Steve's new New Yorker Article


http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/060424ta_talk_martin
Issue of 2006-04-24
Posted 2006-04-17


THE NEW PAGE SIX


Everybody ? DeLay

How great a guy is Tom DeLay? He is a class act who continues to earn the respect of everyone he meets with a double dose of charm and wit. This is one politico who’s simpatico. (Full disclosure: We love our new Armani sweater vests!)

Charlize Angel!

Actually-very-smart sex goddess Charlize Theron (full disclosure: She is loaning us her Miami duplex) has Broadway audiences agog with her performance as Ivana Trump in the new musical “Trump!” Among the opening- night swells, our spies tell us, was The Deadbeat Donald himself (did he get breast implants?), who thinks that gift certificates to Filene’s Basement still hold sway in swagland. Also attending was Alec Baldwin, the BLOVIATOR, or should we say the NEVER-PAY-OLATOR, who, according to insiders, is still heartbroken over his decades-old bust-up with the luscious Kim Basinger, whom we recently vacationed on in Cabo.

Sweet Suite Deal

Just when sources say the world has seen enough of party princess Paris Hilton, there she is again. The hot-bodded celebutante sure looked like a billion bucks the other evening on the deck of gazillionaire Paul Allen’s yacht, as seen from the terrace of the Page Six suite at the St. Petersburg Hilton. (Full disclosure: This column is being typed on generously donated computers using an early version of Microsoft Word.)

Jared’s a Jolie Good Fellow

Tongues are wagging that va-va-voom vixen Angelina Jolie’s new baby looks remarkably like Page Six’s own Jared Paul Stern. Could it be that the lovelier half of Brangelina traded some power canoodling for honorable mentions? (Full disclosure: Yes.)

Hawking Squawking

Nitwit science nerd Stephen Hawking, the NEW BLOVIATOR, who made a major gaffe in his assessment that no particle could escape from a black hole— a blunder that continues to haunt and worry our staff—thinks he can bounce checks all over the press and not get back some negative ions. It’s a good guess that a black hole is where Quanta-goof’s invitation to Cannes wound up this year, and that’s one thing that’s not coming back atcha.

Later, Late Show

David Letterman, the poor man’s Alan Thicke (full disclosure: Dave refused to match our Oscar gift basket), made a snide joke on his show about Page Six appearing not on page 6 but on page 12. Yeah, well, so? The reason that Page Six appears on page 12 is that we are getting a regular envelope under the door from the Committee to Promote the Number Twelve, and it would be too confusing to our readers to change the name of the column to Page Twelve, and, anyway, we are also receiving a tasty monthly contribution from the Society to Promote the Number Six.

Just Asking . . .

What investment-savvy white-haired comedian is looking to toss mucho dinero toward a clothing line designed by a journalist? Rumor has it he thinks that fancy clothes buy him fancy press. Well, what’ll it be, Tut—cuffs or no cuffs?

— Steve Martin
- posted by sookeyjane 4/20/2006 11:41:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

A new interview -- newsflash: Steve likes tuna :)


http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12226579/site/newsweek/
Newsweek
Inspecting Clouseau
Steve Martin chats with Current about philosophy, tuna sandwiches and the real meaning of bootylicious

Summer 2006 issue - Steve Martin has been making people cry from laughter since before most of us college-aged kids were crying for diaper changes. From “Saturday Night Live” to “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” to his latest role as Inspector Clouseau in “The Pink Panther,” he has been a comedy fixture who constantly reinvents himself to master his roles. Below, he expounds on the study of philosophy, the power of the media, the process of writing—and the meaning of life. Well, not exactly. But there is something in there about his favorite sandwich. Dig in!

1) Your latest film, “The Pink Panther,” stars Beyoncé Knowles. Were you familiar with her work before you met her?
Not completely, but of course I did get familiar with it when I knew she was going to do the movie and I really, really liked it. She’s a fantastic performer...I worked with her on the set and she would sing there live.

2) After working with her, can you define the word “bootylicious”?
Doesn’t it describe a woman who is delectable?

3) Can you pinpoint the moment when you knew you had to pursue your chosen path?
I was in college [at Santa Ana College] and I had to make a decision whether to finish school or take a job as a writer for the “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” And I decided to take the job. (The “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” starring Tom and Dick Smothers, aired on CBS, ABC, and NBC from 1967-1975. One of the more controversial television shows of its time, “Smothers Brothers” content was largely political with a comedic bent. Martin worked as a staff writer for the show in 1975, its final year on the air.)

4) You studied philosophy in college before you dropped out. What appealed to you about the discipline, and who is your favorite philosopher?
It was very romantic. You’re honing in on the reason we’re here and the nature of the universe, etc. The philosopher that interested me the most I would say is either David Hume, who was a British empiricist, or Ludwig Wittgenstein, who was one of the early semanticists, analyzing language as it relates to meaning.

5) You attended college in the mid-1960s. Did you partake in any of the college-aged activities so many current students wish they had been able to experience (read: everything from political protests to Jimi Hendrix to free love)?
When I was a writer for “Smothers Brothers,” we were very protest-y. So I did my protesting on television. And I attended some anti-war rallies, but mostly I was a bystander. (“Smothers Brothers” often poked fun at controversial issues which ranged from religion to politics, and had numerous battles with CBS over censorship. The debate got so fierce that in 1969 CBS kicked the show off the air, and it moved to ABC.)

6) Did someone act as your mentor when you were up-and-coming?
[Jack] Benny, [Stan] Laurel and [Oliver] Hardy, and Jerry Lewis.
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7) Who is your favorite character in fiction?
Fiction? Cyrano de Bergerac! (Martin starred as the large-nosed C.D. Bales in the 1987 hit “Roxanne,” a modernization of the French play “Cyrano de Bergerac.” C.D., unable to win Roxanne (Darryl Hannah) because of his incredibly large nose, helps his attractive, yet bumbling, friend win her over, but Darryl proves the world wrong in the end—showing that not all blondes are superficial!)

8) How do you see the function of the critic, if at all?
I think there are two functions for a critic. One is to comment intellectually and constructively on artwork or movies, and the other is to inform the public whether or not they might enjoy a certain movie. In other words, if a critic goes to a movie and the audience is laughing and laughing and laughing, it’s unfair of them to come out and say: You won’t laugh. (Janet Maslin, writing for the New York Times in 1986, reviewed the college favorite “Three Amigos” grudgingly, noting that “the laughs are by no means wall to wall, and there are some lengthy dry stretches.” Try telling that to the giggling bunch of stoners down the hall, trying to imitate the Three Amigos salute.)

9) Having written for The New Yorker, completed two screenplays (“L.A. Story” and “Roxanne”), a play (“The Underpants”), and a novella (“Shopgirl”), you have been able to write in a variety of different media. Do you enjoy one more than the others?
I really enjoy writing prose because it finally doesn’t have to be tested in front of an audience like a screenplay or a play does. You just sort of get it the way you exactly want it, and then you’re done. You’re not vulnerable to an audience’s nightly moods.

10) You have been pegged as a comedic actor by many. How does your approach change when you sit down to write/act in a more serious dramatic piece of work?
It’s simple. In a comedy you’re allowed to do things that are exaggerated, and slightly unreal. And in drama, you’re not, unless it specifically calls for it, obviously. Basically that’s the way it goes.

11) Many of your movies are made directly for a younger audience, or at least directly involve family dramas. How do you find you interact with children on the set?
It’s very enjoyable. I always say I get the best of the children—they’re at work, they’re in a good mood, they’re being taken care of. And then of course their parents have to take them home at night when they’re tired and cranky. But I really enjoy the kids on the set. (“The Muppet Movie,” “Parenthood,” “Father of the Bride,” “Cheaper by the Dozen,” the list goes on...)

12) You are an avid art collector and a trustee of the L.A. County Museum of Art. Is there a specific work to which you return repeatedly for inspiration?
Anything by Edward Hopper.
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13) What was the most embarrassing experience of your professional life?
I guess it would be the night I walked out for an encore to play the banjo and I hit my banjo neck on the side of the stage and it broke my banjo in half and I was standing there, the neck dangling down from the banjo just by the strings.

14) Many people may not know that you are quite the banjo player. How did you become interested in folk music? Do you bring your banjo to sets when you are working on films?
Folk music was very popular when I was in my early teens, and then I heard the banjo sound on some records played by Earl Scruggs. My [high school] girlfriend’s father had a banjo, and he let me borrow it, and that’s how I got started. I always [bring my banjo with me on the set]! (Give Earl Scruggs’s “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” a listen.)

15) What is your favorite sandwich?
A tuna sandwich.

16) What do you wish you’d known at our age?
That it’s possible, very possible, to rebound from failure...when you’re younger and you fail, you feel like it’s the end of the world. But time goes on and things are forgotten.

Thanks to KMT, the best of contributors
- posted by sookeyjane 4/12/2006 01:29:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

A Word Directly from Steve


This was posted on Steve's comments section on his official website:
http://stevemartin.com/steves_message/index.php

Greetings
Hi all,

Just letting you know that schedule considerations caused me to cancel my appearance at the L.A. Book Fair, a big loss to me because all those guys are funny and talented and fun to be with.

And an even sadder loss: Roger the dog passed on a few weeks ago and we all miss his beloved heart.
April 7, 2006

So sorry about Roger, Steve.
- posted by sookeyjane 4/07/2006 09:07:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Steve signs Easter eggs for charity


http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/sv/article/0,1375,VCS_239_4600053,00.html
Stars, politicians sign eggs for Simi Valley Easter event

By Anna Bakalis, abakalis@VenturaCountyStar.com
April 6, 2006

President George W. Bush, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Belushi and Britney Spears will be represented at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Saturday.

More than 200 signatures of famous people — from politicians to celebrities — are scrawled on wooden eggs painted pastel with the presidential seal, waiting to be taken home by children who win various games at the third annual Easter Event, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It is the second year the library has given the autographed eggs as prizes and the first time the library asked such celebrities as Dakota Fanning, Josh Groban and Steve Martin to sign their names. Last year, the 100 or so eggs were signed by politicians.

"But most children don't know who Condoleezza Rice is," said Joanne Drake, chief of staff at the library. Drake helped to solicit signatures for the event.

"We've had eggs pour in here every day," Drake said. "People responded very quickly."

Each celebrity or politician was asked to sign and send them back. Only a few didn't sign, but most people sent back four to five eggs.

One of the more memorable letters came from Dakota Fanning, 11, who was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her supporting performance in "I Am Sam" in 2001.

"She wrote a lovely note," Drake said. "She said it was an honor and that she would love to come up and visit the library sometime."

The egg roll, a tradition started by Nancy Reagan in the White House, will take place in the Presidential Learning Center starting at 10 a.m. The real egg roll takes place the Monday after Easter on the South Lawn of the White House.

Other events that include winning an autographed egg, such as the Easter ring toss, an egg race and bunny hop race, will take place for various age groups every 20 minutes, starting on the hour.

The library hopes to give away all the eggs.

Last year, about 1,500 children participated in the event. This year, library officials encourage people to come a little early, around 9 a.m., said Melissa Giller, library spokeswoman. The first race will start at 10 a.m.

After the winner crosses the finish line, he or she will pick a name from a bag and that will be the celebrity egg they take home. Only one egg can be given per child, Giller said.

Child actors Billi Bruno, Taylor Atelian and Connor Rayburn from ABC's sitcom "According to Jim" also will be signing autographs in the library's main courtyard.

Other Easter-related activities, such as face painting, Easter tattoos and egg and cookie decorating, will take place in the courtyard until 3 p.m. Pictures can be taken with the Easter Bunny, Mr. Jelly Belly, Bugs Bunny and Tweety Bird.

Children ages 3 to 10 are eligible to participate in the race to have the opportunity to win eggs signed by Fanning, Nancy Reagan, Carrie Underwood, Jerry Rice, Steve Martin and others.
- posted by sookeyjane 4/07/2006 09:03:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS

 

Steve and the Rock Bottom Remainders


At this year's Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, The Rock Bottom Remainders (a rock band composed of novelists including Stephen King, Dave Barry [not to be confused with Chuck], Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, James McBride, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount, Jr., Matt Groening, Kathi Kamen Goldmark and Greg Iles) will be performing.

In addition, on Saturday, April 29, 2006, they will participate in

BESIDES THE MUSIC:
Conversation, Debate* and yes, Music
(*with international scoring rules)
With Steve Martin, Frank McCourt,
Craig Ferguson and Roger McGuinn
Royce Hall, UCLA
VIP Reception 6:30pm, West Lobby, Royce Hall
Special Event: 8:00pm
VIP reception plus event tickets: $200
General Admission tickets $25
tickets can be obtained at http://www.826la.org or
UCLA Ticket Office: 310-825-2101

Stalk your favorite literary or entertainment celebrity in style.
- posted by sookeyjane 4/06/2006 05:44:00 PM PERMALINK 0 COMMENTS