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Taking a Different View of Whoopi

Tff 2014I am a huge fan of Whoopi Goldberg. Followers of my blog may recall that seven years ago I wrote a post candidly expressing my concern about Whoopi’s disheveled appearance on the TV talk show, The View. Undoubtedly, owing to my self-consciousness about appearance, I didn’t hesitate to brazenly offer my opinion that Whoopi should dress more appropriately for her job, like the program’s other co-hosts.

The odds are at least 20 million-to-one that Whoopi never saw that post and if she did her response would likely have been, “Who did you say wrote it? Loretta who? Who the hell is that?” before curling her lips and rolling her eyes. Nevertheless, my candor did not thwart a phone call I received months later from the program’s Audience Services Department, offering tickets for me and some friends to attend the show. Unfortunately, due to bad timing, I couldn’t attend. Being unable to accept that offer has been one of the biggest regrets of my life.

Getting back to why I admire Whoopi. If you didn’t know who she is (Who doesn’t?), and you happened to see the dreadlocks wearing, New York native walking on the street near her 8-bedroom, 9,486-square foot mansion in a gated New Jersey community, you might think that she was out of place. A vagabond, perhaps. Of course, you would be so far from wrong you couldn’t see daylight at high noon.

Nearly every celeb-watcher and anyone who knows about Whoopi knows that she is one of the entertainment industry’s finest. Aside from being strongly opinionated (a commonality that we share. You think?), she is highly intelligent and well-read. When she speaks her mind, she doesn’t hesitate to make it known that she doesn’t give a hot burp what other people think of her. And need I add that the numerous award-winning actress, comedian, author, activist, moderator and co-host of The View also has a star on Hollywood Boulevard? Kudos to this woman who is not afraid to be herself. She has her own style of dressing and living and doesn’t care whether we like it or not.

I’m just saying — if ever there is a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover, Whoopi is it. And who knows (I say tongue-in-check) perhaps my quasi-apology will bring me another ticket offer. Time will tell.

By the way, if you would like to take a peek inside Whoopi’s home view the Slideshow.

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Tabloid Talk Shows and the People They Love

Cameraman Works In The Studio - Recording Show In Tv StudioHave you ever wondered what possesses people to go on TV programs like Maury, Steve Wilkos, and The Jerry Springer Show, and make jackasses of themselves? Those shows are difficult to watch, which is why I usually don’t, but who hasn’t heard about them?

When I was twenty-something, I, like a lot of people in that age group — then and now — wanted to be on television. Being in the right place at the right time, and carrying myself in the ladylike manner my mother taught me, opened doors for me to a few appearances on the small screen. Hold up a moment — I KNOW you’ve never heard of me. I didn’t say I achieved stardom, I said I made appearances. Now, if you are one of those who climbed on your high horse before I finished explaining, climb down as I continue.

My first TV appearance was in 1973. I was working at the Pentagon, as a civilian telephone operator for the Department of the Army, and my supervisor selected me and a couple of other operators to represent our department on a telethon. Participants were told to avoid wearing certain colors (as I recall those were black, white and red), apparently the camera dislikes those colors. I complied and wore my favorite loud green pantsuit to make sure that my family and friends could see me among the numerous other volunteers from different agencies. They saw me. I think everybody in the home viewing audience  spotted me. Maybe loud green should have been included in the list of colors to avoid wearing.

My next TV appearance was in 1983. I actually got to speak. My two children and I were featured on a program called Saturday Magazine, broadcast weekly on CBS. The show profiled two single parent families in the area; my family and another divorced mother and her children. Not only were both our families followed and filmed for a few hours (sort of like an abridged version of a reality TV show), we were also summoned to sit in the live studio audience when the segment aired. My copy of that taped program will be passed down to my children’s children as a keepsake relevant to our family history.

Speaking of live audiences, my sister-in-law, Barbara, and I were in the audience of Oprah‘s show, on November 9, 1987, when the talk show queen taped a program about the Challenger Shuttle disaster.

Aside from those occasions, I’ve been stopped and interviewed periodically by reporters on the street, about whatever newsworthy event they are covering. I do my best to speak intelligently, especially when there is a camera in my face, unlike some of the folks on tabloid TV who I don’t think put forth any effort or they just don’t know better. Is it obvious to anyone else that these shows target a certain demographic?

That brings me back to my question:  What possesses people to go on tabloid talk shows and make fools of themselves? Saturday Night Live’s former Church Lady would probably say, “Satan.”  But seriously, what?

Unlike celebrities who are usually paid guests on conventional talk programs, regular people – including the bozos and bozetts who appear on tabloid talk shows – do not get paid. The program pays their airfare and hotel expenses. That’s it. So, what reasons, aside from attention-starvation or a narcissistic personality disorder, would make tabloid junkies go on these outrageous shows and act up? You tell me. Click the comment box below and add your two cents to mine.

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What Women Want: Tickets

Women learn at an early age that some things require patience – like waiting for Santa Claus, reaching our 18st birthday, and getting tickets for a live television talk show.

There are a few tricks that might get a wannabe audience member into the studio:  stand-by and use chutzpah like the now ex-Salahis; implement a write-in campaign with the determination of a president running for a second term; or sign-up on the show’s website and wait — with the patience of Job. There is another way to get tickets; not just for a live TV show, but for just about anything. It is the ultimate trump card:  have connections. It works for me!

My affinity for quality talk shows began in the early days of Phil Donohue, but my favorite contemporary program is The View. I will tell you about the arrival of my long-awaited opportunity to be an audience member on The View, but first let me share some of my past live studio experiences.

In the early 1980s, I was twice an audience member at The Carol Randolph Show, which was broadcast locally on CBS. Then, on one spring morning, as my son, daughter, and I were enjoying our favorite week-end activity – roller skating in Rock Creek Park – we were filmed by the crew of the weekly TV program Saturday Magazine. The show was producing a feature about single parent families, and my children and I were part of the live studio audience when the segment aired on WTOP in March 1983.

Audience members at live talk shows get the opportunity to see their favorite hosts and celebrity guests in person, as I did at The Carol Randolph Show. Lou Rawls was the singing guest on one show that I attended. Millie Jackson was the other. I visited briefly with both in their dressing rooms. But enough of my horn-tooting, you want to know how to get your own studio tickets, don’t you?  Here is the deal.

If you don’t have a friend who works with the show to hook you up,

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Until Divorce Do Us Part

“In Hollywood a marriage is a success if it outlasts milk.” ~Rita Rudner

Am I missing something?  Why all of the hoopla over the Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes divorce? Ever since People magazine reported the story two weeks ago, the Cruise-Holmes divorce has received more press than sharply creased pants.

First, we learn about the couple’s divorce. Days later, we hear how quickly and amicably they settled. Meanwhile, we are fed other issues about the possibility that Cruise’s Scientology religion factored in the divorce; that Holmes had lunch with Cruise’s ex-wife, Nicole Kidman; and other relevant – or irrelevant — details of the breakup, depending on your viewpoint. Am I the only one asking myself what’s the big deal? And does anyone really care?

Many celebrity marriages don’t last long enough for the ink to dry on the pre-nuptial agreement. Look at Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock – married for 5 months; or Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries – 72 days, or Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman – 9 Days.

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A Tribute to American Bandstand and Soul Train: Rock and Soul

Many Boomers bemoaned the loss of  Dick Clark, the 82 years young, 30-year host of “American Bandstand” who died of a heart attack on April 18. Two months earlier on February 1, Don Cornelius, the original “soul man” and long-time host of the nationally syndicated “Soul Train” was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 75.  In spite of the fact that Clark was white and Cornelius black, their “rock and soul” music and dance programs attracted fans of all ages across racial lines and there is hardly a Boomer alive who does not remember them.

American Bandstand became regular viewing at our home sometime in the late 1950s, when my dad – who loved to dance – discovered the show while switching channels in search of a Randolph Scott or John Wayne western. In a few weeks, I too had become a loyal “Bandstand” fan. And years afterward, I looked forward annually to watching “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve.” As I was to learn, so too did many of my friends.

One New Year’s Eve, in the late 1970s, I was hosting a party in my apartment. My guests were dancing all over the place to a funky tune by Earth, Wind and Fire. At around 11:45 p.m. someone lowered the volume on the stereo (to the delight of my neighbors, I’m sure), and then switched on the television set. Everyone stopped dancing long enough to gather around the TV for the balldrop and countdown, and we all joined Dick Clark and the Times Squares revelers in a rousing “Happy New Year!”

In 1971, when “Soul Train” rolled onto the airways, I climbed on board. Cornelius, the train’s metaphoric conductor and literal host had viewers nationwide trying to imitate the fancy dance moves of Damita Jo Freeman, Joe Chisum, Patricia Davis and other members of the “Soul Train Gang.” In its early days, as the kids today might say it – “Soul Train” rocked!

Cornelius fans can only wonder what demons led him to take his own life, but when yours truly thinks of the soul man’s last moments on this earth, I imagine him signing off with his signature catchphrase, “In parting, I wish you love, peace and soooul!”

It seems ironic that both Cornelius and Clark, two men who brought so much musical entertainment and joy to the Boomer generation would die within months of each other. They were a dynamic duo of rock and roll — and rock and soul — and they made us get up and dance.

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