Andy Warhol once predicted that each of us will be famous for fifteen
minutes. If so, I’ve had more than my share of fame this week. On Tuesday,
November 7, my Seduced by Mrs. Robinson:
How The Graduate Became the
Touchstone of a Generation was published by Algonquin Books. To commemorate
the big day, I found myself booked to do no fewer than thirteen radio
interviews, starting at 6 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. As I write this, I’m on
tap for eight more today, as well as an evening appearance at one of my
favorite indie bookstores, Book Soup. I just hope I can keep my eyes open: I’m
normally a stay-up-late kind of gal, but this past week I’ve been springing
awake at 4:30 a.m., ready to rumble.
Yesterday was an off day—all I had to do was drive from my
Santa Monica home to Culver City where National Public Radio has its west coast
headquarters. There the adorably blue-haired Leo del Aguila fitted me with oversized
earphones and made sure I sounded good on mike. Then suddenly I was talking to
Robert Siegel, the senior host of All Things Considered, who turned out to be a
fellow Baby Boomer with fond memories of seeing The Graduate for the first time. How nice to chat, both before and
after the official interview, with a man blessed with a sonorous voice and a
good-humored manner, even if he was speaking to me from thousands of miles
away. Ah, the magic of modern communications!
The great thing about radio (just ask Terry Gross!) is that
no one cares what you look like. You don’t have to wonder what to do with your
hands, nor worry about whether you hold your mouth in a funny position when
listening to someone else speak. A bad hair day is no big deal on radio.
Theoretically you could roll out of bed, pick up the telephone, and do the
interview in your jammies. But media experts strongly advise that you freshen
up and put clothes on. If nothing else, that will make you feel more
professional. I’ve also been told that it helps to speak standing up, and that
moving around will give your voice more energy. That’s why, during radio
interviews from my home, you’ll find me roaming around the living room, trying
out dance moves (yes, really) and checking out spots that my cleaning lady may
have missed.
How do I know what to talk about? That’s easy. I know the
contents of Seduced by Mrs. Robinson
as well as the back of my hand. (Better, actually – I don’t spend a lot of time
studying my hands.) And all the prep
work done by Algonquin is really paying off. All my interviewers have received
a press release as well as a list I’ve drawn up containing 20 surprising facts
about The Graduate. Especially when a
radio host hasn’t had time to actually read my book, I get lots of questions
like this one: Which soon-to-be famous movie and TV folk had tiny bit parts in The Graduate? (Answer—future Oscar
winner Richard Dreyfuss, who has one line as a college kid, and TV’s Mike
Farrell, playing a bellhop at the Taft Hotel.) So far, at least, everyone has
been super-friendly. Clearly no one is trying to trip me up. But in any case I
know the biggest enemy of radio is dead air, so the essential thing is to KEEP
TALKING, no matter what. Funny thing: as
a natural-born chatterbox, I have no problem on that score.
If you’re curious to
hear the results of my All Things Considered interview, here it is!
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