Having both been single for the past year and having had a great time together, my friend and I agreed it was time to take steps toward meeting new men. I was 24, Pam was 44 or 45, and we were in Southern California. She was interested in joining a video dating agency called Great Expectations. Oh yeah, this was 1985. I told her I’d go with for moral support and I’d try for the TV show, Love Connection. It was a deal.
Together, we went to the closest office of Great Expectations in San Fernando Valley. Pam is warm, funny, caring, and very intelligent. After a short prep session, she made her video, talking about who she is and what she was looking for in a partner. The response was immediate; many men were interested in meeting her, of course.
Next, would there be a Love Connection for me? I called the phone number at the end of the show and was invited to a cattle call (my term, don’t know what the staff called it 😃). Across the street from the Beverly Center, a mall at the intersection of Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and L.A. We got a drink at the Hard Rock Cafe. Pam stayed at the bar while I went to the meeting. Probably 40-50 people completely filled a room, writing out a questionnaire we were given with cheesy questions like the ones you’d be asked on the show. All the papers collected, the production assistant asked, “So, who here is the most outgoing?” There was a moment of silence so I said, “Me,” raising my hand. He asked my name, looked at my responses, asked a question or two. The session continued. The P.A. said we’d get a call if they wanted us back. We exited one at a time as our names were called. After most of the people left, surprise! those of us left actually had been selected. Those people who were gone? They weren’t going to get a phone call.
We were given information about the show. They happened to have a filming slot open up that afternoon and asked if anyone wanted to get going right away. I shot my hand up but so did another participant. Because I lived farther away, I got the spot. I was filming for the show today! Returning to the Hard Rock, I shared the news with Pam. She was so excited for me. So was the long-haired, guitar player bartender. We all discussed. We may have had a couple drinks before I crossed back to the office. The filming of my video blurb went quickly. Back to Pam and the cute guy in a band who was serving drinks to pay the bills. He gave me his name, James Stewart, and phone number on a beverage napkin. That ends up being a whole different love connection date. 🎸😉
To be continued……
***For those of you unfamiliar with the 80s tv show hosted by Chuck Woolery – One participant watches three videos and chooses which person they’d like to take on a date. Following the date, the two go to the studio where, first, the person who had chosen a date chats with Chuck. Three potential matches are seen by the audience who then vote for which they thought was the best choice. The actual pick is revealed, how things went is discussed, and then we see if the audience made the same selection. Corny, but maybe a fun adventure and, no, I didn’t expect to find a true love connection.
SurvivingSara 