Bob Nickman [Interview]

Hello Folks! Oh do we have an incredible interview to share with you fine folks! In fact, we have a wonderful week coming for you all. Because we didn’t want to waste any time getting to around to it in 2019….we have some comedy to share! Yes, we have three wonderful interviews with three absolutely hilarious comedians! And we are kicking the week off with legendary stand up comedian and television writer & producer, Bob Nickman!

Bob has contributed to some pretty legendary comedic television programs, some of which we will discuss below, like Maron and Freaks and Geeks, which we have talked about here via interviews with the likes of Dave Anthony, Troy Ruptash, Steve Bannos and more on TWS before, but obviously not enough! But, beyond just these two fine shows, Bob has also worked on several legendary shows with some folks we have talked to in the past as well. Shows like The Drew Carey Show, Roseanne, Mad About You, and the list goes on and on.

And as it tends to turn out, Bob is a hell of a nice guy! He has some wonderful words to share with us today. We discuss his past work, what the future holds, and, obviously, the importance of a healthy life in mind, body, and spirit! Because we all know that comedians are traditionally the most healthy people in the world, both physically and mentally. I’m kidding of course! Bob has a great podcast on the subject entitled The Exploding Human, which we will discuss below, and you should definitely check it out!

So, let’s get right into it, shall we? Please enjoy some wonderful words from the amazing Bob Nickman!

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What was it that drew you into the world of comedy? Was it a deep-rooted drive to make people laugh that you always had, or did you just sort of find your way in this business?

When I was a kid and first saw an adult on TV being funny, I was intrigued that this was something that was okay to do. It was far away and not a possibility in my mind at the time, but I never forgot it. Later, the options for conventional things to do seemed sad and boring so I thought I would at least try it and see. A friend in college said he thought I should try it and I would be good at it. Nine years later I gave it a shot.

What was your very first paid gig in the world of comedy, whether it be stand up or writing or whatever?

Opening act at a local comedy club in Columbus, Ohio. Don’t remember who the headliner was. But likely someone from Make Me Laugh. 

You have worked as a writer and/or producer on some of the most amazing comedy series to ever be put out. I don’t want to bother you and ask about each one, but there are a couple that really stand out, and I was hoping to talk to you about. First being the now cult classic series Freaks and Geeks. While the show did not last as long as you could have hoped, there does seem to be a real cult following for this program. As somebody who worked on the show in real time, why do you think that is? What makes this show so memorable almost 20 years later, even though it was cancelled so early?

A high level of honesty in character, dialogue and story. The focus on struggle and underdogs is very real for almost everyone in high school and people relate to that.  We avoided false victories and focused on what is the real thing that would happen or really did happen to one of us.

The second would a show that had a brilliant run, and pretty much rounded itself out nicely. And that would be Maron. You came around for the very dramatic and ultimately touching yet still hilarious final season of the program. How did you become on board with this project? And what made this one different from the plethora of other work you have done? Does anything stand out?

I know Marc from my stand up days and when I found out the show was looking for writers I called him, sent him one of my scripts and they brought me on board. It was a great experience, very collaborative with all great writers on the staff with a similar dark comedic sensibility. We were able to do a lot of things that you couldn’t do on network TV, which is always a treat. Marc encouraged that and was always ready to push the envelope and take chances.

As a person who has over 30 years of experience in comedy, from stand up to television production, I am curious to know what you think about the current climate of comedy. Obviously advancements in technology have changed access and the amount of comedy that can be consumed. But, I am curious to know what you believe is still the same as when you started. Are there still any core beliefs that seem to continue to hold true in the world of comedy? And what do you believe has been the toughest change to deal with overall?

I think it has evolved as an art form and that “joke technology” has advanced. There are so many great comics with great material.  The downside is that it is tougher for young comics to make a living. Less venues, less pay, more competition.  The internet and self-produced content has opened up new highways for comedy creators. Monetization and viewers is always the biggest challenge along with more a corporate driven entertainment industry. 

I am intrigued by a project you have entitled “The Exploding Human”. Would you mind telling our readers a bit about this project and how they can check it out?

Actually it is a podcast in the health field. It is not a comedy. I interview all kinds of health practitioners from conventional to alternative, and those who have overcome challenges.  It covers a wide-range of topics in body, mind and spirit. I do try to bring a humorous touch to the interviews at times, but I am more interested in exploring ways humans can expand and EXPLODE in making a better life. It is a result of my own curiosity and quest to find a healthier lifestyle in all areas.

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

I have two dramas and two reality shows, as well as a comedy I just finished. We’ll see if any of them fly.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Repairing a crack in the stucco on my house and painting it. It came out great!

Phillip P. Keene [Interview]

Welcome to the first Friday of 2019 here at Trainwreck’d Society! I hope the year’s first week has served you well, and your resolutions are still moving forward. Today we have an absolutely incredible interview to share with you all, with a person I have found to have an even more fascinating story to tell that of the character he famously portrayed for close to 13 years on two different series. Fans of Phillip P. Keene (of which there are an abundance) will already know that I of course am talking about the acclaimed TNT crime dramas known as The Closer and Major Crimes.

Now, I am going to be perfectly frank with you all here: I have honestly never watched either of these shows. In fact, beyond say Twin Peaks and another TNT vehicle that we can’t quite discuss yet, I am not particularly fond of crime dramas. Now I know this may go against our standard “fan first” mentality here at TWS, but here me out. After watching just a few (okay, dozens) of clips and moments of Mr. Keene portraying the now infamous Buzz Watson, I was convinced that he is definitely a damn fine actor and it would be an honor to have him on the site. There was no question in that. But, what truly struck me was his story of how he came to be who he is today. Having moved as a youth between South America and several cities in California, I even related to the lack of permanence he felt growing up, as I did the same as a youth. Also, I’m sure I am wrong here, but Mr. Keene may be the first major airline flight attendant to turn into a network television star? Working for Pan Am prior to getting into acting is a story all in itself when you think about what the now debunked airline did to history.

Yes, while most people may be drawn to Phillip’s work on two deservingly successful television shows, I have found his on personal journey to be one that should be documented. He is a pioneer in the LGBTQ community, coming out at a time that was regretfully much harder to do. He is an inspiration and truly just seems like the kind of person I would enjoy spending a day with. And a person of that nature will always be welcome here on the digital pages of Trainwreck’d Society. So new fans and old fans unite, and please welcome the great Phillip P. Keene!

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What made you decide to join the world of acting? When did you first realize it was your passion and the way you wanted to earn a living?

I always wanted to be an actor, but my parents actively discouraged it, and my high school academic career was something less than stellar, so I had very limited sense of my potential during my late teens and most of my twenties. But after I lost my job and went back to college, I began to hope a little. Never did I think I could graduate from college with two degrees! So as I began to consider the next phase of my life, I thought, “Why not go back to my original dream? And at least give it a try?” I was incredibly lucky, too, and very much at the right place at the right time. But I put myself out there. I gambled on my heart and I was fortunate.

Between The Closer and Major Crimes, you have spent over a dozen years portraying Buzz Watson to the admiration of your fans. Last January, it all came to an end. I am curious to know what it feels like to have ran through so many years with a character. And how does it feel to put Buzz to rest now?

A part of me will always be Buzz Watson. I am nothing like Buzz, really, but I like to think we share a common idea of decency. But Buzz lives a life of service to his community. Buzz is a hero and I am an actor. Is it weird to say that, to me, Buzz was like a real person? I can never put him to rest. I miss playing him. I hope another good role will come along, and I’ll get to tap into a different part of my heart. But I will always be proud of my 200+ episodes as Buzz.

I have learned that you are quite the fanatic for the world of Pan Am Airlines, with quite the expansive collection of memorabilia. What sort of things does such a collection contain? And where did the passion for Pan Am come from?

One day, while driving an iffy Volkswagen Bug to a restaurant where I was working as a waiter, my car broke down. I sweated my way through getting it running again, arrived at the restaurant on time, only to be sent home because they weren’t busy enough. I was broke and hungry (because I missed the staff meal) and on my way home, I bought a newspaper for the first time in my life. I skipped right over the events of the day to the want ads. And there, in the corner of the page (I still have it) was an announcement that Pan Am was looking for flight attendants. I thought about it and applied. And because I was fluent in Spanish, they hired me! And suddenly I was off to Florida for training and, before I knew it, based in London! I can’t tell you what a difference this made in my life. I had never travelled to Europe, I had never had a job that required life-saving training, and I had never worn a uniform: it was all incredibly exciting. Also, it was mind blowing. Living in and visiting different countries every week was the first part of my education, and my gratitude to Pan Am for hiring me, and to all the people with whom I worked while there, led me to preserve as much of the company as I could find. Pan Am employees are really like a very large extended family, and we have reunions and several organizations that keep us together, like the Pan Am Museum Foundation, on whose board I serve. In Pan Am, I made friends for life. And the considerable contributions Pan Am made to connect the modern world should be preserved.

If you were given the chance to portray any figure in American history of any sort of significance who would it be?

I love American history, and I study it in my spare time, so there are a lot of amazing figures from our country’s past that intrigue me. If I were to play anyone, though, I think I might choose Thomas Paine. He’s a vastly underrated person from the earliest days of our republic, and had an outside influence on the world. As a common man, largely self-educated, I relate to him in ways that I don’t to great men like Washington and Jefferson. And his writings – Common Sense, The Crisis Papers, The Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason – influenced the entire world. He had flaws. He suffered from depression. He was imprisoned by his enemies and ignored by his friends. But he never stopped trying to influence the future. I’m the right age to take him on! But I don’t know if it’s a story anyone is interested in telling.

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

I did a television movie that aired in 2017. I’m trying to get a documentary off the ground. And I’ve auditioned for lots of new projects. I’ve gotten very close to a several jobs, but not close enough! But if you can tell anything from this interview, I am persistent! I’ve also spent a lot of time at the gym and getting back in touch with my marriage and my everyday life. Since I’m pretty sure I’ll be working again, I’m determined to make this abundance of time off (the first time in my whole life when I haven’t had a job!) as enjoyable as possible. I know actors are supposed to panic when they don’t have a job. It’s not happening to me!

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I actually smile a lot! So maybe I should say the last thing that made me smile a lot was a lunch with Jessica Meraz, dinner with Kearran Giovanni and G.W. Bailey and Graham Patrick Martin, and a phone conversation I had with Michael Paul Chan and a text message exchange I had with Kathe Mazur. The Major Crime alumni are pretty much staying together, and the ensemble of actors who worked together for thirteen years (which is like going from kindergarten through graduation from high school together) sticks together! You never know if that will happen until after the show stops. We miss each other, and we root for each other’s successes. I’m proud of my family, and I hope they are proud of me!

Check out this trailer for Deadly Shores starring Phillip Keene, which was released on Lifetime in August of 2018, and also features our dear friend Kristin Minter:

Lotti Pharriss Knowles [Interview]

Hello Folks! And welcome to our very first interview of 2019! And hot damn if we aren’t kicking it off with a wonderful one! Today we are sharing some words from the absolutely brilliant writer, producer, and actress Lotti Pharriss Knowles! She has done some incredible work in the world of horror and beyond. She has worked with some of our good friends here at Trainwreck’d Society as well, including the likes of Rena Riffel and Austin Ford in the wonderful film Showgirls 2: Penny’s From Heaven, which is actually a franchise that Lotti is  currently working on that we are very excited for, and so happy that she was willing to share some information about in her wonderful answers. Lotti is also the writer and producer of one of the most hilarious comedy-horror films to ever be made, a wonderful film entitled Chastity Bites that we also got to ask a bit about as well, as it is a personal favorite of mine.

Yes, I truly believe that Lotti was the perfect person to kick of what we hope to be a wonderful 2019! So Folks, please enjoy an absolutely brilliant interview with an even more brilliant human being, the wonderful Lotti Pharriss Knowles!

What inspired you to get into the world of film and television? Was it an early aspiration to do so, or did you just happen to find yourself in this world one day?

I was always “theatrical,” and also drawn to the macabre. As a kid my main interests were in being in school plays, pretending to be a witch (not just on Halloween), and having my Barbies enact intricate scenes based on horror movies or nighttime soaps. By the time I was in high school, I was ingesting a steady diet of horror movies and telling everyone that was going to be my career. My first feature screenplay was for my senior creative writing class, a total rip-off of Halloween called Groundhog Day. So though I’ve done many things in my life and career, I’m happy that I finally did make at least one feature horror film!

The 2013 film Chastity Bites, which you wrote and produced, is one of the finest displays of horror comedy I have seen in the last 20 years. It’s truly original and so well written. So, what inspired you to modernize the story of one of the most notorious murders in history?

Thank you so much! I’ve been fascinated by Elizabeth Bathory for a long time (I think my first exposure was Hammer Studios’ Countess Dracula) and always wanted to write a script about her. When I wrote the first draft of the screenplay, it was 2004 and the middle of the George W. Bush years, when there was a lot of heavy Christian rhetoric being bandied about — and abstinence education was very “in vogue,” despite all the evidence that it actually leads to MORE pregnancies and STDs for young people. One day my political outrage, sensibility for satire and love of the Blood Countess legend all clicked, and the rest is history!

You have worked in one specific gig that I don’t believe we have ever mentioned here at Trainwreck’d Society, which would be a Post-production Coordinator. I noticed that you have worked in this filed quite a bit, including multiple projects with the legendary filmmaker David DeCoteau. So, for those who may be unaware of this position (talking about me, if I’m being honest), what is the duty of a Post-production Coordinator? What sort of work does this gig entail?

Yes, like most filmmakers I’ve had a lot of other “bill-paying” jobs, both in and outside of the entertainment industry. This happens to be one of the more fun ones for me, since I’m kind of OCD and love to check off lists! The job entails overseeing some or all of the post-production process on a film, and making sure all the moving parts (editing, sound, color correction, FX and more) are going to come together at the right time to keep the movie’s “delivery” on schedule.

Beyond the world of horror, you also worked on project that was directed by our friend Rena Riffel, and produced by another friend Ford Austin, entitled Showgirls 2: Penny’s From Heaven that we love around here. So what was it that drew you to this project? What was it that inspired you to jump into the Showgirls universe?  

This could be a looooong answer that I’ll keep as brief as possible! Showgirls is easily one of my favorite non-horror movies of all time. My husband and I are literally married because of it, and had a Showgirls-themed wedding in Vegas. Since then we’ve been collecting experiences related to the movie, and when Rena (whom we’d met in 2009 when we co-produced VampireCon) announced she was doing a crowdfunding campaign for her unofficial sequel, I knew I had to pony up whatever amount I needed to get us speaking roles. Being in it was absolutely glorious, I’m so proud. And now I’m proud to say that I’m producing the definitive documentary on the subject, Goddess: The Fall and Rise of ‘Showgirls’! I’m working on it with director/producer Jeffrey Schwarz, after other successful doc collabs like I Am Devine and Vito. We’ll be doing a Kickstarter campaign in March 2019 — follow us on FB TW IG @ShowgirlsDoc!

While the world of horror is far from being your mainstay in the world of film and television, you have had some great success in the genre. With that, I am curious to know what it is you enjoy about working in the more frightening world of suspense and horror? What sets it apart from other projects you tend to work on?

Horror is just my true love, and more fun than anything else to work on. I love coming up with the ideas, I love seeing the gore FX come together (though they are often the most difficult parts of shooting), and I love knowing that the project will at some point be part of The Great Horror Canon. I also love horror fans and think they (we) are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet! I’m convinced it’s because we embrace the shadow side of life and work it out in a healthy way, rather than repressing it. I get why a lot of people think it’s sick, of course, but the genre has actually helped me deal with anxiety.

What is your favorite scary movie?

That is always such a tough questions — there are so many, and each for a different reason. But I will narrow it down to two, and say:

1) Halloween, because it really did scare me so profoundly as a child, and yet kept me coming back to it over and over. My life was set on a certain course already, but that movie turned the key in my head to full-on obsession.

2) Hammer Studios’ The Vampire Lovers, because I love me a lesbian vampire film (hence Chastity Bites) and it’s among the best of the best. I love the lush, sexy, gothic sensibility of Hammer films, and Ingrid Pitt is my favorite female horror icon.

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

Besides the Showgirls documentary, I’m working on a couple of TV pilots. Last year I had a major disappointment, that an all-female-directed horror anthology series I was producing (along with a great team of people) was not picked up by the network we’d developed it with for a year, even after it was announced in the trades. I so badly wanted that to happen in the era of #metoo, and it would have been a dynamite show. But,  we face a lot of roadblocks and rejections in this business, and we have to pick ourselves up and figure out where to go next. I love these other series I’m working on now (one horror and one girl-power dramedy), and I hope they come to your TV screen soon! But if not, I will find something else that excites me — maybe try my hand at writing a horror book!

What was the last thing that made you smile?

OMG right after this midterm election when Ann Coulter tweeted “Kansas is dead to me,” and Matt Oswalt retweeted that with “did it drop another house on your sister?” It was so perfect and funny — ever the witch, I CACKLED when I read that. But I smile and laugh at a lot of stuff, including myself). Life is stressful, and we all need to smile, laugh and hug as much as possible. And watch horror movies. 🙂