reached this level."
While both teachers are very
flattered to learn they inspired
their former student, Corcoran
especially remembers the comic
characters Bartha portrayed.
"I remember how well Justin
wrote skits and how comfortable
he was on stage," Corcoran says.
"In one skit, for an old-fashioned
vaudeville show, he portrayed a
boss interviewing a potential
employee. Instead of the ques-
tioning being about the job, it
had to do with whether the can-
didate liked puppies as much as
the boss. He was really funny.
"I recognized Justin when I

saw him in the film National
Treasure. I looked him up on the
Web and found out what he had
done since leaving high school.
He sometimes was our class
clown, but there was never any-
thing malicious in his sense of
humor."
The upbeat evaluations of
Bartha's talents extend into cur-
rent projects. Tom Dey, director
of Failure to Launch, is pleased
about Bartha and Bradley
Cooper, portraying another life-
time friend of McConaughey's
character.
"Both Justin and Bradley are
very funny, gifted actors who

In 2004's National Treasure,
Bartha, right, helps treasure

hunter Nicholas Cage, left,

heist the Declaration of

Independence.

have distinct styles and are
believable as Tripp's contempo-
raries," Dey says. "They were able
to riff with Matthew immediate-
ly, and we encouraged them to
hang out togeth-
er as much as
possible prior to
filming.
"We also gave
them physical
activities during
rehearsal week,
including clinics
on paintball and
rock-climbing. It
was like orienta-
tion week at
camp without
the macrame

Justin Bartha, left, with

Justin in his first film, it seemed
his family — mom Betty,
almost surreal, but after five
dad Stephen and brother
minutes, I fell into the character
Jeffrey
he was portraying," says Betty
Bartha, a former elementary
school teacher who has lived in be while they're on or off camera.
Some of these people are just
several cities as her husband
interesting. Watching them in
accepted different retail real
their everyday life is a treat.
estate positions.
"James Burrows, who directed
"We saw he had a passion for
the Teachers pilot, is smart and
acting, and we encouraged it. We
couldn't have been nicer. He
felt he was young and had noth-
directs as if he is listening to
ing to lose. We are most proud
that he has stayed true to himself, music, closing his eyes and hear-
holds the same values and appre- ing the performances. It's really
great to observe. -
ciates all that has happened.
Proud
"I constantly am making big-
"Religion was very important
Parents
ger
goals for myself and trying to
in our home, and we were glad to
Betty and
look
ahead. Ultimately, I'd love to
be in a community with a large
Stephen Bartha,
make
my own movies and just
Jewish population that let us
who moved to
fulfill
any kind of creative notion
share
holidays
with
family
and
New Jersey soon
I
have:'
friends.
My
husband
and
I
think
after Justin's
On a personal note, he adds, "I
religion is important in teaching
high-school
wouldn't
mind being linked
right
and
wrong."
graduation, have
romantically.
I don't really know
As
the
only
family
member
in
enjoyed exciting
exactly what I'm looking for, but
show business, Bartha can think
times since their
I do know I want someone who's
of himself as very much an indi-
son's career took
honest."
vidual in a family that includes
off. They have
brother Jeffrey, who works in
visited him on
advertising in California.
location, attend-
"I keep learning by watching
ed star-studded
Failure To Launch opens
and being around other actors,"
film premieres
in
area theaters on Friday,
and gone to elab- says Bartha, who is based in New
March
10. Teachers airs
York and California and spends
orate parties,
9:30
p.m.
Tuesdays,
his free time traveling. "I kind of
including one in
beginning
March 28,
absorb certain things from the
the home of
on
NBC.
type of people I've gotten the
Nicholas Cage.
chance to work with, whether it
"When I saw

❑

The cast of NBC's Teachers: Phil Hendrie as Dick, Deon Richmond as Calvin,
Justin Bartha as Jeff, Sarah Alexander as Alice, Matt Winston as Mitch, Kali

Rocha as Ms. Wiggins, Sarah Shahi as Tina.

.

March 9 • 2006

43