My daughter Rory had a play-date Saturday with Eric Spillman's daughter Sara. As the two girls were playing, the two dads were going over plans for the day. I mentioned that I was going to the Four Seasons for yet another press junket; this time for "Tropic Thunder" and how incredible the performance of Robert Downey Jr. is in the movie. When I mentioned the actor's name, Eric quickly recalled that not that many years ago, he was in an Indio courtroom, as Downey was in trouble for breaking into a hotel room, an obvious result of substance abuse.

It is astounding that just a few years later; Downey is starring in what will be two of the summer's biggest movies; 'Iron Man,' and 'Tropic Thunder.' In an interview that will air on the show on Monday, August 4; Downey talks to me about what he calls, "My Summer of Love."

He speaks to me with confidence and eloquence and gratitude. And also, without vanity, he acknowledges that the he knew he had nailed the role on "Tropic Thunder" shortly after he started filming. "You know how that is when you are on the tennis court and you are just hitting the ball really well, that's how this felt." In "Thunder," Downey plays an actor, who I think must be a bit of a send-up of Russell Crowe; an actor who has won many awards and takes his work very very seriously. In this case, he is playing a black character; and thus dyes his skin black for the role. It is a part, that if done badly, would have been awful and offensive. In Downey's very skilled hands, it is hilarious. One of the funniest acting jobs I have seen in a very very long time.

Downey says he is a little skeptical of his 'Summer of Love.' He says he has seen other friends react badly when everything is seemingly going so well. That perhaps there is an inverse relationship to the success on one is having on screen versus how things are going in their personal life. For Downey, right now, his professional life couldn't be better.

He seems as far away from that Indio courtroom with Eric and those other reporters as can be.