July 24, 2018: Reporting from Kansas City, Missouri, during a rally by then-President Donald Trump
There is no such thing as “fake news.” There’s real journalism, which is the only news. There’s satire and parody; think The Onion or SNL. Then, there’s propaganda. Full stop!
A quote that has erroneously been attributed to Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Goebbels, rings so true today: “If a lie is only printed often enough, it becomes a quasi-truth, and if such a truth is repeated often enough, it becomes an article of belief, a dogma, and men will die for it.” Some sources have found the thought originates from the 1869 book, The Crown of a Life by Isa Blagden.
There is too much confusion between journalism and the all-encompassing term of “the media.” Journalism is a specific type of media that involves the gathering, verifying and disseminating of news, facts and information to the public. It is obviously based on a set of ethical principles that prioritize accuracy, fairness, and independence.
Conversely, “the media” refers to a broader range of entities, including entertainment media, social media, propaganda, advertising and other forms of communication that are not necessarily focused on journalistic principles or practices.
In recent years, the term “fake news” has been used to discredit legitimate journalism and to sow confusion and mistrust among the public. This has made it more difficult for consumers to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information and has highlighted the importance of media literacy and critical thinking skills.
It is crucial for media organizations, including cable “news” networks, to be transparent about their editorial policies and for journalism organizations to adhere to ethical principles of journalism. At the same time, consumers have a responsibility to seek out multiple sources of information, to evaluate the credibility of those sources, and engage in critical thinking when consuming news and information.
By working together to promote media literacy and to uphold the principles of journalism, we can help to ensure that the public has access to accurate and trustworthy information, and that the role of journalism in our democracy is respected and valued.
In today’s interconnected world, the rapid spread of false information through social media and other online platforms can have devastating effects on individuals, communities, and even entire societies.
Misinformation leads to confusion, mistrust, and even violence. It can influence public opinion and decision-making, affecting everything from elections to public health. In extreme cases, it is used as a tool of propaganda by governments or other entities seeking to manipulate and control populations.
To combat the spread of misinformation, it is essential for people to critically evaluate the sources of information they encounter and seek out reliable, trustworthy sources.
It is also important for social media platforms and other online forums to take responsibility for monitoring and removing false information while preserving the principles of free speech and open communication. There are ways of cooperating to help ensure that truth prevails over falsehood and that our shared beliefs are based on accurate information and a commitment to the common good.
The rise of the “fake news” narrative has made journalism more challenging and even dangerous. Journalists are essential to democracy, and they should be able to do their jobs without fear of violence or harassment.
However, in recent years, journalists have faced increasing hostility from some people and groups who have been misled by false information and conspiracy theories. This has led to verbal attacks, threats, and even physical assaults against journalists who are simply doing their jobs.
It is essential for media organizations, governments, and society as a whole to take a stand against this type of behavior and to support and protect journalists. This can be done by promoting media literacy and critical thinking skills, holding those who spread false information accountable, and providing journalists with the necessary resources and support to report on important issues safely and effectively.
It is true that the rise of social media and the increasing number of politically slanted outlets presenting themselves as news sources have created confusion about what constitutes legitimate journalism. However, the role of professional journalists remains as crucial as ever, especially in an era where disinformation and propaganda are ubiquitous.
Professional journalists are trained to gather and verify information, to provide context and analysis, and to hold those in power accountable. “Hosts” and social media do not adhere to the same standards.
In a dangerous trend, some politicians and newsmakers prefer to speak to “friendly” outlets and personalities who may not ask the tough questions. It is important for journalists to maintain their integrity and continue to ask substantive questions and follow-ups. By doing so, they can help to expose falsehoods, clarify issues, and hold those in power to account.
Ultimately, the role of professional journalists is to serve as a watchdog for the public, providing accurate and unbiased information that enables citizens to make informed decisions about the issues that affect their lives.
This role is more important than ever in a world where disinformation and propaganda are becoming increasingly prevalent. It’s worsened by a media landscape that caters to what people want to hear versus what they need to know.
Carman Deck prison photo (Missouri Department of Corrections)
The man looked in my direction and mouthed the words of what appeared to be “I’m sorry.” He was dead within minutes.
Carman Deck could not see me, nor were the other witnesses to his execution visible, because of the two-way mirrored glass separating us.
The barbaric occasion on May 3rd, 2022, was justice or revenge for his savage attacks on Zelda and James Long.
The execution came twenty-six years after the Longs were murdered execution-style in their DeSoto, Missouri, home.
Carman Deck was executed at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre that Tuesday evening.
In the presence of fellow witnesses, Deck was injected at 6:02 p.m. with the lethal combination of drugs that ended his life. Within a minute, Deck seemed to fall asleep, but I noticed his chest and abdomen appeared too still for breathing.
Deck, Missouri Department of Corrections Inmate #990144, was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m.
Our state’s governor said, “Justice was served.”
Deck’s last written statement reads, “My hope is that one day the world will find peace and that we all will learn to be kind and loving to one another. We all are a part of this journey through life, connected in every way. Please give love, show love, BE LOVE!”
Despite his unconscionable violence against two innocent senior citizens, it seems illogical for the State to be in the killing business. Allow me to explain, starting with a conservative point.
Financial Costs to Taxpayers
From a fiscal point of view, the cost of enforcing the death penalty with pretrial and trial expenses, the costs of automatic appeals, state habeas corpus petitions, and costs of incarceration on death row are substantially higher than sentencing a person to life in prison without parole, according to the U.S. Supreme Court (Alarcon & Mitchell, 2011).
Pursuing the death penalty costs Florida $51 million a year more than the cost of sending all first-degree murderers to life without. According to the Palm Beach Post, the 44 Florida executions since 1976 have cost the state $24 million for each execution.
The Dallas Morning News reports that a death penalty case in Texas costs more than two million dollars, around three times the cost of 40 years in a maximum-security cell.
Getting it wrong
More than 150 people have been released from death row (including at least four in Missouri) since 1973 after evidence proved their innocence, according to the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil & Constitutional Rights.
Obviously, execution is irreversible.
Race
In Washington state, jurors are three times more likely to sentence a black defendant to death than a white person in a similar case, according to the University of Washington.
The Santa Clara Law Review reports that the odds of a death sentence in Louisiana were 97% higher for people convicted of killing a white person compared to a black victim.
Despite 2021 Pew Research statistics showing that more than half of U.S. citizens support the death penalty, nearly 50% say capital punishment does not deter people from committing murder or other violent crimes.
Thinking out loud
Regardless, I write this just hours before Kevin Johnson is set to be executed in Missouri for the execution-style murder of a St. Louis area police officer.
Despite it being the law of the land in the Show Me State and many others, is it just? Is it accurate? Is it cost-effective?
Updated at 8:15 p.m. 29 November 2022: 37-year-old Kevin Johnson was executed at the prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri. He was pronounced dead at 7:40 p.m., according to Missourinet.
Although Walter Cronkite is arguably the standard-bearer for journalism and TV news, I have been more of the Tom Brokaw generation. My career in TV news allowed me amazing opportunities to meet both the legends and my hero, Tom.
Tom Brokaw
My first personal encounter came in the mid-90s when I asked Tom to look at a tape of my anchoring and reporting work. He agreed and responded through the U.S.P.S. with some words of encouragement saying I “had the tools for success” in our craft. He also offered advice including something I would later learn exhaustively myself; the importance of reporters and producers who can write well and generate original content.
We first met in person when he was speaking at the University of Minnesota in 1999. I had recently moved from Montgomery, Alabama, to the Twin Cities and was working at a regional cable news channel. Oddly, I had already agreed to return to my old but improved job at the NBC affiliate in Montgomery, so I just introduced myself during our meeting as being from Alabama’s capital city. He was eating something from the fruit tray in the green room backstage and responded by saying, “Wow, Joey, you’re a long way from home.” I laughed and explained the recent changes and my U-Haul movement. We visited for a few minutes and got a nice picture together.
In 2003, I moved to Wyoming to what would become and remains one of my proudest career achievements; helping launch KCWY – NBC for Wyoming. Along with a brilliant team of on and off-air talent, I was lucky enough to be the founding news director of the nation’s newest NBC affiliate.
My station was the newest competitor of the station where NBC justice correspondent Pete Williams once worked.
The first KCWY crew I affectionately call “The Pioneers”Tom Brokaw’s book “A Long Way from Home”
Tom’s newest book A Long Way from Home came out that same year. As you can imagine, the title of the book immediately took me back to what he said to me during our first meeting.
Tom Brokaw inscribed his book to me, “For Joey – Who’s always at home even when he’s a long way away.”
You can also imagine my response when received a copy of that book on the station’s anniversary. It was inscribed: “To Joey – who’s always at home – even when he’s a long way away.” It’s almost a certainty that he inscribed that book similarly to many fans, but because of our past exchange, it felt auspiciously inspiring.
When the NBC Nightly News anchor transition happened in 2004, (Tom handing over the anchor chair to Brian Williams) affiliate stations were offered a chance to interview them both about the change. I accepted. I have never been a Brian Williams fan. I try to keep these stories as positive as possible, but my allegiance was to Tom. I do think Brian has done serious journalism but he has also grievously damaged our craft. Whether it was a sign of the times, his own desires, or advice from NBC public relations, he seemed to be more into the celebrity of the anchor job rather than the continued importance of quality journalism. We would later see this problem, among the unrepentant “misremembering” of his extraordinary experiences, when he was removed from the “Nightly News” job and replaced by Lester Holt.
The interview with Brian was fine but I was most excited about chatting with Tom again. I thanked Tom for the book and asked if his advice had changed over time. It had not. The satellite delay made it a little awkward and I had a grammar stumble but it was still a nice moment.
Walter Cronkite
Meeting “Uncle Walter” came about in a situation that was rather unique to me. Instead of it having to do with my efforts or roles in journalism, it happened through my friend, Frank Lee Roberts.
Brochure for an evening with “Uncle Walter” in 1998
In October 1998, Mr. Cronkite was in Birmingham to speak at an event for the Business Council of Alabama hosted in part by HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy. The event was called “And that’s the way it is…” which of course was the news legend’s nightly signoff.
Having a chat moment with Walter Cronkite (That’s a shadow behind me not my hair in a bun.lol)
I was a bit disappointed by his response when I asked him what the mood was like just after he took President Bill Clinton, Hillary, and daughter Chelsea out sailing on Cronkite’s yacht, Wyntje. His reply was curt saying he would not discuss his private moments and conversations with the first family. I respect the fact that the Clinton’s could discuss their lives with him in confidence, but I just wanted to know more about the president’s mood after he had just recently admitted to the affair with Monica Lewinsky and his impeachment case was getting underway. Cronkite was a private citizen though and was in the company of the Clintons as a friend, not a working journalist. It was still nice getting to visit with him briefly and to have him inscribe a book to me as “a fellow broadcaster.” EPIC!
“Objective journalism and an opinion column are about as similar as the Bible and Playboy magazine.“
Walter Cronkite
By the way, Scrushy’s signed copy of that book along with all the convicted felon’s other belongings and properties were sold at an auction trying to satisfy his $2.8 billion dollar civil judgment for accounting fraud, among other legal issues.
Tim Russert
Meeting Tim Russert at 30 Rock in 2000
Very few “celebrity” deaths have made me physically cry. Tim Russert’s untimely passing was one of them.
Tim was a journalist’s journalist. He was one of the smartest interviewers ever. I tried to model my political interviews after his. He was always so very well-informed, respectful, tenacious, and thoughtful. He rarely got confrontational. He would instead question people as would a good attorney. I’ve seen Tim rephrase and ask the same question two or three times. Instead of being rude he simply let his audience realize the guest was skirting the question or refusing to answer his direct query.
On 30 June 2000, I was at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City as “part of my job” at WSFA. Tim was there with his son, Luke, to watch an 18-year-old Britney Spears perform as part of the Summer Concert Series. He took a moment to talk to me and take a picture.
Tim Russert in Las Vegas at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention in 2007 for “Meet the Press” induction to the NAB Hall of Fame
I would be lucky enough to see Tim again. He was in Las Vegas in April of 2007. “Meet the Press,” the top-rated and longest-running television program in the world was being inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). Tim accepted the honor on behalf of the show and for NBC. Just a little more than a year later, Tim died at the age of 58…at work.
“The best exercise for the human heart is reaching down to lift someone else up.”
Tim russert
I yelled her name from across a food table to tell Christiane Amanpour, “I love you!” She said, “I love YOU!”
While I was at the NAB Convention in Vegas, I also got to visit with the gifted journalist and CNN’s chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour. She inspired me to want to be a foreign correspondent, but I did not have her intestinal fortitude. She has reported live from war-torn countries and other violent hotspots around the world. She was lovely in person.
Return to 30 Rock
Hanging with Ann Curry in the green room at “TODAY” was one of the NYC trip’s highlights
Going back to 30 Rock in 2000, we basically had all-access to the green room and surrounding areas on the day I knew we would be meeting Katie Couric, but we were bonused by the generosity of Tim Russert, Ann Curry, and Al Roker. Ann is another journalist I respect.
“Journalism is an act of faith in the future
Ann Curry
Honestly, I wasn’t that big of an admirer of Katie until that day. I happened to be watching an interview she did with Tom Arnold (Rosanne Barr’s husband at the time) years ago and as she wrapped up the interview she said, “It was nice having you.” Tom, appearing to be funny, said, “It was nice having you too.” Katie’s seemed quite offended and snapped back with “Whatever!’ I don’t know why this stuck with me for as long as it did during Katie’s stellar career. She proved herself so very accommodating and down to earth with me and my guests. Despite the zany nature of NBC’s Today, she also repeatedly proved herself a solid journalist
Picking up Katie Couric
I have a feeling neither of us will forget the moment I lifted Katie Couric of the floor at “TODAY.”
Yes, this is the day I physically picked up Katie Couric. I don’t remember exactly why I got the feeling that this would be acceptable behavior, but I whispered to her as we were posing for pictures, “I’m going to pick you up.” She laughed and said. “What?” as she grabbed onto me signaling that she was okay with this ridiculous stunt. As I scooped NBC’s multimillion-dollar anchor into my arms I also grabbed her short skirt to keep from flashing her to everyone in the green room. Instead of it resulting in criminal charges and the end of my career, it was a very fun moment for us all.
Katie’s personalized photo to me of our unique moment was a nice touch.
Katie even signed a picture of the moment, “Joey, you really swept me off my feet.” Within the next year, Katie would sign a more than $60 million dollar contract with NBC in what was believed to be the largest on-air talent financial deal in the history of TV news.
Katie would also become the anchor of CBS Evening News. The same job Walter Cronkite held for 19 years. Katie would only be at the desk from 2006 until 2011.
Meeting Bob Schieffer in 2016 while we were reporting from the Republican National Conference in Cleveland, Ohio
I ran into Bob Schieffer while we were covering the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in 2016. He is another old school journalist I respect.
Working Among the Greats
The legendary journalist Carl Bernstein was gracious enough to pose for a picture at the RNC in Cleveland.
“The lowest form of popular culture – lack of information, misinformation, disinformation, and a contempt for the truth or the reality of most people’s lives – has overrun real journalism. Today, ordinary Americans are being stuffed with garbage.”
Carl Bernstein
Just a few of the teams I’ve been lucky enough to call colleagues
It’s strange both meeting and sometimes working alongside people who have meant so much to my career and life as a journalist. Some of the names you may not recognize. Some are or were giants in our field. Others continue to work daily to cover the news and uncover the truth.
At Gov. Eric Greitens’ January 9, 2017 inauguration with the venerable Missouri Broadcasters Association Hall of Famer Bob PriddyThis is one of those odd moments where all three male evening anchors were assigned to the governor’s office for interviews. In yellow is Kermit Miller from the market’s CBS station. I’m shaking hands with Jim Riek with the NBC affiliate. Combined, these guys have been at their respective local stations longer than I’ve been on Earth.
Please make careful and honest assessments of the journalists you read, watch, and listen to. Do not buy into the narrative that “the media” has an agenda and delivers “fake news.”
The legendary Bob Schieffer also sat in “Cronkite’s chair” ay CBS Evening News
Saying “the media” is about as ignorant and sleeplike as saying “the gays,” “the Asians,” “the whites” and “the blacks.” One is inappropriately super-generalizing and marginalizing a huge variety of people from many walks of life, talents, and character based on one similarity. “John Wayne Gary was a child rapist and killer…so you know those whites.” If you say OANN and The Associated Press in the same sentence, you are speaking of total opposites. The only thing they have in common is they disseminate info via a large platform. That is where the comparison should stop. To group the two as “the media” is nonsensical and irresponsible.
“As one former fake news writer told 60 Minutes, if it is in a news-ish format and agrees with preexisting biases, people will believe just about anything.”
We must stop using “the media” as an excuse to not think for ourselves. To stay properly informed takes common sense and even your own independent research. It may not feel as good as Sean Hannity telling a person how right they are even when they’re flat out wrong. It may not give one the warm fuzzies or that self-righteous comfort felt when agreeing with an opinion shared by Rachel Maddow.
Interviewing the interviewer, Bill Plante of CBS News
Someone with a YouTube channel is not Reuters. Just because someone wears a suit and sits at a desk does not make them a news anchor or journalist. Yes, question everything but ffs don’t use Facebook to do it.
ABC World News anchor David Muir grabs a selfie with our news teamWhat a run…so far!
What was I thinking when I ‘popped the question’ to supermodel Cindy Crawford? Why would a globally-recognized beauty queen even consider marrying a local news reporter/anchor working in Dothan, Alabama and Panama City, Florida? I know. It doesn’t make sense to me either, but Cindy did not say no.
The Planet Hollywood Nashville grand opening media pass in a gaggle of others
Planet Hollywood was opening in Nashville, Tennessee, in June of 1996. The Music City was certainly not within my market coverage area nor was it part of the mission of WTVY News to cover entertainment news. My boss allowed me to go on my own time. It was about a six-hour drive from Dothan and I had a friend in Nashville, where I could stay. That would save on any possible expenses which was handy since the station wasn’t covering such costs other than allowing me to use the gear.
The Short-lived Planet Hollywood History
Planet Hollywood, the movie, television and music-themed restaurant chain was launched in New York City in 1991. It was backed by some of the stars I was able to meet and greet in-person, such as Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and others. Additional celebrity endorsers like Wesley Snipes and Danny Glover were there as well. The company was successful in fits and starts for a few years but declared bankruptcy shortly after 9-11.
The fun before the end of the “Planet”
Frank Lee Roberts (image courtesy of Frank Lee Roberts Photographer)
My friend and accomplished photographer Frank Lee Roberts accompanied me on the adventure, and we dragged my friend since childhood, “Nashville Mike,” along as part of the crew and for good times.
Some of the thousands of stargazers at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
The plan was to start shooting video earlier in the day in order to beat the crowds, but the parties started early and the entire day was frantic.
As we were moved through streets crowded with revelers, jockeyed for position on the elbow-to-elbow red carpet and each bathed in our own sweat, I told my “crew” that this will be a much better memory. We laugh about it today because we didn’t even have time to actually enjoy the experience while getting what was needed for a story.
Bruce Willis stops to chat at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
The first celebrity experience came in the afternoon with Bruce Willis. He and Demi Moore were still married and I asked where she was. Bruce replied, “She’s in New York for the premiere of Striptease; the one where she takes all her damn clothes off.” Bruce would later stop to promote his then-upcoming film with Christopher Walken, Last Man Standing. Meeting Bruce was exciting enough but I would have gone mental if Walken had been there.
George “Goober” Lindsey and Billy Dean at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996Sylvester Stallone at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
I don’t remember the exact order of who walked the carpet and when, but I recall people like George Lindsey (Goober on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’), county music artists Mindy McCready and Billy Dean, Ashley Judd (whose mom I met in the early 80s while I was working as an extra in Living Proof; the Hank Williams Junior Story) and others. Planet Hollywood business partner and superstar Sylvester Stallone also stopped by. I first bumped into Sly around 1991 on the backlot of Universal Studios as he was filming the movie, Oscar. A fire destroyed his movie sets at Universal, so filming had to resume at Disney-MGM Studios the next month.
Luke Perry
Luke Perry at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
Luke Perry practically bounced-along the red carpet fresh off of his white-hot run on Beverly Hills, 90210. He worked in film and television from childhood all the way to just before his death. His most recent work was Quentin Tarnation’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His passing in March 2019 at the age of only 52, saddened me while also allowing a moment to reflect on seeing the talented actor in-person 23 years earlier. His many fans treasure the life of a remarkable man as well as his prolific and diverse career.
Amy Grant
Amy Grant at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
Musician and the “Queen of Christian Pop” Amy Grant stopped to chat but she seemed totally disenchanted to be there. Perhaps it was something I said or asked her. I do know I played her pop hits ad nauseam in my radio days.
Lisa Hartman-Black and Clint Black
Lisa Hartman-Black and Clint Black at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
Actress and award-winning singer Lisa Hartman Black and her husband, award-winning country music star Clint Black walked the glamor walkway together and were generous with their time. They both seemed genuine and quite comfortable chatting with me.
“Proposing” to Cindy Crawford
Joey having fun with Cindy Crawford at Planet Hollywood’s grand opening in 1996
My microphone was shoved in quite a few faces that day and I was getting tired of asking the same questions. Then, through the throngs of celebs and their handlers, supermodel Cindy Crawford appeared. As she has with billions of people on the planet, she caught my eye. Although I had grown weary of the repetition, I couldn’t let Cindy “freakin’ Crawford just walk by me without some interaction. A funny wedding proposal would throw her off and break up the monotony for us both, I thought. It did. She took it like a sport after a split-second of figuring out whether I was joking or if she needed to have her security team tackle me. Her playful slight shove was a nice touch.
“You have been erased!”
Vanessa Williams and Arnold Schwarzenegger at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
Arnold Schwarzenegger walked the red with Vanessa Williams together as they were promoting their new film Eraser. The movie pulled in a quarter of a billion dollars but garnered a mixed response from the critics.
I couldn’t decide who I wanted to talk to more. Obviously, Arnold has been part of my whole movie-watching life, but Vanessa has it all. She is the most famous (and even infamous for a while) Miss America ever. In 1983, she was the first black woman to be crowned Miss America and the first Miss America to be dethroned. She relinquished the title weeks before the end of her reign after a controversy surrounding nude photographs of herself.
Three decades later, as she served in the role of head judge for the Miss America 2016 pageant, the organization’s CEO made a formal apology for what happened in 1984. Despite the scandal, she is arguably the most commercially successful Miss America in the program’s history.
Actress, singer, designer and former Miss America Vanessa Williams at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
As Vanessa and Arnold plugged the movie, I asked her to look into my camera and say the tagline to the number one movie in the theaters. She smiled, locked eyes with the camera, and in a shock to me, she imitated Arnold’s accent and dropped the line, “You have been erased.”
Joey Parker “proposes” to supermodel Cindy Crawford at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
When I asked her to deliver the line, I was thinking about putting the story together next to Cindy’s clip to make it seem as if I were a schmuck (that part can still be true) who just got two wedding proposals rejected within minutes. It was a creative way, I thought, to put together a light entertainment piece. Let me clarify, such manipulation would never be acceptable in a serious news story. This was more of a Daily Show or late-night talk show theme. It was a fun feature.
Danny Glover at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
It’s a wrap!
Preparations underway for Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996The 1996 Joey Parker on assignment at Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening
I don’t cover star-studded grand openings and I’d rather report on the midday traffic than anything having to do with dreadful red carpet coverage. Still, this was a fun and exhaustive day I’ll always remember.
It’s a wrap! Just before closing after Planet Hollywood Nashville’s grand opening in 1996
Like many people my age and slightly older, Benny Hill was a naughty boy’s secretive indulgence. The Benny Hill Show was not a children’s program and parents usually prohibited their children from watching it making the taboo show even more desirable.
The Benny Hill Show (Photo courtesy: IMDB)
If you don’t know, it was a sketch comedy that often included now very un-PC themes of “humorous” male chauvinism, inappropriate sexual behavior and even violence. It was really no different than Bugs Bunny, but on this program, it happened to be with live humans which some found quite offensive. Benny Hill would chase women and have women chasing him in high-speed scenes, as well as, other silly themes.
Jane Leeves (right) was a regular performer on The Benny Hill Show
They would often feature buxom women, some celebrities including a young unknown at the time, Jane (Daphne from “Frazier”) Leeves.
Benny Hill jokingly smacks Jackie Wright’s bald head
One recurring scene that seemed to be funny to me was when Benny’s character would do rapid smacks to the back of the head of the short, bald Jackie Wright (1905-1989). Still, most boys (including yours truly) and grown men watched it for the scantily clad women.
The show’s theme song “Yakety Sax” was voted the number one Favourite Theme Tune in a 2015 UK-wide poll.
Benny Hill advertising Black and White whisky in 1971.
Benny was sought after for certain adult-oriented advertisements. Companies wanted to cash in on his fame. In 2002, DJ Taylor of The Independent ranked Benny the third greatest British comedian of the 20th century just behind Stan Laurel and one of his comedic heroes Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977). The only connection I thought I had with Benny was Charlie Chaplin. While Benny was a huge fan of Charlie, my great grandfather stylized some of Mr. Chaplin’s iconic mustaches.
I never thought my life would intersect with the legendary comedian Benny Hill.
Joey Parker on the set of Teenavox in 1987
While I was working on my television variety and dance TV program called Teenavox, I started working at Universal Studios in Orlando. Many celebrities came through to work in the many sound stages and backlots, as well as, on VIP tours of the theme park. I was one of the guides who led some of those tours.
It was a rainy Florida day when I met Patrick McNee (“The Avengers” “Transformers” “A View to a Kill”) so he had his signature umbrella. It seemed as if he was in character.
Some autographs after spending the day with Wolfman Jack
In my brief time at Universal, I would meet Benny, John Landis, Wolfman Jack, (pictures) Dan Aykroyd and others, as well as, work in close proximity with New Kids on the Block, Bon Jovi, Mary Kay Ash (Mary Kay Cosmetics) and Melissa Joan Hart of “Clarissa Explains it all.” Since we also ran Nickelodeon tours, I got to actually slime kids and got slimed a few times myself.
An optimistic Joey Parker goes for the Benny Hill interview
When I learned Benny Hill would be shooting on the backlot, I made arrangements with his management company for an interview for my show.
The business card of the company handling Benny Hill’s visit to Orlando
Over the course of his outdoor filming, Benny got a bit overheated and too tired to sit for an entire interview. Despite his exhaustion, he offered to do a promo for my show and promised an extended interview on his return the following year. Sadly, the summer 1992 interview wasn’t to be. Benny died on 20 April 1992. Don’t click that link and read about his death if you wish to have happy memories of Benny Hill at the moment.
Benny Hill takes his position before going on camera.
I arranged the use of a Sony Betacam and photographer to shoot the promo. I went into an area and met a very friendly and even demure Benny Hill. I told him what I’d like him to say. It was simple: “Hi, I’m Benny Hill and you’re watching Joey Parker on Teenavox.” He agreed and asked for a few minutes to learn the brief script. As we set up the camera and one light, I watched the comedy legend reviewing my handwritten script and whispering the words to himself. He said, “Okay. I’m ready.”
Despite a possible heatstroke in the Florida sunshine, Benny gives it his all.
We got into a side-by-side position so the camera could start on a closeup of Benny and zoom out and pan right to include me. When I asked if the camera was rolling, Benny said, “Wait! Hang on. Let’s break-out the bank.” I had no idea what he was talking about and even had a slight fear that he was about to charge money for the promo. This is not unheard of when it comes to old school performers.
An assistant approached Benny with a container the size of large cigar box. When the handsomely-lined box was opened, Benny removed his signature beret, neckerchief and round eyeglasses; his moneymakers a.k.a ”the bank.” I was stunned that he took the time while tired, sweaty and possibly having a mild heatstroke from the Florida heat and humidity to get into character just for me.
Benny Hill does his signature salute
He got into position, delivered the script with a few delightful alterations including pointing at me and mouthing, “This is him,” and ending without being asked by smacking my head as he did with Jackie Wright. As they did in the show’s postproduction, I added the smacking sound effects and “Yakity Sax” music for the promo.
The higher-ups at Universal found out what I did and said I abused my position since I’m not a producer at the studio. I reminded them that I set this up and recorded it on my own time during a day off of work even. They demanded a promise that I would never again “abuse my power and access-all-areas clearance” authority. I said I couldn’t do that and explained it was one of the reasons I took the job. After stewing on it all night, I quit the very next day.
Benny and Joey having a laugh after the recording
Regardless, I again received an experience and gift I still feel I didn’t deserve and for which I am so very grateful.
Finally, Benny was featured on the BBC program Living Famously, where he visited the home of Charlie Chaplin after Chaplin’s death. Mr. Chaplin’s son took Benny into his dad’s study and showed Benny several videotapes of Benny’s work. The son told Benny what a great fan his father was of Benny and his work and watched it all with thorough enjoyment during his final years. Benny, who of course idolized Mr. Chaplin, was reportedly moved to tears.
From the moment I heard Luciano Pavarotti perform “Nessun Dorma,” I was hooked. I had not become an opera fan, as much as a Pavarotti fan, but it meant that my first official foray into the genre was Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot.
I listened to his music for years before I understood its meaning. Even being ignorant of the language, I felt the passion in his voice. It wasn’t until Morgan Freeman’s character, Red, in “The Shawshank Redemption” said in his own legendary voice, “I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don’t want to know. I like to think they were singing about something so beautiful it can’t be expressed in words and makes your heart ache because of it.” That is how Pavarotti feels to my ears and heart.
Pavarotti performs in Baton Rouge
While living on the Gulf Coast in 1993, I learned that Pavarotti was going to perform in Baton Rouge. “The King of High Cs” was doing a show to help raise funds for a Louisiana housing charity.
We went all out to see Luciano Pavarotti in concert in early 1994, but I wouldn’t get that ticket signed by Tibor Rudas until seven years later.
Paying top dollar for Pavarotti LIVE
As soon as tickets were on sale, I went to a record store in the mall (this was pre-internet) to buy three tickets; I ordered the most expensive seats money could buy. They were $175 each. I got one for my girlfriend, one for me, and one for my best friend, Frank Lee. The reason I spent my hard-earned radio DJ money on such expensive tickets ($175 each – about $310 each in 2020 money) was that I felt this would likely be the only time we’d get so close to greatness.
The program – Tibor Rudas presents Luciano Pavarotti” in Baton Rouge
On 4 January 1994, we headed to Baton Rouge, where the real-life Pavarotti adventure begins. We arrived at the Riverside Centroplex Arena (now called Raising Cane’s River Center Arena). Our seats were in an elevated section with a decent side view of the stage. The seats weren’t fantastic, but they were close and unobstructed.
My Baton Rouge Luciano Pavarotti concert friends
Sneaking into the front row
Pavarotti came out on stage and began belting out some of his most famous arias. Our seats were to his 10:00 position, and we enjoyed it immensely. I was distracted by three empty front row seats on the floor. I told my concert partners that if the seats remained empty for the first half of the concert, we would move to them at intermission. My plan was met with fear and resistance, as they worried we’d get tossed out of this magnificent event. I told them I needed their support for such a bold move. They gave me their blessing and cooperated and we moved to the floor and took the three front-row seats. We were now spitting distance from the greatest opera singer in the world.
A Pavarotti-signed CD of The Three Tenors
As we meandered the crowd of VIPs and dignitaries including then-Governor Edwin Edwards, attorney F. Lee Bailey, Tibor Rudas (creator of The Three Tenors) and a host of other luminaries, I met the organizer of the show. Ambassador Lil Barrow-Veal was the head of a non-profit agency and asked me, in our very brief exchange, if we were coming to the dinner afterward. I improvised some BS about our desire to attend but that there had been a “mix-up” regarding the invitations. I don’t know how I just pulled that cockamamie story out of my “arsenal,” especially since we knew nothing about any sort of afterparty. She asked how many of us would be there. I said, “three” and pointed out my other two mates. She said, “Find me after the show and I’ll get you in.”
During the second half of Pavarotti’s concert, we could hardly contain ourselves with the knowledge that we would be going to some event with the legend. My friends did a good job of tamping down expectations, saying she was going to ghost us the moment the show ended. I was ready for that but still hopeful.
After the show, Ms. Veal was hobnobbing with the VIPs and my friends and I clung to her as best I could. We were hungry strays looking for any Pavarotti snacks she may throw our way. She moved through the crowd with an entourage of organizers and others and we made it through every security checkpoint before approaching an escalator. We rode up the moving stairs and arrived at a set of ballroom doors, where the only people being admitted had gold lanyards around their necks. We had none.
She passed through security and we thought we’d had a good run and were totally ready to abandon the soiree with the joy of having seen Pavarotti in concert. In all the madness, Ms. Veal turned and extended three fingers on her elegant hand, waiving us into the private room. We took a seat at a large round table that was positioned about 10 yards away from the head table with name placards marking the seats for Pavarotti and his guests.
As the server brought our salads, I asked if she would bring me get a side of blue cheese dressing. She said it was not possible and the vinaigrette was all they were serving. As the server left, a woman sitting at the opposite side of the table said with mocking disdain, “You’d think at a thousand dollars a plate, we could get whichever dressing we want.” We laughed, but inside I began a sweaty panic, thinking that sometime during the event or thereafter they would come to me for $3,000 to cover our three dinners. That’s a lot of dishwashing, even for three interlopers.
The maestro entered to a standing ovation along with Governor Edwards, F. Lee Bailey, Mr. Rudas, and some other VIPs. They all took their seats at the long table, à la the Last Supper.
A few times during the meal, Pavarotti looked over at my girlfriend and made eyes with her. I normally would have been a bit jealous. Instead, I felt as honored as she.
When the dinner ended, we all were invited to meet and shake hands with Pavarotti. Somewhere along the way and just a few people in line, organizers stopped the meetings, made apologies, and Pavarotti and friends left. We pilfered anything we could from the table. I wanted Pavarotti’s name placard, but it had already been claimed. We still left Louisiana elated; Three people could not have had a better experience.
Luciano Pavarotti in wax at Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
Fast forward to 1998. In Amsterdam, at Madame Tussauds, I posed with the wax figure of Pavarotti. I couldn’t wait to share it with my Baton Rouge concert partners. I thought it would be a nice way to wrap up my amazing Pavarotti experience. It was not the end…at all.
Getting the “impossible” interview
In 2001, while working at the NBC affiliate in Montgomery, Alabama, I got word that Pavarotti was coming to Birmingham, for his first and only concert in Alabama. I immediately started shaking the trees to try to work out an interview. This was “impossible,” as Pavarotti does interviews with Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Mike Wallace, and Oprah. He doesn’t do interviews with Joey Parker or any locals.
When I started my dialogue with Pavarotti’s people, I started off by saying, “Please do not say ‘no’ until hearing me out.” I told them of my Baton Rouge experience and explained that I was a hardcore (not a Johnny-come-lately) fan. I even bribed them with Alabama BBQ I had shipped on dry ice to their New York City offices. The shipping cost three times as much as the BBQ.
Eventually, one of his people said Pavarotti would be performing shortly before his Alabama concert in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They asked if I would be willing to travel that far to do an interview to promote the Birmingham concert in advance. I distinctly remember my answer: “I would go to Hell to interview Luciano Pavarotti!”
Luciano Pavarotti in Albuquerque, NM program
After a big laugh and a thank you for the “delicious BBQ,” we eventually set plans for an interview in Albuquerque.
New York City, September 11, 2001 – Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Finding familiarity in a time of terror
On a beautiful September morning, I watched along with the rest of the world as our nation came under attack. The last thing on my mind during the 9-11 terrorist attacks, was my interview with Pavarotti. Much like the current COVID-19 crisis, the nation was turned upside-down.
When I got to Albuquerque, I told my production crew from KNME-TV what I was thinking for months leading up to the show, that the interview was very likely not going to happen. Legend has it that he has had two former U.S. presidents in his audience and canceled the show because of a throat tickle. This was weeks after 9-11 and Pavarotti was out of his normal artistic element and in the dry climate of New Mexico.
The hotel arranged a room on the same floor as Pavarotti’s suite. We set up at the appointed time, met with his people, and began the wait. I shared my feelings with the crew about envisioning Pavarotti in his suite, looking at his agenda and saying, “Who the hell is this guy? And, why am I doing a local television interview? Cancel it!”
As I peeked out of our room down the hall to Pavarotti’s, we waited 15, 30, and then 45 minutes. When we hit the one-hour mark, and I was accepting the reality it was not going to happen. I looked out for what I figured would be the last time. There was movement. People were gathering outside his room, and then it happened. Luciano Pavarotti stepped out of his room and was on his way to MY room.
Amber McClarin photobombs Luciano Pavarotti
We met and kindly shook hands. We got seated. As the intern, Amber McClarin, was attaching his microphone to Pavarotti’s signature silk scarf, I couldn’t help but fawn. As I was explaining to him how he single-handedly “turned me on” to opera making me a fan decades before our meeting, he was eying Amber. She was aware of Pavarotti’s wandering eye and flirtatious behavior and took it in stride. I think she was even amused.
Meeting Luciano Pavarotti was a dream come true.
Pavarotti sniffs my watch
While the photographer, Manuel Machuko, was adjusting his lighting, Pavarotti noticed my Hublot watch. He pointed and said with his thick Italian accent, “Hublot?” I hesitated because I didn’t understand his question. When it hit me, I confirmed it is a Hublot watch. In the excitement of the moment, I opened the deployment clasp of the watch and handed it to him. He took it from my hand and drew the watch to his nose to sniff it. This was a snapshot of a memory that I’ll never forget. I wondered to myself, “What series of events has led to my being in a hotel room with opera legend Luciano Pavarotti sniffing my watch?” I still get a laugh out of that moment. In reality, he was pointing out how the rubber strap doesn’t emit the funky smell of a men’s leather watch strap.
Mr. Pavarotti looks at the program from the 1994 Baton Rouge concert
The interview got underway. I was moved by his relaxed demeanor and at how agreeable and personable he was. It was going well until I asked him how the events of 9-11 affected him. His eyes turned red and welled with tears and he took a deep breath. I knew I had just blown this interview, I knew I had lost Pavarotti and his people were about to step in and stop the interview they felt was getting perhaps too personal. After a pause, he sighed and answered the question with passion. He said the terror attacks were “the death of my soul.”
My visit with Mr. Pavarotti was supervised by his team
We rebounded and spent the better part of an hour together. After the interview, I wanted to get one quick reverse shot while he was there. For people who are not in television, this is where we put the camera to the rear side of the subject for cutaways, reaction shots and editing purposes. I was afraid to ask him so the Manuel knew from my rehearsed look to quickly get the reverse shot. Pavarotti noticed and was patient. We chatted, and I showed him the picture of me posing with his wax replica. He asked if this was from London or Paris. I told him it was from Amsterdam. He had no idea “he” was on display in Holland. I told him I thought this was as close as I would ever get to meeting him and also shared our Baton Rouge experience.
KNME photographer Manuel Machuko during the Pavarotti interview
Not only did we blow out the 15-minute time limit, after an hour together we were still having a pleasant time. So pleasant in fact, Pavarotti invited me to play poker with him that evening, and soon to Modena, Italy, so he could cook a meal for me. I told him I like cooking and will treat him, but he said, “I do the cooking. You eat!”
We finished the interview, he posed with me and the crew for pictures, signed autographs and recorded some promotional pieces for A&E. That’s when A&E really meant Arts and Entertainment. It was also when TLC actually meant The Learning Channel.
The Three Tenors’ producer Tibor Rudas is a legend in the opera world
BONUS: Visiting with legendary promoter Tibor Rudas
As a bonus, I was able to have an interview with the show’s producer, Tibor Rudas, often referred to as “the George Martin of opera music.” The once prisoner of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany, Mr. Rudas became as important in arranging and producing the Three Tenors (Mr. Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras), as Mr. Martin was to The Beatles.
A Pavarotti program signed by Tibor RudasLuciano Pavarotti signed a program to Joey (Pavarotti preferred to sign in blue because it is “more romantic”
When we finished, Pavarotti walked by my “football.” That is my makeup and prep bag that goes with me everywhere, thus “the football.” Aside from my earpiece, makeup, and other necessary things for television work, I had a tin of Altoids. He reached in and grabbed them. He asked if he may have one and I offered him as many as he’d wish. I still have the tin because it potentially has his skin cell DNA inside. I mean that not in a creepy way.
Pavarotti asked if I was going to the show “tomorrow night.” I said we would love to see him perform. He set us up with front row seats. I mean he arranged those prime seats for me, the cameraman, the intern and their significant others, as well as the general manager of the TV station and his wife.
Row One courtesy of Luciano Pavarotti
History taught me that money cannot buy front row tickets. If this had been a serious news interview, I could not accept such a gift. In fact, it was ethically questionable anyway.
Pavarotti rehearsing with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
The next day, the crew accompanied me as invited guests to what is always a closed rehearsal. After the evening concert, Pavarotti allowed us all to visit him backstage. He did pictures and autographs and joked about BBQ. I was gobsmacked to learn Pavarotti had tasted the Alabama BBQ I sent to New York.
The next day, the crew accompanied me as invited guests to what is always a closed rehearsal. After shooting for a few minutes, the tour manager kicked us out. As we were leaving, even though we told him that we had permission to be there, Pavarotti saw us heading out, and yelled my name. He waved us back in, and we continued to shoot with unfettered access. It was remarkable.
After the evening concert, Pavarotti allowed us all to visit him backstage. He allowed pictures, signed autographs, and joked about the BBQ. I was gobsmacked to learn Pavarotti had tasted the Alabama BBQ I sent to New York.
The Pavarotti production crew: Joey, Amber and Manny
When I got back to my room that night, I called my friend, Frank Lee who was my partner in crime in Baton Rouge, and told him my career was done. Nothing could top this. After the extremely depressing lows of 9-11, I had one of the greatest moments of my life with a musical hero I had admired for so long.
The Pavarotti program for Birmingham, Alabama
Pavarotti in Alabama
Once again, Pavarotti and his people arranged front row tickets again at his 10 November 2001, concert at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center. My guests would include Frank Lee, my girlfriend who was with us in Baton Rouge, and some of our friends. We all enjoyed the show and were granted backstage access again. My friends all got to meet him and get autographs. He did not allow pictures because his leg was troubling him and was bandaged and elevated on a scooter.
The dressing room door sign and backstage pass for Luciano Pavarotti
I did score his dressing room door sign. I stuck my backstage pass on it for the scrapbook.
The Baton Rouge trio seven years later leaving Montgomery for the Birmingham show
Before we left, his manager mentioned something about the barbecue. Pavarotti made the connection and asked if I could get him some more of “that delicious barbecue.” I told him I would try. When we got back in the limousine (we had to treat ourselves for this very special event), I called Dreamland in Birmingham and asked if we could get an order delivered. They told me they had shut down the BBQ pits for the night. When I told them it was for Pavarotti and crew, the restaurant manager asked if I could get an autographed picture for the restaurant if they fired up the pits again and delivered to his hotel. If you’ve never been to this iconic BBQ restaurant, Dreamland has celebrity memorabilia decorating the dining room. It’s mostly autographed pictures of sports legends such as Alabama Football football Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and other sports icons. I told them we had already left the venue but gave him the contact number of Pavarotti’s manager and I paid for the BBQ.
The latter and final years with Pavarotti
Sometime later, some friends and I were headed to see Aerosmith in Birmingham at the same venue. Arena workers dropped the massive scoreboard onto the stage crushing some of Aerosmith’s equipment and causing the band to cancel the show. I already had tickets and plans to go to Birmingham, so we continued on. While we were figuring out what we were going to do, I proposed we eat at Dreamland. As we walked to our seats in the restaurant, we noticed something special. Ensconced in a lighted and locked glass case was a picture with the inscription, “The best BBQ ever…Luciano Pavarotti.” I had chills and a stupidly huge grin knowing that I was a part of making this happen.
A note from Modena, Italy, by Nicoletta and Luciano
In 2003, I sent a note to Pavarotti’s home Modena, when I learned that his wife, Nicoletta Mantovani had given birth to twins. I congratulated the couple on the birth of daughter, Alice, and sent sympathies regarding the stillbirth of her twin brother, Riccardo. I received a nice thank-you note from “Luciano and Nicoletta.”
In 2007, I learned how serious Pavarotti’s health problems were. I sent him pictures and a letter reminding him of this very long tale and how much he means to me. To this day, I do believe he saw it before he died of pancreatic cancer on 6 September 2007.
When I hear one of his songs or see him on a TV broadcast, all these memories come rushing back with the force of a pleasant punch to my emotions. His kindness, generosity and passion still fill me with a joy that’s deeply appreciated.
Luciano Pavarotti signed a poster from a concert program
Joey is wearing a mask as he is feeling ill and wanting to protect others.
My reservation was made months in advance to dine at Sühring in Bangkok. Nothing was going to stop me including a case of E. coli which I picked up eating on the backroads of Cambodia. To be clear, I did not get the sickness from one of the few restaurants in Thailand to earn two Michelin stars.
I wasn’t sure what was wrong initially as I scoured the city seeking pink bismuth. Of the many times I’ve been to Thailand, I never sought Pepto Bismol because I usually brought my own for those few and far between distresses of the stomach. Hint: Bring your own! During this two-week stay, I checked no luggage opting to use a carryon bag only. That meant, of course, no liquids. I now know of the tablets, but enough of all that.
The view from the side road where Sühring is located
Sühring is operated by German twins, Thomas and Mathias Sühring, who “wish to showcase the best of modern German fare inspired by childhood memories and family recipes.”
It is also referred to as Thailand’s most Instagrammed Michelin-starred restaurant. Also, it’s unlike any German food I’ve had in either Germany or the Swiss-German part of Switzerland.
The lush walkway to Sühring’s front entrance
The restaurant looks like a contemporary home tucked away in an oasis of trees in the heart of Bangkok, about a 20-minute drive from Wat Pho. It’s not a stuffy or uncomfortably fancy restaurant, but it feels as if something special awaits. It is actually quite comfortable and everyone from the host to the servers we very kind and accommodating.
The menu at Sühring feels like an awards envelope.
I was welcomed, seated and given a menu sealed with a foil embossed Sühring sticker. Just opening the menu felt as if I was about to present (or in this case receive) an award. I ordered the Sühring Erlebnis (short) menu.
Sühring’s butterbeer or
Big hands and tiny stein
One of the first items served was a mini-stein of a German butterbeer, a mix of beer and cider vinegar. When I say “mini,” I mean my thumb and forefinger dwarfed the tiny beverage.
Some of the menu items at Sühring
Sühring estras
Sühring’s chicken salad
Chapter One started with Sühring’s chicken salad. Yes, that green glossy ball is how Sühring makes and presents its chicken salad. I didn’t want to disturb the beautiful plated creation, but I did and it was succulent.
An amuse bouche at Sühring
A truffle at Sühring
Plated truffle
Then came an amuse bouche of char caviar served neatly on a potato nest, followed by the Berliner, a bite of mushroom truffle.
Eel grün or eel green is the creamy white dish with green dots. It was surprisingly good as I am typically not an eel eater.
Sühring bread and butter
Sühring
Sühring puts its special touch on everything including the bread and butter. The bread is made with the Sühring family sourdough fermentation. It’s served along with custom-packaged pickles or gewürzgurken (plucked by what looks like a sort of tuning fork tweezer) and ceramic egg dishes with butter and a Griebenschmalz, a spread made from animal fat/lard, crackling and apple usually.
The sea bass is prepared with chives and capers and served on its own plate. It looks almost like a terrine but does not have that type of mouthfeel.
The main entrée of my lunch menu was the Hungarian duck. It’s aged for seven days and roasted in its entirety stuffed with hay and herbs and finished with full heads of garlic and seared thyme. My server knew I was not feeling 100 percent and warned me that the duck is served quite rare. He even offered to have the chef cook it longer for me. I have often been critical of people who expect special orders in a higher-end or fixed menu restaurant. It is simply not what they do. You eat their specialty of “verpiss dich” to the Hard Rock Café or McDonald’s for a special order.
Nesmuk knives at Sühring
My choice
Sühring custom Nesmuk knife
Choose your weapon! A set of handmade knives made in Germany, with wooden handles each made from resources of different continents. Not to be boorish, I looked up the maker, Nesmuk, and these knives range in price from hundreds to a couple thousand dollars each. I would guess since people steal things from restaurants, they are very mindful of retrieving these before the customer leaves. The duck knife that I chose is made of Karelian birch burl indigenous to Russia. The knives also come with their own table stands.
The meal was finished with a tasty deconstructed lemon tart. It was light but felt like a real dessert.
Sühring family recipes
The server brought out a small book of what he said is the twin’s grandmother’s handwritten recipes.
Sühring’s süssigkeitenbox
A chocolate treat
More Sühring sweets
Just when I thought the epicurean adventure was complete, the server brought what appeared to be a jewelry box. It was the Süßigkeiten Box and Omas Eierlikör (candy or dessert box and Grandma’s eggnog).
Sühring kitchen dining bar
Sühring kitchen dining area
Sühring’s kitchen
Private Sühring table
There are private tables, at least one with curtains for an intimate meal and at dinner, guests are allowed to sit in a dining room connected to an open kitchen.
Finally, the bill. The Sühring Erlebnis (short) along with a couple of other extras, tax and service charge cost 5,167 Thai Baht which was around $160 USD. Keeping in mind that I’m just as happy with street food and a curbside curry for 1.50 USD, I thought this treat was well worth it. It would cost more than that to have drinks and an appetizer at a Michelin-starred restaurant in the U.S. or Europe.
I am not a food critic but I know what I like. It may be different for your experience, but the staff here did not treat me like a guy on television or a blogger who could share negative reviews. I was just another customer yet they treated me with kindness, respect and served wonderful food and offered a unique experience. It is not how I eat every evening, but I do recommend giving Sühring a try next time you’re in Bangkok.
“When Angkorian society began, Paris and London were not much more than elaborate villages. Europe was crawling with barbarians, and here were the Khmer engineering sophisticated irrigation systems and constructing the biggest temple in the world.” Kim Fay in The Map of Lost Memories sums up the fascination and wonders of Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The country’s natural beauty, history, strife and the resilience of the Khmer people make Cambodia one of my favorite lands.
Like its neighbor, Thailand, there are plenty of smiles to go around.
I had fears that the Cambodians would not welcome a Statey (United States citizen) after our dubious history including the bombings during the war in Vietnam and the U.S. Government’s roles during the Khmer Rouge and the Killing Fields.
Looking at the remains of some of the millions of people who were killed during that time is beyond chilling. My posts are not political but sometimes stating facts makes it sound as if I’m being political. I’m sure we can all agree war sucks and that’s especially true when innocent people are killed.
Speaking of politics, the Khmer people also have quite a sense of humor in their own lives, politics and even marketing. That humor is on display above in a sign for a Mexican restaurant that reads: “Mexican food so good, Trump wants to build a wall around it.” Clever.
I got my visa on arrival. Getting an on-arrival visa always makes me nervous due to the possibility of getting turned around at the border. It only took about a half-hour but my ride was awaiting me. The ground transportation was part of my Airbnb which only cost about 22 USD per night.
My apartment was in the heart of Siem Reap, on the second floor of the building. There was no lift but a set of easy-to-climb steps. The apartment has a sizable living room, lockable bedroom, kitchenette, bathroom with a shower and a balcony. It had everything I needed including some ice-cold air conditioning. That’s always a big concern of mine when I’m in Southeast Asia. Many of my friends ask me how I can love Southeast Asia with my slight heat intolerance. It’s not too bad when I’m just wearing shorts, but it would be unbearable to me if I had to wear a suit.
There are familiar places to a Westerner such as Burger King. “Same. Same. But different.” That’s a saying throughout Southeast Asia that if you’ve ever been you understand thoroughly. Yes, there’s a Burger King. But it is different with certain menu items. Plus I think there are foods served in the U.S. (if you want to call them foods), that many other countries have banned.
From the street food to the fancy or sit-down restaurants, there’s something for everyone.
I’m just as happy getting food from a street vendor as I am being served multiple fine dining courses at Cuisine Wat Damnak.
Obviously, Angkor Wat and the scattered ruins are some of the most important things to see while visiting Siem Reap. I had a special encounter at Angkor. I got there early to watch the sunrise, which is a popular activity. I’d even categorize sunrise at Angkor as a must-see.
As I was watching the magnificent sunrise, a dog came over and sat about 3 meters from me. I spoke to him and shortly thereafter he moved closer to me; less than a meter away. As I watched the sunrise, I looked over at my new canine friend and gave his matted filthy coat of hair a rub and scratch. I could see the reflection of the sunrise in his eyes. The dog was not looking at me. He was actually watching the sunrise! I found this slightly odd because as far as I can understand, the dog lives there. As much as I respect and love animals, I’ve never believed they could be interested in something as ethereal as a sunrise. We shared a moment I now consider prized as we watched the sunrise together over Angkor Wat. I don’t know how the dog felt about it, but I remain moved and well-impressed.
Angkor Wat translates to “capital city temple.” Inside the nearly one thousand-year-old temple and compound, visitors traverse the ruins, meander the maze of corridors and crannies and climb stairs that are almost as steep as a ladder. I have to caution anyone with any physical impairments to be advised of this. It’s easy to get halfway up and regret your decision. Despite my hardware and body damage, I was able to make it. There were times when it was more work than pleasure. The beauty and overall experience, however, was well worth any discomfort or even pain.
Damage from heavy artillery, including 105 mm Howitzer fire during the fighting, is still visible on the walls and columns of Angkor. I’m not a munitions expert but some of the pockmarks look like .50 caliber fire. It makes one wonder what this unique spot of the world looked like in its splendor of newness in the 12th and 13th Centuries.
You may also experience fellow primates climbing on you, “sharing” your food and sometimes snatching your belongings.
My guide, Mr. Bunthab, had his sunglasses stolen by a monkey who then absconded up a tree with said glasses. It was hilarious watching Bunthab climbing the tree to retrieve the sunglasses. You should also look him up as he was a great guide who spent entire days and nights showing me around and giving great advice. Bunthab also helped me get an honest understanding of the Khmer people instead of a tourist’s thumbnail sketch.
Two small pigtail macaques wrestled around my feet. One climbed up my leg and body to rest and perhaps avoid the other monkeys. It was a remarkable experience and made for a great photo.
At my request, the guide also took me well off the beaten path into the villages that tourists don’t usually see.
The abject poverty in some areas is breathtaking as is the beauty of this land and the kindness of the people.
Speaking of that kindness, Bunthab took me to what appeared to be a streetside restaurant. and into their home.
It was, but it was also the home to a family who were friends with Bunthab. They welcomed me into their restaurant and into their home. We feasted for hours, making this one of my favorite Cambodian memories.
The little man of the house greeted me by shouting, “Hey, Barang!” Everyone got a huge laugh out of the greeting as I have been the only barang to ever be in his house. BTW, barang is a Khmer word that was/is used to refer to the French.” It is now the word they use for most Westerners. The more popular “farang” is used for most Western foreigners in Thailand.
It has also become a tradition in my more than 20 years of international travel to always take a moment to greet the cats.
My Airbnb came with a cat, the Boss, who comes and goes at his pleasure. The Boss took the time to visit with me.
I may soon elaborate on some other interesting experiences I had during this visit. I will return and stay much longer than a week. It’s my recommendation that you do the same.
Dexter is the little guy who shares a home with me and turns 8-years-old on 12 March 2020. That’s 48 in human years. Cats and dogs age differently. Here’s a chart if you’re curious
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He is a Bengal that I bought from a cattery (that’s really what they’re called) in Upstate New York while I was working as news director and evening anchor at the ABC and FOX stations in Utica, NY.
They are not inexpensive animals to buy but their characteristics make them a unique type of animal. Aside from their beautiful markings (spotted and marbled), they typically have behaviors that are more like dogs rather than cats, but without “dog maintenance.”
I know this from my decade with his predecessor, Leopold.
Leo demonstrated the same activities as Dexter would, as well as, similar talents and pet/human attachment. It’s in their breed.
Dexter fetches, sits on my command and catches treats in his mouth. He is very attached to me, not a ball of fur to be located somewhere around the house. He meows enthusiastically through the door when he hears the garage open as I get home. He’s happy to see me, eager to explain his day and loves to by my shadow until bedtime. Then, Dex plants himself in the folds of my legs or between my legs, especially if I form the number four by bending a knee and placing my foot on the side of the opposing knee. He loves that spot. I also enjoy it until I need to get out of bed during the night for any reason.
Dex was born on 12 March 2012 and was named Boy #4. I gave him a different name, obviously. Within weeks a close friend who knew how much I enjoyed the TV show “Dexter,” recommended that name for him. I loved it and changed his name immediately.
The Bengal cat is typically large, sleek and muscular with a thick tail that hangs low and tapers to a black tip. They have a wild appearance with a broad head, smaller ears and pronounced whisker pads. Dexter’s eyes look almost as if he uses black eyeliner and the stripes running from the tops and bottoms of his eyes are commonly called “mascara lines.”
They’re called Bengals as the Latin name of its ancestor is Felis Bengalensis (Asian Leopard Cat). Bengals have print patterns unique to most small cats. They were created by crossing an Asian Leopard Cat (above picture courtesy of Cat Specialist Group) with a domestic cat. They also have prominent teeth that are often visible with a closed mouth.
WARNING: Graphic pictures ahead!
I have also been on the business end of those teeth and claws. Dexter was nose-to-nose with an outside cat one evening. I should have been able to tell by his puffed-up tail and vocalizations. I had music on, so I couldn’t hear him and it was dark making it impossible to see the black cat on the other side of the screen. I leaned over Dexter to slide the glass door shut. He looked up and was obviously startled at what appeared to him as an aggressive move. He climbed up my leg and reminded me that he’s not that far removed from a wild animal. The attack happened in seconds and I was so stunned that I couldn’t believe what had happened until blood was about to start dripping onto the carpet. Moments later, Dex was as calm as a Hindu cow.
Not to be boorish, but Bengals ain’t cheap. They usually range from $600 to about as much as one wishes to spend on a cat. I have seen them for sale at prices exceeding 10,000 USD. Much of the cost depends upon whether or not one wants to breed the animal, show it or just have it as a private pet.
Chiang Mai, Thailand – Ran-Tong Elephant Sanctuary
I am not a typical tourist when traveling, but I had to try an “ethical” elephant experience. Obviously, the ideal place for pachyderms is in the wild. However, with the state of the world (poachers and loss of habitat), I’m grateful for sanctuaries such as the Ran-Tong Elephant Rescue Center. It’s a sprawling compound about 58 km/36 miles (about an hour) north of Chiang Mai’s Old City.
My first question: “Do people ride the elephants?” The agent I was talking to said, “Sorry, no.” That was, of course, the answer I wanted but I’m sure many tourists want to ride these creatures. In the interest of full disclosure, I did ride an elephant in Colorado Springs, back in the 1990s, and have been somewhat ashamed of it.
For 1200 Baht (almost 40 USD) I booked the transportation
and ticket for a half-day excursion. The next morning, a van picked me up.
After a few stops, we headed to the sanctuary.
When we arrived, we were on quite an elevation. The descent was not for the faint-hearted. I would have fared better with my walking stick as the climb down was steep and sudden. A spill down these rocky steps would have a terrible ending. I would caution older visitors and people with physical damage (like me) to be prepared or even avoid the climb. I do believe the guides can arrange vehicle transport to the base, but it would be smart to confirm this before going.
I could see the Asian elephants from a distance. That was nice, but the beautiful view didn’t remotely compare to walking through a large open-air barn structure and meeting the first elephants without any of the normal barriers that normally separate the giants from humans.
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We were able to visit with the elephants for a little while before being escorted to a pavilion where we were told to change our clothes. The instructions were to remove our clothes (in private changing rooms) and put on what appeared to be large scrubs. We had lockers in which to place our clothes and belongings. The changing rooms were also showers in case we got dirty…which we did.
We were given sticks of sugarcane to feed the elephants. We had to chop them up and then split them vertically into quarters. We were given instructions on how to behave around the elephants. and we were off to see and feed them. We fed the elephants the sugarcane, which was quite amusing. Some of them would collect one piece from me and start to eat it, but then pause after seeing the woman next to me extending a piece.
The elephant would efficiently collect hers while the elephant’s trunk was already extended. The sugary treats would go into the elephants’ mouths but not always to eat. Sometimes, the elephants would just store them briefly before crunching down on the sugarcane like a vice.
We were invited to give the elephants a mud bath and then bathe them in a small pond. It was fun to watch them frolic in the water. These huge beasts rolled around in the water looking almost like gigantic almost like otters.
We finally had to say goodbye after a few more pictures, including my first ever selfie with an elephant. I showered and changed back into my regular clothes. We got on the bus and headed home.
I could not put into words the soul-enriching experience it was to visit, touch and look deep into the eyes of these magnificent creatures. I even decided to get a permanent physical reminder of this awesome experience; I got elephant ink done. But that’s another story.
