John Bloom: AKA Joe Bob Briggs

This is an extremely exciting interview for me because I didn't think I was going to be able to track this man down. Mr. Bloom has one of the most hectic lifestyles around. I died when he said yes he would do the interview and died AGAIN when he sent it over to me. I wanted to get inside his mind a bit to see what makes him tick and what keeps him pushing forward at any cost and never stopping. From the 1980s with being a writer for "The Texas Monthly", which won him two National Award nominations for his work, to the Dallas Times Herald. He then went on to do a one man show and traveled to over 50 cities. From then on, the rest is history. Mr. Bloom began hosting for The Movie Channel (which earned him two ACE Award nominations) and then continued to move ahead. Whether he is writing books, acting in films or hosting his own show, his talents never cease. He has been gracing us with his presence from the 80's, the 90's and now in the 2000's. Read his interview below and find out what's in store for this brilliant and talented man and get up close and personal with the man who is KING of the Drive-In!

Q.) We all know who Joe Bob Briggs is by simply looking anywhere on the net to television through out the years. You ARE the ONLY and the original drive-in movie critic out there. Many people have followed in your foot steps to try and mock you but it's evident that no one can. My question to you is, who IS Joe Bob?
A). Joe Bob is the only true populist film critic, champion of the forgotten and neglected flicks that most people feel are beneath contempt.
Q.) How did you get started with this character name versus using John Bloom?
A.) I was writing "serious" reviews as John Bloom, so I wanted a name more representative of the drive-in-loving Texas public. It just sounded like a funny name to me.
Q.) Was the name Joe Bob Briggs something you created?
A.) Yes, I wanted a name that sounded like someone who would go to the drive-in at least once a week. Actually the first one I came up with was "Bobo Rodriguez," but the newspaper told me I couldn't use an ethnic name--although Joe Bob Briggs is actually an ethnic name.

Q.) You are a extremely talented writer and journalist, what was it in your life that peaked your interest into going in this direction?
A.) I always wanted to be a professional athlete, but when I was 13 years old I had leg surgery that made it impossible for me to jump very high or run very fast anymore. So when I was 14 I got a job as an apprentice writer and copyboy in the sports department of the Arkansas Democrat, the afternoon paper in Little Rock, Arkansas, my hometown. I would go in and work before school,from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., and then I would cover sports events at night. That's how I learned to write--on the job.
Q.) Same goes for acting. How did you get started with acting? What came first, the, "Joe Bob's Drive-In Theatre" for TMC or was it film? How did it all come about?
A.) When I got fired from the Dallas Times Herald in the eighties, I started doing a one-man show called "Joe Bob Dead in Concert." I eventually developed it into another show called "An Evening with Joe Bob Briggs" and performed it in about 50 cities. Sometimes I would do comedy clubs, but I didn't really like comedy clubs. It was more of a theatrical show, and so it worked best in small theaters. As a result of this show, I was asked to be a guest host on The Movie Channel. They kept inviting me back every month until it became a regular show, "Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater," and then all the acting offers flowed from that.

Q.) Which do you prefer, acting in film or television?
A.) I much prefer television, especially when I'm able to write the whole show. Television is fast. You can shoot a lot of material in a single day. Movies are the opposite. You spend most of your time bored out of your mind, waiting for guys named Enzio to set up lights.
Q.) What was the most thrilling experience as far as acting goes in a film? Which of all the films you were in did you find to be the most memorable for you?
A.) I would say doing three scenes with Robert DeNiro, directed by Martin Scorsese, was the highlight. After I got that part in "Casino," I was riding home in the cab and I thought, "Well, I can die now."
Q.) You seem to be cast in roles which reflect the Joe Bob image in some of the characters you have portrayed in film. Does this bother you?

A.) Nope, doesn't bother me at all. I'm primarily a writer and a performer of my own material. The film and TV stuff is just gravy.
Q.) Would you like to go against the grain and do a character who is completely opposite from what the whole world knows you best as? If so, what would be the one dream role to portray?
A.) I'd like to be one of those guys on the Lifetime network who starts off as the perfect husband then turns out to be a serial killer. Those are great villain roles.
Q.) In all the characters you have been, do you feel as though you have met the highest acting challenge?
A.) Oh gosh, no, the highest acting challenge would be theater. I would love to do theater, but I can't afford it!
Q.) First off I have to say, you are an amazing writer. You have written books which include, "Joe Bob Goes To The Drive-In", "A Guide to Western Civilization or My Story", "The Cosmic Wisdom of Joe Bob Briggs", and "Iron Joe Bob" When you had your show on TMC and TNT, you wrote all the scripts yourself. How on earth did you come up with so many creative ideas that kept your show so entertaining?
A.) Well, it's not as hard as it looks, because I write something new every day. By the time I'm preparing a TV show, I have vast resources to choose from. For example, I've recycled many of my newspaper columns as monologues. I have to redo them, of course, make them easier to speak, but the material is always there. I write five columns a week for UPI and magazine articles and books, so I've always got a lot of material to pull from. In other words, I'm usually not starting from scratch. What takes time is watching the movies and writing specific commentary for that. I just did a commentary track for the new DVD release of "I Spit On Your Grave," and it was HELL. I had to talk an hour and 40 minutes solid. I didn't even know I could do that! Anyway, what makes it possible to talk that much is that you've done the research, and you have a lot of background on the movie.
Q.) You have a new book in which you are currently writing titled, "Profoundly Disturbing: Shocking Films That Changed History". Can you tell us what this is about and when it will be available for everyone to purchase?
A.) The book will be out in April, and it's long essays on 15 of my favorite cult movies. They're not necessarily GOOD movies, just movies that an enormous impact, either on filmmaking or on the culture at large.
Q.) You currently have articles you write for the UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL or UPI which are: Joe Bob's Drive-In, Vegas Guy, and Joe Bob's America. Do you also write under John Bloom?
A.) Yes, as a matter of fact, John Bloom is the UPI Reporter-at-Large. I do a weekly column as John Bloom called "Assignment America." I'm also writing for Men's Journal as John Bloom and for a new magazine called Radar, which comes out in April.

Q.) I know you have written a screenplay titled, "A Killing in a Small Town" aka, "Evidence of Love". I have actually seen that film on Lifetime Television many times. Have you ever considered writing more screenplays in the future?
A.) Yes, I have a comedy screenplay, but as a general rule it's not my strong point. "Evidence of Love" was a book before it was made into a movie. I would be more likely to do another book and adapt it.
Q.) I heard once that you were doing running commentary for some films. Can you tell us more about this? What company is this for? Where can we get copies of these films with you doing this?
A.) I'm doing DVD commentary for Elite Entertainment, and the first release in the series is "I Spit On Your Grave." The second one will be "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter."
Q.) I understand you are currently working on a new TV show titled, "The Joe Bob Report". Would you like to tell us what it is all about? When it will air? Where it can be seen?
A.) "The Joe Bob Report" is a parody of political talk shows like "The O'Reilly Factor." I don't have an air date for it yet.
Q.) Last but not least, what is in store for you? Do you have any films lined up in the future? Any appearances in which you will be attending where your fans can come see you in person?
A.) The only thing I have coming up is an independent film in Florida that I'll be doing this month or next. And then, when the book comes out in April, I'll be doing book store appearances to promote it.
Q.) Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? What is YOUR future goal with your career and life?
A.) I don't even know where I'll be in two months!

Read his articles at UPI at: http://www.upi.com (click on Life and Mind section).

If you would like to contact John Bloom, you can write to him via snail mail at:

Or you can email him at:joebob@compuserve.com

FILMOGRAPHY:

1. The Many Lives of Jason Voorhees (2002) (as Joe Bob Briggs)...Himself
2.Drive-in Movie Memories (2001) (as Joe Bob Briggs).... Himself
3.The Storytellers (1999) .... Scrappy the Janitor
4.Face/Off (1997) (as John Bloom) .... Shock Technician
5."The Daily Show" (1996) .... Contributor, 'God Stuff' (1996-1998)
6."Monstervision" (1993) (as Joe Bob Briggs) .... Host (1995-2000)
... aka "Joe Bob's Hollywood Saturday Night and Monstervision" (1999) (TNT: sixth season title)
... aka "Monstervision and Joe Bob's Last Call" (1995) (TNT: third season title)
7.After Sunset: The Life & Times of the Drive-In Theater (1995) .... Himself
8.Casino (1995) (as John Bloom) .... Don Ward
9."The Stand" (1994) .... Deputy Joe-Bob Brentwood
10.Chiller Theatre Expo Video Vol. 1, The (1992) ....Himself
11.Hollywood Boulevard II (1989) (as Joe Bob Briggs)
12.Great Balls of Fire! (1989) (as Joe Bob Briggs) .... Dewey 'Daddy-O' Phillips
13."Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater" (1987) .... Host, Joe Bob Briggs (1987-1994)
14.The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) (as Joe Bob Briggs) Gonzo Moviegoer

TELEVISION:

1."Married... with Children" (1987) playing "Billy Ray Wetnap" in episode: "Shoeway to Heaven" (episode # 9.1) 4 September 1994
2."Married... with Children" (1987) playing "Billy Ray" in episode: "Scared Single" (episode # 8.8) 7 November 1993
3."Hooperman" (1987) (as John Bloom) in episode: "Blaste from the Past" (episode # 1.16) 10 February 1988

WRITING:

1. "Monstervision" (1993) (host segments)
aka "Joe Bob's Hollywood Saturday Night and Monstervision" (1999) (USA: sixth season title)
aka "Monstervision and Joe Bob's Last Call" (1995)
(USA: third season title)
2. Killing in a Small Town, A (1990) (TV) (book: Evidence of Love) (as John Bloom) aka Evidence of Love (1990) (TV)
3. "Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater" (1987) (host segments)

(Books)

"Joe Bob Goes To The Drive-In" (1987)--movie reviews & commentary
"A Guide to Western Civilization, or My Story" (1988)--mock autobiography
"Joe Bob Goes Back To The Drive-In" (1990)--more movie reviews & commentary
"The Cosmic Wisdom of Joe Bob Briggs" (1990) --commentary & social satire
"Iron Joe Bob" --only one still in print; satire on the Men's Movement
"Profoundly Disturbing: Shocking Films That Changed History" (2003)
Article: "The Offspring Of Thelma And Louise", "Playboy" (USA), February 1994, p.35+147
Evidence of Love (co-authored with Jim Atkinson)

If you have any suggestions on celebs or people to interview, please contact Stephanie directly at:

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