Retrotainment vol.1: Fletch
Retro-tainment: Media You Might Have Missed - Vol 1: Fletch
Meet Irwin M. Fletcher: an investigative journalist/pussy magnet in the City of Angels with a quick wit, a basketball jones and a devil-may-care attitude. Sounds like an old mystery book character, right? Well, he is. Author Gregory McDonald created Fletcher (AKA “Fletch”) back in the 70s and, over the course of 20 years, wrote over 10 novels featuring the wise-cracking, womanizing character, winning a couple of Edgar Allen Poe awards along the way.
Fletcher is probably best known from the 1985 comedy/action film Fletch, loosely adapted from the original McDonald book. Portrayed sublimely by Chevy Chase, the celluloid Fletch cases the seedy Venice beaches investigating a drug ring, runs afoul of the Los Angeles Police Department, effortly charms the most gorgeous of women and gets hired to murder a wealthy aeronotics tycoon–by the tycoon himself. Tell me there’s not a column just begging to be written there. (In the movie version, the outlandish Fletch writes under the name “Jane Doe”.) All the while, Fletch assumes the most over-the-top identities for his purposes (which include eluding his ex-wife’s attorney), from a mobile State Automotive Emissions inspector to a broken-armed Securities and Exghange Commission auditor to a dentally-enhanced aircraft mechanic. (I remember, at age 12, realizing that Fletch was one of the few movies at which my father and I would both laugh hysterically. At that age, Irwin Maurice Fletcher provided an outlet for father and son bonding that I needed at that awkward age.)
The series of books went much further with Fletch who sees all kinds of transitions that occur both before and after the timeframe of the movie. (Yes there are “prequels” in the Fletch Franchise.) Fletch moves to a farm in Tennessee. Fletch hooks up with a foxy European noble. Fletch discovers he may have a son. There are dozens of plot twists, red herrings and character developments with which to keep up–just as in any decent mystery. There’s also more than a little commonality between McDonald and Fletcher. Gregory McDonald was once an award-wining journalist for a big city newsrag. Both journalists had exquisite taste in women and both moved to ranches in Tennessee. I guess it’s true that you should “write what you know”.
A few high school kids paying tribute: Give ‘em an ‘A’ for effort
Some links: Gregory McDonald website - Laker Jim’s FletchWon.Net: all Fletch, all the time
Fletch: A Nevada pop/punk group w/ an inspired name
More books we’ve actually read:
…….. sorry, I got nothin.
You’ll be happy to know there is a new Fletch in production for 2009 release….”Fletch Won”….follows a young Fletch on his first story…it’s being directed by the guy who did “Accepted” and the Fletch role is rumored to be going to Joshua Jackson who was in the recent horror movie Shutter…
Freddy
14 Apr 08 at 8:13 pm
Thanks, Freddy. I’ve heard this and I hope for the best, but there’s been talk of a new Fletch movie for about 10 years. Kevin Smith was going to helm it back in the late 90s, then Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Clone High) threw his hat into the ring in the mid ’00s, but that didn’t pan out. I hope this works out, but we’ll see.
Soylent Ape
14 Apr 08 at 8:48 pm
Bill Lawrence would have been awesome…..
Freddy
14 Apr 08 at 9:05 pm
Yeah, that would have been awesome! Zach Braff was once signed on to play Fletch. Lawrence has an off-beat way of thinking that is very Fltech-like.
Soylent Ape
14 Apr 08 at 9:20 pm
It’s too bad that didn’t happen…Zach would have been amazing.
Freddy
15 Apr 08 at 12:07 am
I just like saying Zach Braff. I think that’s why he’s so famous. Really…say it aloud.
Zach Braff.
It feels good in your mouth, doesn’t it?
When I was a little girl my uncle loved the Fletch movies. I was too young to get it. Haven’t seen them since.
Soy likes the novels. I might give em a chance. I try to make myself read stuff that isn’t sci-fi. Expanding my borders, ya know.
The Bagel of Everything
15 Apr 08 at 3:50 am
I’m sure he’d feel good in your mouth, too. Ya know, Zach Braff.
I love Fletch.
capricorn1966
15 Apr 08 at 7:52 am
At least the bug is gone now. Thanks Soy.
capricorn1966
15 Apr 08 at 7:55 am
“Chevy Chase”
When I was a kid, I watched his Invisible Man flick in awe. It was the first day of the year. So much for the history.
E.
Entomo
15 Apr 08 at 10:00 am
I wish they could find some one to succesfully fill the role of inspector Clouseau.
Steve Martin didnt cut it in this last remake.
But I would like to see how ” The Jerk” is doin these days
micky2
15 Apr 08 at 10:13 am
when I was a kid I watched him debut on Saturday Night Live.
capricorn1966
15 Apr 08 at 10:19 am
Cap. Who?
Martin or Chase ?
micky2
15 Apr 08 at 10:46 am
chevy chase. I was responding to E
capricorn1966
15 Apr 08 at 10:47 am
Okay then, fuck you.
micky2
15 Apr 08 at 11:16 am
OK, fuck me
capricorn1966
15 Apr 08 at 11:48 am
heheheh, looks like i have one to add to the netflix. does anyone get the impression that in real life Chase would be a real dickhead to deal with?
seohack
16 Apr 08 at 12:01 pm
Most actors are dickheads and bitchs.
I’ve met quite a few and about one out of ten are cool.
micky2
16 Apr 08 at 1:40 pm
@ micky - you feel like naming names?
seohack
17 Apr 08 at 2:02 pm
Jim neighbors hit on me while i was head waiter at a french restaraunt. And asked for his tip back later cuz he had no more cash for a cab. And he fucks little boys.
Richard Dawson was a total ass who thought he was the shit.
Jack Lord was rude and cheap.
That bald guy in “lost” was like a zombie ( forgot his name)
William Shatner is a drunk.
Elton John ( 30 years ago) was abnoxious but he soberd up since. He popped in on a photo shoot of me being done by the guy who photographed his concert here.
Leobard Nimoy was nice.
The young rascals were nice.
Burt and Loni were in the same french restaraunt, they were sweet.
And Tom selleck is like a real person.
micky2
17 Apr 08 at 2:39 pm
I guess thats actually about 50/50.
Selling tours in Wakiki I’ve met a lot of celebrities who are not neccesarily actors but most of them were rude and mean. NFL stars, musicians etc…
micky2
17 Apr 08 at 2:42 pm
heheheheh, the best revenge is not even remembering that one fucker’s name! lol
seohack
17 Apr 08 at 4:12 pm
Soy says Maya Angelou is a bitch
The Bagel of Everything
17 Apr 08 at 4:37 pm
The opinions of Micky do not represent the opinions of Ration Reality, its staff or sponsors.
That being said, Mick’s not the only one with a Jim Nabors or Elton John story. Sir Elton even concedes that he used to be a prima donna of the first order.
I deal with movie stars/celebrities in general regularly. I have to say that most are really cool or, at least, professionally cordial. One guy, in particular was a very difficult person with which to deal He wasn’t even a “movie star”–at least I don’t think so. He was a spokesman for a well-known international brand. He really thought that he was entitled him to some double-super-celebrity-asskiss treatment just because he lost a bunch of weight, or something. I mean, I’m happy that he’s made a ton of money and will get to live a longer, happier life, but that didn’t make him worthy of better treatment than anyone else. Fuck all that shit, man!
Soylent Ape
17 Apr 08 at 5:49 pm
I wanna see pictures of your photoshoot, micky.
If it’s good enough for the velvet godfather, it’s good enough for me.
The Bagel of Everything
17 Apr 08 at 5:58 pm
Bagel.
I was young and naive and trying to put together a porfolio because so many people were stroking me into believing I could be a model. I’m too bow legged.
I never got the photos because the photogropher ( Robert Knight) wanted me to suck his dick.
Elton had been there the night before and was just leaving when I got there.
But I have some old photos of me decorating a christmas tree with tinsel on my dick
micky2
17 Apr 08 at 7:28 pm
For the record, every celebrity I’ve interviewed or otherwise worked with for ЯR has been great. I’m talking about other people.
Soylent Ape
17 Apr 08 at 8:07 pm
Ok so send those :)
The Bagel of Everything
17 Apr 08 at 8:26 pm
NO
micky2
17 Apr 08 at 9:30 pm
Soy.
In your case it might of been a different story.
In an interview they probably want to look good. But when you’re a waiter they treat you differently, and they’re almost always buzzed
micky2
17 Apr 08 at 9:32 pm
Good point, Micky. When you deal with people in that capacity, you tend to see their real character.
Soylent Ape
18 Apr 08 at 6:08 am