Time Zone Troubles

Posted inAmerica, Columns, Travel

Most of the time, I enjoy change. I like experiencing new things and seeing what I may have previously missed.

But there are kinds of change I don’t like. I recently discovered one of them when I had to travel for business. I hate changing time zones.

I’m not talking about heading to Illinois for a few days and having to remember that everything is one hour off. I went to Vancouver on the west coast and had to suffer through that three-hour swing.

Yes, I said suffer because not only did my body not know what time it was, all the TV stations were different, it rained the whole time, and I couldn’t access web sites like Hulu to entertain me in my hotel room. That’s just cruel.

What an Experience

Posted inColumns, Theater

I can do this.

That’s the thought which went through my head when the spotlight first hit me on opening night for “Miracle on 34th Street.” I had never really acted before – other than acting like a grownup for the past 20 years or pretending I knew what I was talking about in general conversation – but something felt right.

I could not have predicted this a couple of months ago when I initially agreed to play a small non-speaking role in the production at Hanover High School. As I wrote a few weeks ago, this all evolved into the role of Mr. Macy.

I may not have shown it in rehearsal, but I struggled at first. I knew I could project my voice since I have decades of experience trying to be heard above the crowd at family parties.

But I worried about succeeding beyond the volume. Would I get any laughs? Would I sound authentic? Would I remember my lines?

The Return of Comedy

Posted inColumns, TV

About this time last year, I found myself developing a character trait I did not like. Something that violated everything I learned growing up was happening.

I found myself disliking television.

At first, I wondered if I had changed. Had parenthood softened me? Did I develop too many outside interests? Had I become old?

Then I realized that I didn’t have the problem. Television did. The people in charge of the shows churned out so much garbage, I had started to reject pretty much everything.

Time to “Scrub” In

Posted inScrubs, TV
Good news hit the wire yesterday. The return of "Scrubs" is only a month away. Creator Bill Lawrence announced earlier this summer his plans for the ninth season of the…