I didn't see the show but just read an article about Ted Williams, the homeless man with the golden voice. Seems he appeared on CBS' Early Show today (they asked him to be on), where he spoke openly about how his sudden fame was "too much, too fast." I can't believe they had him doing phone-in interviews from rehab! The poor guy seemed destined to fail, as his addictions, pressure from every direction, and the obnoxious glare of the spotlights crushed him.
I hope he finds success this time. He claims that he has slowed down and is focusing on what's important. It's no surprise many job offers dried up when he fell apart, but he says he still has the chance to do some voice work (and perhaps regain the trust of those who've bailed) as long as he stays in a sober-living house.
Those of us in radio were fascinated by the story, but struggled to refrain from cynicism as we watched this man get yanked off the street and catapulted to fame. Yes, he's got a beautiful voice and it would be a wonderful story if he turned his life around. We're pulling for him. But we also remember thousands of our peers (and people from every profession) who have lost their jobs through the bad economy and corporate downsizing over the years. It's hard not to grumble, "But what about THEM?"
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