Rick Minerd - Life Is A Jukebox

Hosting a talk-show was probably the most worthwhile thing I did as a broadcaster. Playing music was fun, but nothing really meaningful came from many years as a disc jockey. It was in talk radio where I think I finally caught up to what broadcasters should be doing.

As it turned out it changed not only my outlook on the business, but the business I went into  as a result;  law enforcement.  Had I not met Sheriff Earl O. Smith when he was a guest on my show I might have spent the next twenty years chasing radio signals. I doubt if I would have enjoyed the tenure that guys like Bob Connors of WTVN and Mark Wagner of WLVQ have had by remaining gainfully employed by the same employer as they still remain.

I've written about some of the more memorable experiences I've had in radio and some of the more interesting interviews I did. Three stand out as miserable  attempts to "bond" with a guest.

Vincent Buliosi who prosecuted Charles Manson for the famous Tate/Labianca murders in 1969 was a bit of an ass. I couldn't get much past the introduction with him. It was my hope to discuss the Manson Family and somehow our signals got crossed. Buliosi thought we'd spend an hour promoting his latest book, which was on an entirely different subject. Within five minutes of the conversation it turned into a bitter argument. And finally after calling me several unflattering names, incompetent the least of the insults, he hung up on me.

Next on the forgettable list was Mike Ferrell, aka  B.J. Hunnicutt from  the 1970s TV show-M.A.S.H.  Ferrell was in Columbus for something, I don't remember what, and we had arranged for him to be a  guest on my program.

 I was under the impression that we would discuss his reasons for being in the Capital City,and hopefully talk a little about  M*A*S*H. and some of the characters on that show. He wanted to discuss one of his politically correct issues he was involved with.  After M*A*S*H   he became an activist for various causes. None of which interested me.  He too ended the conversation as soon as he realized he wasn't going to control it.

And then there was our good friend Goober.  Known in the real world as George Lindsey. The only thing I found interesting about him was his years on  "The Andy Griffith Show" and his time spent as a cast member on  "HeeHaw."  And that's what I wanted to chat about. But Goober wanted to spend the hour talking about  "The Andy Griffith Reunion Show" that was scheduled to be on television that night. He thought we had booked him to do an hour-long promo for the show. Each time I tried to steer him back to the 1960s he became more and more belligerent. Finally I ended the conversation.

Doing talk radio changed how I looked at celebrities.

 I used to get excited about opportunities to meet them. But that slowly changed.

I became someone who would rather not meet them.  I found that it was better to admire them by watching them on television, or by reading things they published.

If you never meet someone you have high opinions of you probably won't ever be disappointed by them. After meeting Goober I really missed Gomer, the character he replaced, and after my chat with Mike Ferrell I remembered how much funnier Trapper John-Wayne Rogers was when he was Hawkeye's bunk-mate.

And Vincent Buliosi had me, at least for a moment rooting for Old Charlie the next I  watched Helter Skelter. Only a moment.    Rick

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