“You’re looking at the wrong camera.”
“No, you are, May. I’m looking at camera B.”
“Camera A’s on first. Get a grip, Mitchell!”
“Camera B, May. Why are you wearing brown? I told you I was wearing brown today.”
“This? It’s more maroon than brown! Do I have to get you a color wheel? And go easy on the makeup. Good grief! Is that blush, Mitchell?”
“So? What’s wrong with a little color?”
“Just feels like you’re auditioning for the Moulin Rouge, that’s all.”
The producer sighed. “More like the Punch and Judy show,” he mumbled in the control booth.
100 words; Fiction For Rochelle Wisooff-Fields' Friday Fictioneers Click on the frog and join in!
I used to work on a news show where the male and female anchors famously did not get on at all and didn’t even talk to each other off camera. It made this seem very real to me, well done!
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Truth is stranger than fiction I hear. Thanks, Iain!
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Wow. Can’t we all try to get along? Very realistic banter, Dora. Good job.
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Coming from you, the master dialogue-craftsman, that’s quite a compliment. 😀
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Thanks, Dora for that distinction.
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I mean it. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂 I’m touched.
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They seem like a couple of sweethearts!
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They’re really in love, I’m sure! Well, at least they would be if it were Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. 😉
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Oh I like this, so much character in this little conversation. Very well depicted.
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I’m so glad! Thank you. :>)
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Dear Dora,
I’ve a cousin who worked for years for a local TV station in the news department. This rings true with some of his memories. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Yours and Iain’s comments convince me that fiction may be closer to the truth, that it’s not all peaches and cream being in front of a camera for the 6 o’clock news. The curse of celebrity, perhaps, however limited locally!
Aleichem shalom,
Dora
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This gave me a chuckle! Great dialogue and love the response of the producer.
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So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Thank you.
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This is probably closer to truth than fiction when it comes to news anchors. Two prima donnas fighting for dominance. Funny and well-told, Dora.
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Lights, camera …. fight!!!!
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Hee, I’m imagining them verbally fencing right up until they go live, being very professional and friendly, then going at it again as soon as the cameras are off 🙂
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While they’re on the air, I’m sure they’re the best of friends! 😀
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This reads very close to the truth. Great voice and such sweet banter 🙂
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It’s a dog eat dog world in studio land. 😀
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I worked in television for 10 years. That scenario is more common than a lot of people thinking. Nightmare for the producer but highly entertaining for the studio crew.
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So I gather. Methinks the producer ought to get combat pay at the very least. 🙂
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Super little story, Dora. A great take on the prompt, written fluently and with a lovely sense of humour.
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You’re very generous, Penny, thanks. 😀
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They’re probably more like Romeo and Juliet off camera! Nice one Dora.
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Haha! Thanks, Keith.
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This made me chuckle. I have often wondered what goes on behind the scenes. This gives us a great sneak peek. Great story
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Kristen, Thank you. I’m learning from the comments that bickering is standard fare among co-hosts, alas!. 🙂
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It seems to be. Maybe it is because in most movies co-hosts are portrayed with a certain amount of tension in their relationships.
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And then end up in each other’s arms or murdering each other or both joining forces against the new kid in town. The plot would kind of write itself, wouldn’t it? 😀
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Haha oh dear, old married couple or just sparring partners. I’d hate to be this director dealing with that every day!
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What a headache they must be to manage! Sort of like a referee in a boxing match. 🙂
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Ha ha – great dialogue!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you, Susan. 🙂
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i guess it’s a situation that happens behind the scenes more than we realize. but the show must go on.
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A lot of bickering, a little reconciling & a surplus of gossip — and yes, the show goes on and on. 🙂
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That was fun. I imagine as Iain confirmed, this is more reality than fiction.
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Thanks, Nobbin. All the smiles and hugs on camera must take quite a bit of acting skill. 🙂
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Reminds me of the 80’s movie, “He Said, She Said” – as talk show hosts, they did not get along, but in life they ended up falling in love. It’s with Kevin Bacon.
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😀Kevin Bacon and an 80’s romcom: sold!
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Here’s the link about the movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102011/
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Thank you! 💝
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A few years ago on Australian news, the anchor got caught on air being catty because the reporter and a guest were wearing the same colour as her. Apparently, it’s a thing. I’d say your story rings true!
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Hilarious! Getting caught being anything but sweet as Apple pie must have come as a nasty surprise. 😀
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I’ve often wondered what news anchors have to talk about before the ON AIR light flicks on :).
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Isn’t it better that we not know? Ignorance is bliss, until they shove it under our noses!
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