Comedian/actor Eric Edelstein drew inspiration from his former GU roommate Ryan Floyd, who made his own dream come true on a basketball court.

Big Ed
Reaches for the dream in living color

By Marty Pujolar
Alumni Director

Generally, before I interview one of our alumni for this column, I have a fair idea of where I'm going, sometimes the opening paragraph is already written in my head. I'm not sure if I picked that up in a class or heard that it was a good idea at Jack & Dan's.

In this instance, the best laid plans … and so forth took a 180 on me while I was chatting with Eric "Big Ed" Edelstein ('00), budding star of the big and small screens and comic-in-training. I was going to write about his journey to Tinseltown, but instead I came across a story about the Dream and the Inspiration.

Ed had flown into Spokane for the final basketball game in the Kennel. He brought his chaperone and former roommate Ryan Floyd ('00) with him just in case there were any retribution for his year's tenancy at 723 E. Sharp Ave. or to deflect any less-than-friendly questions like "how does it feel to be in the forefront of trash television?" as posed by a Chicago reporter. Much to Ryan's dismay, none of this transpired.

I know Big Ed. Just about anyone around GU between 1996-2000 knew Big Ed – 6-foot-5 and a few bills over 250. He's a walking conversation, the biggest teddy bear the factory spit out, comedian by predestination and a landlord's poltergeist.

Big Ed (I doubt 20 percent of the people who knew Eric could tell you his real name) came to Gonzaga from Vancouver, Wash. He attended Central Catholic in Portland. Ed said he chose Gonzaga because, "I found GU had the most hands-on equipment, their own radio and TV station and I could get started right away. Other colleges may have had bigger and better equipment, but I would have had to wait to be a senior to use it. At GU, I had a key and could work at 3 a.m. Father Don Highberger was extremely encouraging and knowledgeable, I really have to thank him."

Despite three trips to the Sportcaster Camp of America, Father Don's tutelage and a burning desire to be the next Vin Scully, Ed's broadcasts of GU basketball did not capture the attention of ESPN, ABC, FOX or anyone else, but his halftime banter did.

"I got too personally involved in the games. My buddies were playing. I would refer to them by their first names only. I'd get excited and miss a play. Coach (Mark) Few helped point me in the right direction one night by saying I had a chance for a career as an entertainer; he failed to mention sportscaster."

Dash the broadcast thing, but not the Dream.

"Being at GU at that time and living with basketball overachievers, Ryan Floyd and Mike Nilson at 723 Sharp Street, where the basketball team and friends would congregate, showed me nothing was impossible," said Big Ed. "If they could get to the Final Eight, I saw no reason why I couldn't work and persevere to become an entertainer."

After Mike Nilson had torn his Achilles and was sidelined at the end of the '00 season, "I told him let's do a show," Edelstein recalls. "Just the same stuff we did to entertain our friends around the house every night. Mike was the straight man with a guitar. The only reason he did it was to propose to his girlfriend, Rhiannon."

But the combo worked and so did the proposal. They won the Northwest Comedy Competition in 2000. Then again, Spokane is not Hollywood.

Ed told me, "I was inspired by my roommates and Gonzaga. Every day walking into the Crosby Student Center, I would look at Bing's statue. He took a dream, left Spokane and made it work … BIG TIME.

"One afternoon I was at the Martin Centre talking about my plans with Steve Hertz. He told me (as only Coach Hertz can) to follow my dream. Take chances. I felt empowered. I felt so motivated I actually got on a stationary bike that happened to be alongside Scott Sayer ('01). While talking to Scott I discovered he was moving to L.A. It was karma."

The Dream was inspired and had a road map!

Big Ed has been in Los Angeles since 2001. His TV credits now include "Karen Sisco" and "All That" on Nickelodeon; "MAD TV"; "Movies at Our House," AMC; "Style Court," E-Channel; "That's Just Wrong," FOX ("that was just wrong" commented Ryan Floyd); commercials for Caterpillar Tractor and Ruby Tuesday restaurants and the upcoming movie "Bible Boys" with Fred Dryer.

Big Ed continues performing stand-up and improv at Second City in L.A. and the Comedy Store. In order to survive, he also has held jobs as a barista, pizza cook, delivery boy and bouncer.

"One of my best reviews was when they let me go as a bouncer at the Whiskey A GO GO, the manager told me, 'I did a good job acting like a bouncer.' "

Discouragement is not in Big Ed's vocabulary. He continues to be buoyed by the example of his roommates on their own improbable journey and the encouragement of Gonzaga supporters.

The Dream lives. Check your local listings.