Wentworth Miller Can Break Out of Prison, But Not A Dead-End Job
September 21st, 2006
Do you watch Prison Break?
I’ve been a fan of the show since it started, and this season is following our previously incarcerated convicts across the country as they each make their way towards freedom. Yet, it’s tough for me to completely buy into Wentworth Miller as Michael Scofield breaking out of prison thanks to previously real-world run-ins I had with the guy a few years prior.
See, Wentworth Miller can break out of prison, but not a dead-end job.
The year isn’t important, but I used to work for The Jim Henson Company in their film department awhile back. Some of you already know this from my nightmare experiences with the beloved red-furred egotistical Elmo. But besides such frustrating experiences, there was even more frustration up near the receptionist desk at the JHC where, yes, Wentworth Miller was answering phone calls.
Wentworth Miller wasn’t a bad guy at all. He was a reasonable, well-organized, package-wielding, inter-office envelope mailing, phone call transferring, drive-on pass calling, water-bottle replacing receptionist’s assistant — and he did it with all the gusto he could muster. He was pleasant, cheery, good-natured and yet had no escape plan ready for the day he planned on leaving the world of Muppets behind.
And that’s sort of why I can’t imagine him breaking out of prison.
Yes, I hear you. Real life and television are not one in the same. But every time I see Michael Scofield exacting elaborate plans to evade the authorities and escape from prison (which includes the very painful act of having a huge map tattooed on his body) I just keep thinking to myself, “Yeah, but the guy was stuck at a front desk answering phones for a looooong time. How could someone like that ever coordinate an eight man prison break?”
When I see Michael Scofield blow up a car leaving evidence behind for the authorities that makes them think the bodies inside are him and his brother — I think about Wentworth Miller pushing a mailroom basket around the company building. Everytime I see Michael Scofield leave a folded origami swan with a secret cell phone number somewhere for his contacts, I can’t help cringing and visualizing Wentworth Miller buying a half of a tuna sandwich from the lunchroom delivery service. Everytime Michael Scofield wields a gun in a tense standoff, I can’t help but see Wentworth Miller wield a pencil as he takes a phone message for the head of the company.
Life messes up your real world expectations of Hollywood stars.
And don’t even get me started on my recent run-in with The Eagles’ Glenn Frey — spotted out in palatial Brentwood, California outside a restaurant (no, not doing drugs or playing music or scoping chicks)…telling his young son that he’s going to have to be patient for his pizza and to go back into the restaurant and behave like a little gentleman.
Now, everytime I hear “Hotel California” I’m going to think of a restaurant instead. And everytime The Eagles sing about how the Hotel California has “plenty of room at the hotel california” I’m just going to think that, sure, there’s plenty of room at the table as long as you act like a little gentleman and wait patiently for your pizza. And everytime I think about Glenn Frey singing “Smuggler’s Blues”, well… I’m going to wish I had thought about Hotel California instead.
Man, the chasm between expectation and reality is really really huge.
When the pizza did arrive do you think Glen and son stabbed it with their steely knives?
Comment by Jerry — September 21, 2006 @ 8:38 am
Jerry - I know for a fact, that they in fact DID stab it with their steely knives and totally took the whole eating thing to the limit.
Comment by Pauly D — September 21, 2006 @ 8:44 am
“You can get your check, but you can never leave…”
Comment by kapgar — September 21, 2006 @ 8:59 am
Wentworth is HOT. He can weild my packages ANYTIME if you know what I mean. Oh, okay, I know, he’s young enough to be my ..uh.. younger brother. What’s your problem with Elmo? Elmo is HOT. (JK!)
Comment by susan — September 21, 2006 @ 9:12 am
Wait, does that mean that if I’m ever in NY and there is a crime in my building, Detective Stabler won’t be there investigating?
Comment by Hilary — September 21, 2006 @ 9:19 am
So is he gay?
Comment by Lori — September 21, 2006 @ 11:17 am
Here’s how to solve your problem… next time you’re watching “Prison Break” and you can’t get your mind off of Mr. Miller and his lack of gumption in escaping the JHC, just keeping saying to yourself “he’s making HOW much??!! But… but… he had no escape plan!! How can that be??!! Oh my god! He’s fucking WHO??!!!!! But it doesn’t make sense! He used to deliver inter-office mail!!!!” And, you’re welcome.
Comment by MNL — September 21, 2006 @ 9:03 pm
If not breaking out of dead-end job means I get to star in a hit TV show… where do I sign up?
Comment by MNL — September 21, 2006 @ 9:05 pm
as depressing as the Glenn Frey sighting was on the surface, at least he was trying to inculcate some manners into the little wombat. That’s something…
Comment by tmp00 — September 21, 2006 @ 9:53 pm
was he out of the closet at work?
Comment by willam — September 21, 2006 @ 11:19 pm
People develop and circumstances change. Wentworth Miller had a back-up plan - acting. How could he turn up for auditions if he had a full-time, normal job? The temp jobs gave him the time he needed for his acting, the way I see it. *Shrugs*
Comment by Steel — September 22, 2006 @ 12:13 am
Wentworth had a role on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” as a fish creature (albeit a HOT fish creature in a Speedo)- so everytime I see him on “Prison Break”- I just want a Tuna sandwich.
Comment by UptightMidwesterner — September 22, 2006 @ 7:21 am
…and when I hear the word “jackass”, I’m going to think of Paul Davidson.
Seems to me that if you’re watching Wentworth Miller on television, then apparently he had some sort of back up plan. One can also assume, that he is now doing better than you are. Oh and, god forbid Glenn Frey’s attempt at being a good parent ruins your “expectation” of him.
Man, the chasm between Paul Davidson and likability is really really huge.
Comment by Erika — September 22, 2006 @ 9:01 am
I remember Wentworth from when I worked at Henson, too. However, I also remember him from before that, at Princeton University. He’s a smart guy - you just underestimated him.
Smart, but not brilliant - he actually ate the tuna from the Raleigh studios cafe? Yuck.
Comment by Sheryl — September 22, 2006 @ 9:09 am
Erika - Hindsight in 20/20. And I still love you despite the chasm between us.
Sheryl - Seriously. Raleigh Studios Food. Blech.
Comment by Pauly D — September 22, 2006 @ 9:15 am
Yummy Wentworth sandwich
Comment by alison — September 22, 2006 @ 9:27 am
Well, I guess he DID break out of the dead-end job, seeing as how he’s not still there. Duh.
Comment by Emily — September 22, 2006 @ 9:51 am
so you’re saying he had a good work ethic and did his job?
how unHollywood
compelling story (not)
but hey, you made defamer.com links and that got me to read this tripe.
Comment by mizarkey — September 22, 2006 @ 10:09 am
Good entry Pauly - make slightly disparaging comments about the latest hottie and you get blog coverage on defamer.com - congrats!
This proves again that controversy sells. Speaking of which, I wonder if you can track this defamer.com mention directly to Lost Blog sales…
Comment by Alex Fayle — September 22, 2006 @ 11:02 am
Alex - Well, not even disparaging in fact. It’s just that typical Hollywood experience of knowing people “before they were stars” which always makes it hard to see them as more than what “they were” when they show up headlining a popular TV show. In my mind, Wentworth will always be the guy who took phone messages and walked around the office dropping off mail.
It’s like the time I ended up at a friend’s house and Luke Perry came over to hang out and watch some basketball. He wasn’t some friend of a friend — he was DYLAN from 90210. First impressions always stick, forever.
Comment by Pauly D — September 22, 2006 @ 11:13 am
Yeah, I love “Prison Break,” too. Guess it’s always difficult to put someone’s first impressions out of your head.
Comment by Karl — September 22, 2006 @ 12:21 pm
I agree completely with you Pauly - but by some of the comments others seem to think that you’re a jealous/evil person for not worshipping the Hollywood-god-of-the-moment-that-is-Wenty… (not that he doesn’t rock - as the evil counterpart to Joan of Arcadia - totally evillishly sexy).
BTW, not to swell your head or anything, but I get a total kick out of your words - your worldview astounds me (in a good way).
Comment by Alex Fayle — September 22, 2006 @ 12:53 pm
Umm, wouldn’t the office job be the backup to his real job as an actor? I think the person in the dead-end job would have been yourself if the job at Jim Henson was your main focus.
Comment by quizshow — September 22, 2006 @ 1:54 pm
A lot of people make a living doing those “dead-end jobs”, it’s honest work. So, a little less elitism with your snark please.
Perception is everything and your perception of Mr. Miller will always be the mail cart pushing, phone answering, package carrying, macking on half a tuna fish sandwich jovial temp at The Jim Henson Company. LOL
However, I assume his escape plan was to become a successful actor. Yes, that is somewhat unrealistic on many levels considering the odds but the odds obviously worked in Mr. Miller’s favor.
So I tip my hat to him. Because he is now everyone’s favorite tattoo wearing, intense gazing, origami making, gun wielding fugitive.
Comment by totusdulcidine — September 22, 2006 @ 3:54 pm
Wentworth Miller can break out of prison, but not a dead-end job.
One would think that the very fact that you’re writing this blog entry about him contradicts that.
Comment by Andie — September 23, 2006 @ 1:34 am
I bet he doesn’t have a damn thing to say about you. I think that, as someone who is part of the Hollywood community, you should have respected his privacy. At least you have ignored the queries about his sexual orientation.
Comment by Dandy — September 23, 2006 @ 4:14 am
Dandy - Well, I think if you asked him about me he might say that I was a really good skateboarder. But that’s about it. As for his sexual orientation, like I always say — “Who you are and what you do is less important than where you do it.”
Amen, brutha.
Comment by Pauly D — September 23, 2006 @ 7:53 am
Just out of curiosity, why did you wait so long to break this story? Or did you only just recently REMEMBER it?
Comment by Kevin — September 23, 2006 @ 1:47 pm
Well, my friends, no matter what anybody says, Wentworth Miller is still the best at what he does!!! I mean, look at those eyes! They’re mesmorizing, and he’s a great actor to boot. He’s hands down the hottest fugitive on t.v… and he can bring my mail ANYTIME… or better yet, can I bring him his mail?? I’ll definitely be a happy camper.
Comment by Hanan K. — September 25, 2006 @ 1:59 am
Do you want some words of a french Prison Break fan for your enjoyment ?
Well, this story about “my” dear Wenty pleases me a lot. I feel happy to see that even a TV star is a “real” men. I think it’s good sometimes to realise that and it’s nice to me. I feel more intrested by the men he his than by the men he plays. I’m not disappointed at all. Just amused by the description of him that you made. He seems closer to me now. Closer to an anonymous person not living under the focus of the TV screen. Well, finally, even more attractive !!
Forgive me for the spelling mystakes if there are some - you know, french people and the english language…
Comment by Mary — October 2, 2006 @ 12:55 pm
I don’t watch television very often but I have been watching Prison Break religiously since it debuted. It is by far the best show on North American television. Wentworth’s previous life as a receptionist seems irrelevant to me as it appears he has reached the goal he wished to achieve… which begs the question, “What were your goals while working at JHC and have you achieved them yet or is it more satisfying to remind others that Michael Schofield once shared the same mundane life as you do still?”
Reach for your dreams people…
Comment by Bay N Dundas — October 6, 2006 @ 8:34 pm
c un vré bo goss si seulemen jété actice joré tou fé pour fér un film ou une série…………. je voudré tro le voir
Comment by lalah — October 14, 2006 @ 4:34 am
Wentworth Miller. Never heard of him before prison break. Got hooked when I watched episodes of first season DVD my son and girlfriend purchased. Great show. I enjoy the show for what it is and the fantasies and illusions it creates in my otherwise mundane life, but I certainly have no problem separately it from reality. Who cares what Mr. Miller did to get here. Very few of us will ever meet him in person and I choose to watch TV and movies as my choice of escapism.
Comment by Sandra — October 23, 2006 @ 7:20 pm
So is he gay? Does anyone know the truth, not that it matters, I just would like to know.
Comment by Lizzie — November 7, 2006 @ 11:49 am
Wentworth Miller is sooooo Fucking SEXY. If I was famoous and arounnd his age I would so FUCkING marry him. He is my hero and my SEX SYMBOL. SO IF ANY OF U BITCHES WHO WANT WENTWORTH MILLER WELL TLET ME TELL U THAT U CAN’T HAAVE HIM HE IS ALL MY MINE. IDON’T CARE IF ANY OF U BITCHES SAY THAT I’M A BITCH WELL I KNOW THAT AND I ALSO KNOW THAT I’M SELFISH.
Comment by Robyn — November 11, 2006 @ 6:30 pm
Holy Crap!
Comment by Dylan — November 11, 2006 @ 8:00 pm
Well Robyn,
Seeing how Wentworth talks and how you talk,… I can tell you there is no way he is going to like you. The guy talks like a book. I never heard him trash talk. So please adjust your language and then MAYBE, you will have a chance.
I am happy to see that you ignored the sexual orientation remarks. THAT IS NOT OUR BUSINESS PEOPLE!!!!! Let the guy live. Who cares if he is gay or not. He is sexy and he makes me drool. That’s all I want.
Comment by babe1973 — November 18, 2006 @ 7:05 pm
what is the point of this blog? so everyone have a past. why make comparisons? you ARE getting RL and TV mixed up. so what was elvis before he recorded his first song? was that so terrible thing to do? quite normal. if someone famous now was a real two-bit glue-sniffing mugger THEN you MIGHT have something…but then again doesn’t everyone deserve a change to make good?
Comment by pointless1 — December 13, 2006 @ 10:15 pm
I think the prison break is the best show out and anyone that deosn’t watch it should out of 10 it would be a 10 wentworth miller and dominic purcell are both hot
Comment by lilo — January 18, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Wentworth Miller may well be one of the most beautiful people on the entire planet. Haters..leave him alone and let him just do his acting and be the object of many peoples desires.
Comment by skye — March 8, 2007 @ 11:31 am
I believe Wentworth to be a decent guy - intelligent, well-spoken, gorgeous and sooo polite. Did i also mention that he gives good interviews? How many celebs do we know out there who can actually construct proper sentences? Kudos to Wentworth who has always believed in himself - that’s really inspiring. I’m in a dead end job at the moment (no choice) and I just love the fact that Wentworth was willing to work hard to make his dream come true. As for me, I’m going to be the best administrator ever and be famous (and rich!!!) like Wentworth one day (or not). Hey, we should all learn from this guy.
Comment by Jo — March 27, 2007 @ 2:10 am
Hi,
What I shall have wanted to know wentworth as a “simple” personn…!
It’s just what I would want at the moment… i’m not a “fan”, cause i shall have only to make of an autograph of him or a meeting between ten cameras of TV! The truth is I am just a woman who, by looking at him at the TV or by reading its interviews, says to herself that if this man was the downstairs neighbour, the newspaper seller, or just a beautiful unknown crusader in the street, her would have simply approached him and would certainly have gone to drink a coffee with him, because she would have really wanted to know him..
well i think i’ll let you now…lol
bye
Banita-Francesita-
Comment by Banita — April 5, 2007 @ 11:17 am