In 1985, my partner, David and I created a comeback show for Mary Tyler Moore called (oddly enough) MARY. We were extremely fortunate to have a great casting director in Molly Lopata. All summer we spent auditioning actors for the series. Most you've heard of. Some even big names.
One day Molly brought in a newcomer to read for the role of Jo Tucker, Mary's acerbic workmate. We loved her. She was funny, real, and so fresh. A definite call-back.
Eventually we had to go to CBS to get cast approval. They asked to see two candidates for each role. For the part of Jo we brought in Kathy Bates and this newcomer. Both were wonderful. CBS was thrilled with either pick. We decided to go with the newbie. There was just something very special about Katey Sagal.
Here is a sample of her work on MARY. I don't know who put this together but many thanks. It not not only shows her comedic side but her singing ability too.
16 comments :
Katey was preceded in the biz by her dad Boris (a director who met an untimely end), and eventually twin sisters Jean and Liz got a show of their own called "Double Trouble", so it definitely was a family act. Katey was just comedy gold all those years on "Married... with Children".
She was in a Columbo episode her dad directed in the 70's, "candidate for crime." if you blink you miss her sorta thing. I'm glad I know her better on Futurama than from Married w Children these days!
Oh, Columbo...
She is a remarkable talent. Married with Children to Sons of Anarchy... the work speaks for itself! wv: imate - Apple's new matchmaking service!
She was also a singing waitress; a group of whom recorded as (as I recall) "The Group with No Name" for Casablanca -- or maybe Buddha -- records.
Katey's occasional role in Lost, as Locke's woman (in the past or alternate present), was for me a highlight of that series; I only saw about half the episodes but always managed to catch her when she appeared.
Katie Sagal is great. She was the best thing about "Married With Children" and I don't think she gets enough credit for her voiceover work on "Futurerama". She was wasted on that show she did with John Ritter. HE should have been her straight man rather than the other way around.
I like how that clip ends with "I guess I have to now". Good writing.
I happened to be in the studio audience the night this show was filmed. I remember saying to my wife, "The show may not be a hit, but what a great audition it makes for that girl across from Mary."
you cleared a Bob Dylan song...? nice.
When I saw her on MARY I remember thinking "this girl's going places." The only other time I got that feeling was when I saw David Hyde Pierce on The Powers That Be.
Not that David Hyde Pierce is a girl, but you get the idea.
First saw Katey in that Columbo episode, she was the campaign office secretary. A crucial piece of evidence for Columbo in the episode was the dry-cleaned suit that she gave to the senator. She did a good job, that episode must have been 30 years ago.
And about Peter Falk....
Peter Falk was the first Hollywood star I saw when I graduated from college in Tennessee and drove to California in 1974. He was at the cash register buying a cassette at Tower Records on Sunset. I had just driven into California that night. I noticed Peter Falk and he gave me a look that said, "It's me, thanks, but please keep browsing the records."
Finally, I think he got the last line in the great movie, The Princess Bride.. That's how I'd like to remember Peter Falk, saying to Fred Savage, "As you wish."
King Vermin, I was just about to bring that up...I happened to check out the COLUMBO DVID with that episode on it the day before they announced Peter Falk's passing.
Ken, I spent my Saturday afternoon accompanying my mother and brother to the theater...a production of "According to Tip", a one man show about former Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neill (performed by the man who wrote it, a long standing Boston author/political commentator)). It's Tip sharing many of the fascinating stories of his life, in and sometimes out of politics. Sadly, his appearance on CHEERS was not one of them.
Ha! I just realized which Columbo that is: the one with Jackie Cooper as the villain. Many years ago I taped the last few minutes of that episode because I love how it ends, quite unlike the ending of any other Columbo: an extended dialogue-free musical buildup, then the final line - Columbo says "You're under arrest, sir" - then music resumes, of a quite different character to fit Cooper closing his eyes in close-up. (Music by Dick De Benedictis.)
Her character is a lot like Fran Lebowitz.
I'm pretty sure Katey Sagal sang back-up on one of Bob Dylan's late '70s albums; maybe they stayed on friendly terms. I always liked Katey Sagal and I remember her sisters' sitcom- it was pretty good.
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