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Lost in Space - Jonathan Harris at Orlando MegaCon 1998

© Robert Smithers

[Allen] "What did he say Lateraina?"

[Lateriana] "He said he didn't want to be last."

I don't know if you can imagine how crazy this was.

And he {Allen] said, "You go home. And you think about it. Now out. Get out."

[j_harris3a.jpg]

I staggered out of that office, I tell you. I'm a well known actor with vast experience, but I staggered out of that office. The script was sent and I read the script and I said 'Hmm hmm hmm . . . Jonathan this is a good one. But last position . . . shh . . . not a chance! However, you cannot tamper with other actor's billing."

I could not decide never in my full life, what to do. Be in last position. Last position... Hmmm . . . well, sometime special last position? I wonder. So I called an old friend of mine who was head of casting at ABC.

And I said "Have you ever heard of a regular member of the cast being given the title 'special guest star' ?"

He said "Certainly, no. I've never heard of that."

I said, "That's all I need to know."

I called Irwin and I said "I've solved the billing problem."

[Allen] "Yeah," he said with a tone. "What?"

I said "I will accept last position on a separate card - 'Special Guest Star Jonathan Harris'."

Well, for the next 20 minutes I never heard such language in all of my life. [Allen] "%&**&% actors, can't act anyway, who told you you could act, you don't know %^&*&%^ about acting. Err . . . err . . . errr . . . " and this went on and on, and I just sat back and listened.

And then he said "OK" and hung up. [audience laugh]

That was the first time ever in history that anybody got Special Guest Star. I started that whole nonsense. [Applause]

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This story is continues next week!! Please press "Next Article" to hear more of what Jonathon had to say!!! And more pictures!

Robert