Comedian John Bishop, 59, has opened up about a sad reallisation which hit him while watching the new Hollywood movie Is this Thing On? The movie was inspired by his relationship with his wife and his first foray into comedy. Directed by Bradley Cooper, it sees Arrested Development star Will Arnett play a character called Alex Novak, who begins doing stand up comedy on the New York comedy scene after splitting from his wife. He initially finds himself on stage at an open mic when he signs up to perform to avoid paying the admission fee.
Although set in America, it mirrors John’s tale and while he and wife Melanie have now been married 32 years, they were close to divorce and living apart back in 2000. They reconciled after around two years when she saw him joke on stage about missing her. However, reflecting on this at a gala screening of the movie in Dublin on January 23, he admitted it could have turned out very differently.
“I think when I did the 25 tour, and I was doing my finish and I kept on getting choked on when I spoke about the getting back together, because I realised through this film and all the lessons, just how easily we could have not got back together,” he confessed.
The couple are parents to three now grown children – Joe, Luke, and Daniel – and John said he is glad the movie didn’t get made when his boys were younger.
« I think this came at the right time. There is a lot of emotional stuff in there and I think it would have been hard for the kids if it had been made years ago. They’re older now and get it more. »
Although the seeds of the movie were planted when John had a conversation with Will Arnett in Amsterdam around eight years ago, he insisted the story isn’t one sided.
Laura Dern plays Tess, a fictionalised version of Melanie, and John revealed the Hollywood star approached his wife to get an insight into their relationship.
« She asked to meet Melanie and they’ve become quite good friends. She asked her side of the story and there’s a scene in the movie which comes directly from that conversation.
« Prior to that, the script was very much written from my side but there’s a scene in it to do with a head lice, which is better than it sounds, and there’s a lot of intimacy in it.
« That comes directly from the conversations Laura had with Melanie, » he said.
Is This Thing On? is in cinemas now.
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