ARTICLES

February 1999
2 GUYS makes a splash

Have you heard? The storm of the century is coming to ABC, and we're not just talking about Stephen King's latest creation. TWO GUYS' executive producer Marjorie Weitzman reveals that "Two Guys, a Girl and the Storm of the Century" will make a memorable splash of its own on February 17.

Q. How did the episode "Two Guys, a Girl and the Storm of the Century" evolve?

A. We're just team players! You give us a theme and we'll go with it! ABC said "Storm of the Century" and the first thought [executive consultant] Kevin Abbott came up with was a "brain-storm." But we figured not as catchy--we'll go full out.

Q. Did you have any second thoughts about creating and filming a driving rainstorm on stage?

A. I think every once in awhile someone would say "Are we going to pull this off?" We had a great special effects guy, Randy Torpin . . . he was the main force on the show because it was all based on effects and timing.

Q. What was the shoot like?

A. It was very long. We had actual cannons shooting water and knocking people over! Prior to [filming] we had tests, everybody came out to watch it. It was like a Universal [Studios] ride because all the water is coming down, cannons are going off, sparks are going because a lamp catches on fire . . . it was nuts! It was just really, very much out of some sort of amusement park.

Q. It sounds like everyone had their work cut out for them!

A. It was fun though! It was definitely like making a big feature film, so I don't think anybody was really complaining. They were such troopers, the whole crew . . . one of the guys came with his rubber duckie around his neck and his floaties and his mask and snorkel! They were all getting pretty wet but they were cool about it.

Q. We hear that Richard Ruccolo will experience nature's fury firsthand as well.

A. One of the cannons shot a huge force of water which would hit Rich. He was quite the trooper. One of the fun moments was that the cannon kept going off and missing Rich and hitting Traylor. He was trying to keep a straight face as they were [filming] this conversation because she kept getting nailed by the wave.

Q. Looking back now that the "storm" has passed, did you learn any valuable lessons?

A. Well, the line in the show that the guys repeat often is "Damn this storm of the century!"--and I learned how to say that! But it was really cool. It was just a lot of fun. A lot of wet fun.

Go Back To The Article Page Go Back Home