Zoneboy
01-25-2009, 02:24 AM
Link (http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/01/23/1758472.aspx)
Matt Lauer began the week by summoning up an impressive display of mock dismay at being compared to 87-year-old Abe Vigoda. He ended it Friday by meeting the man who had real cause to be offended.
“We really want to apologize,” Vieira told Vigoda as he walked onto the set to the applause of the assembled TODAY crew – Vieira, Lauer, Al Roker and Natalie Morales. Gesturing toward Lauer sitting next to her, she joked, “We didn’t mean to compare you to this.”
Vigoda sat down and assumed a look of grim offense. Vieira asked him what he thought of the comparison.
“I was excited,” he deadpanned, his pout melting into a mischievous grin.
Before Vigoda came on, Vieira had said that apologies were in order while a tape of the original gag was shown. It had aired on Monday as a comic follow-up to a serious report about how the office of the presidency ages its occupants.
To illustrate how the job of TODAY host ages a man, the TODAY graphics department juxtaposed a picture of Lauer with one of Vigoda, the dour-looking character actor best-known for his roles in the '70s sitcom "Barney Miller" and the classic film "The Godfather."
“This is supposed to make me feel better?” a laughing Lauer asked.
When the laughter died down, Lauer confessed that Vigoda is “one of my favorites. He has a great sense of humor, but he also knows how to take a joke.” The co-host later conceded that there really is a family resemblance.
“You know what, Abe? You’re actually my dad,” Lauer said.
“Frankly, he does somewhat resemble my grandson,” Vigoda said.
While he was there, Vigoda also cleared up how he came to be reported as dead in 1982. The report has become a running joke that has followed him every since.
“We had a wrap party for ‘Barney Miller,’ ” Vigoda esplained. “I was doing a play in Calgary, Canada, at the time of the wrap party. A reporter for People Magazine came on [at the party], and she wrote this article, and she said, ‘We’re very sorry that the late Abe Vigoda is not here. He must be dead.’ ”
In response to the article, Vigoda posed in a coffin holding a copy of the magazine.
The actor recalled learning of the report just as he was about to go on stage in Calgary. “The producer says, ‘You can not go on,’ ” he said. “I said, ‘Why not? I gotta go on.’ He said, ‘No, you can’t. Because you’re dead. People magazine says you’re dead.’ ”
Now, more than a quarter century later, Vigoda is still going strong. In fact, he just did a commercial for H&R Block that’s going to run during the Super Bowl.
“I play...” he said, pausing for dramatic effect, “Death.”
Before saying goodbye, Vigoda moved to the couch to sit next to Lauer. Throwing an arm around Vigoda, Lauer kissed him on the forehead. Vigoda replied by planting a smooch on his surrogate son’s cheek.
Matt Lauer began the week by summoning up an impressive display of mock dismay at being compared to 87-year-old Abe Vigoda. He ended it Friday by meeting the man who had real cause to be offended.
“We really want to apologize,” Vieira told Vigoda as he walked onto the set to the applause of the assembled TODAY crew – Vieira, Lauer, Al Roker and Natalie Morales. Gesturing toward Lauer sitting next to her, she joked, “We didn’t mean to compare you to this.”
Vigoda sat down and assumed a look of grim offense. Vieira asked him what he thought of the comparison.
“I was excited,” he deadpanned, his pout melting into a mischievous grin.
Before Vigoda came on, Vieira had said that apologies were in order while a tape of the original gag was shown. It had aired on Monday as a comic follow-up to a serious report about how the office of the presidency ages its occupants.
To illustrate how the job of TODAY host ages a man, the TODAY graphics department juxtaposed a picture of Lauer with one of Vigoda, the dour-looking character actor best-known for his roles in the '70s sitcom "Barney Miller" and the classic film "The Godfather."
“This is supposed to make me feel better?” a laughing Lauer asked.
When the laughter died down, Lauer confessed that Vigoda is “one of my favorites. He has a great sense of humor, but he also knows how to take a joke.” The co-host later conceded that there really is a family resemblance.
“You know what, Abe? You’re actually my dad,” Lauer said.
“Frankly, he does somewhat resemble my grandson,” Vigoda said.
While he was there, Vigoda also cleared up how he came to be reported as dead in 1982. The report has become a running joke that has followed him every since.
“We had a wrap party for ‘Barney Miller,’ ” Vigoda esplained. “I was doing a play in Calgary, Canada, at the time of the wrap party. A reporter for People Magazine came on [at the party], and she wrote this article, and she said, ‘We’re very sorry that the late Abe Vigoda is not here. He must be dead.’ ”
In response to the article, Vigoda posed in a coffin holding a copy of the magazine.
The actor recalled learning of the report just as he was about to go on stage in Calgary. “The producer says, ‘You can not go on,’ ” he said. “I said, ‘Why not? I gotta go on.’ He said, ‘No, you can’t. Because you’re dead. People magazine says you’re dead.’ ”
Now, more than a quarter century later, Vigoda is still going strong. In fact, he just did a commercial for H&R Block that’s going to run during the Super Bowl.
“I play...” he said, pausing for dramatic effect, “Death.”
Before saying goodbye, Vigoda moved to the couch to sit next to Lauer. Throwing an arm around Vigoda, Lauer kissed him on the forehead. Vigoda replied by planting a smooch on his surrogate son’s cheek.