About "We Got Bruce" & Credits

Well, if you haven't figured it out...this site is a tribute to the very funny and talented, Mr. Bruce Vilanch. I first heard of him when I noticed he was writing for my all-time favorite performer, Bette Midler. I was in my teens then, so now it has been some 30 odd years since this man has been rumbling around in my thoughts.

Along with my mother, and a few others who would just die if I mentioned their names here, Bette Midler has been one of the main inspirations in my life. It goes far beyond just being a fan. I don't even have to meet her...it's just a repsect kind of thing. Anyway, that is how I became so familiar with Bruce's work. I knew early on that he wrote much of her comic material and I would always point out to others any time I saw his name appear in the credits of many a show. Yes, I was around for "The Brady Bunch", "The Donny and Marie Show", and even that summer show, "The Manhattan Transfer Hour", or whatever it was called. So it's not like I'm all of a sudden a new fan.

After 9-11, my life felt changed, and I was changed. I remember being so horrified at the images of the towers falling in New York City. I felt anger, sadness, bewilderment, depression, and fear. I particularly didn't like being afraid, so I worked very hard to overcome a lot of fears...I became more vocal, I started performing for the first time in public (talking 40 years of being stage-shy here), learning web design, and in general, trying out new things with a new zest.

However, one day, during the war with Afghanistan, I saw a picture of an army officer who had written a gay slur on a missile supposedly aimed at Afghanistan and I just became livid. I decided to vent by sending out an e-mail to everybody in my contact book showing this atrocity. I had Mr. Vilanch's e-mail in my address book, but had never used it. For some reason, I decided to include him in my tirade not thinking anything of it. Ultimately, within about a half hour I got a reply back with a cute little Vilanch one-liner. I don't even remember what it said anymore...I just remember laughing with a little tear here and there...but it cut through this deep anger that I had. Plus I couldn't believe he even took the time to respond...I mean, Hollywood people don't care, do they? I was so impressed that he took the time to reply that I wrote him a little thank you note back.

Ever since then, I have been annoying the hell out of him, if not daily, then weekly...asking questions about Bette, himself and even once sending him the dreaded chain letter. The response on that one was not pleasant! Anyway, I don't know how fond he is of me, but I have grown very fond of him. In the process, I decided to make a site for him, because, dammit, he deserves one. I have never known anybody that can multi-task like he does...he can write jokes, dance, sing, and write e-mails all at the same time. Now who else can do that?

This one's for you, Mister V...thank you so much for the laughs and compassion.....

Mister D