"Rene and Me" by Gorden Kaye

Gorden Kaye with Hilary Bonno. Rene & Me: An Autobiography. London” Sidwich and Jacksn, 1989.

Actor Gorden Kaye has “painful awkwardness and “dreadful shyness” as an overweight youth. He joined the drama club and found acting as a “homecoming”. He used acting for the rest of his life “as a welcome escape from the harshest aspects of bleak reality/”

Kaye starred in “‘Allo “Allo, a BBC television series. There was criticism from those who felt its setting as a comedy during the Nazi occupation of France was objectionable. The show was successful. It was a success that drew a large number of British viewers at 16 million watching.

There were some mistakes during shooting A scene where a woman tried to rescue actor Arthur Bostrom, whose character who is hanging from a tree as his parachute is entangled. The female character accidentally pulls down Bostrom’s pants while trying to rescue him. During a take, she accidentally pulled down his pants and underpants. Of course, that tape was not the one chosen for airing.

There was a year gap between filming the pilot in 1982 and the series beginning.

Kaye, when delivering speeches, prefers to speech in character of Rene, who he portrays in “‘Allo ‘Allo”, Kaye is still shy and finds it easier to pretend to be Rene.

Once while in Rene mode, Kaye spoke at a dinner for Richard Branson and his Virgin Airlines, noting “why anyone wants to fly with an airline that is not prepared to go all the way I cannot understand.”

The longest audience laugh while filming was when an acrobat held a suggestion position  while being interviewed for a job as a wait server. The audience laughed for 37 seconds. The scene was reduced for TV broadcast.

Kate observed he never used his French accent while speaking English as a means to get a laugh. This was something Peter Sellers did masterfully as Inspector Clouseau.

“‘‘Allo ‘Allo” filmed most of its scenes before a live audience. Kaye notes some actors find an audience as disturbing and prefer not to shoot in front of audiences. Kaye found shooting before an audience “brings it all alive.

“‘Allo ‘Allo” was shown in France, Kaye notes that it may have been hard from some French viewers to buy a British comedy which makes French characters the butts f some jokes especially with the show was set during a time when French citizens ere being harmed and killed. Kaye appreciates that so many French viewers enjoyed the series.

Kaye belonged to a technical college drama group where he learned much about acting. He later was a past of the Bradford Amateur Theatre Group. He was in a play shown on BBC. When he joined Equity, they misspelled his first name as “Gorden”. He had a kidney stone attack and was unable to correct the error before receiving his Equity card. He accepted his new name.

Kaye performed in more plays before he was then cast on the TV show “Coronation Street”, which is seen by 500 million people. He was on that series for eight months. He was not given a contract extension. Kaye appeared in two episodes of “Are You Being Served?”. Crift then cast Kaye in a seires “Come Back Mrs. Noah”. It lsted one eason,

David Croft, who created “‘Allo ‘Allo” seriesm hired Kaye for the lead road. Croft also originaly thought the Edith character should be an opera singer. Carmen Silvera who portrayed Edith, recommended Edit e a good signerm in parr because she was petrified to sing, Croft agreed with the suggestion.

The “‘Allo ‘Allo” TV actors performed stage versions of the show. The stage show broke some audience records.

Lost Girl by Kathy Coleman

Kathy Coleman with Steven Thompson. Lost Girl: The Truth and Nothing But the Truth So Help Me Kathleen. 2015.

Coleman notes “the whole premise of the book should be that we’re no different.”

Coleman grew up without a father and was the youngest of several siblings. She lived in a small community an hour and a half away from Hollywood. She was not liked by her classmates who ridiculed her being a child actor. Coleman told Dinah Shore on “The Dinah Shore Show” that her classmates “beat the heck out of me.” That was edited out of the interview.

Abuse continued in her life. Coleman’s first marriage first marriage was to a husband who shot up their house, causing  $18,000 damage,. She hid and fled, fear for her life. Her husband was son the son of U.S. Rp. Alphonso Bell. Her husband grew up rich and without an appreciation for things. Her in-laws remained supportive of her and her children even when her ex-husband was non-supportive,

Whitman had an acting agent at age six. She was born Kathleen Buck (and never saw her father growing up and later learned she had a different father from her siblings. She used her mother’s maiden name, Coleman, while acing She first worked as Goldilocks in a Shakley’s Pizza commercial. More commercial work followed, including a part in the play “Gypsy”.

One commercial would quality as work during an unemployment compensation period. Coleman, along with numerous other celebrities, lived off of unemployment compensation.

Coleman was selected as one of the 16 members of the changing membership of the Mike Curb Congregation Congregation singing group.

Coleman was cast in the Saturday morning TV series “Land of the Lost”. The only child actor was Phil Paley. Paley and Coleman had worked together prior in a Cheez-Its commercials Paley was the youngest second degree black belt at the time, studying under Chuck Norris. Later, Coleman and Paley lived together briefly.

The writers of “Last of the Lost” developed intelligent science for adult viewers with visuals for children. Several top notch directors such as Bob Lally, Gordon Wiles, and Dennis Steinmetz directed episodes. Denis Steinnetz, a noted make-up articles worked on the series. Two sound stages were used. A chroma blue key, a.k.a. “green screen:, was used. Coleman were blue corduroys in early episodes that were changed o burgundy as the blue pants color faded in the chroma key blue.

Dinosaur close-ups involved hand puppets. Coleman noted “they could have been done better.”

Wesley Eure, an actor on the series, was originally billed as “Wesley”. He and Coleman would comptee for ad libs and last close-up shots.

When Coleman had to cry in a scene, Wesley Eure held her was she released tears. After her performance that included crying, the crew gave her a sanding ovation.

“Land of the Lost” declined in viewership when Spencer Milligan, who player her father on the show, He was replaced by Ron Harper, who was cast as her uncle. Spencer had acted as a father, which appealed to young viewers. Uncle Jack wanted to display sex appeal, Scenes between Coleman and Harper were visibly tense.

Coleman appeared singing on national TV during the Macy’s Day Parade. Minutes before she saw her mother having an epileptic seizure. She had to appear on TV not knowing if her mother was still alive. Her mother did survive.

Coleman’s agent turned down being on “One Day at a Time”. This was even though fellow cast member Wesley Eure was doing two TV shows at the time. Her agent didn’t want her to do that.

Spencer Milligan was upset that there were no payments for cast members for merchandising with their images. Milligan did not get along with producer Marty Kroft. Milligan left the show.

Ron Harper was added to the show. He made inappropriate advances to women on the set, including 14 year old Coleman on the set which was captured on tape. Coleman’s mother threatened to report the incident. She was offered the option of having the incident reported and shutting down the show, or accepting an apology from Harper. Her mother needed the income and agreed to the apology. Harper gave a weak apology. The tape was destroyed.

“Land of the Lost” was the top rated children’s show. It lost ratings as fans became confused and upset that Milligan was no longer on the show. The show lasted three seasons.

Coleman got a job in “Adam 12” through connections during a dinner discussion. Coleman writes “that’s how this business works. When you know someone and they can help you, then they do and that’s the beauty of it.”

Coleman filmed her last set of commercials for Burger King at age 17 before marrying, divorcing an abusive husband, and returning at age 29.

After divorcing a second abusive husband, who were sometimes homeless, Coleman was homeless alone for two months. She learned homeless people tend to be among the nicest people.

Coleman developed an alcohol addiction. It became serious enough that she was hospitalized for a month. She found recovery.

Coleman auditioned for the second “Land of the Lost” TV series. The director stated she gave the best reading but shoe was not cast.

Colmean filmed a scene with the “Land of the Lost” movie. Her cameo was deleted from the final movie when it was decided to use a different humorous ending.

The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction by Linda Gray

Linda Gray. The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction. New York, N.Y.: Regan Arts, 2015.

At age five, in 1945, the author contracted polio. She was told she would be unable to walk. Her parents exercised her legs and her legs regained their functions. Her parents signed her to dance classes. At her first performance, she was scared yet her mother appreciated she could walk and dance at all. In 2012, at age 75, People magazine declared she had the “Sexiest Legs in the Universe”.

Linda Gray started acting in school She “came to associate acting with relief, calm, and confidence.” At age 16, she began modeling work. She auditioned for TV only to learn there was an industrial prejudice against models as people who couldn’t speak well.

Linda Gray enrolled in the CEC Studio acting class in Burbank. Her classmates included  Carl Weathers, Dee Wallace, Susan Blakey, and Veronica Hamel. Hamel would later win an Emmy for which Gray was also nominated. This class used the Conrad Method of memorizing scripts, repeating them rapidly to desensitize the actor to emotions, and remove preconceptions regarding the roles. The acting coach Charles E. Conrad explained that “Acting is reacting.”

Gray received parts on some TV shows, including playing a transsexual on “All That Glitters” where Norman Lear declared to her, and she was not sure how to take this, “You’re perfect for the role.”

Gray auditioned to be on “Dallas”. She won the role of Sue Ellen Ewing. Her portrayal of an alcoholic helped persuade alcoholic viewers to recognize their own problems and to obtain help.

A voice coach helped Linda Gray develop a Texas accent. Gray researched her character to better play the part, The “Who Do It?” episode of “Dallas” drew 80 million viewers, more people than had voted for President a few weeks earlier. Worldwide there were 370 million who viewed that episode.

Gray was nominated for an Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1981. Her contract ended after eight seasons on “Dallas”. She asked to direct a episode. She had studied directing with Lilyan Chauvin. She learned camera shots, blocking, camera height tricks, etc. The show executives at first refused to let her direct and they fired her from the show Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy had directed, The executive’s response was if Linda Gray directed then other women would want to direct. Larry Hagman threatened to leave the show if Gray was not signed, The executives relented and let her direct an episode. The show she directed received great ratings She later directed three additional episodes.

Gray left “Dallas” after its eleventh season. SHe filmed some TV movies. She learned about Aaron Spelling’s new show “Models Inc.” and asked to be considered for the show. She auditioned in front of 30 people and was hired. The show, though, flopped and received bad critical reviews. It lasted one season.

Gray had a recurring role in the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful”. She had to memorize 30 pages of dialogue daily.

In 2011, “Dallas” returned with a new cast yet with Gray, Patrick Duffy, and Larry Hagman returning to their old roles. Hagman died in 2012, “Dallas 2.0: lasted three seasons.

Eddie by Ken Osmond

Ken Osmond and Christopher J. Lynch. Eddie: The Life and Times of America's Preeminent Bad Boy. San Bernardino, Ca.: EvookeditingServices.com, 2014.

Ken Osmond's father worked at Universal Studios. Ken began taking drama classes at age 4. Dancing lessons were then added. He worked as an extra in movies. In 1952, his first role was a small port on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet". He then had a role in the movie "Good Morning Miss Dove". This was following by more TV appearances, including an episode of "Corky" in 1957 which started Micky Lopez as Corky. He later, in 1957, won the role of Eddie Haskell on "Leave It to Beaver". It originally was meant for one episode He would up being in 97 of the show's 235 episodes.

"Leave It to Beaver" began with Monday table reads while led to script revisions. The scenes were blocked on Tuesdays. Child labor loads had a maximum of eight hours working per day including three hours of school.

"Leave It to Beaver" moved from Republic Studios to a better deal at Universal Studios.

After the show was cancelled, Osmond went into the helicopter rental business He then because a Los Angeles Police Officer. He was wounded when shot pursuing a suspect. He was also questioned by Internal Affairs asking if he was an adult film star. It turned out that porn star John Holmes was cleaning to have been Eddie Haskell. Osmond appeared in a few TV episodes.

A Fine Romance by Candace Bergen

Candace Bergen. A Fine Romance. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.

Bergen auditioned for the TV series"Murphy Brown". She writes her audition "tanked" as she didn't have a comedic background. Diane English, a showwriter- producer, insisted Bergen was the right person and Bergen was hired. Bergen writes "in television, writer-producers are king---queen, in this case."

Bergen fund performing in a sitcom that "I was in a state of shock. It was a complete out of body experience, a dramatic difference format: four cameras filmed before a live audience."

On "Murphy Brown", the writers often worked past midnight for the Monday table reads.The scripts were good and there was no improvisation, Bergen writes.

A running gag on the show was Bergen's character was so difficult she had a different secretary each week. Among those portraying her secretary were Sally Field, Paul Reubens, Michael Kramer, and Bette Midler.

Bergen won five Emmys, the most anyone ever won for the same role. She withdrew her name during the show's seventh season.

The show "Murphy Brown" engaged in cultural commentary. The show became part of the culture. Vice President Dan Quayle criticized "Murphy Brown" for depicting a single woman raising a child. This created a national discussion.

Bergen loved her work. In the 7th season, some of the other cast returned from time off complaining about returning to the grind yet Bergen enjoyed working. What did trouble her was her husband was ill, in failing health, and then died.

After "Murphy Brown" ended, Bergen had an interview show on Oxygen called "Exhale with CandaceBergen". It ran for two seasons.

Bergen was in movies, yet as Bergen writes, "demand for me never returned to the degree it has been with "Muphy". Bcause I had become a click: a middle aged actress marginalized in her career. Jobs dry up. Visibility is gone." She would then be cast on the TV series "Boston Legal" with James Spader. Spader, she writes, "is truly eccentric, initially a bit prickly, hyper focused and hyper intelligent."

So That Happened by Jon Cryer

Jon Cryer. So That Happened: A Memoir. New York, N.Y.: New American, 2015.

On the first day filming his first movie, the scene was supposed to be one of birds pooping on Cryer and other cast members. The director, Robert Altman was upset as the angle of the bird poop was appearing sideways, which was not realistic. Altman positioned himself and dropped fake bird poor on Cryer and other actors. Thus begun Cryer's film career.

Cryer first appeared on TV at age 4. His mother was in a commercial for Zestab vitamins where she was asked if she had children. Cyer and his sister were then added to the commercial.

Cryer studied acting under Dr. Jack Ramano, who was known for throwing chairs and once criticizing someone singing with "you sound like a fart in a balloon." Cryer stated Ramano was cruel "but it never came off as true cruelty---it was always inbred with the feeling that he wanted you to be better."

Cryer attended a summer program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. There, June Kemp taught mask work, where a student wore a mask and then performed body motions to match the mask.

Cryer won a role understudying Matthew Broderick in the play "Brighton Beach Memoirs" as he looked like Broderick. He was then offered to understudy the lead in "Torch Song Trilogy" where he was fired the first day for not knowing his lines. He was given a second chance and later replaced the lead. He toured with the play where Robert Altman saw him for his movie "O.C. and Stiggs".

Altman liked improvisation. The movie was released three years after it was filmed.

Cryer dated Demi Moore. He learned she cheated on him and had a drug problem.

Cryer was cast in the movie "Pretty in Pink". The costume designed decided his character would wear nothing that matched, thus showing his clash of personalities. "Pretty in Pink" was originally  filmed with the female lead, portrayed by Molly Ringwald, being with Cryer's character. Test markerig felt the lead girl should should overcome social barriers and be with the wealthy guy at the movie's end. Cryer admits he was "mystified" by his character ending up with someone he had just met. Cryer learned that Molly Ringwald wanted Robert Downey Jr for his part Rinwald later stated she could see chemistry between herself an Downey but not with Cryer. Cryer wonders if Ringwald sabotaged him for the new ending.

The director picked Cryer to be in another John Hughes produced movie. Yet the director was fired and Cryer lost his part along with the director

Cryer was given a Paramount office to produce movies. In reality it was a way to keep an actor at a studio. None of their ideas were actually made. Cryer than got his own office. He produced a movie
"Adult Education" as the first of four movies of his that bombed in 1987.

Cryer was on a short-lived TV show "The Famous Teddy Z". Its cancellation left Cryer emotionally bruised.

Cryer found success in the move "Hot Shots". He worked with Charlie Sheen who spent evenings at clubs and strip clubs, yet this never affected his acting.

cryer auditioned for, but did not get, the role of Chandler on "Friends".

Cryer co-wrote, starred in, and produced  a notable independent film "Went to Coney Island…."

Cryer was in a movie "The Pompatous of Love". The financier never paid the Screen Actors Guild he small amount for residuals. The Guild seized the film and sold it for less than $10,000.

Cryer was facing financial ruin and his marriage was in trouble. He was then offered two roles, to be on "Battlestar Gallactica" and "Two and a Half Men". He felt the "Two and a Half Men" would work as he felt good vibes filming the pilot. Charlie Sheen was "a natural". The writers were funny. The show opened o great rations and held most of its original audience.

Charlie Sheens's ability to drink and party late at night and still act began fading away Sheen began criticizing the show. He demanded producer Chuck Lorre and others be fired. Lorrie fired him.

Hugh Grant was picked to be added to the cast. Grant changed his mind. Ashton Kuchner was added to the cast.

Sheen later apologized. He was using testosterone cream that made hm angry. Ironically, the demands Sheen made happened. 

Journey Through the Unknown by Murray Langston

Murray Langston, a.k.a. The Unknown Comic. Journey Through the Unknown...Albany, Ga.: BearManor Media, 2013.

The first celebrity Langston ever met was Mickey Rooney. Langston went up to Rooney. Rooney ignored him completely. The second celebrity Langston met was Jayne Mansfield, who was nice to all her fans Langston decided when he became known, he would treat his fans as Mansfield did.

Langston, a Canadian, joined the U.S. Navy. He wanted to work in radar. His Canadian citizenship removed him from his radar job and he was placed on latrine duty. Upset, he went AWOL then gave himself up. In explaining his situation, he was offered another non-classified position, He chose Special Services, where he became a naval radio disc jockey.to a crew of 2,000. In this job, hemet Bob Hope who told him “Actors are a dime a dozen. Comedians can always become actors but actors can rarely become comedians.”

Langston got a job in the computer division of Universal Studios. He used to sneak onto set. He was stunned when he saw John Wayne wore a toupee.

Langston saw the Discovery of the Week segment on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In”. Unaware of standard business procedures where usually only agents contact producers, Langston called NBC and asked to speak to the show’s producer. He was put through to its producer George Schlatter. Langston told Schlatter he did an impression of a fork. Schlatter asked him to audition his act, which consisted of him standing with his hands up. His audition was before Schlatter as well as two people he would later work with, Chris Bearcle and Alan Blye. Langston heard no laughter or response during his audition, Yet they called him the next day to say they liked it and he was put on the show.

Langston auditioned for a five minute comedy sketch before George Jessel for his comedy club. He has hired. When he performed, the audience did not laugh much. He wondered why his audition went so well yet the same material bombed before an audience.

Langston got a lead in a comedy play “Dracula Sucks”.

He then was hired to be on the “Sonny and Show Show” performing skits at $1,000 weekly. The show began as a summer replacement series and then became a regular series.

Langston learned Cher had natural comedic talent. He once dressed as a werewolf and tried to see Cher with his furry hand. Cher was not scared and immediately responded “Sonny, your mother’s here.” He did successfully scare Carol Burnett with a similar werewolf costume prank while she was having her makeup applied.

Steve Martin was one of the show’s writers and performed on some sketches.
Langston continued performing in comedy clubs

Langston and an African American comic, Freeman ing, joined appearing in Sonny and Cher’s live show. King responded to a heckler, who was a casino high roller, with a standard line for hecklers “why are you bothering us trying to do our job. We don’t go to your job and take away your plunger, do we?” When they then went to shake the heckler’s hand, he refused and instead left and demanded they be fired. Sonny fired them. Langston believes Sonny should instead have defended them. Langston notes Sonny often belittled his cast, referring to them as “atmosphere”.

The cast attended Sonny’s birthday party yet the cast did not buy him a gift When Sonny observed this, one of the cast told Sonny never gave them any gifts. Sonny jokingly threatened to fire them, yet he saw the cast stuck together, They kept their jobs.

Sonny and Cher divorced. The split was vicious. “The Sonny Comedy Hour” was created that kept the same cast. Ratings dropped and it was cancelled after six shows.

Langston observed “Achieving success in Showbiz is primarily being at the right place at the right time with the right look. Talent, though a plus, is usually secondary. However, what ensures is the more talent you possess, the longer ou last in the business.”

Langston and several of the “Sonny and Cher Show” cast were hired to appear on “The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show.”

Langston opened his own comedy club. Comedy roasts were held there.

Langston was on “The Bobby Vinton Show” in Canada performing comedy sketches. He found Bobby Vinon the most aloof of actors who never socialized with any of the cast. Alan Thicke worked on the show and did not like Langston and wanted Langston fired.

Langston then appeared of “The Lola Fanala Show”.

Langston heard about an amateur talent show called “The Gong Show” that gave $500 prizes. Union members who did not win got $250. Langston decided to appear on the show wearing a bag over his head so that those who knew him would not recognize him. He called himself the Unknown Comic. He insulted the host Chuck Barris., who on air closed the curtain on Langston’s act. After the show, Barris told Langston he loved the act and asked him to return on the show show. Barris then hired Langston at $500 per week. Barris then added Langston as a writer on the show.

Langston also appeared on “The Wolfman Jack Show”. He filmed 20 episodes in a month in Vancouver. He found Wolfman Jack as one of the nicest he ever met.

Langston was hired to be on the “Everyday” afternoon talk show. The show ran si months as it did not fare well against the “Phil Donahue” show.

The Improv and the Comedy Store refused to pay comedy acts performing at these clubs, Comics, including David Letterman and Jay Leon, went on strike demanding $25 per night, The Improv agreed first, he Comedy Store, owned by Mitzi Shore, gave in after five weeks. Shore refused to let strike leaders perform at the Comedy Store

Langston believes Billy Crystal primarily associates with people who can help his career. He did not seem to associate with other comics whom Crystal may have felt were beneath him

Langston learned his agent took not only 15% of his earnings yet also got expenses, including flying first class to see Langston perform at venues where Langston flew coach, Langston was further upset to see his lawyer charged $250 to review standing contracts at talk shows that paid $300.

Langston told a joke on his “Make Me Laugh” TV show that “Frank Sinatra recently opened a halfway house for girls who won’t go all the way.” Sinatra called Langston threatening to “break your fucking head into a million tiny pieces.”

Langston starred in the Playboy Channel’s “The Unknown Comedy Hour”. It was that channel’s second highest rated show.

Langston was in the movie “The Being” with Martin Landau.

Bill Osco, a porn film producer, produced Langston in Playboy Channel’s “The Sex and Violence Hour”. It also starred Jim Carrey.

Langston appeared in the movie “Stiches”. He was not given a script and was told to ad lib his role, which he did.

Langston appeared on the Jerry Lewis’s Muscular Dystrophy Telethon He was pleased to see the audience and crew all wearing bags over their hards in honor of his character.

Langston acted in a move “Lightening the White Stallion” with Mickey Rooney. Langston was saddened to see Rooney was as difficult a man as when he first met him, noting that “it was truly embarrassing watching that pitiful, self-absorbed, self-proclaimed icon.”

Langston was the sidekick to Larry Anderson during a run of “Truth or Consequences”.

Langston borrowed $100,000 and produced his own film “Up Your Alley”. He co-starred in it with Linda Blair. It was profitable, His reputation for making money on a low budget allowed him to direct “Wishful Thinking” for an investor who risked $200,000. It make a profit on distribution.

Langston hosed 40 episodes of “Comic Strip Loive”,. He hen appearing in a movie “Bringing Up Business” with Gary Owens.

Langston appeared on and was a writer on “Candid Camera with Do DeLuise I lasted six months. He believes editing problems hurt the show as editors were not aware of what was funny while working under pressure to edit for a daily television show.

George Clooney did a movie “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” based on Chuck Barris’s autography. Langston learned the role of the Unknown Comic had been cast without anyone contacting hi. Langston’s attorney noted that the Unknown Comic was a copyrighted character that could not be used without Langston’s permission, Since the Unknown Comic scenes had already been filmed, Looney offered Langston to play himself in the movie. Langston accepted

Sons of Anarchy by Tara Bennett

Tara Bennett. Sons of Anarchy: The Official Collector’s Edition. New York: Time Home Entertainment, 2014

The TV series “Sons of Anarchy” arose out of show creator’s Kurt Sutter’s personal interests in motorcycle clubs (MC). While he was never in an MC, he lived on the fringes and was enamored with the MC lifestyle.

Sutter received an MFA from Northern Illinois University and worked on several TV shows. Sutter researched MCs. He wanted a realistic show, Sutter admits “Hamlet” is an inspiration for the series.

Scott Glenn was originally cast as Clay Morrow. glenn did not seem to deliver the dark human that was wanted. His role was recast and the reshot for the pilot with Ron Perlman.

The show was about an MC club started by Vietnam veterans. The club smuggled goods and drugs. A club founder John Teller saw these as acceptable yet found the club losing its moral focus when it began running guns.

Charlie Hunnan identified with his role of Jax Teller, John Teller’s son. Hunnan’s father has forsaken life in a British industrial or mine setting and opted for the criminal life Hunnan acted with an American accent. Hunnan researched the role with an MC members similar to his character,, whose father has been a founding member of his MC club.

Actor Ryan Hurst admits “I auditioned for the show because I wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I don’t think I read the entire script.” His character was intended to die at the end of the first season. Her popular performances kept his character alive longer.

Actor Chris Telford was a DJ who face was slashed with a knife in a mugging A friend asked him to join a theater company. He turned to acting.

Actor Kim Coates auditioned for two “Sons of Anarchy” roles. He got neither. He was offered a newly created role. Coates read the role and replied “this is not for me...I have not desire to play a one note dark guy.” Sutter convinced him the role would involved more depth. Coates signed onto the show that night. Coates admits he sometimes struggled with the role, yet realized despite the character’s many weird emotions, he was loyal.

Kurt Sutter told actor Theo Rossi “I don’t know if you’re going to be in one of hundred. I just know I want you on the show.” Rossi accepted.

William Lucking first acted in a biker movie “Hell’s Belles” in 1969. He crushed his leg when his motorcycle went off a bridge while filming “Harold and Maude” He rode a Tri Glide on the series.

Sutter hired himself in a role. It would take an hour of make-up for his character.

Kurt Sutter is friends with actor Ally Walker. The role of Agent June Stahl was written for her.

Rockmond Dunbar’s character was originally planned for one season, He became such a fan favorites his character lasted three seasons.

The production designer Anthony Medina, along with Kurt Sutter, sought authentic looks Medina researched MC clubs,

Director of Photography Paul Maibaum and Executive Producer / Principal Director Paris Barclay planned the cinematography. They sought a “modern day western” feel. People by doorways and background items were frayed. Exteriors had a “bleached, dried-out, dusty look”. Theatrical light was avoided for a realistic feel.

The Principal Director creates a cohesive direction for all Directors. This series was filmed as if it were really happening. Kurt Sutter provided the tone.

The show did not use clothing with advertising. The Sons of Anarchy members wore black. Mayas wore green and blue. Gemma would wear a $5 halter under a $1,500 jacket.

Tattoos were applications.

Exterior shots for the Northern Ireland portion were filmed in Northern Ireland. Local bikes rode in an aerial shot. North Hollywood served as most scenes depicting Northern Ireland.

The show was Bob Thiele Jr.’s first as a music supervisor. He had written before with Katey Sagal, who portrays Gemma and is married to Kurt Sutter. He led an existing band, the Forest Rangers, and used it as a house band. Thiele would send original songs to Sutter. Suter would sometimes add to the songs. Thiele and Sutter never collaborated together simultaneously.

Tammie Baird served as a stunt double for Katey Sagal during Gemma’s rape scene.

Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris. Choose Your Own Autobiography: You Are the Star in N.P.H.’s Life Story. New York: Crown Archetype, 2014.

Harris recalls when young meeting Keith Carradine backstage Harris notes “time image will stick with you forever. For two hours he was a conjurer summoning up the spirit of a beloved icon; now, once again, he’s just one of the crowd. Heralded, then anonymous. That’s preforming.”

Harris had an agent who got an audition for Harris with Steven Bocho. After a callback he was cast as Doogie Howser on “Doogie Howser M.D.” The role had challenges, including learning to say a line in fluent Japanese.

Newborn babies, by California law, are limited ot working 20 minutes at a time. Twins or tripes are often used. Harris once asked a mother why she chose this work and she replied “I don’t know, they  just seem to enjoy it.”

California law limits children to nine and half hours per day of work which includes three hours for required school and one for lunch.

Harris learned he could not socialize with his costar Max Casella, when he calls “the secret ingredient behind the show’s success” because people would swarm them.

“Doogie Howser M.D.” ran for four seasons from 1989 to 1993, Typecast as Doogie Howser, Harris had trouble landing another TV series, Yet he did several movies and 13 made for television movie from 1988 and 2001. He appeared on episodes of several TV shows. He also did theater work.

Harris was asked to appear in the TV series “How I Met Your Mother”. He found the pilot script funny and “unusually for a pilot it did not feel derivative of other shows.” The show lasted nine seasons. He credits CBS for not moving it around so it built an audience that could find it. It was always on Monday nights at either 8 pm or 8:30 pm.

“How I Met Your Mother” was filmed with multiple cameras. It did not use a live studio audience. This gave the show more flexibility to reshoot and edit.

During the strike in 2007, Josh Weldon asked Harris, for no pay, to be in an online musical “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog.” Harris trusted Weldon so much that he accepted without seeing a script. Viewer reaction was overwhelmingly positive. 

Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

Lena Dunham. Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned.” New York: Random House, 2014.

Dunham made a web series called “Delusional Downtown Divas”. THere were ten episodes filmed. THey used many of their parents’ friends in small role “who still viewed us as children doing an adorable class project.” In retrospect, she notes the camera was shaky and the images blurry. It was “amateurish, a little vulgar.” It was shown at a SoHo gallery.

In 2009, the Delusional Downtown Divas hosted the Guggenheims First Annual Art Awards.

Dunham observes that filming a sex scene is “weird”. While many actors call it part of their job she sometimes found the experience “humiliating”. She does not think of the audience while filming nude. She notes “getting naked feels better some days”. She is not afraid to do them. She appreciates that showing her body imperfections allows others to more easily accept their body imperfections.

Dunham is Executive Producer, writer, director, and acts on the HBO TV series “Girls”. She has won two Best Actress Golden Glove awards. She has been nominated for eight Emmy Awards. She also wrote and directed tow movies.

Dunham’s grandmother Carol Marguerite Reynolds was her best friend until age 12. She felt her loss deeply when she died. Carol’s sister Doris “Doad” Reynolds Jetwett died on December 10, 2003 at age 100.

So, Anyway…by John Cleese

John Cleese. So, Anyway....New York:Crown, 2014.

Cleese learned when young that humor was a useful tactic in dealing with bullies.

Cleese was involved in theater in Clifton College. In his first straight acting performance, the sight f him in tights as the supposedly fearsome Satan drew audience laughter instead of the intended fear. Cleese never worked in straight acting again for 37 years.

Cleese met Graham Chapman at Cambridge. They performed in theater together. He learned his strength was comedic timing. He notes comedic timing “depends on confidence; you cannot o great comedy if you are not relaxed...any anxiety, any tension. and the flow goes wrong, you snatch at the joke, you force too hard, you lose the rhythm.” He notes “the greatest cure for anxiety is familiarity. The better you know the sketch...the more effortly it starts to flow.”

Cleese worked at BBC Radio. He wrote for an early evening magazine show. He then wrote comedy sketches.

He then toured New Zealand for six weeks with “Cambridge Circus”. During one performance, a bell tester did his job testing the bell. “Cambridge Circus” played on Broadway. He later appeared on Broadway in “Half a Sixpence”.

David Frost asked Cleese to work on his sketch show “The Frost Report”. Cleese also helped work and perform on a David Frst comedy series “Frost Over Britain”.

David Frost was listed as the lead writer of his shows although some wondered if he wrote any of his shows. It was noted by another writer “how greatly David has always improve our punctuation.”

Cleese worked on “The Frost Programme” that aired three times a week. Terry Gilliam was hired to sketch guest Shirley Bassey. From that show, Cleese learned “ that when you stop concentrating on avoiding mistakes, you relax a bit, and consequently...you actually make fewer” mistakes.

Frost offered Cleese his own show. He did 13 episodes of “At Last the 1948 Dhow”. He included fellow writer Marty Feldman, who had not acted in awhile, and Graham Chapman.

Cleese notes wen Graham Chapman told Cleese that Chapman was homosexual, Cleese was surprised but it did not affect their writing relationship in any way. hey wrote several movie and numerous TV scripts together.

Cleese appeared in the move “The Magic Christian” with Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr. Cleese states Sellers and director Jimmy Burrows were two geniuses that he worked with.

Chapman liked the TV show “Do Not Adjust Your Set” which starred Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam animation. Chapman ased the, if they wanted to work with him and Chapman. The idea of all these people working together was approved without a pilot.

Graham Chapman died of cancer in 1989 at age 48. Cleese noted Chapman “had a priceless, quite uncanny knack of knowing what the audience was going to laugh at.”

Clleese notes most of Monty Python were primarily writers rather than performers. They never fought over casting seeking instead to put the wrong person with the right role.

Pigtails, Presley, and Pepper by Cynthia Pepper

Cynthia Pepper with Victor J. Hangor. Pigtails, Presley, and Pepper: A Holllywood Memoir. Author House, 2014.

Pepper recalls residuals from one of her movies. The first residual check was for $300, the second check was for $13, the third was for $7, and the fourth was for $2.

Pepper’s grandfather worked in vaudeville. Her father was an actor appearing in moves and on an “Our Gang” episode.

Pepper modeled and appeared in theater as a child At the age of 12, she appeared in her first movie with Cary Grant. She was shocked when she heard Cary Grant swear.

When in high school at Hollywood High School, Pepper joined a sorority, Each sorority met under a tree, Stephanie Power was in her sorority, She recalls when some boys were mad at her sorority and they cut down their tree.

Pepper appeared in episodes of “The Many Lives of Dobie Gillis” among other series. She then had steady work appearing on “My Three Sons” The other actors and crew made her fell welcome. Fred MacMurray would quickly film his scenes and leave. The rest of the cast then filmed their scenes. Actors talking to Fred MacMurray’s character would speak to an off-screen mop.

Pepper’s character dated Tom Considine’s character in “My three Sons”. In real life, she was married and he had a girlfriend They were friends and did go on double dates.

Pepper was paid $400 a week for being on “My Three Sons”. SHe was on eight episodes from 1960 to 1961.

Pepper was then cast in the TV series “Margie” as Margie. The studio had unwritten rules of no obscenities and no smoking. The show as shot with one camera on 35 mm black and white film in front of a live audience even though a laugh track was added As “Margie” was successful, Pepper was then hired to sing on reords. She jokes “this record is my Million Seller...that’s right, I’ve got a Million in My Cellar”. Marie merchandise was also produced with her likeness. She has never paid for any of the merchandising. She was pictured on a TV Guide cover which became, for then, the highest selling issue.

“Margie” lased two seasons on ABC, despite its 20 share, The show was costly to produce. ABC was moving towards showing more Westerns. Proctor and Gamble, wich sponsored “Margie” began moving their advertising towards more daytime soap operas.

Pepper next filmed an episode of “The United States Steel Hour”.

MGM called Pepper film “Kissin’ Cousins” with Elvis Presley. Elvis called her Speckled Pup. There is a scene where Pepper throws Elvis to the ground. As a joke, Elvis pretended to be unconscious after falling.

Pepper’s contract work was over after “Kissin’ Cousins”. She worked on some TV episodes She did a guest appearance on “My Three Sons”. She then got the role of the neighbor on “The Addams Family”. She filmed a pilot “Three Coins in the Fountain” which was not selected yet was shown on TV five years later as a TV movie.

Pepper appeared in summer stock theater in “Under the Yum Yum tree” with Edd Byrnes and David Hedison, Tab Hunter later replaced Hediosn. Margaret O’Brien replaced her.

Chuck McCann's Let's Have Fun Scrapbook by Chuck McCann

Chuck McCann. Chuck McCann’s Let’s Have Fun Scrapbook: My Life in the Wacky World of Live Kids’ Television. Tuluca Lake, Ca., 2012.

McCann knew from childhood he wanted to perform. He did impressions as a child for those around him. His grandfather juggled and rode a unicycle in Bill Cody’s West Show His father was a musician who toured with orchestras.

After high school, McCann appeared in the Pasadena Playhouse. He enjoyed being a character actor. He worked as a comedian in New York clubs and on variety shows. He then apprenticed in the “Rootie Kazotte Show” with puppeteer Paul Ashley. Ashley and McCann traveled with thier puppet acts. Their New York TV show was often picked up live in mid-broadcast in other cities in other time zones such as Chicago.

Sandy Becker of WNEW-TV asked McCann to take over his comedy show while he was on vacation. McCann was asked this on a Friday to begin the next Monday McCann wrote a show with Dick Gautier.

Live television for McCann included drinking buttermilk in a commercial that made him sick, animals that bit him and drew blood, and a commercial with a talking doll that broke and wouldn’t stop talking.

McCann and Dick Van Dyke did impressions of Laurel and Hardy on WPIX-TV. They also did impressions of Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton.

WPIX expanded the hours McCann was on TV. In 1960, his “Let’s Have Fun” was a live four hour show.

McCann’s show was profitable for WPIX. Yet the show was not given a budget, McCann had to pay for whatever he needed for the show, Costumes were found from the Salvation Army store. The show was filmed in a small space no intended to be used as a TV studio. The lights were two feet about McCann. His hair once caught fire.

McCann was once fired from a cannon It shot his clothes out yet left him inside.

During a newspaper strike, McCann, a la Fiorello LaGuadia reading comics on the radio during an earlier strike, acted out the comics.

There was no live live audience in most of McCann’s shows. He fed off the crew’s laughter, When a program manager insisted children appear in a Kookie Fortune Cooke Contest, he had a child open and read a fortune cooke from a local fortune cooke company who sent over the wrong batch. The fortune read “Sex will be risky tonight.” The contest was quickly cancelled.

Leon the Lion, the MGM lion, appeared on McCann’s show. The lion escaped, went into an elevator, exited into the lobby and swiped a fur coat off a woman, The station put the woman and a friend up at the Waldorf Astoria and got them show tickets and a fancy dinner.

Bert Draeturrous, an engineer on McCann’s show, invented showing film backwards. McCann invented a character Mr. Backwards. The signal from the backwards film, though, failed to meet FCC broadcast standards so they had to stop using it. McCann showed the technique to Steve Allen. Allen could afford the preamplifier that made the process work according to FCC standards.

McCann and Earl Doud created the CBS show “Far Out Space Nut” which starred Bob Denver.

The first MdDonald’s TV ad in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area was on McCann’s show. He had to eat and pretend to enjoy a sandwich which had gone cold.

McCann once ate what he thought was ice cream with chocolate syrup only to discover it was a potato underneath the syrup as ice cream melts He had to talk while being unable to swallow it,

The Federal Communications Commission in 197 required fewer product endorsements by children’s show hosts. In 1968, sensing the changing directions of children’s TV programming, left children’s TV. He was in the movie “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter”. McCann later did comedy tours with Tim Conway. 

Just Between Us by Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez with Steven Santagati. Just Between Us. New York, N.Y.: Celeba, Penguin Group, 2014.

The author has worked in the entertainment business since age 10. He started doing commercials. He was on the TV series “Saved By the Bell”, was a guest judge on “Dancing with the Stars”, and now hosts “Extra”.

Lopez was a chubby baby, claiming to look like a sharpei dog. He grew up in Chula Valley, Ca. near the Mexican border. It was whispered some of relatives were involved in the drug cartel.

Lopez’s mother enrolled him in dance class at age nine, which he questions as “what cool boy ever took a dance class?” He found he liked it and enjoyed being the only boy in class dancing with girls.

Christine Guerrero, a talent agent who specialized in representing children and young people was at a dance recital where Lopez danced. Lopez’s mother approached Guerreo who had liked his dancing. Lopez read for her at her San Diego office and she took him as a client. His first work was in local print ads. He then was cast in 1984 as a regular on the TV series “A.K.A. Pablo”, a Norman Lear production that showcased Hispanic actors. He enjoyed working with guest star Bea Arthur who answered many of his questions. Lopez remained in public school through graduation. “A.K.A. Pablo” filmed 13 episodes yet was canceled after six episodes. “TV Guide” ranks it as the 45th worst TV show of all time although Lopez argues it wasn’t on long enough for it to gain an audience.

Lopez met other child actors. He found Gary Coleman, who had several handlers, spoiled from all the attention. Ricky Schroder, on the other hand, was friendly and nice to Lopez and others.

In the fall of 1984. at age 11, Lopez was cast in the TV series “Kids Incorporated”. His dance and drumming skills were important to his work on the show. He recalls it as “the toughest job I ever worked” with a “tough as nails choreographer”. Off set, he exchanged 11 year kisses with Stacy Ferguson who is now knows as Fergie. He also did guest appearances on other shows such as “The Golden Girls”.

NBC developed a TV show “Good Morning, MIss Bliss” that it then rejected. The Disney Channel ran it but canceled it before its first season was over. NBC reclaimed the show, changed the focus from the teacher to the students, and renamed it “Saved by the Bell”. Mark Paul Gossler was kept as the lead along with Dustin Diamond and Lark Vorhies. New characters were created. Lopez won a role as one of the added characters. He was a permed mullet cut wig. The wardrobe was chosen by staff who attempted to follow current trends.

Lopez was friends with Dustin Diamond. Not everyone liked Diamond. Diamond would leave photographs of his penis around the set.

Mark Paul Gosselaur’s mother did not let him go to parties or hang out with the other kids.

Lopez was close to co-star Elizabeth Berkley as a “brother / sister” type relationship that continues to the present. He dated co-star Tiffani Thiessen off and on.

“Saved by the Bell” laster five seasons. It became more popular afterwards in syndication. There was a season long spin-off “Saved by the Bell: The College Years” which did not connect as well as the network did not want the characters to become too different from their high school characteristics.

Lopez did personal appearances. He was amused seeing how young girls would slip him their phone numbers, and then mothers would also slip him their phone numbers.

Lopez appeared as Greg Louganis in a TV movie “Breaking the Surface”. He was nominated for an ALMA Award.

Lopez hosted the reality TV show “Name Your Adventure:. He later co-hosted the talk show “The Other Half”. Dick Clark gave him lots of useful advice. Lopez then had a recurring role for four years on ?Nip/Tuck”. He was a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars” and won the contest He then hosted “America’s Best Dance Crew” on MTV in Los Angeles and would then fly to New York where he was on Broadway in “A Chorus Line”. He was later hired to host “Extra”.

He notes that, on movie press junkets, a stopwatch is used to time interviews and when the prescribed time is reached, the interview is over and then next interviewer takes over.

Lopez also had a radio show “ON with Mario Lopez’ that is nationally syndicated. It ranks best in its time slot in all major markets including Los Angeles. He also has a NOVO show “Mario Lopez: One on One”.

Merv by Michael Druxman

Michael Druxman. Merv. New York: Leisure Books, 1980.

Every guest on “The Merv Griffin Show”, a 90 minute talk show hosted by Merv Griffin, received the same scale salary as determined by the American Federation of Television / Radio Artists which (in the last 1970s) wa $337.50. Many large stars appeared for exposure, to increased demands for booking their performances, or to publication a work product.

Miss Miller was a fan who was in the audiences of the show as well as in the audience of other shows. Merv often recognized her. She was asked to give a review of a Broadway show for Merv’s show.

Merv Griffin was the late night talk show host on CBS-TV in 1969-72 against NBC’s Johnny Carson and ABC’s Joey Bishop and then Dick Cavett. Merv usually came in second in the ratings with Carson first.

Johnny Carson’s style was his quick wit and taking command of his show. Merv was better at letting guests have their say and Merv was better at making guests feel more comfortable.

Merv’s uncle Peter Griffin was a three time U.S. tennis doubles champion and Marv’’s father Mervyn Griffin was a California and Pacific Coast singles tennis champion.

Merv learned playing classical piano as a child and performed in backyard shows.

Merv spent some time with his Uncle Elmer who was rooming with actor Errol Flynn. Merv was stunned that Flynn was totally naked when he arrived. As Merv related, “but what really threw me is wen these beautiful ladies would come over and he still wouldn’t put any clothes on.” Merv enjoyed that he was constantly being sent to go see movies.

On Merv’s 18th birthday, he felt on inner voice that made him feel that the entertainment  business was his future. At 19, he went into radio station KFRC while driving by and asked for a staff musician job. There were no job available. A friend mentioned that Merv could sing. He was asked to sign and he was hired. Merv had a 25 minute daily “San Francisco Sketchbook” slot on a Thursday for $100. The next Monday, the show’s name was changed to “The Merv

Merv created Panda Records to release an album. His income was $1,100 a week and then $1,500 a week. Merv would make local San Francisco appearance with the orchestra on weekends.

As Merv was overweight with acne, no photos were sent to fans. Nor were there any studio audiences at his radio show.

Merv dieted and lost 80 pounds in four months.

Art Hickman in 1913 was among the first to have a band with an organized dance group.

Orchestra leader Freddy Martin needed a new lead singer when Stuart Wade left his band to try acting. Martin’s secretary listened to records of two singers and chose Merv. Martin auditioned Merv and offered him $175 per week with $25 raises ever 13 weeks. Martin wanted Merv to his vocalist and second piano player. Merv realized this was less than his $1,5000 weekly radio salary yet decided that touring would bring more exposure.

Merv recorded several hit records with Freddy Martin. Merv was paid a flat fee of $50

RCA Victor gave Merv a solo recording contract.

Merv appeared on a 1950 Universal 15 minute short film “Music by Martin” which was a Freddy Marti concert film. It took a day to film.

Merv did live commercials. He once did a commercial for a non-smear lipstick where a women kissed him. He wiped his lips with a handkerchief to show there was no smear, only to have his facial makeup appear.

Merv roomed in New York with Robert Clary. Clary would later appear in “Hogan’s Heroes”.

After four years of singing with Freddy Martin, Merv took a screen test that got him hired at Warner Brothers. He was requested to change his name to Mark yet refused.

Merv had a bit part in his first movie. Gossip columnists claimed that Merv feuded with Gordon MacRae. Merv states that was not true and was based on a Sammy Cahn joke that Merv was seeking to replace MacRae. Merc had one line in his second movie which starred MacRae. Merv was not in the billing.

Merv received second billing in his third film “So This is Love”.

Merv used to appear at premiers with a studio arranged fake date, Delores Dorn-Heft. They would speak to the press, go into the theater, separate, and leave. They wouldn’t stay to watch the film yet went only for publicity’s sake.

Merv and his date Marily Erskine went on a double date with Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. They all cross dressed as movie characters for a Jerry Lewis party. They were pulled over by a motorcycle police officer leading to much explanations.

Merv did voiceover work in a couple of films. He also re-dubbed an actor’s voice. He did background work while standing behind Jack E. Leonard. As Merv put it, “all through the movie it looked like Jack had a wart on his head-me!” He also recalled that Leonard was so heavy he had it written into his contract that a limo would drive him 50 feet to the commissary.

Merv’s personal manager then was George “Bullets” Durgom, who also represented Jackie Gleason. Durgom helped get Merv appearances on “The Jackie Gleason Show”.

Merv was in “The Boy from Oklahoma”. His character rode a horse, something Merv had never done. Merv was promised to be given two weeks of horse riding lessons. Yet he was called to ride a horse on his first day. He constantly fell off the horse. Merv ad-libbed Jackie Gleason’s expression “away we go” which was kept in the movie that was set in the 19th century,

Merv drove cross country when his engine block cracked in Harrisburg, Pa. The Ford dealer was not helpful until Merv called his friend Edsel Ford who told the dealer to give Merv a new motor.

Merv was dropped from appearing in a Kate Smith TV show which was sponsored by Esquire Boot Polish because of his name Griffin. A competitor to Esquire Boot Polish was Griffin Shoe Polish.

In 1955, Merv hosted the CBS Sunday morning program “Look Up and Live”. He was paid $119 per week. He would introduce singers and Protestant pastors plus provide background before drama skits. Merv lasted 13 weeks, The next 13 weeks had Catholics on. Merv was replaced rven though Merv was Catholic,

Merv hosted the CBS “The Morning Show” for six months until he was replaced by Will Rogers, Jr.

Merv was offered to replace Bob Smith, who had a heart attack, and appear as Hoody Doody. Merv declined.

In 1957, Merv hosted the ABC-TV weekend show “Going Places”. It began as a 45 minute program. Two months later it was increased to 1 hour, 45 minutes.

Merv parted company amicably with his manager Bullets Durgom. He hired Marty Kummer of MCA who would pay more attention to Merv’s career.

Merv had a CBS game show “Play Your Hunch”. ABC picked it up after CBS canceled it. After eight months it move to NBC/

In 1959, Merv had two records in the top 20.

Merv replaced Carl Reiner as a moderator on ABC-TV’s “Keep Talking” for $1,500 per show. He was also appearing regularly on “The Arthur Murray Party”. Merv substitued for Bud Collyer when vacationing as the host of “To Tell the Truth”. He also was a singer on the TV series “Music for a Summer Night”.

Merv in 1960 hosted NBCs “Saturday Prom” with a live orchestra led by Bobby Vinton and 500 teenagers dancing. A friend told Merv the show “looked like an auto accident”.

Merv hosted a game show “Play Your Hunch”. Jack Parr used to make a short cut through the studio where “Play Your Hunch” aired. Paar made an unscheduled appeared on “Play Your Hunch” while taking his short cut unaware the studio was in use. Paar was impressed with how Merv ad libbed. Paar used Merv to substitute for him in his interview show. Paar then left the show. Merv lasted for two weeks while a new host was sought. Merv enjoyed chatting with guest Arthur Treacher. Merv offered to make Treacher his side kick if Merv ever got his own show. Johnny Carson was selected as the new host.

Merv was replaced by Gene Rayburn in “Play That Hunch” in July 1962 as Merv begin his own 45 minute daytime chat show.

Merv had his show appeal to men and women. He also hired Bob Shanks to produce the show for $1,000 a week. Merv admits he could have hired Shanks for less yet he wanted to pay his producer more than Johnny Carson paid his.

Merv’s show lost to “Password” which had four times the number of viewers. Merv’s show was canceled April 1, 1963. Hundreds of letters were sent to NBC upset by the cancellation. It was the os tletters then ever received regarding a cancellation.

CBS hired Merv to host the summer show “Talent Scouts”.

Merv created his own TV company. He created the game show “Word for Word”. Merv then developed the idea for a game show “Jeopardy”. NBC bought the idea in 1964. “Jeopardy” was hosted by Art Fleming. It ran until 1974. In 1968, Merv’s company had four more game shows aired, although most did not last long.

Merv was approached to do an evening CBS talk show to compete against Johnny Carson Merv asked for double what Carson was paid, creative control, and he wanted to keep his same team of producer Bob Shaksn, band leader Mort Lindsey, director Kirk Alexander, and chief writer Bob Howard. There was a quick 20 negotiation and the deal was made. CBS then spent $2 million to make the Cort Theatre in New York City into a TV studio.

Merv’s first week ratings were close to Carson’s. Merv then lost about 30% of his audience as he slid into second place. Merv’s show was on CBS for 30 months.

CBS censored Abbie Hoffman, refusing to show him wearing his American flag shirt during his 40 minute interview. Ironically, a Ford commercial with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans that aired during the interview showed Rogers and Evans wearing the exact same shirt.

Merv’s show appeared on 150 CBS stations compared to Carson being on 210 NBC stations. Some CBS stations began showing Merv’s show in the afternoon instead.

Merv decided to move the show to Hollywood. Arthur Treacher ad Bob Shanks opted not to move with him The others did. The show was taped. Two tapes flew in two different airplanes to the east coast. The show aired two days after it was taped.

CBS network programmer Fred Silverman began suggesting a different type of show replace Merv. Merv asked to be released form his contract.

Merv left CBS knowing Metromedia would offer to take him.

CBS erased all their tapes of Merv’s shows.

Merv’s new show was directed by Dick Carso, brother of Johnny Carson. The show had guests centered around a theme.

I 1973, Carson moved his show from New York to Burbank.

Merv’s show, which was syndicated, had its highest ratings during its last half hour. THis was the opposite of late nights that lost viewers from 11:30 pm to 1 am.

Hugh O'Brian, or What's Left of Him by Hugh O'Brian

Hugh O’Brian with Virginia O’Brian. Hugh O’Brian, or What’s Left of Him: A Memoir, Bothell, Washington: Book Publishers, Network, 2014.

O’Brian was born Hugh Charles Krampe in 1925. He learned some magic acts as a child and performed at children’s birthday parties.

O’Brian joined the Marines. While in the active Marines, his name was drawn at random for a box match referred by actor John Wayne. His opponent was much bigger than he was. O’Brian, in the rink, ran from his opponent until the opponent collapsed from exhaustion, O’Brian fell on top of him to win the fight. When O’Brian met Wayne against years later, Wayne remembered that fight.

O’Brian was a contestant on the TV show “Blind Date” while in the Marines He received special permission to leave base but was told not to come back if he didn’t win. The contestants were given answers they were expected to give. When actor Virginia Mayo, who was seeking which contestant to choose, asked O’Brian why he wanted a date, O’Brian, instead of using his provided answer, replied “Because, ma’am, if I don’t win, I can’t go back to the base.” Mayo chose him. They went on the date, She invited him to her set at Goldwyn Studios,

After leaving active duty with the Marines, O’Brian’s girlfriend asked him if he could fill in for an actor in a stage play, as the actor had an emergency appendectomy. O’Brian agreed, never having actoed before The theater bill misspelled his name Krape. Deciding he didn’t want to be known as Hugh Krape (or Huge Krap), he used the stage names Saffer Gray and Hugh O’Brian.

He told a reported he learned about acting while in the Marines They don’t teach acting “but they do show you how to move your ass.”

A play reviewer introduced O’Brian to some theater professionals. He was hired to work in unpaid theater jobs. He eanred a living for three years as what his business card called an “exterior decorator”, which meant he moved lawns.

O’Brian got a job selling merchandise from office to office. He wold a tie to Milo Frank, an agent, who spoke with him and asked to represent him.

O’Brian did a cold reading with a friend of Milo Frank’s wife, actor Ida Lupino. She was unaware O’Brian had previously read he script and knew the characters, She told him he performed the best cold read ever and gave him the role, Years later, O’Brian told Lupio what he did and asked if she would still have hired him, to which she replied “It wouldn’t have made any difference, It was preordained.”

After doing the film with Lupino, Universal gave him a seven year studio contract.

The drama coach at Universal taught him that “the secret to acting is to to act”.

O’Brian won a coveted role at Universal by offering to shave his head. SInce contract workers were only paid 40 weeks a year, he insisted he be allowed to wear a big on his next role, they agreed, He filmed six movies wearing wigs.

Movie companies used to arrange dates between stars to generate publicity. Debbie Reynolds, who grew up in a strict home and had never kissed anyone before, was nervous when she learned she would have to kiss Gene Kelly in filming “Dancin’ in the Rain”.The studio arranged for Debbie Reynolds and Hugh O’Brian to go on a date, She recalls she at first turned down a kiss from O’Brian, stating she doesn’t kiss. Reynolds recalls O’Brian mentioning she had to kiss Gene Kelly O’Brian recalls Reynolds brought up the kiss with Kelly, They kissed. After the kiss, Reynolds recalls she exclaimed “Aw, that’s nothing. I can do that.” Yet, when Kelly kissed her, he used some tongue. Reynolds gagged, cried, and ran off. On the subsequent kiss, Kelly’s mouth does not move.

Both Abbott and Costellow were sick when they were supposed to film a movie, “Fireman, Save My Child”. Studio executives then decided to fil heir thinnest actor and their fattest actor O’Brian filmed the movie with Buddy Hackett. The studio then offered to make them into a comedy team yet they both turned it down.

During filming “Fireman, Save My Child”, O’Brian and Hackett were in a horse driven fire wagon that rode through San Francisco streets with the two of them having onto the side of the wagon. Some streets angled up to 45 degrees. Hackett began yelling “What the hell is this? Just find someone else who looks like me.”

O’Brian impressed studio executives by the amount of fan mail her received, He sent a lot of it in to himself.

O’Brian had been roommates with Johnny Stempanato at Kemper Military School. Stampanato was a bodyguard to mobster Mickey Cohen. Stampanato dated married women and then extorted them by threatening to reveal their relationships to their husbands. He did this to Lana Turner while filming with O’Brain in Mexico, O’Brian told this to the son of the Mexican President, Stompanato was expelled from Mexico,. When Turner removed to America, Stompanato broke into Turner’s bedroom where he was stabbed to death. Turner’s daugher Cheryl Crane, a minor, was convicted and sentenced to a few years incarceration, People question where Turner or someone else killed Stompanato who could have received a long or even life sentence.

Back then, Universal did not want their contract actors on TV, They believed people would not pay to seem movie actors in movies if they could see them for free on TV.

O’Brian was in four episodes of Firestone Theater on TV in 1951. He then appeared in the TV show Playhouse 90.

While filming at RKO, O’Brian was not given a dressing room. Lucille Ball saw this and observed the studio did not want to spend the $100 a week rental on another dressing room. She offered to share her dressing room with O’Brian in hopes this would shame RKO into giving O’Brian a dressing room. This did not work and RKO did not give O’Brain his own dressing room.

After three years at Universal, making four to six movies a year, Universal declined to give O’Brian a raise or starring roles. O’Brian left Universal He did films at MGM and 20th Century Fox before signing with 20th Century Fox, He finally got his own dressing room, which had once been used by Spencer Tracy. He received better roles at 20th Century Fox

O’Brian and others were able to leave his contract as a result from a lawsuit won by Bette Davis, Studios began dropping their insistence on actors fully completing the years declared in their contracts, Davis had a life contract with Warner Brothers She sued regarding this and won. The studios sought for a 12 year maximum contract and agreed with the Screen Actors Guild to a seven year maximum contract, That is now the maximum in any profession under California law,.

In 1954, O’Brian was cast to star in the TV series “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp”. It was described as the “first adult western”, which O’Brain explained meant “the cowboy still kisses his horse, but he worries about it.”

O’Brian turned down another TV series offer that paid double what the Wyatt Earp series offered . O’Brain believed the Wyatt Earp series would last longer. It did, lasting seven years,

O’Brian insisted on authentic dress on the TV series.

In the pilot, O’Brian filmed a fight with Morgan Woodward’s character They did not use stunt doubles. They prepared their fight and it worked.

O’Brian practiced becoming a quick draw with a gun, His holster was a metal cup with a leather exterior to reduce friction. He could raw and fire in two seconds, He shot full loads which were noisy. The crew wore earplugs or cotton in their ears. O’Brian believes his hearing suffered from those shots.

The studio refused to reimburse O’Brian for his gun which he bought for practicing his draw. He learned the studio rented guns, saddles, and holsters at $1,000 to $1,200 a week. O’Brian then created the National Gun Rental company, bought guns, saddles, holsters, etc, and rented them to the studio for extra income.

The TV series filmed two episodes a week, The first was filmed on Mondays through Wednesdays, he second was filmed on Thursdays through Saturdays, He needed to memorize about 20 pages of script a day on five hours sleep.

The Screen Actors Guild, led by its President Ronald Reagan, won a five day work week. Yet O’Brain’s show only compressed the filming of two episodes into five days.

After the series was cancelled in 1961, O’Brain appeared in several Broadway shows.

In 1962, O’Brian gusted on the first episode of “The Virginian”. He filmed a fight with James Drury, who never filmed a fight before. They rehearsed and it turned out believable.

O’Brian appeared as a matador in “Love Has Many Faces” where he actually faced a charging bull.

O’Brian was charged by a rhinoceros while filming “Africa-Texas Style, As it charged, he roped its neck and ran to a tress where he got the rhinoceros wrapped into the tree,

While filming “Ambush Bay” with Mickey Rooney, he jumped into an irrigation ditch. He found a water buffalo here. He jumped onto the water buffalo’s back and rode it,

While filming “Saskatchewan”, his character was supposed to push Shelly Winter’s character aside. Winters had been difficult on the set paying more attention to her boyfriend Joe DiMaggio than the film, The director, Raoul Walsh, asked O’Brian to surprise and throw Winers as far as he could. O’Brian threw Winters about 20 feet. Walsh declared “Take! That’s a take.”

While filming “There’s No Business Like Show Business” with Marilyn Monroe, Monroe looked tired and complained that male fans kept knocking on her door. O’Brian stopped that by putting a sign on her door that read “Do not touch this door; otherwise , I will coe get you. - Wyatt Earp”.

O’Brian visited former President Lyndon Johnson at his reach, O’Brian and his lady friend a bed there during sex, They didn’t know that news made the newspapers They were having breakfast with Johnson when Johnson read about it in the newspaper, Johnson replied “You broke the bed in there! That’s one of the greatest stories I’ll be able to tell.”

O’Brian’s next series was “Search” in the early 1990s. It lasted one season.

O’Brian asked to be in “The Shootist”as it was well known that would be John Wayne’s  last movie. O’Brian was told the film couldn’t afford him. O’Brian stated he would be in the film for free. A role was written for him. O’Brian character s shot in the forehead by Wayne’s character. It was filmed with a blood pellet shot onto O’Brian forehead. O’Brian considered that his riskiest shot ever as he risked blindness.

O’Brian was cast in “Twins” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.

O’Brian portrayed Wyatt Earp again in “Day of Paradise” and then again in “Wyatt Earp - Return to Tombstone”, which was the highest rated program for the week,

O’Brian believes paparazzi need to realize that celebrities are human beings. He once grabbed an overly persistent photographer and threw him off a wharf.

O’Brian leads the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) program that has served over 700,000 youths.

I Am What I Am by John Barrowman

John Barrowmn with Carole E. Barrowman. I Am What I Am. London: Michael O’Mara Books, Ltd., 2010.

John Barrowman was in the TV series “Torchwood” which first aired in England in 2006. Prior he was worked on numerous shows. His first TV appearance was as a backing dancer and singer on “Opryland Special” with Barbara Mandrell. When he first filmed a speaking part, he was given lines to say by a man with a thick Scottish accent, which resulted in him repeating them in a thick Scottish accent.

The show was successful. It was moved to BBC1 in its third series. Yet the third series had 5 episodes rather than the usual 13

When Barrowman and fellow “Torchwood” actor Burn Gorman rehearsed weapons scenes, they did so between their trailers, This helped them know where to be for the “crew rehearsal” (a.k.a. “camera rehearsal”) so the crew knew where to be so they can perform their duties without getting in each others’ ways, Barrownman notes that on another show he was o there were up to 60 people on the set.

Once during taping, Barrowman forgot he was not supposed to make verbal sound effects of gunfire when he was shooting a weapon, Sound effects are used and both sounds would be on the tape, A re-take was required

Actors must have patience, Barrowman advises. Scenes are re-filmed at different angles. Something as a glare fro a light can cause a scene to be re-shot, Oe scene took three hours to film.

A scene involving a lie detector flashing different colored lights required a woman operating the machine sitting off-screen between Barrowman’s legs. Barrowman, who is gay boes states that was “a place where no woman has gone before.”
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Barrowman admits to stealing a prop. He took a prop paperback that he began reading in-between takes.

Barrowman was a judge on a TV talent show. He drafted possible responses to contestant successes and failures so he would have some lines ready. He advises that staring blankly after a contestant’s performance on live TV doesn’t work.

A young boy once asked Barrowman why his character, Captain Jack, was oing in a Costco store. Barrowman replied he was undercover and asked the boy if the boy had seen a Cyberman, The boy replied he didn’t and they shook hands.

One boy once told Barrowman “I don’t care if Jack likes a man or likes a woman, he’s still my favorite hero.” He gave the boy a hug.

Barrowman observes that “gaffer tapes holds up (and keeps down) anything.”

Barrowman was a childhood fan of Lindsay Wagner. He once stopped his limo when he saw her so he could run up to her and meet her, His husband later told him “I dont think you’re ever cut through traffic that fast for a woman in all the years I’ve known you.”

In a scene where Barrowman’s character had to walk barefoot on top of rubble, sanitary towels were placed on the bottom of his feet.

Barrowman read and loved the script for a BBC Radio 4 “Torchwood Special” He agreed to do it It was the most listened to show in BBC Radio 4 history as well as the most downloaded program on iPlayer. He agreed to record three more shows.

Barrowman recommends that actors treat their dressers and make-up artists with the same respect as they do their co-stars.

Barrowman was in the TV show “Desperate Housewives”. Most interior shots shots were filmed in a stage. The exterior shots of Wisteria Lane are houses on the Universal lot that are not facades but have rooms inside for filming, The show had one of the largest and extensive make-up trailers.

When Barrowman first met co-star Drea de Matteo, she greeted him with a smart comment containing cuss words. This helped cut the ice and they got along.

Balancing It All by Candace Cameron Bure

Candace Cameron Bure with Dana Wilkerson: Balancing It All: My Story of Juggling Priorities and Purpose. Nashville, Tn: B&H Publishing Group, 2014.

Candace Cameron Bure grew up in Hollywood. Her mother showed some photographs of her who showed them to an agent. The agent asked to see her and her siblings. He agreed to represent her brother Kirk and sister Melissa for a year. Candace was too young at age four and her sister Bridgette had braces, so he turned down representing them. He did ask Candace to return in a year. Candace began acting in commercials at age five. This led to some appearance on TV shows and then TV movies.

Her mother sought to keep the children focused and away from the chaos of the entertainment world. Her mother served as their managers.

Her brother Kirk was hired for a role in the TV series “Growing Pains”.

Candace got a role in the movie “Punchlline”. While filming, she also won a role on the pilot for the TV series “Full House”. Yet the filming schedules conflicted. The “Full House” producers agreed to film her around his movie commitment schedule.

Candace was tutored on the set, beginning at 8 am. It was required she be tutored an average of three hours daily. She was tutored for five hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The adults rehearsed during this time. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, she began rehearsing at 1 pm.

Candace would leave the studio between 5 pm ad 6 pm on Mondays through Wednesdays. The show would tape on Fridays before a live audience beginning at 5 pm. It usually took 4 to 5 hours to tape.

Candace found it helpful that her mother had gone through similar situations with her brother Kirk. She was more experience in managing Candace.

Candace learned to have a balanced life. She was involved with her religion and spirituality. Her parents did not let her attend parties where other child stars would get into trouble. She believes this all helped her have a more normal childhood.

Candace went to public junior high school yet found she was bullied and teased for being on television. This drove her to leave public school to studying with a tutor. She realized her mother recognized what she was going through and tried to have her meet as many school friends as she could despite her working schedule that took away many afternoons and evenings.

Candace “had a blast” filming a TV movie “Finding Normal” for the Up Network. People on the set had fun and laughed a lot. She advises people find enjoyment in what they do.

She enjoyed filming “Full House”. She mentions that co-stars Bob Saget and Dave Coulier were often joking, often with jokes that were not appropriate for children, “although not direct” as their mothers were there.

The family involvement increased when Candace’s sister Bridgett was hired as Candace’s stand-in.

Candace loved meeting fans. At one mall in Canada about 20,000 fans appeared for autographs. She regrets that there was not enough time or security to sign for so many people.

Candace’s mother became an agent. Candace then hired a new manager to replace her mother.

She and most others who were on “Full House” were stunned when they learn the show was cancelled.. The show had started the season with strong ratings.

I, Rhoda by Valerie Harper

Valerie Harper. I, Rhoda. New York: Gallery Books, 2013.

The author had the role of Rhoda Morgenstein from 1970 to 1987, first on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” as Mary’s sidekick and then as the lead on the spin-off series “Rhoda”.

Harper knew from age six she wanted to be a performer. She took dance classes, including ballet, tap, and tumbling. She attended the Quintanos School for Young Professionals, which was a school aimed at entertainment families, even though her family was not in the entertainment business, with classmates such as Sal Mineo, Carol Lynley, and Tuesday Weld. At the same time, she studied at the Ballet Arts.

Harper began studying acting under John Cassavetes yet found it confused and left after two weeks.

Harper’s first paid job was for six weeks at Radio City Music Hall with the 36 member Cores de Ballet. She performed four times a day. The position required learning new dance numbers whenever the accompanying movie being shown changed. She found Radio CIty Music Hall backstage had dormitories with beds, showers, and a large cafeteria. She enjoyed the experience.

Her first film was dancing in “Rock, Rock, Rock”  which starred her classmate Tuesday Weld.

Her first regular job dancing was in the Michael Kidd Broadway production of “Li’l Abner”. She found the cast friendly and not backstabbing, which was the opposite of a common myth about fellow actors. She received $75 a week for eight shows per week. The show laster six months. After that, Harper went with the show where it played in Las Vegas for two months.

Harper gained weight and took diet shots to lose the weight. She got hepatitis from the shot. She had to leave as a cast member on Michael Kidd’s next play “Destiny Rides Again”.

Harper was cast in the movie “Li’l Abner”. Doing this caused he to gain weight again.

Harper than was in the Broadway play “Take Me Along” with Jackie Gleason. Gleason at times drank a lot, het his performances were always strong. Once, a man in the audience threatened to jump from an opera box seat in mid-performance. Jackie Gleason stopped him by yelling to him “Hold it right there” and then spoke to him long enough for security to reach him and pull him to safety. Gleason then resume acting with “sorry, folks, everyone wants to get into the act.”

Harper participated in her first strike when Actors’ Equity struck for a high minim pay plus better conditions, including no concrete floor rehearsal studios. She watched Celeste Holme at a Guild meeting proclaim “We must calm down. We are not a union. We are a Guild” to which Shelley Winters responded “Celeste, sit down! You don’t know your ass from your elbow. These kids are dancing for eight hours a day and destroying their legs.”

One of her fellow actors in “Take Me Along”, Jim Cresson, recommended Harper consider acting. Harper decided to take acting lessons from Mary Tarcai. Tarcai had been blacklisted for refusing to name Communists. Harper found herself failing at her acting studies, to which Tarcai replied Good Fail here in the studio, not out there when you’re working on a role.”

Tarcai taught Harper that “Acting is not about you self-expressed. Its about you creating other people.”

Harper earned a living by also appearing at industrial/trade shows.

Harper appeared in the play Wildcat” with Lucille Ball.

Harper was in the play “Subways are for Sleeping” produced by David Merrick. Merrick realized that critical reviews were going poorly so he found seven people with the same names as critics and had them watch the play for free and then used their names and photographs in ads praising the show.

Harper next acted in summer stock in “Come Blow Your Horn”. Harper was then offered to dance in the next Michael Kidd show. She turned it down to pursue acting.

Harper worked in sketch comedy clubs such as the Bitter End with performers such as Linda Ronstadt and Jerry Jeff Walker.

Harper became active with the Committee for the Employment of Negro Performers. The group picketed the show “Subways are for Sleeping” that Harper was in. They were upset that Blacks were not cast in the roles of Grand Central Station porters, positions that in real life were held by Blacks. Harper joined in picketing her own show until it was time to report to prepare for the show,

Harper joined Seven Arts CORE which fought to integrate the mostly white entertainment industry. She volunteered in their office. General Motors agreed to hire Blacks in their industrial shows.

Haper was convinced to move to California. He got a role in the TV series “Mayberry R.F.D.”

Paul Sills, who created Second City, convinced Harper and her husband Dick Schaal to join in forming a group called Story Theater that included Mary Frann and Peter Bonerz.

Harper worked in a small Los Angeles theater. A casting agent tracked her down requesting she audition for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. She was hard to find as she did not have an agent. Harper viewed the callback as an experience to work on her nervousness while reading with an established star as Mary Tyler Moore. She did not think she had a chance at getting the role. She looked at Mary Tyler Moore and told her “Look at you, white pants without a long jacked to cover your behind.” The producers laughed as she had become the role of Rhoda. She got the part She received $700 a week. She continued working with the Story Theater.

“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” production team was “lighthearted yet professional”. There was lots of laughter as people set out to do serious comedy. This was the first TV show to focus on a woman’s career.

There was table reads and first blocking on Mondays. There were blockings on Tuesday while the writers, while watching the blockings, determined how the material was working. Some times an entire script would be rewritten for Wednesday.

Harper learned to hit her marks for camera shoots, which she had not done in theater. She learned that script revisions were not a sign she was doing bad work but that the writers were improving the script.

Thursdays were rehearsals.

The first pilot of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” was redone and the redone pilot was bought by CBS.

Harper was often nervous before tapings, Mary Tyler Moore advised her to think of one scene at a time instead of fretting over the whole show.

Viewers identified with Rhoda’s issues of weight struggles and dieting. Rhoda was a foil to the eloquent Phyllis, portrayed by Cloris Leachman. The relationship between Rhoda and Phyllis was made complicated by having Phyllis’s daughter liking Rhoda.

Jay Sandrich observed that Harper increased awareness of feminism in America with her portrayal of Rhoda. The show present real adult characters in adult issues without resorting to caricatures. The show relied on intelligent humor.

“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” had seven female writers such as Linda Bloodworth-Thompson.

Harper won for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Rhoda. She began being recognized in public. She continued appearing on stage with “Story Theater” and went with the show when it went to Broadway. Linda Lavin replaced her when she returned to her TV work and then Harper resumed her role when her TV filming ended.

“The Mary  Tyler Moore Show” continued being successful by allowing the characters to change and grow. It was not the same type of jokes rehashed each week yet new issues and stories that were presented. New characters were introduced, as played by Betty White, John Amos, and Georgia Engel.

The show touched on issues yet only where relevant to the characters. As Harper put it, “The writers didn’t want to make statements. They wanted to reflect life.”

The woman who owned the house in Minneapolis used as the exterior where Mary’s character lived was upset with the notoriety and people disturbing her privacy. When the crew returned to film the outside of her house again, the woman covered her house in giant sheets reading “Impeach Nixon” so the house could not be filmed again.

Harper won for Best Supporting Actress a second time in a rare tie with Sally Struthers.

Harper received other work, appearing in several TV movies and then her first movie “Freebie and the Bean”.

Fred Silverman of CBS discussed spinning off Rhoda’s character onto her own show from the first season. After the fourth season, it was decided it should be done. Harper was uncertain about leaving a successful show. Mary Tyler Moore encouraged her to take her own show. Harper agreed to do it but only if she could return to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” if her show, “Rhoda” did not succeed.

The same writers on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” developed “Rhoda”. Julie Kavner,who lost an earlier audition to play Rhoda’s sister on an episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” was cast as Rhoda’s sister, While filming “Rhoda”, Harper realized how much about acting she had learned from Mary Tyler Moore.

On the eight episode, Rhoda’s character got married. It was viewed by 51 million, or half of all TV viewers.

Harper won the Best Actress Award.

During the second season, the writers began hitting writing blocks. Much of the past humor about Rhoda had centered around her being unlucky in love. Now that Rhoda was happily married, her past charm about unlucky was gone.It was hard for the writers to develop conflicts for Rhoda. The show began focusing more on the other characters. It was decide Rhoda and her husband would separate in the third season.New characters were introduced. Viewers seemed upset at the inability of the characters to reconcile. It was decided they should divorce. This was the first time network TV characters divorced. CBS supported the decision.

“Rhoda” had good producers. Charlotte Brown, who had been a writer on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, became the first female producer on a multi-camera TV series. Producers Dave Davis and Jim Brooks left “Rhoda” to create the successful TV series “Taxi.

During the fifth season of “Rhoda”, it changes it time slow six times. It lost viewers during these moves. The show was cancelled without airing four already shot episodes.

Harper remained politically active. She worked in support of the Equal Rights Amendment, which fell two states short from being enacted. She worked with the Hunger Project.

Harper switched to movie work.She appeared in the film “The Last Married Couple in America”, which was a personal irony as she had divorced before then. She then was in “Chapter Two” followed by “Blame It On Rio”..

Harper next was in a TV series “Valerie”. This was her first series working with different writers and producers. She did not feel her character was funny enough. She observed the live audience did not laugh as much and that the show relied on caned laughter. Her previous shows relied on connecting with live audiences, which they would translated well with the viewing audience.

Harper was on “Valerie” for two seasons. She had a difficult negotiation for the third season but reached an agreement. Then Lorimar, the production company, backed out of the deal, effectively firing Harper from her own show. Harper sued that she had been wrongly fired. She also sued that the name of the show not be kept “Valerie” without her.

While Lorimar proclaimed Harper was unprofessional, her network NBC hired her for a TV movie. Harper dropped her suit against NBC as NBC found her employable.

Harper won her lawsuit against Lorimar. The court decided she had been wrongly terminated. She won a “substantial” settlement and was to receive participation in future syndication.

Harper next starred in the CBS series “City”. It began in the top ten in ratings yet slipped and was not renewed after 13 episodes.

Harper and Mary Tyler Moore filmed a TV movie “Mary and Rhoda” which reunited the two characters. It was meant to also serve as a pilot in hopes of becoming a series. It was not picked up as a series.

Harper learned she has incurable cancer.She writes “I am happy. I am at peace. I am filled with love.”

The Life and Times of Dan Haggerty by Terry Bomar

Terry Bomar. The Life and Times of Dan Haggerty. The Man Who Made Grizzly Adams Famous. “The Preacher, the Pirate, and the Pagan”. New Life, 2013.

The TV show “Grizzly Adams” was inspired by James Cappen “Grizzly” Adams who lived in the 19th century. The TV show was so popular that actor Dan Haggerty was the third more recognizable American, even more recognizable than President Jimmy Carter.

Haggerty appeared in “Marlboro Man” commercials and Western movies. He was imprisoned seven years for counterfeiting and admits was was involved in loan sharking, violent enforcer for a motorcycle gang, grand larceny, grand theft, and drugs. His life would change as an actor. He would appear in a Christian faith film “The Book of Ruth” after “Grizzly Adams”.