Adventures in Broadcasting, Part Five: Hello! I must be going!

In my time in the old CBS Early Show, I learned a lot about human nature. Perhaps most importantly, I learned that you can really judge a person by how you meet them and whether or not they offer a handshake.

You see I met most everyone on the planet who's famous when I worked there, and I will from now on judge those famous people I met by how they greeted me and Security at the pick-up point. Some gave polite handshakes, others an over the top (but still friendly) greeting and others came out with their ego already in place and brushed past us like the help. OK, so we were the help. But there's something to be said for having a little bit of professionalism. Don't get me wrong, I hate when people give famous people crap for not being everything they expect. They're humans too -- they don't have to be on all the time.

But when you're on morning TV promoting work, you're at work. You've got to act the part of being hospitable. End result? There are a ton of famous people who's films and work I probably won't pay for anymore on account of they were jerks.

But one morning, Harrison Ford was on the show. I wasn't there to meet him, another page was. SO I'm walking around backstage, my morning corn muffin pilfered from the green room in hand, when I walk past a bearded, exhausted looking Harrison Ford. I stop and gawk at him. He stops and gawks back. He puts out his hand and says, "Hi...I'm Harrison Ford."

Han Solo's saying hi to me.

Indiana Jones is saying hi to me.

Rick Deckard is saying hi to me.

So I shake his hand and say, "Oh yeah, I've heard of you." with a smile, to fully imply that I'm joking.

Dead silence. He's not laughing. My short career is flying by in my head -- finally a legit superstar is giving me the acknowledgment I so desire...and I blew it. Time to get my resume ready.

Then he got that "Oh, now I get it" look on his face and let out a mild, Fordian chuckle. (He hasn't really emoted since A New Hope, it sounds rough every time)

"Sorry -- It's early...very funny."

A good hello can make an incredible impression, even at 8:00 in the morning. I betcha ten dollars he remembers that, Blogmerica.



I'll send out the ten dollar check tomorrow morning.