David Cassidy in the News
The Rat Pack Is Back
December 10, 2000
By Norm Clarke
The Las Vegas Review-Journal
David Cassidy says he will apologize to Tony Tillman, Sammy Davis Jr.'s character in "The Rat Pack is Back!," if Tillman "misinterpreted" a comment during a performance.
Tillman was performing Davis' "Mr. Bojangles" during the 10 p.m. performance on Dec. 2 when he heard Cassidy, seated at a front-row table, bark, "Where's the melody?"
A miffed Tillman told me he plans to resign, effective Dec. 31. Cassidy co-produces the Sahara show.
"There's only so much you can take," said Tillman.
"Fire me after the show; tell me I suck after the show, but don't drag me down during the show," said Tillman. "The guy put me down in a way no one has done before. Anyone else would have thrown the microphone down and walked off the stage. He would have done that. Don't treat me like a rank amateur, or like it's high school theater."
Cassidy said he couldn't recall making the remark but might have said it "in a joking way. I wasn't being disrespectful or chastising him."
Added Cassidy: "He may have misinterpreted that. If he did, I will apologize." Or, said Cassidy, "he might have another agenda" and wants to be fired so he can take another job.
Tillman said Cassidy has "mentioned to me before that I didn't sing the melody the way he wanted it. I told him he has the right to request anything from me as a performer. It is his production and it is my obligation to try to do the best I can.
"The most important thing to me -- more important than the show -- is I am representing Sammy Davis, his image and his memory. That's all I'm about. People know how important he was to me."
Cassidy said he's never had words with Tillman but said he's "had a problem with all of them getting away from the script."
Tillman said he informed the show's producer, Dionne Kirschner, that he was leaving. Cassidy said he's "baffled" by the blow-up because Tillman signed a contract extension last Sunday, a day after Cassidy's alleged remark.
"If he's unhappy, I don't want him to stay," said Cassidy.
