VLVL2: Why Clara Bow?

[Tim Strzechowski]

Exactly, Terrance.  Part of me wants to not read too much into the whole
made-for-TV movie gag because that's all it really is -- a gag.  But it's a
gag that adheres to a pattern, and you're right: Pynchon is a skillful
enough author for us to be pretty sure that the various gag TV movies are
there for a reason, for each one maintains a pattern that, when examined in
light of WHO IS WATCHING, adds to the humor (and perhaps authorial
commentary).


> A gag. An on-going gag. And I guess these "weirdly appropriate casting
> mismatches" (McHale) are funny enough.  Place Pat Sajac's glamor shot
> next to Frank Gorshin's  and consider the similarities in their
> personae. But why does P "cast" Pat Sajac as Frank Gorshin in the scene
> when Zoyd goes looking for a disguise and some cash from Millard and
> Blodwen? Why not have Prairie watching Pat Sajac in the Frank Gorshin
> story?
>
> And, what has this casting got to do with Brecht?
>
> Well, it is simply hilarious to have a dope like Pat play such a dynamic
> riddle like Gorshin.
>