46

Being Judd Hirsch


Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2003 11:51:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: “Gabe Kaplan” <gabe@gabekaplan.com>
Subject: Aren’t You Judd Hirsch?
To: ann.a.fox@eaxp.com

Dear Ms. Fox,

I was given your email address as the contact for Judd Hirsch. Although Judd and I have never met, an interesting situation developed around 1979 and continues to this day.

People still come up to me and say things like, “Aren’t you the guy from Taxi, the serious guy, the only guy that didn’t try to be funny? You’re him, right?” I’m sure Judd must get asked all the time if he’s Mr. Kotter.

Because of this ongoing confusion of the two of us, I took the liberty of calling a couple of the news magazine shows to see in we could capitalize on this. They said that they would love to have their cameras follow the both of us around for twenty-four hours. Here’s the switch. Judd pretends he’s me and I pretend I’m him. We would probably have to do this on a casual weekend. After all, I couldn’t show up on the set of his latest project and say, “Hey, I’m here, I’m Judd Hirsch, I’m ready for my close up.”

Nor could he show up at one of my supermarkets and claim he’s me. But say he goes to the racetrack on Saturday and lets the word get out that he, Gabe Kaplan, thinks he’s going to have really hot day. Let’s see how many of those race track people will know the difference. It could be great fun and the public loves stuff like this. It also shows that we both have a sense of humor and are both pretty good guys.

Let me know what Gabe, I mean Judd, thinks.

Gabe Kaplan

gabe@gabekaplan.com

PS If we both went to a Jewish retirement home, it could be hysterical.


Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 14:49:14 -0700
From: “Ann A. Fox” <ann.a.fox@eaxp.com>
Subject: Re: Assuming A Pass?
To: gabekaplan.com

Per your request, I have confirmed that Mr Hirsch schedule is such that he is not available at this time for your project and is sorry that he will have to pass.

I have just returned from vacation which caused a delay in my reply to you.

Ann Fox


Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 20:31:52 -0700 (PDT)
From: “Gabe Kaplan” <gabe@gabekaplan.com>
Subject: Autographed Picture?
To: ann.a.fox@eaxp.com

Ann,

Thanks for your help. When Judd gets a chance, could he send me an autographed picture saying. “Gabe, some people think we look alike. I don’t know why, I’m much more attractive.”

I’m trying to get funny vignettes from all the people I’ve been mistaken for I’ve already got Billy Crystal, Franco Harris, and George Clooney.

Gabe

gabe@gabekaplan.com

232

For Gabe…and for all those other things I did that you weren’t blamed for. With affection, Judd Hirsch


Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2003 21:09:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: “Gabe Kaplan” <gabe@gabekaplan.com>
Subject: Great Quip!
To: ann.a.fox@eaxp.com

Ann,

Please thank Judd for sending me the picture. I’m glad he wrote his own quip, it was much better than the one I asked for.

Five more of the people I’ve been confused with have sent me pictures with quips. That makes the total nine, including Judd. I received a tenth, but there was no quip, just a signature, not even a “To Gabe”. I won’t say who it was, but he’s a real “Meathead.”

One time on Family Feud they surveyed 100 people and the question was “Men with Mustaches.” There were five answers. Tom Selleck was number one, Hitler was second, and Burt Reynolds was fifth. Although I’ve never been mistaken for Hitler or Selleck, a couple of times people have thought I was Burt. So he’s the next guy I’m writing to. I can’t wait to see his quip.

I’m running out of actors I look like, so I’m thinking of getting into famous doctors, lawyers and politicians.

Thanks Again and Best Regards,

Gabe

gabe@gabekaplan.com