Today was the day everything would become clear. What exactly did these TVG guys expect from me? Since the "meeting," rumor had it that Helen would not be working the presentation with me after all. Hmmmm... 'Did something go down that upset her?' I wondered. Maybe things were falling apart somewhere in the machinery. Well, at least I was still getting paid to show up. So show up I did.
At 12 noon today I reached Hollywood Park and started strolling around the race track looking for the boys. And I strolled. And I strolled. No boys. At 12:30 I tired of strolling and sat down to read up on the Breeder's Cup and watch me a couple of horsy races. I called my agent and left them a message to let them know I was at the track but couldn't find TVG. So I sat tight and waited for the call. My agent got back to me at 1:30pm and I got the number for TVG. By 2pm, the mystery had been solved and I was sitting with Doug Brown and the lunch table.
The plan had evolved thusly. Lots of media pieces showing the look of the Television Games Network, some chat from the TVG executives, and then periodically cutting over to the "side stage" where I would be interviewing track presidents and owners about thier feelings in regards to TVG. Gulp. "Just play with them a little bit, tear them apart. Have fun with them, loosen it up a bit." These were my instructions. The "script" for me was merely a rough sketch, if you will. Some possible answers, some possible segues. And the rest up to me. This was going to be a tall order.
We got upstairs by 3:30 and I waited while they finished setting up all the technical aspects of the program. Never happened. I spent the next few hours doing a crossword puzzle, studying the tech script, and reading nearly every word of the TVG press packet for tomorrow's program. I guess I knew at around 5:30 that this rehearsal they spoke of was not going to happen as I watched the TVG executives head out to get ready for the evening's Breeder's Cup Party on the Paramount Lot. But there I sat trying to figure out a five-letter word for "adjust slightly." Ah, show business.
Before I left, I tried on some clothes for tomorrow and I got all the written materials so that I could plan a little banter instead of having to rely solely on my "on the spot" charm. I left the park at about 6:45pm quite unsettled about the events of tomorrow. Lots of names for me, lots of questions about things I know little about, and certainly not lots of rehearsal on the "Rehearsal Day." Gulp is right.
(TWEAK)