In 2016, comedian Elayne Boosler performed at the Kessler Theater in Dallas. My wife and I went to see her show. This was the first time I’d seen her since she hosted the National Cable Ace Awards Show at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles in 1988. Here I am with my wife (right) and Elayne, who is holding the original magazine with her picture on the cover from that awards ceremony, January 24, 1988.
I’d had the good fortune of meeting her at the National Cable ACE Awards nominee reception at Spago’s on Sunset in Los Angeles because Home Sports Entertainment, my professional home at the time, had been nominated for Live Sports Event Coverage—alongside national networks like ESPN—for our Major Indoor Soccer League Championship Game telecast won by the Dallas Sidekicks. Elayne Boosler made me feel welcomed by introducing me to her friends and the many stars present that evening.
Here’s an excerpt from my book about this moment:
This was a significant accomplishment for Home Sports Entertainment from Dallas. We were nominated with the big boy cable networks. Many of the above nominated producers and coordinating producers hired me to work for them at ESPN a few years later.
Certainly, we would be able to attend the ceremonies in Hollywood a few months later and be on national television. Right? Right!
HSE general manager Ed Frazier and programming director Glenn Gurgiolo consulted with our executive producer Jack Stanfield, who decided that Jack and I could attend. The invitation allowed each nominee to bring a guest. In my case, of course, it was my wife, Sarah. We were excited to mingle with the day’s nominees, and prominent celebrities such as Billy Crystal, Helen Hunt, Rod Steiger, Shelley Duvall, Paul Simon, Hal Holbrook, Robin Williams, The Muppets, Max Headroom, Judi Dench, Garry Shandling, and many more.
Weeks before the ceremony, I attended a Cable Ace Awards nominees party and presser at Spago’s famed restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Ed Frazier granted me the opportunity to fly to the event, which was one of the most entertaining nights of my life. My first cousin, Seth Frank, who lived in Los Angeles, attended the star-studded affair with me. There was a red carpet outside the restaurant for nominees. “Entertainment Tonight,” plus other networks and paparazzi, hovered outside.
I was a nobody in that setting. Surrounding me were familiar faces such as “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill, Academy Award-winning actor Rod Steiger, and sports luminaries including programming legend Don Ohlmeyer, and ESPN host Roy Firestone. Comedian Elayne Boosler greeted me, took me under her wing, and introduced me to nearly everyone at the party as the guy from Texas, and a fellow nominee. There was no reason she would do that, other than to be kind and friendly. She made me feel comfortable and part of the honorees. As I said earlier, it doesn’t matter how big or small your network may be. Your work simply needs to be worthy.
On January 24, 1988, Sarah and I, along with Jack and his guest, flew to Los Angeles. The ceremony was at the Wiltern Theater, so we settled in at the Sheraton Universal Hotel and got ready. Like most awards shows, handheld cameras shot the nominees in their seats — including us — as our names were announced. That was fun, especially since many friends and family back home were watching. We didn’t have much of a chance against the major networks, so it was no shock that HBO’s Hagler-Leonard boxing match captured the award. Yet that never detracted from how gratifying it was to be nominated and attend the celebrity-packed gala.
Excerpted from 3… 2… 1… We’re On the Air! (publication date Oct 2024)