Ho Hum, Just Another Night on Alan's Italy

This was to have been a very special night, Show # 36. My friend and art assistant on the show, Ric Herst, was to be explaining the incredible works of art at the Museo del Opera del Duomo in Florence, one of the truly great museums in Florence. He and I had worked very hard to create the "perfect" show, albeit a bit on the long side. We were sitting at the table, about to go into the mode during which all the sound checks take place and Ellen was to be doing all the things necessary to begin the show. Suddenly Ellen said that the photos were not coming through as color photos, the TriCaster was not working properly, and who knows what else. I, of course, took it all in with a grain of salt, as has become my style of late, but I was worried about Ric. I kept reassuring him that everything will be ok, just give her time to get it all straightened out. At a little after 5 we, nonetheless, began and everything just flowed along very smoothly, although Ellen by now was using The Focus Method, which only means that instead of having two images side by side, she was broadcasting the main image in the center and the "picture in picture aspect" (as everyone reading this has seen on regular TV's), at the corner, somewhat obscuring the main picture. Ric was his usual sensational self really analyzing the photos and giving the audience incredible background, history, and analysis of the technique used by the artist. I was mesmerized, as Ric took over most of the narrative. Suddenly the phone rang. It was studio technician, Richard Spool, whom Ellen had called (and usually calls when there is a major problem) earlier, calling back, now that he had time to give advice she had earlier requested. Not knowing it was Richard, Ellen handed me the phone thinking it was a viewer calling in a question. Instead Richard and I had a brief conversation, and I even asked him if he had a question. He asked us if we knew the name of the fifth pope. Of course we didn't, but I gave instead gave him the name of the first pope, St Peter. (Incidentally the fifth pope was Evaristus who served from 97/99 - 105/107. I will even show a picture of him at the beginning of next week's show) When Ellen took back the phone, she didn't realize that her brief conversation with Richard was being broadcast concurrently with Ric's analysis of the art. Laura noted this fact back home, but when I saw on the playback, it didn't seem much of a problem. Just another night on Alan's Italy. Anyway shortly after that fiasco, I realized that Ric was only half way through his presentation with only about 12 minutes left to go. I suggested on the air that we stop there and just continue on his next scheduled appearance. After all some of the greatest art was yet to come. We agreed that instead of his doing a show on the well known 20th century sculptor, Marino Marini, which is scheduled for Nov 16, he would simply pick up where he left off. With that he finished his narrative, and off we went into the conclusion, and that was that ! Incidentally for anyone interested in reading my first book, Alan's Italy: The Birth of a Television Show, you can go to "xlibris.com" and order it. All proceeds from the book will be donated by me to the Woodstock Public Access Television Station, so you would be making a contribution to this very worthwhile endeavor. They function on a very low budget and can use all the help they can get. In the meantime, buona sera e buona fortuna !