The Importance of Being Ernest: A Conversation with Justin Lloyd about the Life of Actor Jim Varney

"KnoWhutImean" entered my vocabulary as a kid in 1988 when I first encountered Ernest P. Worrell via my parent's television set during a Saturday morning show called "Hey Vern, It's Ernest!"  I found myself asking questions like: Who is this Vern?  Am I Vern?  And what is a Wall Street tycoon?  After a few viewings I was able to sing along with the chaotic and bizarre theme song as I watched the unforgettably unique names of John Cherry and Coke Sams flash by onscreen.  The experience I had with Jim Varney's creation was probably similar to that of "Pee-Wee's Playhouse", but in some ways Ernest's world was even more wonderfully weird.  I mean, how many shows out there included a weekly segment where we journey inside the main character's mouth to have a conversation with their tongue?  This new obsession would quickly snowball into a collection of Ernest toys, books and hours spent in the cinema with my family watching Ernest save Christmas, go to jail and be scared stupid by a lactose-intolerant demonic troll empowered with the ability to turn children into wooden dolls.

In the same way that Chaplin gave us more than the Tramp, Varney gave us more than Ernest. Thanks to his nephew's new book, "The Importance of Being Ernest: The Life of Actor Jim Varney", Justin Lloyd shows us how much he actually gave and lets us in on stuff that even Vern doesn't know...   
Jason Anders:  So when did the idea to write a book about your uncle first spark, and how long did you toy with it before it became a serious endeavor?

Justin Lloyd:  My mother and aunt (Jim's older sisters) had talked about writing a book together shortly after Jim passed in 2000.  They had come up with an outline and written down a lot of their memories of Jim and their family that focused a good deal on his childhood.  Nothing came of any of this and it was not until 2007 that I noticed what wonderful comments were being left on various Ernest/ Jim Varney YouTube videos that inspired me to share more with his fans.  That led me to a moment in March of 2008 where I just made up my mind that a book needed to be written about Jim.

As silly as it may sound, it almost felt like a calling.  I realized that I was in a unique position as a relative to offer the family perspective but I was also aware of some other influential people in his life that very few others even knew about.  And the rest of my research was straightforward newspaper and magazine research that helped bring everything together.  My book was far more ambitious in scope than the one my mother and aunt had considered.  Of course "more ambitious" equals much more work to do!  I put a lot of pressure on myself to make it as comprehensive as possible and really give my subject the effort I felt his life and legacy deserved.  
JA:  What was it like growing up with Jim Varney as your uncle?

JL:  It was a bit surreal.  The first time I saw him on television was for some regional Convenient Food Mart commercials around 1983.  The Hey Vern, It's My Family Album special aired about a year later and that really blew me away.  All the characters and accents he could do were really amazing.  The Lloyd Worrell (meanest man in the world) sketch was just hilarious and I was soon reciting it verbatim along with my sister.

When he came to town to visit us, it really was an event.  It was obviously extra special to me as a kid because he was famous, but I think it would have been special anyway.  He was so entertaining and different from anyone else I was exposed to growing up.  He would imitate all these characters of his and also famous people such as Johnny Cash.  He always had some new knife or piece of jewelry he would talk at length about.  He just made everything seem cool.  It's so ironic how very "cool" he was and the fact that he was so well known for such a bumbling goofy character.   
JA:  Did you have any idea when you first began researching how much work it would be?

JL:  I really didn't know how much work it would be.  I think I imagined it taking about two years but honestly had no idea.  I just knew I was going to finish it no matter what it took.  I became intensely passionate about it.  I found out so many things I didn't know about him that any outline I would have started out with would have been scrapped almost entirely.  It was all quite bittersweet because I found myself wanting to talk to him so many times as I uncovered new information but obviously could not.  

JA:  What was the biggest challenge for you along the way of completing this book?

JL:  Keeping everything organized was definitely a challenge as I collected three huge binders full of articles.  I pored over them many times to make sure I didn't miss anything important that should be in the book.  Interviewing people was my biggest challenge however just because most of the people I talked to I didn't know and wasn't aware of the nature of their personal relationships with Jim beyond their professional ties.  Some of these people were not exactly fans of the other interviewees either so that made things interesting.  They were all quite welcoming and friendly with me and I felt that had a lot to do with the respect and affection they had for my uncle. 
JA:  What were you most surprised to discover about your uncle?

JL:  I would say our family connection to the Hatfields was most surprising.  The fact that no one in our family knew about it (only that my great-grandfather supposedly went hunting with some of the Hatfields) was really stunning.  But something relating more to Jim's life and career that was a surprise was the extent of his relationship with Johnny Cash.  He first worked with Cash in 1974 when he was cast as an extra on a TV special of Cash's.  The next year Cash saw Jim perform stand-up at a club called the Exit/In in Nashville.  That is when they really got to know each other.  Cash really enjoyed Jim's brand of comedy and eventually cast him on his 1976 summer variety show.  Jim managed to stay in touch with Cash throughout his life.  

JA:  Do you have a favorite film of his?

JL:  Although it's not considered a "film", the Hey Vern, It's My Family Album special is my favorite. I really don't know all that much about the actual shooting of the special.  I know that "Verna" in the Rhetch Worrell sketch is John Cherry's wife.  Maybe one of the most interesting things I found out about this show was that a few years earlier when Jim was living in California, he and his manager were trying to pitch Jim Varney's Family Album.  Other than Jim portraying a variety of characters, this early concept had nothing in common with the Ernest special.  I am thinking that the simple concept of a "family album" came back to Jim when working with John Cherry as a way for him to play a lot of funny and interesting characters.  

I would probably have to say that my favorite Ernest film was Ernest Goes to Camp, which has a slight edge over Ernest Saves Christmas, Ernest Goes to Jail and Ernest Scared Stupid.
JA:  Do you know much about the production of "Hey Vern, It's Ernest!"?

JL
:  Like so many of the Ernest projects, I can only imagine the fun they had behind-the-scenes and how Jim probably entertained the cast and crew for hours between takes.  I do know that much of the show was shot inside of Jim's actual residence in White House, Tennessee.  He won a Daytime Emmy Award for this show and I know he was extremely proud of that.

JA:  Did you spend any time on the sets of his productions?

JL:  Ultimately, very little.  The only Ernest set I ever visited was one of the Ernest Scared Stupid sets in the summer of 1991 in Nashville.  It was a large warehouse where they had converted it into the woods where Jim (as Ernest) is battling trolls on the back of a pickup truck.  My favorite experience with Jim involving any of his movies was attending a special premiere of the independent movie 100 Proof with my family in downtown Lexington, Kentucky.  I was actually sitting right beside him during the movie and it was so interesting to see people turn around in their seats and look at him and whisper to each other.  It gave me an interesting perspective on how it feels to be famous.
JA:  How did Gailard Sartain and Bill Byrge become involved with Ernest projects?

JL:  I am a huge fan of Gailard Sartain.  I would love to have met him while he was working with my uncle.  I have never met Bill Byrge either but have heard what a really wonderful person he is.  I am not sure how Sartain first became involved with John Cherry.  I know that he and Byrge had shot some "Chuck and Bobby" commercials together for Carden & Cherry before they appeared in any of the Ernest projects.  And of course the first character Sartain played in an Ernest film was the chef named "Jake" in Ernest Goes to Camp.  Sartain has been excellent in dramatic roles over the years from a small role in The Outsiders to the despicable sheriff in Mississippi Burning.  I know that Bill Byrge was working as a librarian in Nashville when he was discovered.    

JA:  Do you think Jim ever realized the true impact he had as an entertainer?

JL:  Because of the amount of people who showed up at his personal appearances for Ernest, I believe that he was quite aware of the impact he was having.  I know he received quite a bit of fan mail and would post artwork from children who would include it in their correspondence.  I think what may have surprised him is the legacy of the character and how so many adults today that were fans of his growing up want to share Ernest with their children.  And the fact that so many families watched Ernest movies together and how it became a part of some of their best memories of spending time together, it's really something special. 
JA:  Was it difficult to watch "Atlantis: The Lost Empire", being that is was released after his passing?

JL:  At that point it really wasn't.  It was more about being really excited to see something else he was connected to that I had never seen before.  I experienced that many times in writing my book where I was able to find quite a bit of old footage of him that kinda brought him back to life in a way. I would probably say, like before, it's a lot of bittersweet feelings where I am excited to see something new but then I want to talk to him about it as soon as I do.  

JA:  Have you considered turning the book into a feature-length documentary?

JL:  I have.  And that is probably what I would have done first because of my love for movies and documentaries.  There is a lot more cost involved and then there is dealing with all the rights and permissions for so much of the content.  I know I would have such an ambitious scope and would want a great variety of clips included.  I have had a few conversations with people about making one and as things begin to settle down in my life here I would like to revisit the possibility of pursuing that.
JA:  If you had to sum up your uncle with just three words, what would they be?

JL:  Born to entertain.

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The Purrfect Role: A Conversation with Camren Bicondova

Actress and dancer Camren Bicondova drops in to discuss her experiences on the set of FOX's television series Gotham where she portrays a young Selina Kyle. We also talk favorite movies, inspirations and all about her life before landing the "purrfect" role...

Jason Anders: Gotham is truly a superb series and I really love what you bring to the character of Selina Kyle...

Camren Bicondova: Thank you, I appreciate that!

JA: What is an average day on that set like for you?

CB: Well it's amazing to be a part of, I'm gonna say that. My daily agenda would be arriving at the studio, getting into hair and makeup and then doing some schooling. It's really fun to be able to dress up for Halloween every time I go to work. Then I go on set, and when I have a break I do some more schooling. The tricky part is going in and out of schooling. It's kind of all over the place but organized at the same time.

JAHow big of a challenge is that?

CB: It is very challenging. I just have to remember that if I don't do my schoolwork then I can't do Gotham. I'm a sophomore in high school and there are definitely days I do not want to go, but education is very important. I think that's how I balance it is by remembering that I need to do it in order to do what I love.
JA: I think I would have done much better in school if my motivation was that I couldn't be on the Batman show if I didn't finish my homework.

CB: Yeah (laughs).

JA: Have you always lived in New York or did you grow up somewhere else?

CB: I was born and raised in San Diego, California. My dad was in the military and when I was ten we moved to Hawaii. We eventually moved to Los Angeles so that I could be in the dance industry.

JA: Do you remember what sparked your interest in dance?

CB: I forget what age I was, but my mom took me to see Movin' Out and I just remember how excited the dancers and performers seemed to be and the fun they were having on stage. Even if they weren't singing or speaking they were showing so much emotion without saying a word. I whispered to my mom, "I wanna do that." Ever since then I've been dancing.
JA: What do you love most about dance?

CB: I consider it a universal language. I was very shy as a kid... well, I'm still a kid, but as a younger child... I was always looking down at the ground and didn't really talk much. I just kind of observed everything. Dance was a way for me to express myself. Anything in general that allows you to express your feelings is very unique.

JA: Do you feel like you've overcome being shy?

CB: I think I've opened up and am not as much as an introvert. I think that being on Gotham and going to these amazing events has definitely made me more of a social person. I would say that there are times when I'm very shy. If my friends are going to a barbecue I may just want to stay home and bake cookies.

JA: At what point did you transition from dancer to actress?

CB: It kind of just happened. I was part of a movie called Battlefield America (2012), cast as a dancer, and the director told me during one scene to say a line. I'm gonna be honest, I had never acted or thought about acting before... so the way I did that line was not my favorite, but it was my first time. That day was when I decided I wanted to start acting, and it happened gradually from there.
JA: What was auditioning for Gotham like?

CB: I thought that I was auditioning for a girl named Lucy, "a fourteen-year-old street thief pickpocket who is fierce when cornered and skilled at cat movements." I thought it sounded like Catwoman, but said "oh well, it's Lucy." I just went in like any other audition, having no idea that it would become what it has become. I'm very grateful for getting to be a part of a project like this.

When I got the call, the casting director said "Meow." He said, "You're Selina Kyle! You're on Gotham!" I was like "oh my gosh. This is insane." I was very happy.

JA: With so many incarnations of the character, how did you go about deciding how to play her?

CB: I've been reading comic books and watching the 60's show with Adam West. I watched some movies, too. I mixed my research with my own thoughts, fusing my own perspective with the information from the comic books.

My favorite part from the comic books shows a teenage Selina Kyle in an orphanage, and her and this boy would steal jewels for the supervisor. She never got to keep the jewels for herself, she always had to give them to the orphanage supervisor. It then flashes back to present-day Gotham with her saying, "And that is why I am who I am." What I took from that is that she steals for empowerment.
I took that and I use it when I'm doing scenes of street-thieving.

It's really amazing to be playing such an unpredictable character like Selina Kyle.
JA: Do you ever wake up in the morning worried that this has all been a dream?

CB: I wake up every morning and pinch myself. I love New York, I love the food, I love the people and I love how easy it is to navigate around the city. I love my job, also. It's amazing to be able to wake up every morning in the city of dreams.

JA: Isn't it the greatest city in the world?

CB: It is! I mean I have to get used to the cold weather, I'm a Cali girl, but other than that I'm loving it. I'm excited to see snow! I think we're supposed to get snow this Wednesday, that will be really fun. I've seen snow at my Grandparents house but it melted pretty much as soon as it hit the ground, so I don't think that really counts.

JA: What is your favorite thing about the process of making Gotham?

CB: I like being able to simply put on a costume and become a different person. I think it's fascinating that it's you, but not you... if that makes sense. There's a similarity to dance- when you're dancing, you're you, but you're also becoming the singer and expressing what the singer is singing. With acting, you're still you, but in my case also Selina Kyle expressing what she is feeling. I think that is really awesome and it makes me very happy.

JA: What do you do for fun when you're not working?

CB: I play with my cats. I like to run and go to the gym. I like to eat. I'm still dancing.

JA: Do you go to dance classes?

CB: I've been taking dance classes, but when I don't have the time to go I just go on YouTube and learn choreography off of my computer. That's pretty much it. I've been eating a lot since moving to New York so I've been dancing and working out more.
JA: Is perfroming on Broadway a goal? 

CB: I cannot sing for the life of me. I only sing in the shower when I'm by myself, and I act like I'm at a Beyoncé concert and I'm just loving my life. I think it would be cool to be a part of a Broadway show, but only as a dancer. If I sang I would just embarrass myself. At least at the moment.

I like watching Broadway shows, but all of my focus is on Gotham right now. I'm just going with the flow and seeing where my destiny takes me.

JA: Do you collect anything?

CB: I used to collect nutcrackers. Every Black Friday my mom and I would go buy them, so I have a bunch, I just haven't collected any recently. I think they're the coolest things, although I don't think they're used for cracking nuts anymore. I tried it once and it didn't work, unless I wasn't strong enough. I'll have to try it again.

Also, my clothes collect cat hair on the daily. I have to get a lot of lint rollers.

JA: Nutcrackers and cat hair, there you go.

CB: Yep! (laughs)
JA: What are three movies that you love?

CB: That's so hard! I recently saw the movie Begin Again (2013) with Keira Knightley and it was amazing. Honey (2003) with Jessica Alba. Another one I really love is Stomp the Yard (2007), it's really awesome. You have to watch them!

JA: Do you have a favorite portrayal of Catwoman?

CB: I really love Julie Newmar and her take on Catwoman in the 60's show. She's just amazing.
My favorite scene is when she was trying to persuade Batman into doing something and he said, "You're very beautiful, Catwoman." She leaned over the couch and said, "Yes... you're quite right, I am." I just thought that was the best thing ever.  

JA: It's such a funny show to watch now and see it from a different perspective.

CB: I feel that way when I watch cartoons now that I used to watch when I was little. When you're young, you just look at the images and you laugh if it's funny, even if you don't understand what's going on. I watch some cartoons now and I'm like "whoa, that is an adult joke! What the heck?" But it's hilarious.  
JA: If you had to sum up your life at the moment with just three words, what would they be?

CB: Hmm. It may take me a while to answer this question, so beware of the awkward pauses. I'm very busy so I'm going to say "busy." It's nice being busy because you have things to focus on and you don't get tired very easily. I always get more tired if I'm just standing or sitting for long periods of time rather than moving around.

JA: When you're busy doing the things you love, it energizes you.

CB: Exactamundo! I'm in New York but my family in in California and Colorado, so I'd also say "cross country." A word that I feel right now in my life is "grateful."

JA: I'm glad you're able to appreciate all of the wonderful things that are happening in your life.

CB: I do! And thank you. Thank you for asking me questions!

Follow Camren on Twitter: @CamrenBicondova
Follow GOTHAM on Twitter: @Gotham