at NBC for a bit at 1:45, and then took the Torino over to Jerry’s Famous Deli to have lunch with a new friend I met at a session. Her name is Angelique, and her mother named her after Lara Parker’s character in ‘Dark Shadows.’ So I figured I’d have to meet this cool mom. When I first met her she introduced herself as “Angie.” I asked if she was named after the Rolling Stones song and she said no. She was actually named after a character on “Dark Shadows” and her full name was Angelique. I flipped out, being a “DS” fan. I had her call her mom’s voice-mail and I left a message for her as Barnabas Collins. It was fun! So we all arranged to meet for lunch. We had a great two hour lunch talking about all sorts of things! But the weirdest thing happened when we left! As we were walking out, I recognized a guy in a booth. I asked him, “Excuse me. Are you Bill?” He said, “Yes.” I replied, “Bill Blinn?” He smiled and said, “Yes.” I extended my hand to him and said, “Thank you for creating “Starksy & Hutch!” That’s right! The creator of “Starsky & Hutch,” writer William Blinn was at Jerry’s! I asked him if he saw the Gran Torino in the parking lot, and he said he did and was wondering whose it was. We spoke for a little bit and when I started up the Torino I noticed him walking to his car, checking out my ride. He said, “Boy! That’s cherry!” I gave him my card and asked if he would sign my car someday. I couldn’t believe the coincidence, but then again…are there such a thing as coincidences? Or is it all in the plan? Either way, it was pretty darn cool! I sped into NBC, recorded the bit, then killed an hour before we started taping the show. Afterwards I drove through the Big Boy parking lot, since it was Friday…vintage car day! Even though there were a lot of great looking vintage cars there, people were taking pics of the Torino! I went to my box to get my mail and found that several of the pieces I need for my Halloween costume had arrived! I also got my shipment of soda. The soda I like isn’t readily available in L.A., so I have to order it on-line. I got home, did some work, then went to Sunshine Studios to record some more bits for the internet radio play “Dead of Night.” It was the special Halloween episode! When I finished I headed over to Panera to meet up with Chuck McCann and Sara for dinner. While I was waiting for them to arrive I figured I’d kill some time at the nearby grocery store. I love this time of year, because they had cases of Franken-Berry, Count Chockula and Boo Berry! I bought a case of each to hand out to friends as gifts! YUM! After dinner I went home, switched cars and put the Mustang back in my main garage. I relaxed a bit, but didn’t get a nap. I cleaned all around the house, reorganized the Chaney Room, worked on my Halloween costume, and called Sara to have her get some take-out food at Denny’s so we could watch another episode of “The Saint!”
Saturday the 17th – SUPER SATURDAY! – My maids came shortly after noon, so I let them in to begin the work. After they left I biked down to my stylist’s and got a cut and color. I hadn’t been on the bike in awhile and it was terrific! I MUST find time to ride more! When I got home I got a little nap before movie night. We watched “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” followed by the new “X-Men: First Class,” both on Blu Ray! When my guests left I did some more work around the house cleaning up, and then I hit the hay and watched another “Saint” episode!
Sunday the 18th – SLEEPIN’, SHOOTIN’, & SUPPIN’ ON SUNDAY! – I slept really late! But it felt great, and that’s what Sundays are for. I got up in time for evening church, and when that was finished my friend Amanda and I went to dinner. Then it was off to the shooting range to shoot guns. I took my .357 Magnum (Amanda’s favorite), my .45 automatic, and my Wather PPK-S. But something’s wrong with the Walther and needs repair. So I’ll be sending it to their repair office in Maine this week. After shooting we got some frozen yogurt and then I headed home to do my auditions in my home studio and mail them off to my agents. What a great week!
And how was YOUR week??!!
