Games, People.
I am currently not watching the Super Bowl and it is on. I am not saying that for any other reason than it is true. No judgement. I just get bored. I did watch the halftime thing and it seemed like a lot of dancers were employed. Good for them. The singing ladies put on a good show.
I’m back home for a bit.
I did my last day of shooting for Respect, the Aretha Franklin bio pic with Jennifer Hudson. Doing this movie was a great experience. I liked the time travel element of it. I liked living in a character based on a real person in the ‘60s and ‘70s. I liked working on the film. The people working on the film were great and I grew to really respect the director, Liesl Tommy.
When you are involved in a project you never really know how someone is going to work and you spend the first couple days feeling it out and passing judgement. Then it settles in. She shot the shit out stuff but it wasn’t for any reason other than her desire to get it perfect and I can respect that. Total competence and vision. I could feel it. It felt good to work in that environment. Even when I didn’t have much to do I was happy to do it… over and over. That’s a first.
I went from Atlanta to Cleveland and met Dean Delray. We ate at The Greenhouse Tavern with the chef, Jonathan Sawyer. I talked vinegar with him. That’s not a saying, we actually talked about vinegar.
Then we headed out to the Agora Theatre for the first show of our three day run. Great theatre, great show. It took me two days to recover from the dinner. Man, I stuffed myself.
The next day we drove the rental Jeep Compass from Cleveland to Grand Rapids to do a show at The Fountain Street Church. I was initially concerned about the turn out but we had more than one thousand people in this amazing space that has a long history of presenting compelling speakers and musicians. We had a fine congregation and it was a very passionate service. Thanks for coming out and witnessing (and laughing).
The next day we set out for Milwaukee. I have to tell you, I like Milwaukee. It has a deep warm vibe for a cold place. What’s left there of its history seems sweet and not sad. The Turner Hall Ballroom where we played is one of the best venues I’ve played in. Great old space, good ghosts, great live people. Wish I could’ve spent more time there just to see if my intuition was real. I like the place.
Today on the show I talk to Ashton Kutcher. Everyone who has talked to me about him told me he was a great guy. Turns out he is, although he said he’d introduce me to some people who think he’s an asshole. On Thursday, I talk to comedian and writer Dan Levy about comedy stuff, parents and the new show he created, Indebted. These are both great talks.
I’m also on Rick Glassman’s podcast that drops today, Take Your Shoes Off.
Enjoy!
Love,
Maron