Jon Cryer Talks About his Memoir “So That Happened”

I met Jon Cryer in person at the Barnes and Noble in Santa Monica during his book signing event of “So That Happened” on April 12th.  At the time, Mr. Cryer was just a few days away from turning 50. Wow, 50 already? He is still frozen in my mind as a 20 something on Pretty in Pink. Clad in a 3-layer piece top – a black shirt with plaid and black jacket, Mr. Cryer looked absolutely cool. As he entered the room, he was NOT standoffish but instead very personable….to me, the press and his audience.

The event took place at the 3rd Street Promenade and Cryer described that this is a very significant location. “The Third Street Promenade was not always the Third Street Promenade. It was kinda a beat up mall across the street from the snazzy new mall, and it is very sad. That is why they chose it as the location for shooting “Pretty in Pink”. “And yes we shot the record store and we actually physically shot in there, it’s not a set on a sound stage. We shot it down on the corner. That was 30 years ago. We shot it in spring. And it doesn’t feel like 30 years ago of course because I look great… ha ha ha.”

Jon Cryer of Two and a Half Men at Barnes and Noble Santa Monica

Cryer also mentioned during the start of his career, he looked like Matthew Broderick. “There was a time when I looked remarkably like Matthew Broderick and thankfully he was just tearin’ through spectacular roles off Broadway and on and so I had this little window of opportunity where they were looking for guys awful lot like Matthew Broderick and that certainly helped…certainly got my foot in the door. I wasn’t intimidated by him because he is a perfectly nice warm guy. I was intimidated by him because of his enormous talent. It appeared effortless the way that he worked. I ended up his understudy for awhile in Brighton Beach Memoirs. Unfortunately he is a very healthy person and never a missed a show.. ha ha ha.”

Jon Cryer during his Memoir’s Book Signing

I had a chance to speak with fans Todd and his wife Debbie from San Diego. They stayed in the night to be sure they got into the first group because they didn’t want to miss the book signing. On the event, “It was fantastic. We love Jon and the show. It was a great opportunity to come and see him here and hear him talk about the book and the show. We enjoyed it very much.”

Jon Cryer signs his book So That Happened

Cryer mentioned that his mother was in the audience. He also welcomed Courtney Thorne-Smith in the audience. See the photo below. I could not forget that moment. One fan mentioned he was so stoked to meet “Duckie” of my favorite teen movie of all time “Pretty in Pink.”

Courtney Thorne-Smith and Jon Cryer

Jon Cryer and Courtney Thorne-Smith (Melrose Place)

Courtney and Son

Ruchel Freibrun and Jon Cryer

I have snippet of video from his Q and A. Enjoy!

Do you want to win “So That Happened” signed by Jon Cryer? Tell me why you want to win this book.