That being said, I found myself with a little bit of time on my hands over the weekend. I had time, but not a lot of money. Bills and trying to plan for Christmas had me on the low end....so I reverted to that great addiction that we all have – though some never admit it – YouTube!
For me, YouTube serves a couple of ways to get lost on a weekend afternoon. The music video clips are endless. You can see anything from Britney Spears on the MTV Music Awards from any year to Buck Owens doing “Queen Of The Silver Dollar.” (Yes, I like them both...I have always been a strange one!)
I also love YouTube for it’s seemingly endless collection of TV and Movie clips. You can type in almost any TV show or movie title, and there’s a clip from it. So, I got lost in my youth a little bit. With that said, and not that anyone will care, LOL – Here are ten TV or Movie characters that I would love to be – for a half-hour, hour, or three hours, depending on the medium.
TELEVISION
- JR Ewing –
You know how in “You’ve Got Mail,” Meg Ryan’s character was
lamenting the fact that most men looked up to “The Godfather?”
Not me! The baron of Southfork Ranch, played by Larry Hagman, would
be my TV hero. Some see the character as pure evil, and there are
elements of him that I would not want to be like...but the character
was a lot more complex than that. There have been times where you
feel like it’s “Me Against The World,” and the fact that I can
quote Dallas script so quickly proves the character made an impact.
- James Rockford
– Without a doubt, the coolest private detective that ever lived
in a trailer by the sea. James Garner was such a lovable con artist,
and to be able to get away with some of that would be nice.
- Steve
McGarrett – Critics of the original “Hawaii Five-O” have
called Jack Lord’s acting stiff. Maybe, but he was one the
sharpest-dressed policemen that has ever booked anyone. Oh, wait a
minute, that was “Danno.” But, what about that hair? Come on, as
someone who doesn’t have much....Jack Lord had the coolest hair
ever.
- John Boy
Walton – I guess if I could watch one show from here to eternity,
it would be the “Waltons.” And, to be able to write and think as
eloquently as Richard Thomas did in that role would be a feat I
don’t know if I could ever accomplish. Granted, I know those words
were coming from the typewriter of one Earl Hamner, Jr., who created
one of the classics of all time with this show. My chance to do so
might have passed me by, but if I could be like any TV father, I
would also have to put John Walton on this list, as well.
- Patrick Jane –
Among today’s TV shows, there is no character as well-written or
well-acted as the lead character on the “Mentalist.” Simon Baker
– who, in reality, sounds nothing like you think, seems to take
great delight in being an absolute smart-aleck. Do you see a trend?
HONORABLE MENTION: Darrin Stephens – It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about Dick York or Dick Sargent. To do love scenes with quite possibly the most beautiful actress ever on television, Elizabeth Montgomery – even by tame 1960s standards, would be a the perfect job to have!
MOVIES
- Bo Darville –
I should leave it right there. Most probably would have no clue.
But, Burt Reynolds provided such a childlike enthusiasm to the role
of the “Bandit,” the character would have to make this list. To
drive the most famous Trans Am in history with Sally Field in the
passenger seat---wasn’t that the fantasy of most men in the 1970s.
- The Joker –
Whenever I have interviewed an actor, they usually talk about how
much more fun it is to play the heavy. In 1989, I bet Jack Nicholson
felt the same way, playing the role of Batman’s
biggest thorn. He was bad, but light.
- Ron Burgundy –
OK, Rhett Butler was available, and I choose Will Ferrell’s role
in Anchorman?
Sad, but true. Maybe, it’s a broadcasting thing, but Ferrell was
so clever in the role. And, Christina Applegate fell for it. Enough
said.
- Danny Ocean –
George Clooney in Ocean’s
Eleven
defined the word “Cool.” Women want him. Guys want to be him. No
matter how many times I have tried to repeat the same lines, it
never comes off as cool!
- J.B. Books –
You could put just about any John Wayne role on this list, but his
role in The
Shootist
- his final film – from 1976, stands as one of my favorites.
Staring death in the face, Wayne delivered some of the best lines he
had ever been written, and went out the way he wanted to go.
All things said, I’m pretty glad to be myself these days. But, escapism is a good thing, don’t you think?
