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A Day in The Life of Tony Danza’s Agent (classic repost)

23 Jul

A Flashback! classic.

from December 6, 2008

Tony Danza. The only actor who must play a character named Tony:

TONY DANZA’S AGENT: Hey, Tony baby, I got some news for you. A real meaty script just came your way.
TONY DANZA: Huh, yeah?
AGENT: It is set in the early 1980′s. Cold War stuff. You play a former Soviet spy being pursued across the Iron Curtain because you have the key to the West German defense plans and you are going to sell them to the highest bidder.
DANZA: Oh wow.
AGENT: Here’s a copy of the script. I’ll read with you. I’ll be Piotr, your former superior. I’m calling you on the phone to try to get you to give up. You are Vladimir, the spy. Ready?
DANZA: This is so cool.
AGENT: Here we go. “Vladimir, you must give yourself up. Come in on your own and I promise you that your wife and children will come to no harm. Vladimir, you must do this.”
DANZA:
AGENT: I said “Vladimir, you must do this.”
DANZA:
AGENT: Tony, you OK?
DANZA: Yeah, how you doing?
AGENT: I’m waiting for your line.
DANZA: What line?
AGENT: Your line in the script.
DANZA: You started that?
AGENT: Yeah, I cued you twice.
DANZA: You were talking to me?
AGENT: Tony, there’s no one else in the room.
DANZA: I thought you were on the phone.
AGENT: I’m not on the phone.
DANZA: You were talking to some guy named Victor.
AGENT: Vladimir.
DANZA: How’s he doing?
AGENT: How’s who doing?
DANZA: Vladimir.
AGENT: You’re Vladimir.
DANZA: Nah, nah, I’m Tony. Tony Danza. From Taxi.
AGENT: I know, I’m your agent, I got you that job.
DANZA: Cool, when do I start?
AGENT: You already started!
DANZA: I”m late! I better get to the set. (Get’s up to leave)
AGENT: The job’s over! Sit down!
DANZA: Hey, when do I get my check?
AGENT: You got it years ago. Look, Tony-
DANZA: Aw geez, I got it years ago and I didn’t keep any receipts. What about my taxes?
AGENT: Tony, Tony, look, there’s this script.
DANZA: Cool! Who do I play?
AGENT: (Deep breath.) You play a spy. Named Vladimir. You. Are. Vladimir.
DANZA: I’m Vladimir?
AGENT: Right. Now here’s your cue. Do you have the script?
DANZA: That’s my cue?
AGENT: NO! I mean no, I just want to make sure you have the script.
DANZA: Yeah, right here in my pocket.
AGENT: Take it out. Here we go. “”Vladimir, you must give yourself up. Come in on your own and I promise you that your wife and children will come to no harm. Vladimir, you must do this.”
DANZA:
AGENT: TONY!
DANZA: You off the phone now? How’s Victor?
AGENT: You are Victor! I mean Vladimir! You are Vladimir!
DANZA: No, I’m Tony. From Taxi. I sing too and I cook and I used to box.
AGENT: I know! I know!
DANZA: So what about this new script you said came in? I can’t wait to read it.
AGENT: I’ll mail it to you.
DANZA: OK, thanks for stopping by.
AGENT: This is my office!
DANZA: Oh, I thought maybe I changed the furniture.

The Many Faces of Tony Danza

Popeye-Palooza!

22 Jul

July 22, 2010

I’ve got my summer vacation all set and I cant wait until September!

September? Doesn’t summer vacation end in August?

No way baby! Summer vacation doesn’t even begin until the annual Chester Illinois Popeye Picnic!

Popeye was created in 1929 and was originally a bit player in the comic strip “Thimble Theater.” When passed on the dock by Castor Oyl (brother of Olive Oyl, and that gag wore thin fast) and asked “Are you a sailor?” Popeye, showing the humor and wit that would soon make him a household name, answered by punching Castor through a hull. Sorry, no, his answer to “Are you a sailor?” was the HE-ES-TERICAL “Ja think I’m a cowboy?” HA HA HA!

Yet he still became popular.

Anyway, the creator of Popeye was E.C. Segar and I’ll give you three guesses where he lived.Was it:
A- Sweet Haven? WRONG
B- Popeyeville, N.C.? WRONG
C- Chester, Illinois? OBVIOUSLY

So every year Chester hosts an annual Popeye picnic and celebration. While the 2010 events are still being keep under wraps, here are some highlights from the 2009 gala, which began on 9/11 in, I’m sure, some fit of patriotic fervor, because I am dead sure the entire town of Cheater (population 8,400) was also free the following weekend.

  • Goon Island Sand Sculpturing
  • Castor Oyl’s Carnival Rides
  • Popeye Film Festival
  • Popeye’s Parade
  • One Man Band
  • Poopdeck Pappy Presents: Magic & More
  • Smorgasbord
  • Swee Pea’s Petting Zoo
  • Horseshoe Tournament
  • Wimpy’s Wiener Dog Derby

As you can see, this is the Popeyepalooza! Nowhere else can you find such a concentration of small town sawdust, er, Popeye themed kiddie rides. C’mon, Weiner dogs, a smorgasbord, and a one man band? How come this thing isn’t as big as Ozz-fest? (Right, Weiner dogs, a smorgasbord, and a one man band. That’s why.)

Anyway, how can I pass up a chance to travel to the Popeye center of the world? I’d be silly not to go, especially as I already have travel plans for the summer of 2011, to travel to the other side of the state, Metropolis Illinois, for their annual Superman celebration, featuring a costume contest and a Lex Luthor look-alike contest!

Now if only some small town would celebrate The Herculoids I’d never leave Illinois!

I think the Olive on the left likes me!