Punk Globe: I remember when we first made contact I thought you were Gary Goodrow’s son Jason. We knew one another from our old stomping grounds The Mabuhay Gardens. Do you remember that?

M.G.: As far as I knew at the time, Gary was a distant relative. I met him at the Troubadour back in the 1980’s. 

Punk Globe: You then informed me that you were the Foreman on my dear friend Pauley Perrette’s court case.

M.G: Yes, I was.In 2008, I had been selected for jury duty and was surprised that the plaintiff was Ms. Perrette. The case was against her ex-husband. I was aware she was an actress but didn’t watch her show. I won’t get into the details of the case, but suffice it to say that he had been harassing, and stalking her, and was bad news. As foreman of the jury, I finally convinced a few stubborn jurors to find him guilty of harassing Ms. Perrette. It was plainly evident he was guilty.  I think every citizen should do jury duty. I would love to be on one of Trumps trials.

Punk Globe : You then let me know about your role on ‘One Day At A Time’ with my pals Valerie and Mackenzie. Tell us how that came about.

M.G: In 1974, I was cast in a show called Apple’s Way. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr., who had previously created The Waltons. It starred Ronny Cox, Malcolm Atterbury, Vince Van Patten, and Kristy McNichol, amongst others. It was my first SAG union job at Warner Bros. This particular episode was written by Joe Bonaduce, Danny (The Partridge Family) Bonaduce’s father. During the (FIRST) rehearsals, I met this very young girl named Valerie Bertinelli. She was just 15 and this was her first TV role, too. She had to have a guardian on set, so her mother Nancy accompanied her. We all chatted quite a bit and became acquainted. In 1976, my agent sent me to audition for a role in ODAAT. The casting director liked my reading and sent me over to meet the writers, producers, and the director. As I entered the room, I recognized Joe Bonaduce. I nodded hello to him. I gave a good reading and left. A day or two later, my agent called me and told me to go back to the studio on Monday. I asked if I had the role. She said, “Just go”. I knew they were having a hard time filling the role so I didn’t know what to expect. I showed up the following Monday still not knowing if I got the part and I was immediately given a script, and taken upstairs to a rehearsal room. Upon entering, I was a bit taken aback when I was suddenly in the presence of the entire ODAAT cast. Seeing Valerie, I said hello, but she appeared sort of aloof from the success she had achieved. Later, I would tell her, “The first time we worked together, you were a glorified extra and I was the guest star. You may be the star of this show, but I’m still the guest star”.  After that, she lightened up. I think she appreciated my honesty and humor.  We started rehearsing the scenes and at the end of the day, the director asked to see me in his office. The director, Herb Kenwith,

one time, had been Mae West’s manager, propositioned me, implying that if I wanted the part I would have to be sexually intimate with him. I refused and left his office, figuring I wouldn’t return. The casting couch works on all sides of the street in Hollywood. Later that same day, my agent called again and told me to go back to the studio the next day. I asked her again if I had the part. She said, “Just go!”  I returned and rehearsed that Tuesday, but now the director wasn’t giving me any direction. He was completely ignoring me. This would continue all week. I asked Pat Harrington, who played the building superintendent, Schneider, if he would watch me and ,give me any pointers, as the director was pouting, Pat told me, “You’re doin’ great, kid”. 

On Friday, we taped before a live audience. The whole week, no one ever told me I had the part. I always had this strange feeling that they were going to tap me on the shoulder one day and say “Thanks. We found the right actor for the part.” Mackenzie and I had hit it off and Mack invited me over to her house to party. Back then, we were all doing too much of everything. She had two cousins who worked on the show as extras, Patti and Nancy. Patti lived with Mack, whose Aunt Rosie was Patti’s mom. Rosie was Mack’s guardian. Patti and I hooked up and were together for a few months until she decided to get back together with her old boyfriend. I was a struggling actor and had very little to offer her in terms of stability and security. A few months later, they married .  Mack and I stopped having contact after that. We were all just so heartbroken and I’m sure I was a reminder of that chapter in their lives. Decades later, we reconnected on FB.  She’s been to hell and back and is a force of nature.  I have so much admiration for her.