Posted by Mark Nelson on September 19, 2005:

I don't know if other members of the 100th Nite Show remember this, but this is when I realized that Duane was a special guy. On one of the "for record" performances of the very well-written show, there was a malfunction in a key scene. The scene had a large group of us on stage, and a phone was supposed to ring. Dan Nolan was supposed to pick up the phone and talk to the "TAC" on the other end. Funny lines would ensue. This had always worked without a hitch, until this one night. Someone forgot to cue the sound effect of the phone ringing. There we were, struggling to ad lib, hoping the phone would ring. We all wanted to crawl off stage. Just when the beads of sweat were at their largest, Duane walks over to the phone, picks up the receiver, and proceeds to "make a call". He calls the "TAC". Duane starts some phony conversation, then says, "Oh, you want to talk to Jack? He's right here." And he hands the phone to Nolan, who gets right back into the script. What an example of coolness and quick-thinking under pressure! And Duane was no veteran of the stage or anything, either. Just a sharp character, and a fun guy, who will always be young and strong in our memories. See you on the high ground, Duane.

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