People I Would Like to Meet; People I Would Have Liked to Meet; People I Have Met; Autographs
I’m a FAN of a lot of people. Some people I’m a bigger fan than others. Here’s my list of people I would like to meet and a list of people who I would have liked to me but they have passed.
My two favorite TV teachers from the TV show Schooled which aired Wednesday nights on ABC: AJ Michalka (plays Lainey Lewis) and Brett Dier (plays Charlie (CB) Brown). The show had many elements that mirror my life. Lainey comes back to teach in the school she attended as a youth. I came back after graduating from college to teach in the school I attended…I’m a real life Lainey. Coach Mellor also came back to teach in the school he attended…I’m a real life Coach Mellor. In season 1, episode 11, they bring the school radio station back and ask the custodian, Johnny Atkins, to be the radio station manager. I was the radio station manager of our high school radio station…I’m a real life Johnny Atkins. CB is the hip Superteacher with wild ties and break dances to get the student’s attention. My students called me PB and I was a goofball at times in an attempt to get my student’s attention…I’m a real life CB. Now the bad news…Schooled has been cancelled by ABC (or not renewed…however you want to look at it) as of May, 2020…I’m so bummed!!
Other people I would like to meet…living…in no particular order: Tim Allen, Steve Martin, Linda Ronstadt, Gwen Stefani, Bill Murray, Julia Roberts, Danica McKellar, Christie Brinkley, Jennifer Garner, Zooey Deschanel, Kaitlyn Dever, Erin Andrews, Carrie Underwood, Jane Seymour, Kristen Bell.
People I would have liked to meet…not living…in no particular order: Jesus Christ, Pete Maravich, Al Kaline, Ernie Harwell, Lou Gehrig, Robin Williams, Abe Lincoln, John Denver, Peter the Apostle, John Lennon, Bobby Kennedy.
Celebrities I have met. Got a photo op with David Letterman as he was coming in to work circa 1995. A thrill to say the least!
Met Howard Hesseman (Doctor Johnny Fever) and Loni Anderson (Jennifer Marlow), of WKRP in Cincinnati at a Motor City Comic Con at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, May 18, 2012.
I actually met Gordon Jump (Mr. Carlson) at a radio convention…very cool!
Radio and TV people I have met in no particular order: Mojo, Spike and Shannon (Mojo in the Morning, Channel 955), Dick Purtan, Big Al, Colleen Burcar, Jackie Purtan, Doc Andrews, Wendall Leadbetter (Purtan’s People), Paul W. Smith, Steve Courtney, Frank Beckman (WJR), Blaine Fowler (WDVD), Guy Gordon (Channel 7, WJR), Mitch Albom, Kenny Brown (WJR), The Bushman (WJLB), Jake Neher (WDET), JoAnne Purtan (Channel 7, WOMC), Heather Catallo (Channel 7), Ann Marie LaFlamme (Channel 7), Scott The Gator Anderson (97.1 The Ticket), Paul Gross (Channel 4 weather), Mason (WJLB, Pistons basketball), Ken Daniels (Red Wings TV), Ken Kal (Red Wings radio), Drew and Mike (WRIF), Jim Johnson (WOMC current), Bob Allison (radio and Bowling for Dollars), Bob Hynes (Channel 7, WJR, WYUR), Jimmy Launce (WJR, WYUR), Captain Jay Roberts (WJR), Rich Homberg (WWJ, Detroit Public TV), John O’Leary (W4, WABX Air Ace ‘76-80), Charlie LeDuff (Fox 2), Dan Dickerson (Tigers), Doug Podell (WCSX), Matt Shepard (WDFN, Michigan Basketball), Jyl Forsyth (WYCD), Jim Harper (WNIC), Stoney, Pat Caputo, Terry Foster (971 The Ticket), Dave Fuller and Bill Bailey (WDRQ), Tom Bender (Greater Media), Steve Schram (Michigan Radio), Roberta Jasina (WWJ), Matt Friedman (WDIV, WWJ), Alan Almond (WNIC Pillowtalk), Rick Pluta (Michigan Radio), Art Vuolo Jr. (Radio’s Best Friend), Pete Orlik (CMU), Gary Reid (MSU), Gary Berkowitz (WHYT), Kevin O’Neill (multiple stations), Jesse Addy (NASH FM), Jesse Bruce (WMPA), Theresa Lucas (WNIC), Christopher Conn (WDVD, CBS Radio), Peter Carey (WMGC), Phil Barry (WMGC), David Scott (Channel 50), Jay Towers (WNIC, Fox 2), Kevin Craig (Fox 17), J.P. McCarthy (WJR), Brotha’ Fred (KISS Chicago), John Records Landecker (WLS Chicago), Bob Sirott (WLS Chicago), Dick Biondi (Chicago radio), Joey Reynolds (Chicago), Armen Keteyian (CBS, The Athletic), James Brown (CBS NFL), Ginger Zee (ABC), David Letterman (CBS).
Linda Ronstadt autographed program when she played Mabel in the Pirates of Penzance musical, summer 1980.
Autographs I have collected in no particular order:
Pete Maravich (photo), Ernie Harwell (hat), Linda Ronstadt (program), Joe Dumars (jersey), Mitch Albom (2 books), Dick Purtan, Bill Laimbeer (photo, card), Fess Parker (paper), Ginger Zee (book), Bo Schembechler (book), Chris Osgood (card), Sergei Fedorov (photo), Grant Hill (jersey), Al Kaline (photo), Isiah Thomas (photo), Nick Lidstrom (card), Shaquille O’Neal (piece of paper), Mark Hamill (photo), Harrison Ford (photo), Janine Turner (photo), Mario Andretti (card), Fred Couples (ticket), Ernie Els (photo), Fuzzy Zoeller (ticket), Chris Draper & Darren McCarty (Red Wings shirt), Lindsey Hunter (hat), Alan Almond, Karen Newman (CD), George Romney, Richard Karn (book), Tom Chapin (program), Gordon Jump (program), Matthew Broderick (program), Hal Newhouser (card), Peter Tork Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz (The Monkees CD), Howard Hesseman & Loni Anderson, Ed McMahon (photo), The Ghoul (photo), Jim Harper, Teresa Lucas (photo), Phil Hart, Mel Renfro, Lem Barney, Dave Bing, Joe Falls, Greg Landry (helmet), Pam Eldred (photo), Rick Mount (program), Tony Hawk (poster), Ken Kal (book), Ken Daniels (book), David Sedaris (book), Doug Weight (program), Dave Strack, Johnny Orr, Tim McCormick, Rob Simpson (book), Wendy Shanker (book) and 18 Detroit Vipers players (hockey jersey).
Personalized autographed photo of my childhood hero Al Kaline. See Memorabilia blog for more Kaline stuff!
Peter, Davy and Mickey were performing at Pine Knob. They made a personal appearance at a Circuit City in Pontiac so I took the boyz and got their autographs.
Photo I took of Pistol Pete Maravich playing the Pistons in Cobo Arena…early 70’s. I have this same photo signed by the Pistol in a frame. Atlanta was the first NBA team he played for. He died in 1988 at age 40 of heart failure.
Another photo I took of Pistol Pete Maravich at the Pistons game in Cobo Arena. Got the ball in mid air…pretty proud of that!
Al Kaline display at Comerica Park. I have an autographed photo of Al, personalized!
More Kaline stuff at Comerica Park.
At Ernie Harwell display at Comerica Park.
Ernie Harwell autographed hat.