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Carvey Documentary Failure Success

Featuredbillchott2 Comments on Carvey Documentary Failure Success

The documentary Too Funny to Fail, Josh Greenbaum’s hilarious documentary is getting some exciting notices in the press. The doc focuses on The Dana Carvey Show, which was a failure by network standards, but a cult hit among comedy fans…some of whom include Bill Hader and Jerry Seinfeld!

You can read some great reviews in The New Yorker,  Time, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, and the very funny film was featured on NPR’s Fresh Air

The pic below is from the episode sponsored by Mountain Dew. Rave reviews followed from all those outlets after the release.

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Dana Carvey: What does that look like to you? Bill Chott: Liquid Sunshine.

We were not kind to our sponsors, and that’s one of the many reasons why the show pushed the boundaries for what was acceptable on network TV in 1996. It was so great to hear some stories of the battles going on between our producers and the network, which had recently been acquired by Disney. It explains a lot of the behind the scenes stuff that was off my radar.

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Steve Carell manning the radar, Bill Chott ranning the madar.

Thanks for your support. If you have a question about the Dana Carvey show that I can answer, I’ll give it my best shot. Might be wise to save us both some time and watch the documentary first.

Disability Means Diversity

billchottLeave a Comment on Disability Means Diversity
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My co-star from The Ringer, Eddie Barbanell

I was honored to be invited to celebrate the Farrelly Brothers as they received the Morton E. Ruderman Award for their work of inclusion of people with disabilities. In this industry, nobody comes close to the work they’ve done. It’s been an honor to work with them in the past. Shooting with them on The Ringer is an experience that changed my life. 

This star-studded event included so many performers with disabilities like Marlee Matlin, Geri Jewell, and Danny Woodburn.

I first met Danny on the set of Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups. (Read HERE) Fortunately I was seated right there next to him so we were able to reconnect. We shared a few jokes about the fancy butter dish.

Here’s the thing. They are all so amazing that it didn’t occur to me when I met them there that they are people with disabilities. I just got the star-struck “don’t know what to say” feeling that I get whenever I’m at an event like this.

Other names you may recognize were Ted Danson, Larry David, Kevin Pollack, Kevin Nealon and so many others that I just didn’t have the time to meet. And I made some new friends including Matthew Sauve. What a nice guy. We talked about parenting, table etiquette and his belief that the arts are not just a privilege, they’re a right.

Would you like to join in that call for making more roles available for people with disabilities? Click HERE. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts about creating more opportunities for people with disabilities and including people with disabilities in the diversity discussion.

I’m back in Missouri for April!

billchottLeave a Comment on I’m back in Missouri for April!

I’m so excited to be back home for a bit! A show this weekend at St. Louis Comedy Sportz, a workshop at the end of the month and a LOT of improv at my alma mater Central Methodist. Click HERE for more info!

CSz match April 2019

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