Paul Marcarelli, “The Verizon guy” forever burbling “Can you hear me now?,” you can now hear always.
He’s written a film about a gay high school teacher Doing It with a student. “The Green” stars Cheyenne Jackson, Julia Ormond, Illeana Douglas. Now on VOD, it starts on DVD next month.
“I’m still with the phone company, which I love,” he says, “Been there 10 years. Even my cell and fax are Verizon. I haven’t had to pay a phone bill in 10 years.
“In 2001, that phone deal came through only a quick audition. I held a white board eraser and had to talk in it. I did the take maybe four times. No script in advance.
“Maybe 1,500 people were lined up. It’s a very impersonal operation. Go in cold and give your best version walking back and forth. But it’s actually more than just diving into it. You have to bring with it a certain consciousness.
“I’ve done commercials 15 years. They’ve given me a respectable living so I wasn’t nervous. I’m more nervous doing this — talking about myself.
“Who knows why they picked me? Some quality resonated with the dozen or so who made the consensus. They saw some approachability.
“Meanwhile, quietly under the radar I’ve been developing another set of skills. Writing. Years ago I wrote something but it fell apart, so I told myself that next time I’d get myself an actual seat at the table, which means this time I’m also producing it.
“My company’s Table Ten Films. Although I live in Connecticut, it’s named after my favorite table in a Village restaurant. I asked the server what he calls it, and he told me.
“I’ve always made everything on my own. I’ve made my fame myself. And it’s funny because people are all curious about me. It’s like they’d be excited to see Waldo on the street. Everyone wants to say my line.”
THE US Government Accountability Office warns that more and more retirees are losing health coverage. Must be true. Last week I saw a senior gentleman holding a sign that said: “Will work for M.R.I.”
BILL O’Reilly. He’s a piece of work. Pecks out a lousy tweet to his car mechanic, and automatically it hits The List.
Every year. I’m not bitter or anything, but I barely finished last year’s best seller, and already he’s No. 1 with a newie, “Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever.”
O’Reilly: “Lincoln’s the gold standard. Best president we ever had. America’s in trouble. Our country’s in decline. We must find another leader. As a history major, I very much wanted to do this one. I took less money for it than for my others.”
So, has he phoned Abe’s log cabin contractor personally? What’s he know about Abe that we don’t already all know?
“John Wilkes Booth’s hate was possibly for another little-known reason. Not publicized is that Booth’s brother was engaged to Lucy Lambert Hale. Lucy, however, was also running around with Robert Todd Lincoln, the president’s son. On assassination day, Lucy and Robert spent the afternoon together. It’s possible John Wilkes Booth knew this and it’s why, we believe, Booth’s brother himself was stalking Lincoln.
“Co-author Martin Dugard and I have done exhaustive research. Read all the letters written to and by Lincoln. This nugget was uncovered in one of his personal letters.
“It was never confirmed, but intimacy of the Lincoln son relationship was known. Even after his father’s death, Robert Todd Lincoln and Miss Lucy retained their friendship.
“And when she viewed Booth’s body she wept openly.”
So after this will O’Reilly do Jefferson, Washington and maybe Jimmy Carter?
“I’m already negotiating for another history book, but I don’t yet have the deal.”
NEIMAN Marcus’ 85th Christmas edition offers his ’n’ hers dancing fountains, 27-foot mahogany speedboat, trip to Pocantico Hills’ Stone Barns Center and something you sure won’t have two of — your very own 18-feet-in-diameter yurt … And where’s Marvin Hamlisch buy suits? A men’s store in Pittsburgh … A third Pee-wee movie’s coming down. Judd Apatow producing. Who plays Pee-wee, who knows? Maybe Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
ERIC Bana to play Elvis in the Elvis and Nixon flick. Danny Huston’s Nixon … George Burns — age 115 were he still with us — getting resurrected in the comedy “Say Goodnight Gracie” at off-B’way’s St. Luke’s Theatre … TV’s “Pan Am” series, which somehow did not take off, might be grounded … Marc Cherry, who created “Desperate Housewives,” is swinging from sexuality to spirituality. His ABC newie could be “Hallelujah.”
BRUCE Littlefield reports West 52nd restaurant Therapy’s cocktail menu lists drinks named: Freudian Sip, Oral Fixation, Pearanoia, Psychotic Episode, Bi Polar and Absolut Therapy.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.