Really Grate Guys

In our upcoming issue of West End's Best Magazine, due out about July 1st, we have a couple of stories featuring local show-biz personalities. And, oddly enough, they're all really very down-to-earth types of people. One interview we did is with Liz Marks and Billy Caldwell, who have been entertaining Richmonders for decades. Liz now works as a casting director, and Billy is a talent scout. Both have been involved in some pretty major Hollywood-type productions filmed around here. Liz and Billy, are about as enjoyable to speak with, and as personable as any couple I know.
So, you're probably thinking, "What's going on here, Steve. Are you going to spend the morning kissing up?" Well, if it would get me anywhere, I would, but actually, I'm just saying nice things to preface my comments on some real jerks I've encountered in the entertainment industry around town. Because, while there are some really great guys out there, there are many who really grate on my nerves. True, true, it doesn't take much. But I've met a few who I'm willing to bet kissed their mirrors goodnight each evening.
You'd have to scratch your head to figure out why someone who works in radio or TV in this 50-somthing ranked market, would have any reason to be arrogant. I mean, at some of the radio stations around here, the only prerequisite for being hired is that you possess a larynx in fairly decent working order. Come to think of it, there's a jerk in radio around here, who doesn't even have that and yet just recently NASA reported that his ego was visible from space. The guy works for a little FM station in town that has the power of the average toaster oven, and yet, when you speak with him, it's all he can do to refrain from requesting that you kiss his ring. I won't mention his name because I mentioned he doesn't have a larynx, and, for that, I am sorry. But, hey it couldn't happen to...oh, never mind.
I'll also refrain from naming any other names here, because it really upsets my boss, but another real jerk around town is a longtime sportscaster at one of the local TV stations. I once asked him if he'd give me his opinion on the building of a new ballpark in Shockoe Bottom. His reply, "I can't express my opinion. I'm a journalist."
A journalist huh? I kinda thought all he did was read baseball scores. He's about as much a journalist as I am a writer.
Someone else who is somewhat of a legend around these parts, never really impressed me much. I won't mention his name either, but he spent much of his career interpreting for a duck. He may have been everyone's friend on the air, but off-air, he was downright rude to people. I applied for a job there once, and he told me in no uncertain terms that my voice stunk.
But anyway, that was then, and this is now. And, now, I'm a better person for it. Adversity has made me the great guy I am today. Do you think I'd hold a grudge? Do you think I'd remember these petty snubs some 30 years later?
Are you kidding? I never even think about it. Hardly ever.