'Go ahead, blame me. I take full responsibility for the eye and ear damage you may have suffered while watching David Hasselhoff in all his junk TV glory.'
I'm currently reading, and loving, author Joel Thurm's 'Sex, Drugs, Pilot Season: Confessions of a Casting Director. I listened to Joel on a podcast and was really intrigued to hear and read more of his time in Hollywood. Thrum worked for several studios in the 70's, 80's and 90's and participated in the casting of many of the television shows and movies I grew up watching.
The book is far more than Thurm's comments about David Hasselhoff, but.. given the book begins with a prologue is titled David Hasselhoff: Blame Me!, it's fair the actor has become a bit of talking point when it comes to the book. Thurm was responsible for casting Hasselhoff in three of his biggest projects. It was Thrum who suggested the actor for his first big role on The Young and the Restless, and went on to play a role in the actors turns on both Knight Rider and Baywatch.
The Year Thurm cast Hasselhoff on the CBS daytime soap, he had just come off filming the 1976 sex comedy, Revenge of the Cheerleaders. Given the film included the actors only known nude scene, this post was also a good excuse to look back at the Hoff's full frontal in the shower scene.
Although Thurm makes a few good natured jabs at Hasselhoff and his career, he also is clear to point out how physically beautiful David was when they met. He was also kind, and audiences loved him. It was fascinatingly to read the long list of actors considered for Knight Rider. Each of them, including Hasselhoff initially, turned down the role. Eventually, Hasselhoff got on board, and was prefect for a role and show, that was never meant to be taken too seriously.
While working at NBC, Thurm cast many of the network's biggest hits, including L.A Law. Casting actor Harry Hamlin to wear all those suits as a lawyer wasn't the first time Thurm was struck by the handsome actor. The first time he saw him, Hamlin wasn't in a suit, but completely naked in a stage production of Equus.
I'm almost half-way through the book and have been pleasantly surprised how much I'm enjoying it. I bought the book for the stories of the casting for movies and television shows I knew and was familiar with. I actually haven't gotten there yet, I'm at the point that Thurm is casting the 2 American parts (Brad and Janet) in 1975's The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I love Thurm's comment Susan Sarandan likes to 'fuck up', upwards, which is why her affair with co-star Barry Bostwick didn't last long. Married to Chris Sarandan when she was cast, she quickly moved into a relationship with Bostwick, only to end that quickly when she realized there were bigger fish to fry.
I also really enjoyed reading about Thurm's time in New York casting for Broadway. I loved his stories working with Pearl Baily. (and actress I knew of, but knew nothing about) I wasn't aware of the impact of Baily's time in Hello Dolly was, and enjoyed reading about the show, and other productions, actors and producers he interacted with in New York. It was Baily who eventually brought Thurm to Hollywood, asking him to join her on her short lived variety series.
If any of these stories intrigued you as much as they intrigued me, you can buy Sex, Drugs, Pilot Season: Confessions of a Casting Director on Amazon HERE:
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