George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, Rich Little, Frank Gorshin, Johnny Carson, Don Rickles, of whom I have a story. From 1971 to 1973, when I was 21-23, I was a production assistant on the Johnny Mann Singers TV show, Standup and Cheer, and also the road manager for live gigs. We were booked for a week to open for Don Rickles in Las Vegas, two shows a night. As soon as we finished each show, I would stand in the wings and watch Don at work. It was fascinating to see how well prepared he was for any audience member with stuff that he had ready to go at a moments notice. It was the same material show to show, just waiting for the appropriate person to spring it on.
He was also such a nice guy off stage. The first time I was in the wings, with him very near ready to go on, he asked me my name, what I did there, and complimented me on being so young for such a responsible job, gave me a real confidence boost. From then on, as he walked past me to go on stage, he'd gesture like he's hitting me in the crotch, and of course I flinched every time. When he walked off, he shook my hand as he passed.
Later when I was a propman in the movie studios, I worked on two Bill Crystal Movies (Mr. Saturday Night and Forget Paris), Billy was just naturally funny, with almost every word out of his mouth a great joke. Just the opposite was Steve Martin (All of Me and L.A. Story). Off camera he was the most unassuming person as can be. He would sit quietly in his chair, rarely in his trailer, just watching what was going on, sometime practicing little card tricks, just for himself, not anyone else.
He was also such a nice guy off stage. The first time I was in the wings, with him very near ready to go on, he asked me my name, what I did there, and complimented me on being so young for such a responsible job, gave me a real confidence boost. From then on, as he walked past me to go on stage, he'd gesture like he's hitting me in the crotch, and of course I flinched every time. When he walked off, he shook my hand as he passed.
Later when I was a propman in the movie studios, I worked on two Bill Crystal Movies (Mr. Saturday Night and Forget Paris), Billy was just naturally funny, with almost every word out of his mouth a great joke. Just the opposite was Steve Martin (All of Me and L.A. Story). Off camera he was the most unassuming person as can be. He would sit quietly in his chair, rarely in his trailer, just watching what was going on, sometime practicing little card tricks, just for himself, not anyone else.
