Mary IS nice...

[JMFabiano524]

OK we have the other thread, so I thought to even things out, why not have one where we post positive stories about meeting or seeing MTM, if we have them?

[PGood97041]

I was a school crossing guard in the Minneapolis area in the early 1970s, and she stopped and gave me some encouragement...I remember because she had a white hat on and was carrying her groceries.

Just kidding (the scene from the opening)!

She WAS very nice to me at a book signing, and that's the honest truth.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by JMFabiano524

OK we have the other thread, so I thought to even things out, why not have one where we post positive stories about meeting or seeing MTM, if we have them?

I'm going to keep this short...but i think these incidents you hear about is due to her dibilitating illness. A member of my family lived with diabetes. Its a real struggle, and I imagine its tough for her to control her emotions 24/7, especially if shes not feeling well and is not appearing at at a book signing or public function. If she's just out shopping or dining or whatever as a regular person, and she just wants to be left alone, I can see her loosing her cool.

[scotsguy]

Well I wrote to Mary way back in 88 and she sent me a lovely signed picture.
I always now,if writing to an actor in the US enclose an international reply coupon,didn't know about them,but she still replied.

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by markway895

I'm going to keep this short...but i think these incidents you hear about is due to her dibilitating illness. A member of my family lived with diabetes. Its a real struggle, and I imagine its tough for her to control her emotions 24/7, especially if shes not feeling well and is not appearing at at a book signing or public function. If she's just out shopping or dining or whatever as a regular person, and she just wants to be left alone, I can see her loosing her cool.

Here's some perspective that I can offer as well. In the town that I live in, I'm somewhat well-known as being a church musician since I play and have played for various churches in the surrounding area. Often than not, if I'm ever in a store, post office, a restaurant or some place of business, I do get recognized.

For the most part it's kind of fun and it's nice to be acknowledged and appreciated. There have been times, however, where I was having a bad time (I've had to deal with the deaths of my mother, grandmother, 10 year old niece as well as being fired from a job and losing a best friend in the past 5 years) and all I wanted to do was to run my errand and leave.

When I've run into people who recognize me, they know me as one thing, a church musician, and they expect me to exhibit the traits that befit one. It's not that big of a deal, but I am also gay and don't agree with much of what the churches stand for, and yet I feel sometimes I have to always "be on" when it comes to representing that. Sometimes though, if I've had a bad day or I'm depressed/short tempered, trying to "be on" is very draining. It's uncomfortable to show these people, who are trying to be gracious but who are ultimately strangers, that I'm experiencing something that is a little too personal to be shared with them. After all, they only know one side of me. Most of the time I'm able to fake it but I do know there have been times where I wasn't so convincing and I came across as totally fake and insincere.

I think in a small way this parallels what Mary and many other celebrities go through on a daily basis. Ultimately, we are talking about people, not gods and goddesses. I'm not saying the rudeness is justified, but I do think it is understandable. And sometimes when they're gracious, it bites them in the tushie.

TMZ has a video of Mary being approached on the street where she's asked to sing the theme song "Love Is All Around". She is very gracious in the video and all smiles, and she ultimately complies with the fan's wish and sings the song. The next thing you know, it's posted on the internet with Mary being described as icy, obsessed with plastic surgery and being full of herself. WTF!!! I think it's hard for me to handle being recognized, but at least my name isn't put in tabloids or on the internet where it's surrounded with cruel verbiage. Can you imagine what that must be like?

In any case, I'm sure she's had her *bitchy* moments (as have we all), but I do think there's more to it than what we actually see. We view it as an isolated incident whereas she may be seeing as an extension of other crap that she's had to encounter and endure. In other words, she should be cut some slack.

I just hope I never have an encounter with her that forces me to change my opinion. If I do, I hope I'm able to consider myself lucky having met her at all.

Hope this helps...

Ed

[JMFabiano524]

Originally Posted by Edster2973

I think in a small way this parallels what Mary and many other celebrities go through on a daily basis. Ultimately, we are talking about people, not gods and goddesses. I'm not saying the rudeness is justified, but I do think it is understandable. And sometimes when they're gracious, it bites them in the tushie.

And sometimes WORSE...look at John Lennon, Selena, etc.

[scotsguy]

I love Lucy but I've seen interviews with her where she is quite rude and I read once she was on an airplane and the stewardess wasn't alowed to speak to her directly,had to talk via her personal assistant.
Still doesn't make me like all the various Lucy shows,any less.

[MTM fan - Holly]

She does not have to spend her money and energy fighting against a cause that she is not benefiting from.
She does not have to fight on behalf of animals that do not have any speakers.
She did not have to support and encourage all her coworkers and friends to do better in their lives and careers.
Having so much heartache, health problems, family problems and challenges, she has done MORE than many who have more and could do more.
Her MTM series still make me feel there are good in people in this world and gives me courage to go on. I have made friends or teenagers watch this show to let some positive inside their hearts and minds. They find it corny first, but it allows them to see a glimpse of easy living and courageous loving and fighting for your beliefs.

This deserves my respect until the end of time!

[PGood97041]

I gotta laugh at what celebs have to go through sometimes.
On another board somewhere, somebody was outraged because MTM supposedly somehow snubbed Kathy Griffin at some event.
(Wow, I just got the words "sometimes", "somewhere", "somebody", "somehow", and "some" in two sentences!)
Anyway, is such a scenario THAT big a deal? They're both celebs, if they wanna have a catfight, have at it!
For another thing, and I happen to like Kathy Griffin, but, gee, do you think maybe sometime down the line she might have ticked off somebody who knows MTM, and that MTM might have just been trying to send a little message there? Not that big a deal, really, and in this case I actually find the whole thing a bit funny.

At a public signing, you'd think celebs would be nice, but sometimes people rub them the wrong way.
And out in public, I can honestly feel for some celebs who want some privacy. I know when I'm out and about, I'm not always looking my finest, nor am I always whistling a happy tune.

By the way, Lucy DEFINITELY had enough cachet to get away with the "talk to my assistant" line. She wouldn't have had any 'splainin' to do to me on that one. And MTM has similar star power IMHO!

[JMFabiano524]

With all due respect, Griffin by her nature rubs people the wrong way, due to being all about THA CONTROVERSY. So I could easily see how something she said or a joke/jokes she made could have offended MTM at one point, and she may not be thick-skinned about it. (If so, I must say I identify with her there)

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by JMFabiano524

With all due respect, Griffin by her nature rubs people the wrong way, due to being all about THA CONTROVERSY. So I could easily see how something she said or a joke/jokes she made could have offended MTM at one point, and she may not be thick-skinned about it. (If so, I must say I identify with her there)

Interesting point. For the record, I *LOVE* Kathy Griffin, but that wasn't always the case. Initially, I found her brash, crude and abrasive, not that I followed her much in the beginning, but this was what was usually associated with her whenever her name came up. It wasn't until I saw Kathy on The View that I began to warm up to her. Seeing her also on various blogs, some by Rosie O'Donnell, endeared her even more that I began to take a closer look and actually listen to what she says and learn what she's all about.

Perhaps Mary viewed Kathy in a similar way... who knows? I'm sure Mary is told how much she is respected (blah blah blah) by many in the industry who aren't sincere about it, and perhaps Kathy came across as someone who was part of that. Or perhaps Mary was having a bitchy day... who knows.

One thing I know for sure is that what she has contributed to the world through her shows and performances, not to mention her involvement with the wildlife and various other charities, far outweighs any negative portrayals of her (even if true). She's done a lot of good (and not just as a performer) that many of us couldn't hope to accomplish over several lifetimes. Even at her worst, this is what I choose to focus on. Thanks Mary!!!

Ed

[JMFabiano524]

Originally Posted by Edster2973

Interesting point. For the record, I *LOVE* Kathy Griffin, but that wasn't always the case. Initially, I found her brash, crude and abrasive, not that I followed her much in the beginning, but this was what was usually associated with her whenever her name came up. It wasn't until I saw Kathy on The View that I began to warm up to her. Seeing her also on various blogs, some by Rosie O'Donnell, endeared her even more that I began to take a closer look and actually listen to what she says and learn what she's all about.

Perhaps Mary viewed Kathy in a similar way... who knows? I'm sure Mary is told how much she is respected (blah blah blah) by many in the industry who aren't sincere about it, and perhaps Kathy came across as someone who was part of that. Or perhaps Mary was having a bitchy day... who knows.

One thing I know for sure is that what she has contributed to the world through her shows and performances, not to mention her involvement with the wildlife and various other charities, far outweighs any negative portrayals of her (even if true). She's done a lot of good (and not just as a performer) that many of us couldn't hope to accomplish over several lifetimes. Even at her worst, this is what I choose to focus on. Thanks Mary!!!

Ed

I must admit, I am the opposite. Call me a prude or whatever, but yeah, That Comment at That Awards Show raised the hackles. Plus her reveling in it in her autobio. Perhaps Mary has some prudish/cynical qualities herself, and that would explain it.

Similarly not a View fan, so that door will never be opened to me neither ;-)

You are right, though...Mary behind the apparent occasional b*tchiness HAS A HEART. In addition to your points, she also encouraged her co-stars rather than hold them back and take all the limelight. Without her pushing Valerie and Cloris ahead there'd be no "Rhoda" or "Phyllis."

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by JMFabiano524

I must admit, I am the opposite. Call me a prude or whatever, but yeah, That Comment at That Awards Show raised the hackles. Plus her reveling in it in her autobio. Perhaps Mary has some prudish/cynical qualities herself, and that would explain it.

I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about. What comment and what awards show? And what "her" are you referring to, Mary or Kathy?


Ed

[JMFabiano524]

Originally Posted by Edster2973

I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about. What comment and what awards show? And what "her" are you referring to, Mary or Kathy?


Ed

Kathy, I meant. And as such it might come back to you now. It is mentioned on her wiki too, BTW.

EDIT: And yet, maybe Mary has come to not always be a people person. Bernadette Peters was the only half of the duo who was at the autograph table when I went to Broadway Barks. But nothing wrong with that, we can't always be social all the time.

[PGood97041]

Oh, I forgot to mention...at this supposed Mary-Kathy contretemps, apparently an amused Don Rickles was there, taking it all in.
He probably couldn't even figure out which one to call a "hockey puck"!