Robert Downey Jr. 2007, Downey was cast as the title character in the film "Iron Man", with director Jon Favreau explaining the choice by stating: "Downey wasn't the most obvious choice, but he understood what makes the character tick. He found a lot of his own life experience in 'Tony Stark'." Favreau insisted on having Downey as he repeatedly claimed that Downey would be to "Iron Man" what Johnny Depp is to the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series: a lead actor who could both elevate the quality of the film and increase the public's interest in it. For the role Downey had to
The Morton Downey Jr. Show media types. In 1988, Downey recorded an album of songs based on his show, entitled "Morton Downey Jr. Sings" (released in 1989). The album's only single, "Zip It!" (a catch-phrase from the show, used to quiet an irate guest), became a surprise hit on some college radio stations. Over the course of the 1988–89 season, "Downey" suffered a decline in viewership, resulting in many markets downgrading its time slot; even flagship station WWOR moved it from its original 9:00 PM slot to 11:30 PM in late 1988. A few months later, in January 1989, the syndicated "Arsenio Hall Show" premiered