From: anderj2@marcus.its.rpi.edu (Jason Anderson)
Subject: Me on DONAHUE Show:  Friday or Monday!!
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 17:28:24 GMT

Hello all,

Yes, Derrick and I were on the Donahue show about homosexual interracial
couples taped on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 1pm - 2pm.  However, we were not on
the stage.  Actually, we did not get to say much.  It is very hard to catch
Phil as he frantically runs around the audience.  When we had something to
say, he would be on the other end of the audience.  We did have front-row
seats, so I would guess we got a lot of camera coverage.  We are the couple
that mentions that we are from Nashville.  As for the show as a whole, I
was somewhat disappointed.  The show became a free-for-all, including
topics such as AIDS, politics, GLAAD, and the NY Post (one of the guests on
stage is a Post reporter).  I realized just how good it is to have a
microphone on your shirt.  Then, you can interrupt whenever you want.  Oh
well, I did enjoy the all expense paid trip to the city.

As for when the show will air: In most markets it will air on Monday, Oct
19.  I would try to ask your local TV station if they are a live, same day,
or one day delay market.  If they are live or same day it will be on
Friday, Oct 16.  One day delay will be on Monday, Oct 19.  If you live in
Philadelphia, then tape all next week. :) That comes from the Donahue
people.  If you cannot find out from your TV station or TV Guide, etc.
email me the city and TV station call letters (ie, WNBC) that carries
Donahue, and I will tell you when it will be on (they gave me a list of all
carries including international).

The trip was fun.  I flew in from Albany to LaGuardia (a ridiculous 29
minute flight).  A luxury car service was waiting at the airport to take me
to the Drake for the night.  I arrived on Monday evening.  Derrick took the
Metro North, since Poughkeepsie is so close.  Probably the best part of the
trip was the meal allowance of $50 per person for dinner and $20 per person
for breakfast.  Since we did not have to be anywhere till almost noon on
Tuesday, we went to the Village.  We ate a very large and delicious dinner
at the Potbelly Stove on Christopher Street.  We then walked around and
browsed stores, etc.  Finally we went to Uncle Charlie's.  I now know that
11:30 on Columbus Day is not a good time to go. :) It is definitely a S & M
bar (Stand and Model).  After a beer, we went back to the room for quality
time (notice details left out). :)

We got up late and had room service bring our Belgium waffles for
breakfast.  The two waffles and two orange juices was a low $35 (the orange
juice was only $5.75). :) Who cares, I wasn't paying for it.  A car picked
us up to go to the NBC studios.  It was just like on David Letterman; there
were these dull white halls with young men and women waiting for guests in
NBC jackets.  We were taken to the very small Green Room to wait for the
show.  It was only when everyone else got make-up that Derrick and I found
out that we would not be on the stage.  I am upset that they did not have
the time to let us know ahead of time.  But, of course, it is not usual to
fly someone down just to be in the audience.  The people who run the show
were all very nice.  Eventually, Derrick and I were taken into the audience
to get our seats.  We are on the front row to the far right from the stage
point of view.  I was wearing a green shirt and Derrick a plaid shirt.  The
show went so fast!  And the audience is *much* smaller than I expected.
Boy, those cameras sure do tricks.  I enjoyed meeting the other guests
before and after the show.  Phil made no lasting impression. :)

Immediately after the show, we went back to the Green Room where Phil met
with us shortly.  Then, I was rushed off in a car to the airport.  I just
barely made my flight.

In short, I missed 5 classes to have less than a minute air time.  But, it
was a fun experience and I did learn some things about how deceiving a
camera can be.  They originally wanted me on because of the reaction from
my parents, but then decided that is was not pertinent to their topic.  So,
maybe they will do a show on parent's reactions.  I am sure to get on stage
with comments like "Are you still seeing that nigger boyfriend?" from my
father.

I guess the best lesson learned is to not raise your expectations too high
in advance.

-- 
Jason P. Anderson                          --            ---           |
11 Colvin Circle                          |  |           |  |          |  
Troy, NY 12180-3735                       | \|           |--           |
anderj2@rpi.edu    (518) 276-8910          --\ U E E R   |   O W E R   o