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March 06, 2004

Steer clear of pidgeon holes

When Girl-E was growing up, there were three movies that she would watch every single time they were on TV. They weren't the best movies ever, but somehow they had a special place in her after school/at home sick/weekend heart. Those movies are His Girl Friday with Rosalind Russel and Cary Grant, Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson, and Just one of the Guys with no one anyone knows except for William Zabka. Ok, a few people know Arye Gross and Billy Jacoby. Anyway, as if the world were governed by a unifying pattern, while she was lying on the couch today dog sick with a cold, what should come on TV but Just One of the Guys. Having not seen it in at least a few years, she was understandably excited.

If you haven't seen the movie, whatever, really don't worry about it. It's an 80s high school movie where a girl dresses up like a guy to prove a point, blah blah. And of course, William Zabka plays the big jerk bully popular guy who gets his in the end. And we were thinking, William Zabka's life must suck. He made his big jerk bully debut in Karate Kid and its sequels, then he gets his next break as big jerk bully in Just One of the Guys, then he graduates to the college big jerk bully, with slightly longer hair now, in Back To School. We decided to see what Bill's been doing since then, and he's actually been in a lot of movies -- ridiculous, straight-to-video movies with titles like "Shootfighter" and "Hyper Sonic". One day you're the world's most famous big jerk bully, the next day you're pushing 30 and there are no more bully roles. And no one will hire you as, gasp, a sidekick or romantic lead, because who would want that big jerk bully William Zabka as a sidekick?

Anyway, the point is, diversification is key. Don't let yourself be known as "the guy who always dresses like he thinks he's a professional basketball player," or "the girl who only drinks pinot noir, and will sleep with anyone." Because you'll never break out of it, man. Mix it up.

Posted by The Twins at March 6, 2004 04:43 PM

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Comments

Already postponed recording until next Sunday, because I think it would be a disaster. I feel bad though.

Posted by: EV at March 6, 2004 05:19 PM

What if I'm the girl who drinks like a professional basketball player, and dresses like I'll sleep with anyone?

I hope your cold is gone by tomorrow. Do you think you'll be able to record?

Posted by: nikita at March 6, 2004 05:19 PM

You know William Zabka was nominated for an Oscar this year, right? In one of the 'Live Action Short Film' Categories...

Posted by: Dr tizzed at March 8, 2004 08:33 AM

Get out! I guess I wasn't watching closely enough. Well, then forget everything I said. Although not really.

Posted by: EV at March 8, 2004 09:35 AM

Didn't Joyce Hyser star in "Just One of the Guys"? And wasn't she, briefly, Bruce Springsteen's girlfriend (c. "The River")?

And what IMPORTANT information have I forgotten or never learned so that tidbits like that could have a place of honor in my brain cells?

Feel better.

Posted by: Lex at March 8, 2004 02:49 PM

Sure, it was Joyce Hyser, but only people like you or me have any idea who she is so I didn't waste energy on it. She made a cute boy.

Posted by: EV at March 8, 2004 02:53 PM

i watched that too this weekend!
we are nerds.

Posted by: snowy at March 8, 2004 04:37 PM

I have actually corresponded with Billy Zabka through e-mail and he is a really great guy. Very nice and the straight to video movies he did weren't bad. He did get nominated for an Oscar for a short Film "Most". Check out the link he sent me:
www.mostthemovie.com

It will be available to purchase on the site sometime in the future. He still looks great. He did get labeled as a bully but he is anything but that. He really is a nice guy and I would love to see him in some more high profile movies.

Posted by: Sandi at March 19, 2004 11:48 PM

Oh I don't doubt it for a second-- the tragedy of the pidgeon hole is that it is always almost the opposite of the real person. Like the guy who plays Bulldog on Frasier, or Paul McCrane.

Posted by: EV at March 20, 2004 10:47 AM

Where I can write to William Zabka??

Posted by: mczaphie at May 13, 2004 01:45 PM

hi,
i talked with Billy Zabka to on e-mail and it's very true he is a really nice guy. he told me that he's doing a new film called sportfishing it's a comedy about dating. and that they might film scenes in martha's vinyard.

vanna

Posted by: vanna at November 1, 2004 12:53 PM