Apparently, a film version of the short-lived 1995 television series is in the works. What’s odd is that while a number of original cast members (including Gary Cole as Lucas Buck) are signing on to play the roles they originated, the movie isn’t going to pick up “ten years later” as might be expected, but rather will be a retelling of the show – a shame, since Lucas Black is too old now to portray the role of Caleb Temple.
Update:
(Actually, looking at that site, I think the info might be – slightly – out of date and the movie as dead as a never-living thing can be).
I’m writing this at a quarter of one in the morning. I just called the franchise. Zebulon is still there, despite the store closing nearly two hours ago. This kid seriously needs a class in motivation. Like, if there was a device you could strap to him that you could light and it would catch his butt on fire if he didn’t move fast enough? He needs one of those – he needs a “Motivate Like Your Butt is on Fire” thing. I’ve seen frozen molasses move faster — and that shit is stationary!
About 10:00 last night, watching American Gothic (Lucas Buck is the best character Gary Cole has ever played) and getting hungry (I had just finished rearranging my living room), I faced a choice: buy food, or get food free. Because I’m cheap and didn’t want to shell out $6 for General Tso’s, I drove up to the franchise for a pizza (thin crust, marinara with a light trim of hot sauce, topped with pepperoni, pineapple, mozzarella and oregano). I arrived to find the closing driver heading out the door, he’d claimed “epilepsy” as an excuse to get out of his closing chores and go home (so, you can’t do dishes because you’re epileptic, … but you’re okay to drive?), and in doing screwed not only Zebulon and P., but me as well because of course, how could I refuse to help in an hour of need? I stayed for about forty-five minutes, helping Zebulon clean, doing the dishes, and taking out the trash.
The closing driver was, of course, Ass Alex. I should say, the scheduled closing driver was Ass Alex. Apparently he claimed his epilepsy was acting up. So, let me get this straight – he can come in and drive for five hours without any problem, making tips, but the second he has to start washing dishes, doing his goddamn chores, then it kicks in? Ever heard the expression regarding a “smell test”? Yeah, I’m still pinchin’ my tender nostrils.
One of the basic precepts of a pizza shop is that drivers, who generally don’t have a lot of work to do, have set chores – at the franchise, the late driver sweeps and takes out trash, the closer mops and does dishes. Apparently Alex’s M.O. of late has been to come in, drive and make money, then pull some chicken-shit routine to escape his chores, never once mentioning to Steve or Greg, “Oh, uh, hows about you don’t schedule me late or close?” And this is partially why he has, in my oh-so-not-humble-opinion earned the nickname I’ve given to him.
First thing I’m doing at work in ten hours is calling around and seeing if I can find someone to cover Alex’s shift tonight. He’s scheduled to be the late driver, and P. wasn’t happy with the idea of possibly having to pick up Alex’s slack for a second night in a row. If need be, even though I open, I’ll work the late shift, and hopefully Frank’ll be available at least for the rush.
Zebulon mentioned that Ass Alex told him he was putting in his two weeks. Me? I’m hoping Ass Alex isn’t given the opportunity to have two weeks to turn in. I think I might even offer to cover his Saturday night next week if it means the store doesn’t have to keep him around.
Hey, I do my part (even if usually my part is stirring up trouble).
(Sometimes, I think of myself as the Lucas Buck of the pizza world).
