There are moments in life that can be disquieting. Such a “moment” occurred in my living room as I watched this year’s broadcast of the annual Emmy Awards.
As a multiple Emmy Award winner myself … and now someone whose very subtitle of his latest memoir claims the mantle of “TV maven,” I felt … as I watched the proceedings … (how best to say it?) does gobsmacked resonate?
One of the evenings’ many low lights was when The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences chose to present tributes to Charlie’s Angels and Baywatch. Look, I was the producer of the better part of the premiere season of Charlie’s Angels—I liked it;I highlighted the series in each of my memoirs… but, even I know it does not deserve any kind of tribute from anything with the word Academy in its logo.
And then the hoopla and record-setting awards for Widow’s Bay … at best a C+ on any objective critical scale. Not a bad show, but truly something hovering just above mediocrity.
Furious, Landman, The Madison … not a mention in the drama category. What am I missing here? Is it possible that Florida residency has put me this out of sync with my fellow Academy members? “Disquietude” hardly covers it … even in the most self-confident of TV analysts.
Fortunately, I found the performance by Emmy host, Mariska Hargitay, reassuring in that … here, at least, was evidence that the bar was being set so low as if to prepare the audience for the uninspired evening that would follow. In that, at least, Ms. Hargitay and her producers accomplished what they (apparently) set out to do.
Balancing this out is the other side of the spectrum of my life … the remembrance of what preceded the Emmy evening and the subsequent afterglow of the two-week recording session where I completed the audio version of my soon-to-be-released memoir, Before and After Cagney & Lacey.
It was not simply the satisfaction of beginning a task and then completing same … nor was it that I handled the assignment well … although, let me assure you (in yet another shameless pitch for any who might be interested in the audio version of my book) I certainly did that.
This elation is something more … albeit certainly related to this event. Consider the elements. What could be better? It was all me … all about me … and allfor me … and for seven 5-hour recording days. Does the expression “like a pig in slop” help paint the picture?
I am not at all sure when this audio version of mine will be available. My publisher, McFarland, may well wait to see how well the printed version of the book does before making any decision regarding the marketing of this recorded edition.
Despite sort of knowing this “un-official” position taken by my publisher with respect to audio versions, I signed on with friends Deeny Kaplan and Ken Lorber to use “The Kitchen,” their award-winning Miami facility, as my recording studio.
My reasoning? It was the end of summer in Miami and “The Kitchen” was not as bustling as usual; it was a good time for me to take advantage of that and to get this done while space was readily available. Besides, at my age, one simply should not make dates in the distant future for anything of relative importance. It is the old “do not put off for tomorrow anything that may be done today.” And, at 88 years of age, that adage … coupled with “seize the day,” qualifies as front and center philosophy.
Bottom line: I went forward with my recording and I am happy to report that it was (for me, at least) a hoot.
There I was, supplies at hand: plenty of hot water with honey and ginger, throat spray, and green apples (thank you Deeny Kaplan). I still sound far from anything dulcet toned, but the flip side of that is it is authentically me, and … I believe … that my own true voice will count for something with folks who prefer their “reading” to come to them in their cars and/or by way of their ears rather than their eyes.
And here is the scoop: the book is (surprise, surprise) good, and the stories are interesting … really. Take it from me. I mean, c’mon, let’s be real. Not only did I write the thing … I just read it … ALOUD. And it works.
Ah, cynicism, eh? Should you crave more objectivity on this subject, you are just going to have to acquire a copy of the audio recording of Before and After Cagney & Lacey and judge for yourself.
I can assure even the skeptics among you. Whatever else may be said about this “production,” it is one hellofa lot better than this year’s Emmy Award broadcast.
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To Purchase “Cagney & Lacey … and Me” go to Amazon or Apple Books
“Before and After Cagney & Lacey,” a second memoir (coming soon).