Loyal Scaiaholics will recall my complicated history with Alex Trebek. All accounts are that Trebek [I’ll still really hit the “T,” but do so in a more somber fashion] was a wonderful man who established a genuine connection with fans and contestants.
And he’s still helping me. I saw an article about his life.
When he started his career in Canada, Trebek said he faced a learning curve doing live television. He started hosting very Canadian things, like curling tournaments.
Then, I swear I’m not making this up, “enter fellow Canadian Alan Thicke,” urging him to move to California.
In Trebek’s book, he talked about losing seven jobs in 10 years before Jeopardy! came along. One might say he was somewhat rudderless, trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life.
I’m only now realizing that Trebek and I are cut from the same cloth. He declared himself a “little bit of a [expletive] stirrer.” Oh yes, I’ve got that.
Jeopardy! may have come along through a chance meeting, but he set a goal for himself by moving to Hollywood.
I just need to set a goal for myself. Many of my dozens of daily readers reach this blog through Facebook or Twitter. Many of those same Facebook associates have declared they are now using another program.
Facebook and Twitter, you see, are being accused of censoring posts, so a new social network is drawing attention.
I don’t mind people posting political opinions on social media. The issue that struck me is a lot of folks have declared, “You know what would solve this problem we’re having with social media? More social media!”
In my day, and I’m not an old man, we’d get drunk, punch each other and then sing karaoke together. That’s how you solve problems.
But we’re living in a time when people don’t like to be punched [or, to a lesser extent, exposed to differing views]. To find my sense of purpose [and cash in], I’ll start my own social network where ideas about which 1980s sitcoms were fantastic can be exchanged freely and without censorship.
Didn’t like Alan Thicke’s work on Growing Pains? I disagree with you, sir, but on the social network, Huxtable, making claims like that is your right.
Huxtable will, of course, be named after Theo, not Cliff.
And this entry shall henceforth be known as the Alex Trebek Memorial Blog Post. I’ll share it on Huxtable. And also get a shirt with my face on it, and “Scaia” written on the sleeve.
