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Tony And Me: A Story of Friendship
by Jack Klugman, Burton Rocks (Foreword: Garry Marshall)
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Goodhill Press (2005-08-31)
ISBN: 0976830302
EAN: 9780976830306
Dewy Decimal #: 792.028092
Hardcover: 141 pages
Edition: Har/DVD
SKU: H6902
Condition: Very Good
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Customer Reviews
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Short But Sweet
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-10-21
He acted on Broadway with Ethel Merman and Henry Fonda, was a television fixture from its earliest days, and by the early 1980s was the first character who solved mysteries by playing with dead people. Still, mention the name "Jack Klugman", and for millions, the first three things that spring to mind is Oscar, Oscar, Oscar.
Jack Klugman was Oscar Madison for five years on ABC-TV's "The Odd Couple", a loveable slob who shared an apartment with neatnik friend Felix Unger, played by Tony Randall. In 2005, a year after Randall's death and 30 years after "Odd Couple's" cancellation, Klugman self-published this short, touching memoir about his partnership with Randall, both as fellow actors and, eventually, good friends.
The problem with "Tony And Me" is that Klugman isn't writing for the casual reader, but for someone with a vested interest in the TV show, in Klugman, or in Randall going in. If you don't know "The Odd Couple" from "Bosom Buddies" or "Waiting For Godot", you aren't going to get that much from this book. But if you are an admirer like me, you'll find this a quick read, more than a bit undernourishing in the way it comes off as transcribed casual conversation, but profoundly affecting by the end.
One interesting fact, a central one in my view though not presented that way by Klugman, is that he and Randall were not that close during the show's original 1970-75 run. "Mostly it was my doing," Klugman writes. "People don't always believe me when I tell them, but I really am a loner."
It took Klugman a long time to come out of his shell, and only when he found himself fighting throat cancer that threatened his voice and life. Yet Randall, who had of course been staying in touch and occasionally working with Klugman since "The Odd Couple's" cancellation, jumped into the breach in a surprising way, convincing the now-raspy-voiced Klugman to join him onstage two years after his surgery for a special benefit performance of the original Neil Simon "Odd Couple" play.
"In the play, Felix would yell at me for being sloppy and inconsiderate, but Tony's eyes would light up whenever I got a laugh," Klugman writes. "They'd say: 'Go, Baby, Go! I knew you could do it.'"
It's a beautiful story as told by Klugman. Reading it, the thought occurred to me that just as the "Odd Couple" TV show was a success only after its cancellation, properly appreciated only in daily doses of syndication, its two stars' friendship was likewise a slow-blossoming thing, coming to fruition decades after the daily grind of the show was over.
It's a shame the book doesn't tell more about the making of the TV series. Klugman is more interested in Randall's shared love of the theater, embodied by his leadership of the National Actors Theater, to which all this book's proceeds go. A small bonus feature is a DVD featuring six very funny minutes of "Odd Couple" outtakes. Again, one wishes for more, but of course, leave them wanting more is the credo of stage actors like Klugman. If so, mission accomplished.
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Friends Forever!
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-08-23
I just finished reading "Tony and Me: A Story Of Friendship" by Jack Klugman and it's a wonderful dedication to the memory of his best friend Tony Randall, of whom he had the pleasure of working with in various projects for many years, including 5 years together on a TV show.
In the book he discusses the work they did on "The Odd Couple", their plays together and some personal reasons why the friendship mattered as much as it did. Their friendship is very real and he does say it grew beyond their work, and as a reader we can see how strong their bond became. He has written this lovely tribute with grace, respect and love. It's a short book, but one that I just kept reading (I finished it in 2 hours). This was a partnership that started from acting together but it grew beyond that, with their friendship becoming first and foremost. He put it best in the beginning of his book "For Tony".
I want to say thank you Mr. Klugman for sharing your friend with us. As a fan of both men I appreciate it. I highly recommend "Tony and Me". The bonus DVD is a real extra treat and it shares some funny moments....
I have a best friend too that I met while working together. True friendship is about accepting each other's imperfections and looking past the silliness we've done. Thank you for putting that in perspective. I know we appreciate this!
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Very Insightful, Surprising
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-01-12
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
Reading this book by Jack Klugman, you could almost see it written by Tony Randall. Far more vulnerable and sensitive that you would expect from the characterization we see of his public persona.
The book was very insightful and surprising on the complexity of these two individuals and the relationship they developed over the years. I was duly impressed.
He sums it up quite well at the end of the book:
"If you're like I was, or you're someone who likes to hold a grudge, or you've never really let someone know what they mean to you because you're afraid, ask yourself this question: what are you really protecting? If you look, you'll see it: nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just phantoms from old wounds that never healed. Give them up and join the people in your life who love you. Risk it all. For me, it was the best gamble I ever made."
In this, though the book is easy and quick to read, it is an epic in personal growth as well as a tribute to the effect those we let in our lives have on us.
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A GREAT Story of Friendship
Rating (4)
Date: 2007-12-31
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
This was a wonderful story of friendship. Jack wrote this after Tony died. It briefly tells about how they met, how The Odd Couple came to be and how their friendship became a life savor for Jack, especially after he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Tony was instrumental in building Jack's confidence back after Jack lost his voice from cancer surgery so that Jack could perform again. Tony was also helpful in allowing Jack to see how important friendship is, especially during rough times. Jack never thought much of friendships. He was a loner and reluctant to open himself up to trusting anyone. But, Tony showed Jack how much he cared and how much he was routing for him when he was trying to come back as an actor. This book is a tribute to a partnership, a very successful partnership. Included in the book is a DVD of some outtakes from The Odd Couple. This was the icing on the cake.
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Jack Klugman Rules!
Rating (5)
Date: 2007-12-25
I recently saw Jack Klugman in a production of the Sunshine Boys and he signed my book!
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