In my line of work, sound bites are gold. And these simple, catchy quotes can ably distill the speaker’s meaning and personality in an instant – just think of “That’s hot” or “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”
But sometimes, I crave something more – in-depth background, analysis and context straight from the source. Alas, that’s not always possible as stories jostle for airtime and print space, and I’m left wanting. It’s the difference between reading a Twitter post and a book.
For me, it’s particularly frustrating when I’m trying to figure out what makes my favourite celebrities tick. Apparently, the people behind Unscripted, the new half-hour celebrity interview show airing on VisionTV, feel my pain.
Not only does the show offer stars talking intimately about their lives without the distraction of a host or audience, but it also focuses on icons who’ve logged their fair share of years in Hollywood – people like Bob Newhart, Florence Henderson, Martin Landau and George Hamilton.
“These people are stars for a reason. When you sit down with these people, it’s endlessly humbling. The older the star, the more they’ve been around, the more they have to say,” says producer Todd Cantelon.
And often what they have to say is surprising – but it takes a special touch to break through to the meatiest tidbits the stars have to offer.
“These people are so used to media scrums, so it’s fair to say they come in with their guard up, and they don’t want their time wasted,” says Cantelon.
“We’re able to really connect with them. They know I’m not going to do a hatchet job, ask about who they’re sleeping with or how much money they made last year. I’m interested in their journey and why they do what they do. Not the sensationalism of their big break, but what led up to it.”
That’s not to say the crew members of Unscripted aren’t awed by their subjects’ fame. On the contrary, Cantelon admits being star struck more than once. “We sat down with the Carl Reiner. It’s crazy. We sat down with Bob Barker, that’s out of control. Bob Newhart. What are you going to do?” he crows.
“Rip Taylor, you think he’s a hilarious comedian and he’s a joke. But he’s not a joke. He starts crying when he’s talking about his life. Malcolm Jamal Warner, I grew up watching that guy.”
Cantelon recalls sitting down with James Avery, whom those in my generation fondly think of as Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Apparently, he was quite the ladies’ man.
“Oh yeah,” spills Cantelon. “He’s definitely not Uncle Phil when he’s not acting. He’s also a guy whose main passions – other than ladies – appear to be human rights, specifically when it comes to racism, and Shakespeare. You would never know from looking at him that he’s this really cool guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of art history and film and television.”
Despite a list of guests that reads like a who’s-who of Hollywood, there are some who got away. “We had Magic Johnson scheduled, then he cancelled two days before because he was doing something that is legitimately more important. And we get that,” says Cantelon.
“Ron Howard didn’t want to do it, but he’s Ron Howard. He doesn’t have time. The work that they do requires a degree of focus that for the average person is almost unheard of. So we don’t sweat that.”
With its intimate feel and genuinely engaged guests, Unscripted isn’t like anything else on TV right now, and it’s poised to grow even bigger, with international interest brewing and plans for a more traditional spinoff.
“I think Vision’s into it [because of] their mandate of looking into the spiritual side of life. It’s about waking up from the stupor of life in our consumer-oriented culture, and going ‘There’s gotta be something more,’” says Cantelon. “The truth has a way of setting people free.”
Unscripted airs Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on VisionTV.
Upcoming guests include Nigel Lythgoe (Sept. 25), A-Team creator Stephen J. Cannell (Sept. 28), Starsky and Hutch’s Paul Michael Glaser (Sept. 29), Cedric the Entertainer (Sept. 30), Bob Newhart (Oct. 2) and Louis Gossett Jr. (Oct. 4).
melissa@tvguide.ca
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GOT FIVE MINUTES?
Run to your PVR! A couple of weeks ago, a reader asked me where she could watch The Beachcombers, that classic slice of Canadiana about a log salvaging business in British Columbia. Well, VisionTV is airing the series Mondays to Fridays at 4:30 p.m. ET. Fun fact: at 387 episodes, it’s the longest-running Canadian drama ever. Starring Bruno Gerussi as salvager Nick, Pat John as his partner Jesse, and Robert Clothier as their rival, Relic.
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CLIP OF THE WEEK
This week, the Screen Actors Guild announced that it will give Betty White a Life Achievement Award in the ceremony airing Jan. 23, 2010, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, on TNT and TBS. Though she’s popped up on numerous shows, I’ll always love her as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls. Here, Rose says her bedtime prayers, much to the girls’ chagrin.
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Whether a show invaded TV in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s or ‘80s, Melissa will likely think it’s hep, groovy, dyn-o-mite or totally awesome. Her ever-expanding classic TV on DVD collection includes Three’s Company, Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She has a soft spot for anything retro – heck, she even married an ex Elvis tribute artist.
Though her fave current series are quirky ones, like Flight of the Conchords, Mad Men, 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother and The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, Melissa is on a quest to rediscover forgotten shows and classics of TV screens past. Her RetroChick mission is simple: to dish retro news, tease your brain with trivia, indulge in nostalgia and catch up with past icons. The question is, can you dig it? |
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