Managing Editor
If you’ve ever watched reruns of the television show “Inside the Actor’s Studio,” you know that its host, James Lipton, would close out the interviews of his famous guests by invoking modified questions used by French journalist Bernard Pivot on an old French TV talk show.
Lipton would ask each actor or actress appearing before acting students each week the following set of questions. What is your favorite word? What is your least favorite word? What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? What turns you off? What is your favorite curse word? What sound or noise do you love? What sound or noise do you hate? What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? What profession would you not like to attempt? If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Since neither Lipton, who died at the age of 93 in 2020 nor Pivot, who passed at 89 in 2024 are still around, I suppose I will never be asked those questions by those interviewers.
If you’ve ever watched reruns of the television show “Inside the Actor’s Studio,” you know that its host, James Lipton, would close out the interviews of his famous guests by invoking modified questions used by French journalist Bernard Pivot on an old French TV talk show.
 |
| Ed Pierce's granddaughter Summer turned 1 on March 4. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE |
Since neither Lipton, who died at the age of 93 in 2020 nor Pivot, who passed at 89 in 2024 are still around, I suppose I will never be asked those questions by those interviewers.
But for the purpose of completing this week’s newspaper column, here are my answers to those creative inquiries:
What is your favorite word? I think it would be effervescent. When I was in third grade, a classmate introduced me to a product called “Fizzies” which were similar to Alka Seltzer tablets used by my father and when dropped into a glass of water would turn the water into a fizzy soda-pop type of beverage for kids.
What is your least favorite word? I shudder to say the word is pus. No matter if it’s made up of white, yellow, or greenish-brown fluid accumulating at an infection site, I hope to never see that substance again in any circumstance.
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? My answer would be something to do, something to love, something to look forward to.
What turns you off? Chronic complainers or controlling individuals.
What is your favorite curse word? lkxxdsjxxxnbvdfnbldfn!!!!
What sound or noise do you love? The oboe in Ravel’s Bolero or birds chirping in the early morning.
What sound or noise do you hate? My neighbor’s noisy truck muffler.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Private investigator in Hawaii for the Robin Masters estate.
What profession would you not like to attempt? Politician. None of them place the people they serve first and foremost, which is why we elect them to office in the first place.
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Well done, sir.
And to create an even deeper look at me for our readers, I have also borrowed some questions from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s “Questionert” that he asks some of his celebrity guests and my answers are listed below.
What is the Best Sandwich? In my opinion, nothing tops a Reuben with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on rye bread, grilled until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted.
What’s one thing you own that you really should throw out? Boxes in the basement containing clippings of newspaper stories that I have written going all the way back to 1975.
What is the scariest animal? Hornets. I once was stung 44 times all over my body when I lifted some old lumber off a pile that I was going to cut up for kindling for the fireplace. Hornets had established a hive under there and I wasn’t aware of it.
Have you ever asked someone for their autograph? Yes, when I interviewed David Bowie, I asked him to sign my reporter’s notepad, and he politely told me that he never did that. But ballplayers Tito Landrum and Cal Ripken Jr. both autographed baseballs for me though. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips did sign a movie poster for me that mysteriously disappeared during a move across the country.
What do you think happens when we die? I was raised a Catholic and was taught the heaven and hell scenario, but I’d like to think we just drift away to a resort in the Caribbean somewhere and spend time with beloved family, friends and pets who have gone before us.
Favorite action movie? “Skyfall. No James Bond film will ever top that one for me.”
Favorite smell? “The top of my 1-year-old granddaughter Summer’s head.”
Least favorite smell? Fried parsnips. I vividly can recall that odor from when my mother grilled them when I was a child. It will be too soon if I ever smell that again and just thinking about it evokes memories of being ill and vomiting after eating that.
Most used app on your phone? Definitely YouTube. I watch “Brian Entin Investigates” on my smartphone every night before going to sleep to see if Nancy Guthrie has been found yet and why she was taken.
You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life: what is it? “Love Is All Around” by The Troggs. It was my favorite song as a 13-year-old when it first came out in 1967 and remains memorable for me even today.
Describe the rest of your life in five words: Love, Scrabble, Nancy, Family, Baseball. <
What is your favorite word? I think it would be effervescent. When I was in third grade, a classmate introduced me to a product called “Fizzies” which were similar to Alka Seltzer tablets used by my father and when dropped into a glass of water would turn the water into a fizzy soda-pop type of beverage for kids.
What is your least favorite word? I shudder to say the word is pus. No matter if it’s made up of white, yellow, or greenish-brown fluid accumulating at an infection site, I hope to never see that substance again in any circumstance.
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? My answer would be something to do, something to love, something to look forward to.
What turns you off? Chronic complainers or controlling individuals.
What is your favorite curse word? lkxxdsjxxxnbvdfnbldfn!!!!
What sound or noise do you love? The oboe in Ravel’s Bolero or birds chirping in the early morning.
What sound or noise do you hate? My neighbor’s noisy truck muffler.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Private investigator in Hawaii for the Robin Masters estate.
What profession would you not like to attempt? Politician. None of them place the people they serve first and foremost, which is why we elect them to office in the first place.
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Well done, sir.
And to create an even deeper look at me for our readers, I have also borrowed some questions from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s “Questionert” that he asks some of his celebrity guests and my answers are listed below.
What is the Best Sandwich? In my opinion, nothing tops a Reuben with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on rye bread, grilled until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted.
What’s one thing you own that you really should throw out? Boxes in the basement containing clippings of newspaper stories that I have written going all the way back to 1975.
What is the scariest animal? Hornets. I once was stung 44 times all over my body when I lifted some old lumber off a pile that I was going to cut up for kindling for the fireplace. Hornets had established a hive under there and I wasn’t aware of it.
Have you ever asked someone for their autograph? Yes, when I interviewed David Bowie, I asked him to sign my reporter’s notepad, and he politely told me that he never did that. But ballplayers Tito Landrum and Cal Ripken Jr. both autographed baseballs for me though. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips did sign a movie poster for me that mysteriously disappeared during a move across the country.
What do you think happens when we die? I was raised a Catholic and was taught the heaven and hell scenario, but I’d like to think we just drift away to a resort in the Caribbean somewhere and spend time with beloved family, friends and pets who have gone before us.
Favorite action movie? “Skyfall. No James Bond film will ever top that one for me.”
Favorite smell? “The top of my 1-year-old granddaughter Summer’s head.”
Least favorite smell? Fried parsnips. I vividly can recall that odor from when my mother grilled them when I was a child. It will be too soon if I ever smell that again and just thinking about it evokes memories of being ill and vomiting after eating that.
Most used app on your phone? Definitely YouTube. I watch “Brian Entin Investigates” on my smartphone every night before going to sleep to see if Nancy Guthrie has been found yet and why she was taken.
You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life: what is it? “Love Is All Around” by The Troggs. It was my favorite song as a 13-year-old when it first came out in 1967 and remains memorable for me even today.
Describe the rest of your life in five words: Love, Scrabble, Nancy, Family, Baseball. <
No comments:
Post a Comment