The Emmy Foundation’s Celebrity Tee-Off: Golf ‘N Stuff

CSI techs, Biker Gang Leaders, Aliens, G.I.s, Privileged Teens, and Reality Show Hosts. Very few things in the world could bring a motley crew like this together, but none like the power of charity. Also, golf. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation kicked off their 12^th Annual Celebrity Tee-Off high up in the quiet surroundings of the Oakmont Country Club in Los Angeles where the silence broke only line drives through the lush fairways where each hit marked a donation to one of the foundation’s numerous educational programs, something that TV veteran-cum-director Devon Gummersall is happy to get behind. “I took a year off to work on my new film and knowing how difficult it is to make a movie now, having a foundation like this help young people achieve their dream is a great thing,” he said. Gummersall’s film in question, Lo-Fidelity, is expected to make the festival rounds next year.

Of their individual golf games, the attendees seemed to be quite humble, but hey, not everyone can be Ty Webb, or even Happy Gilmore. And while none of the talent knocked out their partners after a brawl in the rough, the skill needed to play this gentleman’s game was not lost on them. “I never learned how to play golf, but then again I never learned how to ride a motorcycle,” Ron Perlman mutters to me under his breath. “I’d say they’re tied for first in terms of difficulty.” The Sons of Anarchy star takes it on the chin, though if he fakes golf like he claims to fake riding a motorcycle, his game is going to be just fine. But Perlman still has a whole season to finesse his riding skill, with Sons of Anarchy having only just kicked off its new season this month; a season that finds the most dynamic change happening within Perlman’s own character, SAMCROW leader Clay. “This season is much more organic and character driven and much more satisfying to work on, on so many levels,” Perlman smiles, knowing full well what a loaded statement that is, especially after the epic Ireland story arc of season three, but he stands by his claims. “This is very much Clay’s season. The thing that he’s lost most is the 14 months he’s been incarcerated in prison,” he offers. “It’s close to the end of his life, he knows it, and he comes out in a frenzy-state trying to find out what his end-game is going to be, trying to figure out what he is going to get out of the 45 years he’s given to the club. It’s quite shocking.” To hear an actor describe their show as “shocking”, a show which has had more than its fair share of visceral violence and dramatic reversals, it seems the best is yet to come for the show.

24, a show of equal shock and rabid fanbase has certainly had its day in the sun but unlike Sons of Anarchy, has had a revolving door of leader characters, but none as memorable as Greg Itzin’s portrayal of President Charles Logan, a Greek Tragedy of a character wrapped up in a box-cut suit. Recently, Itzin has taken a break from drama, opting instead for the high comedy of The Change-Up, but is never one to shy away from the role that he completely dominated. “People always ask me [about the movie] and I always tell them that they probably know more than I do!” he exclaimed. It’s refreshing to know that Itzin is as much a fan of 24 as the millions of others around the world, grinning as he recalls his tenure on the show. “If it goes, it’ll be nice to be a part of it, so we’ll see what happens.” Itzin’s performance clinched a host of acting nods, including two Emmys for his originating season and also for his return to the show’s final year, something that can be as nerve-wracking as it is satisfying. “Keep your head down and don’t say anything stupid,” Itzin relays to me, taking his experience of having run that gauntlet several times before and offering it up as advice to this year’s nominees. “And say thank you a lot,” he adds. Asked if he is going to apply that strategy towards his golf game, Itzin chuckles enthusiastically, “Absolutely! Just trying to play well.” And like Perlman, if Itzin’s game is anything like his chops, he’s got nothing to worry about.

This year’s Celebrity Tee-Off fundraiser looks to be nothing short of a rousing success. With many contributors chomping at the bit to spend a day golfing with their favorite television stars, the real winners are going to be the Emmy Foundation’s educational programs and the talented, deserving recipients of their grants and other funding. Every once in a while it’s nice to know that people in Hollywood care. Even if they are vicious biker criminals, duplicitous world leaders, Mafia crime bosses, and the like…but only on television, of course.

Don’t miss the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmys Sunday, September 18 at 8/7c on FOX

Images courtesy of Eric Saitzyk

	Gregory Harrison (One Tree Hill, Trapper John, M.D..) Gregory Harrison (One Tree Hill, Trapper John, M.D..)	Sam Page (Mad Men, Greek) Sam Page (Mad Men, Greek)
Matt Lanter (90210) Matt Lanter (90210)	Aimee Garcia (Dexter) Aimee Garcia (Dexter)	Dexter Co-Stars Aimee Garcia and CS Lee Dexter Co-Stars Aimee Garcia and CS Lee
Greg Itzin (Big Love, Covert Affairs) Greg Itzin (Big Love, Covert Affairs)	Ron Perlman (Sponge Bob, Sons of Anarchy) Ron Perlman (Sponge Bob, Sons of Anarchy)	Matt Craven (X-Men: 1st Class, Justified) Matt Craven (X-Men: 1st Class, Justified)
	Devon Gummersall (Low Fidelity, Roswell) Devon Gummersall (Low Fidelity, Roswell)