1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:01,240 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 2 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 2: I once made the huge mistake of trying to outdrink 3 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 2: Harry Nelson. I did not try that a second time. 4 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 2: And one day we were drinking in New York and 5 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 2: plays called the Robata Room. We were having lunch, and 6 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 2: so he said, at some point, you want to join 7 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 2: me for dinner with some friends, and I went. 8 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 3: Term and he picked me up an attack. 9 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 2: Did we go to the Dakota? So Buzz I'm thinking no. 10 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 2: When he said dinner with friends, he couldn't possibly mean. 11 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 2: And the door opens and there's John Lennon. 12 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: Welcome to another edition of Taking a Walk with Buzz 13 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:34,919 Speaker 1: Night Today. A returning fan favorite, Buzz Night's guest has 14 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 1: appeared in nearly three hundred and fifty projects. Between his 15 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 1: television and movie career. He's earned six consecutive Primetime Emmy 16 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: Award nominations and a Golden Globe. He hosted his own 17 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: reality TV show, and he's been an environmental activist since 18 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy. Ed Begley Junior is here to discuss his 19 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: new book, to the Temple of Tranquility and Step On 20 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 1: It and as a candidate, discussion about his demons, his 21 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: love of music and life here's Ed Begley Junior on 22 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: taking a walk with Buzz night. 23 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 3: Ed. 24 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 4: It's tremendous to be with you, sir. Not as good 25 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 4: as our delightful walk that we had in person last year. 26 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 4: You were so gracious to my friend Ruth and I, oh. 27 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 2: God, that's right, coming back a flood of memory. They 28 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 2: had something on the list Johnny Rock and Minneapolis, and 29 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 2: now I know I'm talking about Pole Buzz. 30 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 3: This is so great to talk to you. What a 31 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 3: treat this is. 32 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 2: We had a great walk along the La River there. 33 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:37,839 Speaker 3: Thank you, Buzz. 34 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 4: Oh, you're the best. Congratulations on your book to the 35 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 4: Temple of Tranquility and step on it. I want to 36 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 4: ask you, was writing the book therapeutic for you? And 37 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 4: are you and your lovely wife still speaking after that process? 38 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: We are somehow still speaking after many processes we've been through. 39 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 2: It's not the least of which is our reality show. 40 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 2: The fact that our marriage survived that is a miracle. 41 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 2: But I love her a lot and most importantly we 42 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 2: have a lot of laughs. You know that you're around 43 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,839 Speaker 2: us both. But this book, she's loving it now. She's 44 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: finally just now not reading it because she didn't like 45 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 2: to read. 46 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 3: It out of a book. 47 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 2: She's listening to the audio version now for the first time. 48 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 2: And I finished the book a year ago. I was 49 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 2: trying to get her to read it. But finally he's 50 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 2: listening to it, which I'll take. That's fine by me. 51 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 2: And yeah, it's only made as close as this whole process. 52 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 2: He's happy to have me get out of the house 53 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: and do a book tour, so it works in every 54 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: possible way. 55 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 3: Buzz. 56 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 4: You know, your transparency in the book is really not 57 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 4: surprising to me. You discuss personal struggles with alcohol, you 58 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 4: reveal your fight with Parkinson's. Have some been surprised by 59 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 4: your openness. 60 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, many people that I've even known for twenty thirty 61 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: years they didn't know that part of my life that 62 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 2: ended back in nineteen seventy nine, which is a good 63 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 2: many years ago. Gosh, that's forty three years ago, forty 64 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 2: almost forty four when I quit drinking for this last 65 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 2: time back in nineteen seventy nine. You know, I drank 66 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: the quarterback every day from nineteen seventy one through nineteen 67 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 2: seventy eight, and tried it again one last day in 68 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: nineteen seventy nine, and it just stopped working. 69 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 3: Buzz. 70 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 2: And that's the challenge for people who have an addictive personality, 71 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 2: in that addictive gene, even when it's not working, you 72 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 2: still do it. You're addicted to something and you can 73 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: see it's just throwing your life and your family that 74 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 2: you persist. So I finally got well as the saying 75 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 2: I can't, but we can. There are groups that help 76 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 2: people like that, and I found one of them, and 77 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: in the group you can finally really get some support 78 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 2: to do what you must do, which is to end 79 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: on a daily basis, not forever. You never say I'm 80 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 2: never going to drink again, I'm never going to take 81 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 2: pills again. You say I'm not going to take pills 82 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: or drink today, and you can get through today's one 83 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 2: bite at the time kind of meal. You can eventually 84 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 2: get through. And that's what I did, and it's been 85 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 2: working since nineteen seventy nine. 86 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, that line in the book where you say consumption, 87 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 4: My consumption was such that it was a growing concern 88 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 4: for John Belushi. That's quite a statement. 89 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: My dear friend John was my salvation on more than 90 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 2: one occasion, saved me from a mad amount of drinking. 91 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 2: He and Juny were concerned about me. They pulled me 92 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: out of the bar in Durango, Mexico, where I was 93 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 2: really drinking amount of alcohol that was extremely unhealthy. And 94 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: you know, he was a great, great talent, a great comedian. 95 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 2: I remember for that and try not to spend too 96 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 2: much emphasis on other things, other parts of his life. 97 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 2: But he did indeed save me. A great friend, and 98 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: Juni is my dear friend to this day. I love 99 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: her too, and his brother is fantastic. 100 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 4: You know, you talk about your time as a stand 101 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 4: up comic, was what was your act like? 102 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,159 Speaker 2: I was one of those drop comics buzz You know, 103 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 2: I wanted to. I didn't know it at the time, 104 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 2: but I think I was trying to make my life 105 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 2: as difficult as possible. First of all, just to carry around, 106 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: to ship around, you know, two different cities, all those props, 107 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: a big rigging roll. And finally I had tape playback 108 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: audio tape playback, and I had a fly projector with 109 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 2: different flies I projected up on a screen behind me 110 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 2: and hired my dear friend Tony Amatula to join me 111 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 2: on the road with that. You know, I just I 112 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 2: don't I must rather just tell jokes. If I ever 113 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 2: did it again, but I couldn't possibly do. What these 114 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 2: great comics are doing today is just amazing. The kind 115 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 2: of humor that's out there and the talent that is 116 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 2: out there doing it today. They are such good comics. 117 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 2: I'm sure you see a lot of them yourself on 118 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,600 Speaker 2: Netflix or somewhere else. It's amazing the work they're doing. 119 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 4: And you were on the bill with some pretty cool 120 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,479 Speaker 4: music acts when you were doing your stand up, right. 121 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, The Troubadour. 122 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 2: I opened for Dave Mason, I opened for can Heat, 123 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 2: I opened for Neil Sedaka, Don McClain, all kinds of 124 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: wonderful people on the road and at Natal Coliseum, I 125 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 2: opened for John Sabatan, Poko, Logando Messina, I played the 126 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 2: bottom Line, opening for David Bromberg, Maxas Kansas City, opening 127 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 2: for lots of acts, Manhattan Transfer and others. 128 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 3: I just love being on the. 129 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: Road and doing stand up and as good as an 130 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 2: actor who wants to do comedy to learn, you know 131 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 2: what's making people laugh throughout the country. That's a very 132 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: important lesson. So it was not time wasted doing stand up, 133 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: but helped inform me as an actor. 134 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 4: Never with the Eagles, though on a bill huh never, I'm. 135 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 2: Good friends to the stay with Don Henley. It was 136 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 2: good friends with a great Glenn Fry for many years. 137 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: And Joe Walsh is a dear friend of mine. I'm 138 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 2: just blessed to know these terrific people. And Timothy Schmidt 139 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 2: wonderful musicians, wonderful friends, great artists. And keep in mind, 140 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: Don also saved Walden Woods from being developed, so another 141 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 2: reason they'll love the great Don Henley, not just his 142 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 2: great singing and songwriting, but he saved Walden Woods from 143 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 2: having you know, like a commercial structure on it. 144 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 4: And let's give a shout out to the great folks 145 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 4: over there, Kathy Anderson and her whole crew at the 146 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 4: walden Woods Project. 147 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 2: They're the best, absolutely, the throw Institute and the Walden 148 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 2: Woods Project doing great stuff to this day, preserving the 149 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: greatest collection, the largest collection, the best collection of the 150 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 2: Thrower's writings and other works. It's very, very impressive what 151 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 2: they've done, and they continue to protect land of that 152 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 2: vital area, which for me was like firing up a 153 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 2: foundry in the Sistine Chapel. To put a development like 154 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 2: that in a place like that, it was the wrong 155 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 2: message to sending and Don with a few friends, was 156 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 2: able to stop it. So thank you Kathy Anderson for keeping. 157 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 3: It going to this day. 158 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 4: Describe your relationship with Tom Waits, which I was fast. 159 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 2: He and I met It had just done a club 160 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 2: in brin Mark called the Main Point, and he was 161 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: coming into the main Point to do his wonderful act 162 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 2: and I heard his music and just fell in love 163 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 2: with his artistry and him as a person. So we 164 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 2: had a good many great years together just hanging out 165 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 2: and being friends. And he was there the important night 166 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 2: that I met my first wife, Ingrid. He was talking 167 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 2: to her, and Ingrid and Tom had a connection, so 168 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 2: became a connection for me and I wound up dating 169 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 2: her and then getting married just a few months after 170 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 2: studied the data. We were wed and had two wonderful children. 171 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 2: We are now forty six and forty five years old. 172 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 2: So Tom was instrumental in that and other reasons to 173 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 2: love Tom Waite, not to mention his wonderful recent work 174 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 2: he's been doing with his wife, Kathleen. 175 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 4: And you're still in touch with him, I am. 176 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 3: I spoke to him. 177 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 2: I sent him a copy of the book hoping he'd 178 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,599 Speaker 2: like because I do talk about our time together, and 179 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 2: he seemed. 180 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 3: To love it. 181 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: We talked on the phone at length, and he and 182 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 2: Kathleen really liked it. So that's the highest phrase I 183 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 2: could get that Tom and Kathleen would like this book, 184 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 2: and the way I speak about their artistry, they seemed 185 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 2: to okay. 186 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 4: And I agree with you that The Hardest Saturday Night 187 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 4: is one of the greatest songs ever it is that. 188 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 3: It's a great song. 189 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 2: The whole album is fantastic and as many other albums, 190 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 2: get behind the Mule and Bad as Me. 191 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,199 Speaker 3: He's an amazing performer, amazing writer. 192 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 2: Everything about him is just one of the greats of 193 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 2: all time. 194 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 4: And then you talk about your time with the wonderful 195 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 4: and notorious Harry Nilsen. 196 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 2: Oh, we had some fun together. He had a thirst 197 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 2: like me. We liked our gargle, and we certainly would 198 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 2: hang out at a lot of different pubs, you know, 199 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 2: in New York, in LA wherever we could, you know, 200 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,319 Speaker 2: find time to get together. 201 00:09:58,760 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 3: You know, away from our work. 202 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 2: We'd certainly take the time to go and explore different 203 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,839 Speaker 2: establishments around LA. I don't know how we lived through it. 204 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 2: I once made the huge mistake of trying to outdrink 205 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 2: Harry Nelson. I did not try that a second time. 206 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 4: And he was really the entry point to your ultimate 207 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:18,719 Speaker 4: meeting with John Lennon, wasn't he? 208 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 3: No question? 209 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 2: One day we were drinking in New York at a 210 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 2: place called the Robotar Room. We were having lunch and 211 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 2: having some Japanese food and beers, and so he said, 212 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 2: at some point you want to join me for dinner 213 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 2: with some friends, and I went sure, and he picks 214 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 2: me up in a taxi. We go to the Dakota 215 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 2: So buzz, I'm thinking no. When he said dinner with friends, 216 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: he couldn't possibly mean. 217 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 3: Then the door opens and there's John Lennon. Come in, 218 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 3: Come in, Yoko. Look who's this lad? I know this 219 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 3: lad here? John Lennon is acting like he knows me. 220 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 2: After about five minutes I realized why. He goes, oh, Yoko, 221 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 2: for God's sake, it's Maddy Hofman, Maddy Hoptman. It's a 222 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 2: deaf mute Steve. They're like fans of the show Mary Hartman, 223 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 2: Mary Hartman from the seventies, a Norman Lear show with 224 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 2: Louise Laughter. And he's acting like a fanboy to me. 225 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 2: You know what's ruis laughter like? And tell me about 226 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,599 Speaker 2: Mary kay place what have you? And I'm trying to 227 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 2: keep my face from crystallizing, and you know, falling to 228 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 2: the floor talking to John Lennon yogo Ono. 229 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 3: And they had no help there. 230 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 2: They were just she made a mac provatic meal with 231 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:28,199 Speaker 2: no distant to what have you. They just lived a 232 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 2: very simple life there in New York. It was not, 233 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 2: you know, some mansion, not that the Dakota is some 234 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:39,719 Speaker 2: cheap apartments. You know, it's a beautiful, extraordinary building. But 235 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 2: they were very simple, wonderful people who couldn't have been nicer. 236 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 3: I was very lucky to know them. 237 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 4: And I love how you describe your relationship with cass Elliot. 238 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 4: How she was really this entry point into some great 239 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 4: experiences too, wasn't. 240 00:11:57,960 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 3: She She was. 241 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 2: She did similar thing to what Harry did to me. 242 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,559 Speaker 2: She said, Oh, I'm going to go hear some friends 243 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 2: play downtown. We get downtown. It's the music Center, a 244 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 2: big bent to the downtown LA And who's playing as 245 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 2: Joni Mitchell with the opening act being someone I had 246 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 2: never heard of, nobody had ever heard of for the 247 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 2: most part, was that Jackson Brown. And he was brilliant, 248 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 2: of course, and Joni always brilliant and we're still friends 249 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 2: to this day. Jackson and I am whenever I see Joni, 250 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 2: you know, I know her a bit too, and just 251 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 2: love her. And that's the kind of thing kat Ellie 252 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 2: would introduce me to, Oh, we're going to have dinner 253 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 2: with friends up at their house, like John Lennon. 254 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 3: She says the same thing. 255 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:40,839 Speaker 2: And so I'm brought up to dinner with some friends 256 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 2: and the friends are Jack Nicholson, you know, and Michelle Phillips. 257 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 2: So it was just incredible knowing that wonderful lady and 258 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 2: I know her family to this day. 259 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 4: And you talk about your friendship with the Monty Python crew, 260 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:57,439 Speaker 4: I have to ask you, did you ever do the 261 00:12:57,559 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 4: ministry of silly walks while you were hanging out with 262 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 4: the boys. 263 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 3: I hadn't the nerve to do that. 264 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 2: With John Clees, that was his wonderful bit. But I 265 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 2: know Eric Idle as well, and I see Eric Offfen 266 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 2: and Kanya and Eric Idol are dear friends of mine. 267 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 2: And John Clees we did a show together, became very 268 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 2: good friends. Mighty Python is one of the great comic 269 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 2: experiences of my youth and remain so to this day. 270 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 2: It's just amazing work, and I love seeing the films 271 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 2: and you know, the TV show and the different films 272 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:32,079 Speaker 2: that they've done, the comedy albums that they've done, extraordinary stuff. 273 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 3: Hands up, you know, holds up to this day. 274 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 4: And I know there's going to be a next Spinal 275 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 4: Tap coming out. Do you have any part of this possibly? 276 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 2: I've signed an NDA, so I can't talk about it. 277 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 2: But I'm hoping that even people who've passed away in 278 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 2: the Spinal Tap saga might be thought of or remembered 279 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 2: in some way. 280 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 3: That's all I'm going to say. I'm hoping that different 281 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 3: people will be remembered from. 282 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:01,319 Speaker 2: The great story this final tap, and there are many 283 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 2: drummers and other performers. 284 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 3: Oh, I love it. Well. 285 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 4: I want to close with a couple of comments and 286 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 4: quotes here and get your reaction. First. I love the 287 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:15,559 Speaker 4: Alan Watts quote where he says, drink deep from the 288 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 4: well of friendship and cherish this moment. 289 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 2: Now. 290 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 4: Can you talk about that? 291 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 3: Yeah that believe it or not. 292 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 2: I have the nerve to kind of mix that in 293 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 2: with Alan Watts quote. That's something that I actually have said, 294 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: and mean, you know, my friendship with Eric Idel, you know, 295 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 2: and with Dave Murkin and Beverley De Angelo and Bruce 296 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 2: Wagner and all these wonderful people writers and friends who 297 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 2: have done such great work. We get together and remember 298 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 2: our dear writer and friend, Kerry Fisher, and we are 299 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 2: able to still together and drink deep from the well 300 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 2: of friendship. And it's one of the things that sustains 301 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 2: me to this day. 302 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 3: I'm so lucky to have. 303 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 2: Friends like that, talented people like that that inspired me 304 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,080 Speaker 2: to write the book and to continue to work as 305 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 2: an actor. I'm just blessed. I won the lottery. I 306 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 2: didn't even buy a ticket, Buzz. 307 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 4: And then the last quote there out of the book, 308 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 4: focus on your breath and nothing else. Let everything else 309 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 4: slip away right now and then where we all visualize 310 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 4: a better world and we strive to make it that way. 311 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 4: That's so beautiful. 312 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 2: Loss you for saying that, Buzz. I find solids in 313 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 2: those words and in those feelings, and I think that's 314 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 2: what we're supposed to do. Once we who have been 315 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 2: fortunate enough to through some of the kinds of things 316 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 2: that you've just spoken about. I think once you're settled 317 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 2: in life and know that you've covered those important matters, 318 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 2: we need to help others, and that's what we're here for. 319 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 3: I believe. 320 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 4: I'm so grateful for the opportunity to meet up with 321 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 4: you again and I can't thank you enough. Congrats on 322 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 4: the book ed and I wish you and your lovely 323 00:15:57,800 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 4: wife and your family well. 324 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 3: Want to see you next time you come down. 325 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 2: La. 326 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 3: Let's take a walk again, budd, you got a. 327 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 4: Deal, my friend. 328 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode of Taking a Walk. 329 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: Please share this with your friends and find Taking a 330 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: Walk on the iHeartRadio app and wherever you get your podcasts.