This story reminds me of something a Simpsons writer said on one of the DVD commentaries. Paraphrasing, he said, of all the people, cultures, ethnicity's, whatever they had made fun of over the years. The Irish were the only ones who never contacted them and complained about it.

My Actor Friends. Part 4

So I got a part in a film called, COLD DECEMBER.

I'm very excited. I haven't done any acting in well over a year.

I'm also alittle terrified. I haven't done any acting in well over a year.

While in L.A. I was: taking classes, doing plays, auditioning, attending workshops, meeting agents, doing mailings. The whole thing. Like an athlete in the middle of their season, you get yourself to a point of high productivity. You are in gameshape, ready for anything. Right now, I'm not in gameshape. Unless the game is, suburban stay-at-home Dad Olympics.

We shoot during the week of Dec. 11. The script was written by Chicago native, Brian Wright, who I got to know in L.A. The lead will be played by my buddy Chris Fountain. A good actor and one hella good guy. I'm looking forward to working with him again, we get drunk together in the second act. Though his is a dark drunk of self loathing, it should be a great time. I'll keep you abreast of any developments.

Burn Hollywood Burn.

I was reading the latest post over at [Catchy Title] about his hatred for Hollywood. It's the first post over there I have ever read. I don't have anything against Brian. I'm assuming I don't know him. This isn't an attack on him. It just gets under my skin when anyone brings up the subject of Hollywood. Invariably, they hate it.

I hate Hollywood.

It's a cliche. I hate Hollywood. You hate Hollywood. Everyone hates Hollywood. If you have any urge to be unique, when the subject of Hollywood comes up, say nothing. Even if you hate it. It can go unsaid. Everyone hates Hollywood. You wanna be punk and edgy try loving Hollywood.

I hate Hollywood and that whole L.A. scene.

Most people who hate Hollywood base their entire opinion on the film and television industry. MTV's Next is bad T.V. poisoning our youth, so the beauty of a sunset while sitting on Malibu beach can't be considered. Or watching whales surface while migrating north or south at Santa Monica Pier sucks cause of it's proximity to NBC.

I think California is morally and psychologically killing the children.

Sometimes they even like to roll all of California into their hatred; you know those ancient Redwoods are responsible for teen anorexia. I wonder if people hate Washington D.C. because of political corruption. Do they hate Nevada because of gambling? Do you hate Utah because of the Mormon religion? Why would you hate an entire city or state because of a single industry? Nobody ever says, I hate Nashville. I hate Tennessee. No. They say, I hate country music.

It's a plague.

Film and Television products are just that, products. Watch or don't watch. Hollywood is a city. Thousands of people who live there have nothing to do with the products Film and Television produces. California is a state with millions of people and natural wonders that have nothing to do with film and television.

I hate everything about it.

I lived in Hollywood for awhile. Both of my sons were born at Glendale Memorial. My time there is a laundry list of friendly gestures and helping hands; hardworking people trying to support one another. From crashing on couches to free babysitting. Rides to auditions. Agent meetings. Rides to work. Food. Cash. I had a friend who would watch my son, Philip, while he auditioned. Would you take a friends son to a job interview cause they needed it? I now live in the near west suburb of Chicago, Elmhurst. Sometimes I wonder if the people here, my friends included, are as welcoming, open and generous as those I left behind in L.A.

My Actor Friends

I used to live in Hollywood. I was an actor. I had a commercial agent. I took acting classes and waited tables. But this isn't about my failed effort at success, it's about one of my good friends hard work paying off.
Jeremy Luc, pictured here, will appear on "Bones" tonight. He's playing Eddie Bean. He's a hell of an actor and damn good guy. Please check him out. If you like him, email the show. Thanks.