YES!!! I am excited to officially have a recurring role on a TV series. We filmed the third episode of "Good Morning Miami" and as usual I had a great time. I do very little, but I am being established early in the development of the show. Who knows what it could lead to?

I have to say that what I'm experiencing right now is surreal for me. Sometimes I cannot believe how things are developing. Even though it's happening in the exact form that I have planned, it's just funny to be in the storm of it. I have always been concerned about things happening too fast in my career. I just don't want to skip any steps.

The beautiful thing about the position I find myself in now is that I don't have to start from the beginning. What I mean by that is that as actors we normally start with a submission (1st base), audition (2nd base), callback (3rd base) and then hopefully a booking (homerun). We can get to 3rd base all day long and not score. That's a really good thing, but it doesn't pay the rent. So it made sense to me to put myself in a stronger, more rooted position. I figured with a recurring role I get to "start" at 3rd base with a lead off toward home plate. That way I won't have to go to bat every time. When the call comes from the casting office it is to check my availability. No pre-read, no callback, no nonsense. It's much more efficient and a recurring role will help to raise my profile.

Back in the saddle on Stage 16 and it feels good. I take a look at this week's script and as expected it's just a couple of lines, but hopefully that will change in time. They put me in several scenes so hopefully I'll just become a staple on the show.

I relayed the message to Suzanne about Martin Landau and she perked up just the same as he did. She also told me that she dated Martin when she was fourteen!

Remember that "Grounded For Life" audition last week? The one where I was curious if my agent got some not so glowing feedback? I asked her today and she said no. I also asked if she would put a call in at "Providence" since CD Susan Bluestein had told me to keep the material. I was hoping for a callback, but they probably moved on without me.

Also one of the series regulars on "Good Morning Miami", Jere Burns suggested that I have a name other than "stage manager". I elected "Scott". I don't know if it will stick since none of the writers or producers were on stage at the time. My brother Jeff's middle name is "Scott". On "Frasier" my characters name is "Jason", that is one of my other brother's middle name by coincidence.

YES!! I get the news that "Good Morning Miami" is bringing me back tomorrow. It'll be for three days. My first recurring role!! I am really excited to be working with this group of people.

Tonight I attend a SAG "Conversations" event. The guest speaker was Academy Award winning actor Martin Landau, he spoke for two hours and afterwards we got to have a word with him privately. It was really cool to hear about his experiences in Hollywood & New York and how he has made it work for so long. I mentioned to him that I was working with Suzanne Pleshette on "Good Morning Miami" and he lit up like a light. I had a feeling he would know her, she being from Manhattan and him Brooklyn. He said to be sure to say hello for him to Suzanne. I also got a photo with him with my new digital camera.

This morning I had my audition for "Grounded for Life" at Liberman/Patton. I don't think it went all that well. I read for owner Cami Patton and associate Tim Payne. As Tim was walking me back to the room he said that they had tried to get me in for the last episode, but I was working on "Good Morning Miami". It sure felt good to hear that.

I go in and Cami introduced herself. I had read for her some time ago and it was good to get back in there. She gave me a little run down of what they were looking for and for some reason I kinda froze up. It was different than what I was thinking for the character. I don't know what happened, but I was like a deer in headlights. It was three different scenes that I was reading, the 1st & 2nd scenes went pretty good, but the last and largest one just didn't go too well. I was speeding through like I was just trying to get it over with. I don't usually do it, but I must admit I was kinda kicking myself after that one. Next!!!

A couple of hours later my agent calls and the first thing she asked was how the "Grounded for Life" audition went. I immediately told her what happened, she doesn't normally ask. I was wondering if she got bad feedback. I just let it ride. The reason why she was calling was to check my availability for "Good Morning Miami" for Tuesday thru Thursday of next week. Yes!!!

This week has been pretty busy, thankfully. I've been babysitting my former girlfriend's 6 year old all week. He's been going with me to do drop-offs. Now he says he wants to be an actor. I think he knows my agents better than me now!!

I've had four auditions this week and they all have gone really well. I have another one tomorrow for "Grounded For Life"; it is a pre-read with Cami Patton. Today I read for "Providence" for the third time. I have yet to get a callback for it, but today she told me to keep the sides. Hopefully she'll bring me to producers. We'll see. Also today I went in for a "Pepsi/Frito-Lay" spot that shoots in New York. It's a funny spot and I think I am really right for it; hopefully I'll get a callback.

What a nice surprise this morning, the casting office for "Frasier" called to check my availability for Thursday-Tuesday. Cool!! They should know something by the end of the day. Regardless, I'm still on their radar.

Something funny happened today. I bought a digital camera a couple of days ago; let me tell ya this gadget is too cool for words. Anyway, while dining at Swinger's this afternoon I spotted Gun's and Roses guitar legend Slash. I'm a big rock and roll fan so I just had to get a photo with him. He was really cool about it; he seemed surprised that I recognized him. I'll have to add it to my "Hot Shots".

More internet drama, well not really, but sorta. I post on several internet acting forums and sometimes I get in the hot seat over what and how I post. I fully understand what I am doing with marketing/PR thing, which is something I know very well. This wasn't about marketing or PR; it was just about sharing my experiences. What happened this time was that I posted something about "booking dates", the reason I posted it was to reinforce how important it is to take those dates seriously. That's was the bare-bones of it.

Someone responded saying that" I am the type of guy who doesn't mind eating steak in front of others." WHAT!!! This particular person, in my opinion, is kinda negative in general so it would make sense that he would see it as me bragging. I don't really know him personally, but I have read his post online for several years now. I find him very funny, but in that kinda negative/pessimistic kinda way. If he knew me I don't think he would have written what he did about me, but he is entitled to his opinion. After a couple of exchanges the moderator of the board adding his opinion of my "online persona" I responded and emailed him personally. We had several private e-mail exchanges and got to know each other a bit better. In the end he seemed to change his opinion about me quite a bit.

I'm back in the saddle at "Good Morning Miami". We are back to re-shoot the pilot as some changes have been made in the cast and the script. I'm glad my small part remained. I had a great 3 days of shooting and I think this show is going to hit big. After all it has the "Will & Grace" team behind it. Of course, I may be biased. Anyway I can't wait to see it.

DAY FOUR "Honda/Japan"-Today we started work at Zuma Beach and then moved out into the Santa Monica Mountains. I just had the best time; this spot is right down my alley. Today I got to skateboard, play Frisbee, go camping, sing "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" and ride a mountain bike. We really earned it on this shoot.

The mountain bike portion had me so charged up that I almost got myself in trouble. I grew up riding BMX bikes and presently have a mountain bike. I wanted to just ride to my hearts content, but I had to follow the script. Craig and I took a couple of dry runs down the specified hill and then it was camera time. On the first run Craig went over handle bars right next to me. He was okay and we were right back in the saddle. A couple of runs later I went over the bars too. I wasn't hurt either; we both were wearing the necessary safety gear. I would love to see it on film though!!

A couple of shots later we wrapped four days of shooting!! It was definitely one of the most enjoyable projects I've ever been on. I thanked everyone for a good time. The producer, Ron Ishimoto asked me to do him a favor. "Sure, what do you need?" I answered. "Practice your snowboarding please." YES!!! See ya in October!

DAY THREE "Honda/Japan"-Today we shot in West LA. Unlike yesterday, it was quite cool since we were near the beach.

Today was water day. Yeah, we spent a good portion of the day soaked and wet. Hey! Somebody's got to do it right? It was about as real as it gets, having someone spray you with cold water over and over again. The producers/director seemed really happy with the footage that they were getting.

Also, the producer was telling me about the second spot of this campaign. If this spot performs well we will be doing another one, possibly in October. This next one will be centered on snowboarding! WHAT!!! He said that it may be in the US or not. We have to find snow. Have passport will travel. I am so fortunate and to think that I didn't even have an appointment for this spot. Go figure. Oh yeah, I also got word that the "Good Morning Miami" schedule is going to work out. YES!! I did not want to lose that gig.

DAY TWO "Honda/Japan"-Today we shot in Bellflower, CA. It was hot as could be and I really felt it. For me, it got interesting really early. We were only on about the second shot of the day and I started feeling a little weird. Now I'm not a "False Alarm Frank" type, if you hear me complain, it's for real.

So we're in the middle of this shot, they are shooting print as well as film so it's taking some time. This feeling came over me and my life went into slow motion. All of the sudden I thought I was going to faint. No REALLY faint!! As in fall on my face and wake up with a bloody nose. I started thinking about how embarrassed I would be if I had to interrupt the shot. Ten seconds later the shot was still going. We were getting directions to laugh and joke around. I was ready to collapse. I kinda made a motion to the producer that I needed water, but he didn't see or hear me. Then I tried to laugh to keep myself alert just to get through the shot. All that was really doing was using my last bit of energy. At this point I felt like I was going to black out.
This is all happening in about 2-3 minutes. Mind you, the last thing I wanted to do was to interrupt the job that 40-50 people on the film crew were doing. Again my life was in slow motion and going slower. I could not believe that I couldn't make it to the end of this take. I was starting to sway on my feet.

As embarrassed as I was going to be for stopping in the middle of a take, it would have been worse if I actually collapsed and fell on my face and started bleeding. This was the last straw. If we didn't cut in the next 5-10 seconds I would just have to stop.

Now I became two different people, lethargic Stephon and another guy who was watching this all happen. I mumbled to the producer "Ron, I need water......no, I need it now." They immediately cut and I fell back towards the mini-van and slid to the ground. Right away there were 10-12 people around me with water, a smoothie, and shade just trying to cool me down. I could not believe this was happening to me. We broke for about 30 minutes and the set paramedic kept an eye on me to make sure I was cool to start working again. It was at this moment that I found out that I was not invincible. WHAT!!! Drink lots water kids!! Anyway the rest of the day went on without a hitch.

DAY ONE "Honda/Japan"-Today I start the first of 4 days on the "Honda/Japan" commercial. We are shooting at Dockweiler State Beach; it is very close to LAX. I believe there was one plane per minute flying over us. We were shooting the print part, so we weren't recording sound. I haven't really done print before, so this was new to me. I don't think I am interested in doing more either. Unless, of course, it is part of some other kind of booking. I just don't plan on pursing it.

The commercial we are shooting is for a new Honda minivan that is for the Japanese market. It is a top secret job, any time it not being photographed they keep it covered up. We had a great time and the filet mignon for lunch was nice touch.

Mini drama with scheduling. It seems that there is a mix-up with my book out dates. I work Wednesday thru Friday and also Monday. I am supposed to start "Good Morning Miami" on Friday the 9th with the table read. They knew I wouldn't be able to make that, but they thought I would be there Monday. Anyway, I hope we can work it out.

Okay so I go to the "Honda/Japan" fitting @ The Standard. I mean it was so surreal. I have dreamed about when I would go back there in this same position. I thought we would go into a room and have the fittings. Nope, they had us parading around on the pool deck in the craziest clothing. In the end they asked me to wear this pink pair of Lee Jeans everywhere I went until the shoot. Yes PINK! WHAT!!! They didn't want them to look brand new. I said of course. I'm a team player and all, ya know down for the cause. Anyway, the next day I ran into the stylist and his assistant at Old Navy. Thank God I was wearing them! I was so proud! PINK JEANS!!!

It was cool too see some people that I used to work with. I saw one young lady I worked in the restaurant and she told me that she saw the "Pizza Hut" commercial with Carmen Electra in Berlin, Germany. I knew it! I believe they were running that spot here and abroad without paying the talent, maybe Carmen Electra was paid for international use, but I wasn't.

I received a call from the producer of the "Honda/Japan" spot. He wanted to schedule a fitting. The fitting is going to take place at Hollywood Hotspot the Standard. I worked there for nearly 2 years!! I laughed out loud!! It made me think of the times that the 11pm-7am graveyard shift was just too much. I would say to myself "one day I'll come back here on someone else's payroll and NOT have to park a car or take a drink order". I think that day will be Monday. I know it probably sounds silly, but I guess it's the little things. Now just send me to Japan! LOL!