I've been looking back on my adventure in Hollywood, culling pages from my journal...
September ended with nothing going on, which bled into October. No word on anything. My new Atari PC was replaced, so that meant I had to get back to work on something.
Later, word was coming out of Hollywood that Paul Ruebens was already at work re-building his career, and leaving Pee-Wee at the wayside for the time being. So, hurray for him. ABC announced it was getting out of the late night business. Not my fault!
Later, word was coming out of Hollywood that Paul Ruebens was already at work re-building his career, and leaving Pee-Wee at the wayside for the time being. So, hurray for him. ABC announced it was getting out of the late night business. Not my fault!
Talked to Bill and he said “technically” the “Where's the Party” pilot wasn’t dead. Testing and focus groups continued. Maybe the Fall of ’92. Maybe take it elsewhere. Maybe as a weekly show. “Who knows?” This would be a common refrain of my “career.”
I was still struggling with “Like Magic.” Bill was still interested in “Space Rocks,” to the degree he had shown some pages to a composer and who happened to live on Staten Island and she liked it. And I have no recollection of any of that, so I’m assuming it went nowhere (we shall see).
I was still struggling with “Like Magic.” Bill was still interested in “Space Rocks,” to the degree he had shown some pages to a composer and who happened to live on Staten Island and she liked it. And I have no recollection of any of that, so I’m assuming it went nowhere (we shall see).
Then things got interesting for a little bit. My uncle called with a news item from his local paper; Pee-Wee had gotten a postponement of his trial (which was set for 10/29/91), telling the judge he’s making a movie, some Christmas movie. A Christmas movie? With Pee-Wee Herman? Wha-the-Wha??? So, several calls went out to Kevin. The story pops up in our local paper on 10/18/91. I cut it out and taped it into my journal, underlining the movie title in the article and writing “First mention of my script in print?”
Kevin had seen the article and no one was sure what it was about. Kevin’s theory was that it was a smokescreen to delay the court appearance until they can get the charges dropped or something, ‘cause “no studio is going to do a movie with him now.” And “You don’t begin a Christmas movie in October.” But his people knew the script was being prepared for him and it would be something to hang a deferment on.
Who knew? How could we have known? I was going to get all my hopes up based on this an article from the Police Blotter column??? What was going on?
Kevin had seen the article and no one was sure what it was about. Kevin’s theory was that it was a smokescreen to delay the court appearance until they can get the charges dropped or something, ‘cause “no studio is going to do a movie with him now.” And “You don’t begin a Christmas movie in October.” But his people knew the script was being prepared for him and it would be something to hang a deferment on.
Who knew? How could we have known? I was going to get all my hopes up based on this an article from the Police Blotter column??? What was going on?
| | October ended on that note. November passed with nary a entry. Pee-Wee plead “no contest,” was fined and had to produce an anti-drug film as public service. Which is kinda weird on charges of public indecency; why not a PSA about the dangers of public masturbation? |
The nothingness of my journal entries bled into December, where the biggest news was me getting copies of “Where’s the Party” from one of my friends who had been a cast member.
Kevin had been in contact and said William Morris did read and did like the script. Actor Joe Penny’s agent had the script and also liked it. I look at this entry today and ask “Who’s Joe Penny?”
And before you know it, 1991 was over…
Kevin had been in contact and said William Morris did read and did like the script. Actor Joe Penny’s agent had the script and also liked it. I look at this entry today and ask “Who’s Joe Penny?”
And before you know it, 1991 was over…
