I'd have given the right nut on my pizza to have been at the Paley Center for this "Facts of Life" reunion. Everyone looks great -- and it's so nice to see them being friendly to each other! Anyone know if Mrs. Garrett or Tootie made it?
With Miss I Can't Be in the Reunion Movie Because I'm So Busy ...
And what in fact had to the highlight of her life!
While most people like to take it easy on their days off -- maybe have lunch with a friend or catch up on some housework -- I couldn't resist the opportunity to hang out work on the set of a movie all day -- especially with the near promise of some "extra" screen time. The "Violet Tendencies!" (formerly known as "Bye Bye, Fruit Fly") shoot -- which took place on the roof of building in the West Village with spectacular views -- was lots of fun. (Way better than my previous film experience, the 1987 Morgan Fairchild classic "Campus Man," which was shot while I was attending Arizona State University.)
But why would I expect anything else from the film's star -- my pal and fellow blogger Jesse Archer (of "Slutty Summer" fame) -- who assembled a cast that included a former soap star turned stripper/Playgirl centerfold (Marcus Patrick), a baby-faced Broadway actor (Daniel Robinson, fresh from appearing in Broadway Bares), a quasi-legendary drag queen (Hedda Lettuce), a straight soap stud (Samuel Whitten) AND one of Mrs. Garrett's best students (Mindy Cohn).
Mindy Cohn plays Violet, a fag hag who just won't quit
OK, by now surely you've figured out that I ONLY went to get a photo with Natalie. But there was a HUGE hole in my Ridiculous Celebrity Photo Gallery on Facebook (right after Didi Conn and before Debbie Gibson) that just needed to be filled, so back off before you judge me. It gets even better when I tell you that Mindy, who was sweet and gracious when I got there, stormed off in a huff when a bunch of us were posing for photos with the cast later in the afternoon, refusing to be in any more telling Jesse: "There was a lot of stuff that went down earlier that I'll tell you about later." I'm praying that "stuff" makes it to YouTube soon, because it was undoubtedly when vlogger and all-around Gay About Town Mike Diamond sideswiped her during a little interview between takes in which he demanded to know, among other things, why she hated Charlotte Rae so much ("Well, that's what I've heard"). (Stephen Colbert couldn't have done a better job with her!) I hadn't seen Natalie this rattled since she went looking for her birth mother for that genealogy report in Mr. Bradley's class. (The only thing scarier than watching this low-budget breakdown was the lady on the set (the AD?) who looked just like Natalie after 20 years of crystal meth use who ran around screaming and threatening us the whole time with a cigarette hanging out of her tooth-deficient mouth.)
Marcus Patrick, Jesse Archer and me
"Bye Bye, Fruit Fly" is slated for release in 2010. Look for me in the party cum wedding reception scene. I'm the guy whose green polo shirt was deemed unacceptable by "wardrobe" so was forced to wear some black terrycloth number that was 10 sizes too big. What a BIG splash I'll make on the silver screen ...
Leading men Samuel Whitten and Daniel Miller
Jack Mackenroth can probably teach Mindy a thing or two about "The Facts of Life"
1. Patrick Rafter: Always the most likable and lickable player on the circuit, it only makes me want to be this Aussie...
Fake Jan Alert
My blog is featured in Susan Olsen's tell-all about the ill-fated "Brady Bunch Variety Hour"!
Little Kenny
Growing up in Madison Heights, Mich.
Back to the Old House
The Web leads to an unexpected return to a house I grew up in.
Oceans 11
Carlsbad, Calif. (2008)
1983
Go Behind the Music of my high-school band, A La Plage
A Death in the Family
Little Larry left us too soon.
Once I Had a Love
With Debbie Harry
'Jungle' Fever
With Robert Buckley
Roger & Me
With Roger Federer
Step Brother McMullen
With Ed Burns
Headline News
With Thomas Roberts
Disclaimer
The views expressed on this blog belong to me -- and me alone -- and are not a reflection of my employers past, present or future.
All photos are shared under the fair use doctrine (17 U.S.C. § 107). If you would like any image removed, please contact me and I will promptly comply.
While most people like to take it easy on their days off -- maybe have lunch with a friend or catch up on some housework -- I couldn't resist the opportunity to 
Mindy Cohn plays Violet, a fag hag who just won't quit
Marcus Patrick, Jesse Archer and me
Leading men Samuel Whitten and Daniel Miller
Jack Mackenroth can probably teach Mindy a thing or two about "The Facts of Life"
Click to revisit the heyday of Chelsea's 8th Avenue
My blog is featured in Susan Olsen's tell-all about the ill-fated "Brady Bunch Variety Hour"!
Growing up in Madison Heights, Mich.
The Web leads to an unexpected return to a house I grew up in.
Carlsbad, Calif. (2008)
Go Behind the Music of my high-school band, A La Plage
Little Larry left us too soon.
With Debbie Harry
With Robert Buckley
With Roger Federer
With Ed Burns
With Thomas Roberts
You've read the blog -- now read the book!
My memoir is available at Three Lives & Co. in the West Village
Like my book on Facebook here.
