Tag: movies

Margerumalia – Remembering Bob Newhart

Eric Margerum

Newsletter – August 2, 2024

Photo Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Newhart

I was saddened to hear about the passing of Bob Newhart last week. Besides enjoying both of his TV shows, listening to his record, and seeing him appear on everything from “Elf” and “The Big Bang Theory” to late night talk shows—he subbed for Johnny Carson 87 times—I got to spend a few minutes talking to him in the early 90’s.

Working as a bartender at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood I met several celebrities who came to see offerings like the national tour of “Peter Pan” (not great for bartending) or a New Year’s Eve concert by Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry (great drinking crowd, great tips).

On this particular day I had seen Newhart on the KTLA Morning News and was telling my fellow bartender about the interview as Newhart came strolling through. The show would be starting in seven or eight minutes and the bar was empty so I said, “Hey, I was just talking about you.” He smiled, walked right over and asked what I had been talking about. 

“You were on the Morning News talking about creating another Bob Newhart Show.” 

“Yeah, I was. And I think it looks promising.” 

“That’s great,” I said. “I loved watching both the other shows. It’s the perfect time to do another one.” 

It was so easy to talk to him. I didn’t feel like I was facing a celebrity, I was just chatting with the guy next door. And he seemed to genuinely enjoy the conversation. We talked for a couple more minutes before I reminded him that the show was about to start. He thanked me and went in to see the performance. 

I would’ve shook his hand but it was sticky with beer, wine, and soda so we just nodded at each other. My pal Bob and me. 

Do you think he knew about the Bob Newhart drinking game that was played in college campuses across the nation? Students would gather in the common room of the dorm to watch “The Bob Newhart Show” and take a drink whenever anyone on the show said “Hi Bob!” It happened a lot and both the episode and the commercials got hilarious by the end of the half hour. I can just hear him chuckling about it.

It’s a shame that third series was never produced. Who knows, maybe there’s an unseen pilot hidden in the vaults of MTM. I’d raise a glass for that! 

If you listen to podcasts, NPR’s Fresh Air dedicated an episode to his career including past interviews with Terry Gross. I laughed out loud several times listening to it on my morning walk. Here’s the link: https://www.npr.org/2024/07/26/1197972896/bob-newhart 

He’ll be missed.

* * * * *

I see I picked up a couple of reviews on Amazon, thanks for those. The more, the merrier. 

Amazon’s website is a bit persnickety about who is allowed to write those reviews. I had to use my wife’s Amazon Prime account to post my review of Effacement because I don’t use my own account enough. Ah, well, that’s how the game is played. 

TTFN

Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon 

Eric Margerum

Newsletter – May 10, 2024

I’m just two steps away from Kevin Bacon. 

Seriously. I can explain.

It starts with Six Degrees of Separation, the idea that all people are no more than six social connections away from each other.

The theory became a play by John Guare, which became a movie, which spawned a TV series… and morphed into a game: Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. The man has appeared in a myriad of roles and ANY actor, director, author, producer, you name it, can can find a connection to Kevin Bacon. It also helps that his name rhymes with separation. 

Are you ready? Here goes. 

I was in a film called “Right To Die” with Raquel Welch and Michael Gross. 

Michael Gross was in a film called “Tremors” with [drum roll] …Kevin Bacon! 

BAM, two degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon. I win! (Bragging rights only.) 

Um, don’t look for my performance in “Right To Die” you’ll only find my name in the end credits. Which is where I found it at the premiere. The director apologized in the lobby afterwards. It was a made-for-TV movie and they had to make room for the commercials. [SIGH] 

Well, it makes for a good story, anyway. 

Remind me to tell you about my audition for the role of Woody on “Cheers.” 

———————————

Speaking of good stories, it’s less than a month to the release of The Most Amazing Museum of Los Angeles and I’m psyched! 

It’ll be available through the BookBaby Bookstore, Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Online, and more. If I won’t see you at the June 1st kickoff, please pre-order it on line so the book can have a good showing on the first day. 

A Movie Called Ponyo

Eric Margerum

Newsletter – April 5, 2024

I subbed for an English teacher last fall and got to see the movie Ponyo with a couple of her classes. It’s an anime film by the creator of Spirited Away, and I was charmed by the two main characters and how quickly they bonded. The boy who rescued Ponyo from the sea thought she was a special goldfish and when she started sprouting limbs and talking to him, he found out she was extra special!

The teacher left instructions for the class to compare Ponyo to The Little Mermaid and I could see the similarities. Just roll Ursula and Triton together into Ponyo’s undersea father trying to protect her from the humans who live on land. But Ponyo’s mother is a kindly sea spirit who sees an opportunity for her daughter to learn more about the world and about love.

Watching the movie with two classes helped me to relearn something I need to remember: no two audiences are alike. Whether I’m submitting stories to a magazine, or listening to the audience at a play I’ve directed, everyone is different. One class watching Ponyo was very vocal, commenting and laughing at the dialogue while the other class just listened to the same scene without comment. 

It’s one of those really good G-rated movies but I admit I never got to see the ending before the bell rang. I’ll have to borrow the teacher’s DVD to find out for sure. (Also available on HBO’s Max.)