JOHN CURLEY AND SHARI ELLIKER

Bob Nelson – From ‘Almost Live’ to almost famous

Dec 6, 2013, 8:20 AM | Updated: 10:52 am

...

Bob Nelson was part of the famed local comedy show “Almost Live” which launched the careers of Bill Nye and Joel McHale among others. And now, almost 15 years later after that show’s demise, Nelson is getting his chance in the spotlight.

His very first screenplay has just been turned into an Alexander Payne movie called “Nebraska,” starring Bruce Dern. The movie’s about an old codger who is so convinced he’s won a million dollar sweepstakes that he travels hundreds of miles to get it. It’s winning rave reviews and has a slew of Independent Spirit Award nominations to its credit, including one for Nelson’s screenplay.

Nelson stopped by the KIRO Studios to talk to me about Nebraska’s long gestation period.

“The idea came while I was still on ‘Almost Live.’ I’d heard about people actually going across the country with sweepstakes notices because they were afraid to put them in the mail and they would show up at the office with that in tow and I just had that kernel of an idea and what really helped me to start writing that was when they canceled “Almost Live” and fired me. Being unemployed really can help spur you on to write that screenplay finally that you’ve been talking about.”

Nelson says Payne told him right off the bat he wanted to direct his screenplay but would have to wait a while before he could get to it.

That while turned into a decade-long wait. But he says it was well worth it. He says it’s remarkable how close the long-delayed movie version is to the long-a-go original script, with one major difference. It’s in black and white.

“My first description was a truck rolls down through the golden wheat of Nebraska,” says Nelson. “The other thing is I’m an out-of-work writer so writing a script for Hollywood and saying this has to be shot in black and white is probably not the best idea either.”

Nelson says initially he was of two minds about the decision to go black and white.

“My mind was immediately split. Half of it was this is fantastic it will look like a classical movie. There are no cell phones or computers in it, so it will have this timeless feel, and the other half was thinking box office. What is this going to do?

The positive critical reception has more than made up for any box office concerns.

And as far as his screenwriting success goes, he credits a lot of it to his days at “Almost Live.”

“I couldn’t have written this movie if I hadn’t gone through the ‘Almost Live’ experience. When you’re writing sketches, you have to create a world and characters in three minutes and make it pay off. So you have to be very taut, you have to be terse sometimes. Every word has to count,” says Nelson.

By the way, the first time Nelson saw his film on the big screen was at its Cannes Film Festival premiere. Not bad for a guy from “Almost Live.”

“Not only a guy from ‘Almost Live,’ but a guy from Kent. A guy from Kent sitting at Cannes watching his movie. You almost should retire right then,” says Nelson.

“Nebraska” is in theatres right now.

John Curley and Shari Elliker on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to tom and curleyTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 3pm for John Curley and Shari Elliker.

John Curley and Shari Elliker

John Curley and Shari Elliker

Photo: Scott Fitzsimmons' "I-1THIS" license plate....

KIRO Newsradio staff

‘I didn’t even feel it’: John Curley shares astonishing story of local winner

The "I-1THIS" license plate is more than creative, it comes with a story of triumph. John Curley told the story who won the winning plate.

12 days ago

seattle nightmare tenant...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle homeowner’s ‘nightmare tenant’ situation resolved one year later

A Seattle homeowner's "nightmare tenant" situation, causing him to live in a van instead of his home for a stretch of time, has finally been resolved one year later.

13 days ago

curley dancing naked...

John Curley

John Curley’s life advice: Start your day by dancing naked to Andrea Bocelli

This has been a part of my regular morning routine for some time now: getting up in the morning and dancing naked every day.

14 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Let’s Talk About Eagles

John and Shari discuss the hatch watch for a bald Eagle named Jackie as she sits on her eggs. Then, the conversation goes in a different direction about snakes eating eggs and eagles eating cats. You want to listen to this one! Listen to the John Curley and Shari Elliker Show every weekday at 3pm […]

19 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Bradley Cooper Walks Around His House Naked

Apparently, Bradley Cooper walks around his house naked a lot. The John and Shari Show talks about their experiences growing up with their parents. Listen to the John Curley and Shari Elliker Show every weekday at 3pm on KIRO Newsraio 97.3 FM Listen to KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM or go to MyNorthwest.com to learn more! […]

26 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: The Naked Man Festival Is No More

If you had travelling to Japan for the annual Naked Men Festival on your bucket list… we have some bad news. After more than 1000 years, the festival has been permanently canceled. Listen to the John Curley and Shari Elliker Show every weekday at 3pm on KIRO Newsraio 97.3 FM Listen to KIRO Newsradio 97.3 […]

1 month ago

Bob Nelson – From ‘Almost Live’ to almost famous