In the late 1980s, my daily after-school routine was always the same: a snack, homework, and some television before dinnertime. As a kid, I found nothing more relaxing than kicking back in the family room and having the TV all to myself. On weeknights at 5:30, I’d tune the cable box to Nickelodeon to watch Double Dare, the new hit game show that was unlike anything television had ever aired before.
Almost forty years later, I can still picture everything about this groundbreaking series — its brightly colored obstacle course, the ecstatic young contestants, and an inviting host who was always dressed in a sport coat, tie… and sneakers. His name was Marc Summers, and his contagious energy was even more of an incentive to tune in than seeing pies catapulted across the set.
Summers made Double Dare everything it was, and went on to enjoy decades more success as one of America’s most recognized and beloved TV hosts. His 525 episodes of Double Dare set a record for Nickelodeon shows at that time, and he later spent twenty years at Food Network as the host of Unwrapped and executive producer of Dinner: Impossible and Restaurant: Impossible. But as the world soon learned, Marc’s off-screen life was the truly compelling story. Now, he’s taken his fascinating narrative to New York theatre in his off-Broadway show, The Life & Slimes of Marc Summers.
The show opened on February 14 to the delight of Marc’s multi-generational fans, and runs for 16 weeks at New World Stages in Hell’s Kitchen. Written by Alex Brightman, directed by Chad Rabinovitz, and featuring music by Drew Gasparini, the production advertises as “part memoir, part game show, all heart,” and indeed lives up to that description.
I attended the first Sunday performance, and couldn’t wait to hear Marc share his story first-hand. As a mental health therapist, I’m an advocate of anything that promotes mental health awareness, particularly when public figures speak candidly about their experiences.
The now 72-year-old Summers appears in the opening scene to an eruption of applause and cheers. And of course, he’s wearing a sport coat and tie… with sneakers. He begins with a monologue that seems a bit more existential than expected, but quickly breaks the fourth wall with the honest humor he’s known for, reassuring the audience that it won’t be a typical one-man show. “We’re not doing any of that crap,” he jokes.
In this autobiographical show, Summers shares his journey from magician to standup who performed alongside the likes of Jay Leno and Robin Williams. In his quest for success, he dealt with rejections and firings, and even changed his name from Marc Berkowitz to Marc Summers. As he puts it, he faced “so many NOs.” But Summers’ incredible tenacity was the force that drove him. He soon realized his true dream was to be a TV host, and seized an opportunity to shadow game show legend Bob Barker. A mixture of perseverance and serendipity eventually landed him an audition for Double Dare. He attributes getting the job to not only being “in the right place at the right time,” but being “prepared to be in the right place at the right time.”
While swimming in slime and whipped cream on Double Dare was every kid’s dream, it was a nightmare for Summers as he secretly struggled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Having a career that revolved around mess when he was desperate for order is an irony that’s not lost on Summers. In Life & Slimes he recounts his anguish, and how going public with his diagnosis affected his career in the 1990s, including being fired from Hollywood Squares, a sad example of mental health discrimination that would surely be grounds for a lawsuit today.
Life & Slimes carefully walks the line between comedy and tragedy, offering theatre-goers a wild and hilarious experience peppered with raw details of Marc’s health obstacles. He candidly discusses his intrusive thoughts which are personified throughout the show as a dark, haunting stalker, and arguably the most poignant of the show’s dramatic elements. It was painfully clear how Summers struggled to navigate the real world living with mental illness, while feeling most comfortable when he was “on Planet TV.” The heavier themes of mental health and his multiple cancer battles are balanced out with lively music and writing, Marc’s knack for improvised comedy, and uproarious game show segments that involve audience participation and all the whipped cream my inner child could ask for.
The amount of emotional sharing Marc does on stage made me wonder if creating this show was healing, or part of his catharsis. “Telling this story is a little of both,” he shared with me. “I’m light years ahead of where I was back in 1999. Now that I have the tools through CBT [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy] it makes life easier all the way around.”
Throughout the years, Marc found solace in therapy, and of course, in Alice, his loyal wife. Although Alice never steps foot on stage, to me she somehow felt like the most important character in this story. Summers couldn’t help but smile whenever he shared anecdotes illustrating her unconditional love. I noticed some very real, unscripted tears in his eyes as he told the audience that he and Alice will celebrate 50 years of marriage this year. Life & Slimes beautifully illustrates how significant Alice’s support was to both Marc’s professional and personal success. I walked away believing that everyone should have an Alice in their life.
Life & Slimes is recommended for ages 10 up, which I found reasonable since my son falls in that range and thoroughly enjoyed it. Its inspiring message is a good example for dream-chasers of all ages. The show is 90 minutes long without intermission, but it moves quickly making it manageable for most older kids. There are a few mild swear words and a couple of adult jokes that will probably fly over kids’ heads faster than a pie on a catapult. But as I always advise parents, you know your child best; the heavy theming and symbolism of the darker subjects may be too much for some kids.
The Life & Slimes of Marc Summers is full of surprises and surpassed my expectations. It was the fun dose of nostalgia I anticipated, with a moving depiction of success in the face of adversity. It’s rare to find a family-friendly show that combines off-the-wall fun with poignant inspiration. I fulfilled my lifelong dream of seeing pies catapulted across the Double Dare set, but also gained newfound respect for the man who brought those smiles to me as a kid.
In a commendable moment of transparency for others who struggle with anxiety, Summers explains that he isn’t magically cured from OCD, and “never will be.” But he has learned how to manage it, citing a good doctor and a supportive family as his prescription for progress. Summers’ openness to sharing his story is a refreshing example of the power of conversation in the ongoing efforts to destigmatize mental illness. Raising awareness and normalizing the conversation around mental health are clearly his goals. “It’s about getting the word out and hopefully helping others who struggle with the disorder,” he told me.
The show gives longtime fans of Summers the chance to see his natural talent live and in person. He talks fast, thinks fast, and can rattle off decades-old hosting lingo in his sleep. In short, the guy is smart, and he’s fought hard to get where he is today. Despite all the “NOs” he’s heard in his life, Summers never stopped working toward the “YESes.” At 72, he is living his dream of starring in an Off-Broadway show and describes himself as “a guy who doesn’t believe in giving up.”
The Life & Slimes illustrates how, against all odds, Marc Summers is the embodiment of tenacity. “The main thing I want people to take away from the show is never giving up and refusing to take no for an answer,” Summers told me. Through his beautiful and messy journey, Summers has learned that creating the life we want involves facing every physical (and mental) challenge head-on. Perhaps the secret to his success is found within his wise reminder for us all: “You are responsible for your own happiness.”
What Lara Wrote 