You’ve probably heard Bruce Vilanch’s jokes even if you’ve never seen his standup act.
That’s because the two-time Emmy Award winner has punched up the comedy at Oscars, Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards shows as a writer. He’s also scripted the acts of entertainment legends such as Bette Midler, Billy Crystal, Cher, Lily Tomlin, David Letterman, Diana Ross, Whoopi Goldberg, Elizabeth Taylor, Rosie O’Donnell and many more.
And now Vilanch is coming to South Florida for a book reading and signing at Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library on March 11. Titled “It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time” (Chicago Review Press; $28.99), the showbizzy/dishy/behind-the-scenes tome shares his comedy catastrophes, and many of them went on to become hilarious ha-ha-ha hits anyway.
This is hardly Vilanch’s first time in SoFlo.
“I had grandparents on Miami Beach for decades and a mother in Boca, of course, from Jersey, whaddya expect?” he tells the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “And my first job was as an intern at The Miami Herald. Later, I gravitated to Fort Lauderdale, where the boys are.”
Vilanch has performed his standup routine in Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale a few times. He also “grand-marshaled” a gay pride parade here and returned in “Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays” at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Here is more with Vilanch from a Q&A session edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: Did you hesitate with any of the anecdotes in the book, giving readers a backstage look at so many projects you have worked on?
A: Things got much easier once I realized so many of my collaborators are working at that big streamer in the sky. So I felt I could cut loose. But I did want to protect the living, so yes, I tried to tread as carefully as possible without spoiling any really good stuff.
Q: If possible — sans any spoilers, of course — can you give readers an idea of what parts of the book you will be sharing during the reading?
A: Great question, and I wish I had an answer. I will have done a few out-of-town tryouts before I hit Fort Lauderdale and, with any luck, I’ll know by then.
Q: Are there any parts of “It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time” that take place in Florida, or specifically in South Florida?
A: I don’t think so, but I may be forgetting something, like my house keys.
Q: Speaking of memory, what can you tell us about your visits and stays in SoFlo?
A: What, and blow my cover?! I can tell you that as a kid, I stayed with my grandparents, who had an apartment on Indian Creek and later Normandy Isles. The one on the creek featured neighbors Martha Raye and Belle Barth. I learned a great deal about … show business, yeah that’s what I learned.
Q: Do you ever have trouble on the road finding a stylist to maintain your signature look?
A: I use the same one Travis Kelce’s mother uses. Give her a Google and you’ll see what I mean.
Q: In 2014, when “Big & Tall with Bruce Vilanch and Judy Gold” played The Parker in Fort Lauderdale, Gold said at the time, “We’re both Jewy Jews.” What do you think she meant, and do you agree with her assessment?
A: You’d have to ask her, but I’m guessing it’s that we are tribal without being particularly religious. And we both had mothers that people write shows about.
Q: How has being Jewish steered your career, as a writer, comedian and an actor?
A: To be perfectly serious, as upper middle class as my family was, we were always aware that, at some point, we were outsiders looking in, and that has always informed the comedy that we as a tribe produce. As we all know, every Jewish holiday is about three things: They tried to kill us, they lost, let’s eat.
Q: Anything else you would like to share with readers?
A: I have a petrified knish from Wolfie’s, but I don’t know that I can share it with anyone.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Bruce Vilanch book signing
WHEN: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 11
WHERE: Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library, 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
COST: Admission is free, but you must RSVP by emailing monique@stonewall-museum.org.
INFORMATION: 954-763-8565; stonewall-museum.org
Chicago Review Press
Bruce Vilanch’s new book, “It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time,” provides a behind-the-scenes look at some of his TV writing. (Chicago Review Press/Courtesy)
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