- July
13, 2007
First
let me say thank you to everyone who has written or called me
to tell me how much you enjoyed watching the show and my portion
of it. This really means a lot to me. The appearance, oddly enough,
doesn't seem real to me unless my friends say something about
it. Since the show happened a little bit ago I've already known
the outcome for some time. I just haven't been allowed to say
anything (even though some of you have been VERY persistent in
your questioning and guess work) about it.
But let me say this. I was very disappointed to be eliminated
in the semi-finals. This is not because I felt I was unjustly
treated but because I was having the time of my life. The crew
was so great. The other performers were so talented and I made
a lot of new friends because of the show. PLUS, I'm totally a
whore when it comes to laughs and I was getting a lot of them
and I loved it.
When they were about to announce whether I was moving on or going
home I really didn't know which way it would go. I knew that the
other Bush had made it to the finals and didn't know if the producers
would want a second Bush. I just knew that I felt I'd done my
best. That my material was strong and that the audience had laughed
at the entire act and at every joke I wrote. So much so that I
went over my time (and felt HORRIBLE about it.) Just a lot of
extended laughs from the 1000 people there and I didn't account
for the additional time it would take to hold for laughs. (that
sounds very conceited but I don't mean it that way. It's just
what happened.)
So when they called me up I was incredibly nervous not knowing
what would happen. And when they said I was going home I was really
very very sad. I didn't expect to feel so gutted. Honestly I was
stunned at the time and embarrassed and felt like I had let my
family and friends (in particular the ones who were there including
my mother and sister who flew in from VA to see the show) down.
I just wanted to melt away and disappear. At the time I felt like
I had done my best and that it just wasn't good enough, you know?
The woman who was helping with make up, Jenn Rose, was just about
the most awesome that anyone could be though. She had the sad
duty of removing my make up that night while I sat there dejected
and mopey. However, she was very positive about my performance
and reminded me of the laughs that I had gotten. She also just
let me feel what I was feeling and let it work itself out. I really
appreciated that!
I have to say again that the producers and the entire crew was
never anything but professional, helpful and kind to me. They
were accomodating with my needs and just bent over backwards to
make me feel at ease. I know that part of that is because if I
was at ease I give a better performance but I know that another
part of that has to do with the fact that they were good people
too.
Now then, it is actually a good thing that I didn't get moved
on to the finals. I have booked a (tiny) role in a new movie shooting
down in New Orleans at the end of the month. It's the week of
the 24th. If I had made it to the finals I would have had to turn
this film down. It's being produced by the folks who produced
Epic Movie among other funny films so this is a great opportunity
for my career.
I'm so thankful for all of the wondeful opportunities I've been
given in the last few months. I'm just trying to plug away and
work hard and hope that someone notices. There is so much talent
out there. Life can be a competition. Just like this show in some
ways. So all I can do is my very best and move on to the next
thing. The Next Best Thing as it were.
- June
6 , 2006
Busy
week I must say.
I had very fun shows at the Herndon Festival this past weekend.
I don't know if the work was what I would call "tight"
but it was fun. The audience seemed to enjoy it as well. I also
had a chance to see some friends there as well. Several of them
just showed up and suprised me. I just wish I had had a chance
to talk with them longer. And not while dressed like a clown.
This week I have 3 shows and I'm a little nervous about two of
them.
Wednesday and Friday. I'll be doing straight stand up comedy.
No character to work from. Just me and my ideas presented as me
this time. I just want to do well is all.
I really don't have much to write about right now. However, I
do have 2 friends from Playhouse West rehearsing a scene here
right now. Very emotional. Yelling and raised voices. My neighbors
must think, well, I don't know what they must think. Oh well.
- April
12 , 2006
Just
finished a comedy set as Bush at the Hollywood Improv. I've gotta
be honest. I rocked the house! Seriously. It just felt great!
I wanted to keep going. And the audience was terrific.
- April
10 , 2006
Well,
it's actually about 2:30am on Monday but I flew back to LA from
DC yesterday evening. It was quite an interesting beginning and
ending to the flight actually. We were #2 for take off and getting
ready when the plane which was #1 for take off, right in front
of us, had an engine catch fire. They had to deploy the slides
on that plane and get everyone off and away. Lot's of emergency
vehicles showing up and very exciting. Nobody hurt fortunately.
THEN when we landed in Long Beach it was a crazy landing. We touched
down with the back wheels just fine and then the front touched
down. Then we started to swirve all over the place. Probably wasn't
that much but everyone sure reacted including me. I've not experienced
that nerve wracking a landing in a LONG time. But I made it home
in one piece.
-
March 19 , 2006
OK. I admit it's been a long time since I've
written. I haven't really had the time to sit and write here.
But there's been a bit going on. In January my car was
stolen from my underground parking garage here at my condo. I
went down to go to class and it wasn't there. It's funny the thoughts
that go through your mind at that moment. I actually thought that
maybe I had forgetten and left it at the airport (I'd come back
from DC the day before) or maybe parked it in a guest spot for
some reason. Those thoughts lasted about 4 seconds and then it
hit me. As did the touretts. I was pretty upset for about 40 minutes
until I spoke with the police. Then I came to peace and was cracking
jokes. I was remarkably OK that weekend. This was on a Friday
it was discovered gone. Around Noon.
OK. Jump to 1:30 am Sunday going into Monday. I get a phone call
from the Northridge Police dept. about 15 minutes away from me.
They had pulled over some people driving my car. They told me
that I could come and pick it up. At the place where they had
stopped the bad guys. So I did. My friend Stacey was up and drove
me to get it. How weird to be able to see the people who were
driving it. 5 folks in the car. Hamburger wrappers (some with
hamburgers still in them in the car. They had actually put a lamp
and car cover and some other items in the trunk and had thrown
away pretty much all of my stuff. I was giddy though. Couldn't
believe they found my car. And pretty much unharmed. How crazy
is that? It never happens! Well, almost never.
Here's what happened. I think they got in through a back window
and were just going to burgle the items in the car. I had foolishly
left my valet key in the glove box. When they found that I think
they just figured why not steal the whole damn thing. And they
did.
Because they had the key the DA didn't prosecute. They didn't
feel that they had a strong enough case because the woman driving
said a friend gave her permission to drive it and she didn't know
it was stolen. It might have been nice if she had told the police
who gave her permission and maybe followed up to find out if they
stole it from me. But NOOOOO.
I have been offered a role as George W Bush in a movie called
Parental Guidance Suggested. It's in the style of Kentucky Fried
Movie from 1977. A series of sketches around a single theme. They're
just trying to work out a deal with my awesome make up artist,
Mike Marino (check him
out!)
- March
16 , 2006
Happy Birthday to me!
-
December 11, 2005
Well, we lost Richard Pryor today. Almost everyone doing stand
up today owes their careers in some part, to Richard Pryor.
- September
28, 2005
Hope all are well. Thanks for reading. Sorry it's been
so long since I've written but I've been fairly busy lately. Please
take a look at Biz news to see what I've been up to. I've also
been rediscovering www.myspace.com and it's been pretty cool.
Here's my profile in case you're interested. MySpace
I just recently found out my nephew Dan is serving in Iraq. This
guy is amazing. When back home he is a police officer and fire-fighter
and he's in the reserve. He gets called to service and goes. He
says it's pretty scary over there and when he has to go back to
work he calls it "playing soldier." That flips me out.
I've been asking this for a while now but this just makes me want
to repeat it. Can we please bring our soldiers home now?
There are massive fires in the hills not too far from here. I
just went up on the roof of my place and you can see them from
here. It's this scary, erie orange glow off in the distance.
I just wanted to say that we've had enough of the natural disasters.
Thanks. We get it.
I watched the jetBlue plane make an emergency landing on TV and
couldn't help but think that those pilots did a hell of a job.
I LOVE THE DAILY SHOW.
OK. More later.
- August
31, 2005
Howdy. Long time no write. Thanks for reading. OK. What's been
going on? Well, for the past couple of weeks I've had a few auditions
and a call back or two. I've gotten into 2 student films, one
at USC and the other at Chapman Univ. in Orange, CA. I've done
a few stand-up shows around town as well as Big News at IO West
which I'll be doing tomorrow. I also did Sgt. Will Juggle at Club
Ivar in Hollywood as part of a burlesque show. That's right, dancing
girls and comedy back again! It was actually a fun show and the
women could really dance. This is not a strip show. They aren't
naked and the dances are VERY well choreographed. If I do it again,
and I hope I will, and you're in LA you must come to see it. It's
quite cool. And I did surprisingly well considering it's a dance
club.
I performed as Dubya at the Kodak theatre conference center this
month. It was a HUGE hit. Major props to Mike Marino for an outstanding
job creating and modifying the make up. What an artist that guy
is. Take a look at his work here www.mike-marino.com.
My roommate has moved out. Let me say this. She is a very good
roommate. Just not for me. She pays ontime and is normally a very
fun person. Just not a good person for me to live with. Good luck!
Hmmm....what else do I want to share right now? I think that's
it for now.
- August
17, 2005
Man do I hate Alley McBeal. Or however you freakin' spell it.
My roommate has been on a steady diet of that stupid show for
the last month plus. I AM SICK OF IT! Please, someone, make it
end. Please. No more of it. And no more of Rock Star INXS. I mean
good luck to those folks but I don't wanna watch the show.
- July
19, 2005
Every just get sick of someone? No particular reason. Just sick
of them. And the things they do REALLY start to annoy you. I'm
not naming names.
-
July 18, 2005
Well. It's been quite an eventful week. Just check the crime blotter
if you don't believe me. So, where to begin? OK. On Thursday I
was awakened by a loud knock knock knock on my door door door
at about 6am. Now, I usually wake up moderately early for a guy
who doesn't have a day job but 6am is a bit early for me. But
I answered the door. It was one of my neighbors letting me know
that my roommates car had been broken into and to come down right
away. GOOD MORNING! So I woke Stacey up (and she thought I was
messing with her. By the way she usually wakes up as late as possible
so 6 am is not a good time of day for her.) and we go down. Our
parking, here at my place, is tandem. For those of you who don't
know, that means one car behind the other. Well, that night my
car was being blocked in by hers. Whoever the freakin' idiot crooks
were, they broke her passenger window and tried pushing her car
back. I don't know if they were gonna try and get her car outta
the way and steal mine or if they were gonna try and steal hers
from the start. But they left the car in the middle of the drive
garage. They took her GPS computer and her iPod (which she probably
shouldn't have left in her car in the first place but that's another
story) as well as a bunch of headshots and her gym bag with shoes
and dirty clothes in it. (Yuck!) They also broke into another
persons car and broke open the ignition housing and tried to hot
wire it.
Here's the best part...if there is one. They were SO stupid that
they left their flashlight in Stacey's car and the car they were
trying to hotwire was blocked in (remember the tandem thingy)
by another car so they wouldn't have been able to get it out anyway.
PLUS, you need a remote to get out of the garage so I'm still
not sure if they were just gonna wait for another neighbor to
come in at some point between 12:30am and 5:30am (when the break
in must have happened) and then scoot on out when they left.
I'm just saying.
Then, back on the east coast, my brother had someone attack him
while he was in his car. They asked him for change and then punched
him in the mouth, cutting his lip pretty badly, and took his cash.
He hit them back and kept them from taking car before he got away
but still.
OK folks. Let's be careful out there.
The moral? Um...don't leave your stuff in your car and never give
someone change. Maybe I've missed the point. I dunno.
- July
18, 2005
Well. It's been quite an eventful week. Just check the crime blotter
if you don't believe me. So, where to begin? OK. On Thursday I
was awakened by a loud knock knock knock on my door door door
at about 6am. Now, I usually wake up moderately early for a guy
who doesn't have a day job but 6am is a bit early for me. But
I answered the door. It was one of my neighbors letting me know
that my roommates car had been broken into and to come down right
away. GOOD MORNING! So I woke Stacey up (and she thought I was
messing with her. By the way she usually wakes up as late as possible
so 6 am is not a good time of day for her.) and we go down. Our
parking, here at my place, is tandem. For those of you who don't
know, that means one car behind the other. Well, that night my
car was being blocked in by hers. Whoever the freakin' idiot crooks
were, they broke her passenger window and tried pushing her car
back. I don't know if they were gonna try and get her car outta
the way and steal mine or if they were gonna try and steal hers
from the start. But they left the car in the middle of the drive
garage. They took her GPS computer and her iPod (which she probably
shouldn't have left in her car in the first place but that's another
story) as well as a bunch of headshots and her gym bag with shoes
and dirty clothes in it. (Yuck!) They also broke into another
persons car and broke open the ignition housing and tried to hot
wire it.
Here's the best part...if there is one. They were SO stupid that
they left their flashlight in Stacey's car and the car they were
trying to hotwire was blocked in (remember the tandem thingy)
by another car so they wouldn't have been able to get it out anyway.
PLUS, you need a remote to get out of the garage so I'm still
not sure if they were just gonna wait for another neighbor to
come in at some point between 12:30am and 5:30am (when the break
in must have happened) and then scoot on out when they left.
I'm just saying.
Then, back on the east coast, my brother had someone attack him
while he was in his car. They asked him for change and then punched
him in the mouth, cutting his lip pretty badly, and took his cash.
He hit them back and kept them from taking car before he got away
but still.
OK folks. Let's be careful out there.
The moral? Um...don't leave your stuff in your car and never give
someone change. Maybe I've missed the point. I dunno.
-
July 5, 2005
First a big Happy Birthday to my friend Bob! He and his wife Jenn
are due to have a baby any time now. She was actually due yesterday.
I just suggested to her that she eat some spicy food and "smoke"
the kid out.
Hope everyone had a nice 4th of July. I went to a party at a friend's
house in Santa Monica. It was actually quite chilly that night
and they cancelled the fireworks due to overcast conditions caused
by mist coming off of the ocean...I think. Or maybe it was a very
lame attack by our enemies to destroy our national pride on Independence
Day. I may never know. But I met some very cool folks there. It's
so interesting to see where people come from. Not just geographically
but professionally, personally, etcetera. (Thanks to Cassidy for
inviting me and thanks to her brother Clark for having the party!
Boo to Eric B. for not showing up.)
I'm still loving my classes at Playhouse West. The classes are
very very good for me. I'm learning a lot and it helping me to
expand outside of comedy a little not to mention that it's helping
me to flesh out my comedy as well. Giving it more depth. Now if
my agents would start getting me some auditions so I could get
some work. AAAAHHHHHHH!
My hair is getting long. I need a haircut I think. I'm gettin'
shaggy.
Went to the Magic Castle Hotel, Restaurant and Club over the weekend
with my roommate and her friends from back east. What a terrific
place. Very fun. If you ever have the chance to go you should.
Not much else going on right now. Kinda a slow slow summer.
-
June 20, 2005
Hello there. Thanks for reading. So what's going on? Trying to
get my computers back up and running. Had my hard drive crash
on my laptop and then just a bunch 'o mess on my desktop. But
they are working again so I can now update my sites thanks for
asking.
Last week I got to enjoy my first california earthquake. then
3 days later my SECOND one. The first one came on Sunday the 12th
at about 8:41am. I had just woken up about 3 minutes before (don't
know why I woke up so early on a Sunday) and was just laying in
bed when it started to shift around. At first wasn't sure what
was going on. Thought that someone was running around on the roof
of my condo...then, about 10 seconds into it I figured it out.
Because I was laying in bed it felt like I was in a cheap motel
and had put a coin into a vibrating bed. My friend Kim was visiting
and I popped up and ran into the other room to ask if she felt
it. She was sitting up and quite aware. It was very exciting though.
Stacey said it made her pretty unhappy.
Then on, Wednesday I think, we had the second one. It was a 4.9
but lasted for about 15 or 20 seconds. I was on the phone when
it hit. It just felt like it was going on and on. Because it lasted
so long it was a little less fun than the first one. Between those
two there was a big 7.2 that hit off the coast of Northern California
and they issued a tsunami warning from Canada to San Diego. I
live in the valley and didn't know about the warning or the earthquake
until much later. it would have to be one hell of a tsunami to
reach the valley. Not saying it couldn't happen just saying it
would take some work.
I'm loving classes at Playhouse West. The others in class are
very nice and I like my teacher.
OH! I became on ordained minister in the Universal Life Church
on May 27th at the request of my friend Brian Pascal and his lovely
wife Mary. I actually married them on the 28th. Didn't know I
was gonna be doing it though till the 26th. Thought I was just
gonna do some magic and balloons and then a show at the reception.
Let's just say the guests were a bit confused to see the balloon/magician
performing the service. AND THEN doing a comedy show afterwards.
So if anyone would like me to marry them I can legally do it.
I'll charge whatever the going rate is. :o)
Not much else to report right now. Thanks for reading!
-
May 8, 2005
Well, as someone pointed out I needed to update my site.
Thank you for the kick in the pants. It still surprises me that
someone reads this thing.
OK. What's been going on since February? It's been fairly quiet
for me here on the TV front. Not many auditions sorry to say.
My agents tell me, and others have also said, that it's been very
slow this season. I'm trying to take that to heart and not take
it personal. But it's a hard thing to do. I SO desperately want
to start acting. I'm not getting younger and sometimes it seems
as though (not a new thought) that Los Angeles is for the very
young. Not that older actors can't get work but it seems as though
in order to work here it's fairly important to start young. In
part I'm sure it has to do with shelf life. When you are shopping
for fresh bread you don't look in the day old bread section. I
don't know. Just feel like I need to chill out and see where life
takes me. Keep taking classes, learn acting, re-learn stand-up
(traditional stand-up), learn what true improv is and see what
happens.
In April I took on a roommate. She pretty cool. You can check
out her website if you like at www.staceylinh.net.
Actually she's usually a pretty ideal roommate, actually let me
be specific, apartment mate. This is not a romantic situation.
But she's very cool. She's able to cook, help me set up my TiVo
and fix my computer in one day. Plus, she's fun to hang out with.
She will make someone very happy one day.
Went to San Francisco in February and it was a fun trip.
OK. I'm actually just gonna make this short. I'm not feeling so
super lately to be honest. Not ill just not quite myself. Not
sure how to explain it.
Thanks for reading.
- February
28, 2005
Well, the rain has abated for a while here in Southern California.
It's been sunnyish and in the 60's for the last few days. Looks
like it should be for the next few days as well. I, and most everyone
else around here, really needed some sunlight.
I was back in the DC area Thursday through Saturday of last week.
Had a show at the National Press Club there performing with the
Loyal Opposition. You know, I like having that show to do. I like
the people in it a lot and think the Bob Heck, Director, performer
and creator of the show, is a very funny man. He has a big personality
but a big heart as well. The show we did was pretty tame by comparison
to our public shows but still some of the folks who work for the
company that hired us were a bit offended by some of the content.
That amazes me since there really wasn't anything in the show
that was even a bit edgy. We are an equal opportunity offender
show. That being said we had some very big laughs during the show
and it was only about 3 people who took any offense whatsoever.
So there!
I MC'd the Read Across America event at Montgomery Mall on Saturday
too. It went fine. I'll be doing that at Wheaton Mall this coming
Saturday as a matter of fact.
So I called my manager today and had a chat to ask what was going
on and why I hadn't really been getting many calls this Pilot
Season for auditions. She explained to me that she speculates
the reason may be because a lot of big names such as Chris O'donnell
and his level, are getting the roles. FOR FRIGGIN' PILOTS! OK.
Fine. They are very good actors. But please leave the pilots to
us up and coming actors people. It's the only way into the biz
for most of us. The only way to get a few decent credits for our
resume's. Please stick to your feature films and your sitcoms.
Finally got my driver's license here in California as well as
car insurance. Now I need to go register my car and I'll be legit.
Tonight I re-watched a movie called Contact with Jodie Foster
and Matthew McConaughey among others. I've always been interested
in science, in particular, space. But there's something about
that film that always gets me. Maybe it's the, we aren't alone,
thing because I've always felt kinda on the outside most of my
life. Maybe it's the fact that it both makes me realize just how
small we are and how tiny our problems really are in the big picture
while making me realize how much I can be a part of the world
around me. I don't know. Maybe I'm just a bit sleepy. Could be
that. But I first saw that movie in the theatre with my sister
when it came out in 1997. Brenda is a very firm, born again Christian
and I'm just not ready to affiliate with any particular faith
at this time. I just don't feel that any of us could have gotten
it quite right and because of that I don't want to sign up with
any one group who feels justified to say the others are absolutely
wrong. Anyway, the movie is in part about the debate between faith
and science. My sister and I split at that point as well. Maybe
that's the kinship I feel with the movie.
New thought. You ever miss someone so much more than they miss
you and, although you realize it's probably not healthy to miss
them you still do it? Uh, yeah. Me either.
Did anyone watch the Oscars last night? I had a class so I had
to tape it. I got all of it right up to Jamie Foxx's speech and
then the tape ran out. Aaarrrggghhhh! Oh well, he wasn't watching
what I was doing either so I guess we're even now.
Guess that's all I have to say for now.
- February
11, 2005
OK. This has been a nutty 24 hours.
Yesterday I audited a class at Playhouse West in North Hollywood.
Good acting classes and I think I'm going to start taking classes
there. It's a school started by Robert Carnegie and Jeff Goldblum.
So that's a good thing.
Then I got a call to audition for the WB's What I Like About You
today. Just came back. Who knows how it went. However they are
the same folks who cast for Scrubbs (which I just found out shoots
at an old hospital about 2 miles from my place. That's where they
do the casting as well. Anyway, who knows what will happen. It
could be complicated if I get the role though. We shall see.
Got my California drivers license yesterday, or rather, applied
for it and took the test. They have to mail my the plastic license
in 6 weeks. California moves slowly.
It's raining AGAIN here. I didn't think it was supposed to rain
so much in Southern California.
My friend, Jack Reda, is in town for a show at Acme Comedy for
the show World Cup Comedy. It's sorta his final audition to get
on the show. Wish him luck.
What else...My buddy Wes Johnson is awesome! That's for sure.
The man would saw his own leg off if he thought it would help
one of his friends.
Guess that's all for now. Keep smiling. Makes them wonder what
you're up to...unless your at the airport. You don't want them
wondering what you're up to there. Best never to smile there.
But then again, that could be suspicious too. So, smile a little
and then don't. But don't had a laugh to the smile or you'll seem
insane...You get the point.
-
February 6, 2005
Hi there. I haven't written for a while I know. It's been a busy
time with the move so I haven't had enough time to update the
site. So, here's the catch-up.
I finished moving my stuff in to the condo in January. After unloading
the truck, U-Pack service where I rented part of a truck sharing
it with other people who were moving, and found that my tools,
bike and about 100 CD's or so had been stolen from the truck.
Plus, there was some water damage to some clothing and a bunch
of my furniture had been scratched-up. I was pretty bummed out.
I am submitting a claim form to the company.
I've gotten a new manager here California. I hope that it works
out.
In January I had an audition for the untitled Jamie Foxx sketch
show pilot presentation for FX. The casting director liked what
I did and gave me a call back for the producers. I thought that
the call back went well too. However, that's where it ended for
me. I guess that I wasn't what they were looking for. However,
I got a lot of laughs during the call back.
Then I had an audition for the producers and director of the Nickelodeon
show Drake and Josh. They were looking for someone to play the
character Outback Jack. The audition went very well. My manager
was told by them that I my sense of humor was perfect for their
show and that they would be calling me in for future roles. However,
this role was cut from the script. So, at least I made a good
impression with the producers. That's a big thing. However, I
could still use some work. :o)
I had to fly a lot at the end of the month and will be travelling
a lot in February as well. I've had to fly on American and Alaska
Airlines and I have to tell you I VERY much prefer JetBlue!
I'm going to start taking ComedySportz LA workshops on Sundays
in February. I'm looking forward to that.
My friends Raisa and Dana have gone to Russia for 4 months. Won't
be back till May 20th. I know that Dana's man, Adam misses her
very badly. I really miss Raisa. She's just terrific I must say.
Took me a long time to get my phones working. Finally figured
out I needed to change the wiring inside to get it working. <sigh>
I resigned with my commercial agent for another 3 years. I really
don't know why I haven't booked a spot yet. Except I really don't
audition very well and there are MILLIONS of people here. Those
could be a couple of good reasons. Still.
My brother has decided to start his own Limo service and has bought
a new Caddy. Nice one too. He's been a driver for a few years
now for other companies and has been the driver for the Under-Secretary
of Labor for the last few years. If anyone needs a driver feel
free to contact me.
I like my new place. Starting to put things in order too. New
hardwood floors and carpets. Also, installing new bathroom fixtures.
However, ran into a small problem with one of the installations.
Can't find the right pipe and the old one is leaking. Need to
get a roomate in March though. Pity. I like having the place all
to my own.
That's it for now. I'll write again when I have something to write.
Be well.
-
December 23, 2004
Well, happy holidays to you one and all. Whether you celebrate
or not hopefully you at least get a day or two off from work or
school. With the purchase of the condo it's made it a small Christmas
for me this year. I just wrote a CRAZY big check today. <nervous
teeth chattering sound> Sure hope this isn't one of the biggest
mistakes of me life. It's an adventure at the least.
I've been back and forth East to West coast every weekend this
month and a few in November. Gonna continue into January too.
Sigh. Back to the east coast tomorrow too. Then off to be Jimmie
the Elf for the 5th or 6th year in a row for a wonderful family
in Potomac, MD. I'm their children's personal elf. I think it's
pretty cool considering I'm dressing up like an elf. I know what
you're thinking but it pays the bills and makes the kids happy.
One of my favorite holiday movies is A Christmas Story. If you
have never seen it you need to. Get the special 20th anniversary
edition on DVD if you can.
I'd like to say hello to Pie.
I'm gonna start painting my condo next week. Just bought a new
dishwasher and fridge yesterday. That stuff is expensive!
I have a bunch of stand up routines rolling around in my head
right now and noplace to perform them. I'm going nuts. I need
to get up on stage someplace or I'm just gonna implode! I would
prefer it to be in Hollywood though. No offence to the rest of
the world. I'd be happy performing just about anywhere to be honest.
I must start getting auditions here more frequently.
Hope everyone has a very merry merry. Enjoy your family this year
if you have them near you. Remember that everyone's family is
weird, not just yours...or mine. Love the ones you love with all
your might and tell them you love them and mean it and let them
feel it. Hug! Hugs are good things. Don't be afraid to say hello
to strangers and wait for a reply. Ask someone how they are and
really want an answer. Call someone you haven't talked to in a
while. I wish I could get in touch with Brad Rosenberg, my best
friend from high school and guy who literally saved my life, even
if he doesn't realize he did. One of the best friends anyone could
ever hope for.
Congratulations to Bob and Jenn! Finally!
Love your mother and try and be flexible with her. She literally
reshaped herself for you. Forgive mistakes.
I guess I've written just about enough goofy stuff this time.
Gotta do laundry so I can get on a plane tomorrow.
-
November 30, 2004
It's done. I have a contract on a condo in Sherman Oaks. I begin
moving on December 21st. Now I need to find a roommate. Boy is
this scary I gotta tell you. It's a nice place though. Good location
right next to a park, close to Trader Joe's, not far from Hollywood.
Plus, it's a top floor overlooking the pool.
I was watching TV tonight and watched The Real Gilligan's Island
on TBS. It's kinda like Survivor but not. It's certainly not like
Gilligan's Island except for the clothes. I will say this. One
of the Maryanns is hot! I've always been a MaryAnn guy rather
than a Ginger. One set of the "Millionaires" are total
homophobes. The wife in particular is an ignorant, opinionated,
loud-mouth, homophobe. Those types of people really get under
my craw. What is the deal with hating homosexuals? What causes
homophobes to be SO uncomfortable. I wish I could understand it
better because then, perhaps, I could educate better. Grrrrr!
I just get frustrated with myself for my limitations.
Not much else to say tonight.
- November
29, 2004
Well, I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. My trip back
home was very nice...except for the flight. Actually the flight
wasn't too bad except that one of the guys next to me was air-drumming
the whole way across the country and the kid behind me was kicking
my seat. Aside from that it was a good flight. The flight back
was much better. I even saw a flight attendant I knew (Sorta knew.
She and her roommate are both JetBlue attendants and I befriended
them <more her roommate than her> on a flight months ago.
But I digress.)
In the airport at Dulles I saw a friend of mine who I haven't
seen in a while. Small world, eh?
I went out on Saturday with some friends (Hi Pie, Dana, Adam)
to a restaurant in Baltimore called Helmond. Good food. You should
check it out. Then we went and saw The Incredibles. Great movie.
Lots of fun. We went over to Adams place and watched the newest
Harry Potter on DVD till the wee hours of the morning. I left
the apartment and FORGOT MY EYEGLASSES. Instead of waking Adam
and his roommate back up I drove home without them. I know, I
know. But I made it home alright and my eyesite isn't that bad.
I'm back in LA today, until Friday.
Looks like I found a place in Sherman Oaks, CA to buy. It's a
2br 2ba condo on the top floor of a complex overlooking the pool.
It's right next to a park and walking distance to a Trader Joe's.
I give them a check and sign the contract tomorrow morning. <Gulp!>
Guess that's it for now. Thanks for reading...whoever's reading.
- November
18, 2004
I just saw a report scroll across the bottom of CNN that
said that more Doctors are prescribing more anti-depressants for
children and adolescents without knowing if they're safe to be
taken. Something occurs to me. If we had the opportunity to talk
with our children and spend time with them it's possible we could
help them work out their issues rather than just covering up the
symptoms. Taking a pill when you are down doesn't teach you how
to deal with the pain, trouble and obstacles that life often throws
our way. That is one of the most important skills a parent can
teach a child. Problem is many parents don't have the skill-set
to pass on to their children.
Not sure why I felt a need to write this but I did.
Fresh
Victims performed last night and it went pretty well. Small
crowd but 3 of my friends came to see the show with friends
so that made me feel great! One was an ex-girlfriend who I really
hadn't seen since something like 1993 or something like that.
That was very cool!
-
November 17, 2004
OK. I haven't updated this in a while. I admit it.
But here I am now so there. Busy month or two. Unfortunatley
not busy in California. I've had a few auditions for things
but no call backs. Bummer. However, tonight I'm doing a show
in Hollywood for the LA Fest of Sketch with my friends from
Wes Johnson's sketch group Fresh Victims. Hope we have an audience
quite frankly. Plus I'M SICK! THIS SUCKS. Heads all congested,
headache but at least my sore throat is getting better. Hope
I have enough energy for the show. We have a second show on
Saturday.
A friend of mine who I met here in LA, Alex, recently went to
NY for the Andy Kaufman Comedy Challenge and was a top 10 finalist.
I predicted that Alex Dunbar would be a star within a year and
a half back in May. I stand by my prediction. He's a funny funny
guy and a nice guy to boot. Good lookin' guy too. No, I don't
swing that way...sorry but a guy can notice. He is doing what
I wish I'd done when I was his age. He's 21 now. Anyway, he
rocks! So keep an eye out for him.
The elections over. What do you think?
Did I mention I'm sick? (someone pity me!)
You know how when you're not feeling well you really just wanna
curl up in a ball and stay under the covers all day. You know
what I feel like. It's like when I used to go swimming in the
pool too long and my head felt waterlogged. That's what my head
feels like.
I've sold my house. Someone else lives there now. I'm essentially
homeless right now. They gave me a big check but I'm still without
a permanent address. This is the first time I've ever been like
this. Ever. It's very odd because it's a little scary but at
the same time quite freeing. Most of my worldly belongings are
in a storage locker in Maryland. Just very weird to me.
OK. Maybe I'll write more later. Maybe it'll be a month. Not
sure. Hope all is well with whoever might actually be reading
this. Keep smiling.
-
September 1, 2004
Well, I just had to write about this. Yesterday I had an audition
for a 2-line role on Malcolm in the Middle. It's for the role
of a clerk at a ski-lodge. Funny scene. Well, I felt like I
totally tanked the audition but then I got a call-back for today.
First auditions, for those who may not know, are usually in
front of a casting director and for a video camera. They then
take the tape and if they like you, you get to go in front of
the producers/director in their office at the studio for a call-back.
That was today. This was my first TV call-back. It was very
cool walking around the back lot of Universal Studios yesterday
and CBS this afternoon. Well, I made the producers laugh twice.
That may not seem like much but for me it was HUGE! They had
me read it twice and they laughed the second time too. When
I first walked in the room they were just chillin' out with
blank faces on chairs and couches (yes, a casting couch. But
I was a bit insulted they didn't invite me to "join them"
on the couch.) But to get them to go from that to a couple of
sincere laughs was awesome. I feel like even if I don't get
this part I at least made a good impression on the producers
and casting director so hopefully they'll remember me for the
future.
-
August
29, 2004
The Rennfest has begun and I miss it. It feels quite odd to
be sitting at home in Maryland on the last weekend of August
instead of trotting about a Tudor village carrying a heavy coffin
on my back doing magic tricks and performing the Bloody Drama
in front of wonderful, adoring fans. It was everything I could
do to NOT go there. Bob seems to want to lead people to conculsion
that I've been killed or something. I think he thinks it's a
soap opera. Maybe teaching has final gotten to him. But I do
miss the show and the people. I don't, however, miss the humidity
and heat and drinking 6 liters of water and 1 liter of gatorade
just to replace what I've sweated out every day.
I'm selling my house. If you know anyone who is looking to buy
a great looking townhouse in Gambrills, MD please email me send
them my way. It's really like new. Not even 3 years old yet.
I'm listening to Debussy right now. Claire De Lune specifically.
Very nice.
Well, I was going to be driving with a friend back to the west
coast this week but she couldn't get things settled in time
to leave. Which was fine with me because it gave me more time
to get my house in order so I can sell it. To be honest I'm
very sad to sell it. It's my house. I designed it. At least
the interior of it. I like having my own place and I'm worried
that I'll never get that chance again. I'm becoming a starving
actor type in LA and I HATE being a cliche'! Yet, I've moved
3000 miles away to become just that. Along with 3 million other
Jim Niebs. There are so many funny people out there it's just
incredible. Truly.
Guess that's all I have to say for now.
-
Well,
the web site is up. Hope it pays for itself. Let me know what
you think. Email me at mail@jimnieb.com.
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