Inner-View; Interview with Rip Taylor

I know. Interview with your host. Ladies and gentlemen the one and only rips. Thank you. Go look at something here. I know everyone in this audience. I know everyone of salmon one is going to do a Broadway show called 9:00 Mark Penn the wonderful reviewer I know everybody. So watch. OK Don I got the whole thing here I got the radio I got everything I got everything. Go right ahead and take that hair off that. I'm yours. He wants advice take it off and you are the last thing I know. You know one thing. How do you like that the leg the leg. That's what you learn. And Harry had Harry read to his brother by everybody that's where you

learn. What you like the feeling when someone can see the One and Only You Know That means singular that means. Well I know that may depend on how you talk about you to be known in a unique style. Yeah but I do think so. Tell you what you like headline was. But I would not let him know that I have all that and I'm just working thank God when I act I gotta get more you know. But everybody agreed that it's a singular but I don't have all they're all friends and no they wouldn't. Oh I see you're all fixed you wouldn't say now but I think it's true. It's a unique style Yeah. When you think of Rip Taylor you think of something so funny I hope. Finally I hope outrageous I have outlandish a man my age in my size doing something like that. How did you know working. How did you fall upon the whole I just dial child I don't know. I was in politics and I left that to become a comedian.

Look I don't believe that truly I was just Senate pages you know I was here and I did all the Senate races Senate page and politics. Not that little no thank you. I love that this is actually the belief in what you do you resit if you have a comedic mind yet you believe that you do a lot of people say we're less than a retainer because he's a very funny guy why we don't know we just have believed you know you've got to analyze why it sort of loses some of it so I'm confused. He's the guy you know sometimes I mean I have set me up maybe in the back of my mind I plan to get across but I mean I've it works thank. I mean who else can take out a fish with her isn't it. Yes. Any of the books. I read David's book he was here before me. Oh yeah yeah I know him a long time you know. So was that nothing I just thought I'd mention that Brennan was on the phone. I'm glad you have mentioned yes he's had no hit on that and I want to tell us about your career.

I had made a transition I had made a transition child yes I have made a transition. I I'm standing like that I have made it from this nut. No I would I brought it to the Seda. I'm not in our shop he's been becoming legit I really hated you after all these years. They asked me to do sugar babies on Broadway. Thank you. Then if. I'm standing up for this. Then after German babies I dance I dance with and I danced with an M. and I mean she fell and broke her hair but I den. When Mel or I dance or sit your race I mean tap dance and ball and not the foxtrot. You know like really professional dancing and I want to progress on that Iran is still are still there and Jean you know I mean I am becoming the gentleman I can't even walk back I think. So I did Sugar Babies and after that that led to the Kennedy players you know but all over the hio and I did Fagan and Oliver and now I just auditioned for the lead.

One of the leads in the culture of full on Broadway I mean I get it but I guess they look at me in a different light now and then or come on you got to tell them I got to national road company of the Peter Pan going to be got to look at it. Now. Tell us about the auditions for well the audition because your fault I was working the St. Regis Hotel your very swanky John very classy they never had a comic before and I'm wearing all this flashy rhinestone and I had 50 foxtails I swear they told me they were tails and then what they didn't know what the heck I was doing and we're asking you do a DeLorean jokes and they know him I mean they were wealthy their money had money these were heavy people. So I said well I know you all surprised me work here the mountain and and I could I tell the truth it was funny and I said well you know you had dead composure they ran out of them so here I am for a month or so while I work at the St. Regis the Broadway agents came to see me because I asked them to come and see me and they want to get in for nothing came to see me. True

and so I got an audition for your phone and I caught your fall is like the movie. But it's going to be a little more a little different. Jerry Herman is doing the music. Harvey Firestein who didn't Torch Song Trilogy is doing the book and the producers and produce you know by now so I go into the rehearsal hall to audition Monday and I finished a late show that night and I get up 11 o'clock in the morning and I go into the rehearsal hall and I'm really you know I caught a cold but it's all nerves didn't have a cold but it's nerves and I had to sing first of all not to Lawrence a very distinguished professional director on Broadway and wonderful credits and credentials was the one that was a final say of who's going to do it. Thank you. So I do the part first as George husband and I walked in and did the speech and then I said he said Would you mind reading for I know you haven't been prepared to read the script. Go outside and get yourself in there. I've had to script the seven days because all the people the producers wanted me to get the part so they would. Know. No one knows I do not because no one's watching the show but you and

write write write and write so and so on. I'm not that's always it. And. I actually got an Emmy for that. I'll be OK. I know about Baden-Powell trust me. So I shall be right that just set me right back. I left the room came right back pulled my hair off had an apron on and had a pot and went back into the room. Second as Albon and I did the lines they all played it I think then the launch got to me and says to me would you mind bringing it up. Ladies and gentlemen for me to bring anything other than how you do is shocking. Could we also and I repeat going to be so up and going to say come down and you won't get the pot because you'll be funny and I love that. I said why don't dance for a living THIS IS IT SO MUCH MONEY Thank God it's a gift. But when he said to me bring it up I was shocked and I said I will try went back and did it again and he said OK thank you. Not Long starts right now you know if I can take direction on the spot

which I did not go but he did and change it like that because he said so and so now I'm up for the part I don't know what you want but I'm going to reach out for other people as we speak and as this is shown I'm going to go back the 1st February and read it we'll see if there's any chemistry between the other guy myself and if I get it fine if I don't get it in the interim I have signed for the national company of Peter Pan playing Capitol thank you very much. God does not Marsat how hotel for make up. But there's a lot of yes I work and I said you know I have an out clause in my contract if I get my cash I can leave the show in two weeks which I hope I do both. But then I have it on out of course because I got up in there for the sixth season so it's nice to make that transition because no one thought I could. Now I got a bad review in the play. Oliver I did Fagan in a critic in Michigan said unfortunately Mr. Taylor comes through the character. I know what that means but Sagan was funny and I did just what they said the way they said never deviated didn't focus very I stuck to the

character and the man obviously didn't see me as fake any sort of tale of being Rip Taylor being funny in a play or what should be in the words of bacon would say I don't know the rules of the theater yet so I said I wrote a letter to the critic I said to Mr. So-and-So I want you know that some filthy word is writing reviews and using your name thank you and called me he was going to kill me was furious he hated my guts How do you how do you do that. I said Of course I haven't got a column to criticize you. That's why I did it to you and now you're furious haha thank you very much. How do you feel about reviews and critics your net was on for that matter a xeroxed. No I don't mind and I wish sometimes they would just say at the end of any review I didn't like it maybe you will go see it and I never do that. They say steaks are good and when people believe them and maybe they're right or not but I wish they wouldn't have that much because it hurts a lot of too much strength. Yeah yeah dorks like the quote

place I quote It's a fact. How you do. Of course that's for sure of that. Here is my very own rabbit in his read today. Don't you think it's going to be a problem for you because you're so recognized for what you do. John Wayne character he was John Wayne dressed up in a cowboy suit or in a you know that's what everybody can happen to be had happened not to be queen of the list but there are actors like he's Lord Levy but he seems to transform cured. You think it's going to be really tough is what I'm asking. Well the reviewer got that same time he did place and we all see him selling everything he sells on the air. Different times. And we don't sell their threat out there that you know bring out a Toyota made a look at a dead rat here.

We don't say that I don't say that but I don't expect that he when he was new and said We'd like to see them do that because you remember them doing that but when they but do it because they forget we have that discipline and it's hard to convince people a lot of people even can produce as I think I guess so confetti for a Datsun that we might have to offer to set the date with whatever this early. Let's zoom right to that red has a new baby no precious child and I don't know father. Figured out that a brand new baby. Yet still a first for you being that's kind of the Son. The the image change I think that's what he's talking about. Well I think Rip Taylor I see you in a commercial or I see you in a bizarre attitude. I want to be now I'm going to see me in a row for you must be humorous but not

bizarre. Now am I not going to trigger thoughts of the retainer I know or am I going to. Get more bizarre because the characters I'm playing so far are bizarre so far. I wonder that I don't mind all that stuff but I mean that maybe there are just more difficult for me to be objective because I see people as they are in their performance. I'm not the average body sitting up there who remembers as you have come across on the tube or. Have difficulty at first. Most of them bring that up everybody brings it up. Everybody is pretty good enough for them to remember that and I don't hate me for doing that got me somewhere. I got to writing children's program. I love kids but I can't bear them.

I don't want that Jacqueline to get. Is going to do. Related 9 Shanks do you value add to that. For instance do you not know how to get you to do you I think I love you I did this I know he's right I mean of course that is a fact because he's almost all the people you know. I had all of these men put me in the right and will just need to all come back to get money. You know I knew someone that could make it quicker to get her GC and I think that's fantastic you know what she had to deliver that to them it is saves time when you can say look don't go here go here and you've got time. I think that's very nice if you're going to get it that way but the market may be doubted you got me there somehow Musharaf she but she has to make that change because we all know her from the girls to be able to go to another one of our shows and that's Vegas. No one though she can talk and can act and can I mean you know if you can sing and dance but to communicate talk that ask her when she comes on the show next.

And that's the point again of just stereotypes and what you guys are saying with this Charles really threaten the boy. We're going to talk and no one cares what has happened in the beginning of the show I was sitting in the center of this almost shouting. Have you noticed the Saddleback Church in a way out by kind of way over did not want to share it with you. We. Looked at it and you just feel like you know as long as you rule you know you know that I'm going to the moon and I don't even know you just well now I did. I did a show called Funny Five three shows a night seven days a week for one year and I went to a funny from after that. And that was hard to do because we had to make the fresh for us not for them for us. We don't care about them going to material is funny but US they go a piece of mine said let's make it work again. Diane Elliott she was a singer and star of the show. She was she's another Carol Burnett but no one knows she can do comedy because she said yes it was for him.

I would. Say I'm telling I'm not yet saying yes we will be right back with maybe not complete without a challenge to Matt and she will that will be right back. I don't know. Hundred. I didn't get it I did wear a bucket of that thing with the Rip Taylor. Hello.

Everybody. Now we interrupted you what you were saying I was just going to say that I was I've been in this town for years and always knew it was your name again until you know it. And I was always kind of a singer. I was lucky enough. To become retainers costar doing all comedy cured you know bizarre cost really where I know you let me hear your world to him. No you don't. Did you like dinner was going. To you. It's all up to the west but. I did a commercial or something and the loud enough. To make it up they may be alone. But you're right Stephanie stop.

When you're talking about some of the other things that you're trying to do whether it's some of the producers have suggested you change your looks would be easy enough to do shave off the moustache. I would I do that if I get a Kaiser poll suggested the others don't care because they brought me because they thought I would sell tickets at this. And with that off so I do with on and off sometimes. I had little I really went a little crazy when I first took it off for some of the station I was afraid no one would know who had it two different people. Looks terrible and it looks terrible I don't care where you no matter how bad they are I have some good ones but I like the bedroom so that we can always make it always just got to see she has five or more around her on her lap. How many do you have. I have a hundred and fifty three serious and there are only a pretty wide that's only different names. Their rights are all lined up in a block. Hello hello hello once parted here here here different call different language different style like yours.

You know you don't have this right. Most people who have hair pieces don't want anybody to know it but now they're just so bad. I heard about you know that people as if you think you've got your gun. Gosh it's open to be right about the man of Bolton at the time. Hello America. Yeah I was there and I read the middle spot or the comedy spot. You really think you're hooked on comedy that was the crying in the handkerchief and that. We're going back to what were the very beginning of the program which had to do with comedy because the Uber to a degree

there is that looking at yourself and crying at your misfortunes and they kind of think where you actually because you don't do that in my nightclub that props first screening and I sit down thing a quiet song and then go into the crying. I do that in the not on television for a series of gags on the idea everything that money is different right. I remembered him so much from from that call me forgot my older crying. In frustration a lot of it was I think they were used to the hats when I was doing or. What about I got another one for you. Restoration is what it is and it works. I just should do anything you want. They could associate because you'd have to do that. So I don't have no respect Rodney of course being one of the classic. Yeah. And furries on jokily and him and his hair.

Or know what you feel that. Oh. I think you need an NFA cation case if I get your name to call me Rip Torn or used coming up to the big an awful lot to that DA 98 Turkey went on the air. Then they stopped on their trip Taylors about that series. Chuck Barris called me one dancing wonder stares at the way you want to do it and you want to fire me. You can do it. He actually did it in the Gong Show John Bob would you tape they just fired him and you did it yourself. He said Oh yeah I was don't you was made you do what you got to do it or I'm going to do what you decide right now but son he sighed and I said OK that's how I got it was that simple. And I was one of those flukes it really worked and it was a whole you know idea that he hated that thang. And they watched it all the way. Three years of that turkey and people today I hated it. I said will be happy it's off the air was enough. Yeah I was only kidding you on that bet

you hated it then mouth. Tell us tell us about the young rich or how I have a new series I forgot to tell you I just got a new one of my thinking about. Rob Andrews has a new series called Caesar's board of Caesar's over there you know the name of the damned Little Caesar's comedy bingo we filmed in Atlantic City at Caesar's Palace I filmed five shows we had film Eight more what am I thinking about this as a bit on the air it goes on the air the end of January. Phyllis Diller myself of the regulars It's called Comedy Bingo. We played bingo and tell jokes and have celebrity guests. The first three guests we had handy on man Mike a marshmallow Michaels and that lovely black girl was on and Jane Kennedy that was a first show and we're going to about fill in the rest of the 13 that's going to be on every week I forgot and I don't know who's sort of a rock band. But all told it's off conversation it's sold. We have people in the audience who play bingo. We can we play bingo for them in the audience and they get it and people at home

play bingo on the game show we had live they don't want to have one of those on here for four years. Well we got it on I don't know how celebrity Daniel another to look after the Catholic Charities certainly would you tell me he's not funny. Would you please I've been asking five times to live another night of Rome apparently would you please tell us a shout out to hear something about your young days of the business. You know how you worked where you worked and finally all of him. Every place I worked this band had starred. I work started at Washington D.C. at the club go back and watch his face as I say these names that I lend to food you're fired. Yes exactly because it was Caracas and then I went to the crossroads of Sam shank and I worked in Baltimore about every I direct the club the bottom of the building with 27 strips and read them. I went up to each trip read one line to live through the summer they were changing clothes or getting ready for the next you would wreck around I want to stand up and the rug would squish

from the champagne that they spilled from the b drinking LR lalala lalala that the regular washes they get back to this date and they'd have destroyed the end of the night see how much I've been drinking. Which was interesting I think. Anyway. No no no. But I saw a body last year about everywhere and I did a record pain in my back and then one day the record broke and I haven't shut up he got me and got me from being killed in the army. I did that in the service and I went right to Korea so I wouldn't miss anything. I did it to get out a guy and he took me to the front to put shows on and the ones who were already there and then after that just was a page in the set and then I got drafted went to Venezuela for two years there with the folks growing up. Then the army then out of the Venezuelan So my father was a company but you know he's there in town now watching the show just a short while. They were watching me now they're killing

myself and Diane and my mother and father die and then and then and then I got booked at Baltimore Jamie Cullum my agent and I started Baltimore in the strip clubs and eventually I got to my first television show which was with Phyllis Diller in the beautiful Phyllis Diller series I played her hairdresser and then I played Dean Martin Barbara. I would always wear brown hair being bald and get a label and then I got Ed Sullivan saw me and then that's how word of mouth goes around and the crying character got me an awful lot of work a lot of work because I knew that never could never know my name but it was a good thing when they cry when they want to cry one cries for help you know to cry cry and I have a home in Las Vegas I have a few home you know you know and I'm going to move to Honolulu at the end of this play and have a place there make that headquarters and go back and forth only for our license. Yeah it's going to be a very interesting year for me. Good travelling in the play.

It's a good year. Yeah yeah doing marvelous marathon Yeah legitimate that's exciting because what about a TV series we're going to do something I would always want to be the next door neighbor who gets the money laughs and gets out. I don't want the responsibility of having the star of the show I really don't and this isn't telling me oh you can't make it. I can make it if I get what I want which is the road company Gail Gordon I want to get the laughs and the money and keep work and let them worry about the billing and the fighting and they'll never forget me though if I'm going to get the laughs in time it got pushed out. That's what I really would like to do. I don't mind headlining in a lounge or which I did for many years that I went became an opening act and now I'm someplace closing when they don't want to pay that much to the other people. I never lied to me we all know what we're going to do what capabilities we have in a park. He's rocking harder and harder for the theater I become a character actor and filled the club. Yeah gotta sacrifice a little when you do a Broadway show. It's like for a lot of loot Yeah a lot is worth it.

Yes well that's another medium and and you hope maybe you get and then take another look at second next door neighbor park. That's right and you could only get it from like you know your dad sailing. But I've been doing that Klavan How long has it gotten up and help the building as well. They can produce you on the stage of a club and say just completing a buffalo performance probably I don't think I have a bit of difference so they don't know that the same type of people in the audience say I said it with I'm not the same type you know Gail but you know I just really care but I felt that I think that's I think what an accomplishment for you know really really I mean to differentiate from what you've done for all these years and go into a sort of dramatic part. Yeah but they I think that's going to push you your present as well as I talk with you well well because you're so easily kept that everything that you are Charlie is a tough thing to do. You know when you walk in with a new medium you get a little shaky in their hands and it's something that you've never done. What I joke with when I first did it in New York on Broadway the legitimate actors who made a dollar fifty a month goodbye. So we have to say goodbye because it's a wonderful man. Rich I look good in that.

I've had good. Luck.