Tag Archives: Seinfeld

“At The End Of The Day Never Sacrifice Your Art For Anyone:” A TDQ Q&A With Actor And Producer Monte Bezell

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Monte Bezell

Actor, director, and producer Monte Bezell is Brooklyn born and raised. Brooklyn, according to our hasty research, is know for their vegan brunches, craft breweries, and historically accurate facial hair.

This week’s Q&A is with actor/producer Monte Bezell. Monte spoke to us about how growing up in Brooklyn formed his desire to be in show business, how staring out in indie films shaped his career and his upcoming projects. Here is this week’s TDQ Q&A with Monte Bezell:
 
The Daily Quarterly: What made you want to get into show business?
 
Monte Bezell: I was always a big film fan, and one day I walk by this huge set on the steps of City Hall in downtown Brooklyn and I knew right then I wanted to be in the business!
  
TDQ: Who was your favorite actor growing up?
 
MB: As a New Yorker it was always going to be Al Pacino. His roles were classic and he represented everything I grew up to respect and idolize from my upbringing in Brooklyn. 
 
TDQ: What was your favorite TV show growing up?
 
MB: I didn’t really watch a ton of TV growing up but I was always a fan of “Seinfeld” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” 
 
Monte Bezell

Monte Bezell doesn’t follow the rules. He shows us that all black can be green and that you can ride a bicycle down a red carpet.

TDQ: What is the best advice you have ever gotten?
 
MB: At the end of the day never sacrifice your art for anyone. I think this really built in the notion of never giving up and always staying true to yourself.  
 
TDQ: What is the worst advice you have ever gotten?
 
MB: Someone once told me that no one would care for my Brooklyn accent and that I should learn how to suppress it. That ended up being advice I am glad I never took. 
 
TDQ: Who are your influences?
 
MB: As a New Yorker you have to name the greats of De Niro, Pacino, and Scorsese.  It would be almost blasphemy to not include them. 
 
Monte Bezell - Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas, starring Monte Bezell, appears to tell it’s story from a very interesting perspective.

TDQ: You started your career working on indie projects. How has that background helped you as your career has progressed?
 
MB: Idie films really make you earn your keep. You fully comprehend how a full set works – there is no compartmentalization. This is so essential as you make your way up the ladder of studio films and sets. 
 
TDQ: Besides acting, you’ve moved into a producer role, especially in the past few years. What has that transition been like?
 
MB: It has actually been a smooth transition! I really enjoy finding a great story (tough part) financing the project (toughest part) putting together a great cast & crew (fun part) and shooting it (best part) and finally selling the project (deep exhale, lol!).     
 
TDQ: What project(s) are you working on next?
 
MB: Currently working on two films: a crime drama set in New York, and a sports film. I also have two other films coming out in 2018 entitled “Saint Nicholas” and “El Gallo.”   
 
Monte Bezell - El Gallo

Monte Bezell stars in and co-directed El Gallo.

TDQ: Where do you see yourself and your career in five years?
 
MB: I see myself collaborating with actors and directors I admire on studio projects. And a couple of awards would be cool too!  
 
Follow Monte on  and check out his IMDB page too. 
 

NFL Films Founder And Groundbreaking Filmmaker Ed Sabol Dies

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Ed Sabol

Ed Sabol, right, with aspiring filmmaker and future RECOiL writer/director Brian DiMaio, left, at the 1968 NFL championship game.

Scottsdale, AZ—Ed Sabol, who founded NFL Films with his son, Steve, died at his home Monday. He was 98.

Sabol was a former overcoat salesman (like Jerry’s dad on “Seinfeld”) who enjoyed filming Steve’s high school football practices. By adding the voice of John Facenda, a few more cameras and exciting music, he forever changed the face of sports films.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. Over the course of his career, he won 52 Emmy Awards.

His most famous titles include “Pro Football’s Longest Day,” “They Call it Pro Football” and “RECOiL”

He also started the sports blooper genre.

Sabol also served as a rifleman in Europe during World War II.

He is survived by his wife, Audrey and their daughter, Blair. Steve died in 2012 at the age of 69 from brain cancer. Continue reading →

Actor And Comedian Taylor Negron Dies At 57

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Taylor Negron

Taylor Negron, center, met RECOiL writer/director Brian DiMaio, left, on the set of “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” DiMaio was so impressed with his take on the role of “Pizza Man” DiMaio had Negro reprise his role in a deleted scene of RECOiL.

Actor, writer and comedian Taylor Negron died Saturday surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer. He was 57.

Negron made scene-stealing appearances in movies like “Better off Dead,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “RECOiL” and “The Last Boy Scout.”

On television, Negron appeared in such programs as “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Seinfeld,” “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

He had comedy essays published in the anthologies “Dirty Laundry” and “Love West Hollywood, Reflections of Los Angeles.” He also wrote the critically-acclaimed plays “Gangster Planet” and “The Unbearable Lightness of Being Taylor Negron – A Fusion of Story and Song.”

Funnyman And “Seinfeld” Robbery Victim John Pinette Dies At 50

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John Pinette

John Pinette, right, as seen in a deleted scene from RECOiL where he played the role of a mobster, Little John, who was in debt to crime lord Vincent Parker.

Pittsburgh—Comedian John Pinette, known for his self-deprecating humor and jabs at his own weight, was found dead in a hotel room Saturday afternoon. He was 50.

Pinette’s character was the victim of a carjacking in the series finale of “Seinfeld,” leading the main characters of the classic sitcom to get arrested and go to jail for violating the Good Samaritan Law.

Pinette also appeared on shows like “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” “ALF,” “Vinnie and Bobby,” and had numerous comedy specials.

On the big screen, Pinette appeared in such films as “Duets,” “The Punisher,” “RECOiL” and “Junior.”

A native of Boston, Pinette had reportedly been suffering from heart and liver disease. Continue reading →

TDQ Investigates: Are The Days Of “The Big Bang Theory’s” High Quality Episodes Numbered?

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We here at TDQ love “The Big Bang Theory.” It’s one of the few shows on television that have characters nearly as smart as we are. And who doesn’t love Kaley Cuoco? She is so hot, she could pass for Canadian.

But we are afraid that the recent renewal of the already-seven-year-old show for three more seasons will cause it to do what most shows its age have done long before: Jump the shark.

It’s the rare TV show that can last its entire run without doing so, especially a show that airs for more than five years or so. “Seinfeld,” “LOST” and “Magnum PI” are, in our educated opinions, about the only long-running TV stalwarts that have avoided doing it.

“Friends” jumped the shark. “The X Files” jumped the shark. “That ’70s Show” jumped the shark. Sheldon, Leonard, et al have yet to do so, though, to be honest, I personally think the addition of Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler as a regular has weakened the show. I think it’s very possible that in 30 years, we may look back and say the show suffered after it “Added the Blossom.”
Continue reading →