Frey Lured by Siren Song of TV
Author: Jefferson Graham
Publication: USA Today
Date: October 26, 1993
Abstract: Glenn discusses why he enjoys acting and promotes South of Sunset.
Glenn Frey, former co-leader of the Eagles, is TV's new kid in town.
He's switched gears - his last big TV gig was a live concert on The Disney Channel - to star in CBS' new South of Sunset, playing a Los Angeles private detective. It premieres at 9 p.m. ET/PT Wednesday.
"I was attracted to this show for the same reason I'm attracted to golf," Frey says. "The high degree of difficulty and endless hope for improvement."
On South, Frey has left the Hotel California for the streets of south central L.A. and Beverly Hills.
Think of the Eddie Murphy/Nick Nolte movie 48 HRS. with leads who like each other, less action and more comedy, and you've got South of Sunset. Aries Spears co-stars as Frey's partner in solving crime.
CBS is selling South as a traditional crime drama, but Frey says there's more. For starters, the show comes from executive producer Stan Rogow, who gave TV intelligent shows like Shannon's Deal and Middle Ages. Frey calls South a combination of The Big Chill and Lethal Weapon.
"There's heart and drama and emotion," he says. "Just like there is in life. This isn't middle-of-the-road TV. The producers have a nice, odd perspective with a nice mix of comedy and humanity."
Don't look for Frey (as P.I. Cody McMahon) to strap on a guitar and launch into Heartache Tonight.
"Cody likes music," Frey says. "But he's not a musician." However, Frey has penned and performs the theme song, and the first episode will feature two new tunes by Frey on the soundtrack.
After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Frey had a few solo hits (The Heat Is On, You Belong to the City) and dabbled in acting on episodes of Miami Vice and Wiseguy. In fact, his episode of Vice was adapted from his song Smuggler's Blues.
Now his musical career is on hold, says Frey, who is enjoying his new lifestyle.
"They pick me up in the morning and drive me to work. When I get there, a guy asks if I want anything for breakfast, and then serves me. If I'm having a bad hair day, they make me all better, and then I spend the day on the set, where they work to please you.
"The travel part of my job has been eliminated. I get to stay at home with my lovely wife and two young kids. This is not a bad job at all."
The Eagles are back in the public eye courtesy of a tribute album by country artists, Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles.
"It's very flattering that so many important country artists would acknowledge our early work," says Frey, who singles out Vince Gill's I Can't Tell You Why and Clint Black's Desperado as personal favorites.
And what of the talk a few years ago that he and Eagles co-leader Don Henley were going to get back together for some new songs?
"Suffice to say, the band's not getting back together," Frey says. "It's history."