Say it ain't so, Phil!

Phil Hendrie is leaving radio to pursue acting fulltime. For those who aren’t familiar with Hendrie’s act, he’s created maybe the most original talk show ever done on that format and he’s the only person in the world who can do it. Every hour he interviews a “guest” but it’s really him doing another voice. As the hour unfolds the guest becomes progressively more audacious and infuriating. Incensed listeners then call the station and argue with him on the air. They don’t realize it’s a put on. Even after EIGHTEEN YEARS! The outrageous premises are funny and the idiot callers’ reactions are even funnier. It is satire and improv and theatre at its best. And Phil manages to play both the host and the guest and never gets tripped up. He’s Lenny Bruce, Ernie Kovacs, Danny Kaye, and Jon Stewart all rolled into one.

In the world of radio he is a king.

In the world of acting he’s just another schmuck.

Not that he’s not talented as a thesp, but come on, what success he’s had in television is directly related to his work in radio. For the last couple of years he’s had pilots built around him, even an animated one. None of them went. He’s currently in TEACHERS, a show that will soon hear the end of class bell. His brilliance and originality doesn’t translate well to television.

Chances are he’ll be up for more pilots and will guest in a few series. And maybe he’ll hit. I hope so. I hope he’s the next Tim Allen. But if not, after a couple of years he might become just one of those character actors who go up for day player roles. And as someone who idolizes Phil’s work, I will be so depressed if someday I’m casting a two day three-line part for a hotel clerk and see his name on the casting call list along with twenty others middle aged bald guys.

Phil may say to me “I could be the next Bob Crane.” But I would say to Phil: “Yeah, but you could also be the next Jay Thomas.”

Don’t give up your night job, Phil. Maybe just work weekends if you want more time to pursue your acting career. But anybody can be a desk clerk, only you can be Phil Hendrie and the hundred other people you play on the radio.