Don’t inform Fritz Coleman it’s no enjoyable getting previous.
Coleman spent nearly 4 a long time as NBC4’s whimsical weatherman, a key participant in what was arguably essentially the most veteran broadcast information group in Los Angeles. Greater than 5 years after retiring as certainly one of TV’s most recognizable and distinctive personalities, he has transitioned to riffing on weathering the ravages of getting old.
He’ll mark the second anniversary of his residency at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre Sunday by performing his one-man present “Unassisted Dwelling.”
“This present is about all of the relatable stuff that folks undergo once they attain a sure age,” Coleman, 77, mentioned not too long ago contained in the Monroe Discussion board auditorium the place he performs.
The month-to-month matinee (“The present begins at 3 p.m. so the child boomers don’t must drive house at midnight”) is a full-circle second for the previous weatherman, returning him to his stand-up roots. He had little data of climate when he was first employed by the station to do climate stories as a fill-in. What began as a brief job finally changed into a full-time stint, and though he’s not on storm watch anymore, “Unassisted Dwelling” is Coleman’s response to a special sort of storm.
“The fantastic thing about this present is that there are not any politics, and other people respect that a lot,” he mentioned. “I don’t remind individuals of the darkness outdoors the constructing. I simply discuss in regards to the issues that carry us collectively as an getting old inhabitants. Some have described it as a child boomer assist group. When you have a Medicare card, you want to come see this present.”
Amongst his observations are the shock of discovery, notably relating to the physique. “You already know you’re getting previous when varied elements of your physique resolve to make modifications with out notifying you forward of time,” Coleman mentioned. He additionally riffs on intercourse within the golden years. “Males within the viewers like it. The ladies are embarrassed however in addition they like it.”
“The fantastic thing about this present is that there are not any politics, and other people respect that a lot,” mentioned Fritz Coleman about his one-man present titled “Unassisted Dwelling.” “I don’t remind individuals of the darkness outdoors the constructing.”
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Occasions)
He additionally welcomes youthful audiences: “I say 40- to 50-year-old individuals will snicker simply as exhausting. They’ll use this present as a cautionary story. Should you make it to a sure age, that is what you’ll expertise.”
Sitting at one of many theater’s small tables, Coleman, together with his slim construct, silver hair and spherical glasses, regarded a lot the identical as he did when he mentioned farewell in 2020. Due to the pandemic, he had spent a lot of the yr doing his stories from his Toluca Lake house as a substitute of NBC4’s Burbank studio.
Though he beloved his job and his connection to viewers, he was able to say goodbye: “Even in case you love what you do, 40 years is lengthy sufficient.”
Earlier than his retirement, Coleman had what he referred to as a “couple of minor scares” — none of them life-threatening.
“I’ve grandchildren, and I need to be wholesome sufficient to do all the opposite issues in life I need to do,” he mentioned. “I’m on the board of three nonprofits. And I can spend extra time writing and performing.”
Coleman finds continuous inspiration for his comedy, and he feels lucky that he “discovered this area of interest completely accidentally — the frequent expertise of getting previous. Individuals respect that fairly than discuss what separates us, which is the topical and present occasions comedy of the day, just like the Invoice Mahers and others.
“I like them. They’re so brilliant at what they do,” he added. “However it’s a separationist type of act — us and them. Mine shouldn’t be about that.”
Coleman mentioned his monologue is regularly up to date.“I spend about an hour or two every day writing, and with each present I’m including new materials. I sit on my sofa with a authorized pad and pencil and simply put down my ideas. In my front room, I’m hysterical.”
The brand new focus leaves Coleman with little time to be nostalgic about his former days as a high TV weatherman and dealing alongside co-anchors Colleen Williams and Chuck Henry, and sports activities anchor Fred Roggin.
“I don’t miss the job,” he mentioned. “However I miss the individuals. We had an awesome information group — we had been just like the longest-running information group on the town.”
Fritz Coleman, left, Chuck Henry and Colleen Williams within the NBC4 studio.
(Fernando Torres / KNBC-TV )
Since Coleman’s departure, Henry and Roggin have additionally left NBC4, leaving solely Williams, who nonetheless anchors night newscasts.
Together with his schedule, Coleman doesn’t usually tune in to native information. “I watch it little or no, until there’s something of consequence,” he mentioned.
However he has watched sufficient to see a shift in how stations cowl the information.
“I used to be employed for my character, however that has all modified,” Coleman mentioned. “Earlier than, the night newscasts had been like what the morning information is now, casual and extra informal. Viewers associated to the anchors, and everybody was like household. I might get 5 minutes to do the climate. I described my job as being a palette cleanser between ‘the world goes to finish’ and ‘right here’s what the Dodgers did immediately.’
“The enterprise is so totally different now,” he added. “There are as much as eight newscasts all working concurrently. There’s a lot extra competitors now. And there’s additionally America’s brief consideration span.”
As well as, Coleman is acutely conscious that he wouldn’t be capable to skirt {qualifications} for a TV weatherman job as he had beforehand when former NBC4 information director Steve Antonetti employed him, impressed by his demeanor after seeing him carry out at Santa Monica’s Horn nightclub. Coleman’s routine included a block about doing climate stories for Armed Forces Radio when he served within the Navy.
“I might not get that job immediately until I had the American Meteorological Society seal or a level in meteorology or atmospheric sciences,” Coleman mentioned. “It’s an enormous deal. I couldn’t get by being Mr. Enjoyable Man on a regular basis.”
Whereas retirement has not dulled the inviting heat that Coleman displayed in his day by day stories, he turned extra irritated when requested in regards to the Trump administration’s continuous assaults on local weather change, calling it a hoax.
“Denying that local weather change is actual is an irresponsible ploy,” he mentioned. “Each scientist value his or her salt on the planet understands it’s actual, and it’s inhumane to name it a hoax. It impacts me as a result of it’s the one a part of the large lie that I’ve skilled in my profession.”
He feels lucky that he has his comedy stint to concentrate on, and he hopes it should proceed lengthy into the long run.
“I’ve by no means been happier in my life than I’m proper now, and so long as we promote tickets, we are going to preserve the present going,” Coleman mentioned. “Or we’ll preserve it going till I’ve to cease the present twice for pee breaks.”
