Looking back, we might have crossed what was the ‘golden age of television.’ As channels get replaced more and more by streaming platforms, it seems that we have left behind the days of eagerly waiting in front of our television screens for a show.
Because of the new trends in Hollywood, sometimes the older actors and talent get left behind. This is one such story that was narrated to us by veteran Hollywood actor and writer Billy Van Zandt.
In our interview with Billy, we found out a few of the things that have changed over time in Hollywood. And some things that remain the same. Keep reading to learn more.
Newsner sat down and talked to writer and actor Billy Van Zandt for an interview. And if you don’t recognize his name for his writing credits which includes shows like Newhart, Martin, The Hughley’s, Suddenly Susan, and more, then you might know him for his acting in movies like Jaws 2, co-starring with Tom Cruise onTaps, or even on the hit show Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Billy Van Zandt has been around for a while. And he has noticed how things have changed slowly but surely in Hollywood.
He told us, “You know, for all the shows that used to be comedies, now they’re all reality shows… And you know, they’re scripted too. Let’s just say let’s just say that I don’t watch a lot of those. But it’s taken a lot of work from people.”
He shares why the rise in popularity of reality shows has skyrocketed in recent years from the side of the networks. He said, “Because putting on a reality show is very cheap for the networks, and, they’ll continue doing it as long as they still get people to watch it.”
He has also noticed how shows are getting shorter. ” You only get to do maybe ten episodes instead of 29.” He shared how the creator of the streaming show might be making money but the writers might be struggling. He shared, “then they have to scramble for work between seasons, because ten episodes is not a year’s worth of salary. But yeah, that’s a big question for writers everywhere, especially with the advent of AI.”
But Billy Van Zandt does not want to forget the greats. In fact, he honors them and wants to constantly have them recognized as the heroes they were. In his long-standing career, he has done everything to make sure the people he grew up watching as comedy legends are given their flowers.
He recalls Kaye Ballard from the show The Mothers In Law and how much he adored her. He shared with dismay, “young people don’t even know who she is.” When he was able to write a spot for her, he had her come and do a couple of guest spots. He was touched by her response but also saddened by the grim reality. He said, “She thanked me for bringing her back to television, which really, it was sweet. But it also hurt to think that why isn’t everybody else bringing her back?”
He did something similar for Hunts Hall from The Bowery Boys, and got a similar effusive thanks from him. Van Zandt shared, “I got him out of retirement because I wanted him to play a little bit in one of our shows, and, he again, he thanked me for even knowing he was alive.”
But what really irked Van Zandt was how even Hollywood legends who have careers spanning decades are not treated with the respect they deserve. When Billy had to write a role for a character’s grandmother, Dorothy L’Amour immediately came to his mind, and the road pictures she did with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. He had recently seen her in a play and knew she would be great, so he suggested it.
The studio executives agreed and called her to come for an audition. Dorothy L’Amour said she had never auditioned for anything in her life, even her movie contracts she signed were something she never ‘tried out for’ before she did them. But according to the new executives in Hollywood, she would have to come in and audition for the role. Billy Van Zandt narrates the scene, he says, “gold Rolls-Royce pulls up, she gets out, she comes into the waiting room where there are 50 other people waiting to audition for the same role.”
This infuriated him, and he recalls asking the casting people, “what are you doing? You can’t you can’t treat her like that.”
The response he got was shocking, he said they told him, “This is Hollywood. If she wants the job, she has to be treated like everyone else.” And for L’Amour who had never auditioned for a role before, it went alright. Van Zandt recalls, “She came in to audition, and, she read. She was fine [even though she was nervous] because she’d never done this before. And, before the door even closed as she was walking out, one of the guys says, now we can do better.”
This shocked Van Zandt who immediately question them, he recalls saying,”What do you mean you can do better? What are you going to tell her?” He said they told him they would not tell her anything to which an exasperated Van Zandt asked, “You pulled her out of retirement to come do this?” And the response he got was akin to this is how it works in Hollywood.
Billy Van Zandt has always made it clear in all his projects that he champions people over profits. Currently Billy is working on several projects. He is the author of, GET IN THE CAR, JANE!: Adventures in the TV Wasteland, a book he wrote about his writing ventures over the years and Because It’s Funny!: The Plays of Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore Paperback.
What do you think of Billy Van Zandt’s stories about modern Hollywood? Let us know in the comments below. Share this with others so they can know about these little known stories as well.
