In “The Middle”

Well, it has been some time since I have written, so it feels kind of cozy to come back. As a Blogger, we have our up’s and down’s when it comes to writing, and sometimes life itself just get’s in the way. I have been busy, and I consider myself lucky as I see so many of my fellow industry people and peers out of work. I recently locked in a reoccurring role on the hit ABC/Warner Series, “The Middle”. I could not be happier, it’s been a LONG time since I was on a series. But what I forgot were the 4am wake ups for the 6am call time, the 12 to 14 hours a day on set, and then the long sleepy drive home only to crash out and do it all again the following day. Don’t get me wrong, I’m NOT complaining, but for a guy who has been away from the industry so long it’s been a little hard. I’m tired, but it’s a happy contented kind of tired. Working on “The Middle” is like having a second family, and to top it off, we all get along pretty good! That’s the BRILL thing about being dropped into a series that’s STILL rather new, by the time I got there, it was allready a well oiled machine. All in all, it’s been pretty neat!
I’m still doing “The Neverhood Show” at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ethantudorw, and have had some GREAT guest’s on….Dean Cameron, Grant Goodeve, Kim Darby, and Patrick Labroteaux, in a few days I get to interview a former fellow castmate from “The Facts Of Life”, Mindy Cohn. I’m excited about this show as Mindy and I have not seen each other in at least 15 years. So everything’s good in the Neverhood.
I have made some new friends as well, and as anyone who has re-located to L.A. will tell you, making “Friends” here in LALA Land can be a bit tricky. It’s a dog eat dog industry, so I tend to be a little wary. One of my NEW best friend’s, George Newberry, (Author of “The Devil’s Reign”) attended my recent birthday party, and a couple of weeks later, he invited us to his beautiful home for a classic cocktail/ Birthday party. There Yoli and I met some WONDERFUL people. REAL people, who also happen to be in this business we call “Show”. Everyone had a GREAT time. It was more “Social” than “Industry”, so I had a great time learning about the people I was meeting, talking, and frankly, it was very refreshing. I enjoyed every single person there, I can’t wait for the next one.
On a more personal level, Yoli and I have finally got everything unpacked at our new place. We’re settled, the cat’s (Colby Jack Cheese, AKA “Cat-Pig”, & Tara) have also decided this is a pretty good home. While it may just be a 1 Bedroom Apartment, we are only a mile from the beach and everything we could ever want is within walking distance. I like to do business locally, and have enjoyed getting to know people at Albertsons, the pet clinic (Where we now take the cats) and other small business’s in the area. Beach people are funny. We stop to chat, wave at each other when we meet, and we smile a LOT! Maybe it’s the fresh ocean air, I don’t know, but it’s been a grand adventure thus far!
Yoli and I are very happy together. We have only been married since last October but I doubt the honeymoon will ever end. We learn more and more about each other everyday, even after living together for over 4 years. I consider myself blessed to have not ONLY a wife, but my best friend in the same package. What a lucky bloke am I!
So things are good, and will get even better. The hard work of being on a series, the radio show, and just life in general is keeping the both of us very busy. But we’re blessed by our NEW friend’s as well as our old friend’s and family. I hope that you are as happy and blessed as we are. We’re not at the bottom, and still a long way from the top, but maybe in “The Middle” is a good place to be!
-Ethan Tudor W.Actor/Host of “The Neverhood Show” http://www.blogtalkradio.comAlso follow us on Twitter, MySpace, and FaceBook.”The Middle” airs on ABC, Wednesday night’s at 8pm (PST)

Voice Talent, and where it comes from. New at The NeverHood Show!

Hey everyone, it’s about midnight on Thursday September 23rd. Talk about a long day! We (The team at The NeverHood Show) took on the task of seeking out some NEW UNIQUE sounds and voices for the broadcast. As an Actor myself, I should have known it would not be easy.

About 9am (PST) the post went up on “CL” (Which, personally, I would never use) But Yolanda, the Programming Director said that was what we were going to do, so I guess that was that. At about 9:15am, the E-Mail’s started pouring in from ALL OVER THE PLACE. (We had said in the post that we are based in Redondo Beach/Los Angeles, but that didn’t matter) They came in from Canada, England, Montana, Florida, It was for a simple VOICE OVER GIG..a recording that will play in every episode of the show now that the Re-Vamp and Up-Graded Format is in place. It also said in bold, THIS IS NOT A PAID JOB.

Yet hundreds STILL sent reels, audio samples, links and hopeful wishes. FROM EVERYWHERE.

I hate to keep people waiting, we answered every E-Mail by hand (Because I hate that automated shit some people use!) and archived EVERY submission, Name, Telephone Number and Reel/Demo, after all, that’s what I would hope someone would do with mine.

In the end, frankly, it was really hard. It’s easy to say YES but much harder to say NO, and there always tend to be more NO’s Then Yes’s. I have been rejected so many times, I guess in a way, I wish I could hire EVERYONE. Two were chosen, Matt Howell, who we welcome into the NeverHood Family as our LEAD Announcer/MC.

Also we wish to thank Allie Bethea into the fold as our Segue/New Segment “Voice”.

You all are going to LOVE them both, and it’s going to bring a NEW fresh and UNIQUE sound to the NeverHood, Thanks Matt and Allie, we look forward to a GREAT season. It’s an all NEW NeverHood Folks.

Sadly, there were so many that applied. Some were FAB, others not so Fab…as a special mention, I would like to thank Alex Querna, a GREAT Voice Over Artist, and his E-Mail address is alex@alexquerna.com, he’s got a sound folks….if you need a talented artist, he’s damm good! Also I would like to thank Kevin Mackley, kevin@mycompanychannel.com, you PROVED to us that You Tube is MORE than just junk, there is some REAL talent out there. Also, Mr. Jerry Levinson, a WELL RESPECTED Voice Over Artist, and Andrew Danish….geeze man, so much Talent, call THIS guy, visit his web site at Andrewdanish.com.

There are so many more, but THESE folks, under pressure, got a reel to us QUICK and more than that, they COMMUNICATED the spirit of what we are doing here at the show.

It’s a hard act to follow,

You never know where the talent will come from, in THIS case, we posted a request to CraigsList for Los Angeles, and ended up with the BEST in Montana, and the FINEST from NYC!

I guess the “BackYard” is a little bigger these days, perhaps, if we all “Cast Our Net’s” a little further, we might get over that “Block” in our heads, as well as the block we live on.

-Ethan Tudor W.

Actor/Host “The NeverHood Show” at Blog Talk Radio

Funny how things take on a life of their own…

Hey everyone,
It’s a funny thing how things done on the web can sort of take on a life all their own. If your a blogger, podcaster, or even have a web site that you update on a regular basis, you already know this. I’m up to Episode #16 of “The NeverHood” Show, frankly I never thought people would give it too much of a listen. But the outpouring of support has really touched me. I started out, opened my account at Blog Talk Radio on Christmas Eve of last year. It has been a REAL learning curve but I have been in good company. Wil Wheatons show, “Radio Free Burrito” was what turned me on to podcasting in the first place. Like Wil, I TOO was raised in Los Angeles to the tunes of Dr. Demento, and Wolfman Jack howling in the L.A. Night. I wanted to be like these guys. Since I have started, I have had some GREAT guests on, Patrick Labroteaux, Meeno Peluce, James Best, Mark Lester, Pauly Shore and even Davy Jones. Getting guests to come on has always been pretty easy and everyone has been REAL nice. But in a few months, “The NeverHood” Show will be one year old. People have started to call me to talk about their projects, passions, and sometimes just shoot the shit LIVE on the air. The show has grown, and I along with it. It’s getting smoother, the format is comfortable now. Not to say it will not CHANGE, but I feel like this is where it’s going to grow beyond me. That makes me both happy & sad on different levels. Happy that the show is such a success, yet sad that maybe one day it just may fly away from me all together. I’ll always host the show, as long as I’m having fun and it’s moving forward and giving some entertainment to the masses it’s worth doing. I will continue to get better. I encourage people to try NEW things. I never in my entire LIFE thought I would run an on-line radio show, let alone get to meet some of the truly generous people I have met so far. It’s been a wild ride, but it would not be what it is without the support of the guests, AND listeners. Thank You folks, I REALLY am having the time of my life! -Ethan Tudor W.

Vintage Radio

WootStock, Comic-Con, and my Best Friend.

I’m sure you all have friends. If your lucky, you might be able to count on one hand the amount of REAL friends you have. I have ONE, (well…..besides my Fiance’ Yolanda),

w00tstock is BETTER with FRIENDS!

that’s extra special to me. I’m sure you know the kind of friend I’m talking about. This is the friend that let’s you rant on the phone even when you are totally in the wrong..this is the kind of friend that you know SO well, that you seem to call each other at the same time. He’s also the kind of guy you can drink a beer with and cry in it later…he doesn’t care, hell, he’ll even pour you another one! Friends like that are hard to come by.

If you don’t know this kind of friend I feel sorry for you.

I met my friend in College over 20 years ago, we have both had a couple of live in girlfriends, a couple of GREAT jobs, a couple of not so great jobs, and then even WORSE live in girlfriends, but we’re still best friends.

Our paths took a couple of different ways over the past few years, we have both grown, gotten a little older, hopefully a little wiser. I’m going to get to see my friend in a couple of days. It’s been a few years, and while things have changed in some ways, a little more grey here, a little more paunch there, I’m really looking forward to seeing my Budskie. We are both pretty imperfect, but that’s just how it is sometimes.

I’m going to W00tStock in San Diego California on Thursday, covering it and the madness of Comic-Con for my “NeverHood Show”, and it REALLY seems like my trip could not be any better. I’m happy, I’m healthy, I get to introduce my friend to my Fiance’, and we all get to attend this venue we have been looking forward to all summer long.

And my Budskie’s going to be a part of it!

All bullshit aside, if YOU have a “Budskie”…call ‘em up, say hello. Life is a lot better when you share it with others.

And even MORE fun to share it with your Budskie!

-Ethan Tudor W.

Actor/Host “The NeverHood Show” http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ethantudorw

Pioneer Chicken, The Resturant is alive, the Memories DEAD!

Ahhh...the flavor used to be FAB!

When I first moved back to Los Angeles, I had decided that I was going to visit an ‘ole friend. PIONEER CHICKEN!

Pioneer Chicken held some great memories for me. I can remember my parents bundling me into the station wagon to go to the drive in. It was almost always some adult film like “All The Presidents Men”, but there were always the Pink Panther cartoons to look forward to, the swings down by the big movie screen, and of course….Pioneer Chicken.

Pioneeer Chicken went everywhere with us. The Drive In, Grunion hunting in Long Beach, Camping, and even Disneyland. Yea, we were ‘ole friend’s. I liked the fat little chuck wagon guy on the bucket and the way the entire car would smell as we were on our way to some fun destination. Good memories.

The other day I had decided to re-live that memory and looked them up on the internets. I was sad to find that they had basically gone out of business. BUT…I was surprised to find there was ONE lonely Pioneer Chicken located in Downy California! I was excited, and Yoli and I drove over right away. On the way we talked about our personal memories of this classic chicken place, and even decided on Coleslaw to boot! Passing by KFC’s and Popeye’s we lamented on how Pioneer was a much superior product.

Imagine my dismay when I entered the parking lot under that big sign and found no one there. The restaurant’s lights were on, but no one was inside. For a moment we even wondered if they were open. We wandered into the desolate lobby and was greeted by a young Latino man, he barely noticed we were there. We looked over the menu like a dog looks over a bone, we finally decided on a bucket and some sides.

“Oh I’m sorry,” says the young man,”the dining room is closed”…we look at each other, “That does not matter, we’ll take it to go!” We smile, knowing in just a few moments we will be enjoying the chicken we had made a special trip for.

We order a bucket, I ask for legs….

“I’m sorry sir, but we are out of legs”…he talks back to some unseen person in the back…

“Ok”..I smile..”Let’s just get some thighs and wings”!

“Umm…we have a few wings” The unseen voice from the back mumbles something about the legs being old and that they don’t have much chicken left, it was pretty clear he was ready to take home any left over chicken for himself…

We started to feel uneasy, and frankly a little pissed off…”OK I say, we’ll just take a bucket of whatever you have!” The young man rings us up, “That will be $19.59″….Ahhhhh a small price for chicken PERFECTION even if it WAS old and had been sitting there all day, I whip out the credit card. I have the bucket in my sights, soon it will be MINE!

“Umm, we only accept cash!”

Needless to say we left without our chicken, and as the young man followed us out and locked the door behind us (Early according to there posted sign), he locked away a memory forever. Now we knew why there had been no one in there, why the parking lot was empty, we understood why Pioneer Chicken now only had one lonely location in the armpit of Downey California. Horrible customer service. The experience was ruined for me, I will never go back, I would rather have a happy memory from a happier time, than a recent memory of a place I am sure will become nothing more than a memory soon.

An Actor, Los Angeles, And A Show Called Leverage

As many of you already know I have been an Actor in films and episodic television for some time. I enjoy working in front of the camera, I enjoy the people, the pressure and working with really talented artists. I’m not just talking about the talent, but the crew as well. From Grip to Greensman, from Director to PA, they are all artists.

I have just recently started working in front of the camera again. I had taken a break for a while to work on other projects that interested me. For us Actors, sometimes that can be very rewarding. Other times it’s a career killer. For ME it was rewarding.

I stayed in the business, I was a Locations Manager for Viacom for a while, found places to shoot things like “Ladybugs”, and “Father Dowling” and “Perry Mason” TV movies. Denver was nice, and we shot a LOT down there.

Then Raymond Burr died.

I moved up to Portland Oregon. At first I enjoyed the green culture (Not THAT green culture!) and the fresh air. I explored photography, started an Indie film Company that won a small award one year at Palm Springs International, and even met my future wife. All good things. But I’m an Actor, an Entertainer.

I volunteered in children’s theater, caught some roles in adult theater, and then started doing commercials again.
It’s a weird thing this Acting gig, sometimes the work just finds you, even if your hiding from it.

Finally I got a small role in a Harrison Ford/ Brendan Fraser film called “Extraordinary Measures”. I was slowly getting hooked again. It didn’t take much. I was still on the fence about really JUMPING back into that whole world. I was not 12 years old and working on a show like “Father Murphy” anymore. I was never a big name, I’m a working Actor, and if I DID jump back in, it would be just that, a whole lot of work. A lot of thoughts crossed my mind. I would have to move BACK to L.A. , what would my new fiance’ think? She had not really signed on for the type of bull you can run into in this industry, and I’m older now, I’m a “New” product, as someone I know had recently mentioned…he was not talking about me personally, but he was right. It’s true of all “Child” Actors that take on the business later on in life.

And then came “Leverage”.

I went onto that set my first day as an Extra, pretty much at the bottom end of the food chain. I went in with four or five OTHER Extras that had been called and we did what you do on set all day. Keep quiet and hurry up and wait. I had a lot of time to watch and reflect. Did I really want to do this again? The long days that turn into even longer nights? The auditions, the rejection, the running around in L.A. traffic.

I guess one of the Grips had kind of been watching me. He was a Teamster type, 300lbs of tough. I saw him walk up to me and right away I thought I must be in the way of something. Teamsters are always telling people to get out of the way, but hey, THAT’S THEIR JOB! Much to my surprise he hands me a cold bottle of water and says “Hey, are you ok? You look like a guy in deep thought”.

I had not heard that from a Teamster/Grip before, and surely never my first day on set. I was an Extra, a stranger.

We chatted a lot during the couple of days of that first episode of Leverage. I felt comfortable and welcome, in FACT I went back to do TWO more episodes. I met up with him again at my last Leverage episode, “Reunion” (Season 3) and we had lunch together. Leverage is shot in Portland, and my choice had been made. I moved back to L.A. and it was not long before I started finding work, and it started finding me. I’m a lucky guy, I get to do what I like and what makes me happy..I also get paid for it. My Fiance’ had decided and we jumped into this together and things are GREAT. I learned that not everyone in this business is an ass. Not Everyone is a shark. Don’t get me wrong there ARE those out there, but you attract what you put out. I was back.

So what’s the icing on the cake?

I get a Tweet from Dean D. from Leverage, a public Tweet that there will be a special SNEEK preview of the show at the DGA Theater, and if you RSVP you could get a ticket to see it. We went, and one of the episodes they screened was the one I was in. What a treat!

After the screening I got to chat with a fellow Actor that was a Guest Star in that same episode who was genuinely glad to see me, as was Dean. I felt at home, like I had never left L.A.! It felt nice.

When you work on a TV show for any length of time you bond with your cast mates. I still talk to friends from shows years back, and some of them even come on my talk show now and then. But it’s RARE to find a group of people that make you feel so at home on set as they did on Leverage. It’s not such a bad business after all.

All because one crew member handed me a bottle of ice water.

Thanks Man!

Leverage

W00tstock 2.4 San Diego, CA. and why I am going.

I don’t go to concerts, well, at least I have not been to one in YEARS!

I think the last concert I attended was KISS at The Forum back in 1975. Hey, I was hip. I wanted to “Rock And Roll All Nite”, and COULD party everyday! Yea, I have the “ALIVE” album, and knowing that I was there and, in a very small way, part of history, still brings a smile to my face. I know, I know, and YES there were over 1000 people there, but sometimes I think I can hear myself screaming along with everyone else. After experiencing KISS (And yes it IS an experience) maybe I felt it could never be topped.

I’m going to another concert, a different SORT of concert, I’m not even sure it can be CALLED a concert.

I confess, I’m a nerd. I’m a geek. I have the android phone with twitter, facebook, cinch and myspace all set on the main display. I also have the I-Pod Touch, just in case I miss something, I guess you can say I’m pretty hooked up.

Wootstock is 3 hours of geekfest hosted by Adam Savage (Mythbusters), Wil Wheaton (Star Trek TNG), and Paul and Storm who are two of the funniest guys you’ll ever meet. Their music and comedy are legend. You have likely heard them on Dr. Demento and didn’t even know it. One thing is for sure, you laughed.

Wootstock is (according to what I have read on the web) “A night of songs, readings, comedy, demonstrations, short films, special guests, and other clever widgets born from and dedicated to the enthusiasms, obsessions, trials and joys of geek pride.” In other words, a total geek/nerd fest, and you can even buy a T-Shirt to prove you were there. (Yea, I have one that was given to me by Adam Savage).

I was supposed to go to the Portland concert, the ticket was bought, hotel was reserved, and then a twit talking on her cell phone had to run a red light and plow into my Toyota.

So much for the Portland Wootstock. I was in the hospital for a week and a half! Bummer! At least I lived to tell the tale. Some people are not so lucky. Please make your car a “No Phone Zone”. The life you save MAY be your own.

Then there was Wootstock in Minneapolis, MN. a few weeks later. The show sold out before I could get a trip together. Lastly, there was Chicago, IL, missed that one too. Most people would have gave up by now, but not me. This is the 2nd year that the guys have toured, and I had missed the first tour all together. I was NOT going to miss this experience.

Now I will finally get my chance. Am I excited? Hell yea! I’m also hyper vigilant about crazy California drivers these days, I’m not going to miss this show because of some idiot!

Wootstock 2.4, Thursday July 22nd. in San Diego California. Close enough to drive to, enjoy the show, MAYBE get an interview with Adam Savage for “The NeverHood Show” (It’s in the works). And to top it off, my “Budskie” John lives there. I have not seen my friend in 7 years or so. The whole deal is a win win for me.

So why?

Because I KNOW it’s going to be fun. I want to have 3 hours of hanging out with people that “Get It”. 3 hours of not having to explain to people why I blog, twitter, facebook, etc… Not even my own Father REALLY understands it. “Why do you do that NeverHood Podcast if your not getting PAID for it”? he asks. My simple answer is “Because I CAN”, and I enjoy it. He’s much happier now that I have an On-Line store that sells “NeverHood” gear like hats and t-shirts. I could have just as well not had it, but I added it “Because I CAN”.

I want to hear what Adam, Wil, and Paul & Storm have to say. They speak my language. Bring on the geeky stories that Wil is legend for, bring on Adam with videos and Paul & Storm with the nerdy music. It’s about being a part of something, and simply understanding each other on a slightly different level. I want to be a part of that. I want to experience it, blog about it, do a podcast around it and tweet while I am there. I’m FINALLY going to W00tstock.

While it may not top KISS, I know it will have it’s own special place in MY nerdy world, and you can BET I’ll be buying the T-Shirt!

-Ethan Tudor W.

Welcome To The Ethan Tudor W. Blog

I’m an Actor, Radio Host and a Writer.

Now I’m a “Blogger”.

I guess that’s what happens when you are late in the learning curve in a digital world. I have been writing for years. I have leather backed journals, spiral notebooks, even a 2000 page handwritten book! I’m that guy that has a writing desk with notes here and there of things I want to touch on. Opinions, observations, and just some truly absurd stuff. You tend to experience a lot of the bizarre after some 35 years in the Entertainment business. Yea, I admit, I’m THAT guy that even owns a quill and ink set. There is something to be said for the sound of the nib scratching on a fine piece of paper. I suppose if you are a writer that makes sense to you in some sort of way. Typing my thoughts has never seemed quite as natural to me.

I hope you will find my blog interesting, maybe even inspiring at times. Why am I doing this? Is it for the fans? Is it for the show?

In a word, no.

It’s for me. If that sounds selfish, well so be it. But, as many of you who have recently discovered the joys of putting pen to paper, you know that we do it for ourselves. We are a creative lot us writers, and I know that even though I have been published, over the years I have written utter crap and forgetful rubbish. But, every now and then there is a GEM. Sometimes we keep them to ourselves and other times we share them. I hope you will forgive me for the content. But maybe, JUST maybe, you will find a gem in my musings.

Thanks for stopping in, and don’t stop being curious! I hope I learn as much from you, the guest, as you do from me, the writer.

-Ethan Tudor W.