Hotmail
Rocker, movie director and TV host Rob Zombie tells us what he watches ... when he has the time
By Paul Semel
Special to MSN Entertainment
Between his solo albums and his scary movies -- which include "House Of 1000 Corpses," "The Devil's Rejects," and the upcoming "Halloween" remake -- it's a wonder that singer/director Rob Zombie has time to breathe, let alone eat. Especially now that he's hosting "TCM Underground," a new cult movie show on Turner Classic Movies that starts in October, as well as overseeing "El Superbeasto," an animated movie based on his comic book of the same name. But as Rob told us during a break from his current tour, which is in support of his new "Educated Horses" album, he not only has time to breathe and eat, but has a little left over to watch his favorite shows as well.
Growing up, what were your favorite TV shows?
I pretty
much was the ultimate TV viewer. All I cared about was TV. When my mom would get
the new TV Guide, I would circle everything I was going to watch that week. I
didn't spend that much time on my homework. I watched eight hours of TV a day,
every day. My number one favorite show was "Star Trek," the original show, followed by "The Munsters," "The Addams Family," and "Twilight Zone." But I
loved everything: "Charlie's Angels," "Love Boat," all the game shows, you name
it.
Do you think any of them still hold up today?
I think
most of the ones I mentioned hold up. I still love "The Munsters," I still think
it's funny. What I love about shows from back then is the amount of attention
they paid to things like art direction and the sets. Nowadays, sitcoms look like
they're shot on a shitty stage. You don't get that kind of attention these days.
Nobody would build a customized hot rod for a sitcom like they did on "The
Munsters."
Have you gotten to meet anybody who was on that show?
Sure, I've met a lot of those people. Al Lewis (from The Munsters) used to have a
restaurant in New York called "Grandpa's," and I'd go there just because he
would be there. Though the food wasn't very good.
What show that's not on anymore do you think was cancelled before its
time?
Not to keep going back to them, but "The Munsters" and "The
Addams Family." I've only ever seen them in reruns, and it seems as if they were
still funny. But shows were cancelled for weird reasons back then. "We're
changing the look of the network." But the show that bummed me out more than any
other when it got cancelled was "The Planet of the Apes" show. I used to rearrange my whole
life to watch that show. I was in the third grade at the time, and played ice
hockey, but the games were always at the same time as "The Planet of The Apes,"
which was very stressful. So my dad got a portable TV, and he'd hook it up to
the cigarette lighter so I could sit in the parking lot and watch the show
before the games.
What show that you liked do you think either has or did go on too
long?
I think "Happy Days" was a big one. I was so into "Happy
Days," but then nobody cared anymore, and it was just sad to watch it fall
apart.
Do you think it jumped the shark when the Fonz actually jumped the
shark?
I actually think it may have jumped the shark before he
jumped the shark.
What about nowadays, what new shows do you love?
These
days I like the shows on HBO. Probably the only show I'd be bummed if I missed
is "Entourage," but now, with TiVo, you don't really miss anything.
I also like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "The Sopranos." As for regular network stuff, my favorite show is
"King Of Queens." It's hilarious. It's hard to find network
sitcoms that are all that funny, but I really think "King Of Queens" is up
there. Kevin James is hilarious, and Jerry Stiller is genius.
Have you ever turned down a party invite or something similar because
you didn't want to miss the new episode of some show?
Not with the
advent of recording devices, but when I was a kid, definitely. My mom's favorite
phrase was, "Why don't you go outside and play with other kids?" And I would be
like, "I don't think so, 'Space 1999' is on."
What shows do you Tivo?
Just the ones I already
mentioned. Oh, and "Ebert & Roeper" as well. I always seem to miss that
one.
What TV shows have you bought on DVDs?
I've got tons.
I've got all the "Star Trek" -- just the original one, the other ones were crap
-- all the "Space 1999," tons of "Doctor Who," "Arrested Development" -- another show that wasn't given its due
-- "Family Guy," "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Are there any shows you wish were on DVD?
No, because I
have them all on VHS. Though I never watch them. I like being forced to stop
what I'm doing to watch a show, if that makes any sense.
Are there any shows that people really love and you just don't
understand why?
There are shows like that. But I also know that one
day I will get them. I didn't get "Cheers" when it was on, but ten years later I got into it. Same
with "Rosanne," which I couldn't stand at the time, but then discovered it on TV
Land. Lately it's "Deadwood." Which is weird because it has all the things I
usually love: I love the actors, I love Westerns, everything about it makes it
the kind of show I love. But I just can't get in the groove with it. I think
it's because I just don't have any more space in my brain to devote to another
TV show. Though one day I'll buy the DVDs and realize how amazing it is.
And are there any shows you love that other people don't understand
why?
I can't think of anything. There's no shame when it comes to
TV.
Are there any shows you've wanted to check out but just never had the
chance?
Shows like "Lost," which have an ongoing story, I just
find harder and harder to get into these days.
Are there any actors who you'll always check out, no matter what show
they do?
Yeah, there's some people who I always think are hilarious.
Like Jason Alexander or Andy Dick. Mostly comedic actors, because if I found
them funny on their old show then I'd think they'd funny on their new show,
too.
Did working with actress Erin Daniels on your movie "House Of 1000 Corpses"
make you check her out when she was on "The L Word"?
Yes. I watched a little of it. That's
another show I just couldn't fit into my schedule. But working with Priscilla Barnes (on The Devil's Rejects) did make me
go back and watch her episodes of "Three's Company." I always watched that show, but had lost
interest during the Terri years, but now I'll watch them.
How about characters. Who's your all-time favorite TV
character?
There's three: Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster, Don Knotts as Barney Fife and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. They're iconic.
Do you have a favorite late night talk show?
Letterman's
for sure. I actually started watching David Letterman when he had his morning show, and was
insane with that, and I've been watching his late night show for as long as he's
been on the air.
How about a favorite news show?
I used to love 20/20 with
Hugh Downs, but now they all seem the same.
Sketch comedy show?
I like "MadTV." It's always a little more out there than the other
ones.
Saturday morning cartoon?
You know, cartoons are not
really my bag. I like "Family Guy," but that's the only one I'll really
watch.
Movie show?
As a kid, the one I grew up with was
"Creature Double Feature," which was on Saturday afternoons. Growing up, I was
always a fan of movie shows that were hosted by someone. Which is one of the
reasons I'm doing the show on TCM. That and I love that channel, I'm always a
big fan of watching movies on there, and I love the intros that Robert Osbourne
always does. Plus they said I could pretty much show whatever I wanted, based on
if they could get the rights to it, which made it a hard thing to say no to.
Music show?
Are there any music shows on TV anymore? Back
in the day I loved "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert." It was just so great. You'd
see Alice Cooper and then Earth, Wind & Fire and then Meatloaf.
Finally, when you did sit down to watch your favorite shows, what's
your favorite snack for TV watching?
It's pretty much just non-stop.
I'll go from some chips to some chocolate covered pretzels, but now I want a
bowl of cereal. It's never ending.
