“It’s the audience that makes you a star.” Well, since 1934 audiences have delighted in the acting talents of Brooklyn-born Fyvush Finkel, who goes Back on the Block with CiNYC Host Hank through Manhattan’s Lower East Side. This artisan of the stage and screen was born Philip Finkel in 1922, adopting the stage name of Fyvush (Yiddish for Philip) when he started his almost 35-year career acting in New York’s Yiddish Theater. Mr. Finkel made the move to Broadway in 1964 in the original production of Fiddler on the Roof, eventually landing the lead role of Tevye the milkman during his 12-year run with the show. He was nominated for 2 Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe in the early ‘90s for his role as lawyer Douglas Wambaugh on the television show Picket Fences, winning the Emmy in 1994. Most recently the former furrier appeared in the television series Boston Public and returned to the stage in David Ives’ Off-Broadway play New Jerusalem with the Classic Stage Company. In this special segment of Back on the Block, Hank and Fyvush visit East Village landmarks John’s and The Orpheum Theater, to talk about a life well lived…and still going strong.

John’s
302 East 12th Street, 10003

Orpheum Theater
126 Second Avenue, 10003

www.orpheum-theater.com

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Many famous Americans call NYC home. This segment gives viewers the chance to get closer to their favorite personalities as they reminisce about the people, places, and boroughs that helped shape their lives.

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“I’m not afraid to say things that may piss a person off,” explains actor and comedian Charlie Murphy, “and I’ve been successful for it.” With recurring roles on Chappelle’s Show, three sold out comedy tours, and various parts in movies, Charlie has plenty to boast about. He has taken the comedy world by storm, which is not surprising considering the talent that runs in his family (Eddie Murphy is his brother).
Charlie stepped into the business after working as a bodyguard for his brother. He thought to himself, “Hey, I can do some of this stuff.” So he took a shot and wrote a script. “I’ve written probably a hundred,” he jokes. “I’ve sold three. That was my first way of being an effective storyteller.” And his stories have enchanted and entertained many both on screen, stage, and paper. Next on Charlie’s calendar is a BET feature entitled “Hot Ghetto Mess.”
Check out Charlie’s Calendar at www.charliemurphycomedy.com

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Cool in Your Code has played host to famed personalities like Jerry Stiller and pop star Moby on the show’s revealing interview segment, Back on the Block. The latest legend to join BoTB Host Hank Wasiak was celebrated actor Eli Wallach. Their talk earned CiNYC a New York Emmy award for Best Interview/Discussion. The Emmy-winning piece took place at iconic eatery Sardi’s in 10036. Wallach and his

wife actress Anne Jackson were married at the famous theater district spot in 1948. He shared stories with Hank about his time on the silver screen with such luminaries as Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, and Clark Gable. For over 60 years, this Brooklyn native graced both stage and screen with his commanding presence. He always knew he would be an actor, though his older brother tried to talk him out of it, encouraging him to be a teacher instead. “So I took the City College exam,” Wallach recounts, “but failed. I thought, ‘Great!’”
Wallach earned a B.A. from the University of Texas in Austin and further dramatic training from the Actor’s Studio and the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. Some of Wallach’s notable films include The Magnificent Seven (1960), How The West Was Won (1962), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), The Godfather Part III (1990), and The Holiday (2006). He’s also appeared in countless TV shows and stage productions. Hank had a chance to talk to Wallach about his book, “The Good, the Bad, and Me,” a clear homage to the epic film he starred in with Clint Eastwood. In it, he tells about the time he had to share a bed with Eastwood while shooting in Madrid. His philosophy is written in the final lines of the book. Wallach quotes one of his favorite playwrights, Tennessee Williams: “Make voyages. Attempt them. There’s nothing else.” Despite Wallach’s glamorous Hollywood career, he’s never been persuaded to live outside New York, and the city is thrilled to have him.

Sardi’s / 234 West 44th Street, 10036

As proved on Last Comic Standing, Brooklyn native Joey Gay is one of New York City’s funniest Gays. Joey appears at comedy clubs like Caroline’s, Comedy Village, and Laugh Factory on a regular basis and can be seen on various TV shows and movies. Go Back on the Block with this funny man as he recalls a childhood with the most unfortunate of names, and his experience running, owning, and living in one of the most notorious comedy spots in the nation, Pips Comedy Club. Joey is currently working on a TV pilot that will unite all Joey Gays of the world, one Gay at a time.

www.joeygay.com

CiNYC caught up with comedian and Brooklyn native Richard Lewis. He rambled about his childhood in Brooklyn, his early stand-up days in New York City, and what young performers can do to break into the scene.

What was it like as a young comic starting off in New York City?

I had guidance early on. David Brenner became my comedy brother. He told me a lot of things before I got my big break. He said, “Go 70 miles to a dinky bar in Queens and work on your material. Go six months and get your act together. I will come see you when you think you’re ready.” So, I worked at obscure clubs in the Village, and then I came back [to mainstream comedy clubs]. The night I went on I blew the roof off; I was head and shoulders over every other person.

Was there a point in your career when you felt like giving up and moving on?

No, never. I struggled for the first 10 years, and I was pretty broke. I lived like a rat, and I was a little ashamed. But when I started doing Letterman, and then working with Jamie Lee Curtis, they were so great to me. Those were my big breaks. I felt like a million bucks because these people gave me respect when I didn’t have a dime. They gave me confidence. And then, I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do.

What drives you to perform?

I go on stage as a way to be validated. It comes from a childhood feeling of not being listened to.

What was growing up like for you?

Everyone around me, my parents, my sister, my brother, was too preoccupied with themselves. I was left alone. My mother [and I] didn’t have the greatest relationship. The older I got, and certainly with all my therapy, I realized I wasn’t the greatest kid, and [my mother] had a lot of problems. I have a lot of baggage.

Much of your comedy is based on your experiences in therapy. How has it been going lately?

I don’t go to therapy much more. My own therapist is bored with me. She dozed off during our last session. I’ve been around a long time, I’m sober, I committed to somebody, I’m done.

How do you prepare for a show?

I’m a basket case before I go on. I don’t hone my act, I don’t script it or plan it out. I have about 15 hours of material saved in a Word document on my computer, and before a show I scroll through it. On stage, I just say what I remember. I pray that I get laughs and if I don’t, I move into another area.

What is it like to work on Curb Your Enthusiasm with your childhood pal Larry David?

I tell my wife to never ask me how it goes, because I never know. I get touchy, because you don’t really know until you see it air. You could get cut. Plus, I’m playing myself.

What advice do you have for comics who are starting out?

If you don’t have patience and you’re not doing this just for the art and the craft, get out. There are no promises you’ll make a living out of this. Hang out with others who are struggling, and find people who are successful, who you trust, and who like you. And, if you write what you know, nobody can be as good as you, because nobody has your life. Be yourself.

You’ve performed at Carnegie Hall, but you still frequent smaller comedy clubs. Why?

When I sold out Carnegie Hall, it was one of the greatest nights of my life. But, I’ll never stop playing nightclubs. The audience is right in your face, and you’re right there, and you feel like if you [mess] up, they’re going to come up and grab you like a mob. It keeps me on my toes.

www.richardlewisonline.com

Marty Markowitz, Borough President of Brooklyn, is a dedicated New Yorker. He’s the one responsible for creating Brooklyn’s very own exit and entrance signs that read “How Sweet It Is!” and “Fugheddaboutit!” During the infamous blackout of 2003, he stood on the Brooklyn Bridge with a megaphone and welcomed thousands of Brooklynites home as they trudged their way back from work. And during the dead-of-winter New York City Transit Strike of 2005, Markowitz invited residents into Borough Hall for warm drinks and a chance to telephone family members. CiNYC host Hank sat down with this personality-filled President to see what made him who he is today.

Critically acclaimed actor and Upper West Side resident Jerry Stiller started his career on the stage, made a name for himself performing improvisational comedy across the nation with his wife Anne Meara, and went on to play one of TV’s most notoriously neurotic fathers, Frank Costanza. CiNYC host Hank takes Jerry Back on the Block to talk about his New York City childhood, his family, and his storied career.

Before there was Leno, Letterman or Johnny, there was Joe. Bronx-born Joe Franklin invented the TV talk show. He has authored 23 books, appeared in 25 films as himself, and has interviewed over 10,000 guests during his 43-year TV run. He’s often referred to as the “King of Nostalgia” and the “Wizard of Was.” Joe sat down with CiNYC host Hank for a chat and a rare look at his infamously cluttered Hell’s Kitchen office.