Click here for the video from my July 18, 2007 interview.
Harry was the first person I interviewed (in June 1996) for my book The Producers: Profiles In Frustration.
Bernsen (hbmasquerade@yahoo.com) is producing the musical "Love According To Me", which he hopes to bring to the Wilshire Theater.
"It played in London for a year," says Bernsen, "and I found in Rome."
"I have 18 projects in the works," says Harry.
His last project was producing a musical stage play (in Italy and France) of the movie Mrs. Doubtfire.
"I’ve got a girlfriend now. We’ve been together for 15 years. I’m close to my ex-wife [Jeanne Cooper, Wikipedia entry]. She’s the only actress in Hollywood who’s collected a paycheck every week for 35 years. [Harry’s son] Corbin’s career is going great."
"Everything in my life is fantastic except I’m dated."
"Let’s talk about you. Are you married?"
Luke: "No."
Harry: "Do you live here?"
Luke: "Yeah."
Harry: "Are you happy with your life?"
I sigh.
Harry: "I looked you up too."
"For whatever reason, you are very important to me. I’ve got everything in good shape. Physically I’m good. I’m active. I’ve got several things working in India now. I’ve sidetracked everything except for my musical on Wilshire Blvd. The musical version of the show (Love According To Me) ran eight years in Madrid. It played Mexico City, Russia…"
The Temple of the Performing Arts owns the Wilshire Theater.
Harry: "I met with Rabbi David Baron. He loves the show. It’s about a Catholic priest who gets a phone call from God, who says ‘I don’t like what is going on down there. Build an ark.’"
"Our society is gloomy. You hear God’s voice throughout the show. God says, ‘OK, you win.’ A rainbow comes onstage. I want to turn the whole theater into a rainbow. The most enthusiastic reaction I got to the music was from the rabbi."
Harry wants to cast Ricky Martin as the priest. Ricky Martin wants to do it. I was a little against it because of the homosexuality but I got a bunch of calls that I was absolutely wrong about that. He plays a priest who falls in love with the girl."
"I don’t know what Jewish Orthodoxy is… If Scientology works for Tom Cruise, great. It all comes down to one thing — love according to me… I had a lawyer who wanted me to do some slasher pics. No. I only want to do things that benefit humanity."
At one point, Harry went around with Andy Griffith to raise money for "Love According To Me."
Then one day Andy said to Harry, "You’re just using me to raise money."
Harry said of course and they went their separate ways.
Harry turns to me. "This is all great for me but what can I do for you. No, don’t shake your head. What do you want out of life?"
I groan. "Let me finish this interview with you…"
"What was your role on the Mrs. Doubtfire musical?"
Harry: "Executive producer."
Luke: "What did that mean?"
Harry: "I collected the money every week."
"I’ve been reading the Bible. Every night I read a chapter or so. Thank God I finished Jeremiah. That’s the worse. I go to Unity church. I went to one in Santa Monica. The minister and his wife had a falling out… I went to another Unity church. There are six, seven, eight people at a service."
