Greetings to all in Blogland. NOw go do something productive! Nah, just fuckin' with ya. Been awhile since I've been here. Not crazy about writing about myself (as I've been asked to do). But here goes: My writing partner and I have one of our Feature specs being read by an 'A' level production company. It's already passed the first rung and been passed on to the next suit. Hopefully they'll buy it or option it. Either way they say they really like our work. Then buy it already! Anyway, other than that my hip hurts like a motherfucker when I don't take Celebrex but I go in for a consultation in a week and a half at Beth Israel Hospital (in Boston). With the grace of God I'll have a new hip by Thanksgiving. And if I won last night Megamillions jackpot, I'll have the fuckin' thing by Saturday. I hope everyone is well out there in the Ether world. If you get a chance, go to Sam Bailey.com and see the cool happenings in that world. Peace out. :)

We're in the midst of a health care crisis in this country so it would seem appropriate that the president should weigh in on the arrest of his buddy, Professor Gates, even though he's been trying to get his health care legislation moving, and as far as the Cambridge incident goes, O'Bama, in his words says he, 'doesn't have all the facts'. Good stuff. Then the major news organizations like NBC and CBS then lead with the Gates arrest story, and not health care. And they say we're not fucked in our beloved country. I beg to differ. I wasn't there when Gates was arrested so I don't have the facts either. But here's a fact -- Sgt. Crowley, the arresting officer, is well respected by his peers on the Cambridge police force. Both black and white officers. Why couldn't Gates have thanked the officer for his diligence in investigating a possible break-in, then provided his identification? I have a funny feeling we wouldn't be reading anything about this story because it never would have happened. Here's another fact -- when an officer demands your identification it's against the law to refuse it. If you do refuse to provide ID, the officer has the right to take you into custody you until you provide it. I mean I hate to let facts get in the way of a good argument but what the hell, right? Some people just love to stir the pot and create disharmony. I have a feeling this Professor Gates is one of them. As an educator, and a supposed highly-respected one, shouldn't he be the far thinker and be able to see the harm he does when he accuses a good and honest law enforcement officer of discrimination, racial profiling and false arrest? Thanks a lot professor, you're a real patriot.

Here's a riddle: Who can paint your house, act in your film and hobble like Festus from Gunsmoke, all in the same day? Why it's yours truly, of course. I'm navigating the health care system these days; searching for a doctor to cut me up and patch a new hip into this old body. Here's a newsflash for you President Obama -- a small state like Massachusetts can't make mandatory health care work, how the fuck are states like California and Texas going to do it? I'll tell you how -- they won't be abe to, plain and fuckin' simple. Here's how it works from my experience: You call your healthcare provider and get a list of doctors and hospitals that accept your health plan. You thank them for their help, then you call the doctor or hospital they told you would accept your plan; whereupon the receptionist informs you (every fuckin' one of them so far!) that the doctor (or hospital) doesn't accept your insurance. As much fun as running laps in the rain while your gym teacher screams at you. Remember those days? Aah -- good times. So now I'm back at square one and my hip feels like it's going to fall out of it's socket. That smile you see on my face? Step a little closer -- that's really just me crying -- with a smile on my face. So I guess my point is... oh what the fuck am I saying? I don't really have a point. Isn't the whole idea of this blogging shit to get stuff out of your system? If so, get me the blog post that takes your fuckin' pain for you. Sign me up for that motherfucker. In closing, thank God for your health everyone. We take it all for granted sometimes. It's human nature. But seriously -- be grateful for the ability to walk normally. You have no idea how much the alternative to that truly sucks. My best wishes to all who bothered to read this. :)

The Sun continues to be on strike in the Northeastern United States. Not that I care anymore. It was out yesterday and I felt like I was under a magnifying glass. I'm writing a Two And A Half Men spec episode, so a rainy day gives me reason to get cracking on it. The story is funny, I hope I can deliver it on the page. (I'm pretty sure I can). That show pushes the envelope with the censors so it should be fun to write. I have a filthy mind to begin with so the episode is half done already. My best to all out there.

Happy Fourth Of July!

I hope everyone has a great Fourth of July weekend. I'm still in Boston trying to find a doctor to give me a new hip. But on a happier note, I also just heard that I've been cast in a movie for the Sci-Fi Channel. It shoots in Indiana in mid-August. Not sure of my role but I'm excited at the chance to work with Jim Wynorski again. The man's amazing. And the way I look at it, any day doing what you love is not work. Peace to all. :)

I'm trying to understand and navigate all this technology at my fingertips; and I have to admit it sometimes boggles my simple mind. Facebook, Twitter, blogging; no to mention email, gmail and the occasional (creepy) shemale. (Alright, maybe not so much the shemale stuff). But I mean come on-- I'm no kid. I was around when Disco got started and I fought that too. Then I realized it was where the ladies were. (End of meaningless rant).
In the meantime I'm sitting here in Boston feeling both saddened and invigorated by being out of LA. I'm sad because there are lot of people I miss there. But the revitalization comes from being somewhere less, (for lack of a better word), fucked. I have a good friend who's a retired Art Director. He opened my eyes to how LA is able put many a career in suspended animation. We're always hanging in there for that big break. Meanwhile the days roll by and the good works we're capable of doing get lost in the haze. Why? Because we lose focus. Okay, by now you probably realize I'm talking about myself here. Maybe you other folks are able to navigate the whole LA scene but I was too busy trying to pay rent to enjoy the perks of such a vibrant town. So now I'm focusing on the things I want to do and am capable of doing; and if nothing else I feel refreshed. I have no idea what all of this will lead to but at least now my vision is clearer. You know what? I thought I was going somewhere with this but maybe this is just the end of rant #2.

Karen Carpenter once sang that rainy days and Mondays always get her down. Hey Karen! -- try a Sunday on for size! Or a Tuesday, or a Wednesday... or any fuckin' day for that matter because it's been raining pretty much every day in Boston for the last two weeks. This is the kind of weather where the the convict turns to his cellmate and says, "It was on a day like this -- Jane turned to me and said, "You know on second thought I think I like the sofa where it was in the first place." And who can blame him? If I was on the jury the guy would be enjoying a nice round of golf about now. Hopefully in someplace sunny. I never thought I'd be a slave to the weather but after six years in LA it's easy to take sunny days for granted. Now realize this -- I've had a few glasses of some good fuckin' Cab and I know I'm rambling but what the fuck else do I have to do? It's raining!!! With that, I wish everyone well and thank you for letting me vent. It's that or kill my fuckin' wife. Kidding. Not married... anymore. Go ahead, find the body. I dare you. (sinister, maniacal laugh).

As I sit here in Boston and watch the rain fall for the 803rd straight day-- wait! Was that Noah I saw just float by in his ark ? Sorry, false alarm. So where was I? Oh yeah-- waiting out the rain. Well I'm usually I'm an optimist but the glass was half full weeks ago. Now the friggin' thing is overflowing and flooding out my basement. If this sounds like I'm rambling it's only because I am. It's late June and there really hasn't been a run of dry weather to speak of for weeks. On a good note, I recently spent a week in Hawaii shooting a movie. It was a nice respite from the rain. It also went well enough that I was told I'm being cast in another Sci-Fi flick filming in Indiana later this Summer. It's for the same director, so I must be doing something right.
I also received some good news last week, Hollywood style. A feature script I submitted to a (good) management company warranted a phone call from them. They said they love the writing-- but... and of course there had to be a 'but'-- they can't sell the script. It's a dark comedy and they liken selling it to 'rolling a rock uphill'. On a good note, they want to be pitched ten comedy ideas and if they like one, they'll order a spec. Then I guess we'll go from there. I already have 8 pitches ready to go. I have a feeling this is going to be a good rest of the year. So that's it from here. I hope everyone is well and feeling positive out there. :)

I just returned from 8 days in Hawaii shooting a pilot for HBO. Don't want to get my hopes up, but it was fun no matter what. Oh -- and I know where I'm moving when I get the resources - Lihue, Kuai! (I think I spelled Kuai correctly. Oh well, I'll know for sure some day -- when it's my home!!!). Paradise on earth. Swore I saw Adam and Eve at one of the waterfalls. Adam's looking a little rough for his age, but Eve was hot. Didn't want to crash on the plane ride home but figured -- oh well, I've been to paradise. I love a job that's not a job because then I'm never working when I'm working. Makes sense to me. My best to all. :)

I'm sitting in a cabin overlooking a gorgeous waterfall on location in Hawaii and I have to say - life is good. Granted, I try to keep that attitude no matter where I am and what I'm doing, but it's just easier to say right now. The shoot is going great and only a few people hate each other, so all in all I couldn't ask for more. We're in Kuai. I've never been to one of the islands before, but I can guarantee I'm coming back. I don't even mind the mosquitos, who've been fine-dining on portions of my ass for three days now. I return to the mainland on Saturday and for such a short trip, I think it's still going to be bittersweet saying goodbye. There's something magical here. My best to all. :)

I just finished a cross-country drive from LA to Boston. It was just me, myself and no Irene, so I had a lot of time to think. And I promise -- the moment I make sense of these thoughts, I plan to post them. This is about the 12th or 13th time I've done this, and most of the times I've been alone. It's amazing how vast and beautiful America is. And there are a lot of places where there's not a damn soul. I'm talking no one. And nothin'. A whole lot of nothin'. But that's part of what makes it such a great trip. For all the stumbling over each other we do in the cities, you get on a stretch of road somewhere in East Bumfuck and it's just you and your thoughts. Or the tunes. (A lot of country music I might add, but that's never been a problem for me). And you just go. This may not be very interesting to you but I just got back yesterday and I'm still fuckin' exhausted, so pardon the (yawn!) rambling. I just want to say it's great to be back on the East coast and I guess I'm already trying to make sense of my 'me' time. God I hate those Oprah-isms. And I don't have a wife or kids so let's face it -- every day is 'me' time. Hey -- maybe that's one of the things I got out of this: I can pick up and go across country whenever I want and I don't have to answer a lot of questions. Yes! That's one thing I've figured out; and I have something to say about it -- thank you God.

The cast of 'Sam Bailey' got together yesterday for a table read of the script. As a cast member and also a Producer, I was very pleased with the overall results of the day. The cast is extremely talented and I feel blessed and honored to be a part of the production. Writer/Director Tennison Stead has woven together a great story and set it against the charming streets of Boston. It's a dramedy with depth and charm, and is going to get a lot attention when it hits the theaters. The script is strong and getting stronger and we have high hopes of giving the world a story that reinforces the wonder and beauty of love and friendship. As we progress I'll be sure to keep everyone updated.

Finding Max

While reading through Sam Bailey last week I was trying to find out who Max, my character, was. He's a cabbie in Boston. Blue collar. Family man. (Devoted husband and father). Tenny and I talked later and I had questions about Max; his speech patterns, how I see his backstory, that kind of thing. Long story short, Tenny told me, "Max is you. It's that simple". And it really was. So now my eyes are open and I only have to figure out one thing to nail Max's character... Who the hell am I?

I just saw Vampire In Vegas, a Jim Wynorski movie I did a couple of years ago starring Tony Todd. You might remember Tony from Platoon, and he's also Candyman, in that franchise. I play Detective Thornton and I get killed at the end of the film. It's not a bad flick and I'd suggest renting it if you see it. Hey if nothing else you get tp see me offed. I know at least a few people who'll appreciate that. Now that I think of it, it may be more than a few. Oh well.