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Thursday, July 30, 2015
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com ARTS
Actor Alan Ruck talks
career & ‘Major Crimes’
‘Ferris Bueller’s Day
Off’ cast member
guest stars on TNT
By REGAN DETWILER
Daily Arts Writer
Alan Ruck … you might not
know the name but you may know
the voice, and you definitely know
the face. Ruck is best known for
his role in the iconic John Hughes
film, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” as
Cameron, Bueller’s existentially
troubled best friend. Now 59 years
old and having inhabited the film
world for decades, one of his most
recent projects was guest starring
on Monday’s episode of TNT’s
good-humored,
high-intensity
police drama, “Major Crimes,” as
the incorrigible FBI Special Agent
Jerry Shea.
With a loyal but small fan
base, “Major Crimes” is TNT’s
continuation of “The Closer,”
which went off the air in 2012,
and stars Mary McDonnell as
Sharon Raydor, captain of the
Los Angeles Police Department’s
Major Crimes Unit. The cast of
the show has a certain effortless
chemistry that I’ve found doesn’t
exist for many crime dramas that
are popular today.
In Monday’s episode the LAPD
investigated a murder associated
with a young man’s alleged kid-
napping, which FBI Special Agent
Jerry Shea (Alan Ruck) had
investigated in the past. He had
even appeared on shows compa-
rable to “Dateline” or “Ameri-
can Justice” as a specialist on
the case, which both enlarged
his already humongous ego and
enraged his colleagues at the
Bureau. To top it off, Shea had
also written a novel based off
the case under the pseudonym
Guy LaFontaigne — and yes, that
should be pronounced in a full-
fledged French accent.
“Yeah, he’s a jerk,” Ruck said of
his character in a phone interview
with The Michigan Daily.
Lucky for the LAPD, the FBI
“no longer trusts” Shea and sends
him over to Major Crimes so that
they may be distracted by his
belligerent egotism while the
FBI solves the case, takes all the
glory, etc., leaving viewers in the
LAPD’s office with a spectacular
medley of personalities to enjoy.
Having worked with leading
actor Mary McDonnell, having
met the episode’s director Paul
McCrane and having met support-
ing actor Tony Denison here and
there, Ruck said making the episode
“kinda felt like a family reunion.”
“You really try to pray for
parts like this,” he said of his
role as Jerry Shea. “I am serious-
ly middle-aged,” he continued,
explaining that with a wife and
two young children, he enjoys
smaller roles that he can pour all
of his effort into.
When asked about how his
role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
has affected the rest of his acting
career, he said it was “the best
part I’ve ever had in a movie,
surely,” and that he’s glad people
still enjoy the film.
Having grown up in Cleve-
land, Ohio, Ruck said he wanted
to be an actor from a young age.
The young Alan Ruck wanted to
be just like his fellow Cleveland
native, Paul Newman, that sexy
movie star who didn’t make his
first film until the age of 29.
It just so happens that Ruck was
29 years old when he acted in “Fer-
ris Bueller’s Day Off,” and after
such a huge role, Ruck said he was
simply convinced his career would
be downhill from there.
Having come to terms with
what he called an up and down
career, Ruck said he’s satisfied
with where he is now, having
some good work behind him and
being able to continue acting.
“Instead of being careful what
you wish for…be specific what
you wish for,” the actor said as a
word of advice for young people.
Monday’s episode of “Major
Crimes” was a success. Ruck
clicked with the cast seamlessly,
adding splashes of humor and
making it easy to believe that
filming the episode was a sort of
“family reunion.”
Bennett & Gaga,
jazz duo for ages
By CHRISTIAN KENNEDY
Summer Managing Arts Editor
When it was announced that
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
would
release
a
collaborative
album, the obvious thought was
“what an odd pair.” When Cheek To
Cheek came out, it was a surprise
of the best nature — a beautifully-
crafted, precisely sung jazz duet.
The pair seamlessly carried over
their partnership to the stage of
Meadow Brook Music Festival this
past Monday.
There was no opening, just some
smooth tunes playing over the
speakers and just after 8:30 p.m.
the duo took the stage. Tony sport-
ing a light blue suit jacket and Gaga
sheathed in a shimmering silver
gown. They open their sets with
the booming “Anything Goes.” It’s
hard not to notice the chemistry
between the two. They produce
an aura of true friendship and
genuine appreciation. They ecstati-
cally introduce one another; “Lady
Gaga!” Bennett shouts as he waves
his arm towards her; she does the
same. As he sang, she stood next to
him with her hand on his shoulder
tapping to the beat. They quickly
move into title track “Cheek to
Cheek,” during which they dance,
quite literally, cheek to cheek. Then
Gaga heads off stage and Bennett
goes solo for “They All Laughed.”
The stage, set up much like a
dueling piano bar, had two nearly
complete bands. Bennett’s on the
left and Gaga’s on the right. When
Bennett took the stage alone, his
band was illuminated in lights
while Gaga’s sat patiently in the
dark, and vice versa. And when they
met for duets, both bands became
fully engaged.
Bennett maintained his light
blue suit-coat throughout the eve-
ning, while Gaga rocked several
outfits. Ranging from a pale pink
gown with an enlarged bow, to a
silver studded leotard paired with
a sheer shawl. Her attire, while at
points revealing, never once over-
shadowed the jazz. Conversely, her
sleek appearance seemed to only
escalate the essence of seduction
found in jazz.
The two superstars whisked their
way through nearly 3 dozen songs
over the course of their 95-minute
set, each taking solos and coming
together when the song required it.
Vocally, both were stunning. Ben-
nett, even with age, has kept every
ounce of power and finesse. Gaga,
often thought of as an auto-tuned
pop star, is probably one of the best
technical singers of our generation
— she received a standing ovation
following her take on Edith Piaf’s
“La vie en rose,” during which she
sang perfect French. Bennett also
had a handful of standing ovations
from the diverse crowd.
It was unlike any concert I’ve
attended before. I sat the entire
time, which is a far cry from my
typical standing and dancing per-
sona. However, as I sat there leaned
over, attempting to get as close
to the show as possible I found
myself mesmerized. This music,
it felt pure. I could hear the bass,
and I could see the bassist singular
strums. I could hear every inflec-
tion in either performers voice. It
didn’t have all the pizzazz of a typi-
cal 2015 concert because the music
did all of that on its own.
By the time the duo slipped into
their final song, “It Don’t Mean a
Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),”
the crowd still wanted more. Not
because we weren’t given enough,
but because with a show that sim-
plistically stunning, you can watch
for hours. You can listen for hours.
CHEEK TO CHEEK
Put your cheeks on my cheeks (butt stuff)
TNT
Pardon my French, but you’re Alan Ruck!
CONCERT REVIEW
TV INTERVIEW