SEASON 2, SHOW 1: J. RANDY TARABORRELLI
This is one of those interviews that I KNEW I wanted to do the very moment I conceived of doing this show.
J. Randy Taraborrelli is my favorite “celebrity” biographer, hands-down, and when I made the very first draft of my guest “wish list” for the show, he was on it. This year has been unique for him because, in addition to the book he KNEW would be published this summer (The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe), the unexpected, devastatingly tragic death of Michael Jackson precipitated the re-release of his previous bestseller, which is titled Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story 1958-2009 in this latest incarnation (the THIRD edition of the book).
I knew that I wanted to talk to J. Randy about the MJ book because, quite frankly, it’s the book that got me hooked on him as a writer. I also knew that I wanted to talk to him about his “craft,” because I think the work that a biographer does is fascinating, and that Randy has a way of bringing the reader exceptionally close to the larger-than-life figures that he writes about. Obviously, I had no idea that Michael would die this year and that we’d be talking about the book as a “New Release” on the heels of it. I told Randy that I could easily have spent 2 hours talking to him about the MJ book alone, but my challenge was to explore his craft, talk about his subjects, as well as promote the new Marilyn Monroe book. And I had him for ONE hour.
I don’t really get nervous in advance of interviews. I do my best to be as thoroughly prepared as possible, sit in front of the microphone, and “let ‘er rip.” But this one meant a lot to me. I had a few moments the day before the interview that could only be characterized as a mild panic attack. The “inner critic” kicked in and started screaming at me: I can’t blow this! I can’t blow this!
Oprah talks on her DVD collection about getting into the bathtub the night before she interviewed her hero (Diana Ross) for the first time, and “crying [her]self out.” I felt an urge to do something similar the day before. I don’t know why, but I cried. Maybe not the hysterical “ugly cry” that Oprah described, but I definitely wept a little. (Fear of success?) Will this interview be worthy of the guest? Will this interview cover all the bases it needs to? Will this interview be worthy of the SUBJECTS (especially Michael)? So much to be nervous about, and it kicked in big time. That’s usually when something great happens, though.
Funny story about the day of the interview. I was still in the control room with my ace, Chinisha Scott, who was Associate Producer on this session, planning out questions down to the final moments. It was well over 90 degrees in New York on this day, and I knew I wanted to be “fresh” when Randy got there, so I didn’t put on my shirt/tie/vest ensemble only to sweat it out on the ride down. I brought it with me, and wore a basic gray tank top, figuring I would change before he got there. Randy was scheduled to arrive at 3:00, but little did I expect that and he and his publicist would get to the studio about 20 minutes early, whiz by security and head straight up to us – no warning. And there I was, tank top and all. The Emperor had no clothes on.
Mildly embarrassing, but DEFINITELY an icebreaker. J. Randy suggested I do the interview in my tank top. I couldn't go THERE, but I DID decide to forego the tie!
I was no longer nervous, and the interview just FLEW. J. Randy has said that it was a highlight of his week, and I can’t ask for a higher compliment. A wonderful way to wrap up an otherwise dark summer.
I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed doing it.
Thanks so much to Garret Hurley for his amazing eye and for surprising me with his presence and these photos from the interview session.
Here is the never-before-seen photo from the Marilyn Monroe book that J. Randy referenced in the interview:
As always, your comments are welcome on this site, and please subscribe to the show on iTunes. I’m looking forward to an extraordinary year!
LINKS:
Celebrity Biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli shoots for two this month (Examiner.com) 5 Aug 2009
Don't Blame Dr. Murray for MJ's death, says MJ's biographer (ANI/Entertainment Daily) 24 Aug 2009
Michael Jackson's life-long confidante J. Randy taraborrelli: 'I Saw In His Eyes He Was Dying' (London Daily Mail Online) 29 June 2009
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