MUTH'S TRUTHS 02/28/2014

Puddle Trout with a Side of Peanut Butter, Please

by Chuck Muth

February 27, 2014

Words: 458

Actor Glenn Morshower is not a household name.  But as one of the hardest working men in Hollywood, literally, you’ve likely seen his face at one time or another on either the big screen or the little one. 

He is perhaps best known as Agent Aaron Pierce on the television series “24,” in which I believe he was the only character other than Kiefer Sutherland’s “Jack Bauer” who appeared in every season.

As Wikipedia notes, he’s appeared in three different Star Trek series, The Dukes of Hazzard, Matlock, The West Wing, Quantum Leap, NYPD Blue, The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, JAG, Deadwood, ER, NCIS, The Closer, Bones, Full House, Criminal Minds, Friday Night Lights and more.  He’s also been in dozens of movies, including Transformers, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Blood Work, Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor, Godzilla, Under Siege and Tango and Cash. 

So yes, you’ve almost surely seen Mr. Morshower even if you didn’t know who he was. 

In any event, I had the pleasure of hearing Glenn speak at a conference in L.A. last year…and what a fun-loving guy.

For example, he and his young son used to grab their fishing poles and head down to a certain busy intersection in Los Angeles after heavy rainfalls and pretend to fish out of the large puddle that always formed there.  He would hook a large trout from Ralph’s Supermarket on the line; then watch astonished motorists drive by as he reeled it in!

Glenn also told us about a little good luck charm he invented when auditioning for a part in the Transformers movie; a role he really wanted but feared he might not get.  So he spread a little peanut butter on the top of his feet before he put his socks on and headed to the audition.

And got the part!

OK, I tell you this story because the kids’ soccer team I coach has been on a pretty long losing streak.  And our team sponsor - a wonderful man named Bobby Ellis of SNAP Towing - deserves better.  So desperate times called for a desperate measure.

And yes, for our game last week I broke out the Skippy and spread a little “good luck” peanut butter on my feet before putting my socks on.  I then told the kids before the game about my “secret weapon” and assured them there was no way we were going to lose that night.

And darned if we didn’t shut out the other team 7-0!

So what does any of this have to do with politics or public policy?  Absolutely nothing.  Unless a candidate shows up at your door smelling like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich this election season.  If so, thank Glenn Morshower!