by G. Jack Urso
The Tennessean, Nov. 4, 1979
The article “Actors
Discuss Youth For ‘Hero Sandwich’” appeared in The Tennessean Sunday Showcase, Sunday, November 4, 1979. Instead of
covering the comedy and music, it focuses exclusively on the interviews conducted by Dr. Tom Cottle. In this regard, it is not very different than
the TV Channels Article, Nov. 4 – Nov. 10,
1979, which also covers some of the same talking points by Dr. Cottle
without discussing the comedy or music.
Of note, is that,
once again, Robert Blake’s involvement with
Hot Hero Sandwich is highlighted. As Hot
Hero fans know, that interview never aired due to how upset Blake got in
recounting his childhood horrors. Yet, here, and in other articles, a week
before the series debuts, Blake’s involvement is still being touted. While the
Blake interview was pulled by this time, I don’t believe there was any
subterfuge on the part of the show’s producers. Having worked in PR and as a
reporter shifting through entertainment-related press releases, a package of
quotes from show participants and show highlights, like the Blake interview, would
have been put together and released in advance of the premiere. In the days before
email, this meant printing out the materials with a long lead time, so it was
difficult to amend any materials once changes had been made and the mail went
out.
The original news article is provided above. The transcript is provided below with
bold face text as it originally appeared.
____________________________________________________
Actors Discuss Youth For ‘Hero Sandwich’
By Cathy Darnell
Robert Blake
talks about being an abused child. Olivia-Newton-John discusses how her parents’
divorce affected her life. Henry Fonda confesses that when he was in high school
it took him two years to get the courage to kiss his steady.
Eat your heart
out, Johnny Carson, for these and other similar interviews are slated for
Saturday morning television on NBC’s new “Hot Hero Sandwich” (11 a.m. Ch. 4).
The interviews are conducted by Dr. Thomas
J. Cottle, a clinical psychologist and sociologist who lectures at Harvard Medical
School. Dr. Cottle is the author of 25 books and a specialist on children and
young adults from the poverty level or working class backgrounds.
Each week’s show
will be centered around a different themes pertaining to the problems of
growing up. It will feature interviews with celebrities from television, pop
music, politics, civil rights, sports, opera, the woman’s movement and literature.
“What I’m trying
to do is encourage our guests to communicate feelings, moods and the poignancy
of their situations during their childhood and adolescent years, while they
inform us about their lives and share experiences with views, Cottle explained.
He confessed that in taping the interviews,
he was startled by the openness of some of the stars. For example, Sally
Struthers admitted embarrassment during visits to the gynecologist. “I thought,
‘This is not happening.’“ Cattle said. “I am not sitting here talking to Sally
Struthers about vaginal examinations.
He was terribly
impressed by Loretta Lynn. “She is such a noble woman,” Cottle said reverently.
“She has overcome so much. Where does a person get such fiber?”
And the list of
revelations goes on and on. Donna Pescow of “Angie” said that she had no
contact with her father for seven years. So she tracked him down, and arranged
a date for them to meet. When she was waiting at the appointed time and place, a
man came up from the subway and she embraced him. It was the wrong man. “The
interviews were marvelous, “Dr. Cottle said enthusiastically. “It humanizes
these celebrities.”
“One hopes that the
children will see them and say, ‘Gee, that could have been me.’”
● ● ●
