The Day I Met Tim Reid

Working in television as much as I did, I had the opportunity to meet a handful of "celebrities". Early one Sunday morning, I got to meet Tim Reid.

There was an episode of "The New WKRP in Cincinnati" that Reid guest starred on, reprising his most famous role of DJ Venus Flytrap. The storyline for his return was that he was now the CEO of some TV network or something and really acted as if he was above everyone at WKRP (until, of course, the very end where everything was made right). I felt like he was playing this character when I met him.

After he'd completed the studio interview I noticed he was just hanging around there, so I thought I'd go talk to him for a moment. Now I knew that anyone who talks to him probably always mentions "WKRP", so I went out of my way to compliment him on other things.

First, I shook his hand and let him know that my father and I were big fans of his short lived CBS show "Frank's Place". This was 100% true. I'd never heard my dad laugh more then when he watched that show. Mr. Reid reacted to this compliment with indifference, and began looking around the studio for someone, probably to rescue him from this unruly fan. But I figured I'd continue, so I mentioned that I'd also enjoyed a movie he directed called Once Upon A Time... When We Were Colored. "Oh, uh, thanks..." was his response, as he continued to desperately look for someone to save him from this clearly deranged lunatic that was talking to him. I had then planned to ask him about acclaimed director John Frankenheimer, who'd just passed away and Reid had worked with him on a film called Dead Bang, but instead I just wandered away.  It was clear he wanted no part of me.

I'm not one to bother people, celebrities in particular. But I didn't act like some blithering idiot, and I didn't approach him on the street, invading his privacy. He was in MY place of business at 8am on a Sunday morning in Podunk, Florida. You'd think the one person in the entire town who could mention anything else in his body of work besides "WKRP" would be worth eye contact at least. If I was that level of celebrity and someone not only knew my body of work that well but also complimented me highly on it, I'd be thrilled.

Perhaps one day he'll read this article and realize the error of his ways, just as Venus did in that "New WKRP" episode. Hell, he should be happy someone even watched that show.