You got to start somewhere by OverNightJoe@gmail.com (Joe Stockslader)

Hey Joe,” Garrett said

“Hold on one second,” Joe replied. “I want to see the end of this.

“What’s going on,” Garrett asked.

“Mannix has been after this guy all episode.” Joe said. “Now he has got him.”

“Looks more like this guy has that girl in a choke hold.”

“Ya, but the question is will Mannix talk this guy into letting this girl go, or will he shoot him?”

“Haven’t you seen this one before? METV has been running this show forever.”

“Ya, but I don’t remember how it ends. After all, I am an old fart. My memory isn’t like it used to be.”

“Look, he is letting her go.”

“Typical 70’s television. Mannix talked him into surrendering and saved the day. If this was a show produced today Mannix would have probably shot him.” Joe said. “Now, what can I do for you young man?”

“How old is that coffee,” Garrett asked

“Five hours probably. I made it when I got in at ten, and it is one of my famous double baggers too.”

“The extra strong stuff, huh.”

“Follow me into the breakroom. I will make you a fresh pot.”

“Only one bag please.”

“Wimp.”

“How is everything going in the newsroom,” Joe asked, “Any breaking news tonight?

“No, kind of quiet this morning.” Garrett says, “No shooting, robberies, or fires.”

“Lets hope it stays that way.” Joe says. “Now I will give you a choice. You want Folgers, Maxwell House, Chock Full of Nuts, or 8 '0 Clock coffee?”

“Maxwell House.”

“Final answer”

“B, final answer,” Garrett said. “Wow, that new coffee distributor that we went with sure gives us variety.”

“They better for all the free advertising were giving them in trade.” Joe said.

“There, it is perking. Give it about five minutes."

“Thanks.”

“Since we have a few minutes how is your trainee doing,” Joe asked. “ “More important is Chris starting to get this producing thing? It has been what? Five weeks since he has been working with you.”

“Six, he is getting there, but I don’t think he is going to make the deadline.”

“Management gave you guys a deadline?”

“Yes, two more weeks.” Garrett said. “I am not sure what to do? They want Chris ready to produce and anchor in two weeks. I don’t think he is going to be ready.”

“I don’t get that. He produced and anchored a newscast at the station he worked at before here. That was why they hired him.”

“He co-produced and coanchored. He had help. Plus it was only a thirty minute newscast twice a day on Saturdays and Sundays.”

“A 6pm and a 11PM, right?”

“Right, plus it was a much smaller market. In farm country. Their breaking news was bad weather and kids getting arrested for cow tipping.”

“It is done. How do you take your coffee?”

“Put two of those hazelnut creamers in there.” Garrett said

“So what are you going to tell them?”

“That is my dilemma. If I tell them Chris is not ready I am going to get stuck working weekends for another month or two.”

“Here you go. Watch out, it is hot.”

“Thanks, how can you drink it black,” Garrett asks

“Years of practice my friend. It comes from 36 years working behind the scenes in television and there not being any cream or sugar in the building,” Joe said. “So what are you going to do?”

“That’s just it. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to screw over Chris, but you can’t blame me for wanting to get off of weekends.

When I started on my own there was nobody was here to help me. I had to figure it all out on my own. Why shouldn’t I let Chris have to figure it out on his own too.”

“Because you didn’t have to anchor, just produce.” Joe said. “Let's go back to master control. After all, my job is to keep the stations on the air.”

“Do you remember the first time you had to work alone?”

“You mean back in the day. I was lucky. There were two people in the building working overnights with me. A film editor and a promotions editor. They both started in master control. So if I had a question or a problem I could ask them. I remember there were a few times you came into master control to ask me questions.”

“Which you didn’t have any answers for.”

“Because I never worked in news. Just operations, but that didn’t stop people.”

“What does that mean?”

“In all the years I have been doing this I have had producers, directors, editors, reporters, anchors, and even sales staff run into master control asking me questions. Unless it is something pertaining to master control I don’t have the answer, but for some reason they think I do.

“What did you tell them?

“To either figure it out on their own, or call their boss. Which is what I will tell Chris when he is on his own and comes in to ask me a question. Then he will call the news director. Then you know what will happen next don’t you?”

“The news director will not have the answers. Which means he will tell him to call the person who trained him.”

“Sounds like you have first hand knowledge of this.”

“Yes, I had to wake up a few people when I started on my own, or wait for the anchor to come in at 4:00AM to help me. After all, most of the talent started as producers.”

“You might say it will be time to pay the piper, but you are going to have it worse than anyone.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Chris is not going to have any anchor to come in and help him. Which means he is going to call the guy who trained him.”

“Me.”

“Yes, and since you live right down the street from the station you will end up coming in.”

“Great!”

“Sounds to me like you have to decide what you want more. Then use it to your advantage. You want a cookie? My wife put homemade ones in my lunch bag. They go great with coffee.”

“Sure, but you lost me with that advantage comment.”

“You have to decide what you want more.”

“These are good”

“Yep, nobody makes chocolate chips better than my wife. Anyway, do you want weekends off, or will use this to use this to your advantage.”

“How do I do that?”

“In a couple of weeks your going to get pulled into the news director’s office. When he asks you how Chris is doing you can tell him he is doing fine. Then suffer the consequences. Otherwise, you can use this to your advantage.”

“How do I do that?”

“You want to get on the air, right.”

“How do you know that,” Garrett asked.

“Because everyone who gets into this business wants to be on the air,” Joe answers. “We all get attracted to this business by watching TV. In my case it was listening to the radio. I made it on the radio too. Until the Communications Act of 1996 was signed.”

“What’s that?”

“You probably were not even born yet, right?”

“Right.”

“It allowed a company to own more than one radio station in a market. Which meant things became more corporate and automated. Which is how I ended up here.”

“Okay, but you still didn’t answer the advantage question.”

“Sorry about that. I got off track.”

“You go into the news director’s office. Tell him you are willing to stay on weekends as a co-producer for a while, but you want something in return.”

“Which is”

“To be on the air. Nothing fancy. Tell him you will start with studio shots or newsroom shots. Like they do during the week. Only one story. Hey, you got to start somewhere. This will get you on the air, and some experience. Say something like Chris can school you about being on air and you continue to train him on producing.”

“That is a good idea.”

“Later on, after you get some experience, you go in for the big kill,” Joe says. “When there is big breaking news you can go out and cover it. Because there will be two people here. Hopefully, Chris will be up to speed by then on producing.You might even get to go out and cover something on one of the weekday mornings you work.”

“That might just work,” Garrett said. “What if they don’t go for it.”

“Which could happen,” Joe says. “And do you know why?

“Because it makes too much sense.”

“Bingo! You are learning Grasshopper.”

“Grasshopper?”

“Oh that’s right, you were not born yet when Kung Fu was on television. Nevermind. Anyway, you will have to cross that bridge if that happens.”

“Wow, thanks Joe.”

“Looks like I gave you something to think about for the next few weeks.”

“You sure did.”Garrett said.”I better get back to the newsroom. To see how Chris is doing.”

“Hold on for one minute,” Joe said. “Now, I want something in return for this wonderful advice I am giving you.”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t forget me when you move up to a network job. Bring me in for a tour sometime and introduce me to the writers. Not the news writers. The writers for the TV shows in the building. Get me into a writers room. Like say for example you get a gig at NBC. Introduce me to the writers for Law and Order, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show or Late Night. Shows like that.”

“You write?”

“Every chance I get. Articles, blogs, stories, and scripts. Hopefully they will read something I wrote. Give me some advice. Maybe even hire me as an intern. You can vouch for me that I make good coffee.”

“I would like to see something you wrote.”

“I got a short script I have been working on.” Joe said, “I have been thinking about turning it into a short story for a contest I read about.”

“Cool.”

“So, do we have a deal?”

“Only if I can get another one of those cookies.”

“Deal”

“At your age would you really become an intern?”

“Sure I would.” Joe said. “Hey it is like I told you. You have to start somewhere. Even at 63. I will never give up on my dream. Hell they might consider me over a college kid. All this life experience I have.”

“Guess I never thought of that.”

“Everything goes in cycles in this business. I might just get lucky and work on a television show about a television show.”

“Like 30 Rock,” Garrett says. “I love that show. I streamed that show during college.”

“I watched it when it was on NBC.” Joe said. “While I was working. Now before I give you a cookie promise me something.”

“What’s that”

“This business is all about connections. Promise me to stay in touch and be a connection.”

“Promise, want to shake on it.”

“Yes! Promise not to forget me when you are a big shot.

“You have my word.” Garrett said. “And do you know why?”

“Why,” Joe asked.

“Because my friend you are a hard guy to forget.”