JB Vs. the Emmy’s
 
It’s all led up to tonight.  All the hard work, all the nerves, all the hoping was for this moment.  The lights dimmed, the crowd hushed and the guy that played Sweetchuck from Police Academy 2 walked onto the stage to thunderous applause.  The stage was set with a podium in the center flanked by long tables.  The Emmys gold and gleaming rested, no, waited along the sides of the stage.  At least one was for me.  I could hear her calling.  
 
If you haven’t been following the story so far I received 2 Emmy nominations at the end of September.  One was for the TV show I produce called ‘Gumbo TV.’  The other was for a commercial we did titled ‘Bleep Bus’ for the Milwaukee bus company.  The latter was submitted almost as an afterthought.  I knew the commercial was good, but I had no illusions of it being Emmy worthy.  Gumbo TV, on the other hand, has been my all-consuming masterpiece/albatross project for more than two years now.  It was an honor to have it nominated by the Academy for consideration.  The fact that it was nominated alone was reward enough.
 
Thank the stars our nomination category for GTV was the second announced.  For two minutes in I was sweating, my knees were bouncing and fingers twitching.  I really wanted to win this category with just about every fiber of my being.  At this point there is nothing you can do to further your cause of winning.  Its not like you can study, do more push-ups or buy any special equipment for that final push to glory.  You just have to let the chaotic whimsy of fate hand you your due.
 
“And the nominees are...
Category #11  Outstanding Achievement for Children’s Programs – Children’s/Teen Single Program or Program Series

(Award to the Producer/Host/Reporter) Judged by the Minnesota/Upper Midwest Chapter (5 entries)
 
Into the Outdoors – Green Cows:  Mark Rose, Lisa Rose, Executive Producers; Steven Vollmann, Managing Producer; Sandie Rohrer, Producer; Jon Jamel, Co-Producer.  WITI                                                              
Gumbo TV #33:  Jeremy Bessoff, Producer; Jeff Becker, Gideon Verdin-Williams, Martinez White, Tiffany Yang, LeVar Pickens, Kurtez Ellis, Associate Producers.  WTMJ
Check, Please! Kids:  V.J. McAleer, David Manilow, Joel Cohen, Executive Producers; Gallit Greenspoon, Producer; Kindall Wierzbinski, Coordinating Producer; Susan Godfrey, Sarah Warner, Associate Producers.  WTTW  
 
“And the Emmy goes to... Into the Outdoors - Green Cows.”
If you’ve never felt your heart sink three inched deeper into you chest then crack, you’ve probably never felt like I did at just that moment.  I heard someone mutter, “that’s ridiculous,” from a few rows back.  The world went empty.  Sound and vision drained from the world and in its place stood abject disappointment.  Kate kissed my cheek bringing me out of the blackness.  She just smiled and said “I’m still proud of you.”  Mom looked apologetic and wiped her eye with a tissue.  The students looked mortified as if they all received a hard collective slap.  No one from “Green Cows” was even there to accept the award.  We all just watched clips from the winning show with heavy emotions.  Respect knuckles all around.  The teens were taking the news better then I was.
All is not lost!  Jeff and I are still up for another award.  That is something special and awesome.  How many people are nominated in more than one category.  The anticipation of the next category brought me back into focus.
 
Category #15.  Outstanding Achievement for Announcements/Campaigns – Public Service Announcement or Campaign (Award to the Producer) Judged by the New York Chapter (16 entries)
 
Bleep Bus:  Jeremy Bessoff, Jeff Becker, Co-Producers.  WTMJ
The MACC Fund:  Kimberly Buchanan, Paul Balistreri, Producers.  WTMJ
Pick Me – Chicagoween 2005:  Terrye Baker, Producer;  Robert Crandall, Co-Producer.  WMAQ
Operation Save A Life:  Keri Bartholomew, Producer.  WLS
Challenges and Triumphs – Jim Mullen Reports:  Angel Holmes, Producer.  WBBM
 
”And the Emmy goes to... JEREMY BESSOFF AND JEFF BECKER FOR BLEEP BUS!”  My fists shot upwards above my head as if they were shot from cannons.  Triumph!  Cheers rocketed into the air from the teens.  Several people hugged me at the same time.  My Dad cheered “way to go son!”  Jeff and I proudly moseyed  to the stage with our chins held high.  I was alarmed to hear uproarious laughing coming from the audience.  Was my fly open?  Was there toilet paper on my shoe.  No.  Apparently our commercial was just that funny.  It was playing in its entirety on the stage screen.
 
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Getting ready at the hotel
Mom and Dad nervously waiting for the ceremony to begin
We were ushered back stage with a whirlwind of congratulations and adulation.  After signing forms for “Gwendolyn” (yes, I named the statue, ok.) we went to record our acceptance speech.  Due to time restrictions no one was allowed to read their speech on stage.  
It was a proud moment coming back to our seats.  I put the Gwendolyn Emmy in my Dad’s hands.  I don’t think my parents have ever been more proud.  I passed the award around so all the teens could check it out.  They were all pretty impressed too.  I put Gwendolyn into her padded satin -lined box and waited for the ceremony to end.