I said as much as we too loved working with Charlie and greatly admired his many talents, I would hate to stand in the way of his feature career so I passed on his offer.
Unbelievably, we somehow managed to find another gray cat that could sit in a chair.
But here’s the thing…
A year later ALMOST PERFECT gets cancelled. I’m driving home, feeling really bummed out and I gaze up at a billboard touting a certain movie. My entire cast is out of work and there’s Charlie, the fucking cat, starring in a major motion picture, staring down on me, his Cheshire-like face plastered on a HUGE billboard on the Sunset Strip.
I lost track of Charlie after that. To my knowledge he didn’t catch on in films. That business can be so cruel. He probably returned to television and if there’s any justice he’s doing ARSENIC & OLD LACE in dinner theatre somewhere in Iowa tonight.
The moral: Use a litter box because you never know who you’re going to meet on the way down.
If Eddie had been able to speak, he would have said, "I made you."
ReplyDeleteLOL funny Ken. "Almost Purrfect" I wish David Clennon had gotten more recognition for his work. I know awards don't mean much but he deserved some.
ReplyDeleteI swear to God, I have no memory of Charlie on Almost Perfect. When I've discussed television programs that feature cats as a pet, the only I can think of (besides Sabrina The Teenage Witch, and animatronic pets don't count) was Caroline in the City.
ReplyDeleteI've always assumed the reason so many shows have dogs as pets as opposed to cats is simply that dogs are easier to train. Is there a different reason?
Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of an agent making deals for his feline client. Wonder what “purr-ks” might have been included?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of cats on TV shows, I just remembered the last few seasons of "2 Broke Girls" the Kat Dennings character had one but we always think of Beth Behrs horse more because that animal was on the show since the beginning...
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Don't you want to rent 'That Darn Cat' now? Aren't you a little curious?
ReplyDeleteDidn't Charlie switch to directing?
ReplyDeleteDid Charlie have notes on the scripts?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Toonces would have driven over for an audition...
ReplyDeleteA cautionary tale for sure. One could say that CHARLIE was the David Caruso of animal actors. That's what happens when you let ego get the best of you.
ReplyDeleteBut just as it is with human actors some beasts have more successful careers others. e.g. Arnold the pig had a really hard time finding work after "Green Acres." Not necessarily because he was a diva, but because he was too heavily identified with the show.
On the other hand Benji had no trouble going from TV to film and back. He just loved the work.
And back in the 30's because Asta was under contract to MGM he was not only in all of "The Thin Man" movies, but was also seen popping up in many other movies as well.
Showbiz is a real crapshoot. Some very talented, hard working actors never make it. While others just seem to stumble into success.
But I suppose it's much easier to deal with rejection when one can lick his or her own genitals.
M.B.
Very funny post, although my cats were not amused. "Charlie" is my cat Barrymore's hero. He has Charlie's nude fold-out (Downward spiral work) posted over his catbed.
ReplyDeleteApropos of nothing, Ken: here's a trailer for an Apple+ Tv series called Trying. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGA_6WTD3vM
ReplyDeleteIt seems pleasant enough but, as you've said with movie comedies, there aren't really any actual jokes, just cute snark and attitude.
Speaking of showbiz animals, here's an "Attaboy!" for the dog Gus on "Mom". He is well-behaved and quietly blends in with the scenes, particularly a late night one where he also had his eyes closed in "sleep" when the human characters were sleeping.
ReplyDeleteEven hen he does do physical comedy, he lets the humans take over; in one scene where Allison Janney had to wedge herself on the couch he was lying on, he let himself get compacted to one cushion without changing expression or even moving his head. The only time I recall a possible ad lib was when William Fitchner's Adam made a punchline about Gus's name, and the dog lifted his head off the floor, ears perked. The audience cracked up so much, Fitchner glanced over in curiosity at him before he continued the scene.
As far as other animal actors go, special nods to Clint Eastwood's simian "Clyde" in the "Every Which Way but Loose" movies, and the expressive "Mike the dog" in "Down and Out in Beverly Hills".
@ Mike Bloodworth
ReplyDeleteArnold the pig had a really hard time finding work after "Green Acres."
Not true! About a year later he was appearing in "Dennys" as a side of bacon for a week.
Oooh, burn
Delete"While others just seem to stumble into success."
ReplyDeleteThat sums up Scott Baio, Kevin Sorbo, Dean Cain, Kristy Swanson, Antonio Sabato Jr and Victoria Jackson. Thankfully their stumble was short lived and they now spend all their time on twitter and not in front of cameras, except for the occasional faith based flick aimed at people who believe Earth is 7,000 years old.
Maybe Charlie can guest host Jeopardy. Could be better than Dr. Oz.
ReplyDelete