Wow… it’s at Funny or Die, but it is kind of remarkable and serious, really. Andy Griiffith seems like someone who would be really helpful campaigning in the south.
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It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
Andy Griffith seems like someone who would be really helpful campaigning in the south.
Are you serious?
Because he is hated… no old enough… not southern enough… has touched a black person?
You lost me.
HE’S ANDY FUCKING GRIFFITH, MYSTERY! Outside of fucking Momma’s Family, the Andy Griffith show is a STAPLE of SOUTHERN TELEVISION. So Andy could get the vote across. If he felt like doing it for a week. Here… IN THE SOUTH!
IOI, we’ve gotta get you on a game show.
OK, David, you’re winning the battle of wits here — and not just because you vastly outmatch your opponent — but now lay in a reference to A Face in the Crowd, and note how Griffith was playing a faux-rube Sarah Palin type a half-century ago. Go ahead, deliver the knockout punch.
Hadn’t thought of that, Joe… good stuff for Daily Show use…
I’d like to introduce this post into evidence in my arguement: “David Poland doesn’t understand the South”
Yes. Andy Griffith sure would help Obama in the South. Nothing helps convince people brainwashed by the Bible and rooted in generations of racism to change their views than Andy Griffith. That’s the solution. Why the hell didn’t we think of that.
To that end, what a blow to the McCain campaign, who was hoping to get Griffith’s endorsement to help sway the elderly with his Matlock persona.
I have an idea of how we can help Obama. Let’s get JJ Walker, Shaft, and Rerun from What’s Happening to go campaign in the inner city. And we can get George Jefferson to help on the East Side.
You know, Anghus… that’s just dumb.
Do you think that McCain wouldn’t love to be introduced by Dr J in Philly?
Do you think that a safe, well-loved elderly actor doesn’t have some value to a campaign that is concerned about seeming safe to the elderly in a state like Florida?
No one said that he would turn the election or be “the solution” or even change anyone’s views in a direct way. But his history is a lot different than JJ or Roundtree or the guy who played Rerun. He was a part of people’s families for a long time back when people had a different relationship with TV. And as a result he could mean about as much as, say, David Letterman… maybe a little less… but he is one of the rare figures who actually has that kind of history with older Americans.
Forget Griffith–Winkler can not only try to sway some of his fellow Jews in Florida, but as Arthur Fonzarelli can change the minds of Italians who may not be crazy about voting for the black guy.
Ayyyyy! HE’S the ringer.
Just heard that McCain making a personal appeal to Dick Van Dyke AND Mickey Rooney. I see your national treasure AND raise you a national treasure!
No Dave, what’s dumb is thinking that a celebrity, any celebrity, really can have an impact in any region based on their popularity.
I live in the same town where Andy Griffith lives. If he came out and declared, VOTE OBAMA, everyone would say the same thing:
“Hey, Andy Griffith is still alive, that’s great.”
Despite what you Hollywood types think, 99% of this country could give a flying fuck what celebrities think of politics. Truth be told, most people would rather have them shut up and go make a movie. In a race as close as this one, perhaps 1% would matter.
Show me a person who would vote for a candidate based on Andy Griffith’s, Ron Howard’s, or the Fonz’s endorsement, and i’ll show you someone that should have their voter registration taken away.
People cast their votes for dumber reasons than who a celebrity endorses. So it’s not nothing, angus.
Okay, this is just very, very strange. I don’t know if it will make a difference, can’t help wondering how old Griffith must be, and feel that Howard deserves some kind of Good Sport award.
But…weird, man.
Fred “Rerun” Berry died 5 years ago, but has endorsed Obama via psychic John Edward. This could really mobilize the moron vote.
Your thinking is way too “call & response,” Anghus.
Small victories matter.
Planting seeds matters.
My first reaction to seeing AG in this piece was, “Really? He is pro-Obama enough to do this?”
You never know where the tipping point is for people. And in a place like Florida or other close states with large older voting blocks, if he were a tipping point, along with Colin Powell and the negative campaigning by McCain and yes, 18 months with Obama and his policy ideas that are still sinking in with some people, it could matter.
And if they were only after YOUR vote, then your personal feelings about endorsements would be 100% the point. I wouldn’t vote for anyone based on an endorsement and like you, I imagine, I would probably be suspect of anyone pushing endorsements hard. (See: Chucky in Jersey) But that is not the only answer.
When they have a local police chief or governor or senator or any well-known person get up to introduce McCain or Obama, it’s the same thing. And they do it at every single speech.
There is the Wilford Brimley problem, where if he seems to be your only celeb endorsement, you get mocked. But guys like Andy Griffith, Art Linklater, Dick Clark, Tom Hanks… they embody a certain kind of American idealism. And when one of the issues for undecideds is whether you are
P.S. If McCain could have Will Smith or Denzel Washington endorse him, he would be crapping his pants with joy.
And while Andy Griffith is not either of those guys in today’s culture, he still is for many older Americans whose early experiences with filmed TV were of him and the many spin-offs of his shows.
It’s just kinda fucking cool to see Sheriff Taylor endorse Obama. If only Deputy Fife were around…
TOTAL MAYBERRY OWNAGE.
Art Linklater is still alive? Damn. What is he, 250 years old?
Oh, and David is right: I can easily accept the possibility that some older folks still on the fence might see AG and think, well, gee, maybe Obama really is safe… Not honking big numbers of people, but a few. And a few may be all Obama needs in some cases.
With all due respect to the endorsments lately: Andy Griffith, Colin Powell, Conservative talk radio host Mike Smerkonish, former press secretary Scott McClellan that have all gone to Obama…
don’t you think it might be more of a popularity thing then a this is how I feel thing? It’s not that cynical to see this as a group getting on a popular train ride before it leaves the station. Call me cold-hearted, but I feel these guys want to look cool and “in” with mainstream rather than whole-heartedly believing in Obama.
I also think this because of timing and polls. Had Powell endorsed three months ago when things were basically tied. Quite a different story. Or had he done it right after McCain picked Palin (which on MTP he admitted was a big reason he chose Obama) another story.
As for the video. Very cute.
Depends on the person. Powell waited until it was relatively safe, but I still trust his endorsement to be less about the bandwagon than, say, McClellan, who’s either a fool or a liar, depending on what parts of his story you believe.
No doubt there is bandwagon jumping right now, Hops… especially by The Clintons.
But it’s not meaningless that so many right wingers are bailing on McCain and most citing the same reason and the polls of real people suggesting that the people agree.
“But mostly, it is the end of the road for a guy who was once a maverick, but who sold his soul to get a shot at the presidency vs a black guy or a woman, but who could never tie up his base well enough to stop begging them so he could go get other voters to get behind him… the ones who could have elected him. So in his biggest decision pre-election, he chooses to throw away his value as The Safety Pick against the black newcomer and to actually pick a much bigger question mark, who actually does have Republican base support (ain’t that desperate?) because she is so much farther to the right than the top of the ticket, pushing all those people who were still dubious about Obama, but who are not into far right political positions to get off the fence.
Obama really couldn’t have asked for more.”
Me, August 31
‘fred “rerun” berry died 5 years ago, but has endorsed obama via psychic john edward. this could really mobilize the moron vote.’
lol, yancy
DP makes a jab at the Clintons…well, I guess five minutes has gone by. They’re out of power DP, get over it, find another couple to bitch about. PLEEEEEEAAAAAASSSEEEEEEE.
I agree that McCain sunk himself quite awhile ago. Had he picked Lieberman, I think this would have been a real race of epic size. Which is fine, frankly I could use the sleep.
McCain’s political career (not his military one) has been largely hyped-up by the media. Watching him squirm during the third debate was rather unsettling.
Andy Griffith: Attention Whore.
There is only one celebrity endorsement that could deliver the youth vote to McCain —
Robert Loggia.
His famous orange juice commercial first aired in 1999. Kids who were 10 or older back then are now of voting age. Could be a game-changer.