Friday Out
Posted October 13th, 2007 by Rich Heldenfels
Many in this part of the world spent last night watching the Indians and Red Sox. Some others probably gave "Friday Night Lights" another chance, so feel free to post your comments on that below.
The bride and I went over to the University of Akron to see younger son in Lanford Wilson's "Hot L Baltimore."
He played Paul, his first role at UA, his transition from high school plays to a college stage. Upping the ante: Marshall W. Mason, who directed the original production of "Hot L Baltimore," was in attendance and spoke for about an hour after the play.
But they could have had a guy making balloon animals after the show and we still would have wanted to be there. Big rite of passage for the young man. Kind of thing that makes parents swell with pride. More than worth missing some TV baseball for. There will be other games.
Speaking of baseball, though, it was odd to see the Indians lose, and lose badly, in the first game. I've been thinking that this season feels a lot like 1995, and more recently had begun to formulate a theory that the Indians are in fact the 2004 Red Sox, right down to the lovable-idiots label (Damon's hair, meet Nixon's pies). And, after years of cheering for the Indians EXCEPT when they played the Red Sox, I had decided that for me this year it was Tribe time. The Red Sox, after all, had buried the curse and the Indians were in a real era of good feelings, most evident when the bride and I had gone to Jacobs Field.
So there I was, with all these happy-feet feelings about the Indians, and they lost. Oh, well. So, any thoughts on "FNL"?
October 14th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Your son is very lucky Rich. He has something most aspiring actors don't have. A TV and movie critic for a father. That means once he graduates he has a better chance than most into breaking into the industry. With your connections he still has to prove himself of course but he'll have an easier time landing auditions.
Ed Zwick: Hello. Oh hi Rich. What can I do for you?
Rich: I heard you're doing a TV show about the travails of a single young father.
Ed Zwick: That's right. We're searching for the lead right now.
Rich: My boy is an actor and just graduated from school. I want you to let him audition for the role before anyone else does.
Ed: Uh well Richard, we already have several auditions lined up.
Rich: Than schedule my boy before them. If you value my friendship you will do this favor for me or I will make it my life mission to destroy your career, and you know full well I can do that. I'm not asking you to give him the job, just give him first crack at the role.
Ed: Alright Rich you owe me on this one. Tell your boy to be in LA by tomorrow morning and be at the studio by 9am.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
I know better than to do that, and my son knows better than to expect that. But thanks for taking an expression of love for my son and making something sleazy out of it.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Rich, I'm sorry if you read my comments the wrong way. I know you like any parent love your son. Part of the way some parents express their love for their children is by greasing the wheels if they can to enter the career of their choice. They still have to prove themselves and succeed or fail on their own merits, but having connections does able them to get through the door. Donald Sutherland and Keifer Sutherland. Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas. Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley. Miley and Keifer and Michael all proved themselves and became successful through the quality of their own work. Still it's undeniable that all three got their opportunities due to their famous parents. Casting directors might not have given the time of day without those connections.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:06 am
That's not the same thing. For me to pressure someone I cover to help my son would be unethical. Reporters have gotten in trouble for that very act. I realize that your original comment was meant to be somewhat funny, but I don't have a sense of humor about this. So I am going to back to my original thought, that I was happy to see my son onstage and that I hope he will realize his dreams — on his own — someday.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Congratulations, good sir.