Top-rated
Mon, Aug 12, 1985
Spalding Gray discusses his experiences working as a professional theater actor while sitting at a desk or table in the same manner as many of his filmed and theatrically released monologues. Each play's name is written on a little card that he has on a stand on the table. Some of the productions were very avant garde and had directors with strange ideas. In one, he was ostensibly cast in a major role, but then another actor was cast to play him, playing that role. Meanwhile, he stood backstage, saying things like, "peas and carrots.' to suggest a crowded setting. In another play, based on "The Tower of Babel" story from the Bible, he and the rest of the cast did a kind of monotone plainchant before, and while climbing on top of eachother to do make a human pyramid. The pyramid would collapse, then they walked away from eachother, each making a different silly noise. Somehow (he didn't know) they were booked at an elementary school in a small town in the South. They were arrested for (IIRC) "Making a fleshy pile," and other charges, and were legally forbidden to perform in that town again. He also mentions having known Dustin Hoffman and Henry Winkler before they were famous.
A day in the life of a television viewer. Ann Magnuson plays close to 50 people in this channel hopping episode of "Alive From Off Center". Spot on parodies of MTV VJs, game show contestants, bad daytime movies ("Gidget Bites The Dust") and female televangelists are just some of the joys to behold in this 15 minute masterpiece.