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07/11/2003

If I were forced to stand on a sidewalk in the rain and watch television without the sound through a window at seven o'clock in the morning I would not be enthusiastic about it. I know this because I recently stood on a sidewalk in the rain and watched television without the sound through a window at seven o'clock in the morning and I was not enthusiastic about it. But oddly, the hundreds of people I was with were wildly enthusiastic about it.

Luckily I was not in a residential neighborhood where this kind of behavior is usually frowned on. Instead, I was in Rockefeller Plaza at a live broadcast of The Today Show where they not only allow public cheering and frantic waving at unreasonably early hours, but encourage it. Frankly, I didn't get swept up in the air of excitement.

I was sleepy and cold. My feet ached and I was hungry. I had no interest in making small talk with Willard Scott (who was on location in Rhode Island, incidentally). I had no sign to hold up and nothing to say on it if I did. There was no way my mother was awake at this hour so I didn't even see the point in mustering a "Hi Mom!" The only reason I was there was to hear a musical guest that I had a marginal interest in. And so I could brag to my friends.

I used my cell phone to call my television addict friend who I thought would be most impressed. I had warned him the day before that I might get up early and go to the show so he was already awake with the VCR in action. He was a fountain of information and seemed to know a lot about the show. He filled me in on the hosts' names and the format of the show. I was familiar with the show, of course, but not being a regular viewer I missed some of the trivial points. (Jane and Bryant are no longer with the show for example.) He seemed a bit deflated by my lack of animation so I tried to give him some behind-the-scenes details he might appreciate. But it turns out that nothing happens during the commercial breaks. Katie just sits there and shuffles her note cards.

I thought about why appearing on television excites people so much. Why do people get so worked up about holding a sign that says, "Hi Trevor, Michelle and Anita in Fort Wayne"? They probably just saw Trevor, Michelle and Anita last week at the Fourth of July picnic and will no doubt see them next week when they get back to Fort Wayne. So why leave them, travel a thousand miles and hold up a sign just to say "hi"? And what's with the waving? Everyone was waving all the time, whether there was a camera in sight or not. We could all see the broadcast on the monitors, yet people waved even throughout videotaped portions of the show as if the director might see them and cut into the interview just to show a rabid fan holler at the set. I gave up.

I decided the reason that people get excited about live television is not important. What is important is that people were enjoying it. They were having fun. They were showing spirit and good will. Even the rain and predawn darkness couldn't keep the merry-makers away. They were determined to have a good time. So, even if I didn't get a thrill from the experience I can appreciate that others did. By the way, if anyone taped it can I have a copy?