- 3:01 PM, Sunday,
August 31st, 2014:
-
- This is such an
unbelievable entry. So excited.
-
- So through a
mutual friend on Facebook, Jeff Doucette, I was
able to get in touch with Gedde Watanabe and we set-up
a meeting at Bob's Big Boy (his recommendation, of all
the places, right?) and ended up sitting there for 2
HOURS. So approachable, so witty, so much fun... it
couldn't possibly have gone any better.
The reason for the meeting was to see how we got
along... because I had an idea. He is unable to
come to the Labor Day tournament because he will be in
Utah that weekend - so I wanted to set-up
something to film ahead of time for the event video. I
also had the "charity" issue with Weird Al and
I knew it was time to have something to pitch
that had nothing to do with a charity. It was finally
time to do the interview idea I mentioned last
year...
-
- So I started
making a spoof of "Comedians in Cars getting Coffee".
I thought a spoof was a good way to get it
noticed and the truth is? There's nothing really new
about CCC. Several shows have done the "let's do an
interview in a weird place" schtick. In fact - one guy
10 years ago had an internet show interviewing people
in cars. <shrugs> It's been done... but none as
good as Seinfeld's.
There's one aspect that annoyed me about the show
though - they are all comedians. And although most can
do a conversation without reverting to their schtick -
enough had trouble that it became boring. In my
experience, most comedians fall into the category of
having to rely on their jokes or actively
TRYING to be funny in long-form interviews. So
really, the fact that CCC has a majority of guests
that don't fall into that category is a testament to
how good his guests are. It's a specifically difficult
trait for people that address themselves as
"comedians". In fact, here's a category where Improv
beats Stand-up. Most improv peeps can roll with a
situation and float to the funny without forcing it...
few stand-ups can. Ironically? Normal people? As long
as they're comfortable on camera can often be
extremely interesting depending on the topic.
-
- So I made
this parody logo:
-
-
- And the date was
set for the interview. I actually needed some camera
guys (got 2, probably need 3) and I did a ton of
research on Gedde. I know some people feel it's better
to come into an interview cold and, well, fuck those
people. LOL. Actually, no, in certain circumstances
that can be true - but in this show? I hold far more
weight than usual. As is the case with CCC, it's more
about the conversation and hanging out with the 2
people on-screen rather than a question and answer. So
in that case? You need to know the person you're with.
Fairly well. I watched a bunch of movies, read a bunch
of interviews and felt I had an angle that hadn't
really been approached with Gedde. And on top of that?
He's just a riot - so you're having fun no matter
what.
-
- ...and the
interview went so well, the minigolf worked so well,
having the Delorean worked so well - HOLY BALLS
did I start getting excited cutting it together.
We both come off so natural it's barely even
noticeable. You know? I'm always acutely aware of good
interviewers or rather, good conversationalists on TV.
Because it's extremely rare. There were so many great
dynamics that work for this show, my head started to
spin. It's finally something where I like me in
it. Not some character I play, but
I actually see ME as mainstream. That's never
happened. "Adam" comes off like an arrogant prick
no matter how hard I try to avoid it. It just
happens. It always has. It's why The Egos worked...
the characters could goof on him and they were
loveable... but in this format? I want to hang out
with Gedde and I want to hang out with Adam.
That's better than I thought it would be. But
back to the dynamics...
-
- -Backyard
minigolf course. What? It's just
interesting.
-
- -The
interviewer wants to win. Badly. He's legit trying
to make up the Wheel of Fish strokes and is
notiecably annoyed when he isn't able
to.
-
- -The
interviewee doesn't take it seriously and is
giggling about it all.
-
- -The cuts
between holes is a perfect place for the random
stories and questions because we HAVE to break to
continue the game. There's a natural flow thanks to
there being only 9 holes.
-
- -Although it
doesn't in the first episode so much, the
"hats" angle is a great starting off point
because everyone has a hat they have an
unreasonable attachment to. It's why we keep them
for years when they look as jacked as my
LA Dodgers cap. It means so much to me. That's
weird. And I have yet to meet someone who
doesn't have a hat that has stories. I like
stories. Crazy part? The "hat" portion was just
Talya trying to be funny as I initially had it
"Interesting People Walking Playing Minigolf". She
said "IN HATS!" being funny... and
I said: "Uhm, actually, that's perfect."
And history is made!!!
THANK YOU TALYA.
-
- -Uhm, Delorean
Time Machine. Duh. What an awesome prize for
beating me. A ride in the Delorean.
Killer.
-
- -My story,
though painful, is extremely interesting to people.
People are willing to be vulnerable and talk about
their personal shit because mine is almost ALWAYS
far more intense and it sets the tone. It's
extremely helpful when trying to have a real
conversation about life with people. Stop the
bullshit, let's talk. Don't pimp your latest
project, let's talk. How is your LIFE going?
-
- But yeah, more
than anything I feel like this is what I'm
supposed to be doing. Of course as I was cutting
it all together I realized the parody was totally
unnecesary and actually hurts it. So I changed
the name to Hats & Minigolf and here we are.
Futuer episodes will also be less like the
CCC opening. I just never thought it would have
worked out so well. Please enjoy this...
-
-
- Just, wow. I'm
just so excited. That worked so well... I am at a
loss for words. No I'm not. I'm never at a loss for
words. LOL.
-
- Laura Adler is
already stoked, contacting people and of course -
HER FATHER - Hesh from The Sopranos will be in
town in December. That's an absolute must. Besides
being a fan, we actually have some funny personal
stories - it's an excuse to tell my Gandolfini story
and I can't wait. For now though, I'm trying to
finalize things with Joel Murray (Freddy Rumsen on Mad
Men) and most likely Don Fullilove will do an episode.
I need a big name in the first 3 though... it'll
happen.
I also like the "Let's just get this out of the
way" being the first question because everyone
has that thing they're known for that they're
absolutely sick of. Everyone at home is thinking about
it, and I just want that shit over with so we can have
fun - but it has to be addresed. That's a cool
angle.
-
- Alright - must
move on and get ready for Labor Day. So much going on.
What an amazing month.
WHAT AN AMAZING VIDEO. Man this feels
like a moment...
-
- ...all thanks to
Weird Al Yankovic. Wild.
-
- Adam
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