Los Angeles, CA. LZ with his 2nd biggest fan, my niece Hannah D. 1999
I've got some serious hetero man-love for this guy. Besides Cojo, Larry was my first bonafide celebrity friend. And by bonafide, I mean not B-list, but Z-list celebrity, as Larry himself would tell you. Hannah was a fan because Larry hosted a Disney Channel game show (Off the Wall) that she loved. I was a fan for many reasons, starting with his brainpower, followed closely by his talentwisdomkindnesswit. (I couldn't pick one.) I met Larry when he was co-starring in a late 90's internet show—we're talking the dinosaur days of cyberspace—on a soon-to-be-notorious site called "the DEN" (Digital Entertainment Network) that I was working for. The show was a bawdy comedy called Frat Ratz and I was the creator/writer/producer on the project. Larry was one of my Wakenbaker brothers, a stoner role that his game show bosses at Disney had to see coming eventually. Before arriving on Frat Ratz, Larry had already co-starred in an indie movie in Boston that he still hasn't gotten a copy of. Then he fell into the recurring role of "Larry the Loser" on Singled Out, the MTV game show that gave the world Jenny McCarthy (with clothes on), Carmen Electra (who learned to swim after a lesson from Larry) and Chris Hardwick (nearly 2 decades pre-Nerdist empire). During our DEN days he was also starring in his own show called Limozeno, which featured Larry as a chauffeur/host driving actors and bands around in DEN's signature big black limo. (Which led to highlights like Larry getting stoned with Wilmer Valderrama.) For a while there, it looked like big things were on Larry's Hollywood horizon. But for reasons I've never quite figured out, it hasn't played out that way. Not yet, anyway. Instead of a blossoming acting or hosting career, Larry's post-DEN life saw him go on the road as a drum tech for more than one band, including Tool. He eventually became a high-end home aquarium expert, where his regular clients have included people like Dr. Dre and a former NBC executive who wants to help Larry get back in the game. After 13 years of aquarium work, he's decided to shift his focus to performing, creating and realizing his life's calling to be a modern shaman, spreading a message of love, transcendence and good times. You haven't heard the last of Larry Zeno. Welcome back, my friend. The world has missed you.
Posted on 2.5.15
Today we posted the 2nd episode of our new 2 Degrees of BOB podcast, featuring a conversation with our friend Larry. You can find it on iTunes—or listen to the Soundcloud version here. Enjoy.
Posted on 8.26.15