The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe - 167: They Knew It When They Saw It

Episode Date: August 12, 2020

And Jerry knew that he desperately needed to get to a meeting.

The ocean moves us, surfing a wave or savoring the view. The ocean delights us as playful otters restore coastal kelpores. The ocean connects us. Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium.org slash connects. This is the way I heard it. Madeline picked up her client on a Wednesday afternoon, a little after 3 p.m. His audition was at 4, but his meeting was at 6. I can't be late for another meeting, said Jerry.

I need to be inside that church before 6 p.m. I get it, said Madeline, your meetings are important, but this audition could change your life. I'm telling you, Jerry, this part was written for you. Jerry snorted. Where had he heard that before? Every casting agent, every producer, every bottom feeder in this whole crummy business

had told him the same thing a dozen times over. Now, after a career that included the stage, the silver screen, and God only knew how many commercials, he was still hearing it, this time from his manager. What's the project? asked Jerry. It's a juicy role in a new sitcom, said Madeline. What's a show about? The producers told me it's a show about the everyday occurrences of everyday living.

Sounds like a show about nothing, said Jerry. Sounds like a steady paycheck, said Madeline. Jerry sighed. Well, how far is the church from the studio? Fifteen minutes, said Madeline. And how long is this audition? It's really just a meeting with the producers and a quick read-through of a single scene.

You'll be in and out in no time. All right, said Jerry. I'll do it. Let's meet the producers on the way to the church. But let's do it quick. I really can't be late. Madeline could see that Jerry was in no condition to drive. But that didn't mean he couldn't audition.

She got him to the studio at five minutes to four, where nine other actors waited to audition. The receptionist asked them to sign in and hand to Jerry the sides, two pages of dialogue to be performed for the producers. Would it be possible, ask Madeline for my client to go first? He has another meeting at 6 p.m. A very important meeting, said Jerry. I'm sorry, said the reception.

but there are nine actors before you. Jerry gave his manager a worried glance and quickly did the math. If the producers took 10 minutes with each actor, that would be 90 minutes. That meant he'd be called around 5.30. That would get him on the road by 545, and that would get him to the church right at 6 p.m. tight, but doable. Are you nervous? Ask the manager. You look nervous. I'm fine, said I just can't be late for my meeting. For crying out loud, Jerry, would you please stop worrying about your meeting? You need to focus. Come on, let's run the lines.

Jerry sighed. Madeline really was a fine manager, and he had done well by her over the years. But she didn't understand the importance of what happened every week in that church basement. She didn't understand the fellowship and what that fellowship meant to guys like Jerry. For the next 90 minutes, Madeline tried to get her client to focus. She ran lines, she offered encouragement. She made suggestions as the other actors were called in one at a time. Happily, the first three hopefuls were in and out in less than five minutes each.

That's good, whispered Madeline. If they don't keep you for at least ten minutes, you haven't got a shot. Jerry was also encouraged. At this rate, he'd make his meeting with time to spare. But then the pace began to slow. The producers kept the next three actors for ten minutes each. The two after that for 15 minutes, and the one after that for nearly 20 minutes.

What the hell were they doing in there? Jerry grew increasingly alarmed as the big hand on his watch seemed to pick up speed. It was 5.40 by the time his name was finally called. Good luck, said Madeline. And remember, this part was written for you. Jerry took a deep breath and strode quickly onto the sound stage. There, two producers sat in director chairs behind a television camera.

There were bright lights everywhere and a white X on the floor made of masking tape. Jerry stood on the X and tried not to look anxious. Hello, Jerry. My name is Bob. This is my partner, John. We're the producers of this project, and we really appreciate you coming by. "'My pleasure,' said Jerry, "'though his expression,' said something else.

"'You know,' said Bob, "'John and I have auditioned over 5,000 actors for this part. "'That seems like an awful lot,' said Jerry. "'What kind of actor are you guys looking for?' "'Well,' said John, to be perfectly honest, "'we don't know.' "'No,' said Bob, we don't, "'but we'll know it when we see it.'

Jerry nodded. "'Well, Mr., what do you see over here?' here. Bob considered the actor standing before them, fidgeting, antsy, and clearly distracted. He considered the blue trousers, two sizes too big, the starched blue shirt, and the tie that appeared to be choking him. Then, Bob asked a question. Tell me something, Jerry, and be honest. Do you even want to be here right now? Jerry glanced at the clock on the wall. No, sir. I'm sorry, your show sounds. swell, but I've really got to get to a meeting. Bob recognized the signs. He'd been through the same program himself many years ago. He'd sat in a church basement, and he had taken that same solemn pledge.

I understand, said Bob. Thank you for being honest. Go to your meeting. Good luck with your show, Mr. I hope you find what you're looking for. During the car ride over to the church, Madeline made no attempt to hide her disappointment. You were in there less than a minute, she said. What did they say to you? Jerry shrugged. They said they didn't know what they were looking for, but that they would know it when they saw it. I guess I wasn't it. Jerry's manager got her client to the church at exactly two minutes before six, as promised. Don't be discouraged, Jerry. I still believe in you. Then Madeline did something most managers never do. she licked her hand and rubbed it over her client's calic, smoothing down his unruly hair.

Then she tried to straighten his tie, but that was no use. I'll pick you up at 7.30, she said, Thanks, Mom. I'm sorry, I blew it. Tuck in your shirt, she called. But Jerry didn't hear her. He was already scampering down the stairs at the back of the church, just as the meeting in the basement was coming to order. Just as all the other young men, in uniform, were red, raising their right hands and repeating the pledge.

On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the law of the pack. That night at home, Jerry couldn't stop talking about the Cub Scouts and how much fun he'd had at the meeting. He'd already forgotten about his disastrous audition just a few hours before. But then the phone rang, and Madeline picked it up. It was Bob Mosher, the producer, offering her service. son, the role of a lifetime. Madeline couldn't speak for a moment, several moments, in fact.

But I thought he blew it, she said. He was only in there for less than a minute. What happened? Well, said Bob, we're making a show about an all-American boy. I'd rather hire a boy who wants to be a Cub Scout than a boy who wants to be an actor. And that is how Jerry wound up starring in a show about nothing. Nothing but the everyday events that befall the youngest member of an All-American family. A family brought to life by Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow, and Madeline Mathers' only client, her nine-year-old son, the reluctant actor in no condition to drive, who landed the role of a lifetime by walking out of the most important audition of his career in order to be on time for his

weekly Cub Scout meeting precisely what you'd expect from an all-American kid like Jerry Mathers, the unlikely star of an unlikely hit called Leave It to Beaver. Anyway, that's the way I heard it. The ocean moves us, whether that's surfing a wave or taking in an inspiring view. The ocean feeds us. Sustainable seafood practices bring the ocean's bounty to our plates. The ocean teaches us how our everyday choices. big and small make an impact.

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