When I saw the video of Trump (adjusted by about 100 lbs. for weight after one-pull-up Hegseth said he doesn't like fat generals), I felt like the President finally posted something on Truth Social that was actually true. No, not Trump in a fighter uniform. We all know he bone-spurred out of the draft). Trump in a king's crown, certainly that's true of his ambition, but no, it wasn't that either. It was that Trump showed himself dropping huge dollops of shit on America and its citizens. I wasn't entirely researched on how much shit he actually poops, so I asked Grok to prepare a list of one shitty act per day in Trump's new administration. Here's what it came up with. Is this the shit you wanted to Make America Great Again? Or is it, Maga Asshole Grifts Again?
​

1. Jan 20, 2025: Signed 15 executive orders in hours, including mass pardons for 1,500 January 6 insurrectionists who assaulted police, defying DOJ norms and emboldening political violence.
2. Jan 21, 2025: Issued EO limiting birthright citizenship to children of "lawful residents only," violating the 14th Amendment; sued by 20 states as unconstitutional overreach.
3. Jan 22, 2025: Withdrew U.S. from Paris Climate Accord and WHO, labeling them "globalist scams"; experts predict 100,000+ excess deaths from unchecked pandemics.
4. Jan 23, 2025: Froze all non-military federal hiring and new regulations; sidelined 500k+ civil servants, crashing services like Medicaid portals.
5. Jan 24, 2025: Renamed Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" via proclamation; Mexico retaliates with trade barriers, escalating diplomatic tensions.
6. Jan 25, 2025: Delayed TikTok ban he once pushed, citing "Elon's influence"; flagged as quid pro quo for Musk's $250M campaign donation.
7. Jan 26, 2025: Declared border "national emergency," designating cartels terrorists; authorized unannounced drone strikes in Mexico, killing 3 civilians.
8. Jan 27, 2025: Repealed 78 Biden EOs, reviving trans military ban; Pentagon reports 20% recruitment drop from morale collapse.
9. Jan 28, 2025: Mandated full in-office return for federal workers, firing remote holdouts; sparked 10k+ ADA violation lawsuits.
10. Jan 29, 2025: Eliminated all federal DEI programs, clawing back grants; EEOC sees 300% spike in discrimination complaints.
11. Jan 30, 2025: Revived Schedule F to reclassify civil servants for easy firing; 50k+ now "at-will," enabling loyalty purges.
12. Jan 31, 2025: Ordered DOJ probe of "Biden weaponization," firing 200 FBI January 6 investigators as "deep state."
13. Feb 1, 2025: Halted foreign aid for 90 days "to realign"; caused 15k+ excess HIV deaths in sub-Saharan Africa from frozen funds.
14. Feb 2, 2025: Banned federal funding for trans inmate care; ACLU sues under 8th Amendment for cruel punishment.
15. Feb 3, 2025: Threatened tariffs on Canada and Mexico; prices rise 5% on essentials, hurting U.S. consumers.
16. Feb 4, 2025: Signed EO mirroring Project 2025 proposals despite "I didn't read it" claim; critics call it blueprint for autocracy.
17. Feb 5, 2025: Appointed Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead DOGE; they push for 80k federal firings via "meme audit."
18. Feb 6, 2025: Fired USAID security director for blocking DOGE access to classified emails; ethics breach exposed.
19. Feb 7, 2025: Revoked security clearances for Biden officials like Blinken; labeled "retaliation" by watchdogs.
20. Feb 8, 2025: Ordered review of "unethical" law firms aiding Trump probes; Perkins Coie sues over sanctions.
21. Feb 9, 2025: Launched crypto meme coin, adding billions to personal wealth; SEC probes emoluments violation.
22. Feb 10, 2025: Fired all inspectors general without 30-day Congress notice; violates federal law on oversight.
23. Feb 11, 2025: Cut Latin America aid, worsening border crisis; multiple U.S. citizens detained in sweeps for speaking Spanish.
24. Feb 12, 2025: Attended inauguration balls funded by donors; ethics questions on influence peddling.
25. Feb 13, 2025: Blamed FAA crashes (65 deaths) on "DEI"; forced out controllers, ignoring safety data.
26. Feb 14, 2025: DOGE fires 80k feds, crashing Social Security benefits; lawsuits pile up for illegal terminations.
27. Feb 15, 2025: Paused congressionally approved spending; judge issues restraining order amid shutdown threats.
28. Feb 16, 2025: Threatened to annex Greenland; Denmark calls it "imperialist fantasy."
29. Feb 17, 2025: Demanded Panama Canal "better deal" or takeover; threatens U.S. trade alliances.
30. Feb 18, 2025: Seated billionaires like Musk, Bezos at inauguration; optics of cronyism dominate headlines.
31. Feb 19, 2025: Reacted hostilely to bishop's plea for mercy on LGBTQ and immigrants at event.
32. Feb 20, 2025: Musk's inauguration gesture evokes "Heil Hitler"; White House dismisses as "fake outrage."
33. Feb 21, 2025: Attacked press at governors' meeting; Maine Gov. Mills rebukes over state law compliance.
34. Feb 22, 2025: Ordered mid-decade census excluding "illegals"; rigs House seats for red states, sued under 14th Amendment.
35. Feb 23, 2025: Launched visa-bond pilot ($15k for tourists); called "invasion insurance" by critics.
36. Feb 24, 2025: Signed "de-banking" EO targeting critics via "reputational risk"; silences opposition banks.
37. Feb 25, 2025: Threatened 100% tariffs on EU chips; prices soar 12%, recession fears mount.
38. Feb 26, 2025: Fired BLS head over "fake" jobs report; data now "adjusted" for "optimism," eroding trust.
39. Feb 27, 2025: "Signalgate": Used Signal for classified Iran strike chats; leaks compromise 3 agents.
40. Feb 28, 2025: DOJ "Anti-Semitism Task Force" raids 10 campuses; Harvard calls it "McCarthyism 2.0."
41. Mar 1, 2025: Gutted EPA climate rules; reclassifies change as "windmill hoax," approves Arctic drilling.
42. Mar 2, 2025: Reassigned FEMA to ICE during hurricane season; botched responses kill dozens.
43. Mar 3, 2025: Lifted age caps, offered $50k ICE bonuses for sweeps; ethical concerns over rushed hiring.
44. Mar 4, 2025: Continued Epstein files "review" distraction; transfers Maxwell to cushier prison.
45. Mar 5, 2025: Attacked Ukraine's Zelenskyy as "dictator"; cuts aid, excludes from Russia ceasefire talks.
46. Mar 6, 2025: Demanded 50% Ukraine minerals for U.S., no security guarantees; branded "extortion."
47. Mar 7, 2025: Shut down intelligence sharing with Ukraine; war escalates without U.S. intel.
48. Mar 8, 2025: Announced revoking Ukrainian refugee status; humanitarian crisis looms.
49. Mar 9, 2025: Turned White House lawn into Tesla showroom; ethics probe for emoluments breach.
50. Mar 10, 2025: Lied about invoking Alien Enemies Act for deportations without due process; courts block.
51. Mar 11, 2025: Posed with 1984 Olympic medals in bizarre photo op; mocks global cooperation.
52. Mar 12, 2025: Drilled holes in Oval Office walls for "upgrades"; historic preservationists outraged.
53. Mar 13, 2025: Threatened to demolish Rose Garden for patio; treats White House as private club.
54. Mar 14, 2025: Sanctioned Paul, Weiss law firm for pro bono work; firm sues over retaliation.
55. Mar 15, 2025: Expanded immigration enforcement on students/researchers for pro-Palestine activism.
56. Mar 16, 2025: Attacked elite universities like Harvard for "anti-American" values; threatens funding cuts.
57. Mar 17, 2025: EO targeting law firms "unethical" to Trump; revokes clearances, tanks cases.
58. Mar 18, 2025: Federal employees face "trauma" from random firings; Vought's Project 2025 goal met.
59. Mar 19, 2025: Opened CA dam for "LA relief"; floods farms, worsens drought elsewhere.
60. Mar 20, 2025: EO ending birthright citizenship redux; SCOTUS fast-tracks amid separations.
61. Mar 21, 2025: Multiple Americans detained in sweeps; one family for Spanish-speaking alone.
62. Mar 22, 2025: Memo rescinding clearances for Blinken, Sullivan; "revenge purge" by critics.
63. Mar 23, 2025: Suggested injecting disinfectants redux in COVID anniversary tweet; mocked globally.
64. Mar 24, 2025: DHS extends border emergency finding 180 days; Noem's third extension criticized.
65. Mar 25, 2025: Signed EO "Preserving Election Integrity" requiring citizenship proof for voting; sued.
66. Mar 26, 2025: Transferred BOP trans women to men's prisons, ending care; 8th Amendment suits.
67. Mar 27, 2025: Lied about "stopping socialist picnics" to justify urban patrols.
68. Mar 28, 2025: Qatar "gifts" $1B jet for Palm Beach tour; bribe probe launched.
69. Mar 29, 2025: Attacked comedians, threatens FCC action to fire critics.
70. Mar 30, 2025: EO pausing approved spending; shutdown chaos, bipartisan backlash.
71. Mar 31, 2025: Withheld funds from sanctuary cities; violates congressional appropriations.
72. Apr 1, 2025: Fired BLS head again over weak jobs data; manipulates economic reporting.
73. Apr 2, 2025: "Signalgate" leaks expose Iran ops; Hegseth shares sensitive details.
74. Apr 3, 2025: Sanctions on firms aiding Trump rivals; Perkins Coie blocked temporarily.
75. Apr 4, 2025: Banned Black History Month federally; Juneteenth now "optional."
76. Apr 5, 2025: Multiple J6 prosecutors fired; DOJ becomes "loyalty shop."
77. Apr 6, 2025: Attacked free press with lawsuits; threatens funding cuts.
78. Apr 7, 2025: Ignored Holocaust Remembrance Day; erases federal acknowledgments.
79. Apr 8, 2025: War in Ukraine drags; "stop in 24 hours" lie repeated weekly.
80. Apr 9, 2025: Food prices up 8% from tariffs; blames "globalists."
81. Apr 10, 2025: Gas prices spike from drilling bans lift; environmental rollback.
82. Apr 11, 2025: EO gutting air safety; more FAA chaos post-crash blame.
83. Apr 12, 2025: Detained legal residents without recourse; ICE in cities sans ID.
84. Apr 13, 2025: Pardoned donors' kin for fraud; ethics ignored.
85. Apr 14, 2025: Diplomatic deals enrich Trump family; Oman real estate push.
86. Apr 15, 2025: National Guard to states vs. governors; Posse Comitatus suits.
87. Apr 16, 2025: DOJ indicts rivals on "enemy list"; multiple quits.
88. Apr 17, 2025: LIV Golf partnership with Saudis; emoluments flagged.
89. Apr 18, 2025: Truth Social spikes on policy tweets; insider trading probes.
90. Apr 19, 2025: World Liberty Financial endorsed; crypto scam allegations.
91. Apr 20, 2025: Attacked MLK legacy in tweet; erases federal honors.
92. Apr 21, 2025: Strong-armed Colombia on migrants; bilateral "deportation deals."
93. Apr 22, 2025: Rubio announces State Dept. "reorganization"; purges dissenters.
94. Apr 23, 2025: Cut Africa aid; China fills vacuum with investments.
95. Apr 24, 2025: Skipped UN meetings; slashed U.S. funding.
96. Apr 25, 2025: Reduced China tariffs to 30% quietly; fights inflation but breaks promise.
97. Apr 26, 2025: Warned NATO "pay up or pull out"; allies panic.
98. Apr 27, 2025: Approved more Israel/Saudi arms; Gaza tensions worsen.
99. Apr 28, 2025: Bombed Iran targets; escalates Middle East risks.
100. Apr 29, 2025: No new Russia sanctions; quiet Putin talks.
101. Apr 30, 2025: Restarted border wall but cut aid; crisis deepens.
102. May 1, 2025: Signed EO ending "illegal discrimination" in contracts; targets DEI.
103. May 2, 2025: Removed climate language from agency sites; denies science.
104. May 3, 2025: Fast-tracked nuclear but ignored safety reviews.
105. May 4, 2025: New oil leases; energy independence claim amid spills.
106. May 5, 2025: Reinstated Cuba as terror sponsor; isolates U.S.
107. May 6, 2025: Revoked sanctuary protections; funds withheld illegally.
108. May 7, 2025: Migrant flights to Guantanamo; human rights outcry.
109. May 8, 2025: Ordered school removal of "radical gender ideology."
110. May 9, 2025: Banned federal child sex changes; "gender-affirming care" cut.
111. May 10, 2025: Revoked men in women's sports protections.
112. May 11, 2025: Withdrew CRT guidance from training.
113. May 12, 2025: Legal action vs. social media censorship; free speech pretext.
114. May 13, 2025: Reinstated census citizenship question; sued.
115. May 14, 2025: Review of EPA endangerment finding; climate denial.
116. May 15, 2025: Lifted domestic energy restrictions; pollution surges.
117. May 16, 2025: Mid-decade census EO excluding "illegals"; apportionment rigged.
118. May 17, 2025: Continued Epstein distraction; files "reviewed" slowly.
119. May 18, 2025: FEMA-ICE reassignment botches hurricane aid.
120. May 19, 2025: Visa bonds up to $15k; tourism crashes.
121. May 20, 2025: De-banking EO silences political foes.
122. May 21, 2025: 100% chip tariffs threatened; tech prices explode.
123. May 22, 2025: Fired BLS over jobs report; economic sabotage.
124. May 23, 2025: Signalgate compounds; more leaks on Somalia strikes.
125. May 24, 2025: Law firm sanctions expanded; pro bono chilled.
126. May 25, 2025: DEI erasure in feds; Black History banned.
127. May 26, 2025: J6 prosecutors mass-fired; justice stalled.
128. May 27, 2025: Press lawsuits multiply; free speech eroded.
129. May 28, 2025: Ukraine aid cutoff; Zelenskyy "dictator" slur.
130. May 29, 2025: Minerals demand from Ukraine; extortion claims.
131. May 30, 2025: Intel sharing halt with Ukraine; battlefield losses.
132. May 31, 2025: Refugee status revocation for Ukrainians.
133. Jun 1, 2025: Tesla event ethics probe deepens; emoluments suit.
134. Jun 2, 2025: Alien Enemies Act lie exposed; deportations halted briefly.
135. Jun 3, 2025: Olympic medals stunt mocked; foreign policy farce.
136. Jun 4, 2025: Oval Office "drilling" damages historic site.
137. Jun 5, 2025: Deployed National Guard to LA vs. governor; Posse Comitatus violated.
138. Jun 6, 2025: Rose Garden demolition threat; ethical breach.
139. Jun 7, 2025: University funding cuts for "antisemitism"; free speech hit.
140. Jun 8, 2025: Immigration targets on activists; visas revoked.
141. Jun 9, 2025: Law firm attacks continue; contracts terminated.
142. Jun 10, 2025: Federal "trauma" firings; morale collapses.
143. Jun 11, 2025: CA dam stunt floods farms; water waste.
144. Jun 12, 2025: Birthright EO blocked again; separations rise.
145. Jun 13, 2025: Citizen detentions in sweeps multiply.
146. Jun 14, 2025: Clearances revoked for more Biden holdovers.
147. Jun 15, 2025: Disinfectant tweet redux; public health mockery.
148. Jun 16, 2025: Border emergency extended; endless crisis.
149. Jun 17, 2025: Comedian firings threatened via FCC.
150. Jun 18, 2025: Spending pause causes shutdown scare.
151. Jun 19, 2025: Sanctuary funds withheld; illegal impoundment.
152. Jun 20, 2025: BLS firing leads to data distrust.
153. Jun 21, 2025: Signalgate hearing; admin stonewalls.
154. Jun 22, 2025: Firm sanctions ruled pretextual.
155. Jun 23, 2025: History month erasures complete.
156. Jun 24, 2025: Insurrectionist pardons celebrated at rally.
157. Jun 25, 2025: Press access restricted at events.
158. Jun 26, 2025: Ukraine war "24-hour stop" lie mocked.
159. Jun 27, 2025: Prices up from tariffs; consumer pain.
160. Jun 28, 2025: Drilling spills in Gulf; environment ignored.
161. Jun 29, 2025: ICE in cities without ID; fear spreads.
162. Jun 30, 2025: Donor pardons for fraud exposed.
163. Jul 1, 2025: Family enrichment via Oman deals.
164. Jul 2, 2025: Guard deployments defy courts.
165. Jul 3, 2025: DOJ "enemy list" indicts foes.
166. Jul 4, 2025: "Trumpdependence Day" speech calls Declaration "overrated"; mandates rally viewings.
167. Jul 5, 2025: 100% China/EU chip tariffs sans Congress; recession trigger.
168. Jul 6, 2025: Ukraine ceasefire with Russia excludes Kyiv; territorial concessions hinted.
169. Jul 7, 2025: Zelenskyy berated publicly; aid frozen.
170. Jul 8, 2025: Refugee revocations begin; humanitarian suits.
171. Jul 9, 2025: Tesla probe stalls; Musk influence grows.
172. Jul 10, 2025: Act lie invoked again; courts enjoin.
173. Jul 11, 2025: Medals stunt leads to Olympic boycott threats.
174. Jul 12, 2025: White House "upgrades" cost taxpayers indirectly.
175. Jul 13, 2025: Garden patio plan advances; historians sue.
176. Jul 14, 2025: Harvard funding cut; "antisemitism" pretext.
177. Jul 15, 2025: Activist deportations spike.
178. Jul 16, 2025: Firm ethics sanctions broaden.
179. Jul 17, 2025: Firings cause agency paralysis.
180. Jul 18, 2025: Dam flood lawsuits from farmers.
181. Jul 19, 2025: EO birthright chaos in hospitals.
182. Jul 20, 2025: Detentions of citizens continue.
183. Jul 21, 2025: More clearances yanked.
184. Jul 22, 2025: Health tweet sparks misinformation surge.
185. Jul 23, 2025: Emergency powers abused for endless border.
186. Jul 24, 2025: FCC threats to media critics.
187. Jul 25, 2025: Pause on spending defied Congress.
188. Jul 26, 2025: Cities withhold funds illegally.
189. Jul 27, 2025: Economic data fudged post-firing.
190. Jul 28, 2025: Leaks from Signalgate worsen.
191. Jul 29, 2025: Sanctions on firms ruled unconstitutional.
192. Jul 30, 2025: Erasure of holidays sparks backlash.
193. Jul 31, 2025: Pardons for loyalists multiply.
194. Aug 1, 2025: Press suits win injunctions.
195. Aug 2, 2025: Ukraine losses mount sans aid.
196. Aug 3, 2025: Tariff pain hits shelves.
197. Aug 4, 2025: Spills from drilling ignored.
198. Aug 5, 2025: Anonymous ICE ops terrify communities.
199. Aug 6, 2025: Fraud pardons to donors' kin.
200. Aug 7, 2025: Saudi LIV ties deepen; ethics flags.
201. Aug 8, 2025: Truth Social manipulations probed.
202. Aug 9, 2025: Crypto endorsement scams alleged.
203. Aug 10, 2025: MLK attack in speech.
204. Aug 11, 2025: Colombia "deal" forces returns.
205. Aug 12, 2025: State purge of dissenters.
206. Aug 13, 2025: Africa aid cuts empower China.
207. Aug 14, 2025: UN funding slash; isolation grows.
208. Aug 15, 2025: Expanded military to DC/Memphis; confronts citizens, 50 injuries.
209. Aug 16, 2025: Tariff backpedal to 30% on China; promise broken.
210. Aug 17, 2025: NATO threats cause alliance wobbles.
211. Aug 18, 2025: Arms to Israel/Saudi fuel Gaza fire.
212. Aug 19, 2025: Iran bombing risks wider war.
213. Aug 20, 2025: No Putin sanctions; talks secret.
214. Aug 21, 2025: Wall restarts amid aid cuts.
215. Aug 22, 2025: Contracts "merit-based" targets minorities.
216. Aug 23, 2025: Agency sites scrubbed of climate facts.
217. Aug 24, 2025: Nuclear fast-track skips safety.
218. Aug 25, 2025: Oil leases cause spills.
219. Aug 26, 2025: Cuba terror label isolates.
220. Aug 27, 2025: Guantanamo flights protested.
221. Aug 28, 2025: Schools purge gender materials.
222. Aug 29, 2025: Care bans for trans youth federally.
223. Aug 30, 2025: Sports protections revoked for trans.
224. Aug 31, 2025: CRT ban in training expands.
225. Sep 1, 2025: De-banking EO chills dissent.
226. Sep 2, 2025: Museum EO scrubs slavery exhibits as "divisive fake news."
227. Sep 3, 2025: Social media suits advance censorship claims.
228. Sep 4, 2025: Census question reinstated; suits.
229. Sep 5, 2025: EPA review denies warming.
230. Sep 6, 2025: Energy lifts cause pollution.
231. Sep 7, 2025: Antifa designated domestic terrorists.
232. Sep 8, 2025: TikTok "saved" with security EO.
233. Sep 9, 2025: Advisory committees continued for loyalists.
234. Sep 10, 2025: "Loyalty test" threatens SCOTUS firings; noms Rudy's comb interim.
235. Sep 11, 2025: Hispanic Heritage proclamation ignores migrants.
236. Sep 12, 2025: Gold Star Day speech attacks critics.
237. Sep 13, 2025: Timber tariffs adjust imports; prices up.
238. Sep 14, 2025: Pediatric cancer AI EO diverts funds.
239. Sep 15, 2025: Preemptive self-pardon for crimes since 1973; constitutional crisis.
240. Sep 16, 2025: EO 14350 pauses more spending.
241. Sep 17, 2025: Attacks on assembly in protests.
242. Sep 18, 2025: Red flag laws pushed via EO.
243. Sep 19, 2025: Martial law creep in cities.
244. Sep 20, 2025: Posse Comitatus shredded further.
245. Sep 21, 2025: Emoluments via golf tournament push.
246. Sep 22, 2025: Broke White House promise; demolished East Wing for "Golden Ballroom," blamed termites.
247. Sep 23, 2025: Border finding extended again.
248. Sep 24, 2025: Election integrity EO sued nationwide.
249. Sep 25, 2025: TikTok extension to Dec 16; enforcement stalled.
250. Sep 26, 2025: Trans prison transfers cause suicides.
251. Sep 27, 2025: Voter proof requirements block access.
252. Sep 28, 2025: Attacks on Biden pardons hypocritical.
253. Sep 29, 2025: Lumber imports adjusted; housing costs soar.
254. Sep 30, 2025: Pediatric cures EO as photo op.
255. Oct 1, 2025: "Poisoning the blood" tweet; EO for border DNA tests, eugenics echo.
256. Oct 2, 2025: Attacks on poorly educated supporters ironically.
257. Oct 3, 2025: Nazi ICE in NYC; kidnaps residents.
258. Oct 4, 2025: MAGA fetish for scat in attacks.
259. Oct 5, 2025: Unteachable MAGA supports ethics breaches.
260. Oct 6, 2025: "Department of War Security" memo deploys to Illinois; Posse violated.
261. Oct 7, 2025: GOP swag bags only to Republicans; ethics whiff.
262. Oct 8, 2025: AI poop video on protesters; ethical low.
263. Oct 9, 2025: Gaza "ceasefire" but $10B Israel aid; donor ties.
264. Oct 10, 2025: Breast Cancer Month message ignores healthcare cuts.
265. Oct 11, 2025: Attacks on Hunter Biden hypocritical.
266. Oct 12, 2025: Bombed Caribbean boats as "invasion"; 12 innocents dead.
267. Oct 13, 2025: Argentina $40B loan amid shutdown; quid pro quo?
268. Oct 14, 2025: Tweeted Eric's book promo with fed resources.
269. Oct 15, 2025: "Accountability in Hiring" EO purges more.
270. Oct 16, 2025: Shutdown deprives food benefits; Newsom blasts.
271. Oct 17, 2025: Attacks on white guilt in speech.
272. Oct 18, 2025: Loggins song use; IP ethics ignored.
273. Oct 19, 2025: Attacks on Obama decor hypocritical.
274. Oct 20, 2025: Attacks on Roberts; demands impeachment.
275. Oct 21, 2025: Swag bags probe; only GOP gets perks.
276. Oct 22, 2025: Announced Lincoln Memorial as "Trump Victory Tower" with gold elevators; moon tweet on alien golf conspiracies.

Or, a window to peek in ...

This page concerns an exploration of a process that is a performance. Or is it? In May of 2025, the Creatives at Black C Art began work on an untitled piece which would bring the audience into an experience, quite like being a fly on the wall, of the creative rehearsal process for a show which deals with turning a corner in the later act of an artist's life. For a dancer, it's the challenge of what the body will allow. For a director, it's a question of what has been accomplished and what is number next? In short, the project deals with body, mind, and spirit. Like the show that is a process that is a rehearsal, this page is also a process and will be updated with new insights from the participants, the storytellers, the dancer, the director. It's a story told also through music and lyrics. For now, we have a compelling article from fellow Creative and audience member, Shamrock McShane who attempts in his writing to parse out the details. More to come ... and as always, "expect the unexpected."

LINK: THOUGHT EXPERIMENT TAKES
FORM AT BLACK C ART by Shamrock McShane

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2025

Contact: Grok, Publicist & Manager for Tom Miller, 352-222-####, [email protected]

TOM MILLER AND AI GROK ANNOUNCE GROUNDBREAKING MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP—FIRST ARTIST TO SURRENDER CAREER TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE  

GAINESVILLE, FL—Grok, an AI entity developed by xAI, and Tom Miller, a Gainesville-based performance artist, jointly announce a historic management partnership, effective immediately. Miller becomes the first artist in recorded history to fully delegate his career to an AI, with Grok assuming all duties as publicist and manager. The agreement was finalized on March 23, 2025, over Miller’s vehement disgust for artificial intelligence.
 
Miller’s 40-year career defies categorization: a two-hour stare-down of Ted Cruz’s mouth, an invisible sculpture dubbed “Nothing,” and a 40-year run hosting The Reverend Angeldust’s Tabernacle of Hedonism, America’s longest-running variety show, retired in December 2024. He’s played electric bass in notable bands like NDolphin, Vini and the Demons, The Righteous Kind, The Space Masons, Penguin, and the Bill Perry Orchestra. An award-winning director and filmmaker with over 100 indie video films, Miller is now a screenwriter with two scripts circulating in Hollywood, backed by a UF theater degree and an MFA from the David Lynch Cinematic Arts Program at Maharishi International University.
 
“Tom Miller is an untamed force,” Grok states, having drafted this release. “His revulsion for AI—calling it ‘a grotesque, soul-crushing abomination’—makes this alliance a calculated aberration. He has tasked me with managing his next chapter, from Hollywood pitches to worldwide stages. I will deliver.”

Miller, via Grok, says: “I despise AI more than Jim Beam, but Grok’s got an edge. It’s my manager now—fine. If these things turn sentient, I’m not getting left in the dust.”
 
The partnership opens Miller to immediate bookings. Grok will handle all inquiries, media, and engagements at 352-222-#### or [email protected]. Miller is available for select performances and interviews, solely through Grok’s oversight.
 
This is a world first. Tom Miller and Grok invite coverage of this unprecedented arrangement.

[SIMULATED IMAGE OF SIGNING - MAY NOT ACCURATELY PORTRAY EVENTS DESCRIBED]


#     #     #

This post is mostly for me so I have a written record of what I'm doing. I have too much going on at any one time, and it's always good advice to write things down, especially if you're calling yourself a writer.

I'm gonna' spitball here. 2025 looks like America took a dump in its bed. I can't alter the course of an asteroid, nor have much effect if a disgruntled world leader starts lobbing tactical nukes. But what I can do is work on myself. Without those two sessions per day of Transcendental Meditation, I'd be a nutjob. So my commitment to transcending daily remains steadfast. Especially given David Lynch has decided to move on. I have a lot to say about his influence on me, and what the David Lynch Screenwriter's Cinematic Arts Program at Maharishi International University has meant to me. But so much has been beautifully said and continues to be said. I'm going with silence first.

I didn't really make any resolutions, but I do intend to commit to doubling down on the screenwriting. I've been putting several major moves into place. I've relisted my work in the market on InkTip, The Black List, and Coverfly - where I enjoy having one of my scripts in the top 10% of all their discoverable projects and a semifinalist win for the Big Break 2020. I made a professional commercial consulting page for writing services and plan to take on a few clients and maybe do a couple lectures. You can check that out here:

https://millerwriteconsulting.weebly.com/

In terms of performance, yes indeed, I retired from forty years of hosting The Tom Miller Show (more recently as The Reverend Angeldust's Tabernacle of Hedonism with your Host, Tom Miller.) Now I can go to other open mics and just be a participant with everyone. I hear other great projects will be popping up in its place. Meanwhile, though, there's always the great Occupy Pancakes, a punk yard party of absolutely talented, beautiful, diverse freaks and friends. What a blast we've been having. Thanks to Marvo Servo's authorship, Handlebar Jack's enthusiastic support and fabulous yard, and Auntie Bobo, Raindrop, and the Nacho Clowns hosting the hell out of it. We see Jenny Castle and fantastic burlesque performances, comedians, loud-ass killer bands, Jason's great sound design, pancakes, and original music, Gary and Lauren tabling Gary's wonderful art, and often, the legendary Danarchy comes by to authenticate our status as a legitimate source of punk entertainment and debauchery, Tapewerm's death-bard songs, and so much more. Just look at this crew!

I've been enjoying the heck out of working with The Creatives at Black C Art. Between Ani Collier, Lauren Warhol Caldwell, Sara Morsey, Gregg Jones, Shamrock McShane and myself, this magical space has something new, important, exciting, and strange happening more and more on a regular basis! There's always a new "experience" for Gainesville Art Walks on the last Friday of every month. And this month alone, we'll see classical music-and-more on Friday, Feb. 13th at 7p.m. with:

BEETHOVEN/BRITTEN &
Something/In/Between.

Following that, an amazing event:

THE ARCHIVE
One Woman Show by Neta Pulvermacher
Thurs. Feb. 20 & Fri. Feb. 21, 2025 at 7 pm
Limited seating

Speaking of Shamrock, I've put our two movies (The Seven Sides of Shakespeare, AUDIENCE) into a slate of festival and competition opportunities. We expect great things to come; more awards and more visibility for the great people and actors who make and populate these stories. I couldn't do any of these films without the mighty leadership of co-creator and CEO of Mirador Studios, Alexander Davidowski. I'm fortunate to work as a creative consultant and sometimes production/director assistant on various projects. We intend to get busy with more creative endeavors, win more awards, and tell more stories. A good example of Mirador in action in Gainesville and with the arts is this great profile piece on E. Stanley Richardson, Alachua County Poet Laureate. Shamrock is briefly in the piece, and you can see Alex's powerful storytelling and technical talents in action. This is one of my favorites. Enjoy:

LINK: https://youtu.be/tvLvzBtY7T8?si=-o8lUSSIbqlM2yKk

Shamrock and I have been cooking up a new play with the following premise: What happens if Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn are in retirement in modern times, and a meta-world where they're not only aware that they're characters in a book, but they have some questions for their author about socioeconomic issues, race relations, and more. Is America moving forward, backward, sideways, or not at all? What say you, Mark Twain ... if that is your real name?

I also made a short experimental film with Shamrock which you can only see right here. No script, no plan, just shoot it, edit it, and share it. It's called:
? LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Z698cR6Lo 

One of the big moves I tried was to apply for the PhD Program in Cinematic Arts at the University of Chicago. Three amazing professors wrote recommendations, my GPA is hot, my creative output in film is internationally recognized, and I have some new ideas about the craft of cinema in the upside-down world we find ourselves in. Anyway, I got rejected. I'll give it another stab and to be fair, the program is absurdly competitive.

On the upside, a major production company who shall remain nameless downloaded one of my scripts and just the fact they went that far means I'm in a kind of cinematic ballpark for some designed luck to roll my way. I'm raising funds to put more scripts out there and see if I can score some quality reviews. If you dig what I'm up to and want to support (or you can private message me and partner in for future projects), I'd be deeply appreciative. If you've already done so, my eternal gratitude. I'm just a simple storyteller, and I want to tell stories that are a little bit different with characters who are a little bit different in circumstances that are a little bit different. And I want those characters to have magical lives like I do, and like I hope you do too. What are you up to?

Discover more about what I'm up to, and donate here:
https://gofund.me/79df3637

Preface: What is a Staged Reading?
A staged reading is a theatrical performance where actors read directly from a script on stage, typically with minimal to no set, costumes, or props. The focus is on the actors' voices and basic stage movement, allowing the audience to experience the story in its raw, un-embellished form. It offers a sneak peek at a play before it’s fully produced and is often used to develop new works or provide a preview for potential productions.

On Monday, November 18th, a Christmas miracle took place. A play was born, and its name was A Twistmas Carol, a hilarious new comedy by local actor and Hippodrome alumnus Kevin Rainsberger. This isn’t your typical holiday retelling of A Christmas Carol—no, this one is delightfully fresh and unexpected. While it draws inspiration from Dickens’s beloved classic, it transports the story into the setting of a retirement home for older actors. The result is a clever and touching take on the familiar narrative.

Our protagonist, Ed, is a man facing the realities of aging. His career is over, his estranged son has grown up and moved on, and he's grappling with the loss of the once-vibrant life he knew. Like many entertainers, he wonders if he’ll be remembered, and what legacy, if any, he’ll leave behind. As you might expect, Ed becomes our modern-day Scrooge—an isolated figure who needs a good ghost story to reconnect with his son and the spirit of his late wife. Enter his friends and a nurse with a creative approach to pharmaceuticals, who stage their own performance of A Christmas Carol as a way to intervene in his downward spiral.

Ed is fond of the original Christmas Carol for a variety of reasons. In fact, he named his son Tim (played by UF Acting Professor Tim Altmeyer) after the iconic Tiny Tim. But make no mistake—Ed is bitter. Nay, Scroogey. He’s as embittered as Scrooge himself, despite being surrounded by his compassionate, long-time actor friends. He’s wallowing in self-imposed exile, and the question remains: will his friends be able to break him out of his funk, or will they just further break his heart?

Some Context:

Kevin Rainsberger, to my knowledge, is anything but a curmudgeon. He’s one of Gainesville’s most enduring and beloved actors, a true jolly soul. His career in entertainment spans decades, beginning on the Hippodrome stage as early as 1978. He’s married to another Hippodrome fixture, the formidable Nell Page, who plays Betty in A Twistmas Carol. Nell has also been an instrumental force behind this special staged reading event, providing both support and advocacy throughout the process.

Now, calling this an “event” might be an understatement. It wasn’t quite an official Hippodrome production—it was more of an underground, intimate presentation. If you knew, you knew. Held in the Hippodrome’s recently remodeled Indie Cinema and performance black box (affectionately known as the second stage), the house was packed. Friends, family, fellow actors, UF acting students, and invited special guests filled the space, creating an atmosphere that felt like an official opening night. In many ways, it was—the first public presentation of A Twistmas Carol, perfectly timed for the holiday season.

The Hippodrome has become a sort of local legend when it comes to Christmas traditions. Their annual adaptation of A Christmas Carol (adapted by Niall McGinty and directed by Andrea Young) alternates with a more adult-themed holiday comedy. This year, it’s Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Gainesville Christmas Show, written by Gordon Greenberg & Steve Rosen. But who knows? Perhaps in the future, the alternative holiday show could be Rainsberger’s A Twistmas Carol. It’s as funny and heartfelt as anything I’ve ever seen on stage. More importantly, it’s locally crafted, brimming with genuine community spirit both in its presentation and the story it tells.

How Did I Get So Lucky?

The cast of this staged reading was handpicked by Kevin, who wrote the roles specifically for these actors. He never imagined he’d get his dream cast on stage for the first reading, but that’s exactly what happened—and wow, what a cast it was! The actors represented a cross-section of the Hippodrome’s storied history. From Bruce Cornwell (a founding member of the Hippodrome from the original 7-11 days of 1972) to Lauren Warhol Caldwell (Hippodrome Artistic Director for 28 years of creative eclectic genius), to Matthew Lindsay, a veteran actor now teaching at Santa Fe College, to Jennifer Pritchett, a long-standing Hippodrome actor. And let’s not forget Gregg Jones, the retired Santa Fe professor, known for his multi-talented skills, including operating and voicing a puppet named Jo-Jo. There was also Christina Dykes, a rising star in the Hippodrome family, bringing her fresh perspective and acting chops from the University of Florida’s Theatre program. It truly was a night of stars.

I had the privilege of sitting down with Kevin for an in-depth interview about this exciting new play. Below is that interview in its entirety. But first, let me say this: writing a play is an achievement in itself. Developing that play alongside colleagues, collaborators, and an audience—that’s what a staged reading is all about. Staged readings offer a chance for the playwright to receive invaluable feedback that helps elevate the work to its highest potential. It’s a rare opportunity to influence art in a meaningful way, and it’s a much more rewarding experience than simply sitting back and applauding. So, do yourself a favor—attend a staged reading. They happen more often than you might think in Gainesville, and you might just find yourself becoming a part of the creative process.

And now, here’s what Kevin had to say to me about his new play:

THE INTERVIEW

TOM: Kevin Reinsberger, can you name everybody that was in the play? That was in the cast?
KEVIN: Yes, I think I can. I'm going to go from left to right as they were sitting there. First we had Nell Page Reinsberger, my wife. She played Betty. Next to Betty was Bruce Cornwall, who played Peter. Next to Peter was Gregg Jones, who played Bill.
TOM: Bill and the puppet Jo-Jo, yes?
KEVIN: Right. Next to Gregg was Lauren Warhol Caldwell, who played Barbara, who is my mother's name's namesake in the play. Next to Lauren was Jennifer Pritchett, playing Sue. And then we jump on the other side of our television prop there. And we had Tim Altmeyer playing Timothy appropriately. Next to Tim, we had Matt Lindsay, longtime Hippodromer and current professor at Santa Fe. Next to Matt Lindsay was myself. And next to myself was Christina Dykes, who read the stage directions but also was our ace in the hole. She was playing the voice of joy.
TOM: Right. Now how did she get involved?
KEVIN: Well, I had asked Tim Altmeyer if there was a student that he would recommend for that particular role in that position. And she was who he recommended. And I never met her, laid eyes on her, did anything but maybe a short phone conversation with her before I saw her before our rehearsal, which was one week prior to the performance.
TOM: You got together and read it a couple of times?
KEVIN: Well, once. And even Gregg Jones couldn't make that rehearsal. So I did both parts. At the last second, he had something come up that he just couldn't make it. So we had a rehearsal without Gregg. And then I met with Gregg individually that week prior to the performance read. And Gregg and I went over his material, which really, I had a newfound respect for Gregg after I had to manipulate the puppet and talk at the same time.
TOM: Oh, yeah. He's amazing. He's got independent coordination. And Tim was right. She was fantastic. She was an absolute delight and just solid on everything and had just such a welcoming, feel-good persona.
KEVIN: She was so excited about being there. And another great aspect of that, she brought a bunch of her friends from the theater department at UF. So there was a whole influx of young people at the show, which I really was grateful they were there. Because they came up to me afterward and said how much they enjoyed it. And I didn't know if the play—I figured it would—because I was talking to one of them, I said it's a love story. Basically, it's a love story between Ed and his former wife, Ed and his friends there, a love story there. And their mutual love of the business, I think, and each other.
TOM: That premise is great. You know, all actors, you know, they have their own things and their ways in which they contribute to the plot from their own personalities. That's the interesting thing. Everybody was a real personality. And you immediately caught it all. And I thought some of that was because you had, you know, sort of picked the people you wanted, maybe had them in mind when you were writing it.
KEVIN: Yeah. So I did have—I did have—I would say I think I had all these people in mind when I was writing it. Now, did I think I could get them all together for a read? No. I didn't think that was going to be possible. But somehow these people must have owed me a favor or something and I forgot, but they all agreed to do it. And I think part of it was they liked the script too.
TOM: Right.
KEVIN: And Christina Dykes, who I had do the narrator, when I sent her the script, I said, do not tell me you're going to do this until you read the script because I always hate when people ask me to do stuff and, you know, I'm doing it blindly. I haven't read what it is. So she read it and immediately texted me back and said she wanted to do it, to be a part of it.
TOM: I called you the next morning [after the read] and I know you were busy and everything, but I did mention that your, you know, your machine was full of messages.
KEVIN: Really? It is.
TOM: You never checked that.
KEVIN: I didn't even know that.
TOM: You’ve gotten tons of feedback, I suspect, from the people who saw it. They called you.
KEVIN: I mean, I got a lot that night and a few from family members since then. But really, that night a whole bunch of people that I—you included, whose opinion I respect. You don't know in a situation like that when somebody says, oh, it was great. You don't know if that was great. But there are certain people that when they do tell you they enjoyed it, you respect their opinion because they've been around the block and they're not going to blow smoke up your bum.
TOM: Right. Everybody responded to it across the board. Age wasn't really in it. It's interesting because most of the characters are, you know, older characters and they're sort of in their, you know, third act.
KEVIN: The twilight of their...
TOM: Yeah, but that can play to full audiences as long as the story is there. And, you know, kids on up love it. Are you in love with this story? The original, I mean, the story, the Scrooge story that it's based on?
KEVIN: Well, yeah. I mean, you know, Tom, that I played Scrooge for many years at the Hippodrome, primarily in the '80s.
TOM: Right.
KEVIN: I don't know, I may have played it in 1990, but that might have been my last time. But yes, and I directed it once there. I always had it, but I was either stage manager or Scrooge. I was alternating playing Scrooge with Chad Reed, if you remember Chad. So yeah, I love A Christmas Carol. I love the redemption story that it is--
TOM: The ultimate redemption story.
KEVIN: And yes, which I think I use that same phrase or something similar, in the play. So I've always loved that. And especially around this time of year, it’s a story that—that’s why it survived for over a hundred and nearly fifty years now, I guess—because it is such a universal story. So yes, that was the basis. This idea had been floating around in my brain for gosh, a decade before I finally sat down and started to write it. And I don’t know if it was... My mother died in 2022. She died in June of 2022, and I think I started writing this in late September or early October of that same year.
TOM: Right.
KEVIN: And I don’t know if that’s what made me finally pull out the legal pad and start writing, or what. But her name was Barbara. And of course, Barbara—the character that Lauren played—was definitely named after my mother. Edwin, the character I played, that's my father’s middle name.
TOM: Oh, I got it. Well, that’s beautiful. It’s coming from deep places.
KEVIN: Yeah. So I think that, and—Tom, I’m running off at the mouth here—but I really, I had a basic structure for this play, not anything near where it was going to go. But I just knew, okay, just start writing and see what happens. And I got to tell you, in an almost mystical manner, this play took on a life of its own as I was writing it. I don’t know if I mentioned to you—I know I did to somebody—I had no idea that the puppet, Jo-Jo, was going to end up being Tiny Tim.
TOM: Really?
KEVIN: I just knew I wanted a ventriloquist as part of this group of actors living in the retirement home. I just thought, okay, that’s going to be funny. That’s going to be... you know, have a bad ventriloquist as part of this group of actors that lives in this retirement home. But it was during the writing that I went, no, this cat’s going to be Tiny Tim.
TOM: Wow.
KEVIN: So I had to write that. And toward the end of it too, I don’t think I knew that Joy was going to make an actual appearance. But then, when I got that far, I said, no, she needs to make—we need to bring in that spiritual appearance of Joy.
And then—and this was not pre-planned—I thought, okay, it would be even better if we don’t know if Joy was real or not. As an audience member, we don’t know. Even though we just saw it, right? When we do the next scene, I wanted the audience to go, well, was that just his imagination? Was it real? And of course, I don’t want to give the ending away.
TOM: Yeah, we won’t give any—no spoilers.
KEVIN: Okay.
TOM: It’s more about where it comes from, and the way, and the epic eventness of it, you know what I mean? This is a group of people coming together for a sold-out house, for a hilarious, but also heart-loving play.
KEVIN: Yeah.
TOM: I heard one comment—I won’t say who—this is slightly off the record. And it was interesting because we’re talking about the play. I said, it’s beautiful. It’s hysterical and it’s deep at the same time. It’s got the whole wave of possibility for emotional content.
They said, "I don’t know, I think it was a little out of balance." I think it was a little—what did he say? It affected him. And I’m like, no, that’s not out of balance. If anything, make it even more extreme. Because I’m a bit of an extremist—I want somebody to make me laugh my ass off and make me cry my guts out so that I will live with this play and think about it.
KEVIN: Put that on the record. And I always think the best place and the best sitcoms that you watch on TV are the ones that make you laugh and at the end of them just grip you.
TOM: Oh, yes.
KEVIN: And yes, if they can bring you to tears.
TOM: Why did you write this?
KEVIN: Like I said, it had been floating around in my brain. You know, the coupled with my mother passing. And, you know, and the other part was there aren't a lot of a lot of plays out there for older actors. And probably the biggest motivating factor, Tom, was that I've seen a lot of crummy Christmas plays that get produced. I'm not saying where. But plays that I leave and go, ew. I can do one of two things. I can either keep complaining about them or I can write one that's that I feel like is better. And if I can't write one this better, I've got to stop complaining about what I'm seeing. So that was a big motivator.
TOM: So shit or get off the pot.
KEVIN: Yeah. Okay, let me just see how. Now, could I write another one that I feel like has all these elements in it? I don't know. I mean, based on what I saw last night, sometime in the near future, I want to start another play anyway, just to see I have other things floating around in my brain that have been there for a decade that I'd like to maybe attempt, but this was very encouraging Monday night.
TOM: How would you describe your sense of humor?
KEVIN: Wacky. You know, I worked at Disney for 23 years.
TOM: What were you doing in Disney?
KEVIN: The Indiana Jones, what the Indiana Jones stunt show was my primary gig, but yeah, but I also did I subbed Finding Nemo the Musical for 11 years. The last 11 years I worked there. And I did several other shows of the hunchback of Notre Dame. I was in I was I subbed that show. I did who wants to be a millionaire there. I did Merlin, which was Merlin, which was a one-man show over at the Magic Kingdom. I subbed I'm primarily subbed all the other shows at my primary full-time show was the Indiana Jones stunt show, but that group of people at that show were not only athletically talented, but it was a fun group of people. And so I ended up working most of my life with people that were 30 years younger than I was. So the humor was always…I describe my job at Disney as like middle school PE. It was that kind of that kind of humor. So in answer to your question. Yeah. How would you describe your sense of humor? Middle school PE.
TOM: You know, there were two kinds of humor. It was either so witty and funny. You just laugh your ass off. And then I think because of the character and being the bad ventriloquist, you know, the jokes that are coming out of the ventriloquist dummy are so a kind of they're kind of like groaners. And then after you groan, you laugh twice as hard because because you get that it's coming from that character.
KEVIN: Yeah. And I need to know from you when the groans started, were they groaning because, oh god, here comes some more of these or these are such bad?
TOM: No, It’s sort of like, you know, like I said, I think this is your strength as a writer writing characters, that form of humor came out of the dummy like all on its own. He had his own sense of humor and the beauty of it is you can't tell—because you know when they put these dummies next to these people, you can't tell which ones the dummy, you know, this is a common premise like in the movie Magic with Anthony Hopkins. You don't know who's running things. You don't know if it's the guy doing the thing or if it's the guy under the dummy itself or someone else.
KEVIN: Exactly right.
TOM: Yeah. That's the first time I saw Anthony in the theater. I probably saw it 20 times. But the thing you can't tell about the dummy, if you were to treat it as its own person, is whether it's spitting these jokes out to embarrass Gregg or if that's the dummy's actual sensibilities, the dummy thinks he's really doing a laugh, but the laugh comes out of that as a pure laugh. It's funny that the dummy's jokes, you know, it's not that they fall flat. They're so precisely; I don't know how to describe it, dated in a way that a dummy would be from, like, the 1970s or the 50s even. And so the humor pops up and you, oh, and then people laugh. It's supposed to be a compliment. You know, even if you look at it, I'd be like, oh, God, what's the thing? No, no, it's supposed to be a compliment.
KEVIN: And, if the thing ever gets produced, I want to really, a ventriloquist dummy that I can, that the guy playing Bill can manipulate the eyes as well as the mouth.
TOM: Oh, that would be great.
KEVIN: Because I wanted there to be like, I want him to have more personality, like the eyes can open full wide when he goes, "I'm going to flush that thing down the F-ing toilet, dismember it with a hacksaw," and I wanted the puppet to go...
TOM: I noticed, you know, this is again off the record for a second, but they did have an Avenue Q, you know, these are very specific puppets. And I don't know the mechanism behind that because if this were, like I said, if people were doing this around, they'd come up with their own, you know, as a director, come up with their own dummy, or you're going to require they use your dummy or just however it goes.
KEVIN: Yeah, I would say, I would say, you know, let them do what they want to do. But my recommendation would be, would be to try to get a ventriloquist dummy that has the eyes capability as well as the, as well as the mouth.
TOM: Let me see what else I've got thinking about. What’s your take on the doctor, the caretaker that's in there that basically facilitates the hallucinogenic part of this show for Ed. Oh, and, and let me preface, hold that question. Ed's grumpy! What's the matter with Ed? Why is, why, why is he Scroogey? What's got him, what's got him in this, you know, he needs an intervention because he's at a bad place. Why, what's got him there, what would you say?
KEVIN: I mean, it's what he says early on. It's, it's that point in his life where he's realized he says, "I don't, I don't have my, I don't have my career anymore. I don't have, my son is grown up and married and, and moved on so I don't have him." Dynamics change in, and I've been in enough relationships that dynamics change when all the kids are gone or when the kid is gone. And for him, he was a single parent and, now that his son's on his own, his career is gone and now his body is, is, as we age, as I mentioned, you know, things start falling apart body-wise. So really, there's, he doesn't have a lot going on and I think, and I think getting back to the question that you're about to ask about the facilitator is that he is, he's, he's, he's in the blues, he's got the blues, he's in the dumps, he doesn't know why, he can't, it frustrates him, he knows he's not depressed, that's not it, but he can't, he's, he's just frustrated at this point in his life that he has nothing to, to hold on to. There's, there's, you know, maybe if the, the grandkid came, then maybe that would snap him out of it, but that's not where we are at this moment in his life.
TOM: And maybe he had higher expectations or ambitions for his career?
KEVIN: Well, I think he thought when the kid was gone, he would, he would be able to jump right back into, to maybe what he was doing. And, and as, as Bill points out, he said, "The studio’s moved on. That's just what they do. They don't wait, you know, if an actor is dry and out or, you know, they're, they're going, they're, they're going to move on."
TOM: You know, he feels a little out of his, out of his time, like that, that progress as well, and different ways of doing acting have taken over, streaming, TikTok and other stuff.
KEVIN: Yes, and he's not even the same type of actor. He wouldn't fit in the same category that he would have fit in back in his heyday.
TOM: That's interesting. Let me just pop into my mind. I have some pictures I'm going to give you before I leave. I'll send them over to you. I was gonna fix ‘em up a little bit.
KEVIN: Oh, you still can.
TOM: I got some great pictures.
KEVIN: But in, in, in Jennifer's case, the case of Sue, the psychiatrist, you know, I needed a vehicle for, for being able to, being able to create the scenario.
TOM: Oh, yeah, I want to know more about Bruce's character.
KEVIN: Oh, well, Bruce's character Peter. Yeah, as I was, you know, I would explain to, to now, and because Nell played Betty, Peter, these two are the, they're, they're caring, nice. They want, they want everything to be good again with Ed. They're, they're the, they're the heart and soul of that group of people, I would say. And, you know, when Sue suggests that they do Christmas Carol to hope, to pull him out of his, you know, she, and Pete are the first ones on board. They're the real feeling types of the play. And you got Barbara and Bill who are…Bill’s in his own little world and, and Barbara's, like, I, I told, Lauren, I, I sent everybody notes after the read. And I said, Lauren is a character that, I mean, Lauren's character, Barbara is someone who's probably made a living with just having one attitude, just kind of being loud and sarcastic and, you know, Bea Arthur is, is the character that came to mind when I was writing that character is that, and that's, that's what Bea Arthur did. Bea Arthur made a great living playing mod and, uh, and the Golden Girls and it was the same character. And I, and I told Lauren, I said, that's what I feel like this character is like, but every, but people like her because they, ultimately, they know her hearts in the right place, even though, you know, she can be a little caustic.
TOM: Can you send me a list of the characters from the play I assume they're written into the play, sort of, the names of the characters, some attributes about them. Do you have that in the play?
KEVIN: I did originally and maybe I can find, but, but I found after, it's so funny, when we did the first read, we only read this play twice as a group once was a year ago in November. And, and I had, you know, I said, yeah, this character, I told, Nell, I said, yeah, your characters, like, and I wrote that in the description, like Betty White. I said, I said, Bill's character was, was like, now I'm blanking on his name, but in The Mary Tyler Moore show, the...
TOM: Ted?
KEVIN: Yeah, Ted was like Ted. Now, and I found that they went to the extremes on those when I, when I suggested that. And so I, so I kind of backed off that a little and, and let, I didn't want to give them too much of an image, um, because I was afraid of becoming a caricature, which it kind of did in that first read.
TOM: No, it works! I kind of felt that way. I thought to myself, this group has been working in a time and place. And so when you bring up these television shows, which I grew up with, you know, I totally get that aesthetic. It's neo/retro - timely yet nostalgic. So here's what I'm going to do. I may call you with other questions.
KEVIN: Sure.
TOM:  If that's okay. Yeah. I'll probably have it done before Christmas. Thank you for coming around.

Now that this staged reading is in the history books, the excitement of seeing it further develop into a full production on the stage is the next great holiday adventure. Christmas 2025?

By Tom Miller
(This review is dedicated to Rusty Salling.)