An Actor Prepares

After his early work

in the theater in London and New York,

film audiences first met Atticus Smith

in 1978's tense drama of sexual mores, "never look back."

He won a golden globe in 1981

for his performance as a tortured Vincent Van gogh

in "starry night."

And in 1984,

his first academy award for his role

as a shell-shocked, suicidal army captain

the Vietnam epic, "Charlie everywhere."

He won his second academy award for his portrayal

of a deaf mute postman on trial for murder

in "the right to remain silent."

And just last year,

he won the hearts of a younger audience

with his strikingly comedic performance

as a weary detective partnered up

with a drooling bloodhound named slobbers.

I'm talking, of course, about the beloved comedy,

"cops and slobbers."

So, let's bring him out here.

Ladies and gentlemen, Atticus Smith.

They're saying you're up.

I know. I'm going.

I never got on very well with my father.

He was never much at home,

but I remember one thing he said

on one of his rare visits,

and that was that if you were given a modicum of talent,

you should wear it with a lightness and a grace.

Well, I seemed to have failed on that score.

This is terrible. Who wrote this?

I wrote it? Hmm...

So many friends, so many legends.

Even people who fired me in the past.

What I... What I really want to say

is that I hate these awards.

I mean, lifetime achievement?

I'm not old enough.

I mean, there's some you out there

who are twice as old as me,

and you haven't had your lifetime achievement awards.

So, let's keep going. More friends, more films,

because, believe me, there's life in the old dog yet.

All right, welcome to "women in film: Cinema through the feminist lens."

- I'm Adam... - Are you a sub?

No, I'm not a sub, I'm your new professor.

But isn't this supposed to be from a feminist viewpoint?

Look, feminism is more than just women's liberation.

It's also male liberation.

Have any of you seen my Anita loos documentary?

Wasn't that at Sundance this year?

No, it came out in 2007.

What are you working on now?

It's a new documentary, it's kind of a follow up to my last film.

It's more confrontational.

It calls out a lot of feminists for not going far enough.

I guess it's kind of like a trilogy, but within one film.

The second half kind of contradicts the first half.

It's, uh...

I know, it's hard to explain out of context.

Is Atticus Smith your dad?

I'm on your Wikipedia page. It says he's your father.

Shut up, he's famous.

"Father" is kind of a strong word...

You totally look like him.

He was so hot.

Did you see "five day fuck"?

The scene with the butterscotch?

Okay, let's not get hung up on this, please.

Wait, it says you were in a movie with him.

Yeah, that was, that was a long time ago.

"Throwdown at bitch river."

You're credited as "saloon boy."

Can we just try to get back on the syllabus here?

Bitch river? That sounds kind of sexist.

He was so cute!

Middle of nowhere.

August. sun beating down.

We were shooting... We'd been up there for six weeks

shooting "throwdown at bitch river."

And dick Harris and i were cockeyed.

I mean, it was hotter than a crotch.

This is gonna make "lord of the rings" look like some indie pile of crap.

- I know, I know. - And I saw him doing coke in the bathroom.

That's hilarious.

That's not coke, that's a Chinese herbal supplement.

He's got to snort it through his...

Did you see him snorting through his nose?

He's too old to live like this.

Dick, he pulled out this prop Colt .45,

pointed it at him. Well, the guy went white!

He was shitting himself!

He's playing god, literally.

I know. I negotiated the deal.

Why are you talking like I don't know what you're talking about?

- You took us to the wall on that one. - I sure did.

It felt good to fuck you. You have a lot of money.

- Hey. - oh.

Do you know...

My favorite child is getting married in ten days?

Married.

Annabel, my little girl.

You shouldn't have favorites.

Were you doing coke in the bathroom?

That's preposterous.

Every parent has favorites.

Oh, Jesus, could you hold this ridiculous thing for me?

My arm's hurting.

Why does your arm hurt?

I don't know. Probably from lifting my cock.

Okay, stop. You can't be doing this

in front of all the studio execs, all right?

Don't be such a suit.

Your dad would be embarrassed.

Fuck you. The game has changed.

- Right. - this is your "game of fucking thrones,"

- you're not even acting like it's anything at all. - Ow, Jesus!

You all right? Are you okay?

Stop, stop, stop, stop! Are you okay?

80s give way to 70s.

That will stay for Wednesday.

So if you don't like that heat, the relief is coming in

as we head on through this week.

Here's the extended forecast now.

There are upper 70s Tuesday and Wednesday...

Before we go back to Sam, some news just coming in.

The actor Atticus Smith

has been hospitalized in Los Angeles.

The 70-year-old, three-time academy award-winning star

of such films as "the language of men"

and "four star general"

is reportedly in stable condition

after collapsing at an event last night.

Mr. Smith was reportedly set to start shooting the film "god,"

playing the titular role.

- We will keep you updated... - "God"?

- Mr. Smith? - Yeah?

The doctor will see you now.

He's doing fine. I'm looking at him right now.

- He's doing amazing. - What?

- The movie doesn't even start filming till October. - We need him healthy.

What is that? I can't hear you. There's so much radiation here.

- Can you hear me? Hello? - I know what you're doing!

- Hey, everything is great, right? - Jimmy, stop I can hear you...

- Hey, Dr. fischer? - Oh, my god.

Dr. fischer, what's the situation?

It's the same.

Dr. georges probably wants to operate on him

as early as next week.

No! no! Are you crazy?

- Shh, shh, shh. - No, listen to me,

his daughter's wedding is next week.

It's the only person he loves more than himself

and me and my dad.

What's happening?

- Is he okay? - He's up.

- Close the door behind you. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Would you mind telling me where the fuck I am?

Good god.

I haven't seen legs like that on a nurse since the 70s

when they were allowed to wear short skirts.

I'm Dr. fischer.

- Lie back. - Doctor?

You've had a heart attack.

Take a deep breath for me.

Relax.

Jimmy!

- Good god. - Easy.

There you go.

I don't believe it.

- What's going on? - Easy. Easy.

- Who let that jackass in here? - Is he okay?

What's he doing sleeping on a Teddy bear?

- Is he hallucinating? - I don't think so.

It's my goddamn son.

All right, I'm gonna go get him

I got a terrible thirst. Can I have a drink?

- Yes - don't get him. Don't get... oh.

Hey, Teddy bear.

Adam.

Just little sips.

Mm.

Thank you.

You don't look that bad.

You look like osama bin laden's nutsack.

It's a beard.

No shit.

You in pain?

Have you ever had a heart attack?

It's like being shot in the chest with a fat person.

Can you just answer from a scale of one to ten

instead of absurd metaphors?

Absurd? look, I was in Morocco

shooting "love in the sands" and I saw a 400-pound arab

being shot out of a Cannon at a circus.

How'd it happen?

I don't know. Maybe he climbed up a ladder.

Or perhaps they lowered him in on a crane.