TV Talking and Listening
The hostess really lives on the positive side, friendly, outgoing, with an enthusiasm for the good in people. She interviewed me about Waiting with Elmer, as well as other books I’ve written. On her program she talks about faith, family, and mission. That was all I knew going into the interview, so one might say it was “off the cuff,” or adlibbed. I’d been interviewed once before on TV in Charlotte for about 8 minutes. The script was more-or-less prepared, and I looked at a camera. This one lasted 30 minutes; two twenty-five-minute segments with one commercial break. I wondered if I could talk that long. I tend to speak the way I write, in short, precise sentences. I’m used to editing as I go, taking out all extraneous words. I thought about interviews I’ve listened to, especially sports interviews, where they talk just to fill the time slot, interrupting and talking at the same time, and not add anything pertinent after the first five minutes. Is that what I would do? What did I have to say anyway?
Anne didn’t really ask any questions. She said, “Tell our listeners about…” So I was on my own. “I read where you…tell us about how that came about…” She was wonderful. We’ve all seen interviewers who tend to tell the entire story themselves then ask their guest, “is that right?” After they concur, the host jumps back in and carries on. Anne hardly spoke at all, and never interrupted me one time. She asked me to tell the listeners about something and she let me do that, all the while looking at me as if she were interested in every word. I’d been told to look at her, to talk to her.
I thought she was wonderful at her job. She thought I was a wonderful guest! Everything seems more positive, doesn’t it, when people look at each other and actually listen? There isn’t a lot of that going on these days. Our current style seems to be talk loud, talk incessantly, laugh, interrupt, and talk at the same time. Perhaps we’re watching too many negative TV personalities. May I recommend The Positive Side with Anne DeSantis? You can watch this segment tomorrow (Friday the 13th) at 1 PM at this link. https://rvntv/live-broadcast/