| "I Like It Better When You're Funny"
With Charles Grodin
Actor, Commentator, Author
Monday, June 10, 2002; 10 a.m. EDT Actor Charles Grodin had been appearing in films for over 30 years when he changed careers and entered the world of TV talk shows. From hosting his own show on CNBC and MSNBC to his current commentating on CBS's "60 Minutes II" Grodin intermingles his opinions on myriad subjects while telling the tale of his wide-ranging career in his new book, "I Like It Better When You're Funny: Working in Television and Other Precarious Adventures." Grodin was online Monday, June 10 at 10 a.m. EDT, to discuss his new book, his career and his take on the headlines. Grodin has had a unique career path, from Broadway to Hollywood to television commentary. Grodin won an Outer Critics Circle Award as best actor in "Same Time, Next Year" on Broadway. He won an Emmy Award as a writer for the Paul Simon special. For 30 years he starred in films, including "The Heartbreak Kid," "Seems Like Old Times," "Midnight Run," and the "Beethoven" movies. In 1995, Grodin began a career as a television talk show host; he received four Cable Ace Award nominations for The Charles Grodin Show, which appeared on CNBC and MSNBC. He has written for The New York Times, Esquire, and The Village Voice, among other publications, and has published four previous books. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and son. The transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Washington, D.C.: Is humor an important component of understanding the news? And have you dealt with the subject of Sept. 11 in any of your commentaries in the past year? Charles Grodin: I had a mandate after Sept. 11 on 60 Minutes 2 to begin with that in the commentaries and offer some insight and humor, which made it very tough. The insight was out there, and the humor seemed unlikely.
I did attempt to do that for the first 3 months after Sept. 11, but I can say they were pleased.
Washington, D.C.: What inspired your new book? And is it a memoir, essays? Have you thought about publishing a collection of your commentaries? Or, are they available online somewhere? Charles Grodin: THis is a memoir, about coming out of the movies because I had a son who was entering first grade and I wanted to be with him and my wife and I felt we shouldn't remove him from his context, so the book is the story of getting into cable television where I had my own show and was nominated as best show every year I was there. And I had high ratings, yet was canceled.
There are many theories on why. One is I had Robert Kennedy Jr. on the show talking about PCBs in the Hudson and it was caused by a company owned by GE, as was my show on a GE station.
The management also changed a number of times, so the people who brought me in wasn't there anymore. I don't think they were comfortable with a comedy actor now sharing his thoughts on things going on with America. Some are still amazed by it and more amazed about my 60 Minutes job. That's unusual, but also unusual that in 1971 I was fired from a lead in an off-Broadway play and next year starred in a movie by the same author.
Bill O'Reilly is popular now in cable talk shows. My daughter always says you say these things that are flattering to yourself. There are so many people in show biz looking to tear you down that you have to remember what you've done. It's necessary to combat all the abuse you get as a public figure. Your confidence is all you have.
Washington, D.C.: Charles, You're an intelligent man. I'm wondering -- is this a rarity among Hollywood actors? I mean, when you're on a movie set do you feel you are able to talk to other actors as peers about current events or are they too self-absorbed and Hollywood-ized? Charles Grodin: WHen I was interviewed by the NYT the writer said "Is there anything more disappointing than a comedy actor who decides to get serious?" As far as the intelligence of other actors, when I was acting I don't really talk that much about current events because they're real party killers. If you get into a conversation about abortion or police behavior under Giuliani, this is a way to end a fun evening. So I didn't really do that with actors on sets either. Although this was always on my mind. I would say actors in the forefront of social issues are more conversant than your average person.
Washington, D.C.: What's it like doing CBS' 60 Minutes II? Do you like the gig? Charles Grodin: I'm very... the audience is between 25- 50 million people around the world, so its a privilege to be on there every week. It's also unusually difficult, because you're asked to give insight and humor about something that everyone's talking about. That's the demand, and the head of broadcast, always says to me "Tell me something I don't know." It's flattering, because he feels I can do it. The other day he asked for a different last line, but I did go in a room and give him something that he much preferred about arguing on cable. So you never know.
My wife says why would you be concerned about it? It feels so daunting to think you're gonna be fresh, original and insightful every week. She says, "You always are." So its a very demanding job, but very exciting being in the same building with Andy Rooney and Morley Safer.
I wouldn't do my own talk show again. I'm on CBS News radio and do commentary there. I'm interested in a bigger position in commentary, but its almost as though I'm kind of overdosed on all the arguing. It's tedious and that's the way these things are programmed. I'm tired of looking at it. I'd rather the different points of view appear separately. We don't even have any agreement on what the facts are. It's very exhausting to hear people shout names at each other, but I think I got out at the great time.
Mt. Lebanon, Pa.: The number of channels on my set keeps increasing but the program quality doesn't. With the exception of CSPAN, PBS, BBC, and a couple of others, I find little to watch that's intellectually stimulating. As an actor and perhaps, social commentator, do you find the situation bemusing, annoying, aggravating, infuriating, or other? And why don't you cerebral Hollywood types DO something about it. Frankly, most TV shows today offer nothing substantial like the shows of the 1950s: Armstrong Circle Theatre, Playhouse 90, Firestone Hour, Kraft Music Hall, and so on. Thanks much. Charles Grodin: I began in Armstrong Circle in 1958. i don't have the authority to do something about it. If you keep expanding how many stations there are, you're gonna diminish the quality of what you see on them -- the golf channel, the food channel, etc.
I have the same experience. My brother is Mt. Lebanon. There's very little. I like pretty much what you like, but there's very little you can do about it. The controls are with the government, but you don't want to go down that road.
I would very much question if there's so much control by so few people, it's not a good idea.
Arlington, Va.: Do you plan on making more movies? Charles Grodin: No, I didn't want to do that when I got out, then my contract with CBS News its forbidden to do it. I don't think I was considered in the first place because I was an actor and as the years went by, that image was overcome. In fact, Mike Wallace was an actor and did commercials. There's a statute of limitations.
The truth is, I"m not really tempted. A lot has to do with the quality of the day. I'm not set up to go to work for 14 hours and sit for 10 of them. I don't have the tolerance I used to have.
Maryland: I remember seeing you in the "Heartbreak Kid" over a quarter of a century ago. You must be a terrific actor, because you played a very convincing whiny, wise-cracking B.S. artist who would stop at nothing, including ruining lives, to get what you want, and then sit back and wonder why you even bothered going after it in the first place. What's your take on that role now, looking back after so long? Charles Grodin: My take on that role is the way it was described. I always thought he was a frightening figure. I look at everything in terms of life and find it a very well done movie.
No, I agree, it's a brilliant movie and I think the character is frightening and i'm nothing like that. Nor am I anything like the one who appears on Carson or Letterman, who is always annoyed. These are all comic choices.
Adelphi, Md.: Did movies burn you out? Charles Grodin: You might say that. I guess you could say that doing the same thing in the early 90s that I was in the 60s. If I didn't have a son, I would still be doing it. The burnout has to really do with the amount of time waiting, not the time acting.
The acting is such a tiny part of the day and that's the problem.
New Carrollton, Md.: How do you rate Bill O'Reilly and Larry King?
Charles Grodin: I'm not a fan of O'Reilly. He works very hard and is very committed, but I deeply object when he said after Sept. 11 that the people of Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan are responsible for their government and that we should bomb them unmercifully -- calling for warcrimes -- and then he said "Let them eat sand." I think he gets carried away with his own rage. I also object to a column he wrote about his grandfather, who was a cop, who would hit suspected drug dealers with a club in the groin. And he was proud of it. So I don't like that and his assumption that he's equally knowledgeable about everything. So I don't like his manner, but he is a good broadcaster.
I like Larry King. I like that he has a benign, sometimes too benign. So I appreciate him.
I'm prejudiced on behalf of Tim Russert. I've taken a vacation from this. I'm watching the news, but I'm so put off by the endless arguing, but I like the Sunday morning shows. But some of the broadcasters seem to rub their hands in delight when a good story comes along even if its detrimental to the country. When JFK Jr.s plane goes down it's a tragedy, not ratings. I covered the O.J. Simpson trial, but loved it because I got a comprehensive view of the justice system.
Rosslyn, Va.: In your opinion, who does cable news best? What's the best overall cable TV network? Charles Grodin: The one I find I watch more is CNN. Fox has got O'Reilly in the middle of it. I'm not a fan of Hannady either. SO I'm not a fan there, either. MSNBC has been all over the place, and now they've removed the news. It's Donahue and Matthews, but it seems to be a little more straight-forward on CNN.
Troy, Mich.: Hi, Charles! I loved your old talk show. But I LOVED your film performances. For me, you are the top comic actor of your generation. Tell me you can be seduced back into the business someday. Charles Grodin: Well, no. As long as I work for CBS News I can't. But thank you.
Alexandria, Va.: Can you explain the title of your book. Charles Grodin: It refers to people through my career saying that to me when I started doing commentary. Many people don't agree with what I say, but its interesting -- what's a communist, a radical, a liberal?
The main job of the government is security -- after that, the next job is to look after the people who are in dire need -- children, homeless, prison reform. Just because I talk about that rather than say what to do about Social Security, I then become a radical. All I'm saying is can we talk about that? People just assume, as roger Ailes once said, that my answer is big government. You don't see it because its more interesting to talk about edgier things. It doesn't make for a country that would look at things in a more humanistic way.
I made a special for TV in 1969. AT&T, advertiser, said I was using their money to sell my ideology. So there are clearly people against the humanistic approach.
New York: How would you describe your humor? And have you ever thought of going the stand-up or one-man-show route? Charles Grodin: I've done some personal appearances. Maybe a half a dozen over the years. I'm speaking at the National PRess Club tomorrow. But I don't like to travel. I've traveled so much for movies that I'm all traveled out. I'm not really someone who wants to go around to different places.
Philadelphia, Pa.: I was just looking up your acting credits on the Internet. Ummm, care to characterize one of your early films: "Sex and the College Girl?" Charles Grodin: I knew someone would ask that. The movie was actually called "Fun lovers" and there wasn't any sex in it. And if there was, I missed it. But it was a family movie. And I"m sorry they did that because if you see the movies I've done, there's nothing involving sex. I don't remember anyone having sex in the movie.
Long Beach, Calif.: As Andy Rooney's prospective love child, do you feel like a tribute band waiting for the original act to die out? Charles Grodin: Am I waiting for him to move over? Well, Andy Rooney has been the most supportive person of me -- very early on -- and continues to be. We're also friends. And if I were sitting in the wings, I couldn't wish anything but good health for him. Here's a man who in his twenties covered World War II and he's had a magnificent career for 60 years. Always -- if you agree with him or don't agree with him, you know you're getting the best you can get.
It would be like wishing ill to a friend.
San Francisco CA: What candidates would you like to see run for President in 2004? Charles Grodin: I don't really know. I have no idea. I don't really think either of the parties really address the issues I'm talking about -- which is security and looking for the unprotected people.
I identify with Ralph Nadar, but wouldn't vote for him because I don't know what his foreign policy is.
Columbia, MD: Mr. Grodin, I was one of those people who enjoyed your acting and then, when I saw you on 6M2, said "come on !". Since then I have watched you many times on the show and look forward to your commentaries. Thanks for your work. Charles Grodin: Thank you.
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