Somewhere, Tina Yothers is laughing
Former child actor Jeremy Miller -- the least famous cast member of 80s sitcom Growing Pains -- has found work in China, one of the few remaining countries where he might actually get recognized on the street. Growing Pains, which stopped production 13 years ago, was one of the only Western imports to hit Chinese televsion in the 90s, and thus was wildly successful. And what does this fading Far Eastern fame get someone like Miller? A part in a struggling uber-indie Chinese film production called Milk & Fashion, enticingly billed as "Asia's first feature film centering on ballet." That should fill the seats.
But let's wait to see if the movie actually gets made, first. Shanghaiist remembers reading a gushing story in a local magazine last December that talked of Miller being in town and said Milk & Fashion was slated for an April 2005 release. The Internet Movie Database says the movie is coming out later this month. But they haven't even started filming yet. It's not like Miller doesn't have the time to wait around for filming to start, though. Milk & Fashion would be just his third film or television project since 1997. The other two? The Growing Pains Movie and Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers.
There is an "invitation only" promotional function tonight entitled "An Evening With Jeremy Miller" (see above). Did anyone in Shanghai not get invited to this party? If you are one of the few, you can catch Miller at the Hong Kong New World Tower at 300 Huai Hai Lu for a public appearance at 5 pm Saturday. And if that's not enough Ben Seaver for you, Miller will appear at a charity event at Zhi Zhao Ju 88 on the 8th Floor at 1:30 pm on Sunday.
Someone should make a movie about the often tragic lives former child stars face. Oh wait. They did. Sort of. It was called Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star and Miller appeared in it -- as himself.
UPDATE: Peijin has photos from Saturday.
Tina Yothers played Jennifer Keaton on Family Ties.
