When I was growing up I remember the time when Tony Slattery became the butt of many jokes all with a punchline of "Tony Slattery is on TV a lot"
Funny thing is, I always felt this was said with great affection for a much loved man. He was probably my favourite comedy performer at the time. I particularly loved his turns on "Whose line is it anyway?"
He has provided me with two of the funniest moments I have ever seen on TV.
The first occurred during an episode of "Whose Line" after a series of withering insults had been shot in his direction (which was perfectly in keep with the program and was not meant nastily), he dropped out of character and shouted "Oh fuck off!" at the top of his voice. To me this was said with perfect comic timing, without malice and with his trade mark twinkly eyes. I creased with laughter, as did the audience.
The second was, I think, from the opening scene of the short-lived sit-com "Just a Gigolo"
The scene started (Well, as far as I remember it) with him sitting next to his brother on a sofa. You can only see the two of them from the shoulders upwards. His brother is clearly struggling with something with his arm reaching behind Tony's back. As the camera panned down it revealed Tony to be wearing a bra over his jumper. At this point Tony jumped up, unclipped the bra from behind his back and said "Oh for goodness sake, it's only one small clip!"
I realise in the re-telling this doesn't sound all that funny, but trust me, it was hilarious!
You may wonder why I am mentioning all this? Well, I am currently reading the second installment of Stephen Fry's autobiography. In it he mentions that he performed with Tony many years ago. This reminded me of how sad I had been when Tony suddenly disappeared from our screens. I remembered reading that bi-polar disorder had been a major part of this.
As you do, I began to google Tony and read his wiki entry. At the bottom of it were two links to articles from the Independent, one written in 2003 and one in 1998 and here's where I finally get to my point-
The first article described Tony in such unflattering terms that I was very much taken aback. He was described as a man that no body liked and "What's always been unsettling about him, this sense that deep down something black and nasty and not very light-entertainment was going on"
The author asked if you ever heard anyone saying that they loved Tony Slattery, that he was a genius. The author suggests not.
Well love, meet me, I'm the one who did. I don't remember this Tony Slattery she describes. I remember him being incredibly funny, jolly, likable, capable of amazing wit and intelligence. Her article is written with such a seemingly large chip on her shoulder about him, it makes me wonder what he did to her? To paraphrase the immortal words of Hank in Californication, it's not like he "Finger-banged her cat"
Once again it brought me back to a thing that I think about a lot- perceptions. I just can't seem to get even close to working it all out.
For instance recently, I heard a guy I very much like and have chatted to at great length on many occasions, described as basically being self-obsessed. "He talks about himself a lot" was the way it was put. "Have you never noticed that Scott?"
Well no, I hadn't, because I don't think he does. And this is from me, someone who DOES talk about himself way too much.
I myself (told you I talk about myself way too much) have been described in so many vastly differing ways my mind boggles. From "So laid back you're practically asleep" and "Mr happy" to "In a constant state of mild discontentment" and "Argumentative"
In my own mind, I am far more middle-of-the-road than either of these descriptions. I am constantly aware of the false impressions I give out of myself. For a start, people think me full of confidence when the truth is very far from there. I have been described as "intelligent" on so many occasions that the very word when applied to me makes my skin crawl. Believe me when I say, that life has taught me, and very resolutely, that I am not gifted with any special quantity of intelligence. In fact I am more than capable of total stupidity which I demonstrate all too cringe-inducingly often.
I would love to project a more accurate representation of myself to the world. I constantly think about this and try to retrain and readjust myself, but sadly the moments when I get it right are far out weighed by my failures. When I get it right, it feels glorious and it feels like everyone gets me and I am the man I want to be. It's all too rare though.
One of my largest failings is the violence of which I will impart my opinion on something. Typically I will start a topic with such vehement damning/praise of a subject that anyone who wishes to disagree with me or even enter into a discussion would pretty much have to start an argument. Most people don't want to do this unsurprisingly. I really am far from the arrogant tit that this makes me look and I really do not have any problem with anyone disagreeing with me, but from the ugly base which I present it gives other people little room to manoeuvre.
But I know all this about myself. So why don't I change?
Well, I'm trying.
