The University of South Carolina School of Broadcast Journalism, early 80s:
Professor Lee Dudek leaned back in his chair and stroked his pipe lovingly. He laid his hands over his pudgy belly as he stared at the young journalism student in front of him.
"Face it, Margaret," he stated. "You're homely." (In 2 years he had never bothered to learn my real name. Margaret is my first name and was on the rosters).
A smirk crawled over his features.
"You're not that awful looking in person," he continued, "but the camera HATES you. You have MUSHY FEATURES. Now your pal Gibbons, she's pretty. She has good features. She's going to be a GREAT success."
Yes, that is Leeza Gibbons, and no, she wasn't my pal. We both graduated from Irmo High School, that's all. She was 2 years ahead of me, except that I skipped a year of high school and a year of college..
"Well, thanks...I guess", I whispered, rising from the chair.
The torture of being a geeky, stringy haired, homely teenager suddenly threatened to overwhelm me. All of a sudden I remembered when three boys turned me down when I asked them to the prom, not making the drill team, not making the civinettes, not making the flag line, having a yearbook photographer shoot me for a spring layout and they replaced the picture with a cheerleader, never having a date, never having a first kiss in high school....
And I pulled a small pistol out from my warm bosom, smelling faintly of Charlie perfume, and I pumped his sluglike body full of holes....laughing gleefully.
Naw, actually I picked up an application to law school.
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6 comments:
I once had a theater professor say to me, "Jane, you're a talented actress, but for every talented actress who's ordinary looking there's an equally talented one who's BEAUTIFUL. Who do you think will get the part?" Now, I am not arguing with the truth of that statement, but...did it really need to be said? Rude motherfokker.
--Jane
Leeza peaked when she married the Coronation Street guy. You, however, seem to be stll going strong.
You made the right choice. A person can starve in broadcasting!
This story just cracks me up.....I also love that we both know her humble beginnings and how excited Irmo High was at her resounding success.
you DO know that you have now bullseyed their names, when/if someone ever googles them.
THAT is always fun to see on one's sitemeter! hahahahah
What a complete and utter dick. I hope he's in a nursing home somewhere, incontinent, and unable to reach his pipe.
This is a true story. The names have not been changed to protect the innocent.
Lee Dudek was the biggest dick on the planet. He bullied and terrorized generations of students.
I remember this one time when one of his students took a phone message during Directing class and told him "Your wife Ann Dudek called"..and he flew into a rage.. "I KNOW THE LAST NAME OF MY WIFE, YOU MORON!"
About 4 years ago we attended Roger's ex girlfriend's mother's funeral (I have an ex bf I'm close to and he has an ex gf) and whose name was on a crypt but Lee Dudek. I flipped him the bird.
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