My Fifteen (Embarrassing) Seconds of Fame

Every so often there are a few news stories filmed downtown.

I've gotten approached by news crews on two seperate occasions and managed to embarrass myself both times when my off the cuff comments made the evening story. Apparently, my thinking on the fly skills leave much to be desired when confronted by a camera.

I think I've always suspected I'm a writer, not a film person, and my two experiences with 15 seconds of local Minnesota TV psuedo-fame were enough to convince me I had the right idea all along.

Once, several years ago, Metro Transit employees went on strike, shutting down public transportation services statewide. The camera crew and attendant reporter were interviewing people on Nicollet Mall, getting their opinions on the strike and how it was affecting their commute.

The nice lady reporter asked me how the strike had affected my commuting habits.

"Makes me think about getting one of those corn-oil cars," was the response that made it to TV.

Really? That's what I came up with? I sounded like a country hick!


Okay, so maybe I am a country hick. Or so my hubby tells me. I did grow up in the country. And it could have been worse. I could have said "them corn-oil cars" instead of "those".





My second TV appearance came when I tried to go to lunch one day.

Peter's Grill was a fun lunch spot I sometimes visited when a certain craving hit me. On this particular fateful day, I jaywalked across the street and walked up to the front doors, paying the camera crew standing nearby little attention.

I yanked on the doors and was surprised to find they were locked. It was unfathomable that it could be closed! President Bill Clinton had even visited the restaurant once (as their menus proudly validate by displaying his praise and signature on their glossy covers).

The camera operators, upon seeing my dismay, quickly zoomed in and asked if they could interview me. Naively, I accepted, conviently forgetting my last disastorous foray into primetime news clips.

"Are you surpised to see Peter's Grill closed?" the reporter asked brightly.

"Yeah, it's the first time in my experience," I responded.

"Are you upset to see it closed?"

"I guess so, I was hoping to eat here for lunch today," was my inane response. Perhaps she could sense an embarrassing soundbyte in the making like a bloodhound on the trail, for she asked me only one other question before sending me on my way.

"Why do you like to eat at Peter's?"

"I love liverwurst sandwiches, and this is the only place I know of that serves them."

Guess which answer made the cut.




After running into a coworker on the elevator the next day and having to endure their raised eyebrow and laughing "Liverwurst, huh?" I made a vow:

Next time I see cameras, I go the other way.