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A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Thursday 17 November 2022
Steve Martin, Harry Bliss team up on ‘Number One Is Walking’

By HILLEL ITALIE Bliss asking Martin about
AP National Writer a specific project, such as
NEW YORK (AP) — Steve “Roxanne,” or make light
Martin has this funny theory of which of the two is more
about artists and careers, famous.
spelled out with comic tim- “So, Harry, how did you get
ing. started cartooning?” Mar-
“You kind of can always tell tin is seen asking on one
if someone hits a wall by panel, looking out dispas-
their haircut,” he says. sionately from a loveseat,
Pause. with Bliss in a wicker chair
“And I’ll explain what I at his side.
mean.” “Well, I ...” says Bliss, rising
Pause. eagerly from his seat.
“Like if someone was doing “That reminds me,” Martin
really, really well in the ‘70s, interrupts, “of when I did
they keep their ‘70s haircut. the movie ‘Dirty Rotten
If they did well in the ‘80s, if Scoundrels.”’
they keep their ‘80s haircut. Martin shares memories of
If they’re moving along, such late friends as Carl
their haircut changes.” Reiner, Charles Grodin and
Pause. Robin Williams. He offers a
“Now, I’ve had the same vivid account of meeting
haircut forever.” Harry Bliss, left, and Steve Martin pose for a portrait to promote the book “Number One Is Walking: Mike Nichols, the original di-
My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions” on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, in New York.
And there goes the theory. Associated Press rector for “The Jerk” (Reiner
If Martin’s parted white hair ended up with the job) and
its evolution more a matter she was having dinner with any kind of timeline they tor’s whereabouts. Martin later his director when Mar-
of age than of style — re- Steve Martin and he had have formed a professional was “Number One” in “The tin and Williams starred in a
flected his creative choic- some cartoon ideas and kinship built upon Martin’s Jerk,” “Bowfinger,” “Bring- 1988 stage production of
es, it would have been was I interested in drawing words, Bliss’ images and a ing Down the House” and “Waiting for Godot.” Nich-
an ongoing fashion show. a couple of them up,” Bliss shared love for the satire others, only to be knocked ols, Martin explained during
Few contemporary writer- said. “We started email- and well-populated illustra- back when he co-starred the interview, was always
performers have succeed- ing back and forth and he tions of Mad magazine. with Meryl Streep and Alec the wittiest man in any

ed in so many art forms: sent me a couple of ideas They first worked togeth- Baldwin in “It’s Complicat- gathering, “the Mike Nich-
standup comedy, movie one I remember was about er on the bestselling “A ed.” “Number three is walk- ols in the room, the number
acting, television acting, a dog panhandling. And Wealth of Pigeons,” pub- ing,” he heard. one wit.”
playwriting, novel writing, we both kind of laughed. lished in 2020, and now Bliss says his greatest chal- “I was very nervous to meet
with time made throughout There was that initial spark. have completed “Number lenge for the book was to Mike Nichols,” he recalled.
for banjo playing. His pas- It was fun.” Martin and Bliss One Is Walking.” “put the fan away, and just “And we’re going to walk
sions now include cartoon spoke recently during an The title is the premise for listen to Steve tell the story.” to dinner.
captions, honed through a afternoon interview in mid- the kind of Hollywood joke The first half of “Number And it’s summer. And it’s
collaboration with the New town Manhattan, across Martin has mastered. The One Is Walking” is a meta- New York, so we’re outside
Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss, the street from the New words refer to a given ac- movie scrapbook, with and it’s warm and I have no
brought together at the York Public Library’s main tor’s status on set (at least Bliss’ sketches accompany- idea what to say to him.”
recommendation of mu- branch. Friendly for the some sets): “Number one ing Martin’s memories of his “So I say, ‘Wow, this weath-
tual friend and New Yorker past few years “five years is walking,” an assistant di- film career and illustrating er is great.’ And he said,
art editor Françoise Mouly. ago” was Martin’s favorite rector might say to let oth- the making of the book. ‘Yes, isn’t it ironic,’” Martin
“She calls me and says that response when asked for ers know of the lead ac- A strip might begin with continued. q

Mindy Kaling to be honored by Producers Guild for TV change

By LINDSEY BAHR producing series from di- on to write, produce and
AP Film Writer verse female perspectives direct episodes, earning
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Min- that is reshaping the indus- Emmy nominations along
dy Kaling is set to receive try. From ‘The Mindy Proj- the way. “To be included
the Norman Lear Achieve- ect’ to ‘Never Have I Ever’ in this prestigious group of
ment Award from the Pro- to ‘The Sex Lives of College past recipients is humbling,
ducers Guild of America Girls,’ Kaling has proven just and I’m so grateful to the
at the group’s awards how much audiences have Producers Guild for this rec-
show in February. “Com- been craving funny, relat- ognition”, Kaling said in a
edy can break boundaries able stories about charac- statement. Previous honor-
and push culture forward; ters we’ve rarely (seen) as ees include Amy Sherman-
Mindy Kaling’s immense television protagonists. Palladino, Ryan Murphy,
contributions to the televi- ”Kaling got her first big Shonda Rhimes and Lorne
sion comedy landscape break when she was hired Michaels.
are prime examples of this to join the writing staff of The 34th Producers Guild
truth,” said PGA presidents “The Office.” Awards will be held on Feb.
Mindy Kaling arrives at the 29th annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Stephanie Allain and Don- She was only 24 and the 25 at the Beverly Hilton. in
Celebration in Los Angeles on Oct. 17, 2022. ald De Line in a statement only woman on the eight-
Associated Press Beverly Hills, California.q
Wednesday. “It’s her work person team and would go