One of the first things people (regular everyday normal people) would ask ..."Have you ever had anyone famous in the car?"

My standard reply was "Besides you?" (hey I was working on tips)

They'd laugh and then get right back on point.

"No really, have you had anyone famous in the car?"

"Sure, it comes with the job."

"Who? Who? Who?"

People are so fascinated by celebrity.  If Johnny Carson fans found out Mr. Publishers Clearing House McMahon stiffed you like that, after you put forth a real effort , their image of him would take a hit. They want their celebrities to be exactly what they want them to be, and any info contrary to that is a letdown. It's impossible for anyone to live up to the hype of the media machinery.

Felecia Rashad talks to herself. In a 20 minute drive from the hotel to Harpo Studios, she spent 10 minutes talking to me, and 10 minutes talking to herself. I'm not talking about mumbling. I'm talking about talking. Out loud. Found myself looking over my shoulder to make sure she was the only one in the back seat. Kinda creepy. Not psycho, just weird.

Got to the studio, dropped her at the guest entrance, to a throng of Cosby Show fans. A few dozen autographs and in the door she went. There were  a few of them who came over to me by the car and asked.."What's she really like?"

What do I say? A sweetheart, but a little strange. She talks to herself. Carries on both sides of a conversation. Out loud. No. Can't do that. Can't burst their bubble.

"She's just like Mrs. Huxtable." ( A perfect wife, and mother. A perfect person.) I gave her fans the answer they wanted.

You and I both know that there are two sides to any celebrity. The public, and the private. Fans want them to be the former, and ask about the latter. Why do we want to know what celebrities are "really like?" It's been 10 years+ since I left the long-taxi business to come back to work where I should have stayed, but I still find myself wondering what people would think of their media created heroes if they indeed found out what they are "really like."

Frank Thomas was an absolute sweetheart to me. One of the nicest guys I've even known. But a complete moron when it comes to dealing with the media, which is why his public image is so shitty here. (the steroid scandal has certainly helped his image...) But like anybody, Frank wasn't perfect. Put it this way...I wasn't surprised when Elise filed for divorce, nor was I surprised to see him on the news arm in arm with that 6 foot leggy blond.