So THAT’S What He Would Do.

Weekend Recap.

This feast was served at our annual May Baby party. All of my friends and family here are inexplicably born in May, so we get together and all celebrate en masse. In the forefront is some real pro-style pot luck goodness: baked ziti from the couple who owns Mama D’s, one of my favorite Italian restaurants. Happy birthday, fatso… I had four workshops for six different casting directors in less than 24 hours. All day long, all day strong… One of the workshops was next door to Caioti Pizza Café, famous in LA for offering a salad rumored to induce labor in overdue women. Mental note: not a good place for a first date.

My Favorite Casting Notice Posted This Week.

[ADOLF HITLER LOOK-A-LIKE]
We are looking to cast a male who resembles Adolf Hitler. Should be available all day Thursday.

Hello, And Goodbye.

Facebook is the best place to get inspirational advice from the guy from high school who wasn’t allowed in the bathroom by himself.

It’s also a great place to see an interesting piece of Hollywood history. Yesterday, before the final episode of “The Office” aired, Rainn Wilson posted the above pic, with this caption:

“This is the original sign-in sheet for the first day of casting for The Office given to me by Allison Jones, our incredible casting agent. I was the very first person to audition for the series, 11/06/03. Notice all the amazing talent on the sheet, including the amazing #13! This is perhaps the greatest Office keepsake I have. So grateful for the best job I will ever have.”

I think it’s interesting as hell. And with one unfortunate exception, each actor who didn’t book the show went on to do just fine:

1. Rainn Wilson, who was just coming off three years on “Six Feet Under” 
2. Adam Scott, now starring on “Parks and Recreation” 
3. Mary Lynn Rajskub, who at the time was already starring on “24” 
4. Hamish Linklater, who went on to star on “The New Adventures of Old Christine” 
5. Ben Falcone, who at the time was a regular on “Joey” 
6. Alan Tudyk, who now stars in “Suburgatory” and the movie 42 
7. Matt Besser, one of my favorites (he co-created UCB, where I trained in improv) 
8. Matt Price, who went on to star on “Men of a Certain Age” 
9. Jarrett Grode, from one of my favorite TV shows ever: “Undeclared” 
10. Ever Carradine, who also went on to star on “24” 
11. Jim Zulevic, who died suddenly of a heart attack at age 40, a year after “The Office” debuted 
12. Bill Chott, who starred for three years on “The Wizards of Waverly Place” 
13. Jenna Fischer, who booked the role of Pam 
14. Anne Dudek, who starred on “Mad Men,” “Big Love” and “House, MD”

An Inside The Actor’s Studio Apartment Straw Poll.

Which do you deem less credible:

1) My nephew’s preschool diploma

2) Ricky’s puppy training diploma

The Second Great Film Of 2013. (And Maybe The Best Film Of The Year.)

Fill a movie with street racing and questionable dialogue and that’s good enough for me. And by “me,” I mean a home-schooled four-year-old with a head injury.

On the other hand, give me a perfectly-told drama with symbolism and tension and I am hooked. Mud is the story of two teenage boys who stumble upon Matthew McConaughey, a fugitive hiding from both the authorities and contract killers, who asks them to risk everything to help him. Matthew is a phenomenal actor unfairly judged for his southern drawl and bongo incident, but this is his best role ever. As the title character Mud, he’s strange and dangerous and absolutely authentic, and he’ll get an Oscar nomination. And giving him a run for his money is Tye Sheridan, a 14-year-old actor in only his second film, already able to own the screen.

The movie is about fathers and sons and love and fighting for a woman, and it’s amazing. And it’s in rarefied air on Rotten Tomatoes, with a stellar 97% rating. (Argo, last year’s Best Picture, received a 93%. My favorite, Django: Unchained, got a 77%.)

See it. You will love it, and it will stick with you.

It’s My Birthday.

First off, I’d like to thank my mom and dad for getting busy that night. And myself for being the fastest sperm. I’ll pour a 40 oz. into a damp washcloth for all the sperm that didn’t make it.

On my birthdays in the past, I’ve asked that instead of gifts, everyone rent or download 25 great but underrated movies or TV series from lists I created. That way great work will be supported, thus paving the way for me to create my own or be cast in them.

This year, I’m listing my 25 favorite Los Angeles restaurants. I love to eat out (my fridge has basically become an experiment in how lonely mustard can be), and the dining business can use all the support it can get. If you live in LA, frequent them; if you don’t, hit ‘em up next time you’re here.

I’m not getting older; I'm getting fatter.

1. Asanebo 
2. Bandera 
3. Bread and Porridge 
4. Brick + Mortar 
5. Chan Dara 
6. Cleo 
7. Fat Cow 
8. Firefly 
9. Hinoki & the Bird 
10. House Café 
11. Ink 
12. Jiraffe 
13. La Poubelle 
14. Le Pain Quotidien 
15. Metro Café 
16. Mezzomondo 
17. Napa Valley Grille 
18. Ombra 
19. Pace 
20. R+D Kitchen 
21. Red Medicine 
22. Son of a Gun 
23. Taste 
24. Toshi 
25. Yuzu