The Bottom Of The Coffee Cup Collection

We’re using cups I haven’t seen in years. Unearthing these cups is like going on an archeological dig.

My folks are here. It’s great having them. We’re trying to show them as good a time as is possible. Would you expect different?

Every morning Helaine makes decaf coffee for them (aka – warm brown water) and real coffee for me (aka – real coffee). Over the course of a day or two that’s a large number of cups going into a large number of cups.

Am I confusing you yet?

Between dishwashing cycles we’ve made it to the bottom of the coffee cup supply. We’re using cups I haven’t seen in years. Unearthing these cups is like going on an archeological dig.

I’m not sure where the orange WFIL cup came from, but 560 WFIL was Philadelphia’s premiere top-40 station in the 60s, and 70s. By the 80s music on AM faded. I’m not sure what WFIL’s doing today. Whatever it is would be sad to hear.

The WTNH cup has to be old just by virtue of the rectangular “8” logo. There was a time when TV stations didn’t realize viewers would watch local stations while getting ready for work or school! Our pre-Good Morning America newscasts were underfunded, understaffed and in many ways afterthoughts.

When I got the Good Morning America cup it was filled to the brim with coffee. It came from Harold, one of the GMA stagehands. It is indicative of the level of staffing and importance that show held. That was part of why I enjoyed doing GMA so much.

How many jobs still come with free coffee and someone to wrangle it? Don’t answer. Too depressing.

Happy New Year Dick Clark

It’s a family tradition that we don’t go out on New Year’s Eve. There are a few really simple reasons for this. First, I usually work. Second, we don’t drink.

Years ago, the last time we really went out for New Year’s, a drunk guy started making a pass at my wife. In fact (though we laugh about it now) we almost broke up on our first pre-marriage New Year’s Eve together.

This year, we stayed home with Steffie and watched some of the goings on in Times Square. Helaine said she wasn’t, but I was very worried that some masterstroke terrorist act would take place in Times Square while the World watched.

Though we moved back and forth between Fox, MTV and ABC, we mostly stayed with ABC. Sure, I work for an affiliate, but there is also a tradition with Dick Clark. Again this year, for at least the second year in a row, Dick was inside a warm studio above Times Square. I’m sorry. He needs to be outside. And last night, the weather wasn’t all that bad.

I was also upset at the use of Steve Doocey – who represents Fox News Channel’s morning show – as ‘talent.’ This is not to say Steve isn’t good… he is. But, this is another case of cutting your nose to spite your face. Why would ABC want to shine such a bright spotlight on someone who is trying to eat their lunch? Doesn’t anyone in the company realize that using talent from other networks is the equivalent of dumping the Disneyland live shots for Six Flags or Universal?

There was a pretty tough article on Dick Clark in Newsday recently. I’ve attached it to this link.

Maybe because I knew most of this before, or maybe just because it’s becoming more obvious now, I have trouble finding Dick warm and likable. His interaction with others, especially on ‘tosses’ from live shots, or look live taped pieces, is forced and a little too staged.

On the other hand, I’m not ready to cede New Year’s Eve to Ryan Seacrest or the stable of hosts on MTV (none of whom stick out in my mind).

Happy 2004

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