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Bing! Stephen Tobolowsky on How 'Groundhog Day' Changed His Life

By Stephen Tobolowsky (Subscribe to Stephen Tobolowsky's posts), Posted Feb 2nd 2011 9:30AM
Filed under: Features, Best Movies Ever, Movie Quotes, Columns


Stephen Tobolowsky is an award-winning character actor who has appeared in more than 200 movies and TV shows. His podcast, The Tobolowsky Files, is absolutely worth your time, and you should totally follow him on Twitter.

He is also a Moviefone columnist. (His first insightful humor column for us was about on-set catering and craft services.) Since it's Feb. 2, we asked Tobolowsky to write about the movie 1993 comedy 'Groundhog Day' and how his landmark role as annoying insurance salesman Ned Ryerson (aka Needlenose Ned, Ned the Head!) has stuck with him through the years.

In particular, he discusses his famous lines: the irksome 'Bing!' and the snickering "Watch that first step -- it's a doozy!"

Before you read Tobolowsky's awesome column below, check out our list of interesting facts about him and watch the following clip that compiles all of his scenes from 'Groundhog Day.'
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Stephen Tobolowsky #1: Craft Services Explained! (And Why 'Glee' Does It Best)

By Stephen Tobolowsky (Subscribe to Stephen Tobolowsky's posts), Posted Dec 10th 2010 12:01PM
Filed under: Features, Behind the Scenes, Columns
I have been asked by the powers that be at Moviefone to write little behind-the-scenes stories about movies. They apparently want me to be their "expert" on such matters.

An expert is loosely defined by Wikipedia (a completely unreliable, non-expert source) as "someone who is recognized as an authority in his or her given field."

The problem: I am not recognized as an authority in my given field. In fact, I am often not recognized as even being in my given field.

I was at Starbucks the other day, and a man waved at me and said, "I can't believe you're here!" I, of course, thought he was amazed to be seeing a famous actor standing in line for a latte with all the common folk. I was wrong. It turns out that he thought I was the barista who had recently been fired for getting high in the backroom during work hours. He couldn't believe I had the cajones to show up again.

So, in accepting Moviefone's offer to write a semi-regular column, I graciously declined the role of "expert." Instead, I suggested a far more accurate title: The Best Expert Moviefone Could Find.

And so, in coming months, I will share with you a glimpse of weird and true happenings on movie sets -- everything from dealing with difficult stars and producers to getting blown up by special-effects people.

Our first topic: snacks on set.
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