My partner, David and I were writing spec scripts, going nowhere, not even getting read at most shows. Then one day my mother found herself playing golf with Gordon Mitchell, one of the story editors of THE JEFFERSON. Like any good mom she said her son was a brilliant young writer and would he consider reading a script? Frankly, I’m a little surprised she didn’t have a copy in her bag but still. As a favor to her, Gordon did read our spec, liked it, and to our amazement, gave us our first assignment. In so many ways my mother has been a true angel in my life. And never once asked for her 10%. Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you.
From this picture you can see she was in good company with the Gods.
ReplyDeleteVery sweet rememberance. As much as we love our fathers and siblings, nothing compares to the love we have for our mothers.
ReplyDeleteSweet story. But how did your Mom come to be playing golf with a TV story editor in the first place?
ReplyDeleteWhether it be during life on this mortal coil, or when they "break on through to the other side", our parents never stop loving us.
ReplyDeleteIt will be eleven years since my mom passed. I wish I had inherited her discipline and work ethic. If I had I might have a PhD or a Nobel Prize by now. With Mother's Day approaching, here's what I do. Since my mom is gone I buy flowers or cards, etc. for other people's mothers. I figure its a nice way to honor her memory.
ReplyDeleteM.B.
Your mom sounds awesome.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful sentiment Ken. I'm sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI get it, Ken. I almost turned down my first job in television. I had been promised a job that I was told would start in a month or so. This was right after college when I first moved to Los Angeles, and I thought the "promise" of an upcoming job was the same as actually working. I have since learned that an "upcoming job" without a firm start date could mean next month, next year, or even the next decade! The job never materialized, however at the time it felt real to me. Anyway, my mother came to visit me while I was waiting for a start date on the job I thought I had. During her visit, I got a call from a television show to come in for an interview. I was just about to turn it down when I saw my mom waving her arms in front of me, telling me not to turn it down -- to at least take the interview. I did, and got the job. That's where my career started. If not for my mom's intervention who knows how long it would have taken me to break into the industry. The job I got, by the way, led to much of my career over the next decade. I'm lucky my mom was there at that pivotal time in my life with some really sound advice.
ReplyDeleteThey always talk about having the right connections in show biz, but your own mother? Wow!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the pic. It brings back great memories of your wonderful family.
ReplyDeleteShe was beautiful. Julie, Burlington, Iowa
ReplyDeleteVery sweet remembrance.
ReplyDeleteGreat look back on your mom, Ken. My dad also would've turned 90 this month. He died the day before his 89th birthday last year. I miss both my parents but am happy they both had long lives.
ReplyDeleteWhat say ye to this headline from Deadline.com: Carol Burnett Says ABC Pilot Fizzled Because Of Network Meddling. Is she right? Should they have just left her alone?
ReplyDeleteThat is a very sweet remembrance that kind of hits home for me. My own mother's name was also Marilyn and she passed away last year at age 85.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what happens when your parents are in the right place at the right time. My dad had been friends since grade school with Sam, the man who owned our local radio stations (where 16-year-old me was desperate to work), but I was adamant with Dad that I didn't want his assistance because I wanted to do things the "right" way. So my application ended up in a pile, and I had to get a job at Wendy's instead.
ReplyDeleteA couple of months into my fast food gig, my dad happened to run into Sam and asked him how business was going. The owner said, "My biggest problem is I can't find good people to work these weekend shifts anymore... they all flake out on me." At this point, my dad could no longer control himself and said, "Andy has been trying to get a job at your place... nobody ever calls him back." "Oh, I can fix that," said Sam, and two days later I had a new job.