Seamus
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« Antworten #3 am: 06. März 2016, 22:14:30 » |
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Hier habe ich, ein sehr, sehr, sehr seltenes Interview mit Robert Urich gefunden. Es fand live in L.A. während einer Convention statt. Quanna, der Fan der auch diesen tollen Bericht zu seiner Talkshow geschrieben hat, hat dieses Interview veröffentlicht:
Moderator: After starring in the highly successful series "Spenser: For Hire", "Vega$", and dozens of highly rated miniseries, movies for television and feature films, actor Robert Urich is now taking on the Wild West in his new series "The Lazarus Man", set in post-Civil War America. We're now pleased to bring you, live from L.A., actor ROBERT URICH. Good evening, Lazarus Man!
Hi everbody, I'm Jefferson Graham here in Las Vegas with Robert Urich, at the NATPE convention. We're ready for your questions...
Patra: Robert, I watched your different series over the years and wonder why are you now changed from sleuth type roles and going to a Western?
Robert: Ever since Lonesome Dove, I've been thinking about doing another westen. It was actually an important turning point for me, in my creative life. It made me realize that I could hold my own with the likes of Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Angelica Huston and Academy Award winning caliber actors. Also, I've done as many sleuths as a guy needs to do. And the Lazarus Man script was as good of a piece of material as I've read in ten years. Tune in.
Shrew: I just wanted to say "hello"! Of course you wouldn't remember me, but I cut your daughter's and wife's hair several times when you were an Andover. I still have the first tip you gave me!!
Robert: Tip? As in get out of the business? (G) What's your name?
Moderator: In addition to "Spenser: For Hire" and "Vega$", Robert Urich has starred in the series S.W.A.T., Gavilan, Soap, Tabitha, Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice, American Dreamer, Crossroads, and It Had To Be You. He recently completed work on a remake of the classic film "Captains' Courageous".
Ellhas (Sandra Haslem): What character traits do Lazarus Man, Dan Tanna, & Spenser have in common?
Robert: They all look like Robert Urich. Lazarus and Spenser have more in common, in that they're both educated, thoughtful, introspective, tough, and they both only have one name. Dan Tanna, on the other hand, sort of stands alone as a classic film detective in the vein of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler.
Ladyof 90's: What was your favorite show to do and why?
Robert: It's always an actors job to muster the most enthusiasm for his current project. But I can honestly say that The Lazrus Man is, although the hardest work I've done, the most fun and satisfying.
Moderator: Urich has worked extensively in mini-series and movies for television, receiving both critical and popular acclaim for his work in the Emmy Award-winning "Lonesome Dove", "Amerika" and
"Blind Faith".
Ellhas (Sandra Haslem): Has The Lazarus Man movie been aired yet?
Robert: Lazarus Man debuted last week around the country in various markets, including Tampa, St. Louis, Kansas City, San Francisco, and Phoenix, with enormous ratings. I feel like the Saturn booster rocket has cleared the tower. It will air on TNT Saturdays at 9 p.m. as well, beginning 2/3.
Patra: Did you and Heather and the children enjoy your stay in Boston when you were filming Spenser?
Robert: Very much so, but not enough to make it a permanent residence. After visiting the west on a ski vacation, it became evident to me that my heart was in the west. But we still visit Boston quite often and our children now attend school in the east.
Moderator: Urich is active in natural resource conservation and publishes a series of outdoor books based on the writings of Nash Buckingham. He makes his home in Utah with his wife and two children, Ryan and Emily.
Ellhas (Sandra Haslem): Love watching reruns of Vega$ & Spenser, how do you feel about them being shown?
Robert: My son tells me, with Vega$ reruns, I am single-handedly bringing back bellbottoms. Most of these shows are on too late for me to watch.
Patra: What projects are you working on besides your new western?
Robert: Lazarus Man is a 14 hour a day job, 5 days a week, and the other two days a week are spent promoting and launching this new show.
Hoogie: Any chance of a Vega$ reunion?
Robert: I've tried to muster interest in a Vega$ reunion. Our industry, however, has become more and more complicated. And the Vega$ rights are owned by so many people that it might be hard to get them to all agree on producing a Vega$ reunion. But I'm all for it. (Quanna's note: remember folks, this is 1/96, in Robert's last chat w/us, on his site-7-27-97, he told us to write to Stu Bloomberg of ABC, to get the Vega$ reunion on its way. You can see the address' posted on his chat area).
Shrew: What are your children's ages, now?
Robert: My children are teenagers, 15 & 17. Part two: Any advice on surviving the teenage years? (For the parents, that is.)
Lady of 90's: Do you mess around much on the computer and do the on-line stuff?
Robert: This is my first go at the Internet....it seems immediate but somehow a bit impersonal.
Ellhas (Sandra Haslem): When will "Captains Courageous" be aired?
Robert: April 28th on the Family Channel. Preliminary reports are that it's of award winning caliber.
Beppe: I have seen the first episode of Lazarus Man and think that it is an excellent show. Do you think this one will find an audience? It looks like a very rough show to film.
Robert: Preliminary ratings have been excellent. It seems to me that the timing may be right for this kind of show. As we approach the year 2000, I think Americans are yearning to look back to see where we came from, to examine our history. It took courage, determination and pioneer spirit to create this great county. All those same ingredients describe the spirit of the Lazarus Man.
Patra: Is it true you were discovered by Burt Reynolds?
Robert: Yes, Burt Reynolds was the first Hollywood star to introduce me to Hollywood agents and producers. He opened the first door, but a fella's got to be ready to walk through with talent and enthusiasm.
Lady of 90's: Are you married and for how long? Do you find showbiz to be hard on a marriage?
Robert: I've been married for 22 years.
Shrew: In a TV movie that I saw you in recently, did your son play one of your son's in that movie?
Robert: You're referring to "Survive the Savage Sea", filmed on location in Australia around 5 or 6 years ago. You did see Ryan, and he's a grown young man now.
TN1: Robert, first of all, it's wonderful to have you here with us in chat. I was wondering if you ever got to work with Robert B Parker while you worked on Spenser: For Hire. I became a fan of yours due to that show.
Shrew: Are your wife and daughter currently working on any acting projects?
Robert: No, but I hope to see my wife Heather in the final episode of the Lazarus Man. Hopefully five or six years down the line. I'll sweep her off her feet, in the last scene of the last
episode, up onto my saddle, and we'll ride off into the sunset, never to be heard from again.
Robert: I'm here at the NATPE convention, talking to station programming executives who are buying my new show, The Lazarus Man, for their particular markets. The response has been overwhelming.
Robert: The ratings thus far have been way above expectations. After our on-line CHAT tonight, I'll have dinner with more executives.
Robert: I spent most of the day taking pictures, doing interviews, the old dog and pony show routine. The strange thing is, I actually enjoy it.
Robert: Vegas has changed so much since we did the series Vega$. Robert De Niro best describes it at the end of his movie Casino. "Used to be, if you walked into a casino more than twice, the pit bossess knew you by your first name. Now, if you win more than $100, some college kid comes up and wants your social security number".
Exquisite: We really enjoyed your show the other night but were wondering if your character will turn out to be a U.S.Marshal or if not, what will he be?
Robert: Stay tuned. It's the mystery of Lazarus. You find out that he was on duty as part of the presidential guard the night President Lincoln was assassinated. Who's after him? Could be Alan Pinkerton, under orders from Secretary of War Stanton. That's all for now.
B491437: Jake Spoon. You were great. Did you enjoy making L.D.?
Robert: Lonesome Dove was one of the most memorable acting experiences of my career and inspired me to want to do more westerns, which in turn, led to The Lazarus Man. We hope to continue in the vein of Lonesome Dove with compelling storytelling, authenticity of detail and great location work.
Frenchtchr: Hi Robert. I'm your second cousin from Pittsburgh. My mom is Helen. Anyways, will you be visiting or performing in the Washington DC area in the future?
Robert: Say hi to Aunt Helen and sorry, have no plans to visit DC soon, but you never know. Almost did a tour of Man of La Mancha last summer.
Lady of 90's: What is your favorite place in the world and why?
Robert: That little spot in Canada in the woods. Joseph Campbell refers to a "sacred spot". Mine happens to be on the banks of a lake in Canada.
ShariG1: Hi, Robert. It's great talking to you. I've enjoyed your work in both Vega$ and (especially) Spenser: For Hire. I know you were asked about a Vega$ reunion, what about another Spenser movie?
Robert: Something magic happens when Avery Brooks and I get together. There's nothing I'd like more than do a few more Spenser movies. Spenser is a classic character and viewers never seem to tire of him. Ratings have always been good, but sometimes Hollywood politics get in the way.
MillyWilly: Saw Lazarus last weekend here in KC and really enjoyed it--so different from the Friends type sitcom so currently popular-and you look GREAT on a horse. Do you own your own and do you ride much?
Robert: I own 6 horses. I'm on a horse most every day. I come home from work, most every day, smelling of pinion smoke, earth, wet sage and horses. Not a bad way to make a living.
Later29: Is filming of the new show difficult?
Robert: I'm thinking about putting a portion of each paycheck away in a dental account. Winds reached 50 mph yesterday in Santa Fe, while filming, so I got a nice sand blasting of the pearly whites. So it's tough, but more like play than anything I've done.
Brickalley: I've grown up with you through the years and through your various tv shows. I think you're absolutely great. Other than talent, to what do you attribute your longevity in this fickle business?
Robert: Persistence, with a generous dose of luck. But mostly, success comes from hard work.
Mr.E: Hi Robert, now that "Hawk" is a big star on "Deep Space Nine", do you have any plans to appear on his show?
Robert: No. No. No. I'd look funny in one of those costumes.
ZappaGod: Robert--Any interest in making the jump to the big screen?
Robert: You obviously didn't see Turk 182!, Ice Pirates and Endangered Species. My biggest career mistake was saying yes to Spenser as a series. I had just completed Turk 182! to rave reviews. Having competed with the likes of Kurt Russell, Tom Berenger and a few others. I should have waited around to see if I couldn't parlay that role into another film role.
MillyWilly: Someone asked before, if you had met Robert B Parker-think I read you did--but what's he REALLY like (Spenserish?).
Robert: Don't really know. He's a private guy, obviously talented, very tough physically, and a lover of life.
Glimmer: Whatever happened to the T-Bird you drove in "Vega$"?
Robert: A lady in Las Vegas bought it. Actually, there were two. Both were sold for a total of $27,000. Kind of a raw deal, insofar as the producers promised me one of them.
Frenchtchr: Did you enjoy doing the dogfood commercials? Was that your dog or just a prop dog?
Robert: No, they're real dogs, not prop dogs. But not necessarily mine. These dogs are professionally trained, have agents and their own motor homes. I have three dogs, and one appeared in an earlier commercial.
Moderator: My wife had a bet with me that they were really your dogs in the commercials. Looks like she owes me five bucks!
MillyWilly: Will most of the episodes for Lazarus be made in New Orleans at the House of Dreams? -- or will you be traveling around the country?
Robert: No, the second episode takes place in New Orleans in a place called the House of Dreams. Each week, Lazarus will move, looking for another clue to his own identity and getting involved with the lives of folks he meets along the way. But we make the show in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Creativefrnd: Are there any actors or actresses that you have looked up to or have had as a mentor over the years?
Robert: I've always admired the work of Jack Nicholson.
Later29: If you were not a great movie actor, what would you be doing in your life now?
Robert: Most likely I would be involved in design of some sort. I have a fascination for architecture. I also find great pleasure in designing gardens and planting.
VixenToo: Pardon me for being ignorant, but what is the premise of the Lazarus Man?
Luckylindy1: Was that dog food commercial just to hold you over until something better came along??
Robert: No. It just happened concurrently with my career. And quite by accident. I was in St. Louis, at the Ralston-Purina test farm, looking for the right food to feed my dogs. You see, I have a professional hunting dog, and my trainer suggested I visit this facility. Later, at the airport, in the executive club, I was explaining to the bartender why he should feed his dog Purina Dog Chow. I had just gotten the low down from the scientist at Ralston. My conversation was overheard by some Ralston executives. And they asked me if I really believed all that bunk about the dog food. I said it's no bunk, it's the best dog food available, and I'm going to feed my dog Purina One. And they said how'd you like to do our commercials? And that's how it happened.
TN1: Robert, was that a stunt man that did the scene where Lazarus Man dug out of the ground, or did you do that?
Robert: I did it. And inhaled a half a pound of Canadian peat moss in the process.
Paique: Hello Mr. Urich. It's great to be able to talk to you on here! I'd like to know if you keep in touch with any of the actors you worked with on "Vega$"?
Robert: I hear from Bart Braverman on occasion, but not very often. I still think of him fondly. Maybe some day we'll get together on a Vega$ reunion show.
Taiba: Love the show--very different from everything else currently on tv. How do you balance the difficulties of a weekly series with spending time with your family? Also, will you adopt me? :-)
Robert: Thanks for noticing the difference. We think its a very unique show too. My wife Heather is with me on location and our children are now old enough to be away at school. But we stay in touch by phone and visit frequently. As for the adoption...four sets of skis fit perfectly on my ski rack. Sorry, no more room.
Glimmer: Who are some of the actress' you have dated?
Robert: I've only dated one actress. I fell in love with her and married her. Her name is Heather Menzies, who played Louisa in The Sound of Music.
Lady of 90's: Is this stop here on Prodigy part of your promotions tour for "The Lazarus Man"?
Robert: Yes.
THX6969: What was your favorite TV western of the 50's and 60's ??
Robert: Hopalong Cassidy. But I also enjoyed Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Sky King.
Moderator: Being in a Western series means a lot to Urich. He loved to play cowboy as a kid! And at age 20, when he found the courage to tell his dad that he was going to be an actor, his father replied "You'll make a fine cowboy, Bob!"
Caeme: Will the Lazarus Man be a continuing quest for the main character's identity or will he some day regain his memory and his life, so the audience can see the whole man?
Robert: Yes, but it may take five or six seasons. He's a very complicated guy with a very colorful past. He's a graduate of West Point, and the son of wealthy tobacco plantation owners in Virginia.
Patra: Since the Lazarus Man takes place post civil war, will it touch on some of the controversial issues that existed during that time?
Robert: I think the historical climate becomes a very important aspect of our show. There was tremendous hatred and resentment for many years after the war, and this will be the backdrop for some of our stories.
Janice26: What ever happened to the SWAT truck ??
Robert: It was purchased by a local baker, and fresh bread is still delivered in that great old truck.
Frenchtchr: What is the worst film or show that you worked in? Is there any one thing that you wish would just disappear and never be seen again?
Robert: The worst film, actually a TV movie, that I ever appeared in, was my first role in a TV movie, entitled "Killdozer." A bulldozer strikes a meteor buried for many years, comes to life and kills all the construction workers. It was my first death scene. I was damn good, but the movie stunk.
Taiba: I am curious to know what you did before you became an actor--ever sit at a desk and stuff envelopes like the rest of us? What other jobs have you had?
Robert: I was an account exec at WGN Radio in Chicago. I called on food brokers, trying to sell them radio time. Boring. I also worked out of college as a construction worker in a steel mill. I still have ringing in my ears from the jackhammer...or is that just the phone.
Mr.E: Hi Robert, I thought you were pretty funny in Ice Pirates, any plans for more comedy in the future?
Robert: With any luck, my new good friends at Castle Rock, the producers of The Lazarus Man, will find a good comedy feature for me to do. I'm still looking for my Sleepless in Seattle or my Heaven Can Wait.
Moderator: A native of Toronto, Ohio, Urich earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in radio and television communications at Florida State University while on a four-year scholarship. He later earned his M.A. in Broadcast Research and Management from Michigan State University.
Talmasca: Do you dye your hair??
Robert: No. Should I?
Wiressally: Robert...I must say you have been my favorite actor since even the "Soap" days. And last year, while you were filming "A horse for Danny", I finally got to meet you. You proved to be the perfect gentleman even behind the camera. Thanks for being YOU!
Mr.E: Who was your most interesting leading lady, Why?
Robert: I've had some good ones. I've taken a bath with Kim Basinger on an episode of Vega$, a shower with Cheryl Ladd in a movie, and a shower with JoBeth Williams in a movie. And Faye Dunaway said I was a "damn fine kisser" in her recent book. If I ever ran for public office, I wouldn't get elected, but I'd run a clean campaign.
Robert: Two more questions
Glimmer: What are your favorite casinos in Las Vegas?
Robert: For sentimental reasons, it's the Desert Inn, but I sure like the new Mirage.
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