Taking my turn on TV

The shoe just went on the other foot.

After more than 20 years of criticizing people who appear on TV, I sat down in front of the cameras recently for a half-hour interview. If you see the results, I'd be interested in hearing what you thought of my performance.

I was invited to appear on "Christopher Closeup," a TV talk show syndicated throughout the U.S. (and shown on WTEN, channel 10 in Albany), to discuss my book, "The Emotional Jesus." It talks about the range of human emotions Jesus experienced and what His emotions tell us about our own.

Invitation

Rev. Thomas McSweeney, the new director of the Christophers, invited me on his show after I interviewed him for this column. The Christophers is a New York City-based organization that is famous for its motto: "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness."

Founded by a Catholic priest, Rev. James Keller, it promotes quality media presentations, whether in print, radio, television or movies. It also produces its own media efforts, including books, newsletters, radio spots and "Closeup."

During my conversation with Father McSweeney for this column, he asked what was new in my life; when I mentioned "The Emotional Jesus," he said: "Let's have you on the show to talk about it."

On to New York

Within days, what I thought was an idle pleasantry turned into a formal invitation. So I hopped a train to Manhattan and entered the HBO studios where "Closeup" is taped. There, I met two other guests who were also taping half-hour segments: Rev. Paul Morrissey, who spoke about his experience with dying people in hospices, and Dana, the internationally known Irish singer.

While Dana was being interviewed, I chatted with her husband in the "green room" and found out her real first name: Rosemary. "Dana" is a Gaelic nickname. Later, when I used her real moniker to get her attention, she whirled around, surprised, and demanded: "How do you know my name?"

"I have my sources," I said, protecting her husband. I also spoke with Father Morrissey about his work with terminally ill people, from whom he learned a great deal about faith, prayer, perseverance and surrender.

What did I say?

When it came time to tape my segment, I was put into the capable hands of a makeup artist who resisted the urge to use a trowel and paint roller on me. Like the other Christopher staffers on hand, she had a calming influence on a very nervous guest.

If you watch the show, you'll see (but not hear) me say something to Father McSweeney as the credits roll at the end. My secret message was: "I have no idea what I just said."

"No one does," he assured me. The pressure of the situation often eliminates brain space ordinarily taken up by reflection and memory.

Any good?

When I saw the finished videotape, I was astonished at the intelligent man who spoke about "The Emotional Jesus" and who looked uncannily like me. He actually made sense. My wife Mary said, "You did great," and another Catholic journalist who saw the preview telephoned to pat me on the back long-distance.

But the real test, of course, isn't what a prejudiced wife and friends think. You're the critics this time, telling me how poorly or how well I did.

(I hope you get a chance to see me on "Christopher Closeup"; it airs on WTEN, channel 10, Oct. 13 at 6:30 a.m. Tape it if that's before you rise in the morning. If you would like to read "The Emotional Jesus," call The Evangelist at 453-6688 or use the order form in The Evangelist. Also, see book section on our web site. It costs $7.95.)

(10-03-96)

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