Is Martin Short’s Jiminy Glick partly based on former Rockfordian

Add comment February 13th, 2009

Just got off the phone with Skip E. Lowe, known as a kid in Rockford as Sammy Labella, who says Martin Short’s Jiminy Glick character is partly based on him. Lowe says that is a widely known fact in Hollywood, though Short won’t admit it, Lowe says.

Short is performing Saturday at the Coronado in Rockford, and Glick will interview Channel 23 weather forecaster Aaron Wilson as part of the show.

“Martin Short doesn’t like to admit he stole my persona,” Lowe said. Lowe said he’s never met Short, but he “adores him. He’s funny, very talented.”

Lowe,  78,  of West Hollywood interviews stars on cable channels broadcast mostly in California, and said he just a few days ago had dinner with actor Sean Penn.

Anything Lowe doesn’t like about Glick? “He made him fat. And he’s trying to make me stupid,” Lowe said. “I am not stupid. Sometimes I forget people’s names. But that is part of the charm of my personality, I’m told.”

I interviewed Short a few weeks ago, but was unaware of the possible connection to Lowe, so I obviously didn’t ask him about it.

Lowe left Rockford when he was a teen to pursue acting. He has family who live in Rockford, including brother Carl Labella, a teacher.