The Tobolowsky Files Ep. 98 - The Creature’s New York Adventure
Summary
Stephen Tobolowsky reflects on the disorienting passage of time during the pandemic and shares a deeply personal story about directing Beth's play, The Miss Firecracker Contest. He recounts the miracle of its success, including a chance encounter with Harold Pinter, and the subsequent loss of purpose that led him to New York alone. The narrative details his descent into cocaine addiction with friends Budge and Garland, his lonely days marked by a mouse companion, and a humorous 4th of July victory in a watermelon seed-spitting contest against the ABC News president.
Topics discussed
Introduction and meeting Stephen Tobolowsky
Filming 'That's Life' and the year 2000
Memento, Y2K, and the film 'Alien Fury'
Recording in 2020 and the passage of time
Pandemic habits and loss of routine
Heart surgery and a second chance at life
Parties, cocaine, and meeting Malcolm
The demise of 'The Wake of Jamie Foster'
Beth's struggle and B.B. Anderson's visit
Opening night terror and visiting Harrigan's
Meeting Harold Pinter at the bar
The miracle of 'Miss Firecracker Contest' opening
Defining miracles and meeting Beth
Celebrating success and the return of Budge
Buying cocaine from Marilyn
Beth leaves for LA and Stephen stays in NY
Daily routines and the song 'You're a Habit'
Loneliness and adopting the mouse Thomas
Fried chicken strategy for 4th of July
Meeting Roone Arledge at the park
The watermelon seed spitting contest
Marilyn's home and the 100% cocaine
Types of New York bars and closing times
Encounter with Bruce Willis at Cafe Central
Guilt over Thomas and the next morning
Budge's advice on celebrating golden days
Celebrating at Charlie's on 10th Avenue
The yellow cab dilemma
Budge's plan to freebase in Washington Heights
Pat's thermometer and the heat in the theater
Dart players and cricket at the bar
Getting lost and the decision to use the drugs
Escaping the men and finding the cab
The miracle of the cab and Thomas
Season finale preview and closing remarks
Where to find the podcast and credits
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