Hi, everybody! I’m back. Hope you all had a great two weeks. I was on a real whirlwind here. Out of town guests, parties, the Cubs/Pirates series and other fun extra-curricular activities made the time go by in a flash.
I’m happy to be back with you all once more. There’s so much I want to tell you about.
But first I have to take a moment to address the tragic events at the Umpqua Community College campus in Roseburg, Oregon. It will only take a moment, because sadly, I have already made my views known on these horrific school shootings in a post I wrote on June 8, 2014. It’s entitled “Enough” and unfortunately, I fear it’s worth a second look.
And now I’ve got to get back to less important matters.
All the coverage about last week’s Super Moon eclipse started me thinking…
ICYMI: On Sunday, September 13, the New York Times Arts & Leisure section ran a special edition on the upcoming Broadway theater scene. And the leading male thespian they chose to showcase in a large black and white photograph was…
Wait for it.
Bruce Willis.
That’s right. Die Hard Bruce Willis. The Sixth Sense Bruce Willis. 12 Monkeys Bruce Willis.
And, as of October 22, Broadway leading man starring in the theatrical version of Misery Bruce Willis.
On that date, at the Broadhurst Theater, Bruce will be playing bed-bound, best-selling author Paul Sheldon. He will be tormented nightly by his captor, Annie Wilkes, no doubt chillingly played by Steppenwolf’s own Laurie Metcalf.
I eagerly read the interview. I was instantly let down.
The NYT reporter, Alexis Soloski, wasn’t a real big BW fan.
Words like “aloof” and “evasive” popped up in her profile. The phrases “never exactly impolite” and “an actor who doesn’t always try as hard as he might” led me to believe that neither Mr. Willis or Ms. Soloski had a very enjoyable hour together.
It would seem that nowadays Bruce Willis is one big, bored, pain in the ass.
Too bad. I hate to have my fan bubble burst
Because I loved him.
Yep. LOVED him.
And it all started on March 3, 1985 with Moonlighting.
What a television debut for any actor to have.
(True, I had caught him earlier in 1984 on a great episode of Miami Vice. It was called “No Exit” and in it, Bruce played a really cool, mean drug lord named Tony Amato who tormented and abused his lovely wife, played by Katherine Borowitz.)
He was terrific.
And I remember reading that he had an altar ego named “Bruno” who bartended and sang in a New York City blues club.
But nothing in my tv past had prepared me for David Addison.
Did I think he was sensational from jump street?
Do bears bear? Do bees be?
He burst onto my screen and carried off my heart.
Let me recap. David Addison was a fast-talking, wise-cracking, blues-singing, harmonica-playing smart ass who worked at the City of Angels Detective Agency.
Which was owned as a tax write-off by cool, blonde, gorgeous Maddie Hayes- played by cool, blonde, gorgeous Cybill Shepherd.
When all of Maddie’s money vanished courtesy of her crooked accountant, she’s forced to sell off her assets.
But David fast talks her into keeping the agency and convinces her to partner up with him as a detective. (Oh, yeah, it’s now called “Blue Moon” in honor of Maddie. She was once famous as the “Blue Moon Shampoo Girl.”)
Got that?
It doesn’t matter. It was a silly premise.
And I only tuned in to watch Cybill Shepherd on television.
I had been a fan since The Last Picture Show and The Heartbreak Kid.
I was excited to see her. The other guy? Eh. Not so much.
All that changed in an instant.
Here’s the historic first meeting between Maddie and David.
WOW! Who was that guy?
And I wasn’t the only one who felt that earthquake.
Here’s what the Hollywood Reporter television critic thought of him.
“…David Addison, played to perfection by comedian Bruce Willis. He runs a company that’s more a tax-writeoff for a top fashion model than a serious detective agency, or at least it used to be before she lost her money to a crooked manager and decided to liquidate her assets. Now he’s been forced to actually take some cases (gasp!); and, worse still, teach his sophisticated boss how to be less of a clothes horse and more of a snoop. As Addison, Willis is as much conman as detective, and alternates between wearing “X-Ray Glasses” and singing old Manfred Mann songs like “Do Wah Diddy” in assorted alleys around town. He’s a cross between Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd with a touch of Roseanne Roseannadanna thrown in. And is the reason Moonlighting works and works well.”
Moonlighting ran for five seasons. And we all know what happened to Bruce Willis after that.
He went on to become a Major Motion Picture Star.
He married a Major Motion Picture Star.
(Who was, btw, the most beautiful woman in person I ever saw in my life.)
They had three daughters.
They divorced. He went on to marry much younger model Emma Heming.
And they had a daughter.
And somewhere along the way, David Addison left and the entitled, suspicious, unhappy Superstar who begrudgingly mumbled his way through the New York Times interview took over his persona.
I miss David.
So to get the bad taste out of my mouth, I decided to go to my trusty Youtube and check out some old Moonlighting episodes. You know, to see if my fond memories of him were accurate or just rose-colored by time.
And guess what?
Bruce Willis/David Addison still floats my boat.
See what you think.
Take a second look at my all-time favorite episode of Moonlighting.
Have fun, Cats and Kittens.
See you at the blues club.
And tell ’em Bruno sent you.
Thanks, Ellen, for the Cybill Shepherd clip from “The Heartbreak Kid” — did you know that the character she played was a student at the University of Minnesota? There is a winter scene towards the end of the film where she and the Charles Grodin character walk down the mall … a walk that I take several times a week (though not generally accompanied by adoring members of the opposite sex).
On another note, congratulations to the Cubs for returning to the playoffs. Wrigley Field sure has changed from the last time I was there, more than forty years earlier, on a “date” with my mother. And that reminds me, this coming Tuesday (October 6, 2015) will mark the exact 50th anniversary of a touchstone event at the intersection of Americana and Judaica (and I’ve written a crossword puzzle about it). I can still remember the indelible impression said event made on my non-observant immigrant parents.
You’re welcome, George. Yes, Cybill brought a smile to many a guy- Gopher or not. And yes, you did it. You managed to work in your crossword puzzle. I bow to your ingenuity- and determination. Still, it is a good puzzle. Mazel tov.
Thanks too, Ellen, for having (several months ago) recommended Cybill Shepherd w/r/t “The Last Picture Show” — watched it not that long ago with my wife. Well made, but what a bleak bleak vision of humanity.
As for Bruce Willis, you’re right, quite a career on the small screen as well as the big one. W/r/t his personal life, the Moore the merrier, eh? W/r/t Demi’s personal life, I’ve lost track, didn’t she get a piece of Ashton? W/r/t Kutcher, I don’t read the tabloids, but I did have to research Ms. Kunis in cluing MILA for a different one of my puzzles.
But I think that I’ve done enough punning and product placement for the day, so will content myself with trying to solve your captcha and then face the rest of the day … which includes an afternoon at the opera: “Ariadne Obnoxious.”
Good luck with the captcha, Mr. Turing. And isn’t that opera you’re doomed to see by Levi Strauss?
Yes, some people say it’s a work of Jeans-ius.
And here, all this time, I thought Strauss was famous for the blues.
Different Strauss, Ellen — thanks for reminding me of the river of my birth, the Blue Danube … the melody that was playing from my iTunes at the moment my mother died, over 4 years ago.
Great pun about the blues, though. Look what Google led me to: Blue Jean Blues by ZZ Top.
Your move …
Thanks, Doctor. Praise from the punmeister is praise indeed. No time for a riposte. I’m doing the variety puzzle. Thanks for the clip. Very nice.
Good show at the time. Please keep the “singing” Bruce Willis away from me. I can see the casting agents going nuts over his “multi-dimensional talent” promised on the backside of his headshot now, “Other Special Talents: Blues and soul singer. Plays harmonica.” No thank you. Give me cool, understated Bruce Willis. The Butch Coolidge from Pulp Fiction full of ennui, Bruce Willis. The one who doesn’t seem to care what anyone thinks of him. Much better look than the try-too-hard era of Moonlighting, even though that legitimately earned him his break (a sad statement about the quality of TV in the post Love Boat, Pre-Simpsons eighties).
Also, It was a shame that Cybil had to wear a scowl for that whole series. Especially in considering how awesome her smile was. Although that smile montage set to the Carpenters was a little freaky…just like this blog. We like a little freaky. Wonder what she’s doing now. Feels like her career petered out kind of quietly?
Yes, “Pulp Fiction” butch/Bruce is also a personal favorite. But I did like when Bruce sang on “Moonlighting.” Maybe it was the songs he chose- couled with the fact that they were very brief outbursts. I can see why a BW concert would be annoying. He’s no Otis Redding.
As for Cybill, I liked her television carrier post-Moon. Her eponymous “Cybill” was a Chuck Lorre good time. Christine Baranski was terrific as her Ethel to Cyb’s Lucy. I didn’t watch “The L Word” but I heard that was good, too. Thank you, Dicky. A very informed comment.
I remember waiting LONG periods of time between episodes of that show. And each one was worth the wait. They would be on for a week or two, gone for six weeks, then back for a few more — kept you hooked. It’s a classic, and now you will have me looking for full episodes on Amazon.
Glad to have you back – I missed the blog.
And speaking of Bruce Willis, who could forget “Blind Date” with Bruce and Kim? The cranky old judge with the snarky sense of humor is who I aspire to be one day.
Good to know we like the same tv shows. And you are that judge, Kevin! Except younger and cuter. See you soon! And thanks for chiming in here.
To be perfectly honest, I watched pretty much zero TV in Bruce’s “Moonlightling” phase. (I’m not exaggerating, unfortunately most of my life back then was, (I’m somewhat ashamed to admit) in the bar. So there is a big gap in my TV watching during this time, but not with my crosswords,luckily! Hard to believe, I know, but it’s true).
I guess the point I’m trying to make is that the indelible image of Bruce stamped in my head, will almost slways be the movie tough-guy, and a pretty good one at that!
However, I’ll have to go back and reintroduce myself to the old/original Bruce.
Time to revisit those old shows, although I remember my girlfriend st the time was a big fan of the show. You’d have thought back then, I would have shared more of my time getting acquainted with some of her favourite shows. Nope. Off to the bar… I have no reasonable excuse for my selfishness.
Good Lord, do I ever have a knack of turning a post about Bruce Willis into a post about me… my apologies! (“Oh yeah? If you were really that apologetic you’d change your post MAS!)
-MAS
I’m glad that this post introduced you to David Addison, Martin. There is something so joyful and life-affirming in this character. Not the nihilistic BW persona of his later years. Hope you enjoy him. Thanks for the comment. (And all your puzzles.)