Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Nepotism may be a dirty word in some circles, but to comedian-actor Tommy Chong, it spells clout. When the credits roll listing the cast and crew of his latest film, “Far Out Man,” now playing at local theaters, it reads like a who’s who in the Chong clan. Daughters Rae Dawn and Robbi, son Paris, wife Shelby and son-in-law C. Thomas Howell are featured prominently in the raunchy comedy that Chong wrote, directed and stars in.
Craig Hurley had studied various acting techniques before he landed a starring role on NBC’s “Nasty Boys,” but none of his classes prepared him for what took place during the first week of rehearsals. A group of black-garbed men burst into the actors’ rehearsal room, threw them down on the floor, handcuffed them and read them their rights. Actors, meet the real Nasty Boys, an elite unit of the North Las Vegas Police Department trained to deal with criminals in an efficient, if unorthodox, manner.
Sean Kanan got his first major role playing Ralph Macchio’s cold-blooded nemesis in “Karate Kid Part III.” TV viewers may remember him in guest-starring roles as the greedy, egocentric baseball player on “Who’s the Boss,” or as the jealous, chauvinistic boyfriend on the short-lived “Baby Boom.”
Michael St. Gerard’s Presley is the singer during his most attractive stage. Slim-hipped and ever-so-surly lipped, Presley idealistically dreams of fame and fortune as a means of moving his family up from its poor socio-economic roots. St. Gerard’s portrayal of Elvis also has won him admirers both with longtime Presley fans and with the press. Although “Elvis” hasn’t been the ratings winner ABC hoped it would be, the network seems committed to giving the show a chance. With nine shows already in the can, ABC gave the producers the go-ahead to film four more episodes this month.
Rap sensations D. J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince are famous for hits such as “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson.” But fans will see another side of them when the duo sings an unusual version of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” on a Disney special.
Cary Elwes doesn’t sound like you’d expect him to. The English actor speaks in an accent that has more traces of Charlie Sheen’s Eastern intonations than any of the crisply accented British characters he has played during the last six years. Eight years of living in the United States and his first co-starring role as an American have seen to that.
Sara Gilbert portrays Darlene Conner, the sarcastic middle child, in “Roseanne,” airing from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays on WLS-Channel 7.
Donny Osmond had hit records before he hit puberty, and his own network TV show before he was old enough to vote. Today, he has something he values more: “Donny Osmond,” a pop album he can respect.
“Nobody in our family ever thought of pursuing acting professionally until Alec started doing it,” Stephen Baldwin said. “He was the groundbreaker for us.”
Mitchell Anderson isn’t a doctor, but he plays one on TV. And the folks back home in Jamestown, N.Y., say it’s about time.