Upcoming "Sacraments" Episode (April 19, 1998)

Cher Lutz was an extra in an upcoming episode slated to air in May as the season closer. Cher gives us some details:

"Sacraments"... filmed Monday 3/23/98 in a club on Folsom in San Francisco... The setting was in a Mosh Pit. I was a Mosh Thrasher... the show will be kind of based on the movie "Natural Born Killers"... Nash is trying to track down this couple who have been on a killing spree... They end up in this Thrasher night club where they arrest the girl, but the guy gets away...

It was pretty cool... Don and Cheech came in and did their shoot for about 20 min. but it was really great to meet both of them... I was one of about 100 extras for this show. We all were dressed kind of trashy, grungy look, some were very Gothic. It was a blast.

Thanks Cher - "Sacraments" is tentatively scheduled to air May 15 - check your local listings on that week.
 

Lemon the Snake To Appear In NASH (April 11, 1998)

Lemon, an unusual, to say the least, albino Burmese python is going to be in a future episode as a drug smuggler. Lemon was supposed to end up on Cheech's head and shoulders. A stunt man with a fear of snakes chickened out, so a sporting Cheech did it himself!

This giant white snake appeared in the vampire movie FROM DUSK 'TIL DAWN draped over lovely Salma Hayek's shoulders (she was a vampire/stripper), was a guest star in the TV series SLIDERS, and was also featured in a Three Musketeers commercial.

Thanks to animal trainer Vince Lamarche of Brocketts Film Fauna for the info.

(: Lemon the Snake appeared in the teaser sequence of Danger Zone, Episode #51, right in the first few minutes of the episode, as the snake is brought out for Joe to examine, though Joe doesn't exactly handle the snake. Everybody appears to be reluctant to even be near the snake, especially Nash.)
 

Needless Destruction of Vintage Cars (April 11, 1998)

We've received an unexpected deluge of e-mail bemoaning the destruction of the yellow-green Barracuda in the episode "Cuda Gráce." Here's a typical example from an outraged 'Cuda aficionado identifying himself as "Trailpimp." The e-mail was entitled "You bastards!!":

How the hell do they get away with smashing and shooting up so many vintage MOPARS? And who the hell is responsible for these actions!!!

In the episode "Cuda Gráce," we get to see a similar year hard top 'Cuda shorn off at the top from sliding underneath a truck, then its front end smashed into another car.

It is indeed a waste, more so because the introduction of the second 'Cuda wasn't particularly important to the story. We do find out the potential value of Nash's 'Cuda when the rich kid offers to buy the Nashmobile for $400,000, but nothing more is learned about the 'Cudas. The 'Cuda cars weren't integral to the story - it could have been any old type of junker car. The 'Cuda duel at the end of the episode was a real let down.

It's more than probable that the smashed up 'Cuda was a copy of some sort (usually made of modern fiberglass "smashable" parts) made specifically to be trashed. Everything is stripped down and original parts are taken off. Let's hope so MOPAR fans.....

We've personally seen two copies of the yellow 'Cuda on a flatbed truck on location. There are confirmed reports that there are four copies of the yellow 'Cuda. We have received an unconfirmed report that there are seven copies of the yellow 'Cuda all parked in a row at the Treasure Island warehouse where the 'Cudas are kept. The NB production is going to need that many if they continue to smash up these beautiful, vintage cars.

Let us know what you think, and maybe something can be done to save the needless destruction of these cars. For more on vintage cars, check out the episode "Road Work." Also see our FAQ on the 'Cuda.
 

Number Four for Don? (April 11, 1998)

From Scott Ostler's column in the SF Chronicle of April 7th, he reveals an inside look at the social world of Don Johnson. According to Ostler, Don hangs out in "big society circles" with people of wealth and industry.

About a half year ago, Don broke up with 19 year old Jodi Lyn O'Keefe (she plays his daughter Cassidy on NASH BRIDGES). The 47 year old Don then began wooing Kelley Phleger, described as in her late twenties, never married and "is a stable, sensible, attractive, thin woman who is from a privileged San Francisco family and knows nothing about what Hollywood is about."

Ostler reveals that Don may have torn Phleger away from her serious relationship with SF politician Gavin Newsom whom Phleger was set to marry. Newsom and Phleger bought a house together, but about six month ago, broke up. Now it appears that Don may marry Phleger, though no official announcements have been made.
 

So You Wanna Be On NASH BRIDGES? (April 11, 1998)

Weekly we receive e-mail from people interested in being extras or acting in NASH BRIDGES. There was an excellent article on life on the set of NASH BRIDGES and on the actor's employment situation in the SF area in the March 8 "Datebook" section of the SF Chronicle.

In a nutshell - the jobs are extremely tight. In the last six months, 123 local actors were on NB as "day players" (actors having at least one line and therefore qualify for minimum union wage of $559 plus breakfast and lunch). There's a lot of waiting around with no place to sit, but the food served is real good (they often served steak, lobster, shrimp etc.)

Major roles are usually cast in Los Angeles, but the smaller roles are cast here. You have to run the gauntlet of audition and numerous callbacks. The decisions are made by the casting director and the particular director of the episode. Needless to say, you must come prepared and be professional (photo, résumé, and know your lines).

If you don't have a speaking part, as a general extra the pay is $86. If you are a special-ability extra (such as a tennis player or someone eating in the background) the pay is $96. The NB interior sets are located on the Treasure Island facility inside the aircraft hangars. Exteriors can be anywhere in the Bay area.

We've always admired actors for their commitment to their craft. It's difficult to make a living in television alone, and many are involved in theater, commercials, and industrial video. Salary ranges are realistically between $25,000 to $30,000 a year. If anything we've described is discouraging you from acting, then you aren't for real and you don't love acting enough.
 

Don Badmouthed By Local Sportscaster (April 11, 1998)

From Jerry Carroll's SF Chronicle column of April 1st comes the report that sportscaster Ralph Barbieri badmouthed Don Johnson on a radio morning show. Barbieri noted that Don shows the worst Hollywood traits, such as having a flunky there on set just to hold his coat. But Carroll excused such behavior, noting that the NB production "pumps $30 mil or so a year into the local economy, enough to justify some ego-tripping wouldn't you say?"