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Ellie's Eden Announcer
Ellie's Eden was created from the same belief that started as your standard families should have access to good food and healthy living. Named after the founder's granddaughter, Ellie's Eden reflects commitment to strong, healthy plant starts. Grown with care in Oregon, these are carefully selected varieties chosen for gardeners who value quality, vitality and dependable growth. From trusted seeds to thriving plant starts, Ellie's Eden helps you plant with confidence and grow something meaningful. Explore ellie's Eden@azurestandard.com Planning for your children's future is a wonderful adventure. Just when you think you have it all figured out, time for school, it all changes. With Washington's get prepaid tuition plan, you
Corbin Bernsen
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Jeff Zito
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Corbin Bernsen
You ready?
Ellie's Eden Announcer
We're ready.
Jeff Zito
Learn more about WA529 and get at 529.wa.gov foreign. Thanks for checking out another episode of the Celebrity Jobber Podcast. I'm Jeff Zito, currently number three on the Apple Podcast music interviews chart. So thank you so much for listening. We're streaming everywhere, whether it's Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you listen to podcasts. And please subscribe. Hit that subscribe button when you would love a five star rating. And if you could leave a review, you can go back in time. Check out all of our past guests and episodes simply by going to celebrityjobber.com, you know, try to figure out who these people were a little bit before fame, what they did for a living, if they were always doing what they were famous for, or maybe they were in a completely different field altogether. We'll find out what their big break was, the moment that changed everything for, for them in their career. And you know, everybody's had a first job, so we like to find out what that was. Because when thinking about it, you would think that there's, there's one particular first job in mind, but there's not. It's like a few different jobs. Like if you asked me what my very first job was, I'd say newspaper route. But then do you really consider that a job? I mean, it was because I was making a few bucks every week. It was cash, no paycheck. But as I got a little older, I got into high school, was 15 or 16 years old. I got a job at a dinner theater. And then after that I worked in the cart barn of an exclusive golf course cleaning clubs for members. So, you know, when you ask somebody what their very first job was, generally they give you a list of A few different ones like I just gave you right there. But we're not talking about me today, thank God. My life's definitely not as interesting. Not to mention I'm not a celebrity or famous, but Corbin Bernson is. You know him from the soap opera Ryan's Hope or L A Law. Of course. He played the role of Roger Dorn in the movie Major League and the few sequels the Major League franchise had after that with Charlie Sheen and Tom Behringer. I would love to see those guys get back together again. So a few things I didn't know about Corbin Burnson before I started talking to him. He's in a new movie which is currently in theaters and I believe being released digitally today. It's called the Yeti. And we'll talk a little bit about his family, what they did for a living, Corbin's big break, his first job, all that stuff. He played the role of Roger Dorn in the movie Major League. His name is Corbin Bernson. He's my guest this week on Celebrity Jobber, the Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Zito. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, give a five star rating, and leave a review. Check out all our past episodes on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you pod. What if these celebrities weren't famous? What would they have become?
Corbin Bernsen
What was their first job?
Jeff Zito
We're about to find out. Good morning, Corbin. How are you?
Corbin Bernsen
Are you related to Andy Zito?
Jeff Zito
I don't think so, but the older I get, the more Z does kind of seem to be popping up here. The horse trainer. Not. Not related to the pitcher from the A's, not related to. So, but maybe somewhere down the line. Right, here's a. Here's a funny thing, Corbin. I had no idea I've known you forever. Not personally, but I. Roger dorn, Ryan's Hope, L.A. law. Never knew your mom was Kay Chancellor. I watched the Young and the Restless from the time I was a little kid with my mom, so I had no idea that was your mom.
Corbin Bernsen
Yeah, she was. God bless her. I miss her. Yeah, she was a wonderful, wonderful lady. Somebody's as funny as you get older. And I'm 71 now. There are just times in your life you want. You just want your mother around. What? You just want. You want a question or two, you just want to share something. I want to share the ups, share the. Share the fears. And you. You lose that. And you know, I've been married to a wonderful woman. Amanda pays for 37 years. It's not the same, though. Just not even though she's a wonderful mother to our kids. Yeah, just times I just want to. Especially this wacky world of acting, this profession I've chosen, you know, you just want to. She's the one who urged me to train myself or get trained if I want to be an actor. Don't just do it for the money and the girls and the cars and the flash and all that bling. Do it because. Train and you'll learn to really love what you do. You love the craft. And. Yeah, there is so many things I like that I do now that she'll never get to know or see or maybe, I don't know.
Jeff Zito
Any. Any advice you can give people who are at that stage in life that are thinking about their parents every day and losing them because they're. They're getting up. Me, I've got my dad's 90. Any advice that you can give to. To people who are in that stage?
Corbin Bernsen
Well, there's an obvious one, and I think a lot of people have this regret. You know, there were times before it all, and it went rather quickly when it went. So you kind of can't make up for it. But, you know, you just read, did I call enough? Did I check in enough? Did I. You know, even with my own kids, it's like, you know, and they're pretty good about checking in, but, you know, I know now how much I love it when they call, hey, dad, just want to say hi. I don't need. I don't need advice. I don't need to even share anything. Just want to say hi and hear your voice. Yeah. And, you know, there's. Sometimes I think, gosh, did I do that at the end? Be there. Because you can't imagine what this stage of life is like when you're younger. You can't. When you're. When you're. When your days become less than more. Um. And, you know, it's not necessarily fear. It's just. It's the winding down and. And, you know, kids don't. You just don't get that. You don't. You can't possibly understand it. And it is a time where you want to sort of connect with family. And so I just say, be there for them. Doesn't mean you have to go every day. You know, I've hear people go see their mother call every day. Just stay in touch and do it with. Just checking in on how you doing. Right anything.
Jeff Zito
Right on.
Corbin Bernsen
Anything you want to share with me, you know?
Jeff Zito
Right on. Yeah, it's. That's it's, it's life and it sucks all the way back. I mean, obviously, now that I know that your mother was a very famous actress, this has been the norm for you. You started when you were just a kid. You don't know anything else other than this, do you? Corbin, have you ever had a job outside of show business?
Ellie's Eden Announcer
Celebrity jobber Ellie's Eden was created from the same belief that started as your standard family should have access to good food and healthy living. Named after the founder's granddaughter, Ellie's Eden reflects commitment to strong, healthy plant starts. Grown with care in Oregon, these are carefully selected varieties chosen for gardeners who value quality, vitality and dependable growth. From trusted seeds to thriving plant starts, Ellie's Eden helps you plant with confidence and grow something meaningful. Explore Ellie's eden@azure standard.com the Celebrity Jobber
Jeff Zito
podcast with Jeff Zito Corbin, have you ever had a job outside of show business?
Corbin Bernsen
Oh, yeah. I mean I used to frame houses. I was a printer. I was a. That's how I put myself through college. I framed. I do know construction very well. My wife and I flip homes, build homes. We were very much into house building. You know, I have other interests, obviously, but I did work as a carpenter. I still do. I mean I still, I've got. My wife said the other day, because I have a garage full of tools and I've even updated. I've gone from, you know, corded tools to wireless to, you know, and battery operated and you know, she said, when are you going to get rid of tools? I go, no, I'm a carpenter. I might, you take them and do something when I'm gone. But my tools stay with me.
Jeff Zito
So what was your very first job? Do you remember? I think it was on state. Was it on stage or. But your very first paying job in your whole life was when you were very young, right?
Corbin Bernsen
Well, now. Interesting. My. Really my. You want to know my first first.
Jeff Zito
I want to know your first job. Yes.
Corbin Bernsen
When I was a kid, I got this little electric cart. My mother bought me a little thing but you had to charge it. Then you could drive like 20 minutes on it was a little electric car, a plug in little other kids had go karts, gas go karts. I guess I had this little kind of electric car. I lived about a half a mile from a bus stop where people changed buses. It was a transfer bus stop. You had to get off one to go to the next place or all the other places. And I decided in the days of when we did lemonade Stands as kids that like, no, I'm going to kit up my little electric car. I'm going to take refreshments to this bus stop. And I used to park myself there. I'd make like 100 bucks a day.
Jeff Zito
You're kidding me.
Corbin Bernsen
I made like 100. But that's. Then. That's 1965 or so. I'd make sometimes up to 100 bucks a day by just taking Coca Cola drinks. Young charging. I'd get them for whatever it was in 30 cents or some probably charged a buck. And I would. My mother would bring refills to the plate so much so the police actually kind of stopped me and I, you know, I was just doing too much business. And they were saying, you got to get a business license. And we're not sure you should even be doing this. You're like 11, you know.
Jeff Zito
Wow.
Corbin Bernsen
I was very entrepreneurial in those days. That was my very first job. Then my first acting gig was even. It says on IMDb and all that. That was in Clam Bake with Elvis. I was a baby. I think I was visiting the set or something. I'm not.
Jeff Zito
Okay, okay, happen.
Corbin Bernsen
But one of my first jobs was, my first job really acting that didn't involve my parents because they were in the business or people they knew is. I did an episode of Police Story.
Jeff Zito
Okay.
Corbin Bernsen
Series. It was on. And then I did a Police Woman, which was kind of part of the same family.
Jeff Zito
That was it.
Corbin Bernsen
First professional gigs. Yeah.
Jeff Zito
Wow. Tell. Tell me, was there a moment that really changed everything for you? Was it a gradual kind of grind until, you know, you got LA Law?
Corbin Bernsen
That was, you know, overnight that.
Jeff Zito
Overnight, Yeah.
Corbin Bernsen
I mean, practically considering we. I was nothing. I hadn't shot anything. I. We shot the first day. The second day, they said the director, Greg Hobbit, wonderful director, came up and just said, keep doing what you're doing. It's great. And the next thing I know, I'm nominated for an Emmy and I'm like, really? Me? My squeaky little voice isn't even that good. And Steven Bochko said, you're going to get nominated. You'll see. And from there, everything kind of just popped, you know, It's a funny business. You know, when you. When you're hot, the streak is good. It just begets other stuff. And when your streak ends, you gotta go back and grind it back out. Right? And by the way, for everybody, save for maybe Tom Cruise, I don't know. You know, Kevin Costner was a massive actor and then he goes on TV and he's trying something else in a film that doesn't quite work. And then he, you know, you. There's. For everybody, there's ups and downs, literally. But, you know, it's, it's, it's, it's working through those down periods, just staying in the game. I mean, if you're a sports person, you know, and you're in a slump, they'll, you know, a lot of people just keep you in the game. They won't take you out. You know, the, the only way to get out of a slump is stay in the game and get that next hit, you know?
Jeff Zito
Right. And Corbin, I mean, we're talking LA laws in the 80s. So any time between college and LA Law, you're thinking to yourself, man, I don't know. I don't, you know, maybe I should try something else. Any, Any thoughts?
Corbin Bernsen
No, no. You know, when I. My parents were both in business, my father was an agent, became a producer, not very successful. Good man. Taught me a lot of things. My mother was a soap opera actress, had ideas of a bigger career, but sort of need to support the family and work, and she does so for almost 40 years, right up to a couple weeks before she passed. And there was a time I went like, I don't want you. You know, we'd have cars and nice fancy cars, and they'd be repossessed the next week. And then, you know, we had money, we'd take a nice fancy trip. Then it was like, you know, go get a job doing something because we can't pay for stuff. And I thought, I don't want anything to do with that. So that period you're talking about, I didn't want anything to do with it. I. I didn't want to be in the business. I had friends whose parents were doctors and lawyers, and I, I didn't want anything to do until I actually did a little part. And then I kind of got a piece of it. And my mother said, go train. I went to ucla. I learned the craft, appreciated it, and that point, it didn't really matter, the ups. And, I mean, I, I still get periods of like, you know, I'm 71 now. It's like, you know, what, what, what's my, what's my next step? Although it seems to be revealing itself day by day, but, but it doesn't matter because I so love what I do. You know, if I'm acting in a community theater or a big film or an independent film like the Yeti, I'm happy.
Jeff Zito
I'm the Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff
Ellie's Eden Announcer
Szeto Eliezed was created from the same belief that started as your standard family should have access to good food and healthy living. Named after the founder's granddaughter, Elly's Eden reflects commitment to strong, healthy plant starts. Grown with care in Oregon, these are carefully selected varieties chosen for gardeners who value quality, vitality and dependable growth. From trusted seeds to thriving plant starts, Ellie's Eden helps you plant with confidence and grow something meaningful. Explore ellie's eden@azurestandard.com the Celebrity Jobber podcast
Jeff Zito
with Jeff, Zita and Corbin. Tell me about the yeti, because this is your. Your step. And this thing I saw the trailer which reminded me of like the old werewolf is. Is the yeti Bigfoot, because, you know, there's a.
Corbin Bernsen
There's a big. It's a. It's that mythical creature. Yeah. I mean, it's been called Bigfoot, the yeti, the Abominable snowman, all that. And that. That doesn't matter as much as there is a creature out there that summons our fears. And at the same time, the thing I love about this, this film is that it, in a way that Rod Serling did with Twilight Zone, it's not so much about seeing the monster being scared, the monster popping out of the dark. It is about the psychological terror and horror that the people go through knowing that something's out there, something's lurking out there, and. And is there, or they happen to be in its path because of their own, you know, greed and their own screwing around with nature. And. And that, to me, is the bigger, bigger picture here. And that's why it's. It's not a horror film in that young, three teenage girls go into the woods and get slashed up. It's not that kind of a horror film. More of a psychological thriller horror about man and who we are and what, you know, the horro that we create in our own lives, which I think we can look all around and see it happening as we speak today. Sometimes, you know, you look at those pictures of Artemis and you see. And go, like, what are we doing? That little down there that I'm looking over at the news there and rockets are blowing up all this stuff and thinking, like, what are we doing? Doing? It's funny, there hasn't been that much of a connection between these two events, but like, you know, or nobody on any like. Or does anybody in any of these countries go, wait a minute. Ridiculous, you know, but that's what we do. That's. Man, that's man, that's us. We are the horror.
Jeff Zito
You know, is this a. Is this the kind of genre that you appreciate, Corbin?
Corbin Bernsen
I do. I really do, because, look, I'll go watch a good. Not slasher so much, but horror picture, you know, stuff popping out of the dark and. But I always am more drawn when it's. Has some. At least some element of human nature that we're exploring, you know? Yeah. I mean, even if you want to go the classic slashery kind of movies, it's always the Virgin, the girl that doesn't, you know, that doesn't get killed, the Neve Campbell, you know, and even in that, when it's done properly, it does say something about the person that holds a moral, you know, a moral compass that doesn't get taken out. It's always the bad ones, the bad kids. That's sort of a light version of it. But the darker stuff, our fears and. And the things we uncover for greed and the. You know, the. The nature that we mess with is far more interesting to me. Yeah, I love anything that has that stuff. Like I said, I was a huge Rod Serling fan and the Yeti, correct
Jeff Zito
me if I'm wrong. I was in theaters starting on the 4th, and now a digital release coming on April 10th. Is that correct?
Corbin Bernsen
And if you're so lucky tonight, if you're gonna head to a amc, check AMC theaters. It is playing on a big screen, and believe me, it looks wonderful on a big screen.
Jeff Zito
I bet, I bet. I mean, it reminds me of the old school Wolfman, a horror kind of, and it's something I. I haven't seen lately. And Bigfoot, Yeti still gets a lot of attention from a lot of people. They still think it's. You believe in it, you think. You think it's real.
Corbin Bernsen
Sure. It was funny. I was looking at it with all this stuff going on. I was looking again at the whole thing comes up. I don't know for. So all these feeds come in about like, did we really land on the moon?
Jeff Zito
Right.
Corbin Bernsen
Did. Who shot jfk? There are these unsolved mysteries. Um, I like to think, sure, why not? I don't. I don't need to say it did or it didn't or it exists or it doesn't. You know, I'm the older I get. I'm very happy to live in the unknown.
Jeff Zito
Right, sure. And I would be remiss if I didn't ask you. Major League the Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito.
Ellie's Eden Announcer
Ellie Zeden was created from the same belief that started as Your standard family should have access to good food and healthy living. Named after the founder's granddaughter, Ellie's Eden reflects commitment to strong, healthy plant starts. Grown with care in Oregon, these are carefully selected varieties chosen for gardeners who value quality, vitality and dependable growth. From trusted seeds to thriving plant starts, Ellie's Eden helps you plant with confidence and grow something meaningful. Explore Ellie's eden@azure standard.com Celebrity Jobber and
Jeff Zito
I would be remiss if I didn't ask you. Major league, right? I mean, I mean, just one of my. That's one of mine. Okay. I'm big sports fan, brother in law, played pro baseball. My son college baseball, and I know Roger Dorn made a return as the manager. Is there any talks, any way you could shut a guy like me up? The next stage, the next level. Is there ever talks between some of the guys about maybe, Maybe.
Corbin Bernsen
What would that mean? I mean, what would it mean? You know, we're gonna be players. All of us would have to be retired. I mean, look at Stallone.
Jeff Zito
He's figured it out.
Corbin Bernsen
There's a way to figure it out. I have an idea. There is a thing that I want to do with Tom and Charlie. It's not part of the franchise, but makes you think about it a bit. It's a baseball zombie movie.
Jeff Zito
Okay, that's not what I was thinking,
Corbin Bernsen
but no, of course he's not. That's good because I like with Rod Sterling out there. I have some ideas, I have some designs. You know, I'm 71. There's like, I've narrowed down my. You know, people have bucket lists where they want to go. I have bucket lists of what I still want to make. And I think there's a value to Tom, Charlie and I get back together for something in the genre. Great. But will it be major league? Yeah, that's out of our control. So. But the three of us, certainly given each of our kind of character qualities, if you will, that were in Major League, that could be transferred to another film.
Jeff Zito
You said bucket list. Can you give me one? Is there one thing that you're like, I just got to do this. I got to work with this guy. I got to make this movie. What is that bucket list thing?
Corbin Bernsen
I've got several projects. One is a play called Public Executions about the first live televised public executions for profit. My baseball movie, Zombie Baseball Movie is one. And I'm actually working on a series that I actually funded, a pilot called Woodstockers about two guys who went to Woodstock and never left. Sort of A dark comedy drama and you'll be hopefully hearing more about that in the next year.
Jeff Zito
I really thought you were kidding about the zombie baseball movie, but he's dead serious, pardon the pun. The Yeti, it's going to be in theater. It's in theaters now being released digitally on April 10th. And it definitely looks like something that I haven't seen in a long time. Any kind of these horror genre type of films. This is, I mean Bigfoot is, is, is hot right now. So the Yeti, Corbin Burns. And it's been an absolute pleasure getting to know you a little bit and thanks so much for, for taking the time. I do appreciate it.
Corbin Bernsen
We'll leave you with this. The Yeti is real great.
Jeff Zito
And I'll leave you with this. Don't give me any of that Olay. Darn, that's a little outside. You know, I wish I thought about it a little more before I threw the idea about, you know, Tom Behringer, Charlie Sheen and Corbin getting into another major league type of thing and kind of put me on the spot. But you know, if I just thought about it a little while longer, maybe you could have like Tom Behringer, he was the catcher in Major League. Maybe he's the manager. And Charlie Sheen, Wild Thing, Ricky Vaughn, he's the pitching coach and then maybe Roger Dorn, Corbin Burnson loses all his money in a bad stock deal or something and he's a scout. I, I have the whole movie right now. I should have friggin thought about it a little bit before I pitched to the idea. But there's a real idea from Corbin Burns and with those guys from Major League and it's some kind of zombie baseball movie. I thought he was just joking around, but he's not. He actually has this idea that he wants to do with Tom Beringer and Charlie Sheen. So I had no idea that Corbin Bernson's mother played the role of Kay Chancellor in the soap opera the Young and the Restless. That's been something I've watched since I was a little kid. So Corbin Burnson's mom, her name is Jean Cooper, so she was an actress in a soap opera. And his father, I believe, produced soap operas and was also an agent. But Corbin said something very interesting in there, that they weren't very successful. Like at times they would go on fancy trips or have fancy cars and then, you know, a week or two later the car would be repoed or they'd get back from their nice trip and. And then they were broke. It didn't Seem like he had a real privileged upbringing, even though his mom was kind of a famous soap opera actress. I'm not too familiar with the world of acting, but I assume that actors and actresses on soap operas generally don't get paid the same as being on a regular TV series that's famous or. Or movies. So it seemed like he, you know, I don't want to say struggled growing up, but definitely not born with a s spoon in his mouth. He went to ucla, so, you know, showbiz was in his family. He wanted to do that from an early age. That was it. That's what Corbin wanted to do. But before he was famous and in movies, he mentioned that he framed houses. I thought that was very interesting. He was a carpenter and a framer, and so he was big time in construction and still has some ties to that this day. Him and his wife mentioned flipping houses and stuff like that. And he also mentioned his first job being a paper route. And then also, like a lot of people, they talk about lemonade stands. Corbin had some kind of little electric cart when he was younger and he would, you know, fill it up with, you know, cooler full of sodas and go to some bus stop, which was like in the city, a transfer kind of bus stop. Constantly people getting on and off the bus and he would sell like sodas to these people. And he's talking about 1965 and how sometimes he would make up to like 100 bucks a day, which I thought was pretty amazing. So the cops finally started busting his balls about getting a business license. So they ended up shutting him down. You know, he talked about his big break actually being LA Law. You know, he kind of went from virtually unknown to a big star overnight. Changed his life. New movie being released digitally. It's called the Yeti. And if you haven't seen the trailer yet, just kind of looks like an old school werewolf movie. And being released digitally today on Amazon prime, the Yeti looks like. Looks like a lot of fun if you're into the horror genre. Well, thank you so much for checking out another episode of the Celebrity Jobber podcast. Again, number three this week on Apple Podcasts Music interviews chart. Thank you so much. Don't forget, we're streaming everywhere, so please hit that subscribe button, whether it's on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Iheart, wherever you listen, listen to podcasts, subscribe would love that five star rating. And if you could please leave a review celebrityjobber.com if you want to go back, check out some of the past guests and episodes. A lot of a listers man, and almost 190 episodes into this. So if you're just starting to listen today, you can go back and check out tons and tons of celebs from the past almost four years and also follow us us on YouTube.com the celebrity jobber, Instagram, Celebrity Underscore, Jobber Podcast, and Celebrity Jobber on Substack. Some bonus content, some video can be available on Substack in the very near future, so you're going to want to subscribe to Substack. Who knows what would have happened to these celebrities if fame wasn't enough? Their big break never happened. Who knows, maybe Corbin Bernson would be at a construction site putting a roof on your house. You never know. So thanks again for checking out another episode of the Celebrity Jobber Podcast. And until next week, we'll see you then. I'm Jeff Zito.
Ellie's Eden Announcer
Ellie Zeden was created from the same belief that started as your standard family should have access to good food and healthy living. Named after the founder's granddaughter, Ellie's Eden reflects commitment to strong, healthy plant starts. Grown with care in Oregon, these are carefully selected varieties chosen for gardeners who value quality, vitality and dependable growth. From trusted seeds to thriving plant starts, Ellie's Eden helps you plant with confidence and grow something meaningful. Explore ellie's eden@azurestandard.com this message is brought
Jeff Zito
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Jeff Zito welcomes acclaimed actor Corbin Bernsen (famed for “L.A. Law,” “Major League,” and “Ryan’s Hope”) to discuss his earliest jobs, upbringing in a showbiz family, navigating fame, and his latest film, “The Yeti.” They explore what Bernsen’s life might have looked like without that big break, and the enduring influence of his parents—especially his mother, actress Jeanne Cooper.
Family Background
Corbin’s mother, Jeanne Cooper, was the famed soap opera star Kay Chancellor on “The Young and the Restless.”
His father was an agent and later a producer, but not a highly successful one.
Quote:
“My mother was a soap opera actress, had ideas of a bigger career, but sort of needed to support the family and work... right up to a couple weeks before she passed.” – Corbin Bernsen (14:20)
Reflections on Loss and Parental Advice
Corbin shares about missing his mother and the guidance she gave him, particularly emphasizing training for one’s craft rather than chasing superficial rewards:
Quote:
“She’s the one who urged me to train myself or get trained if I want to be an actor. Don’t just do it for the money and the girls and the cars and the flash…you learn to really love what you do.” – Corbin Bernsen (04:48)
On staying connected with aging parents:
Quote:
“Be there for them. Doesn’t mean you have to go every day... Just stay in touch… sometimes I think, gosh, did I do that at the end?” – Corbin Bernsen (06:14)
Construction and Carpentry
Corbin put himself through college working various jobs, notably as a house framer and carpenter, skills he still uses today while flipping and building homes with his wife.
Quote:
“That’s how I put myself through college. I framed. I do know construction very well…my tools stay with me." – Corbin Bernsen (08:47)
Entrepreneurial Childhood
His very first “job” was running a makeshift refreshments stand using a little electric car at a bus transfer stop. He sometimes made up to $100/day in the 1960s before being stopped by police for lack of a business license.
Quote:
“I’d make sometimes up to 100 bucks a day by just taking Coca Cola drinks... so much so the police actually kind of stopped me…they were saying, you gotta get a business license. And we’re not sure you should even be doing this—you’re like 11, you know.” – Corbin Bernsen (10:03)
First Acting Gigs
First professional acting work on TV in “Police Story” and “Police Woman.” Prior on-set exposures were family-related.
Quote:
“My first job really acting that didn’t involve my parents… I did an episode of Police Story…then Police Woman…” – Corbin Bernsen (11:46)
The “Overnight” Break: L.A. Law
“L.A. Law” changed everything almost instantly. He describes how the work went from obscurity to Emmy-nominated recognition:
Quote:
“We shot the first day. The second day…the director…came up and just said, keep doing what you’re doing. It’s great. And the next thing I know, I’m nominated for an Emmy…I was nothing before.” – Corbin Bernsen (12:27)
On the nature of acting careers:
Quote:
“For everybody, there’s ups and downs, literally… when your streak ends, you gotta go back and grind it back out…The only way to get out of a slump is stay in the game and get that next hit.” – Corbin Bernsen (13:27)
Despite hitting bumps, he remains passionate about acting in any capacity:
“If I’m acting in a community theater or a big film or an independent film like ‘The Yeti,’ I’m happy.” (15:31)
About “The Yeti”
The film leans more on psychological horror than creature scares, echoing influences like Rod Serling’s “Twilight Zone.”
The story explores humans’ internal fears, greed, and their relationships with nature.
Quote:
“It is about the psychological terror and horror that the people go through knowing that something’s out there, something’s lurking… is there, or they happen to be in its path because of their own, you know, greed and their own screwing around with nature.” – Corbin Bernsen (16:37)
Quote:
“We are the horror.” – Corbin Bernsen (17:45)
Corbin enjoys horror with meaningful themes about human nature rather than just “slasher” films.
“The Yeti” premiered in theaters April 4 and was released digitally April 10 (19:43).
Quote:
“If you’re so lucky… check AMC theaters. It is playing on a big screen, and believe me, it looks wonderful on a big screen.” – Corbin Bernsen (19:51)
Belief in the Unknown
Corbin is open to the mystery of legends like the Yeti or unexplained phenomena:
Quote:
“I like to think, sure, why not? I don’t need to say it did or it didn’t… I’m very happy to live in the unknown.” – Corbin Bernsen (20:33)
Corbin discusses whether the cast might ever reunite, and jokes about possible future scenarios (including a “baseball zombie movie” with Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen):
Quote:
“I have an idea…It’s a baseball zombie movie.” – Corbin Bernsen (22:18)
On his creative “bucket list”:
Quote:
“I have bucket lists of what I still want to make…Great. But will it be major league? That’s out of our control…But certainly, the three of us, given our kind of character qualities…could be transferred to another film.” – Corbin Bernsen (23:12)
On the Transition to Acting:
“I didn’t want anything to do with it…until I actually did a little part. And then I kind of got a piece of it.” – Corbin Bernsen (14:40)
On Mortality and Staying Close:
“When your days become less than more…it is a time where you want to sort of connect with family.” – Corbin Bernsen (06:14)
On the Realities of Showbiz Childhood:
“We’d have cars and nice fancy cars, and they’d be repossessed the next week…Then it was like, you know, go get a job doing something because we can’t pay for stuff. And I thought, I don’t want anything to do with that.” – Corbin Bernsen (14:10)
Final Thought on The Yeti:
“The Yeti is real." – Corbin Bernsen (24:29)
For listeners who have not heard the episode, this summary captures the personal and professional insights from Corbin Bernsen’s journey, his philosophies on life and creativity, and his contributions to both entertainment and outside endeavors.