David Cassidy on the Web
David Cassidy Leaves Keith Partridge Behind
He's Now David Gallagher in Ruby and the Rockits
July 27, 2009
By Francine Brokaw
http://prime-time-sitcoms.suite101.com
David Cassidy is filled with energy and emotions as he talks about the new sitcom Ruby and the Rockits.
At 59 years old, this man has had a roller-coaster ride in the entertainment business. Bursting onto the small screen, and the cover of every fan magazine around the world, David led The Partridge Family to the top of the charts. From 1970-1974 he starred as Keith Partridge and on weekends he performed concerts.
David's teen idol image later came into play as he tried to do more mainstream projects, but he never gave up his music. He still enjoys performing in concerts.
His latest project involves everything he holds dear: his family and his music. In Ruby and the Rockits, he plays a former 80's pop star who hit it big with his brother, played by David's real brother Patrick. Shaun Cassidy is the executive producer and youngest brother Ryan is the set dresser, making this a true Cassidy production. The sitcom includes music along with the humor.
Creating the Groundwork for the New Sitcom
So, how did this project come to fruition? "Well, my brother [Shaun] and I had a phone call about a year and a half ago," explains the oldest Cassidy brother. "And I had the germ of the idea of doing a family show." He explains the back and forth conversation and adds, "I said a music show satirizing our family, my persona [and] his. And Patrick and I have always wanted to work together."
David says he also thought it would be great if Ryan could be involved. "Then the four of us can work together for the first time, because the only other time any of us have ever worked together was when-well, we did an AIDS benefit, which was hysterical, but that was just three of us. I won't even discuss that. But it was hysterically funny.
So, I called him and said, 'What about doing something before we die,' that kind of thing. And he went, 'Hmm.' He started running ideas through his head and put those tiny little fingers on the computer, and he said, 'Come on out. I pitched the idea to the studio. They liked it, and they want to meet with us.'"
That delighted David. "So, we met with the studio and then with the network, and we just were ourselves - it wasn't a performance, it was [us] just being as natural and as real with ourselves and kind of taking the piss out of each other, which is a British expression. I hope you understand that it's a British expression," he says with a twinkle in his eye. "But that's what we do all the time with each other. And that's what we do in this [show]."
David Cassidy is Having the Best Time of His Life
With all honesty, David Cassidy proclaims, "I've never had as much fun as I've ever had doing anything. And I've said this a few times recently. I can't stand it when actors come on television, not so much in print, but I guess even in print, and you listen to them on the radio and they're doing an interview about their new project, their new movie, their new television show, their new Broadway show, and they're there promoting it. And you hear the Arnold Schwarzenegger quote: 'This is the greatest movie ever made,'" he says with his best Schwarzenegger impersonation.
"But this is the best thing I've ever done, in my opinion, for me. It's the best role I've ever had, the best cast I've ever worked work. Every single person is fantastic. And you can't-I mean you can say they are people you can hand the ball to and they'll score a touchdown. Every person on this show can deliver the punch line. You know, bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded, you're down three runs, pop, boom. And it feels so good to have that kind of support and to genuinely like all of the people you work with.
"Every element of it, to me-and I've done some bombs-you can feel it when it's just [OK]. But this one just feels so good. It feels so right for this network, just so right for working-all of us working together. I don't know. I think it's a genuine family comedy. I think it has a lot of adult stuff.
"It is not a kid show, you know, it's not. [But] kids love it. They come every week, [and] they like [it]. And I think that has a lot to do with Alexa [Vega] and with Austin [Butler]. I think that's probably the case. And I'm sure their grandmothers have told them about me," he proudly proclaims with a slight chuckle.
Ruby and the Rockits airs Tuesdays on ABC Family.
