Well, the good news is, I got to shave my beard.

So as you’ll recall, assuming you listen to these episodes in order and pay attention and use your memory, as you’ll recall, uh, I was at, uh, the Fiddler callbacks and it was down to just me and one other Tevye and that guy, uh, a good guy, uh, is also the, the, um, creative director for the theater.

So I thought, I thought that I had my work cut out for me, uh, but I’m there until, you know, the bitter end.

It’s basically four hours of, of those callback auditions.

And then the next day, which was yesterday, Tuesday, um, I start getting texts from Lauren because she’s getting a phone call that, uh, she got cast in Fiddler as grandma at Seidel and that, uh, our daughter Sierra got cast as Chava, which was really exciting because Sierra is 15.

Every other kid who would come back for a Chava at callback auditions and Chava is supposed to be about 15, but every other kid who’d been called back was not a kid, you know, it was at least 19.

There were a couple of people with, uh, um, BFAs, uh, from acting schools and, uh, a couple of folks in their early twenties, like there were adults that she was up against and, uh, she got it.

And I’m like, Hey, if you’re on the phone getting those updates right now, I don’t think that bodes well for me.

This is a conversation via text message.

Cause I happen to be on a call at the same time.

And then she’s like, yes, are you free?

And so I was not yet, but I said, I could be in a few minutes.

I’m like, do you already have updates for me?

And Lauren, uh, did not respond.

And that was when I realized that Lauren definitely knew, uh, what the situation was for me, uh, but wasn’t telling me, um, there was a time, uh, for, uh, back in the Adams family era.

If you recall that saga from months back, uh, when I ended up doing Elf instead, uh, but with Adam’s family, uh, that theater knows Lauren so well, they called her and was like, Hey, can you also tell Lex, uh, that we’re not casting him?

And I was like, Hey, that’s not cool.

I deserve my own call.

So although Lauren had already been informed by the director, what my status was, she was not communicating it to me because she knew that I would prefer to have my own conversation with the director.

So at any rate, uh, I, uh, finished on my call and the director attempts to call me, but instead calls Lauren’s cell phone.

Again, we have very similar numbers and, uh, I talked to her and she’s like, look, you were great.

That’s always a good start.

Actually she didn’t say you were, uh, first she was like, how are you?

And I was like, boy, that’s not a good start.

If we’re starting with chitchat, that’s not good.

And, but then she’s like, listen, you were amazing.

Your audition was incredible and you can and should play Tevye in Fiddler.

Uh, you’re just too young.

You don’t look old enough to have five kids.

And I’m like, I am old enough to have five.

I didn’t say that.

I thought I am old enough to have five kids.

I have three.

My youngest is, uh, 12.

I could absolutely have more kids.

My youngest is just about to be 13.

I, um, but, uh, she’s like, you just, you don’t look beaten up enough.

Like you, you can and should play that role in a couple of years.

But, uh, you know, you just, you, like I said, you’re not beaten up enough.

You’re not, you’re not run down by life enough.

Um, and she’s like, and, uh, for the same reason, uh, you’re not old enough to play laser Wolfie.

So, uh, you get nothing.

It’s kind of funny.

Cause I, like I said, I was, I was one of the two men there at the absolute longest and, uh, ended up with nothing and it’s sad.

And I, I had some mopey periods yesterday while still being so excited for, especially for Sierra and of course for Lauren as well.

Um, most people who listened to this podcast, uh, aren’t locals in the, uh, New Jersey, uh, central New Jersey theater community.

But if you are, uh, all the casting announcements aren’t public yet.

So don’t, don’t say anything to anybody.

Just, just listen to the podcast and don’t, don’t snitch tag.

But anyway, um, so I’m happy for, for both of them, but a little mopey for me for a couple of reasons.

One, as you heard on, especially yesterday’s episode, and maybe the one prior, like I was getting more and more excited about the idea of playing such a heavy role, uh, and then two, it’s an opportunity to do a show with Sierra.

I mean, I’ve done a couple of shows with Lauren.

I’ve done one with Sierra and I was really, and that was more than that was basically two years ago.

And I was really excited about the idea of doing one again, especially if I could play her dad and disown her spoiler alert for fifth on the roof, but, um, uh, I was really, um, that, that part really added to the sense of defeat, uh, of wanting to do it.

And then, uh, the director said, well, you know, you’ve had three major leading roles at this theater in a row, so it’s, you know, it’s okay if you have a break now, which is also true, but doesn’t make you feel any better.

Uh, so it’s okay.

Uh, you can’t, uh, you can’t win them all.

Um, but yeah, so I, uh, I was mopey and I realized that I could do one thing to cheer myself up and that was to shave off the beard I had been growing for the past month plus, and, uh, it is gone and boy, I don’t miss it.

Although I do look different now.

Anyway, that’s that.

Next onto the next one.

Um, we have gone through every single track on the new Liam and Lex album.

The world wasn’t ready saved for one.

So here is the final track.

I guess I’ll just play it in its entirety because it’s so fun.

Liam rocks out on the horns on this one.

He’s playing multiple saxophones.

He kills it.

Uh, and this song is the best song.

And if you don’t believe me, I guarantee you, if you listen, you will know that the song lives up to the title.

It is the best song.

Happy Wednesday.

This is the best, better than all the rest.

I don’t say this in jest, and I hope I’ve expressed that.

This is the best song, the very best song.

This is the best song in the world.

This is the best song, the very best song.

That you’re listening to right now.

And now I’ve addressed that this song’s the best.

And as it’s progressed, I bet you’re obsessed.

This is the best song, the very best song.

This is the best song in the world.

This is the best song, the very best song.

That you’re listening to right now.

This is the only song you’re listening to.

So I’ll tell you what I’m gonna do.

I’m gonna explain the song’s permanent reign.

Explain to you why it’s first.

It’s the only song that you have on.

So it’s not wrong to say loud and strong, I guess it’s also the worst.

But really, it’s the best.

But it passes the test.

And as I’ve expressed, I’m not a fan.

But I’m gonna tell you why.

It’s the only song that you have on.

So I’ll tell you why.

It’s the only song that you have on.

So I’m gonna tell you why.

But it passes the test.

And as I’ve expressed, and as I’ve confessed, I’m pretty sure it’s the best.

This is the best song, the very best song.

This is the best song in the world.

This is the best song, the very best song, that you’re listening to right now.

This is the best song, the very best song.

This is the best song in the whole world.

This is the best song, the very best song, that you’re listening to right now.

This is the best song.

Yeah, I often forget about the rap break in that song.

I apologize for it.