Hi, Ashton!

I always dreaded producing a newscast that followed a live sporting event because of the possibility, make that the probability, of a run-over. One of my worst producing experiences took place when a game ran over nearly 15 minutes into my allotted newscast time. If the game had run a minute or two longer, the network would have extended post-game coverage, filled to the half hour when network's nightly news began, and my cast would have been preempted entirely. As it turned out I needed to play the accordion, severely cut the cast, and had to do it quickly on the fly. There was no one else in the control room to help me do the math, no computer to instantly adjust the running time of blocks and decide what to cut. We had a mandatory live shot interview with actresses Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno from a theater venue where they were starring as The Female Odd Couple. That needed to be cut very short. It was a nightmare. It fried my brain! :)

Enjoy your weekend, dear friend Ashton!