You play that news guy on TV

Sometimes when I’m out in public, I’ll hear, “You play that news guy on TV!” Now and then someone will say, “It must really get old, with everyone knowing who you are.” Truth is, not everyone knows. In the early, three-channel days of local TV, it seemed like everyone knew Miss Marcia, Bob Brandy, and Mort Lloyd. Now, with hundreds of channels, we see far more faces on the small screen.

Mr. Brandy was my first in-person celebrity sighting. He brought his show to Bryant Jr. High School, including his wife Ingrid, his horse Rebel, and his music trio. He might as well have been John Wayne. For us kids, they were both cowboys, and they were both on TV. That was good enough. If John Wayne had come to Bryant, he probably wouldn’t have drawn as big a crowd, because he wasn’t giving away snack cakes.

A few years later, I saw another local TV celebrity. I was excited about seeing him in a store, so I went up to him and said hello. He didn’t seem happy about it, which was a disappointment for a 12-yearold kid. He grunted something, and looked the other way. I never forgot that, and vowed if I ever became well-known, I would be nice to people.

In fact, I may be overdoing it. Occasionally a person will look at me, and I assume they recognize me. I’ll smile and say hello. About half the time, they smile back. But the others have no idea who I am, and probably think to themselves, “Who is this weirdo, and why did he speak to me?”

I’ve never figured out celebrities, especially on a national level, who hate being recognized. They seem perturbed when someone shouts their name. Take it from me: if you don’t want to be recognized, don’t become a TV personality, an actor, an athlete, or a politician. It comes with the territory. Frankly, if you’re in the public eye and no one knows you, your career isn’t going very well.

Then there are the stars who are always asking for “my privacy.” This usually becomes an issue when something in their life has gone awry. I do sympathize with celebrities who have lost loved ones, or who are experiencing marital problems or medical issues. I find it amusing, however, when a star who craves “privacy” poses for a national magazine cover, usually wearing little or no clothing. So much for privacy.

My first taste of TV fame came at the drive-thru window. When I pulled around to get my food, the cashier recognized me. She turned around and alerted a co-worker. “Martha, come look! That’s David Carroll, he’s on the Channel 12 Morning Show!” Martha looked through the window, saw my face and said, “Yeah, I stopped watching it when he came on.” I’m still trying to win Martha over.

A few days later, my ego got a temporary boost in the supermarket produce department. As I was squeezing tomatoes, an attractive young lady starting staring at me. She kept getting closer. She finally worked up enough courage to speak. “Excuse me,” she said, “but I just HAVE to ask you something!” My head started swelling. I’ve been recognized! I figured she wanted to ask me what it’s like being a TV star, or about the famous people I’ve met. “Sure,” I replied. “You can ask me anything.” With a sigh of relief, she said, “Thanks! Where do y’all keep your cantaloupes?” I realized I was wearing a white shirt and a red tie, just like all the store employees. She thought I was the produce boy.

Some years later, a man said, “You look familiar. Don’t I know you from somewhere?” I said, “I do the news on TV.” “Oh,” he replied. “That’s right. I just can’t think of your name.” I said, “It’s David Carroll.” He paused for a second, and said, “No, that’s not it...”

Far more recently, I was reminded how fortunate I am to be a broadcaster. I was recognized at the Burger King. A lady named Jeanette Liles said, “I’ve been staring at you, and you’re David Carroll, aren’t you?”

I owned up to it, and she said, “I know you get tired of people stopping and talking to you, but I’m 85, and this may be my one chance in a lifetime to tell you how much I love to watch you on TV.”

Jeanette, the pleasure is all mine. You made my day. Your kindness and sincerity reminded me never to take this job lightly. It is an honor to be invited into your home each day. I hope I see you again, because once in a lifetime is not enough to be in the presence of someone so special.

David Carroll, a Chattanooga news anchor, is the author of the new book “Volunteer Bama Dawg,” a collection of his best stories, available at ChattanoogaRadioTV.com, or by sending $23 to David Carroll Book, 900 Whitehall Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405. You may contact David at 3dc@epbfi.com