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3:57 PM, Wednesday, October 1st, 2014:   OK, I'm not there yet... but this is the first time in over 5 years I actually see the moment happening.   So I've been going back and forth with arranging the shoot for Jim O'Heir and I haven't really spoken here about our meeting a couple weeks back. Suffice to say it went well, but so many things lingered with me and two nights ago I finally saw how "Hats & Minigolf" will break through: Jim O'Heir is the Executive Producer.   Now, I'm jumping WAY ahead here. I have never mentioned this to him, I need the show to turn out well, I need to spend more time with him - but when the pieces start coming together in your head and you finally see that "potential" light that has been off for a half-decade? You get kind of giddy. And when that happens?  I need to write, even if it's locked.   So about our meeting. Besides him being incredibly nice and funny... he talked about the family on his show. The crew. That unwritten truth that you will never really see your crew again. It hit me like a 2x4. The truth is? That's who you really bond with. And why do you never see them again? Crew moves onto the next show immediately... and it's 16 hour days. If you're not on that show? You're not seeing them. Sure, you'll see the other actors at reunions, or press events, etc. But not the crew. When the show wraps? That's it. Remarkably, Parks & Recreation kept 80% of their crew for the entire 7 season run. Unheard of. And that is what is fuckin' with him right now. That is what he's struggling with.   And for the first time in 7 years I let my brain/heart return to those days. Those days when I got to take pictures like this:

 

For "Adam & The Egos", I was the only actor. And the crew that got "Egos" as their gig that day? They were stoked! They set up static green-screen shots, sat back and watched me dress up like a fool for a couple hours and then we all went and ate pancakes on CBS' dime. It was a fucking riot. Hell I liked them so much I would WRITE CHARACTERS OUT so we could go eat EARLY. It's why I was so excited to see them earlier this year...     You want so badly to hang out. To work with them again... and the truth is? You can't. Your contract was up, your boss was fired... and it all moves on. That's the thing with showbiz - it's all out of your hands. You have to appreciate every second because the variables that brought you together will vanish just as quickly. You do your best and then you have to let go.   And for me?  I never replaced those crew members. And, it's all so painful I can barely let my mind wander to the times... but after talking with Jim? I did. It felt like it was time. AND HE UNDERSTOOD it. I had never really heard someone put it the way he did and he has that same "I LOVE THE SET" feeling I do. There's nowhere else you really want to be. Hell, even if you don't have a scene that day? You want to hang out. The creation is in your blood. You want to just kind of seep it in. It was wonderful to talk to him about that and I will do everything I can to get that across to the people watching his episode. He really did make me dream again and that's saying something.   Since then, The Don episode went up and although I didn't really think it would be that good? It ended up being very good and it occurred to me that the concept works. It's an interesting show. You watch for a few minutes? You're watching the whole thing. Jim also watched the Don episode right away and loved it. We text back and forth often and I just like the guy. It was clear that after his episode I was going to ask if he could at least SHOW it to some of his celebrity friends. My feeling is - if they see it and don't love it? They'd be poor guests. So if he does show it to someone and they like it? AWESOME. At least you know they'll watch it...   ...but then I took it a step forward. Fuck asking him to do something for me for free. He did that. He was on the show. How's 'bout I give him a vested interest. Give him an Executive Producer stake and partner up. What do I care about 50% at this point? 50% of something is a lot better than 100% of nothing. And more than that? If he really likes it? He is to the point in his career he actually gets rewarded for that. That's how showbiz works. You get 50% of something simply because you've worked to make yourself a name. Now does it help me pitch it?   I don't care.   Here's what I know: Jim is the nicest guy I've met in this industry at that level and people like him. A lot. If he believes in this show and feels like it?  I'm sure he could ask his friends to look at it. The thing with this show? It can't be a favor. It will implode. Whoever agrees to be on it has to really like the concept and find it fun. If they're just donating 30-60 minutes of their time to be nice to Jim? It will show.   But all of this is up to Jim. I want it to be extremely clear - I think Jim is awesome, I am NOT having him on the show just to "Get" to these other people. Not in the least. However the truth about shows that are 100% interviews? Guests matter. And if you want it to go places? You have to land guests that make people say "Wait, WHO the fuck did he just get? In his backyard!?!?". That mystique is what makes it work. I believe Jim sees that, likes the project and would enjoy trying to turn it into something AND be rewarded in the process. Truth be told (and I'm happy for this to be public), I really don't care about the money. I want to do interesting work. I want to interview a PRESIDENT on Hats & Minigolf for cryin' out loud. The goal isn't to get rich, it's to make a mark. I'm amazed I even got a star of a Thursday night NBC show on NOW. Ya know? That's crazy. I think it's gonna get crazier.   And I had to write about it. LOL. Here's the promo for the show next week...     It should be a blast, it should be well received and Jim should want to be a part of it and next spring could be very, very cool. I actually see a path now. The path could absolutely evaporate and I'm cool with that too... but goddDAMMMNNN is it nice to see a path after all this time. I literally feel ALIVE.   Adam