The 5 C’s Of Being On TV.

Don’t speak with almonds in your teeth.
Something I should know after 30 years on TV.
Apparently I didn’t eat healthy then.
With almond bits in my teeth…
I was about to speak at the ACP Journalism Convention.
I was about to impart all my wisdom.
Then what to do for the rest of the hour?
Actually two hours.
I had two talks to give.
Entertainment Reporting As More Than Fluff.
And…
Who Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up.
Not sure I’m qualified to speak on either.
Most of the students weren’t from LA.
So I told them I’m a huge name here.
Do white lies matter?
I addressed important matters like…who are you wearing??
One student said that’s a good question because we might want to buy what we see on TV.
I once saw a dress on one of the blondes on RHOBH.
Goggled it.
And overpaid for it.
But are we really going to buy Margot Robbie’s red carpet gown?
Nevertheless…
More and more students want to be on that red carpet asking those questions.
I blame people like Jillian and me who made it seem fun.
So to educate (?) the youth…
I give college kids my 5 C’s of being on TV.
CONFIDENCE…
You need a little bit of my shit doesn’t stink.
CREATIVITY…
Questions should be creative (says the woman who asked who are you wearing.)
Years ago I was at the Oscars hoping to chat with Will Smith.
His publicist said Will’s already answered a hundred questions.
I said…
I’ll ask him something no one else has ever has.
He said if you do…
I’ll give you 20$
This was the Britney Spears crazy years.
So I asked something like “Have you ever beaten the paparazzi with an umbrella?”
Will admitted he had never been asked that before.
I’m still waiting for my 20$.
COMPOSURE…
I’d write, track and edit my story.
Race to my live shot.
Go on TV without even combing my hair.
Took me years to realize I needed to just breathe.
CAFFEINE…
When you go on TV you want to be a sassier, savvier, more caffeinated version of yourself.
CONTACTS…
I tell kids to nicely bug their contacts.
Contacts can be anyone you know.
You never know who will give you your next job.
That’s s pretty much all I learned in 30 years on TV.
Not exactly a Ted Talk.
But I’ve been helping a kid with his Ted Talk.
Wekneh came here from Ethiopia when he was 10.
He had 10 pounds of tumors on his hands.
He’s had more than 10 surgeries.
His hands used to look like soccer balls.
Now he plays soccer
His story is filled with adversity we could never imagine.
Like walking miles for water.
Like running from hyenas.
His story will be a movie one day.
He will be on that red carpet.
And just before…
I’ll remind him not to eat any almonds.