"takin ' a walk" introduces you to "The Celebrity Jobber Podcast"

Summary

Podcast Summary: "takin' a walk" - Introduction to "The Celebrity Jobber Podcast" Featuring Anthony Michael Hall

Introduction

In this episode of "takin' a walk," hosted by Buzz Knight from iHeartPodcasts, listeners are introduced to another captivating podcast, "The Celebrity Jobber Podcast." Buzz Knight takes a moment to highlight the achievements of Jeff Zito, the host of "Celebrity Jobber," and sets the stage for an engaging discussion featuring the renowned actor Anthony Michael Hall.

Promotion of "The Celebrity Jobber Podcast"

Buzz Knight begins by expressing his admiration for Jeff Zito, describing him as a "dear friend" with one of Apple's most successful podcasts, "Celebrity Jobber." He invites listeners to explore Jeff's latest episode, which features Anthony Michael Hall, a celebrated member of Hollywood's Brat Pack known for iconic films like Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, and The Breakfast Club. Buzz emphasizes Anthony's extensive career, including his tenure on Saturday Night Live, and encourages listeners to delve into Anthony's journey on Jeff Zito's platform.

Overview of the Interview with Anthony Michael Hall

The core of the episode features an insightful conversation between Jeff Zito and Anthony Michael Hall. Beginning at the [02:25] mark, Jeff initiates the discussion by probing into Anthony's early life and acting career, seeking to uncover what Anthony's life was like before fame took hold.

Key Discussions and Insights

1. Early Career and First Jobs ([03:31] - [05:04])

   • Anthony Michael Hall shares that his first acting job was portraying a young Steve Allen in a play called The Wake at just eight years old. This early exposure to acting set the foundation for his enduring career in the entertainment industry.
   • He reflects on the influence of his mother, a jazz and blues singer, who fostered his creative talents from a young age. Activities like studying drawing, taking music lessons, and playing the drums were instrumental in shaping his artistic abilities.

2. Transition to Producing and Current Projects ([06:03] - [09:22])

   • Anthony discusses his role as a producer for Roswell Delirium, highlighting the collaboration with writer-director Rick Bakewell. He expresses pride in working with a talented cast, including notable actors like Dee Wallace Stone and Sam Jones.
   • He elaborates on his desire to expand his skills beyond acting into directing, aiming to develop multiple projects through his company, Manhattan Films. This ambition underscores his commitment to fostering new talent and creating diverse content.

3. Personal Life and Inspirations ([08:14] - [10:38])

   • Balancing his professional life, Anthony speaks fondly of his family, particularly his relationship with his wife and their young son. He describes the joy and fresh perspectives his son brings to his life, emphasizing the importance of family amidst a demanding career.
   • Reflecting on his early influences, Anthony credits industry giants like John Hughes, Harold Ramis, and Mattie Simmons for recognizing his potential and providing opportunities that catalyzed his career.

4. Challenges and Persistence in the Industry ([12:09] - [14:06])

   • Addressing the hardships of the acting profession, Anthony acknowledges the frequent rejections and stresses the necessity of resilience and determination. He emphasizes that building a successful career requires persistent effort and the ability to develop good habits.
   • He shares valuable lessons learned from decades in the industry, highlighting the importance of a "tough skin" and unwavering dedication to one's craft.

5. Future Aspirations and Collaborations ([14:22] - [15:30])

   • While Anthony dismisses the idea of transitioning to stand-up comedy, he reveals an upcoming collaboration with comedian Bill Burr on a film slated for release later in the year. This project underscores his ongoing commitment to exploring diverse roles and creative partnerships.

Notable Quotes

• Anthony Michael Hall on Viewing Midlife as a Challenge:
  "I wouldn't treat it as a crisis, first of all... you'd have to keep rocking and rolling. You're still a young man." ([03:08])

• On Early Influences and Career Beginnings:
  "I was really exposed because of my mother's life and career to a lot as a result of that." ([04:30])

• On the Importance of Persistence:
  "You have to deal with a lot of rejection. You have to be sort of built for that." ([13:08])

• Reflecting on Long-Term Career Sustainability:
  "The gift in itself is to have the longevity and to be still doing it. I'm grateful to God." ([14:06])

Conclusion

Buzz Knight wraps up the episode by reiterating his appreciation for Anthony Michael Hall's participation and encourages listeners to check out both "The Celebrity Jobber Podcast" and Roswell Delirium available on Amazon Prime. He emphasizes the unique insights shared by Anthony, making a compelling case for tuning into Jeff Zito's engaging exploration of celebrities' lives before fame.

Listeners are reminded to support "Celebrity Jobber" by subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast across various platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartPodcasts. Buzz Knight seamlessly concludes by inviting his audience to explore his own podcast, "Taking a Walk: Music History on Foot," ensuring a smooth transition and continued engagement.

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Resources and Links:

• Celebrity Jobber Podcast: celebrityjobber.com
• Instagram: @celebrity_jobber_podcast
• YouTube: YouTube.com/the@signcelebrityjobber
• Roswell Delirium on Amazon Prime

Transcript

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Taking a walk.

[Buzz Knight]

I'm Buzz Knight, the host of the Taking a Walk podcast. And once in a while we love to share some other podcasts that we think that you'd like to check out. Jeff Zito is a dear friend of mine. He has one of the most successful Apple podcasts called Celebrity Jobber. Check out this new episode with an actor comedian who has been in some of the quintessential movies of our time, Anthony Michael Hall. He was known as a member of Hollywood's Brat Pack. Remember Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, the Breakfast Club. Also spent some time as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Here's Jeff Zito's Celebrity Jobber with Anthony Michael Hall.

[Jeff Zito]

Hey, it's Jeff Zito. And thanks for listening to another episode of the Celebrity Jobber podcast streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Iheart or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please subscribe. Would love a five star rating and leave a review. You could check out past episodes online. Celebrityjobber.com also you can follow on Instagram Celebrity Underscore Jobber underscore podcast or YouTube.com the@sign celebrity jobber. Who were these celebrities before they were famous? What was their life like? What did they do? What about a first job job? Some of these celebrities worked in the world of advertising and marketing or had their own upholstery business. And then one day their big break came along and that was it. You know Anthony Michael hall from movies like National Lampoon's Vacation, Sixteen Candles, the Breakfast Club. But who was he before all that? What was his first job? What was his big break? We're going to find out. Anthony Michael hall is 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? What was their first job? We're about to find out.

Now here's a good, here's a great way to break the ice. What do people call? Do they call you amh? Do they call you Anthony? They call. What do your friends call you?

[Anthony Michael Hall]

My given first name is Mike or Michael. But yeah, I hear you. All three. I get AMH or Michael or Anthony. It's all good.

[Jeff Zito]

All three. Yeah. Nice to meet you too, man. I mean, obviously I'm, you know, a huge fan and I've known about you my whole life. I'm having a midlife crisis Because I just turned 50 and you know, I don't know, I don't know if you've ever had that midlife crisis at any point, but do you have any, do you have any suggestions, any way to get through that kind of.

[Anthony Michael Hall]

I wouldn't treat it as a crisis, first of all. Also, I was going to joke too. I'm in show business, so I think every year is a new crisis because you never know where the work's coming.

[Jeff Zito]

Right, right.

[Anthony Michael Hall]

I wouldn't sweat it. I'm a little bit older than you at 57, but I wouldn't, Yeah, I would just, you know, look at it as a speed bump, not a dead end. You know what I mean? You got to keep rocking and rolling. You're still a young man.

[Jeff Zito]

Yeah, I know people do say that, but I just don't, I don't, I don't see it yet. But we'll get through it. So let me, let me ask you this, Michael, I could call you, Can I call you Michael?

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Sure, man.

[Jeff Zito]

So let me, let me ask you. I do a podcast that's like, about celebrities before they were famous and like what their life was before they were famous is going to be a really interesting question for you because I feel like you've been famous your whole life. Right? I mean, what, when did you started like acting when you were what, 8 years old?

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Yeah, I did, I did. It's so funny because when I was in New York, I was celebrating the SNL 50th and I was taking part in those festivities and I took my wife. It was great. But I was on the red carpet doing some interviews and it really started to hit me right there actually when I was in the interviews. And you know, I started 1976, I got my first job. I was hired by Steve Allen, the late, great Steve Allen. So, yeah, I mean, my career goes back to that and that's the beginning of it for me. So that was a real blessing, you know, starting that young. I think a lot of it I just attribute to my mother. I had a very strong willed mother who was a single parent at the time. She wound up remarrying when I was about 12. And I had my sister and my stepfather who raised us. But my mother was also an artist, she was a singer and, you know, raised me, you know, singing for my supper, literally because she was a jazz and blues singer. So, you know, coming from a creative family, when you asked me that question, my life before that was just growing up in New York City, you know, but I was really exposed because of my mother's life and career to a lot as a result of that. So, I mean, I studied the arts. You know, I did everything from taking karate to studying drawing at the Art Students League to taking, you know, music lessons and playing drums. I mean, all kinds of things that I did as a kid that were really helpful and helped me build a foundation for a life in the arts.

[Jeff Zito]

Your very first paying gig was being a young Steve Allen in a movie that was like, you know, because a lot of people's first jobs are, you know, newspaper delivery boy or a babysitter. Yours was in the business as an actor.

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. I mean, and that was really fortunate for that reason, you know, so absolutely, you know, I was doing the Play with Summer Stock with Steve Allen. I was such a little kid, you know, and then from there I did commercials and. And it led to the film and TV work that I got as a young teenager. But at that point I'd already been in the business for seven or eight years. So, yeah, I've had a long career, so I thank God for that. So when you cut to Roswell Delirium, it was an amazing experience because here I am 40 something years later and I'm a producer on the project. But it was great to see these kids. They came to work so prepared, they were so refreshing, they were so committed to do a good job and they were really prepared, but also just to see their joy at work, to see them having fun with what they were doing and to see the light in their eyes at the beginning of their careers. So I could certainly relate to that and it was wonderful to see, you know, to see them do a great job.

[Jeff Zito]

So when you're, when you're talking about what you're. You're doing right now, which is Roswell Delirium. And do you have other jobs within not just being an actor, but is there other things that you do in this film? Like, did you mention directing it?

[Anthony Michael Hall]

No, no, I produced this film and I produced it with the filmmaker who is a writer director named Rick Bakewell. So it's both of our companies that came together and my company's Manhattan Films and Rick's is Lightforce Pictures. So we joined forces and we made this project and we shot in LA a couple years ago and we just got this great cast. So we have a lot of really wonderful performances from some really great known actors too, like Dee Wallace Stone and Sam Jones, Lisa Welchel, Reginald Bell Johnson. So a lot of really great people came in and Supporting roles to flesh out our cast. But primarily it's a bunch of young child actors that did a beautiful job, you know, and if anything, they were reminding us all on set, you know, to kind of be prepared and to have fun at work. And it was great to see that from their perspective as they went to work and did the Celebrity Jobber, the.

[Jeff Zito]

Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Zito.

And over time, do you just pick up like you're in the biz, you're in all these films, you're in these commercials, but like over time and your career has progressed to where it is now. You're doing Roswell Delirium, which by the way is on Amazon prime right now. Do you figure out these, these other skills of being a producer? Be like, I don't know what all, you know, you see the, you know, at the very end of a film, it's like key grip best boy. I have no ide what all these little things are. But like, do you pick up, you pick it up over time, but there's.

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Just things that you learn on the job. So yeah, absolutely. I mean, that's one of the things you do learn is when you're working actor, you come on set and you see everybody doing all these different jobs. And so to have that sort of healthy respect for all those technical abilities and those technicians is really important, you know, so there's a lot. So producing is something. Yeah, I mean, I've worked with a number of producers over many decades, so, you know, I had a lot of training on the job, which is the most beneficial I feel, you know, and that served me well in this situation too, where I was going to work and producing my company's second film, you know. So what do you experience?

[Jeff Zito]

What is your favorite outside of acting and being in front of the camera? Is there another part of the business that you really enjoy?

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Well, okay, you're going to say business. Yeah, I was going to say my family because I've become a family man here later in life. So I'm happily married, I have a beautiful wife and we have a son. I have a 2 year old. Believe me or not, at this age.

[Jeff Zito]

Right.

[Anthony Michael Hall]

On that aspect of it, I do. Yeah. Our son is almost. He'll be 2 next month. So to see my life, life from, you know, from a new perspective and through my son's eyes is so beautiful, as all parents will, I'm sure can attest to. You know, you just get fresh eyes and it gives you a fresh perspective on life and what to appreciate and what matters, you know, but in terms of what I like to do. Yeah, I mean, you know, producing is great and I also want to get behind the camera, start directing. So I have a bunch of projects that we're developing in Manhattan Films and I have partners and we're raising funds and you know, full steam ahead in terms of building out the company. So that's the goal, you know, so. Because I want to be able to produce stuff and co produce things and also direct some films and projects and hopefully give other people opportunities down the line. So that's a good aspiration and worth working towards.

[Jeff Zito]

Celebrity Jobber the Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Zito.

What do you think it was that really helped you? I mean, you've worked in the business for a long time and being persistent, but. And I could guess. But I want you to tell me, was there a particular role? There was a situation, a big break, if you will. That really put you. I mean, you were the youngest cast member on Saturday Night Live. You didn't just get that by, by accident. What do you think it was?

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Yeah, it's a good question. I think working with John Hughes, you know, when I did Vacation, it was interesting because John Hughes wrote National Implants Vacation, but I did not meet him on that film. It was directed by Harold Ramis, who was, you know, I often think of that. I guess it's Isaac Newton who said, the world standing on the shoulders of giants. At some point, you know, in my life, it was, it was those giants were Steve Allen, they were Harold Ramis, John Hughes, Matty Simmons, the founder of National M Pool, and people that saw something in me as a kid that gave me an opportunity to, to be myself, you know, and as a kid, I was a kind of a funny kid and they saw something in me, which I'm so grateful for, and that spawned a career. So the idea of returning that favor or paying it back and helping others is primary to me. It's important. So not only my own creative aspirations, but the idea of building a company to help others is really, you know, important to me.

[Jeff Zito]

And you just mentioned that, you know, you're a pretty funny kid and I'm glad you said that because with being the youngest cast member on Saturday night live at 17 years old, and then, you know, Rusty Griswold, I believe you were 13 years old and you, you delivered the line though. The thing, the thing that's so great about you when you were that age is you're like, you're not expecting a little kid to be like funny like this. So where did you get your sense of humor and was that role like you?

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Well, this is funny because this goes into my own biography. Like, I'll tell you the truth, when I was a kid, it's like that old Eddie Murphy movie in the 80s, Raw, when they had that opening sequence and you see a child actor playing him and he was doing shows for the family. I mean, that was me. Even though I didn't ultimately become a comic as a kid, I was one of those kids doing shows for the family, you know, So I would get up and imitate my aunts and uncles and whoever the hell else it was. And it was, if I was at a funeral or if it might have been a wedding or at somebody's house, it was always a relative's house, you know, it's not my grandparents house. So that is really how it started for me. You know, kind of being a hammy little kid that wanted to make people laugh. And I think that that's what John Hughes saw in and also Mattie Simmons and Harold Ramis and those guys. I think I had a sense of kind of fearlessness maybe, because I loved to make people laugh and it was fun for me and very natural, you know. And as I get into high school back in the 80s, I started really honing in on comics that I loved. So heroes of mine were like George Carlin, Richard Pryor. Later I learned about Lenny Bruce on records, you know. So I've always loved comedians and comedy and comedic films. So I think that was also a big inspiration.

[Jeff Zito]

Do you think there was ever a point in time where you were like, because you're so involved with the arts and your mother was, is a great singer. Would you ever consider being in music? Did that ever tickle your fancy at any point?

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Yeah, yeah, I did. And I produced music at different times in my life and I do, I love that. And people have asked me that question a lot over the years. I think something creative, absolutely. You know, whether it be a musician or maybe something with camera, you know, because I've grown up around cameras now and I know some things about that. You know, I think just having a creative life is both challenging and scary to people. But at the same same time, it's, it's very liberating too. So the idea that, you know, if you can do something that you love, the old adage, you know, you never work a day in your life and it's, it's true, it's, it's not as simplistic as that but it certainly is the grounds for something. Then if you, if you pursue something with passion that you love, you know, it won't feel like work. And so I just feel grateful and thankful to God that I've had such a long career and it's, it's endured over these decades.

[Jeff Zito]

You know, was there ever a point in time where you were like, oh man, it's because it's got to be hard get, you know, going on these calls and being rejected and it's got to be a tough and a strange life. Were you ever like, hey, should I be doing something different?

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Yeah, it's your question. You have to deal with a lot of rejection. You have to be sort of built for that. And at the outset, no one thinks that they are. But, you know, you learn to have a tough skin and you learn to be persistent and you learn a lot of great lessons that I think apply whether you're in the corporate world or in the world of sports or anything. You know, the idea of being determined, making decisions, you know, creating good habits for yourself and just persistent. And I think that that's something no one can teach you. That's something that you just have to enact within yourself and have that in you. And if you don't, then it may not be what's for you, you know, in life. But those are things that taught me well. So I'm grateful again. I think over time I thought that this is the gift in itself is to have the longevity and to be, to be still doing it. You know, I'm grateful to God.

[Jeff Zito]

The Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Szeto.

Celebrity Jobber I, I would definitely see you being, be being a stand up comedian. I could see you transitioning. Do you ever think about that?

[Anthony Michael Hall]

No. I mean, not, not really. Not really. I mean, that's a hard life. It's challenging, you know, but I do respect and have a lot of love for people that do that. You know, I've been, it's funny because, you know, you just mentioned that stand up. But when I was at the SNL 50th, Bill Burr came up to me. We were chatting and it led to, you know, we struck a bit of a friendship. So we've been in, been in talks and he has a film he wants me to do later this year with him. So I'll probably make that film with Bill. But you know what, that's a real, that's a real lifestyle, a commitment to. You got to greatly respect comics because again, there's no leg to stand on there. You're going up there with your wits and your brain. And again, that sense of determination to kind of put yourself out there, you know, and it takes a lot. Not everybody's built for that, you know.

[Jeff Zito]

Don't talk politics with Bill Burr. I don't think you guys will get along.

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Yeah, let's just not talk politics, period.

[Jeff Zito]

Look, man, is a pleasure and I, I urge everybody to go to Amazon prime and check out the latest, which is called Roswell Delirium and Anthony Michael Hall, AMH Michael, good talk. Russ.

[Anthony Michael Hall]

Good talk with you, man. I appreciate the time and thank you for supporting the picture. Really appreciate it, man.

[Jeff Zito]

Take care of yourself. Thanks, man. Born Michael Anthony Thomas Charles Hall. That's a lot of names. He kind of flipped the Anthony and the Michael around because I guess there was already a Michael hall in show business. He's from Baltimore, Austin. The only child of a blues jazz singer. Her name was Mercedes hall, and she got divorced from Michael's father, Larry, who owned an auto body shop like when he was six months old. So when he was a very young man, they relocated to the west coast where his mom found work as a singer. And I think it was a year and a half later, they eventually moved back to the east coast and New York City. That's where he grew up. But he was in show business from the time he was a kid and his mom actually managed him. He was acting at the age of 8 years old. When a lot of kids, their first job was, you know, maybe working in a restaurant or delivering newspapers or babysitting, something like that. His very first gig was as the young Steve Allen in a semi autobiographical play called the Wake. And he also did some commercials around that time. He was the Honeycomb cereal kid. He was in some commercials for toys and Bounty paper towels. So his very first jobs were in acting. And that's what he's done his entire career. I mean, his job when he was 17 years old was as a cast member of Saturday Night Live and to date, I believe, the youngest cast member ever on snl. Of course I knew the answer, but I needed him to tell us. You know his big break? Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation. You might have noticed if you know the film. I got him right there at the end where I said, good talk, Russ. Famous line delivered by Chevy Chase in the movie. I think I might have caught him off guard with that one there. That was his big break. I didn't know that John Hughes was the film's screenwriter and of course, you know, John Hughes went to direct some, like, unbelievable movies in the 80s. Sixteen Candles, another huge one for Anthony Michael hall, the Breakfast Club. He was a member of Hollywood's Brat Pack. And I guess to avoid being typecast, hall turned down roles for him by John Hughes. In Ferris Bueller's Day off, he was offered the role of Cameron Fry. And also in Pretty in Pink where he was offered the role of Ducky. You know, this guy was never going to be a carpenter, a real estate agent or an accountant. This guy was artistic. It came from his mom. She was a singer. He could have been into music because he did say he worked a little bit in producing music. And I definitely think he could have gone into stand up comedy when he was talking about entertaining his parents and his family at a young age, performing for them, making them laugh, and of course being the youngest cast member on Saturday Night Live. All those people, generally speaking, are stand up comedians. So, yeah, that was probably what could have been the future of Anthony Michael Hall. Pretty cool guy. Enjoyed talking to him. And thank you for checking out another episode of the Celebrity Jobber podcast streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Iheart. Wherever you listen to podcasts, please subscribe. Would love a five star rating and leave a review all past episodes [e-mail] and you can also follow on Instagram Celebrity Underscore Jobber, underscore podcast or YouTube.com the Signce Celebrity Jobber. Who were these celebrities before they were celebrities? Sometimes they were different people all together. In the case of Anthony Michael hall, he was an actor, just not as well known as he is now. So thank you once again for listening and until next week, we'll see you then. I'm Jeff Zito and if you happen to like the Celebrity Jobber podcast, you might like one from my friend Buzz Knight, which is called Taking a Walk, Music History on foot, which you can listen to next.