Ed Asner Died and my teenager made me cry
Monday, 30 August 2021
Dear Ian,
You wouldn’t believe how much I learn from you. Yesterday it was that Ed Asner voiced Carl Frederikson in Pixar’s UP.
I already knew he’d died when you sent me that text from your bedroom.
NOTE TO SELF: Never dismiss son’s texts without reading entire thing. In this case if I’d only glanced at the message and thought — yep, Ed Asner died, already know that, moving on — then I would’ve missed it all.
Oh, wait. It was an instagram message. It’s hard to keep up with where you are these days. But, really —
WHAT TEENAGE BOY IN 2021 CARES ABOUT ED ASNER? HOW WOULD ONE EVEN KNOW WHO HE IS???
When I was a teenager, Ed Asner was the grump on the show with the young woman who was “gonna make it after all.” I can almost sing that theme song, but I don’t think I ever watched a full show. It was already in syndication in 1982, the first summer I stayed by myself at home during the weekdays, but I must have called a friend during that half hour. I much preferred Bewitched.
Anyway, I was caught by the dichotomy. While I saw a face at the news mention of Ed Asner, you likely heard a voice when you read the news. I hollered from the couch to you.
MR. FREDERIKSON! I DIDN’T KNOW ED ASNER WAS MR. FREDERIKSON!
But you did. Of course you did. You know just about everything. How many times have we watched that movie? How many other voice actors could you tell me about if I just knew to ask you?
It all awakened this great sense of wonder in me. (MOTHERHOOD does that, they say.) We were still in different rooms, but it was like you were right there beside me when my mind began to race with questions.
Did they use Ed Asner to fashion Mr. Frederikson’s face?
Has anyone done a mishmash video overlay of Lou Grant’s expressions with Carl Frederikson’s?
Did they create the very character of Carl based on an aging Lou Grant?
Oh, dearest son, I went and wikipedia-ed Ed Asner this morning and found out such great stuff. I want to tell you about it tonight. Be sure to ask me about his political leanings :) His acting records aren’t the only thing impressive about this man. (But they are impressive. Check out the stats!)
What a life! Now I’m sad he’s gone.
But what I’m glad about is that you see and appreciate people like this. I imagine Lou Grant as the curmudgeon boss who both often looked annoyed with Mary, a young visionary fresh with ideas but no real experience, AND often still allowed her space to gain her wings. (Similar to Carl and Russell, I’m pretty sure!)
Thank you for marveling at your elders, for questioning your grandparents about their lives, for believing they have wisdom still in this changing world. You make me proud. But you also teach me to see what’s really important. I admit it. I’m tearing up!
Love, MOM
PS: Want to binge watch The Mary Tyler Moore Show this weekend?!
