Listen to Me Discuss "Jimmy" on WNYM AM 790

1/27/2025

On Sunday night, I appeared on I appeared on Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas, Live! on WNYM AM 970 to discuss Jimmy: The Secret Life of James Dean. You can listen here or below. I'm the second half of the first hour. To be honest, when the publicist booked this appearance, the station only told me it was a local New York City-area radio show that did a weekly book chat. I assumed it would be something like NPR. I was not expecting it to be a conservative talk show, but aside from a couple of howlers, the conversation went smoothly. I remained shocked and surprised that the conservative media have been more interested in my book and more open to discussing the substance of it than any of the so-called mainstream liberal media, which one might think would be interested in celebrating a queer icon.

7 Comments

Kent link

1/27/2025 04:41:19 pm

"I assumed it would be something like NPR." Thank JHVH-1 you were wrong and it was not the National Snooze Network. Whose weekend evening programming I quite like. Sadly whoever's involved in the sound is not the best tool for the job. I have mini-cassette recordings of prank calls that sound better. The interviewer sounds like an idiot who never heard of Rock Hudson or Paul Lind or Victor Buono. Sweet sweet Kent Football McCord, amirite?

Challenge: What can't you say on the radio that was in the newspapers in the 1950s? Sounds like a lie. Minute 39.

What is up with the panting in Minute 43? Sounds like me looking at a book about Prince long ago. I was called on it by a female coworker whom I shamed by not banging her thereby earning her eternal enmity. She was my best friend's girlfriend and her previous was a garbage-doodle so an easy call. Did I mention the latex allergy?

James Dean gay. I'm good with that. How is that a problem? I have smaller fish to fry.

Jason Colavito link

1/28/2025 01:14:31 pm

I meant that I can't say offensive words like "faggot" on the radio. Standards and practices doesn't exactly look favorably on using the kinds of slurs that used to be included in headlines 70 years ago.

Kent link

1/28/2025 03:29:09 pm

Oh that makes sense. I grew up on All in the Family and Soap where "queer, faggot, four-eyes" were the daily drill so I may have different filters. As a frequent prank caller I try to keep in mind what radio allows. Thanks!

The sound could have been better and the interviewer could have been better but I score this as a win for you.

Kent

1/30/2025 12:00:26 am

Based on my early experience with the fine publication Penthouse magazine, I venture to propose that however the world is when your chronochromohomotexthormones kick in and knock you all jabberwocky, how the world is at that time is your view of the Golden Age, and for each person it is because you're getting a hard push of hormones and such. Henry Miller, born in 1895 identified himself as "a citizen of the 14th Ward, Brooklyn".

In those days Brooklyn was its own city, not part of New York City. The past is a foreign land.

Imprinting is a real thing, along with breathing and hunger and thirst. Not proposing a new theory, simply observing some things happen. And I suspect that if it happens to Person A it happens to Person Every Other Letter of the Alphabet. What's that you say? I could be wrong? Imagine my surprise.

Not a drip, a push. It's imprinted. Son of Sam, Farrah Fawcett, Zodiac, Blossom, The Jeffersons, Franklin Ajaye, they're all imprints. Yet in none of them is the height gene expressed. Curious. What's the frequency Kenneth? F. Scott taught us and Steve Urkel is his Messenger.

In my case the thing that imprinted me was Watergate - I read the news that day oh boy - but I suspect some people I know imprinted on *Fast Times at Ridgemont High* and that's cool too. There's no blame because there's no choice. Now up and down in the city my don't you look pretty? New cinema live action, beats up I got a stone reaction. Think about much and I don't deserve pity, under sea under you under me undivided I can't stop it. I've been rided. And your sister too.

I can see it

1/27/2025 10:20:49 pm

I've come to understand exactly what you're talking about. My experience has been the opposite. I was afraid of our research being picked up by the ultra right. So far, no one from that crowd has even taken notice. Interest has been from the Left.

E.P. Grondine

1/28/2025 10:58:55 am

" the conservative media have been more interested in my book and more open to discussing the substance of it than any of the so-called mainstream liberal media,"

It was 70 years ago.,and only consevative media are shocked by a gay actor?

Kent link

1/28/2025 03:41:03 pm

It was 70 years ago and this child wasn't gently euthanized?

No one said "shocked" Chief. Except for the author: "I remained shocked and surprised"

Don't worry, your K-PAX Getaway Package is secure.

It's a Level 3 Shutdown, the Malcolm Roddy McDowell Shortbread Hybrid has escaped. It can take the form of anyone you listen to or a webpage or a scent.

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Listen to Me Discuss "Jimmy" on WNYM AM 790

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