CONGRATULATIONS: Good Luck, Opie!

May 14, 2007 | 5:20 PM PST
Tags: thecatbywas, semi-finalists, top 50, Opie Cooper, videowilliams, Orson Welles
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What a thrill to see a name I know on the Semi-Finalists' List! Someone talented, funny, and friendly who I'd love to see knock 'em dead- or at least crack 'em up- when this show we've been waiting for finally screens nationwide. 

I'm referring to Opie Cooper, known to his friends at OTL here as "thecatbywas", the Fat Man, the Donut King, or simply "that guy from Mississippi." Much to the chagrin of his loyal fan base (all eight of us) he upped and quit his blogging a month and a half ago to "fly out on business for a few weeks." Now I guess we know what "business" really meant. While louder voices and bigger egos battled each other over the right to "rule" this website, Opie Cooper quietly slipped off to Los Angeles for a shot at the Big Brass Ring. He actually told me in an email that he didn't think his departure would even be noticed.

That's what makes you like the guy. He's living proof of one of my favourite bits of wisdom: "it's nice to be smart, but it's smart to be nice." Break out the Moon Pies and RC Cola! Fatso's gonna be on TV! And to honour the moment, here's a re-post of something I wrote about him eight weeks ago...

 

NOTE TO SELF: Do Not Pick Fights With Heavyweights

I think I bleeped up when I challenged my two favourite bloggers (JessicaMarie, thecatbywas) to produce something serious instead of just phoning it in. In the space of what felt like 5 minutes, Miss Congeniality had a new novella up, and the Fat Man penned two sparkling new routines. He then responded:

"Happy now? Are you happy man???"

No, man. Not happy. More like dumbstruck. How do you people write so fast? I'm starting to realise I'm the odd one out in this company. Given wisdom in Australia is that 95% of Americans are pretty dumb, but the 5% who are smart are REALLY smart. This explains how a country whose high schools produce near-illiterate children can also put men on the moon.

We all assume that others see the world as we do. I assumed the way I write a serious piece- involving hours of mulling over, making notes, composing, rearranging, tweaking, moaning in pain- was how it was for them as well. Good writing is HARD. Good writing HURTS. Good writing gives me a godbleeped headache, and it makes me look around for any excuse to do something else. Whenever a blank page sits there quietly begging "fill me", inane domestic tasks begin to look appealing. Perhaps I'll just bring in the garbage so I can take it out again. That looks like fun...

Must just be me.

I think a story told by Orson Welles to Peter Bogdanovich explains it best:

A fellow goes to a doctor and says: "You know, doctor, I have these terrible headaches in the morning. Every morning after I get up and vomit and brush my teeth and have breakfast, I get this headache."

The doctor says: "What?"

"Sure," the fellow says. "After I get up and vomit and brush my teeth, I get this headache."

"You mean," says the doctor, "you vomit every morning?"  

"Sure," says the fellow, "doesn't everybody?"

 

BWLAAAAAAARGH.

 

Member Comments: 18

 

Delete Californiayanqui visit blog


May 14, 2007 | 5:49 PM PST

Is it cool? It's very cool.

Last edited by Californiayanqui on May 14th at 7:28 PM.

Delete   Edit videowilliams visit blog


May 14, 2007 | 5:57 PM PST

Glad you agree, Tim. Sometimes nice guys don't finish last- they finish 50th! Or maybe higher... time will tell.

Delete DawnAkemi visit blog


May 14, 2007 | 6:10 PM PST

Well....how fun is that...nice that someone you connected with made it in!!!

I just went to his profile and watched some of his commercials and his intro (I couldn't find his entry film)....they're great!

Somehow I missed connecting with this dude...my loss...

Delete   Edit videowilliams visit blog


May 14, 2007 | 6:31 PM PST

It's a funny world, Dawn!

I'd been expecting that a friend I least expected to be chosen would be chosen... if that all makes any sense. I really didn't expect for Opie to be the one- I had my money on one of you girls!

In my humble opinion, his films alone wouldn't have gotten him in, but he's an improvisor like you, so they must have figured he'd be good entertainment!

Last edited by videowilliams on May 14th at 7:00 PM.

Delete DawnAkemi visit blog


May 14, 2007 | 6:37 PM PST

His sense of humor and quirky way is definitely a lot of fun!!! I can see why they would cast his personality type.

Delete   Edit videowilliams visit blog


May 14, 2007 | 6:41 PM PST

Yes, the challenge with this show will be to make one of the world's most boring processes- making a film- stay entertaining while we watch! No easy thing...

Delete woven_totes visit blog


May 14, 2007 | 6:44 PM PST

Good luck Opie indeed - good luck everybody, if you believe any of this matters. But remember - television consumes the people on it the way a whale consumes plankton.

Delete   Edit videowilliams visit blog


May 14, 2007 | 6:50 PM PST

Interesting image, woven-totes! I guess that plankton-whale analogy could be true of reality TV. But here, the contestants are showbiz professionals themselves. The fish might not eat them- they might eat the fish!

Last edited by videowilliams on May 14th at 6:51 PM.

Delete JessicaMarie visit blog


May 15, 2007 | 4:06 PM PST

Dawn, his film isn't linked to his profile. He has the link in his profile somewhere. It's called "Smash Cut," and it's brilliant. Hold on, let me find it.

http://films.thelot.com/films/784

I saw it right after I got my new computer, and I was amazed.

God, he's so funny. I can see him on the show as the comic relief, not to mention he's talented as H-E-double hockey stix.

Delete   Edit videowilliams visit blog


May 15, 2007 | 5:19 PM PST

H-E-double hockey stix?

You'll have to explain that reference to me, Jess.

I'm sure you're right, though!

Delete   Edit videowilliams visit blog


May 16, 2007 | 6:31 AM PST

Oh, and Dawn, you did connect with Opie briefly. He left a very nice review of your film "Hammer" a couple of months ago.

Delete DawnAkemi visit blog


May 16, 2007 | 5:49 PM PST

Thank you Jessica! I went and watched and reviewed...it's fun! I liked it alot...

God, Dave...how embarrassing. It's not like Hammer had such a huge audience and reviews that I couldn't have tracked that...he slipped through my cracks (keep it PG! We're back on OTL) I'll be passive aggressive and blame you for distracting me!

Thanks for letting me know ;-)

Last edited by DawnAkemi on May 16th at 5:50 PM.

Delete   Edit videowilliams visit blog


May 17, 2007 | 7:31 AM PST

Dawn's mindset 2 months ago, as she casually scanned Hammer's latest reviews:

"And another guy saying I'm great... and another guy saying I'm great... and another guy saying I'm great..."

It's understandable how thecatbywas slipped between your- ahem- cracks.

Delete   Edit videowilliams visit blog


May 17, 2007 | 7:41 AM PST

Oh, as talented as HELL!!! I get that Jessican reference now.

Gee, I was thinking: "Cleveland... close to Canada... hockey is popular... there must be an ad on TV there for "H-E-double" brand hockey sticks... only the top people use them..."

No wonder they didn't cast me. Slowest brain on The Lot!

Last edited by videowilliams on May 17th at 7:43 AM.

Delete cici visit blog


May 17, 2007 | 8:12 AM PST

Hey! Look at that! I thought the word "hell" would get bleeped. Dave, you are a quick wit, you know that. You were probably just distracted by a passing wallaby or something.

So exciting about Opie. Anticipation for the show rising by the minute! Eeeee!

Hi, Dawn!
Hi, JessicaMarie!

Delete   Edit videowilliams visit blog


May 17, 2007 | 8:36 AM PST

Hi, cici!

I was distracted by too many pretty faces... and you've only made it worse. We men get dumber whenever our testosterone spikes- I think that's a medical fact. Or as James Bond's doctor put it: "God gave man a brain and a swizzle-stick, but only enough blood to run one at a time."

Hey, get this: we can not only say "hell" in here, we can say "cocksucker" too!
Hehe- burn in hell cocksucker. Yay!

My anticipation for the show is also rising, especially since discovering that I know somebody in it. But frustration is rising too, since I don't think they'll be playing it down here. Might have to ask you to record it and mail me the tapes...

Last edited by videowilliams on May 17th at 9:13 AM.

Delete JessicaMarie visit blog


May 22, 2007 | 6:50 PM PST

Oh, Opie's doing good...and getting face time.

Delete   Edit videowilliams visit blog


May 23, 2007 | 3:58 AM PST

Glad to know we backed a winner, Jess... though you and I both know I actually thought I'd be watching you!

Now I'm really looking forward to seeing those tapes.

Last edited by videowilliams on May 23rd at 4:17 AM.