MBS/NBC Radio 10-Year Reunion

I love it when a plan comes together.

Showing up at Saturday night's Mutual/NBC Radio reunion was almost like going to the MBS/NBC Christmas Party back in the day. For a lot of us; reconnecting was almost like not having to reconnect at all. Many of us had stayed in touch over the years; some of us had worked together again since the two networks were ousted from Crystal City in August, 1998. Some people weren't there because they were working and couldn't get off. Others weren't there because they weren't with us anymore. Regardless; everyone who was there had a great time. Lots of memories. Lots of inside stuff that spouses and outsiders who aren't in the business don't understand:

--Jim Bohannon was the perfect MC, as he always is.

--Bob Edwards read the "Mutual" chapter from his soon-to-be-released memoirs. It pretty much put the entire network in perspective. It also told the saga of C. Edward Little; legendary now...at least to the Geezers. The youngins don't understand what that era was all about.

--Dan Scanlan was moved to tears.

--Yours Truly played and commented on the last-ever MBS cast from Crystal City.

--John Henrehan told his Tom O'Brien story which, if you had ever worked with Tom, hit everything on the head. Everyone who worked there in the Bopper Era has a Tom O'Brien story.

--Dick Rosse, who may actually look younger than ten years ago, read a poem he wrote for the occasion.

--Paul Anthony played the "Laff and Gaffe" blooper reels, with commentary in between each cut. Sad they didn't have the one with Tony Marvin, obviously schnockered, completely butchering a "The World Today" newscast when the sponsor's executives were in a listening room in Minneapolis. Tony got two weeks off for that one. Anyone else (at the time) would have been permanently jettisoned from the industry.

--Marty Davis was stunning, as usual. She shot the video and it'll be on YouTube shortly.

--Bart Tessler, our boss at the end, showed up for the cocktail gathering, then, left.

--Phil Alexiou liked the salmon.

--I would have walked right by Rob Schaefer on the street. Glad I saw his name tag lol!

--Cara Fogarty and husband John Stempin couldn't make it at the last minute. Sad, since Cara was a good friend to all of us.

--Pat McDougall brought her mega-expensive Canon digital SLR and got lots of candids.

--Pat O'Donnell (Wash/Balt AFTRA Exec Secretary) sat at the front table. I hoped they comped her ticket. Pat's efforts in 1997 kept our salaries, severance and benefits intact. If it weren't for Pat; we would've gotten about $37.50 when we left. Pat's now-late husband, Tom Powers, was the AFTRA local counsel for years. He, too, was remembered fondly. He was just as instrumental in getting that contract as Pat was. Pat would probably say even more so than her.

--Where was Dean Everette? How could we have a party without Dean?

--We remembered Fred Lowery. We all wish Fred could have been there. Perhaps he was, anyway. We also remembered Kurt Henschen. He was probably there in spirit, too.

Jill "I Need A Job" Nado and Rita Rich did a helluva job of putting this thing together.

Reunions don't mean much except to those who attend them. But we had close to 100 people show up for an event where Jill was hoping just to break even with 50-60. There were others who couldn't come that night who wanted to; others were conspicuously absent. I know one thing: The 12th floor of 1755 Jeff Davis Highway--as screwed up as it was--was home for a lot of us in more ways than "just a job." When we left 8/31/98, severance checks in hand; we left a piece of ourselves in that building. Perhaps that's why so many of us showed up Saturday night. We may have moved on in jobs and careers, but will always remember the toil to put together a product that, despite the limitations--was many times better than the rest.