Written in a Toronto
hotel room.
I cannot recall which of the several Emmy ceremonies I attended this was. (Each one representing a personal
nomination.) Which reminds me of a joke
by comedian Jackie Vernon, describing a sure-fire way to impress women.
A man walking along the beach, goes up to a woman he is
attracted to and says,
“Excuse me. Did you
see my Congressional Medal of Honor around here? That’s okay.
I’ve got another one at home.”
I am not trying to show off with the “several Emmy ceremonies
I attended.” This story, in fact,
concerns a humbling experience.
At one of the Emmy
ceremonies I attended.
Here’s what happened.
I am sitting in the audience, behind Rob Reiner. Which was exciting. I was sitting behind “Meathead!” Plus, because he was “Meathead”, he had great
seats. Which meant I had great seats. Just one
row behind “Meathead!”
It was a giddy Emmy-attending experience. Suggesting maybe it was an early one, although not necessarily. Throughout my career, I tried to protect my
genuine excitement at my career god fortune, and to a surprising degree, I did.
Much to the annoyance of my bosses, who believed I was pretending. I wasn’t pretending.
I was truly happy to be there.
I mean, come on! When
you watched Perry Mason growing up, it was a thrill when he said
“Congratulations!” to me, clutching my Emmy. I know it wasn’t exactly Perry Mason – it was
Raymond Burr. But, you know… that’s me.
Perry Mason said, “Nice going” on winning my Emmy!
And you know what?
That’s still me.
Once, at a restaurant before he died – of course, “before he died”; they wouldn’t
let him in otherwise – I saw Gene Barry – or, to me, “Bat” Masterson. My wife had to warningly squeeze my hand before
I spontaneously sang,
“Back when the West
was very young
There lived a man
named Masterson…”
Believe me. I will
sing in a restaurant at the drop of a “Bat.”
(Sorry. Being away has somehow lowered
my standards.)
Okay, so where was I?
Oh, yeah.
There I am, sitting at the Emmys. With “Celebrity Presenters”,
Rob Reiner sitting in front of me, and then – highlight of highlights – Hall of Fame icon Willie Mays is brought
out.
The audience gives him a standing ovation.
Not just a “Television Guy.”
This was the “Say ‘Hey’ Kid!”
The whole thing was so exhilarating. “Look at us!”
“Look at them!” “Look at us,
looking at them!” “Look at them, looking
at us, looking at them!” And so on, ad
glorious infinitum.
Then, a few minutes later, there was a palpable lull in the
festivities.
Somebody I don’t remember introduced a nondescript older gentleman,
in a gray suit – we were wearing
tuxedos – who came out and made a speech nobody was listening to.
This is not an exaggeration.
Nobody in the room was paying attention to that nondescript stranger
making a speech. They just chattered
amongst themselves, waiting for him to finish so somebody “Big” would show up.
You know me – empathetic to a fault. I am watching this poor man no one’s paying attention
to, and I’m thinking – and also saying out loud because sometimes my thoughts
leak out through my mouth –
“The guy probably invented television.”
Which I hoped Rob Reiner had heard, because it was a wryly
clever remark, and where’s the fun if nobody hears it? (Especially a “hot shot” like “Meathead.”)
Today’s “Message”?
“Show People” are so superficial.
And self-centered!
Who else calls the area they work in “The Business!”
And, besides superficial and self-centered – and more
specifically to this effort:
“Show People” are amazingly short-sighted.
Think about it. (As I
recently did, remembering that pithy remark at the Emmys.)
Without the innovative technology the ignored speaker onstage
represented,
We’re nothing!
No invention of television – no shows.
No cable television – no shows with nudity in them. Or groundbreaking series like The Sopranos.
No… I don’t know how they do it but you get Netflix and other streaming platforms
out of it – look at me, saying “streaming platforms” – no that stuff, whatever it is, no all those “niche” shows I don’t watch
but other people won’t miss.
All that comes from advancing technology.
So today, in the summer, which is not “Prime Time” but at
least I’m trying –
Thank you, engineers and inventors, for making the stuff up
that allows us to make our stuff up.
Including the Internet.
Without which this blog would be
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