Hollywood Obsessed Tony Miros

Episode 72 – Getting Personal With “NYPD Blue” Star Bill Brochtrup - Part 2

 

During the second half of Tony’s riveting conversation with actor Bill Brochtrup they discuss what the realities of being an gay actor in Hollywood is, his fear of being type cast or losing parts because of it, the relief he felt when he finally came out publicly, how much he now likes playing gay characters, his appreciation to Steven Bochco for changing his life with the role of ‘John’, how he’s still in touch with his former “NYPD Blue” co-stars, how much fun he had working on the 2009 feature film “He’s Just Not That Into You”, as well as working with Melissa McCarthy in the 2010 comedy “Life As We Know It”, what it was like working on five-seasons of the hit TNT series “Major Crimes” as the recurring role of police psychologist ‘Dr Joe’ co-starring with actress Mary McDonnell, why the reboot series of “NYPD Blue” wasn’t picked up by the network after he and Kim Delaney filmed the pilot episode in 2019, how in retrospect how lucky he was being openly gay in Hollywood during the 1990s and early 2000s and how happy is being the Artistic Director of the Antaeus Theatre Company, a classical theatre ensemble in Los Angeles.  



BILL BROCHTRUP

 

Bill Brochtrup is a television, film, & stage actor, best known for playing ‘John Irvin’ the cheerful administrative aide, on the Emmy Award-winning police drama, “NYPD Blue”.  Along with the rest of the cast, he was nominated for a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble. In 2019 he reprised his role in ABC's rebooted NYPD Blue pilot.

 

In addition to series regular roles on two other Steven Bochco dramas (“Public Morals” & “Total Security”) he has had recurring roles on Jon Avnet’s web-series “Kendra” & Showtime’s “Shameless”, as well as a 5-season run as savvy police psychologist ‘Dr. Joe Bowman’ on TNT’s “Major Crimes”. He is currently appearing in the Emmy Award-winning digital drama “After Forever” on Amazon.

 

His movie credits include roles in “Rockula” (1990); “Terror in the Shadows” (1995); “Betrayed: A Story of Three Women” (1995); “Space Marines” (1996); “Not Again!”(1996); “Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects” (1996); “Man of the Year” (1996); “The Arrival” (1996); “Two Voices” (1997); “Ravenous” (1999); “Role of a Lifetime” (2002); “Hypnotized” (2004); “Duck” (2005); “He's Just Not That Into You” (2009); “Life as We Know It” (2010); and “No Boundaries” (2012 Short).

 

Onstage he has appeared in NYC, LA, and in regional theaters throughout the country.  He is the Artistic Director of the Antaeus Theatre Company, Los Angeles’ acclaimed classical theater ensemble, where he also produced the Ambie-nominated fiction podcast series The Zip Code Plays. 

 

He has told his original comic stories at numerous Spoken Word events, & has written for Out magazine & the bestselling collection of essays I Love You, Mom!

 

He has hosted AIDS Walks across the country, is an SPCA “Friend for Life,” & has spent numerous holidays abroad w the USO & Armed Forces Entertainment, visiting Troops in the Persian Gulf, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Germany, Japan, Bosnia, & Kosovo.

 

He was born in Inglewood, CA, raised in Tacoma, WA, & studied at New York University. After NYU, he moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue an acting career. He currently resides in Los Angeles. Brochtrup came out to People magazine as gay in 1997.

 

Bill Brochtrup Website - https://www.billbrochtrup.com

 

Antaeus Theater Company - https://antaeus.org

 

“The Inheritance” on Audible with Bill Brochtrup - https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Inheritance-Audiobook/B0BXQTDCY5

 

The Official Hollywood Obsessed Website - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/ ⁠⁠⁠

 

Follow the Official Hollywood Obsessed Facebook Page

On this episode of Hollywood Obsessed, host Tony Miros speaks with Bill Brochtrup, who is best known for playing public administrative assistant ‘John Irvin’ on the Emmy award-winning series "NYPD Blue”. 



During their revealing conversation, Bill tells Tony about his early days of being a struggling actor in Hollywood, what it was like working with Angela Landsbury on the classic TV series “Murder She Wrote”, how his appearance in the L.A. stage production of "The Raft of the Medusa" won him the role of out gay public administrative assistant John Irvin on the hit ABC police drama "NYPD Blue”, his memories of playing the only openly gay character on the show for 6 seasons - including his thoughts on how his character was an integral part of the show, not a throwaway one, how his onscreen storyline with the gruff, homophobic Det. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) changed throughout the years, and how this groundbreaking role opened doors for more significant gay characters and stories to be told on television.



BILL BROCHTRUP



Bill Brochtrup is a television, film, and stage actor, best known for playing ‘John Irvin’ the cheerful administrative aide, on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning police drama, “NYPD Blue”.  Along with the rest of the cast, he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble. In 2019 he reprised his role in ABC's rebooted NYPD Blue pilot.



In addition to series regular roles on two other Steven Bochco dramas (“Public Morals” and “Total Security”) he has had recurring roles on Jon Avnet’s web-series “Kendra” and Showtime’s “Shameless”, as well as a five-season run as savvy police psychologist ‘Dr. Joe Bowman’ on TNT’s “Major Crimes”. He is currently appearing in the Emmy Award-winning digital drama “After Forever” on Amazon. Guest appearances include “Dexter”; “Without a Trace”; “Murder, She Wrote”; “Dragnet”; and “ALF”.



His movie credits include roles in “Rockula” (1990); “Terror in the Shadows” (1995); “Betrayed: A Story of Three Women” (1995); “Space Marines” (1996); “Not Again!”(1996); “Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects” (1996); “Man of the Year” (1996); “The Arrival” (1996); “Two Voices” (1997); “Ravenous” (1999); “Role of a Lifetime” (2002); “Hypnotized” (2004); “Duck” (2005); “Man of the Year” (2006); “He's Just Not That Into You” (2009); “Life as We Know It” (2010); and “No Boundaries” (2012 Short).



Onstage he has appeared in New York, Los Angeles, and in regional theaters throughout the country. He is the Artistic Director of the Antaeus Theatre Company, Los Angeles’ acclaimed classical theater ensemble, where he also produced the Ambie-nominated fiction podcast series The Zip Code Plays. 



He has told his original comic stories at numerous Spoken Word events, and has written for Out magazine and the bestselling collection of essays I Love You, Mom!



He has hosted AIDS Walks across the country, is an SPCA “Friend for Life,” and has spent numerous holidays abroad with the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment, visiting Troops in the Persian Gulf, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Germany, Japan, Bosnia, and Kosovo.



He was born in Inglewood, CA, raised in Tacoma, WA, and studied at New York University. After NYU, he moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue an acting career. He currently resides in Los Angeles. Brochtrup came out to People magazine as gay in 1997.



Bill Brochtrup Website - https://www.billbrochtrup.com



Antaeus Theater Company - https://antaeus.org



“The Inheritance” on Audible with Bill Brochtrup - https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Inheritance-Audiobook/B0BXQTDCY5



The Official Hollywood Obsessed Website - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/ ⁠⁠⁠



Follow the Official Hollywood Obsessed Facebook Page – ⁠⁠⁠HOLLYWOOD OBSESSED PODCAST⁠

During the second half of Tony’s fascinating conversation with Anna Wong -- the niece of legendary movie star Anna May Wong - they discuss why her aunt didn’t get the role of ‘O-lan’, the lead female character in MGM's film version of “The Good Earth” which ended up being played by the non-Asian actress Luise Rainer, what happened when her aunt went on a year-long tour of China to help with the war effort, how in the 1950s Wong made history with her television show “The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong”, being the first-ever Asian American series lead on a U.S. television show, how she had been planning to return to the silver screen in the film version of the Broadway musical “Flower Drum Song” before she unexpectedly died of heart failure prior to filming, the resurgence of interest in her career today in books, TV series like Ryan Murphy’s  Netflix series “Hollywood”, and Damien Chazelle’s  feature film “Babylon”, the rumors that she might have been a lesbian/bisexual and her huge LGBTQ+ following, the explosion of Asian representation in films today like “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, how excited Anna May’s niece was when actress Michelle Yeoh won the Oscar for Best Actress at the 2023 Academy Awards, and the truth behind the rumors that Asian actress Gemma Chan will be playing Wong in a new feature film about her life!



ANNA WONG

Anna Wong grew up mere miles from Hollywood where her Aunt, iconic Asian American film star Anna May Wong, left an indelible mark on cinematic history. While Anna never had any desire to pursue a career in front of the camera, she has always been drawn to the cultural impact and inclusiveness that her namesake strove to achieve. Whether she’s repping artists, planning events, producing and developing film & tv projects or engaging in philanthropic endeavors Anna’s mission is to increase awareness of Asian American issues and further the effort for equality.



ANNA MAY WONG

Anna May Wong was born in 1905 near Los Angeles’ Chinatown to Chinese American parents. At 14, Wong had her first break when she was cast as an extra in the 1919 film The Red Lantern. Soon after, despite the disapproval of her family, she quit school to pursue acting full time. 



In an era, during the Chinese Exclusion Act, when Chinese characters in Hollywood films were typically played by white actors in yellowface, she was the first woman to buck this trend. She starred in classics like The Toll of the Sea (1922) & Douglas Fairbanks’ The Thief of Bagdad (1924). Despite her popularity, however, she continued to be cast in supporting roles as  anti-miscegenation laws, prevented her from sharing an on-screen kiss with any person of another race. Moreover, because of pervasive racism, these roles tended to depict Chinese Americans in a stereotypical and discriminatory light, as either tragic or evil characters. 



Fed up with the typecasting, in 1928 she left for Europe, where she acted in English, German, & French films, including the British film Piccadilly (1929). After returning to the US, she was widely lauded for her supporting role in the film Shanghai Express (1932), where she performed alongside film superstar Marlene Dietrich. Wong’s successful career earned her widespread celebrity, and she became known not just for her acting but also for her impeccable fashion sense.



Despite her status as the premier Chinese American actress, she was passed over for the lead role in an adaption of Pearl Buck’s novel, The Good Earth (1936). The director opted instead for a white actress in yellowface. In response to this slight, she spent 1936 traveling China & filming a documentary about her experience. In the 1950s & 60s, she acted in various TV series such as The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong.



Wong was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. She died on February 3, 1961, at the age of 56 of a heart attack

On this episode of Hollywood Obsessed, host Tony Miros speaks with Anna Wong -- the niece of legendary movie star Anna May Wong.




During their fascinating conversation, Anna tells Tony about how when she was a child she would ask see photos of her aunt around her house and became fascinated with her career, the event that the U.S. Mint recently had to celebrate the release of the Anna May Wong Quarter at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, her aunt’s amazing career as the first Chinese American Hollywood movie star to gain national and international recognition, how difficult it was for a young girl like her to break into movies during silent film era of the 1920s, how her aunt starred in films such as “The Toll of the Sea” - one of the first films made in color - and Douglas Fairbanks' “The Thief of Bagdad”, her aunt’s frustration by the stereotypical supporting roles she reluctantly played in Hollywood, the inter-racial laws that would not allow her to appear as a romantic lead in films with top leading me at the time, how young audiences today don’t understand why “yellowface” was allowed during that era, how she became a bigger star when she moved to Europe to work and she eventually became a fashion icon, how her aunt held her own next to movie star Marlene Dietrich in the classic film “Shanghai Express”, how proud she is of her aunt’s lasting legacy for Asian American women in the entertainment industry.



ANNA WONG

Anna Wong grew up mere miles from Hollywood where her Aunt, iconic Asian American film star Anna May Wong, left an indelible mark on cinematic history. While Anna never had any desire to pursue a career in front of the camera, she has always been drawn to the cultural impact and inclusiveness that her namesake strove to achieve. Whether she’s repping artists, planning events, producing and developing film & tv projects or engaging in philanthropic endeavors Anna’s mission is to increase awareness of Asian American issues and further the effort for equality.



ANNA MAY WONG

Anna May Wong was born in 1905 near Los Angeles’ Chinatown to Chinese American parents. At 14, Wong had her first break when she was cast as an extra in the 1919 film The Red Lantern. Soon after, despite the disapproval of her family, she quit school to pursue acting full time. 



In an era, during the Chinese Exclusion Act, when Chinese characters in Hollywood films were typically played by white actors in yellowface, she was the first woman to buck this trend. She starred in classics like The Toll of the Sea (1922) & Douglas Fairbanks’ The Thief of Bagdad (1924). Despite her popularity, however, she continued to be cast in supporting roles as  anti-miscegenation laws, prevented her from sharing an on-screen kiss with any person of another race. Moreover, because of pervasive racism, these roles tended to depict Chinese Americans in a stereotypical and discriminatory light, as either tragic or evil characters. 



Fed up with the typecasting, in 1928 she left for Europe, where she acted in English, German, & French films, including the British film Piccadilly (1929). After returning to the US, she was widely lauded for her supporting role in the film Shanghai Express (1932), where she performed alongside film superstar Marlene Dietrich. Wong’s successful career earned her widespread celebrity, and she became known not just for her acting but also for her impeccable fashion sense.



Despite her status as the premier Chinese American actress, she was passed over for the lead role in an adaption of Pearl Buck’s novel, The Good Earth (1936). The director opted instead for a white actress in yellowface. In response to this slight, she spent 1936 traveling China & filming a documentary about her experience. In the 1950s & 60s, she acted in various TV series such as The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong. 



Wong was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
in 1960. She died on Feb

During the second half of Tony’s fascinating conversation with celebrated screenwriter Stan Zimmerman, they discuss
why it was difficult for him and the entire writing
staff of the classic hit sitcom "Roseanne" to work on
that show, how much he loves that he got to write the infamous "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"  (aka "lesbian kiss") episode for the show "Roseanne", how that episode was the catalyst for the entertainment industry to feature more LGBTQ+ stories on national TV, how much fun he had writing “The Brady Bunch Movie”, how it was his idea to cast the then unknown pop star RuPaul as Jan’s school counselor “Miss Cummings”, his memories of writing one season of “Gilmore Girls” for his good friend Amy Sherman-Palladino, the difference between writing a half-hour sitcom and an hour-long comedy-drama series, how much he loves going to "Gilmore Girl" conventions and meeting the fans, how he was asked to host the Bravo reality competition series “Situation: Comedy”, how he eventually got back into writing for the theater, how much he loves writing original plays that marry art and advocacy, why people call him “the gay Kevin Bacon” and all the fun projects he has coming up. 



STAN ZIMMERMAN



Stan Zimmerman is a man of many mediums (TV, film and theatre). He’s been nominated for two WGA Awards for Best Comedy Writing – The Golden Girls and Roseanne. Stan’s also written and produced on Gilmore Girls, co-created the Lifetime sitcom, Rita Rocks, wrote on both Brady Bunch movies and rewrote the ABC-TV movie of Annie. Stan has a BFA-Drama from NYU/Circle-in-the-Square and has directed such LA productions as The Diary of Anne Frank-Latinx (8 iterations since 2018), Entertaining Mr. Sloane, A Tuna Christmas, Gemini, Spike Heels, Pledge, Heartbreak Help and his original plays -- Meet & Greet, Knife to the Heart, Yes Virginia and Have a Good One. Stan directed Off-Broadway’s Hyprov (Daryl Roth Theatre). TRWplays recently published and licensed three of his works -- Yes Virginia, Silver Foxes and right before I go, which he has appeared in across the U.S. Zimmerman & Berg wrote the Lifetime Christmas movie, Ladies of the 80’s: A Divas Christmas starring Donna Mills, Linda Gray, Morgan Fairchild, Loni Anderson, Nicollette Sheridan. Stan will be directing the West Coast Premiere of Paul Rudnick’s The New Century at the BENT Theatre in Palm Springs (Feb ’24) and the World Premiere of Peter Ritt’s High Maintenance at The Road Theatre Company in North Hollywood (April ’24).




Stan Zimmerman’s Website - https://www.zimmermanstan.com

 

To Purchase Stan’s Memoir “The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore - https://www.amazon.com/Girls-Golden-Gilmore-Stan-Zimmerman/dp/1954676603

 

The Official Hollywood Obsessed Website - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/ ⁠⁠⁠

 

Follow the Official Hollywood Obsessed Facebook Page – ⁠⁠⁠HOLLYWOOD OBSESSED PODCAST⁠⁠⁠

 

Follow our Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodobsessedpodcast/⁠

 

Titles VO Talent – Cam Frierson - ⁠⁠⁠http://camfrierson.com/voice⁠⁠⁠

 

Music by⁠⁠ ⁠QubeSounds⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Hollywood Obsessed, host Tony Miros speaks with writer, producer, director, and playwright Stan Zimmerman who has written for several classic television series including "The Golden Girls", "Roseanne", and "Gilmore Girls".  



During their fascinating conversation, Stan tells Tony where the idea of writing his memoir - “The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore” - came from, how his love for movies and TV started when he was a young boy growing up in the Midwest, how he met his lifelong professional writing partner when they were both studying at NYU, what it was like when they moved to LA after college, how they got their big break writing on Season One of “The Golden Girls”, what it was like writing for legendary actresses Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, how the very first episode they wrote for the show got them a WGA award nomination, why they had to stay in the closet while they were working on the classic sitcom, his special relationship with Estelle Getty, and his disappointment when they weren’t asked back to write for Season Two on the show.



STAN ZIMMERMAN



Stan Zimmerman is a man of many mediums (TV, film and theatre). He’s been nominated for two WGA Awards for Best Comedy Writing – The Golden Girls and Roseanne. Stan’s also written and produced on Gilmore Girls, co-created the Lifetime sitcom, Rita Rocks, wrote on both Brady Bunch movies and rewrote the ABC-TV movie of Annie. Stan has a BFA-Drama from NYU/Circle-in-the-Square and has directed such LA productions as The Diary of Anne Frank-Latinx (8 iterations since 2018), Entertaining Mr. Sloane, A Tuna Christmas, Gemini, Spike Heels, Pledge, Heartbreak Help and his original plays -- Meet & Greet, Knife to the Heart, Yes Virginia and Have a Good One. Stan directed Off-Broadway’s Hyprov (Daryl Roth Theatre). TRWplays recently published and licensed three of his works -- Yes Virginia, Silver Foxes and right before I go, which he has appeared in across the U.S. Zimmerman & Berg wrote the Lifetime Christmas movie, Ladies of the 80’s: A Divas Christmas starring Donna Mills, Linda Gray, Morgan Fairchild, Loni Anderson, Nicollette Sheridan. Stan will be directing the West Coast Premiere of Paul Rudnick’s The New Century at the BENT Theatre in Palm Springs (Feb ’24) and the World Premiere of Peter Ritt’s High Maintenance at The Road Theatre Company in North Hollywood (April ’24).



Stan Zimmerman’s Website - https://www.zimmermanstan.com

 

To Purchase Stan’s Memoir “The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore - https://www.amazon.com/Girls-Golden-Gilmore-Stan-Zimmerman/dp/1954676603

 

The Official Hollywood Obsessed Website - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/ ⁠⁠⁠

 

Follow the Official Hollywood Obsessed Facebook Page – ⁠⁠⁠HOLLYWOOD OBSESSED PODCAST⁠⁠⁠

 

Follow our Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodobsessedpodcast/⁠

 

Titles VO Talent – Cam Frierson - ⁠⁠⁠http://camfrierson.com/voice⁠⁠⁠

 

Music by⁠⁠ ⁠QubeSounds⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠