The Making of an Icon ...

Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford

I was so sorry to hear the news yesterday that my former client and pal Sherman Hemsley has died. This sad news comes just weeks after the seventh year anniversary of Isabel Sanford’s death.

I first met Sherman in the early 1980’s when I worked for producer Norman Lear as the publicist for “The Jeffersons,” which became the longest running series in the history of television at that time.

Through The Jeffersons and particularly the years that followed, there were many memorable moments. Being Isabel Sanford’s manager, I was able to place both of them into many television and film projects where their contributions to American pop culture were celebrated as they recreated their roles of George and Louise Jefferson, including many personal appearance trips to Italy where “The Jeffersons” grew to be a tremendous hit.

I have always thought that both Isabel and Sherman never quite got their due. For me, they will always been one of television’s most memorable, yet most overlooked, duos.

It is, indeed, the end of an era.

We have just uploaded a nearly ten minute segment of my interview with Sherman from November 1992 interview for our live Beverly Hills-based coffee shop chat show. There is a short promo that just went up on You Tube. After watching that, I hope you will view the entire piece at RerunIt.com for a really interesting look at the making of George Jefferson as Sherman tells it.

In honoring Sherman, we also honor Isabel and have returned her to the RerunIt.com Now Playing section. On the Home page, you can run (or rerun) the first segment of our three parter with her from 1992. The other two segments are available for viewing on-demand in the RerunIt Library.

I hope they are both smiling down on us from their “deelux” apartment in the sky …

BL

Before the Dark Knight could rise ...

Christian Bale as The Dark Knight

It's no secret that I am a big fan of American pop culture.

In 1939, an icon was created by cartoonist Bob Kane that has stood the time of both time and reinterpretation. Before the Dark Knight could rise, he had to be born.

Batman creator Bob Kane talked about that fateful day and the Batmania it has since stirred in a 1992 interview I did with him for our little Beverly Hills-based coffee shop chat show.

It was a different business of acting then, but nonetheless inspiring to revisit.

We just added almost 20 minutes of never-before-seen (since the original broadcast) footage from that interview on RerunIt.com.

My bad 1990's hair aside, I wanted to share it. :)

BL

What does the SAG-AFTRA merger really mean for actors? Read the Author's Note Book Update just added at TheBusinessOfActing.com

We have just added my Author's Note Book Update on the merger of SAG-AFTRA to our website. It discusses the "new landscape" that the new union has brought to us all to.

Indeed it is a "new" business of acting. Current union member or not, read all about how it stands to impact you at whatever point you are at on your career journey.

BL

A new era in the business of acting begins with a new, merged union ...

The news has just come in. An overwhelming number of the members of both SAG and AFTRA have voted "yes" on a union merger. Just announced, 86% of AFTRA members and 82% of SAG members have set a new path for a new business of acting, far surpassing the 60% threshold of "yes" votes needed for the merger to be approved.

Now, let's let the news settle in while we contemplate what this means for both union and non-union actors everywhere.

It's a good day in the business of acting ...

BL

Tomorrow afternoon, it will truly be a "new" business of acting ...

The business of acting is about to change -- and tomorrow is the day.

Friday, 3/30/12, at 1:00PM, Pacific time, SAG & AFTRA will announce the results of the merger vote. It's history in the making. Watch it live.

Regardless of which way the vote goes, a "new" business of acting landscape is about to be born. Should the merger not pass, clearly this will not be the end of the proponents's campaign to have both unions join forces. Should the merger pass, I would expect that the opponents of the merger (whose attempts to get a court order to stop the vote count were denied in court earlier today), will not stop there.

Indeed, either way, it will be a new business. Let's hope that, either way, that the "new" business doesn't get in the way of simply doing business.

And the winner is ...

We soon shall see.

BL

With Oscar season over, now it's time for union actors to have their say ...

While the seats at the Hollywood & Highland Center are still warm from last night's Oscars, ballots go out today to union actors on the proposed SAG AFTRA merger.

And the winner is ...

Stay tuned ...

BL

"The Artist's" Oscar wins paint a great tribute to the film's entire cast ...

Congratulations to my long time client and friend Basil Hoffman. Those Oscar wins tonight for "The Artist" are his to share in, too. He was wonderful in his role as the Auctioneer, setting up a pivotal transition in the journey of the film and its star.

Bravo, Basil -- to you and to all of your fellow cast members who went unmentioned tonight, but whose performances helped "The Artist" earn its place in film history.

BL