Friday, October 25, 1996
By Ricky Herzog
Daily Bruin Contributor
Jon Lovitz is living out his dream. Like many in Hollywood,
being an actor has always been comedian Lovitz’s desire.
And now, as a famous actor, he has achieved his goal.
"I’ve been wanting to do this since I was 4," says Lovitz. "I
saw James Cagney in ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ so I would always try and
do tap dance and want to take tap dance. And then I did some stuff
in elementary school. I took an acting class in 8th grade and then
I started doing plays in high school. I just kept sticking with
it."
Lovitz, a television and movie star who has been in such
projects as "Saturday Night Live," "City Slickers II" and "A League
of Their Own," is currently promoting his new movie, "High School
High." This film, with the guidance of David Zucker (responsible
for the "Naked Gun" trilogy), parodies "Dangerous Minds" and the
slew of recent inner-city school movies.
Comedy is second nature to Lovitz. "When I was 13, I saw Woody
Allen in ‘Take the Money and Run’ and that’s when I wanted to do
comedy," Lovitz recalls. "I would just learn Woody Allen’s routines
and perform them in my college dorm. When I think back, this is
something I’ve been passionate about wanting to do my whole life.
To me it’s just like this is the world I always wanted to be
in."
Because of his passionate history with acting, fame seems to be
a natural progression for Lovitz. He can find no downside to his
current fame.
"I mean, God, it’s thrilling," Lovitz exclaims. "I walk into
Tristar pictures, and at one end of the lobby I see my poster, and
at the other end there’s Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges. I’m
like, hmm, me and Barbra Streisand  not bad!"
Though he has been in the public eye for over a decade, the
perks of fame still amaze Lovitz. His success was confirmed when he
received two Emmy nominations for his work on "Saturday Night
Live."
"It makes me feel really proud, being recognized by your peers,"
Lovitz recalls. "It was thrilling. Right across from me was George
Burns sitting on the couch and right next to me was Lucille Ball.
Jesus Christ, that’s what you dream of!"
Television gave Lovitz a chance to be widely recognized within
the industry. This recognition and critical praise helped Lovitz
land roles in films such as "A League of Their Own."
" ‘A League of Their Own,’ was my favorite because I had this
great part and it was written for me and it was combining baseball
and acting, which are my two favorite things," Lovitz says. "I felt
like I was shooting a movie in the 1940s. And I love old movies. I
was just in heaven."
Lovitz also enjoyed working with the all-star cast, including
Madonna, Geena Davis and Tom Hanks. He had a chance to become
friends with each of these people when they worked together closely
on episodes of "Saturday Night Live."
"I knew a lot of the people so it was like making a home movie
in a way," Lovitz remembers. "Tom and his son were out in the
outfield and I was hitting fly balls to them. It was
fantastic."
In "A League of Their Own" Lovitz has a scene-stealing
supporting role as a cynical baseball scout. In Lovitz’s latest
movie, he takes on the lead role of a caring and driven teacher, a
role that came naturally for him.
"I was just trying to be me, trying to teach these kids," says
Lovitz. "It really felt like acting. It felt like you were on a
stage and that this is your audience and you have to teach them. It
was fun because I liked all the actors that played the students and
I thought they were really talented. Just from being older than
them, it was easy to think, ‘Okay I’m going to help these kids.’
"
Playing a teacher had a positive effect on Lovitz. The makers of
the "High School High" hope the film will have a positive effect on
the audience. The movie is primarily a comedy, but it also tackles
serious issues.
"I remember David Zucker saying, ‘This movie is kind of a hybrid
for us. This one we want to be funny and also make the point about
the schools and the problems they have,’ " recalls Lovitz.
With this film’s blend of comedy and more dramatic, serious
issues, it could be a perfect segue into a possible dramatic role
for Lovitz.
"I would do a drama too, if I’m offered that kind of role,"
Lovitz says. "I think I’m better at drama. I had more training in
drama. That’s all I did for 10 years. To me, it’s just acting and
you’re either doing drama or comedy."
Though Lovitz has experience with dramatic acting, comedy
remains Lovitz’s true passion.
"To me,there’s nothing more fun than being in front of an
audience and making them laugh. That’s the biggest rush you can
get. It’s just an amazing feeling."
"High School High" opens Friday.
TriStar Pictures
Jon Lovitz stars as Richard C. Clark, a young idealist who
teaches at Marion Barry High in "High School High."