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SHEPHERD'S PIE GOLDEN MEMORIES

My collaboration with the famed writer and humorist Jean Shepherd was truly serendipitous; like many things in life this was a happy accident.  Doug, our Program Director, assigned me to shoot a pledge break donation spot with Jean, a part time New Jersey resident; WOR radio humorist,all-around raconteur and storyteller.  Jean was making the rounds hyping his new WGBH public TV show - Jean Shepherd's America.  In highschool I listened to him in bed when the atmosphere was right for the WOR radio signal to skip all the way to South Jersey from Manhattan.  

I was fairly blase about doing this quick job.  Fundraising promos were necessary but - BORING for most directors who think the assignment is below their talent level and should be left to an assistant!  The crew had no idea who this guy was so I filled them in as we drove north in one of the station’s ancient black Plymouth station wagons to "Shepherd Farm" in Washington, NJ.  It was a long ride north on a bumpy two lane highway.  The "farm" we found was a small cottage with a few small fenced-in fields.  One was roamed by a single white horse.  We were greeted by the only other visible livestock - a yapping Westie.  I would later learn the animals were the beloved pets of Leigh Brown,  Jean's "producer" and on-air contributor to his radio show (and eventually his wife).  She greeted us and led us to a large room to set up and reported that Jean would be available soon - “he’s on a conference call with the Boston station”.   The "den" was literally filled with shelves of books, giant piles of newspapers, towers of stacked magazines and loads of pictures of (guess who?) with another recognizable celebrity.  I had to smile when I saw that Jean was using a Playboy Wrtier of the Year Award as a bookend. A “wall of fame”was universal for most of the “celebs” I filmed in their homes.  The moment we finished setting up the lights, mike and camera Shephead entered with, "Hi gang...how's it going?"  (THE VOICE.  The Shepherd trademark, deep, mellow and so familiar.  The voice every announcer would trade their soul for was about to hawk for money for us.)  I started to explain what we what we wanted to shoot - but Jean immediately interrupted me.  ( I would find in the future that he would usually do this in most conversations as he was thinking far ahead of us all .  "I've done a ton of these.  Roll the tape!"

Good grief -  I was being directed by talent - a universal breach of TV protocol between director and performer that usually led to arguments, fist fights or worse .  But this was a freebie that was very important to my ego and so I said, "Roll tape, open his mike,"  And then I actually said "action" trying to be as directorial as possible (which only made Shepherd laugh).  He then proceeded to knock out a perfect 55 second public TV pitch.  I said “cut”.  Jean proclaimed, "Gave you some good stuff, huh... and even left five seconds at the end for a logo and phone number."  He made it plain that he was a pro and also that he had no intention of doing another take even though many times I did several just as backups in case there was a technical glitch.  (I would keep this trait in mind for the next two years - always be ready to shoot because  Shepherd rarely ever did the same thing twice.)

As the crew was packing I made some small talk saying the usual stuff:  “Great job Mr.  Shepherd...Perfect...I love Shepherd's America”.  He replied I should love his show because it was the best stuff on TV (and frankly, it was).  And then I utter the magic words that sealed my fate and opened the door for me into the public television big leagues. "You could do a very funny series about New Jersey like America.  A lot of stuff happens between New York and Philadelphia."  "Well then let's do it!" he said.  "Tell your boss that you got Shepherd on a good day and make me an offer before I change my mind."  My mind started racing like an olde Hollywood movie montage. I blurted, "Let me get back to you on this, maybe we can have lunch?"  (I couldn’t believe I actually was saying that but…) "Give little Leigh a call - that's her department."  And he sauntered from his den.

And one of the most watched shows on public television  had begun.  (T0 BE CONTINUED)

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