Five years ago I received a phone call from my long-time friend, Jim Pasternak, a Hollywood writing and directing coach. As he sat in an outdoor cafe in Montecito, just south of Santa Barbara, he ranted about a terrible meeting he’d just endured with “the worst writer I’ve ever worked with.” Just as he was contemplating slitting his wrists (or the writer’s throat), a miracle happened. Jonathan Winters walked by with several paintings under his arm for his first art show in 20 years. As Jim tells it, he called out to Jonathan, “Thank you, thank you, thank you for your brilliance as we laughed ourselves silly in front of the television so many years ago.” Jonathan replied in his Maudie Frickert voice, “You’re welcome, you’re welcome, you’re welcome” then came over and sat down at the table. He proceeded to talk Jim’s ear off. After an hour, Jim was convinced there was a documentary waiting to be shot about Jonathan and his passion for painting.
Jim called me on his way back to Los Angeles and pitched me on working on the project. I was in the midst of shooting another documentary about Paul Conrad, the political cartoonist, but immediately jumped at the chance to partner with Jim. I remembered Jonathan as the quintessential comedy genius of my childhood. My mother, in particular, would gather us in front of the television to watch Jonathan perform his improvisational hat routines on The Andy Williams Show or the on-the-spot improves with a audience member provided personal article on The Jonathan Winters Show. It’s one of the things I remember most about my childhood television experiences.
Jim saw Jonathan one more time and convinced him to sign a two-page agreement to let us tag along with him at his art show at the Andrew Weiss Gallery in Beverly Hills. We secured a few dollars for tape and some lunch money were on our way. We had NO idea what we were in for.
Nearly four years later, we’ve finished CERTIFIABLY JONATHAN. Our film, a documentary /mockumentary /fictional hybrid, (we sometimes called it a Dadamentary), has garnered festival awards, good reviews, and adoring audiences, and is now available on DVD. It will also be downloadable soon.
The film is now on its own journey, possibly to become the quintessential media document about the great Jonathan Winters, now 83 years old, but still as vital, funny, smart and wonderfully crazy as ever. Our hundreds of hours spent with Jonathan were an amazing adventure. Many other comedians, actors, and performers also participated including Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Sarah Silverman, Howie Mandel, Nora Dunn, Tim Conway, Ryan Stiles, Rob Reiner, Mickey Rooney, Robert Klein, Kevin Dunn, the entire Arquette family – all because of the love and admiration they have for Jonathan’s amazing talent.
The intent of Wintersville blog is to recount the stories of our five years with Jonathan Winters, and include on-going stories and anecdotes about Jonathan. We’d like to, hopefully, get Jonathan himself to participate (however he doesn’t own a computer), and invite our CERTIFIABLY JONATHAN cast and crew as well as other comedians to write about Jonathan and his influence on them and comedy in general.
We’ll be posting new clips (from our 250 hours of footage) that we weren’t able to include in the 80-minute film and we also invite Jonathan’s fans to send posts, comments, and fond memories of Jonathan induced laughter. We’ll feature more of his wonderful art and try to keep up with him. (Trying to keep up with an 83-year-old funny-man who’s also bipolar is nearly impossible.) Unfortunately, Jonathan’s wife, Eileen, of 60+ years recently passed away, and he is still recovering, so like our film, it won’t all be funny. So here we go.
RM
Tags: Alexis Arquette, art, bipolar disorder, Certifiably Jonathan, comedy, David Arquette, documentary, film, Hollywood, Howie Mandel, humor, Jack Parr, Jim Carrey, Jonathan Winters, Kevin Dunn, Maudie Frickert, Mickey Rooney, mockumentary, Nora Dunn, Patricia Arquette, Paul Conrad, Richmond Arquette, Rob Reiner, Robert Klein, Robin Williams, Rosanna Arquette, Ryan Stiles, Santa Barbara, Sarah Silverman, The Andy Williams Show, The Jonathan Winters Show, Tim Conway
April 16, 2009 at 11:16 pm |
I am 50 years old, female and have loved Jonathan ever since I can remember. His brilliant comic bits & witts are an inspiration and relief for us all, especially now. We need more laughter and we need Jonathan more now than we have ever had. I am on my way right now to purchase a copy of his DVD, Certifiably Jonathan Winters. A treat I can share with my grandson. Jonathan and his fans are ageless!!
WE LOVE YOU FOREVER, JONATHAN!!!
April 17, 2009 at 1:10 am |
Dear Mr. Winters,
I was so sad to hear of the loss of your wife. I hope you will be ok because I think we all still need you around just because you are such a dear and special man. I can’t wait to see the movie and just think the world of you. God bless and keep you and thank you for making me laugh my whole life and also for your service to America in the mililtary.
Love and affection,
Patty
April 21, 2009 at 6:15 pm |
Mr. Winters…First and foremost my blessings to you on the the loss of Eileen.
Though it has been a few years since we’ve had our many lunches and dinners together with Whitey (Pink Soles) I think of you often and continue to laugh over all of the fun times spent with you (fried clams, calamari and chocolate) at our fun restaurants and at your home.
Be well my friend and on my next trip to LA I’ll call you and we’ll have lunch.
Hopefully Whitey has been in touch…as you know he vanished..possibly to the “Boulevard of Dreams.”
Best,
Coby
May 5, 2009 at 4:22 pm |
Dear Mr. Winters,
I can’t tell you how much I loved listening to you watch you and enjoying ever moment you where on the air. Your improv- instant response time no one could match even today.
The funniest but low keyed joke you did was The Gorilla gag in the Military he was one of the new recruits
The other one was the bus driver that thought he hit some thing. I guess truth is the funniest. Thank you for sharing your talent with us over the years.
Lee
June 27, 2009 at 7:43 pm |
Hi there Mr.Winters!
I would just like to say you are the funniest man ever! I am 16 an was first introduced to your work through robin williams. I have read both your books and found them very funny! Your paintings are very good too, just don’t cut your ear off! I plan to buy your new DVD real soon!
Until next time, Nick Dotson
June 28, 2009 at 5:43 pm |
Thanks Nick,
Don’t worry. I’ll keep both ears unless I start hearing voices.
JW
August 1, 2009 at 6:02 am |
I decided that your going make me laugh so hard one of these days that I’m going to die by laughter overdose Mr. Jonathan Winters! You are the greatest comedian in the world!
October 6, 2009 at 2:02 am |
Hello:
Would you kindly let Jon know that his long time friend JB Smith passed away on May 7. I was just informed this past weekend and I’m not sure Jon was aware but wanted to let him know.
Thank you.
Best,
Coby Regehr
November 24, 2009 at 11:24 am |
To the Great Jonathan Winters.
I was born in the early 50s and while I was growing up and developing my own sense of humor ….my father introduced me to the The Great Jonathan Winters, the funniest man in the world. You could change from character to character at will and instantly.
We would laugh our guts out whenever we would see you on television and we played your records till they became part of us. Your enjoyment for life is brilliant like fire. A bright light in troubled times.
There is so much of your humor in me … thank you.
I love you man … you heal this troubled world.
You are the laughing Buddha himself.
Thank you Jonathan Winters…GodFather of Modern humor.