My Life As A TV Star

     When I was 4 years old, I was selected from a group of kids in my town to be on a local TV show, Romper Room.  Every morning, for 2 weeks my dad drove me to Boston to NBC local affiliate studio, and the morning show was filmed.  "Miss Jean", was our teacher in a make-pretend classroom that had 6 students.  We were all dressed-up and didn't know one another so we didn't play or talk.  Our role was largely window dressing for one half an hour of a cartoon, a brief lesson taught by "Miss Jean", who was Jean Harringrton, the wife of one of our local newscasters, five or so minutes of interaction with the kiddies, then the credits would roll.

     There was no rehearsal.  At one minute to air time, we children pick a couple of toys. from a room that featured only the brightest and best new toys the advertisers were selling.  The idea was that we'd be so enamored of the toys, that we wouldn't fight or act up.  We then quickly sat at our desks, Miss jean in the middle, with 3 children on either side of her.  This went on for 2 weeks.

     I used to get bored on the ride, and asked my dad questions.  Then I asked him one question, over and over and over until he'd answer.  "Where does Miss Jean live?"  Finally he'd point out the window and say, "She lives right there."  This satisfied me, though the ride did seem interminably long.

     One night, after I'd graduated from college my phone began ringimg off the hook.  Everyone asked the same question, "Was that you on ______ (some TV Blooper show)?"  My mother got through a few minutes later and asked if I'd seen it.  "No, but people are calling on the phone>  What happened?"

     On the last day of filming, the final day of my TV career, I told Miss Jean the news.  There must have been a rule about allowing kids to talk, they didn't.  But, I would not be stopped, as the blooper reel had show.  Finally, yelling from off camera, "Miss JEAN!!!".  She broke the rule, called on me, and in full close-up, I said, "Miss Jean, my dad drives all over Boston looking for your house."

Comments

[dave gershner]

Great story to me because my grandmother tried to get me in a movie when I was almost 3, but she told me to lie and say I was 3, movie required that age.

We got to audition, I wouldn't lie, didn't make Hollywood.

Still telling the truth: see my blog---

http://backbebetter.blogspot.com

not only good advice about relieving back and neck pain, but also lots of great pics on first page and in the archives

thnks dave