Could You Move Your Head A Little To The Left?

I’ve been examining the background of people being interviewed on TV ever since Covid home studios sprang up around the country. Private lives sneaking through the frame is juicy and I am here for all of it.

(I’m a writer, I can’t help it.)

Scenery in impersonal TV studios is not revelatory—though if someone is being forced to sit at a glass table top in a group chat situation other information is available. Like footwear.

Or nerves.

A direct line onto a juddering leg is sadistic. (I’m sensitive — I have the same issue. I once rocked so hard on a glider I came really close to launching myself into the audience.)

I look for telling details in: art (African masks vs. impressionist paintings); tacky, possibly tax-payer-purchased gold(ish) geegaws of conspicuous consumption; kitchen offerings (MSNOW’s Claire McCaskell always has yummies on a finger-print-free cake plate); musical instruments suggesting an impending jam session; immodest cats and visible computer screens (careful!) all provide details.

Photo by flickch on Unsplash

And then, of course, there are books.

An economist sitting in front of Robert Reich’s work would not be a surprise. But imagine if there were a row of romances behind the desk. Same with a tome about Johnny Cash over the shoulder of an opera singer.

Serious texture.

Recently, I’ve squinted and discovered works by people I know (which was so exciting I sent them photos.) The casually curated free endorsement is pretty deep. (As opposed to, say, Dr. Phil signing on to pimp a car service contract company.)

A text slid between a grouping of hand-selected titles is legit.

Which reminds me of the fact that one of my siblings is a frequent interview who somehow manages to block my book every time he flips on the camera and mic. I know for a fact that Allegiance (the dare-I-say-it prescient pre-election novel warning of a fast slide into fascism) is present.

Because I PUT IT THERE.

The other day, I was sitting on the couch with my husband. He was watching ESPN. I was not. Until I happened to spot Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickle and Dimed behind the guest host. That was a nice surprise. If the sports commentator’s subject matter wasn’t all that, the display of a book about the tragedy of Americans trying to survive on minimum wage certainly was.

Check out the information behind the speaker. It’s often every bit as interesting as the intended message.

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