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My Chat in association with Sprint Long Distance Presents An Evening with Conrad Bain

AOLTVChat: Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure you're familiar with our very special guest this evening. For eight seasons, he played wealthy industrialist Philip Drummond on the hit TV show, Diff'rent Strokes. And he was one man who definitely knew what Willis was talking about. Please welcome Conrad Bain!

Conrad Bain: Thank you very much. It's good to be here. I look forward to meeting the fans of the old show, and I also hope to talk about some new projects I have in the works.

AOLTVChat: Well said, let's take our first question.

GalFriday: Conrad, it's a pleasure to get to talk to you. No real question. Just wanted to thank you for the many positive messages that you and the rest of your Diff'rent Strokes family passed on over the years. Especially when you adopted those two little black boys. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was not always so open-minded. But seeing the love and warmth you shared with your adopted Negro sons, I changed my tune quickly. Now I'm proud to say that I'm in favor both of busing and interracial dating.

Conrad Bain: It's always gratifying to hear things like that, to hear fans of Diff'rent Strokes tell me about how the show affected them. Of course, Diff'rent Strokes was many years ago, and I've done a lot of things since then, including a new TV commercial that's coming up that I'm very proud of.

TVJnkie: I was wondering what exactly Philip Drummond did for a living? The show was never exactly clear about that.

Conrad Bain: I believe he was a chief executive or some such thing. I never really thought about it. I'm not much into that "method" approach. The producers said, "You're a rich guy," so bam, I was a rich guy. I would like to point out that in my upcoming made-for-TV movie on Lifetime, "Sometimes Daddy Drinks," I'll be playing a grandfather.

AOLTVChat: The title part?

Conrad Bain: No, no. The role of the father of the woman whose husband drinks. It should air sometime this summer.

WutUTlkBt: Conrad, my congratulations for all your fine work. And I'm very glad that the curse of Diff'rent Strokes has not struck you or Dixie Carter yet. Do you still keep in touch with Todd Bridges?

Conrad Bain: I have not spoken to Todd Bridges since Thanksgiving 1996. He came over to my house for dinner, we had a few drinks. The next thing I know, he hits me from behind with a table lamp, and when I come to, my wallet's been cleaned out. It's an episode in my life I don't like to talk about.

AOLTVChat: I'd also like to point out that Danny Cooksey, who played the tow-haired youngest son, Sam, has also been spared from the curse. How about it, Conrad -- was the set of Diff'rent Strokes built on an Indian burial ground.

Conrad Bain: I'm sure I don't know. But one thing I do know is that my upcoming guest role on an episode of Diagnosis Murder is diabolically good!

AOLTVChat: True enough. Next question!

McLean4Lfe: I never understood the relationship between Philip Drummond and Larry Adler, played by the great McLean Stevenson. It seemed like they were Army buddies from way back, but except in the one or two episodes that Larry Adler appear in, you never heard about him again. What's up with that?

Conrad Bain: I'm fairly certain it was a conceit that the writers used to launch Hello, Larry. I don't know for certain, since the point is so minor as to border on trivial.

AOLTVChat: It seems like Gary Coleman's wit has rubbed off on you, Conrad! Can we have another question?

NanuNanu: I'm confused with all this talk about the Drummonds and Todd Bridges. Didn't you play Mork's father?

Conrad Bain: That was Conrad Janis. And he played Mork's father-in-law, not his father.

AOLTVChat: That confusion must happen all the time.

Conrad Bain: It almost never happens.

AOLTVChat: I think we have people with more questions.

DdPool33: I was wondering if Conrad Bain had any thoughts as to which Diff'rent Strokes cast member will be the next to run afoul of the law or suffer an untimely death. It's for a bet me and my friends have.

Conrad Bain: Such a question, of course, is terribly insensitive to a number of people who have had to deal with a great deal of tragedy in their lives. I'm thinking, of course, about Dana and Todd and Gary and a number of others who have suffered with them. Still, if I were a betting man, I'd lay even money on Dixie Carter.

Egarrett092: Conrad, could you say the line? The What you talkin' about line?

Conrad Bain: That's not really my line. That's Gary Coleman's line. And you wouldn't hear me say it since I'm a room here in Virginia, typing out my response. Actually, I'm not even typing. I'm just talking and some intern is taking down whatever I say. The point is... well, it's just a dumb question.

AOLTVChat: Conrad, I think we'd all feel better if you would just say the line.

Conrad Bain: Oh, for God's sake...

AOLTVChat: Conrad.

Conrad Bain: What are you talking about, Willis? Happy?

AOLTVChat: Yes. Time for a few more questions.

GSCLives1: Could Conrad tell us any stories about one of his latter series, Mr. President, where he played the loyal chief of staff?

Conrad Bain: Look, when I agreed to do this thing, I had just two conditions -- No goddamn Mr. President questions, no goddamn questions about "CHOMPS." Those two things have been blights on my career. I haven't been able to work steady in years because of them. Move on, damnit! Move on!

JJW34212: Maybe now would be the right time to tell Conrad I loved him in Ironsides.

Conrad Bain: Jesus Christ, that was William Conrad. For the love of God, we don't even look alike. Jesus God, what the hell is the matter with you people? Can't you even read the damn intro. I'm Conrad Bain. I did Maude, I did Diff'rent Strokes and that was the end. That was it for me. I'm barely holding on as it is. And you can't even be bothered to tell the difference between me and William Conrad? The hell with this. No money is worth this. We're through.

AOLTVChat: That's all the time we have for questions! Thanks very much, everyone, and please keep an eye out for Conrad Bain in whatever project he has up next.