Cassidy ready for TV return
November 19, 1996
By Army Archerd
https://variety.com
GOOD MORNING: “It’s time again for me,” sez David Cassidy. Before his “EFX” show tonight at the MGM Grand, he wings to L.A. for network talks on his half-hour pilot, “Ask Sylvia.” Melanie Greene will produce with Cassidy. It’s been 15 years since his last series, “Man Undercover,” and 22 years since the finale of his four seasons-long “The Partridge Family.” He has, however, been hosting VH1’s “Eight Track Flashback,” which airs eight times a week. After a week of previews at the MGM Grand in the extravaganza in which he replaced Michael Crawford, Cassidy tells me, “I feel like I’m 17.” Tonight, after two shows, he takes the red eye out of Vegas to guest Thursday with Rosie O’Donnell and to pick up wife Sue and their son Beau to move them to Vegas. He plans a long stand at the Grand. How can he tape a series while doing two shows on stage at the MGM nightly? “No problem,” he enthuses. Vegas is not new to him: his mother Evelyn Ward headlined at the New Frontier with Ronald Reagan as her opening act! As for his “EFX” role, Cassidy says, “I’m playing a whole new character (differing from Michael Crawford’s). It was serious and dark and now it’s funnier and with new songs. I’m having a ball (although working 12-15 hours getting the show ready for its official opening in February.) His contract is “for a while and I’m being well-paid, ” he added happily. Cassidy was the toast of “Blood Brothers” on B’way, London’s West End and Toronto and admits, “My life and career are now as good as ever and I’m in control.” He has no agent; hasn’t had one for eight years. His attorneys Michael Gendler and John Frankenheimer represent him Michael Crawford is still recuping in Las Vegas following injury to his hip during his “EFX” stand and has not made any plans for the new year as yet.
