`NAVY' MAN TOM ARNOLD STILL A HOLLYWOOD OUTSIDER.Byline: Barry Koltnow Orange County Register Nobody loves being famous more than Tom Arnold Tom Arnold is the name of:
``I know this sounds sick, but it was a lot of fun being famous back when Roseanne and I were together. I realized at the time that I was only famous because I was married to her, but that's better than being famous like John Hinckley. ``I really played into the fame back then, and that embarrasses me now. I'm embarrassed by how much I loved it. But frankly, I still love being famous.'' That Arnold - the star of the cinematic remake of the 1960s sitcom ``McHale's Navy McHale's Navy was an American television sitcom series. The series ran for 138 half-hour episodes from September 11, 1962 to August 20, 1966 on ABC. The series was presented in the Black and white format. ,'' which opens today - still enjoys the fame is evident as he makes his way slowly across the backlot backlot Noun an area outside a film or television studio used for outdoor filming at Universal, where tourists are gawking at the star walking among them. Many of the tourists simply snap photos from afar, but the more courageous actually approach and request a photo with him. He obliges all requests for photos and autographs and graciously accepts all gushing gush v. gushed, gush·ing, gush·es v.intr. 1. To flow forth suddenly in great volume: water gushing from a hydrant. 2. compliments. And to the chagrin of the many Tom Arnold detractors, there are plenty of gushing Tom Arnold admirers. Hollywood everyman ``It's fun being nice to those people,'' Arnold says. ``It's fun because I remember what it was like to ask for an autograph from somebody famous. I'm just like those people, and they know that. They know I'm not really part of the Hollywood scene. ``Not that I wouldn't want to be part of that scene if I could,'' he adds with a smile. ``I'd be all over that cool thing if I had the chance.'' Despite being pals with Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] , with whom he co-starred in the 1994 hit ``True Lies,'' despite his current status as a lead actor in films, and despite having made $15 million in the last two years, Arnold isn't fully accepted in Hollywood. Part of the reason, of course, is that whole Roseanne period, which turned off many people in Hollywood. He was seen as the opportunist op·por·tun·ist n. One who takes advantage of any opportunity to achieve an end, often with no regard for principles or consequences. op husband who would never even have been invited to the dance if not for his famous wife, from whom he is now divorced. The bomb squad Then there were those three movies in 1996 - ``Big Bully Big Bully may refer to:
n. also car pool 1. An arrangement whereby several participants or their children travel together in one vehicle, the participants sharing the costs and often taking turns as the driver. 2. .'' Not only were they box-office disasters, grossing less than $10 million combined, but they were really bad movies. ``I had just gone through a divorce and, despite what they said in the media, there was no alimony alimony, in law, allowance for support that an individual pays to his or her former spouse, usually as part of a divorce settlement. It is based on the common law right of a wife to be supported by her husband, but in the United States, the Supreme Court in 1979 . I didn't have much money, and I wanted to buy a house. After the good reviews in `True Lies,' I was flooded with offers to do movies. I never had anyone in this town treat me that good. It was nice being courted by studios. I wasn't used to that. ``So yes, I did exploit the opportunities. There would be nothing wrong in that. But I made bad decisions. It's my fault; I can't blame anyone else. ``Even Arnold let me have it. We were flying down to Mexico to meet with Jim Cameron to discuss doing another `True Lies' and he asked me what the heck I was doing. He told me I belonged in big movies as a supporting actor, not as a lead actor in these bad movies. He's right. I've got to get back to what I do best. `Roseanne' redux Refers to being brought back, revived or restored. From the Latin "reducere." Arnold, 38, now married to a 23-year-old woman with whom he shares a large estate in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , said the only aspect of his life with Roseanne that still rankles him is when critics still do not appreciate his contributions to the show ``Roseanne,'' on which he was an executive producer. ``I am a really good writer, and I am a really good producer, and I have a pretty good idea of what I did on that show,'' he said. ``Let's put it this way: Whatever I was doing on that show was not being done after I left and obviously is not being done now.'' As for ``McHale's Navy,'' Arnold is clearly the star, playing Navy Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale, the retired naval officer NAVAL OFFICER. The name of an officer of the United States, whose duties are prescribed by various acts of congress. 2. Naval officers are appointed for the term of four years, but are removable from office at pleasure. Act of May 15, 1820, Sec. 1, 3 Story, L. and con artist-businessman who continues to run a profitable business, while conning the Navy, after his retirement. In the film, Tim Curry plays a terrorist and McHale is talked into coming out of retirement to thwart the terrorist's evil plans. ``I'm not funny in this movie, and I'm not supposed to be,'' Arnold said. ``I'm the straight man surrounded by funny people. That's when I'm at my best. ``But even though I'm going back to being a supporting actor, I enjoyed this experience,'' he added. ``The studio treated me well and took good care of me. Heck, they starred me in a movie that cost $45 million; that shows a lot of appreciation and respect, and that was fun for a change. ``I know it's going to take time for the rest of Hollywood to fully accept me. It's going to take living my life without controversies and scandals. Just doing my work and staying out of trouble.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Tom Arnold stars as Quinton McHale in ``McHale's Navy.'' |
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