Mike, Tom and Charlie

BY JOSEPH PLANTA

Monday, 08 May 2006

VANCOUVER - I'd be lying if I said I didn't notice. It's been just over two months now, since I last contributed to this page. There are no excuses. I've been reading lots, and of course, if you've been paying attention, the website has had a number of interesting interviews featured, hosted by me, in that little old interview segment, Planta: On the Line. Anyway, to ease back into column-mode, I ought to draw your attention to a couple of items. Herewith:

My friend, Michael Kwan has set up his own website. www.michaelkwan.com is up and running, featuring his blog and other diversions. I didn't realise it at the time, but when I invited him to appear on the interview program, his appearance marked the end of graciousness and civility. From now on, I don't even acknowledge he exists. With his own site, he is therefore, the enemy.

Well, hardly, since he's also The Commentary's Chief Correspondent. His feature on the Pacific International Auto Show in Vancouver was featured in this space when I was on my sabbatical, and he'll continue to appear. Visit michaelkwan.com.

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Walking through the aisles of the local HMV not too long ago, I noticed a three-DVD boxed set featuring Merv Griffin and forty of his interviews with an array of fascinating characters, from show business and the political arena. From Orson Wells to John Wayne, Jack Benny to Jerry Seinfeld, to Ingrid Bergman to Richard Nixon, it's a very fine set. One of the interviewees featured is a young Tom Cruise, who appeared to plug his film Risky Business. Watching a young Cruise chat with old Merv, young, and pre-billion dollar business, one wonders what happened.

It seems that Cruise and his betrothed, Katie Holmes have had their baby. There were news reports that the new dad was to eat the child's placenta. Eww. Something's gone terribly wrong with Cruise. He's wacky, and frankly turning into a wacko. He's not a terrible actor, but he's bought into his persona too much, that his acting doesn't matter anymore. People it seems, care about him jumping on sofas, standing on buses in the middle of movie premieres, and wonder about all this Scientology business more than they do his work. At that point, maybe he should just get out. Yes, get out. Save us from the insanity, please.

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As an unpaid, or amateur interviewer (I'm at odds at using the modifier amateur, because I like to think that whether I'm talking to Tony Hendra, Rafe Mair, or Sheila Copps, I'm hardly childish or boorish), I am an admirer of Charlie Rose and his nondescript program on PBS. He brings intelligent and engaging television night in and night out, with an amazing array of guests from politics to entertainment. I mean, Larry King, whom I also steal from, couldn't interview Donald Rumsfeld, Elaine Stritch, and the Indian Prime Minister with the same ease and élan.

It seems Rose had taken ill taping interviews in France. He needed major cutting up, and is now back stateside, recovering However, he's been absent from his broadcast, and even with Rose away, the show still continues, and I dare say, without a hitch. His replacements have included NBC's Brian Williams, Cokie Roberts, Calvin Trillin, Barbara Walters, and others, with notable guests as usual. It goes without saying that smart and fascinating interviews live, late night, on PBS.

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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE.