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May 24th 1998
Michelle Lee, May 24, 1999
Lee: Hi everybody, happy to be here. Shoot!
m_i_c_1: Whose idea was it to start your fan club, and who runs
it?
Also, why isn't it more active?
Lee: Bobby Pierosh runs the fan club. And he's run the fan club
for
many, many years. He was just a fan as many of you out there are
who
contacted me and had such passion I said go ahead. The fan club
info is:
Michelle Lee Fan Club, Bobby Pierosh President, 114 Magnolia
Drive,
Levittown, PA 19054. And he says to send a self-addressed, stamped
envelope to join. Internet to come.
Hugs_and_Giggles23: Can you tell me a bit about your new movie?
Lee: A woman finds out that her husband has been arrested for a
murder
that took place 27 years before. It is loosely based on a true
story, and
through the course of this mystery she tries to find the truth and
the
evidence keeps showing him guilty. You have to stay tuned to find
out
what really happened.
m_i_c_1: What kind of charity activities did you do for Bnei
Brit's
Anti-Defamation League?
Lee: I have been honored by those organizations in the past, and
the
Anti-Defamation League, and hopefully in the future we will all be
able to
look at each other as people and smile and accept people for who
and
what we are. Maybe there would be less violence in our society.
Sugar_Cane_888: What is your favorite part of being an actress?
Lee: I get to meet many interesting people who share creative
interests.
Also the ability to play fascinating characters. And sometimes
when
these characters are biographical they really educate you.
m_i_c_1: I know it sounds kind of silly, but do you have any idea
why
they called Knots Landing the way they did (i.e. what's the
meaning of
the name)?
Lee: Yes I do. It was originally to be called Couples. And David
Jacobs,
the creator, was turned down by the network with that title. He
then
thought, OK, let me think of a place that sounds like California,
so he
thought of the marina and of the ocean and got very nautical.
Hence,
Knot's and Knot's Landing where you would perhaps dock your boat.
KO_RD1: How did you like working on the movie?
Lee: Oh yes, it was a movie that I wore one hat, the hat of the
actress, I
was for hire. And because I produce so many of my movies, it was
like a
vacation! I also LOVED working with Peter Coyote, who played my
husband in the film, he's a real man's man. And ladies seem to
like him
too.
m_i_c_1: Are you going to publish some more CDs soon? You have an
amazing singing voice!
Lee: That's so sweet! I guess you're talking about the CD from Big
Dreams and Broken Hearts - The Dottie West Story, the movie I did
for
CBS a few years ago. I thank you. Those people who wish to get
that
CD, check it out at www.geocities.com/televisioncity/7953.
Hopefully I
will be able to sing soon again.
bryanmmm: Have you done any stage acting?
Lee: Yes. I started on the stage and I did the musical on
Broadway, How
To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. And a show called
SeeSaw, which was Tommy Tune's first Broadway show.
bryanmmm: Do you like murder mysteries?
Lee: Love them. And this one is a good one, it's a real whodunnit.
You
guess throughout the movie with all its twists and turns whether
he is
guilty or not guilty. And of course, the answer is found when a
secret is
uncovered.
m_i_c_1: Where can one find the lyrics to your song (I've been
trying to
figure out I didn't come to NY's -- you'd be unhappy if... ?"
Lee: The song - first of all it was on Columbia Records - and it
was
called I Didn't Come To New York To Find A Guy From My Hometown.
And I don't know where to find the lyrics to tell the truth. It
might have
been written by a writer named Billy Mescel or Mescell, if that
helps.
m_i_c_1: What's your son David doing in life now? Acting /
Psychology? Is he still dating Leah Worrick?
Lee: My son walked in while we were talking! My son is acting
again, he
is very exciting, and he is still going with Leah Rowan. And thank
you for
asking. David says hello to everybody out there - my handsome,
gorgeous, talented, tall son!
gangrl: Did you like working with Joan Van Ark?
Lee: Yes, actually I saw Joan and Donna Mills a couple of nights
ago. I
really did love working with Joan, we giggled a lot.
manolis_varnassinger: From all these 14 years in Knots Landing,
what do you remember most from that show?
Lee: That's a difficult question. I take away the friendships,
which are
kind of blurred in some respects because my friendships with these
actors are almost friendships with the characters themselves. So I
take
that away with me. Also my character Karen was so much fun and she
was so relateable. As a matter of fact the movie tomorrow night on
CBS
is the first character I've played in I don't know how long, it's
the closest to
Karen I've gotten.
doulasue: I really enjoyed you in The Comic years ago. Do you have
any great memories from working with Dick Van Dyke?
Lee: He's very special, I worked with him many times. Not just on
the
movie The Comic, which was a very difficult role for him because
it was
so not his persona. I also did several specials with him. He's a
no-nonsense man with an incredible work ethic and a very gentle
heart.
You never feel you know enough about him. He keeps a lot to
himself.
But he makes everybody feel like they are a part of his family.
Roxy0601: I'm a long time fan of Knots Landing. Any chance of
another
reunion?
Lee: We are asked all the time. It's a matter of getting all of
our
schedules together at one time. Last reunion movie took a year and
a half
before they could work it all out. I suppose one day you'll see us
again.
Everyone always asks for another movie.
f_astaire: Have any of your children followed you into the
entertainment
business?
Lee: My son is an actor, David Farentino. He's very talented. He
does
many creative things. I guess it's in the blood. He studies at the
Beverly
Hills Playhouse. Milton Katselas is the teacher. He also writes.
He is very
musical. And I'm proud of him.
jaag_1999: How long did it take for you to do this movie?
Lee: It took about a month and a half. And we rushed it right on
the air,
everyone loved the movie. I do so many kinds of movie but I
haven't done
this kind in so long, a real suspense movie. It was shot in
Canada,
Vancouver. And it was really quite beautiful as well as enjoying
the
production. Mainly because the script was good and my leading man
was better! LOL!
f_astaire: I watched every single episode of Knot's. I miss the
format,
cast age & story lines. Why do you think there is simply nothing
like it on
TV now? Only shows geared to very young people!
Lee: Interesting. I guess things go through phases. And if a show
is
successful and if it's aimed towards a certain group, networks and
studios try to do more of the same. Until that wears then and then
they
start to move into other arenas. I have been fortunate in that I
have
retained my loyal Knot's Landing fans. And I do one movie after
another.
So it's almost like doing a series - not quite!
m_i_c_1: Do you have any pets?
Lee: I have a cat. His name is Kit Ten.
NightAngel_99: Do you like it in Canada?
Lee: Very beautiful architecturally, and I really love Canadians.
We had
a very talented crew. And I've been thinking of buying a condo
there, I
like it so much.
f_astaire: Do you like doing movies or TV better?
Lee: Being that I do not do theatrical films very often, I LOVE
television!
Sugar_Cane_888: What channel is your movie coming on again?
Lee: CBS. I guess it's on at 8 or 9 PM according to what side of
the world
you're on, after the final episode this season of JAG.
manolis_varnassinger: What was the toughest scene you had to play
in your new movie?
Lee: Well there is a scene I love where she catches her husband in
a lie,
and when she confronts him he won't speak to her. He just doesn't
give
up any information. And finally she says, did you kill that man?
And he
takes a very, very long beat and slowly looks up to her and
doesn't say
anything. CUT! Print!
Bjooz: What work are you currently doing?
Lee: Well I have in my production company right now a few
different
movies that are different stages of development and I will let
everybody
know when something pops. Let me say this. By the way, the
corrected
address for the Dottie West soundtrack or video: Hey Jack
Publishing,
10850 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, LA, CA 90024
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