Monday, February 20, 2012

Lily Tomlin on '9 to 5' sequel

The charming, witty and adorably humble Lily Tomlin told me today that she still keeps in touch with her "9 to 5" co-stars Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton.

"We were just lucky to be in it," Tomlin said by phone from her home in Los Angeles. "Jane is like that. She just believes in serendipity. She came to see me (perform) live one night and that’s where she got the idea to cast me — and on the way home she heard Dolly on the radio and that was it (laugh)."

Tomlin, Fonda and Parton knew each other before filming began and became even better friends on set — and hoped for a dream re-teaming to follow the 1980 hit comedy.

"We tried for a long time for a sequel," Tomlin said. "There were two or three scripts but they weren't what we wanted."

She added, "I think Jada Pinkett Smith owns the rights now and wants to do African-American remake."


Would Tomlin be interested in making a cameo appearance in the new version?

"Oh, yeah," she said. "I would love to."

I spoke to Tomlin today for an upcoming story to advance her March 1 performance at the Van Wezel.


—Publicity photo of Lily Tomlin by Greg Gorman.


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