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thursday, APRIL 26, 2018 vol. 21 no. 17 page 25 Michael Leininger Honored Gross for Service to City By Mirjam Swanson Charms The Outlook

ike Leininger challenged On and Off Mthe 110 people who came to lunch Wednesday, including grandsons Jeff and Johnny, to Screen get involved in their commu- nity, citing a saying he learned By Zane Hill as a coach at Bellflower High The Outlook School: “What you do will speak so loudly,” he said, “I can’t hear a word you’re saying.” epending on the time of Photo courtesy Universal Pictures Leininger’s actions since Dyear, you can find him in La Cañada Flintridge resident Michael Gross stars in “Tremors: A Cold moving to La Cañada Flintridge the bleachers at La Cañada High Day in Hell,” the sixth film in the franchise, due for release May 1. He has 30 years ago this month with his School volleyball matches or on embraced his fan-favorite character, who is a supporting or lead character family have spoken volumes. set in a South African desert. in every film in the franchise as well as the TV series. Several accounts were shared by In between, you might happen fellow community leaders during to see Michael Gross ordering “Family Ties” and Burt Gummer That he spent seven seasons the Noon Kiwanis Club of La Ca- his decaf cappuccino from Con- from the cult-favorite “Tremors” in that role made it all the more ñada’s annual La Cañadan of the Photo by Mirjam Swanson / OUTLOOK stellation Coffee on Foothill franchise. confusing to Gross when he was Year recognition luncheon at Boulevard, or possibly at a local “I was one of America’s fa- contacted about being cast in Descanso Gardens’ Van de Kamp Longtime La Cañada Flintridge Planning Commission meeting vorite fathers,” the La Cañada “Tremors.” Gummer, who was a Hall. resident and educator Mike Leini- regarding a development in his Flintridge resident observed, re- supporting character to Kevin Ba- For 26 years, Leininger was a nger encouraged his audience to neighborhood. In his round flecting on his career as an actor con’s Val McKee and Fred Ward’s member of the La Cañada Unified find ways to give back as he was glasses and absent facial hair, you while waiting for his cappuccino Earl Basset, was a gun enthusiast School District, moving up the recognized by the Noon Kiwanis may have to double-take to rec- to cool off. “I was sort of this be- and survivalist who lived in his ranks as a La Cañada High School Club as La Cañadan of the Year on ognize him as the actor behind nign, sort of left-wing, liberal guy. Wednesday at Descanso Gardens’ Steven Keaton from the sitcom He wore his heart on his sleeve.” See gross, page 35 See leininger, page 17 Van de Kamp Hall. LCF’s Tsujihara to Receive USC Alumni Merit Award

a Cañada Flintridge resident Land Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara will be one of three recipients of the Alumni Merit Award in the USC Alumni Association’s 85th an- nual USC Alumni Awards this month. Tsujihara, who took over Warner Bros. in 2013 to become Photo by Zane Hill / OUTLOOK the first Asian-American head of Senior Ethan Crane rallies fellow La Cañada High School students last Friday for a walkout in observance of the a major motion picture studio, 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. grew up in Petaluma, where his parents, who are Japanese im- migrants, owned an egg dis- LCHS Students Walk Out, Kevin Tsujihara See tsujihara, page 17 Observe Columbine Massacre By Zane Hill gregants of La Cañada Congre- LCHS senior Ethan Crane, who The Outlook gational Church met them with helped to lead the walkout. “It sandwiches, snacks, refresh- was incredible to see actual vic- ments and, perhaps most im- tims speaking out and wanting bout 30 La Cañada High portantly, support. The walkout substantive change in policy after ASchool students joined their was a follow-up to nationwide the horrific events in Parkland. peers nationwide on Friday in observances at schools on March “We realized our voice mat- staging a walkout from school in 14, a month after 17 students ters,” he added. “It’s been de-

observance of the 19th anniver- and adults were killed during a cades since we’ve had anything Permit No. 261 No. Permit

Pasadena, CA Pasadena, sary of the massacre at Colum- shooting at Stoneman Douglas going in the right direction for the U.S. POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE U.S. bine High School. High School in Parkland, Florida. gun violence discussion.”

PRSRT STD PRSRT The group marched from “I think most of us are in agree- LCHS did have to formally LCHS starting at 10 a.m. Friday ment that, since Feb. 14, that we to Memorial Park, where con- have been empowered,” said See walkout, page 14 La Cañada Flintridge Outlook community Thursday, April 26, 2018 35 gross the approach to heart. “It was wonderful,” Baxter contd. from page 1 “I was right around her age said during a phone interview. when he stepped into my life, so “I don’t remember how many with her growing up, it was sort times we had performed this to- fortified desert compound with of his first time being around gether. Sometimes it’s a one- or his wife, Heather (played by Reba younger kids,” she said. “They two-performance fundraiser or McEntire). They and the handful have a good, close relationship. it’s a short run somewhere, but of other residents in their tiny He cracks her up. He always gets it’s been many, many times over desert town (the fictional Perfec- her talking. She isn’t just a sullen many years. It’s like finding an old tion, Nevada) become the target teenager around him.” pair of pants.” prey of monstrous prehistoric Budde said she usually finds Baxter said she and Gross have worm-like creatures — named out about her stepfather’s latest kept up a jovial disagreement “graboids” — who hunt by tun- role whenever friends mention about the first time they met for neling underground. seeing him on an episode of “Family Ties.” “I looked at the script and something, although the whole “He thought we met when we thought, ‘This has to be a mis- family recently screened “A Cold did the opening sequences for take,’” Gross explained, laughing Day in Hell” together. the title that we shot out at the Ar- at the memory. “This was just “That was a whole bunch of boretum [in Arcadia],” she said. “I goofy fun, and I thought, ‘Why fun, to see him in the audience think we’d already done the pilot. not?’” and watch him on-screen,” she I just remember meeting him and After the first film’s theatrical said. “He’s not that character in saying something like ‘You need a release in 1990, the franchise real life, but he’s had a hell of a lot tan.’ I loved him immediately. He spawned a sequel with Gross re- of fun playing him.” was just my dearest friend for the turning as a supporting character Budde added that she and her whole time we shot that show.” before Burt Gummer became the husband made the deliberate de- Baxter and Gross happen to central character in third, fourth cision to remain local when they share the exact same birthdate, and fifth direct-to-DVD releases Photo courtesy Michael Gross got married. which they co-celebrated once in (a sequel, prequel and another se- The ’80s sitcom “Family Ties” introduced Michael Gross as Steven Keaton, “His parents are here and my London while filming the made- quel, respectively). A short-lived alongside Meredith Baxter as wife Elyse Keaton. The two, who share the parents are here and both of us for-TV “Family Ties Vacation.” TV series ran on the SyFy channel exact birth date, continue to periodically put on stage productions of “Love grew up with our grandparents As their friendship continued with Gross as the lead and the Letters” for short runs. on the East Coast, so we made after “Family Ties” ended, Baxter sixth film, subtitled “A Cold Day the choice to give our children said she watched Gross become in Hell,” is due for release on DVD point on, Gummer settles into couple of decades been a serial the wonderful opportunities to the upstanding family man he is and Blu-ray on May 1. his newfound raison d'être as guest star on television series for spend with their grandparents,” today. Although the first film didn’t the world’s leading expert on handfuls of episodes at a time. she said. “He made a real impact on exactly shatter box office records, handling outbreaks of the preda- “Had I wanted steady work, I Gross seems thankful for that all of his kids,” she said. “He’s a its home release and the subse- tory creatures. (Humorously, he would have done something else decision. lovely man. He’s such a warm, quent direct-release films helped also must ensure the residents for a living,” he said. “I never ex- “What I’ll remember on my generous and tender guy. He lis- establish the cult following that of Perfection co-exist with the pected to do steady work. I like deathbed — a great volleyball tens. He’s a show-up guy. What continues nearly three decades remaining graboids nearby be- freelancing. I very much enjoy game of my granddaughter’s or better character can you have in later. cause they are deemed endan- the variety that it brings and the a dinner with my wife — is far your life than someone who’s al- “I was like ‘Whoa,’” Gross said. gered.) older that I get, it’s much harder better than any applause I got ways in your corner?” “They’re amazingly popular. It’s The fourth film flashes back for me to commit to something from an audience,” he added. like peoples’ guilty pleasure. to the 1800s, when the town is a long-term.” “Not that that hasn’t given me a FOR THE FANS “They didn’t know what to booming mining hub and Gross That suits him just fine. Gross great deal of pleasure, but my pri- Gross said he hopes to achieve do,” Gross added, explaining how plays Burt Gummer’s great- said he likes to spend his days orities have changed.” another reunion in his career. At Universal originally marketed the grandfather. Burt discovers in with family and has taken a the time of this interview, Gross first film. “They advertised it as a the fifth film he fathered a son particular interest in his grand- CHANCE AUDITION said he was on the eve of meeting straight horror movie. I said this (played by Jamie Kennedy) and daughter Allison’s extracurricular OPENS THE DOOR with Universal to discuss a sev- is offhand and crazy. It’s just part they form a father-son duo that activities, which include commu- A Chicago native, Gross said he enth Tremors movie — before the western, part monster and part will continue in the upcoming nity outreach and playing on the didn’t grow up or even start col- sixth has been released — and he comedy. It really found its feet in sequel. LCHS volleyball team. lege with acting in mind. said he already had a plan in mind the aftermarket videos. It kind of Outside of the films, Gross “Last year, they went to the When he was in high school in for Gummer. (Bacon and Ward snuck onto the radar and it’s been has embraced his association quarterfinals,” he said, beaming. 1965, he and a group of other boys were more recently announced that way ever since.” with the franchise, often sharing “I went to every single home auditioned for a production of in an eight-episode TV series for Gummer proved to be a fan Tremors-related posts on his game and I will be there again “Oklahoma!” at a nearby all-girls the franchise, but Gross hasn’t yet favorite, serving as much of the Facebook page (facebook.com/ this year. I want to be free to do school. (“I did one high school been linked to the show.) comedic relief in the first film. ActorMichaelGross) and ap- some of those things.” play, and it was about the girls,” “I think it’s time for Burt to (When Gummer pulls out some pearing in “The Daily Gummer” He also recently helped his he wryly admitted. “We were at find love,” Gross said. “I like to cannon fuse and Ward asks, videos on the official Tremors granddaughter with a furniture the school that afternoon.”) He put him in uncomfortable places. “What the hell d’you use it for?” page (facebook.com/Tremor- project for the Door of Hope di- earned the role of Will Parker. [‘Tremors’] 5 was about him Gross deadpans: “My cannon.”) sMovie). rector’s office and has injected “I was in choir in high school,” having a family. To have the an- At a recent one-night showing of “Comedy is about exaggera- himself into the public eye be- he explained. “Music was always archy of having another family the first film at the Regency The- tion, and no one is quite as exag- fore the City Council and Plan- a part of my life. Music was al- member in his life is a real chal- ater in Granada Hills, the audi- gerated as Burt is with his para- ning Commission. The Oakmont ways dear to my heart and that’s lenge. I think I’d like to see Burt ence burst into applause at the noia and with his OCD,” Gross Senior Living facility being pro- kind of how I slipped into this confronted with the first crush conclusion of the well-known said. “His character is just such posed in his neighborhood is, business.” he’s had in years.” basement standoff between Burt fun. by his estimation, too large to fit Gross enrolled at the Univer- Would that crush involve and Heather Gummer and a gra- “If I do a role, I’m usually sat- in the area and too dangerously sity of Illinois at Chicago and bringing McEntire back? boid. isfied, but Burt is just so damn close to high-traffic Foothill Bou- initially studied for a pre-medi- “It’d be great to get her back for In the second film, the char- fun,” he added. “There’s always a levard. He and other residents cine degree. However, he said he one thing,” Gross said. “It’d be a acter finds himself in search of new way to challenge him.” have formed the group Together quickly realized that medicine great coup.” better times after his wife left La Cañada to advocate for a res- wasn’t a good fit for him, and he Hardcore “Tremors” fans will him — “Well, she’s still visiting LIFE IS GOOD IN LCF ident-friendly approach to the “wandered” into anthropology already have taken note of a coup her sister. You know, she actu- Gross’ acting career does not city’s development. next. Soon after, he ran into of sorts in the sixth film. Gummer ally blames our problems on the give him a rigid schedule and “He definitely is civic-minded one of his former “Oklahoma!” has, for no apparent reason, collapse of the Soviet Union!” he is selective about the roles he and he enjoys the small town,” co-stars on campus, who said sported an Atlanta Hawks base- Gummer explains. From that auditions for. He has in the past Katie Budde, Gross’ stepdaughter she was going to an audition on ball cap in each of the movies and and Allison’s mother, said in a campus for “The Crucible.” Gross in the series. Gross revealed this phone interview. “He enjoys went to watch. happened because he felt, when knowing his neighbors and his “I said, ‘I’m not even an actor he was first working with the cos- real relationships he has here, and I can do better than that. tume designer for “Tremors,” that outside of Hollywood.” These guys are terrible,’” he re- Gummer would be a basketball Gross characterized his focus called. “I sat there in judgment fan of a southern team and that on home life as a second chance because I did that one high resulted in a truckload of hats of sorts. school play.” courtesy of the Hawks. “I missed my own daughter’s Gross earned his bachelor’s Promotional images and the high school and college gradu- degree in drama and then earned trailer for the sixth film have him ations because I was doing Sat- a master of fine arts degree from wearing a Chicago Cubs cap, in- urday matinees in the theater,” Yale. After a handful of mostly TV stead, which is Gross’ tribute to Gross said. “I’ve become more of movies, he landed his lead role in his long accursed Cubs winning a day person. Theater is, by its na- “Family Ties” alongside Meredith the 2016 World Series after a 107- ture, a night thing. Realizing that I Baxter. The two periodically re- year championship drought. missed some things as a parent, I unite for stage performances of “After five movies, he’s just think grandparenting is a chance “Love Letters,” and most recently wearing a Cubs hat without ex- to get that right.” revisited the play in the Bucks planation,” Gross said. “Burt’s Outlook Photo Katie Budde said that quote is County Playhouse in Pennsyl- always hunkered down in the Michael Gross speaks at a Planning Commission meeting on the proposed something she’s heard from him vania this month, doing eight cellar. The Cubs were always in Oakmont Senior Living facility slated for construction in his neighborhood. before and that he’s really taken shows over a five-day period. the cellar. It was natural.”