wtl

something's been going on and I don't know what it is . . .

These are some observations I made during appearances from the last quarter of 1998. Most are in the form of questions since many things puzzled me:

On CBS This Morning, while the band performed at South Street Seaport (September 4, 1998), someone asks the band, “Where is your favorite place to tour?” Taylor answers, “Right here!” (or something like this) to the loud cheers from the Big Apple fans in the audience. (NOTE: Zac was reluctant to answer. In fact, he seemed baffled about how to come up with a genuine response.) At the time, I thought, “Once again, Taylor’s charm extends to whomever is directly in front of him.” This may sound cynical, but really, it’s a gift if people believe him. However, this statement proved to be his true sentiment, when a couple months later, Taylor caused shockwaves in the Hanson community on Rosie (November 10, 1998), when he named the New York fans as “THE BEST.” My response while viewing the shows was, “(wince) Oh hon, that wasn’t very thoughtful — That just might hurt some people’s feelings.” However, my note to saddened fans who aren’t from THE CITY, “Take a minute to check out ‘Sometimes’ again — I guess sometimes, even Taylor forgets, just how much you mean to them . . .”
On the MTV Music Video Awards (September 10, 1998), two questions came to mind:
A) Does anyone else find the name “Hole” slightly disturbing for a band? (This is probably the point.)

B) Why do the members of this band choose to say things on national television that would normally launch an investigation into their lives by the local child protection agency? (I’m referring to comments which I won’t repeat, made by the band in reference to Hanson . . .)
Moving on . . .
Am I alone in thinking that Zac looked kind of drowsy and bored during the interview for Hard Rock Live? (October 24, 1998) The band sounded very nice and this venue seemed to give them credibility and recognition as a "real rock and roll band."
What about David Letterman? (November 9, 1998) A couple of questions:
A) What were you THINKING?! Why book George Michael with Hanson if you plan to discuss charges involving lewd and indecent behavior in public? However commercial this topic of discussion may be, why mention Hanson’s presence in the back room as a warning to George, but then steer the discussion toward the “M-word” that George said he would make an effort to avoid? — Avoiding it unsuccessfully, I might add! (Some people might wonder if I found ANY humor in this interview? Sadly, yes. ;-D)

B) Dave, Dave . . . what are you afraid of? Why won’t you interview the band? I really want to know the answer to this question.
So, then the band appears on the Howie Mandel Show. (November 11, 1998)
For the fans:
Why do you scream when you came to hear the band? (Alright, even I’m getting bored with this question since I’m NEVER going to get an answer apparently. BUT I still HAVE to ask! (c;)
For Howie:
Didn’t you appear on the same show with Hanson as a guest last year (possibly on Jay Leno)? If so, WHY weren’t you paying attention when the band answered the same questions you asked them on your show?!!
For Hanson:
Do you TRULY save all of your mail in a huge building that was built just for that purpose? (If so, COOL!!! I don’t feel so bad jeopardizing a major fire hazard by holding onto boxes of letters from dear friends and family -- some dating as far back as when I could barely hold a pencil.)
For the ER guest:
(Where do I begin with this lady? I had so much fun watching her interact with the guys. hehe) When you have a British accent, does it give a person the license to say just about whatever the heck they want? I put this section of the interview on “Closed Caption” on my television, and had to laugh when I saw that someone was forced to type in the word “FAH-TING.” I figured that the hearing impaired guessed its true meaning when they saw Zac’s face light up in amusement when he heard it.
Jay (The Tonight Show -- December 4, 1998) – The girlfriend question, AGAIN?!! I’m almost thinking it’s your secret weapon of revenge against Hanson’s amazingly loyal fans. (shrug)
Are Hanson fans the only people who have ever tuned in to the Buddy Faro show (December 4, 1998)? Did they do it because of their undyingly devotion to the band and the song that “the band got the title of the album from and also the title of the tour?” There’s no need to answer this question – it’s quite obvious.
This thought crossed my mind while watching The Billboard Music Awards: (December 7, 1998)
Why do people like Kathy Griffin — who has referred to herself as Hanson’s “gangsta’ b****” on “Fox After Breakfast” — have continual access to Hanson, while true fans of the music do not? (I’m not bitter, really. It’s just an observation. — grin)
Finally, you knew it was coming . . . MELROSE PLACE (December 21, 1998)?!!! Were Mr. and Mrs. Hanson able to see the script before the filming of this “family friendly” (cough, cough) program? I have a feeling that they were not able to understand the script as it hadn’t yet been spellchecked way back in October. Besides the Pulitzer-prize winning writers weren’t quite sure how to word the comment made by an older woman following the shot of the band playing at the Christmas benefit . . . Do Taylor’s words from a now famous interview come to mind? — “Get some control, woman!”

Well, you’re probably wondering, “Jackie, where’s the love?” You know I adore the band. I’m just constantly amazed by their treatment as public figures. It’s a fascinating study of whether people who live in the public eye are taken seriously by ANYONE, or if it’s impossible to do so in the medium of television (Think “Jerry Springer”). I’m reminded of Owen Meany, the subject of A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. His only comment for anything that was unexplainably crass was, “That was MADE FOR TV.”

(Read the book, I highly recommend it.)