November 3, 2007

What a special day this was for the animals and for Fred! Friends of Fred's gathered at the Universal Hilton to "toast" him. Master of Ceremonies was Fred's close friend Martin Mull. Martin and Fred co-starred in the groundbreaking satire Fernwood 2Night and have stayed close friends ever since. They have worked together on many projects since including Roseanne where Fred and Martin played a gay couple and the first to get married on TV.

On the dais was Catherine O'Hara who has worked many times with Fred. First on SCTV and then in the Christopher Guest films. In Waiting for Guffman she played Fred's wife and she also played his wife in Chicken Little, Monster House and Cat Tale. Fred adores Catherine and thinks she is one of our finest actresses.

Doris Roberts was a treat! Doris and Fred worked together on Everybody Loves Raymond. A gifted actress and generous and kind to boot!

Sarah Purcell worked with Fred on Real People and they have remained good friends. Sarah is beloved by everyone. Always fun, always a good sport and always beautiful!

Steve Bluestein is one of Fred and Mary's closest friends and one of the funniest comedians you will ever meet. On the dais he was hysterical, and kept the audience in stitches.

Steve Edwards and Fred have been friends for years. They first met when Fred guested on AM Los Angeles with Steve's co-host, Sarah Purcell! Steve is a loyal friend, a funny man and has the nicest wife in Sherman Oaks!

Bob Perlow has been Jay Leno's warm up comic since Jay first began on the Tonight Show. Bob makes any event special and is always really funny. He was in fine form at the toast and had us all laughing loudly. He first met Fred when they all arrived in Hollywood at the same time.

Ted Lange is a champ. He's witty, warm and so kind. He and Fred first worked together on The Love Boat and have stayed pals ever since. He is a Shakespearean scholar and went to speak at Fred's daughter's college, Mount Holyoke, in a blinding snowstorm as a favor to Fred and Mary. He has directed Fred in several plays and TV shows.

Jim Piddock was Fred's co-star in Best in Show and they have remained close ever since. Jim is a gifted comic actor and a talented writer.

Norm MacDonald was so funny. He and Fred have known each other a long time and worked together on Norm's sitcom A Minute with Stan Hooper. If you ever have a chance to see Norm in person, do it! Hilarious!

David L. Lander added his usual twisted comedy to the dais. David and Fred have been friends for over thirty years and when asked to name his favorite comedy actors, David is always at the top of Fred’s list. Squiggy lives! His wife Kathy battles morning, noon and night for health care reform. She’s an amazing gal.

Lassie aka Lulu, made a special appearance. She and Fred have been friends for years!

There was a terrific tribute film to Fred created by the amazing Michelle Skrabut La Pierre of Word of Mouth Productions. Jay Leno, Jane Lynch & Elaine Hendrix, Jennifer Coolidge, Christopher Guest, Kelsey Grammer & Patricia Heaton, and Michael McKean did very funny video “toasts” and Eugene Levy sent a very funny tribute that Martin read and made even funnier by virtue of it being read by Martin!

There were many "star" sightings in the crowd as well. Leonard Maltin with lovely wife Alice, Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss, long time pal Gary Owens and his adorable Arleta, Cindy Williams, glamorous Loretta Swit who is a longtime board member and animal supporter, the ever popular and beloved Earl Holliman who was our leader for so many years and of course our new president JoAnne Worley. JoAnne is a long time friend of Fred's and has added lots of laughter to Fred and everyone else as well.

There were so many donors who made the day possible, but none so generously as the Silver Paws Sponsor, The Petco Foundation, for which we are all deeply grateful.

The ballroom was filled to capacity with an appreciative crowd of old and new friends. As a wonderful way of illustrating the programs and services of Actors and Others for Animals, on the big screens played a video with a stream of fabulous photographs of animals. Michelle Skrabut La Pierre of Word of Mouth Productions put this together as well as the tribute film.

Of course, nothing gets done without hard-working volunteers and the hard-working Board of Directors. Susan Taylor, the Executive Director, who manages to get it all done and makes it look easy...Thanks, SUE!! Our hero, Paul Jolly, whose name suits him, and Paul always has the interests of the animals first. Longtime Board member Jackie Joseph who not only did so much for the event but saved the day when the audio went out on the film about our Award of Caring recipients! Jackie did the voice over and made it hilarious. What a peach of a gal. And the wonderful Laura Lizer who along with Paul co-chaired the event and made it the success it was. Laura makes every difficult thing she does look easy. The ever generousl Val Tonione who donated TWO trips to Fiji!!! Fred bought one! Aloha! And a big, big, big thank you to our other Board Members, staff, silent auction donors and volunteers. Hope Willard Mulbarger, Bonnie Garner, Patty Brenner, Edwina Anderson, Ed Begley, Jr.,Dr Joyce Miller, Page Miller, Cory Carter, Maria Dales, Gina Stack, Cheryl Morenc, Trish Delaney, Bren Hill, Ray Klein, Lee Barron, Alice Maltin, Nancy Eisenstadt, Clara Tortomasi and a host of others. Thanks!

It was a really fun event and Fred was delighted with it. Most importantly money was raised for the animals. See you at the next one!