First, a little background. David Zucker burst on the scene with Kentucky Fried Movie as actor/writer at age 30. The movie was the result of Zucker’s comedy troupe, Kentucky Fried Theatre. The troupe was a comedy act that also featured some skits via video. The movie was based on the show.

From there, Zucker moved onto the oft quoted and imitated but never duplicated, Airplane. Zucker was producer/director on this project. Since then, Zucker has written, produced and directed several films, including Scary Movie 3 and 4. Scary Movie 4 is currently number Two in the box office Top Ten.

I was scheduled to interview Mr. Zucker at 11:10-11:20 am on Saturday, April 22, Earth Day. I had a dentist appointment at 11:30am. Fortunately, my dentist is only 4 blocks from my house.

However, the scheduled interview time came and went. I contacted the person who arranged the interview in a panic. I told her I couldn’t wait if he was running late because of the dentist (If you’re late or miss these things, your insurance won’t cover it and you have to pay an appointment cancellation fee. That’s all I needed – to pay to have my teeth stay dirty.) She advised me to go ahead to my appointment and so I did.

I feared that he would be calling while I was at the dentist and I would miss the call because I had to have my phone off. I left the dentist at 12:15pm and promptly checked my phone. There was no call. Then it occurred to me that Mr. Zucker would likely be on Pacific Standard Time. I was going by my own Eastern Standard Time Zone. If that was the case, he would be calling at 2:10pm my time. So I waited at home, anxiously, for that time to arrive.

At 2:14pm EST, my phone rang. I recognized the area code as an LA area code. I answered and found Mr. Zucker on the other end of the phone. He apologized for phoning a bit late and asked if he could call me back after another interview he had scheduled for 11:20am PST. I advised him that was no problem. I again sat anxiously awaiting his call. Approximately 20 minutes later, he called again.

I began the interview. After asking nearly all my questions, Mr. Zucker said he had to go. He said he could call me back if I needed more. I told him I only had two more questions and just needed two more minutes. He said he had to go and he would call back. I protested no more and conceded to his statement.

I didn’t expect him to call back. I had written him off as another Hollywood Jerk. First, he confuses the time zone. Then he calls and blows me off for another interview. Then I don’t even get a full interview. Typical, I thought, but I was wrong. David Zucker did call me back and he finished our interview. Let it be known that David Zucker is not your typical Hollywood Jerk. He called back as he said he would. I was able to interview him for more than the allotted 10 minutes. I phoned the representative to let her know I had completed the interview after all and she told me that Mr. Zucker was in Europe currently. I understood the time zone confusion even more.

Here is a summary of my interview with David Zucker:

I asked Mr. Zucker what role he liked best: actor, writer, director or producer. He answered director. He stated that he hated the blank page that stares back at you as a writer. When asked which actors he liked working with best, Mr. Zucker named Leslie Nielsen, Charlie Sheen and Anna Faris. Zucker hopes to work with Steve Carell again in the future. Carell and Zucker were both a part of H.U.D., a TV series that was not picked up.

I learned that copyright clearance is not necessary for the film parodies Mr. Zucker creates. Only direct dialogue would need that. He stated that he has never had anyone approach him upset about being lampooned by him. In fact, director M. Night Shyamalan expressed appreciation to Zucker for lampooning him and admits to having jovial discussions on set about what he will do to the film being worked on. Zucker said that the hardest thing about creating film parodies is keeping the plot moving. He credits writer Craig Mazin (Scary Movie 3 & 4) with the ability to do this well.

Mr. Zucker is currently working on The Untitled Onion Movie as producer and Superhero as director. The Untitled Onion Movie is a series of skits based on the satirical magazine, The Onion, which specializes in humorous, but fake news stories. Steven Seagal has finished a skit for the film and other scenes are in production currently. Superhero is a film parodying, well, what else? Superheroes! It will be done in a style similar to the Naked Gun series. The main character will be an inept superhero, and the film will poke fun at the genre of superhero films rather than any specific film.

The Untitled Onion Movie should be out later this year. Superhero is due out sometime next year. Zucker also plans to create a Scary Movie 5. However, he plans to move the series in a new direction. Surely, if you love comedies, you must be looking forward to these films.

I know I am - But don’t call me Shirley.