Tonight’s the night… the big Charity Preview of the North American International Auto Show.
This is the first time in a good many years that I, along with Purtan’s People won’t be broadcasting live from the event - and hosting the gala to raise money for Children’s Charities afterwards. How do I feel about that? Frankly, I’m torn. It was always great to be part of such a huge event in Detroit. Even in the tough years (the worst of which are hopefully behind us!) it was always interesting to interview the automotive big wigs. And, of course, there were the local politicians and celebs. 
Over the years we interviewed everyone from Governor Granholm (who was less than happy when I accidentally called her “Jen”) to Magic Johnson… to even the rather flamboyant “Ross the Intern” from the Tonight Show. The highlight in recent years was chatting up his dis-honor, Kwame Kilpatrick. (He was always wearing those pin-stripe suits (so slenderizing!) on those nights as opposed to the orange jumpsuit he’ll be wearing at the Prison Gala this evening!) 
And the list goes on… One of the most challenging parts for me was talking to automotive engineers. You know, the guys who could spend an entire evening talking about Pistons. (And I’m not talking about the guys who play at the Palace). I love cars. Love to look at ‘em. Love to drive ‘em. I’m just not really an under-the-hood kind of guy. Give me a good radio, heated seats and a steering wheel and I’m good to go.
The Charity Preview is considered by many the “Oscars” for Detroit… and that means a lot of glamour. For me… one of the best parts of the evening was looking at the ladies in their amazing dresses - which ranged from floor length to barely-there. Wow! Jackie, Rebekah and Dana used watch the crowd and play “First Wife-Second-Wife”. Their theory was, the shorter the shirt and the lower the neckline the greater chance it was wife number two. As for the men, we all pretty much looked the same.
All in all it was always a great evening and I was happy to be part of it.
Of course there was a downside…
What follows is a list of comments made by the girls when I asked what they wouldn’t miss about attending this years event.
- Hiding underneath our broadcasting table to continually adjust their strapless bras that somehow kept heading south.
- Enduring the pain (and miracle!) of control top pantyhose. Apparently it’s hard to be elegant and funny with an elastic waistband digging into your mid-section. 
- Wearing strappy high heels on what always seemed to be one of the snowiest, iciest nights of the year. Follow that with what seemed like a six mile walk through Cobo to get to our broadcast site and, as John Candy famously said in “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”, “My dogs are barking today!”
- Realizing that there’s not enough make-up in the world to make yourself look as good as an auto show model.
- And of course… there was Big Al’s never ending battle to shove the neck-extender under his collar to accommodate his ever expanding sub-chin girth.
My biggest problem was the blowing out of my eardrums, since I was wearing headphones and many times our broadcast location was only 30 or 40 feet away a from rock band that one of the auto companies had hired to entertain the crowd. I don’t remember them ever taking a break!
To wrap it up, I should mention the big irony that took place every year we were down there, broadcasting the Black Tie Gala. Since we had to be on the air for 2 hours and then immediately catch a bus to another location to host the Post-Gala Children’s Charity event… we never got to see any of the cars!
- Dick