Okay, it’s a bit of a stretch to call Brandon Cruz my best friend. He probably wouldn’t even recognize me on the street – but it’s still a fun theme song by Harry Nilsson to quote. The theme song in question is to the TV series The Courtship of Eddie’s Father in which Brandon Cruz played young Eddie Corbett, the son of ‘Mr. Eddie’s Father’ – aka Tom Corbett, played by Bill Bixby. The low-key family sitcom last three seasons from 1969-1972. I remember it best for its quiet and subdued use of the laugh track. Interestingly Cruz and Bixby would re-unite in an episode of The Incredible Hulk in 1978.
Brandon Cruz had long been on my list to get a photo with, after owning a signed photo of him from The Courtship of Eddie’s Father for many years. Finally, he was scheduled to attend the Hollywood Show on August 4, 2012. In the intervening years, I had actually become more interested in his role as Joey Turner in the original version of The Bad News Bears, one of my favorite comedies of all-time. And I was not alone in that assessment.
I had just read that The Bad News Bears was also one of Quentin Tarentino’s top ten movies in the most recent Sight & Sound poll, and I mentioned that to Brandon – and suggested a reunion of the kids from the series (an idea that has not yeat come to fruition, but I’m still pushing on it!). He was surprised by Tarentino’s inclusion of the film, and said that it was a part that he quite enjoyed. We also talked about – and lamented – the early and tragic death of this father in the film, Vic Morrow, during the filming of Twilight Zone: The Movie.
I wasn’t originally going to buy an additional photo, but the one from The Bad News Bears was too cool to resist, so I plunked down $20 and had him sign it to me and inscribe his character name. He was nice enough to pose for a free photo with me.
There are still lots of Bears on my radar…
Celebrity encouters from the Summer 2012 Hollywood Show will continue…
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