Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be on TV?  I never really gave it much thought until several years ago when my job required me to be interviewed by several of the local television stations.  After the experience, I realized that very few people even watch the news.  It really wasn't the "fifteen minutes of fame" that the cliche often promotes. 

Earlier this month our therapy dog, Mango, was named Therapy Dog of the Year by the American Humane. We flew to Hollywood, stayed at the Beverly Hills Hilton, and participated in a number of television productions surrounding the event, including a taping with Mango for a commercial for Chicken Soup for the Soul.  The signature event was the award show filmed at the Beverly Hills Hilton, in the very ballroom where the Golden Globe Awards Show is held.  The ballroom was exquisitely decorated and the event was lovely.  It was a great experience to see how an award show that will be aired in the future is orchestrated.  Through out the evening we got to meet a number of VIPs.  My favorite opportunity was meeting Greg Louganis the 1984 and 1988 gold medal Olympic diver .  He even introduced Judy and Mango and presented Mango with her award. 

One of the other next discoveries was so many of the people who appear on television shows, commercials or movies are just "normal" people.  I was at a disadvantage because I do not watch a lot of television.  Consequently, as many of the "stars" came up to talk to us and Mango, we just interacted with them as we would regular people that we meet in the course of our everyday lives. Hopefully we did not offend them by our lack of "awe". They did impress us with their "down-to-earth" behavior.  I suspect it was refreshing for them to talk with people who just treated them with the normal courtesy and respect due everyone. 

Tomorrow we travel to New York because Mango will be appearing on The Today Show.  How cool. I'm happy that I am not appearing with Mango for her fifteen minutes of fame, but it will be very fun to watch how The Today Show handles a live appearance by four of the Hero Dogs.  I have never been to New York so this is a wonderful opportunity for me.  I am looking forward to the brief trip. The irony is that I will be spending more time on the plane or in airports than I will in New York City.