Q & A

VANITIES

GEORGE WAYNE

James Lipton in the hot seat

James Lipton, dean emeritus of the Actors Studio Drama School of New School University in New York and host of Bravo’s Inside the Actors Studio, likes to ask the questions. But so does our correspondent, so this time the often melodramatic, often sycophantic interviewer sits in the other chair.

George Wayne:So who was the very first guest in that chair?

Janies Lipton: This is a tricky question because the first guest actually was Alec Baldwin, and then the next one was Paul Newman. Paul aired first. So technically Alec was the first person in the chair, and Paul was the first on the air.

G.W.Liam, Johnny, Leo, Clint, Jamie: who is your choice for Oscar’s best actor?

J.L. I committed to Jamie Foxx. I told him flat out I thought he would win the Oscar. I thought his performance was one of the most stunning achievements I’ve ever seen on film.

G.W.Well, there’s one thing to be said for James Lipton: he’s mastered the art of celebrity anilingus!

J.L. Bullshit! Bullshit! That started when I began to get the big guests. Some from the press couldn’t figure out how I, an upstart, could get these people to come and talk to me for five hours.

G.W.I don’t think Barbra Streisand has ever sat still for that long.

J.L. Did you see that show?

G.W.It’s a classic. One of my favorites.

J.L. She sat there for so long she got hungry. We had to order her something to eat. Some in the press say the only reason I got these people on my show was because I kiss ass, but I don’t believe in that. They come because we are a school. It’s a course in the master’s-degree program at the New School University. They do it because we are talking about craft, and those are master student candidates out there.

G.W.Why did Brad Pitt turn you down?

J.L. He didn’t turn me down. What he said was that he didn’t think he’d had enough body of work yet to be on the show. Leo hasn’t done it yet for the same reason. It’s “Let me do one or two more movies.” I mean, look at the people I’ve had on the show—talents with enormous portfolios.

FOR DETAILS, SEE CREDITS PAGE

G.W.Jennifer Lopez, for example.

J.L. You want to know why I had Jennifer?

G.W. I think the world wants to know why you had Jennifer Lopez on your show!

J.L. I’ve taken a lot of heat for that show. We train actors, writers, and directors over three years. Jennifer Lopez sings, she dances, she acts. She’s acted with Sean Penn. She’s acted with Jack Nicholson. She’s been directed by Oliver Stone, Francis Ford Coppola. They think she is good enough to do those things. I felt she was singularly appropriate because she is almost the average age of the typical master’s-degree candidate, and that means a lot to them. She qualified to be a guest in more ways than many others.

G.W.You were a soap-opera star in the 60s. For 10 years you played a doctor on Guiding Light.

J.L. Dr. Dick Grant!

G.W.Dick Grant!

J.L. I had golden hands. If it weren’t for soap operas there wouldn’t be any theater in New York. Soap operas are vital to New York theater.

G.W.And, Monsieur Dean Emeritus, founder of the Actors Studio Drama School of New School University, have you ever watched your impersonator on Saturday Night Live?

J.L. Who, Will Ferrell? The day that he left Saturday Night Live was a day of mourning for me. In July, go to the movies and see Bewitched. I am in it with Will. Nora Ephron called me and asked me to do this very important scene with Will’s character. We shot it on my set at the New School and it’s a very funny scene. He’s one of my heroes.

G.W.There is so much about you to spoof.

J.L. There is! I’m not pretty.

G.W.What state were you born in?

J.L. Michigan. G.W.Circa 1900? J.L. Please don’t talk about age. I’m serious, George.

G.W.What’s been one especially amazing Oscarnight experience that readily comes to mind?

J.L. Last year’s Vanity Fair dinner party. Watching four people that were on my show getting up to receive Oscars.