Director Bryan Spicer learned a valuable lesson on the set of the new action comedy “McHale’s Navy”: Never ask comedians to freely give suggestions.
Among the cast for the big-screen version of the 1960s television comedy were four standups: Tom Arnold as McHale and David Alan Grier, Brian Haley and Henry Cho as members of McHale’s freewheeling misfits. Sprinkled in for good measure was French Stewart from the NBC comedy “3rd Rock From the Sun.”
“(Spicer) goes the first day, `Hey, if you guys ever have any ideas . . .’ and immediately I go, `This is hell,’ ” said Grier, who made a stop in Chicago to promote “McHale,” which opens Friday.
There was a simple scene in the movie, Grier said, where McHale and the gang pile out of a Jeep. “After a two-hour conference,” he laughed, “everybody’s like, `Hey, why don’t I fall out of the Jeep?’ `Oh, I got an idea, I’ll fall out of it, and you stumble over me!’
“That went on for a few weeks,” he continued, “and finally Bryan got hip to it. And it was like, he would just tell us what to do.” But Grier said it was still lots of fun working with guys whose minds are so in tune with comedy.
Grier, a former member of “In Living Color,” plays in “Navy” Ensign Parker, the stumblebum officer originated by Tim Conway in the original series. Grier was a fan of the series (he has fond memories of “McHale’s Navy” lunch boxes), but he didn’t go back and watch how Conway played the role to essay his part.
“I love Tim Conway, and I’ve always been a big fan of his,” says the 40-year-old Detroit native. “There’s no way I would try to do anything he did. And that was great. But the nature of the role is this guy is a bumbling guy, he’s really funny. But he’s that dude. He’s the dude that wants to do right, but he just keeps screwing up.
“I just did my take on that character, and that’s pretty much what we all did. Nobody was like a method actor who studied all the old shows, determined to bring to life Happy as we all knew him (in the series).”
Among Grier’s upcoming projects is a reunion with his “In Living Color” co-star Damon Wayans, in a Fox pilot for situation comedy Wayans created about a married couple’s life together, with Grier as Wayans’ best friend.
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Aren’t they special?
Yes, they are. Special performances dot the landscape this weekend, starting Friday with “The Triple Threat of Comedy”: former “In Living Color” star Tommy Davidson, ex-“Comicview” host D.L. Hughley and John Witherspoon of the WB network’s “The Wayans Bros.”
But it gets even more threatening, because Shang, a deadly social commentary ace, and Chicago’s George Willborn also are set to get some laughs. There’s one show Friday, and two Saturday, at the Regal Theatre in Chicago. Call Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212.
A new comedy thriller opens Friday in Donny’s Skybox Studio. “Deep Freeze” is a sendup of those cheeky spy movies of the 1960s. Picture exotic locations, unbelievable fight scenes, goofy male and female villains and silly-looking clothes that are now back in fashion.
“Deep Freeze” will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The Skybox Studio is on the 4th floor of Piper’s Alley, 1608 N. Wells St.; call Second City for tickets at 312-337-3992.
The Weekend of Comedy Wonder (with apologies to the Sci-Fi Channel, which uses that title for its weekend programming slate) concludes Sunday, when the legendary Alan King, who has been making generations laugh for 50 years, makes a special appearance at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (847-673-6300).
King’s recent credits include his fine Comedy Central interview show, “Inside the Comedy Mind,” and his co-producing the Toyota Comedy Festival in New York.
Yuks on the tube
Attention all you people who attended Howie Mandel’s performances at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Ind., a few weeks ago. Your hour of fame is at hand. Mandel’s “HBO Comedy Hour,” titled “Howie Mandel on Ice,” even though not an ice patch was to be found anywhere on stage when the special was taped at the Star Plaza, premieres at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
The hour finds the comic in typical Mandel fashion, talking about his slant on life and living with his wife and kids, and giving tips on how to have fun with women visiting the makeup counter at a department store.
The standup lineup
– A great talent grown from Chicago area clubs is coming back to make special appearances this weekend at the Funny Bone, 1504 Naper Blvd.-Tower Crossing Shopping Center in Naperville (708-955-0500): Mark Roberts, who recently has been getting national attention thanks to a co-starring role as the not-all-that-Stupid Dave in the NBC hit “The Naked Truth.”
– This Chuck Booms is a guy you have to see. Hw’a appearing through Sunday at Zanies (1548 N. Wells St.; 312-337-4027). Boom-Boom, as seen on Comedy Central’s “Comics on Delivery,” is a whirlwind, ripping through an audience with a nonstop act almost totally derived from whoever is sitting in the seats.
– Honest John will give you a good show . . . honest. At least that has to be a reason this comic names himself Honest John, but check for yourself this weekend at All Jokes Aside (1000 S. Wabash Ave.; 312-922-0577). H.J. is co-headlining with Jeff B.