Fred Savage is a Huge Star
Sunday, November 23, 2008 - smokin_aces
Or at least he was in ’89. Celebrities can sometimes achieve ‘star’ status in a relatively short period of time. Too often their star fizzles out and they become another flash in the pan one hit wonder, destined to strive desperately for at least ‘c’ list exposure. More often than not, just by surviving the Hollywood School of Hard Knocks they’ve turned their name into a minor commodity. Most probably hope their perceived value can be applied to a smaller stage. It probably goes without saying that no celebrity’s goal is to end up as fodder for some tabloid media outlet’s ‘Where Are They Now’ list. We’ll meet them halfway. Our intent here is not to point, jeer and laugh from the cheap seats while recanting some washed up tv icon’s painful descent into obscurity. Instead, we’ll highlight ex-A listers who picked themselves up after years of tequila sucking and infomercial host auditioning, dusted themselves off and got serious about Poker.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s we waited with baited breath each week to watch Winnie, Paul and Kevin stumble through early adolescence. “The Wonder Years” was our endearing glimpse into the coming-of-age struggles and dysfunctions of a post-war patriarchal America. The main character Kevin (played by Fred Savage) was as American as apple pie.
Soon after the show began airing Fred Savage took the teen-zine covers by storm and was recreated in poster form on the closet doors of young girls everywhere. It was only a matter of time until Fred Savage joined the Hollywood glitterati and claimed his throne as another misbehaving, talented Icon. It turned out his career in the limelight would come to a grinding halt after the show ended in 1993. Although he had appeared in some large grossing movies prior to and during the Wonder Years (The Boy Who Could Fly 1986, The Princess Bride 1987, The Wizard 1989) he didn’t continue his rise in Hollywood as a grown up actor.
Thankfully for all his fans (myself included), he survived many obstacles and was able to take supporting roles in numerous small budget productions. In fact, in recent years Fred has re-established himself as a Hollywood mainstay with his role as Mitch Crumb in the successful TV comedy ‘Crumbs’. However, arguably his highest profile public sightings have been rubbing elbows with the Professional Poker set. That’s right, “Kevin Arnold” is now a calculating poker odds maker trying his hand at the Pro Poker circuit. He appeared as a competitor on Bravo’s ‘Celebrity Poker Showdown’ alongside Jennifer Tilly and Brett Butler. He was even subjected to commentary by the ‘beloved’ Poker icon (and UB’s own) Phil Hellmuth. Fred also made a memorable appearance on the first episode of “World Poker Tour – Hollywood Home Game”, going all in against Aisha Tyler to benefit the Childhelp USA charity. As well, he’s been spotted in Vegas many times recently with fat stacks of chips and hordes of hot models frolicking around him. Ok, that last part isn’t true. But just like Kevin Arnold’s obsession with his sultry classmate and neighbour Winnie Cooper, he can wish.
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Tags: Celebrities, Poker Poker Poker
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:43 am
Let us not forget that Fred Savage has also directed several episodes of the laugh-so-hard-you’re-gonna-vomit TV show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. Man, they gotta do an episode where the gang hosts a poker tournament…
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I forgot about that. Another feather in the cap for Mr. Savage. That show is pure hilarity. Let’s get a script together!