“Even as a little kid I always identified with the loser. Most kids fall asleep listening to a fairy tale. I fell asleep listening to a guy yelling, ‘Enough! I’ve had enough!’”
--Rodney Dangerfield from his book It’s Not Easy Bein’ Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but plenty of Sex and Drugs
Everyone I love is dying.
But Rodney Dangerfield is just too much for me. He was one of the funniest people alive and he was hilarious ‘till the end. Rodney was best live, but my favorite Rodney movie? Hard to pick but…Easy Money. I was obsessed with it as a kid—I still have the worn out video my brother gave me for my birthday.
Why? Why? Why?
I’m just praying my other hero/comic genius Don Rickles is not next…Or the brilliant Bob Newhart.
Reading his AP obituary, this pissed me off:
“In 1995, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rejected Dangerfield's application for membership. A letter from Roddy McDowall of the actors branch explained that the comedian had failed to execute ‘enough of the kinds of roles that allow a performer to demonstrate the mastery of his craft.’
The ultimate rejection, and Dangerfield played it to the hilt. He had established his own Web site (‘I went out and bought an Apple Computer; it had a worm in it’), and his fans used it to express their indignation. The public reaction prompted the academy to reverse itself and offer membership. Dangerfield declined.”
And of course Rodney had a perfect, true comeback:
"They don't even apologize or nothing," he said. "They give no respect at all -- pardon the pun -- to comedy."
Fuck Roddy McDowell—you think he could get Kurt Vonnegut to show up in one of his movies? And where's his boardgame?
"Shake it up Baby!"
It's been a sad couple years. Katharine Hepburn, Bob Hope, Janet Leigh and now Rodney Dangerfield. Charlton Heston and Don Rickles are the only "old giants" left.
"Back to School" is probably my favorite Rodney film, though when I first saw it I thought it was unbelievably silly. After the next 50 viewings, though, I've realized it would've been nothing without Rodney in the lead.
Roddy McDowell's letter surprised me. Hell, poor Rodney should've been let into the Academy and given two Purple Hearts just for doing a movie with that screeching, ice-cream headache inducing Jackee.
Wonder if Rodney'll drive through the Pearly Gates in a tricked out convertible, the horn playing "We're in the Money"?
Posted by: Kevin | October 07, 2004 at 07:29 AM
Never heard of you, but then I'm a Brit
Posted by: Ostercy | March 06, 2005 at 06:58 AM