I once related the story of my partner and I attending an awards
ceremony looking like idiots in matching brown tuxedos and peach ruffled
shirts. But that is not to suggest that I don't normally dress
extremely well. In fact, I was in GQ.
No. Really.
Honest.
I’m serious.
Somehow GQ magazine got wind of my going off to Syracuse in 1988 to
announce minor league baseball. They decided to do an article about me.
My wife is still laughing. “You in GQ?”
I did the phone interview with Ron Powers who wrote the piece. Then I
got a call from their photographer. They wanted to take pictures of me
that Friday at a local baseball stadium. I said fine. The photographer
then wanted to know what I’d be wearing. I said I didn’t know. This was
only Monday and my mom usually doesn’t pick out my clothes until the
night before. He asked my measurements and said he would bring
something. Now I was a little pissed off. Just because I was a writer
did he automatically assume I was a schlump? I can't believe he saw me
on DON KIRSCHNER'S ROCK AWARDS. I told him I would bring my own
wardrobe. Obviously his concern was not assuaged. He asked if I’d bring a
selection.
I’m the same height and size as Ted Danson. The next day I went to the
CHEERS wardrobe guy and asked if I could borrow some Sam Malone shirts
and slacks.
Friday afternoon I hooked up with the photographer. I think I was
wearing a torn t-shirt. There was already a lump in his throat. I opened
my trunk and let him examine my se
lection.
The accompanying picture is a well...an approximation. His eyes almost
popped out. “Jesus, this is great stuff!” he said, astonished. “Any one
of these would be perfect.” “Well YEAH,” I said as if it couldn't be
more obvious. “It might surprise you to learn that most television
writers are total fashion hounds. Much of the time in writers rooms is
spent discussing men’s haberdashery.”
I accepted his apology and hoped that he had a new respect for how writers really felt about wardrobe.
He went off to set up his camera while I put one of the shirts on, glad that he didn’t see the “Property of Paramount Pictures” tag that was still on the sleeve.
The article came out August 1988. I see my shirt all the time in reruns.
Really, you should have gotten a Lindsey Nelson jacket.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those times when you should have posted a picture of Natalie Wood.
ReplyDeleteM.B.
Now, the way I heard it, as an inevitable consequence, Mr Levine wound up living a double life with a near-sighted Mary Steenburgen
ReplyDeleteI remember a BARNEY MILLER where Levitt got the chance to work plainclothes and ended up using a rented tux complete with cummerbund.
ReplyDeleteNext time consider the mariachi look sported by Joe Kelly at the White House this year.
ReplyDeleteDid GQ NOT publish your photo?
ReplyDeleteThis is not exactly the "Cover of the Rolling Stone" - but didn't you (or the wife) keep the issue?
Is there a link to your GQ article (or at least the accompanying photograph)?
ReplyDeleteDid GQ publish that writers are serious about fashion?
ReplyDelete