Opie Taylor — Go To Your Room

When I was a kid, I was watching TV with my father after he got home from work one night and he boldly proclaimed, “You watch, Nixon is gonna quit.” And sure enough, he did. I was amazed. My dad actually predicted our president was going to resign!

It wasn’t until many years later that I found out just about everyone knew that was going to happen, but still, I was pretty impressed. I still am. My dad had two jobs, a third on the weekends and managed to make every wrestling match or swim meet me or my sisters were ever in. Honestly – I don’t know how he did it – I just went to the Starbucks and I’m exhausted.

But anywhoozer, that was then, back about the time I started watching, “The Andy Griffith Show.” A thoughtful, incredibly written program the entire family watched and still can. It holds up today as anyone knows who sits around watching TV all morning after they go to the Starbucks. It’s sweet, it has social commentary, tons of laughs, a chick named “Crump,” – come on, what’s not to love?

It also featured young Ronnie Howard, no older than myself at the time. Remember the one where the older kid was stealing Opie’s milk money and Andy had to teach him how to confront a bully? I cried. I’m not kidding. Ronnie Howard made me cry. Every time I see it.

But instead of becoming a drug addicted, kleptomaniac, bound for Reality TV; child star Ronnie Howard went on to more acting success as a teenager, then as a young adult in films, then, well, you know the resume. Incredible. Unlikely. Impressive. Those words don’t cover it and anyone that’s ever given Hollywood a shot knows it.

Remember when Harrison Ford rolls his black Chevy with Cindy Williams in the car and Steve Bolander runs to her and holds her and makes her believe he’ll never leave her? Made me cry. Ronnie Howard made me cry. Every time I see it.

Then, Ronnie Howard grows up, becomes “Ron” Howard, and directs a ton of great films like, “Night Shift;” “Apollo 13;” and “Parenthood,” just to name a few. Remember at the end when their kid is destroying the set of the school play and Steve Martin and Mary Steenburgen realize they’re just on life’s roller coaster? Made me cry. Ron Howard made me cry. Every time I see it.

So imagine my delight when I read Ron Howard is directing “Frost/Nixon.” I’m going to walk in to a theater and be whisked back to the days of watching TV with my dad and for a brief moment, I’m going to be happy again. Happy Days. Get it?

Then I read another article where the actual David Frost calls the movie ‘Fiction,’ because they’ve changed the historical facts for ‘entertainment value.’ What? Nixon wasn’t a reviled enough guy already? I don’t care that you get into a pissing match with Chris Wallace, comparing George W. Bush to Nixon – that’s your opinion – but you can’t keep the agenda out of “Frost/Nixon”? What’s the matter with you?

Great. So now I can’t see it. Thanks for nothing ‘movie chiefs’. I can’t drift back to my childhood, watching TV, being amazed by my dad… Made me cry. Ronnie Howard made me cry.