Monday, May 15, 2006

A little reminder

I like watching The Actor's Studio. Okay. I love it depending on the guest. And last night was Tom Hanks. He is the only actor in the history of the show to be asked back for an encore performance. I love Tom Hanks.

I remember watching him in Bosom Buddies. Five points if you can name the actor's name that played his best friend on the show. Ten points if you can tell me the "real" (male character) names they used. Twenty if you can tell me the "women's" names they used when they dressed as females. And the blonde who Tom Hanks' character had a crush on? Her real name is worth five points. And the actor she's married to in real life is five points.
It's all coming back to you, isn't it? LMAO

Tom Hanks is not movie-star goodlooking. He's a rather goofy-looking guy. But MY GOD, can he act! There is something simply so magnetic about watching him work. And as he told the rapt audience on the show...at first, it was instinct. And now, he's hones his craft. And some things come to him easily as far as acting. And some things still give him fits.
When it came time for audience questions, the first came from a young man who said that quite honestly, he felt like his face would hold him back from getting roles. The man said his face was chubby, and he had dimples. Not exactly what everyone is looking for.
Tom nodded. And then he said (paraphrased)...There will be a time when agents and directors are thumbing through profiles. No. Nope. No good. And then they'll see you. And you'll be perfect for the part. They'll want a young man with chubby cheeks and dimples. To play a serial killer. Or a doctor. Or whatever. But they'll want you. Because it's a part you're perfect for. You'll have the look they want. (Then he laughed again) Just don't stink.

It was wonderful sound advice from a man who has won awards for brilliant acting and who doesn't make women swoon with his appearance. He makes them swoon with his skills and his heart.

This is what I want. I don't need to be recognized on sight. I don't want people to clutch their chests and sigh as I walk by. I want to do the best I can in my work and touch people with my words. That's all. Because that's why we do what we do. All artists. And I mean: musicians, actors, writers, etc.
We do it because we love it.
And that, my friends, is the best reason of all.
Grins*

And for those of you who want to check your answers or don't want to google...
Peter Scolari...Kip and Henry...Buffy and Hildy (Hildegard)...Donna Dixon...Dan Akroyd

5 comments:

Rene said...

I knew Peter Scolari. I believe they are still good friends. Scolari is a fixture at the Disney channel.

I've alway enjoyed Tom Hanks (except for Forrest Gump, watching that movie was about as entertaining as a root canal and The Terminal was no great shakes either). But he seems so comfortable with his fame. I remember him being interviewed on a local news show. He said he watched the show when he could get the channel off from Nickelodeon. I thought, gee, he has the same problems as I do. I suppose that is what I want. If I get published, I want to be the writer who helps others whenever I can and let them know I've got the same issues to deal with.

Eva Gale said...

Rick Moranis.

Right?

Damn, this is going to drive me nuts.

Anonymous said...

I knew Peter Scolari, but I was drawing a blank on everything else. I should have known Donna Dixon. If I had come up with her name, though I knew she was married to Dan Ackroyd. :)

ThatBrunette said...

Okay, I only got 1/2 of the trivia questions. But, I did remember Wendy Jo Sperber's name. Do I get a few bonus poits for that. I like Tom, too. For someone in Hollywood, he seems almost normal. This guy could be your neighbor or co-worker. He comes across as 'just a guy'.

Ceri Hebert said...

Bosum Buddies was a classic!! Buffy & Hildy. Kip and Henry. SonnySonnySonny.

And the Susan B Anthony I believe was the place they lived.