March 10, 1974

Okay, so even with my minimal math skills, I can calculate that 1974 was 35 years ago.
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS?
Oy. gulp.
What's the big deal, you might be asking?

It was 35 years ago today that I showed up on the M.G.M. lot in Culver City making my screen debut in the film, "The Sunshine Boys" with Walter Matthau and George Burns. I still celebrate and acknowledge this personally auspicious day.

Although my little scene (which happily did not end up on the cutting room floor) was not with Walter or Mr. Burns, I had the good fortune to work with Richard Benjamin that day. This was a young actors dream . . . a big movie debut with two major motion picture stars on the most fabulous movie lot ever. What a day that was. I have only the fondest of memories of how I earned my Screen Actors Guild card and an enduring admiration and gratitude for Walter Matthau's influence and presence in my life. And I made sure that while I was on that lot, I walked around enough to know that I must have walked over the same ground that Gene Kelly once danced or at least, walked upon.

Now, 35 years later, what am I doing? No longer in Hollywood. Pursuing different dreams. Drinking out of my black, Apple mug, typing on my MacBook while watching Woz (that's Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak to you) waltz around the floor on the new season of "Dancing with the Stars" is how I spent my Monday night. How about you?

Who would have thought that I could find out the scandalous results of "The Bachelor" while watching this dance show? You see, I do not watch "The Bachelor" but while working out at the gym last week, all the talk shows were abuzz about that shows season finale. I admit it piqued my curiosity but not enough to bother Googling to find out the details. It was a bonus to learn that the young woman that The Bachelor jilted, Melissa Rycroft, stepped in for TV host and anchor Nancy O'Dell, who was diagnosed with a torn meniscus while training and had to withdraw from the competition. The minute I saw Melissa dance, I knew she had previous dance training. What a bonus for the producers that she happened to be one of the few amateurs available at the last minute who would be able to make a good showing tonight with only three days of rehearsal in addition to being a good PR choice.

Still playing in the realm of Hollywood after all.
Just dancing with stars differently.