I’m gonna be on TV!

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Happy birthday to my sister, Donna, who has Covid. What a bummer thing on your birthday.

Two evenings ago, our neighbor asked me if I would go on the TV show Pawn Stars and try to sell a book for him.

What?

The History Channel show Pawn Stars Does America is filming locally, and he had several items approved to be sold on the show, but he could only do one – it’s not as fun on the show if the same person brings all the things, I suppose. So, he was asking if I would help him out.

“Are you available Thursday afternoon?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to be on TV?”
“No.”

I was once interviewed at a Harry Potter celebration and I ludicrously just kept answering “Fun” to all of the questions. My sister (who has covid now) answered like she had a brain, so they aired it. She: Reasonable thought-out adult answer. Me: Fun. (Augh) I was once interviewed for the newspaper about Benjamin’s juggling and ended up sounding COMPLETELY stupid. I really wasn’t interested in giving media another shot, but he didn’t give up. After soaking me in compliments on how delightful I would be, he said the magic words, “It will really help me out.” I can never say no when that happens.

I was told to wear solid colored clothing, preferably dark in color. Huuuuuh. I went to the closet. I found a solid orange dress. I wondered if I could squeeze into it. Maybe. I found a green shirt that makes me look lumpy. Well, it shows that I am lumpy. I wondered if people just own solid colored clothing. What is the point of that? Then ta-daaaa, I found my black shirt on my dresser. Keith brought up the laundry, so things just ended up on my dresser (he understands where his clothes go. Mine are mysterious). I found a copper-colored loose weave cardigan that didn’t look too wintery (although I did wear it on Thanksgiving, after it was too small for Donna, who has covid). Done! Clothes to wear! It said to bring alternate shirts in case the microphone showed or for some other reason your shirt didn’t work. I got a bit nervous as we were getting ready to leave and thought I should bring a change of clothes. I put everything I was carrying down and started up the stairs, then reminded myself that there weren’t any alternatives, turned around, and made it out the door.

This afternoon, Keith and I went to the Machine Shop in Minneapolis for the taping. My item was a 1918 copy of The Tin Woodman of Oz – the 12th (I think) book in the Wizard of Oz series, the last written by L. Frank Baum. The people were super nice. We waited a little bit, because they had just taken their lunch break, then I got a microphone and was shown my mark – a tape T on the carpet. Keith got to stand behind the director and see what was being filmed. (Filmed? Is it film? I don’t think so.) My job was to walk up and put the book on a cabinet across from Rick, the Pawn Stars guy. He asked me a few questions and then went to get the book expert. I assume she had been primed on what books were on offer, because she knew a lot about my book. Or maybe she really does just know a LOT about a LOT of books.

Then it came down to business. What was it worth? What would they offer me? My friend had given me his starting price and his bottom price. We were hoping for something between those two. As I was waiting, I wondered what I was supposed to do if they offered me a too-low price. I’d have to cross that bridge as it came. The book lady gave a value, but that would be the price that Rick could hope to sell it for in his store. What would he offer me? A price above my low price! I didn’t know if I was supposed to just say YAY! or haggle, so asked for $7 more. He said nope, and you’ll have to watch to see if it sold.

We did several redos – just saying the book title more slowly – turning the book – showing a tear in a page. When the book lady came, I had to step to the side and stand in a weird place – not a place you would stand normally, but apparently the right place to be for the camera. They told me not to look at the camera or the director, so of course I looked at the camera and the director whenever we paused. (We were on a break!) It didn’t take very long and we were on our way home before rush hour got rolling. The episode is called St. Paul, even though we were actually in Minneapolis. Maybe all the people are from St. Paul. There will be a Minneapolis episode as well. A lady in the parking lot told me she thought it would be on about October 24. My neighbor said he would let me know. I’m not sure we should watch it. Maybe we will just remember it as a good and interesting time, and not find out that I continue to fail at media.