Fred Melamed on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

What a treat to sit down and have lively, intelligent (Fred’s parts), thought-provoking conversation with a lovely human. Always a treat to get into it with Fred Melamed.

From his unique take on the Will Smith Oscar fiasco––possibilities I hadn’t considered for judgments I’d made––not about the slap or the foul words––rather the surrounding circumstances––such as the crowd’s inappropriate, cheering, acceptance a short time later, to what the results may be––comparisons to Mel Gibson, Woody Allen, whom Fred’s worked with more times (7) than any actor other than Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow––Fred’s slant is food for thought.

We talked COVID, he’s had it, just as he was about to start a gig he’s passionate about, losing too many friends to the virus, and one, very recently, to suicide. How social media posts can mislead, how his behaviors have altered of late, his recent divorce, a bi-product of the pandemic? How he and his twin sons have coped, autism, getting fit, his memory trick, Bruce Willis’ diagnosis.

With the third season of Barry about to drop, Fred, joining the cast, may be Bill Heder’s most ardent fan, projecting great, important things to come from him as a filmmaker. As if Stefan isn’t achievement enough! How Megan Mullally helped Lorne Michaels discover him. Working with the wonderful Henry Winkler, readying to begin shooting the fourth season of Barry in the coming weeks, and, thrilled to do so.

We talked his upcoming feature, Cat Person, work available now––American Crime Story, WandaVision, Shiva Baby, and went back to teaching a very young Robert Downey Jr at Stagedoor Manor and telling him he was destined for greatness, The Pickup Artist, how A Serious Man came to be, The Coen Brothers, Frances McDormand, Yale Drama.

Reflecting back on it a couple of hours later, I feel sated, as if I’ve just enjoyed a great meal with a provocative conversation, sans the food. Delicious!

Fred Melamed on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 3/30/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here: