This post is devoted to The Rev. Schuyler Rhodes who is one of my lifelong best friends and a PK. (Preacher’s kid for those secular Jewish agnostics)I fancied myself a cynical Jewish agnostic during my teen years. Why not? I felt alienated and knew the only person who could relate to me was Holden Caulfield, just like every other post-modern tween in the mid 60’s. I...
Read MoreAl Franken struck a nerve and made Stuart Smalley’s quotable catch phrases all the rage on Saturday Night Live in the 1990’s. Remember these? I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.” “That’s just stinkin’ thinkin!” “You’re should-ing all over yourself.” “I know I’m not perfect…and that’s…okay.” “You’re only as sick as your secrets.”...
Read MoreIt’s time. You’re up next. It’s either a speech, or at bat, or an oral exam and you have to perform. Scary, huh? I’m reprinting a blog from another site. http://www.improv-odyssey.com/?p=2497 to because it reminded me of a passage from my book, The King of Average, where our little boy must be examined by the council to see if he’s suited to replace the former King...
Read MoreOne thing I know for sure, the more you feel sorry for yourself, the less energy you have to for anything else (except drugs, alcohol, TV and other escapes). I learned this lesson in an Improv class years ago and I reprint it here. Self-pity is the last floor before Rock-Bottom and many people get off on that floor before realizing the only way out is up. It’s a...
Read MoreI hate to say it, and am not truly comfortable making a parallel between the Republican front-runner Donald Trump and a character in my novel, The King of Average, but after hearing Trump boast his awesome prowess as the leader of the most powerful country on earth, I can’t stand by without comment. Ironically, I realize this is shameless promotion (something Trump...
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