Sinjin’s Story

Archivist’s Note: The year 2004 afforded S&H fans some unexpected bonuses with the release of the Starsky & Hutch movie starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. The film caused a resurgence of interest in the TV show itself, and Paul and David were both in sudden demand for TV interviews and other guest appearances. They attended, with a good deal of fanfare, the LA and the London premieres of the film.

In LA, a long-time fan and friend to many of us in the SH community, Carol, had a special opportunity to interact with Paul and David. I published her wonderful retelling of what it was like to meet Paul and David on the red carpet in LA in the con zine. Sinjin accompanied Carol on her adventure. This is her experience of that amazing event.

This story originally appeared in the SHareCon 2004 zine.

Let me tell you all about an incredible few days in LA…

I think I shall also post my story in sections because I want to sit down, take a breath, and try to absorb all that has happened.

I have to say that I feel most honored to have been riding shotgun with the ultimate Starsky & Hutch fan, our own Carol.

There are many people to thank, but I want to start with Carol. Carol was the first Starsky & Hutch fan I met in the flesh. We met online and discovered we were, at the time, living only a few miles apart. After we each wrestled with the decision of whether or not to take a chance on a stranger, we finally agreed to meet for coffee. Carol picked me up from my apartment and we went to a Cinnabon. There I listened while Carol talked of her infamous crawl to Paul. I sat mesmerized. I could not believe that anyone could share the intensity of my passion for a show that had aired so many years ago. We could finish each other’s sentences and in an instant conjure up the same image of a scene, the heartbreak or humor of a line, a world of meaning behind a glance. It was magic.

That was in 1998. Carol and I have seen each other since at ZebraCon and SHareCon, but nothing could have prepared me for our latest meeting.

It started as a spur of the moment decision to see Paul and David on the red carpet, a moment that they richly deserved and that was long overdue. I wanted to share in the moment if only from a distance. To know that Paul and David were to be reunited once again and celebrating a terrific time in their lives that began 29 years ago filled me with excitement. My decision to fly to California was a whim that was inspired by the admiration of three decades. I think that’s what is meant by a “dance with destiny.” Life can be funny that way. Unscripted, unpredictable, and lovely.

My journey began as I left school on Wednesday, hurried home, and then drove to Philadelphia International Airport. I picked up a book I had been meaning to read–The Lovely Bones–and settled in for a late night read among the stars. Every once in a while I would pause and think about the possibilities that might lay ahead…

What lay ahead seemed like a strange and wonderful dream. With a resourceful spirit and an open heart, Terri had begun the process of surprising Carol with a special birthday gift. It was with her incredible generosity that an idea began to blossom…the search for the ultimate Starsky & Hutch fan.

Not long after Terri began her birthday surprise planning, I received a call from Derek, a producer of the On Air with Ryan Seacrest show, asking me about myself and about Carol. We started talking about my life at 11, trying to sneak S&H viewing time while explaining to my British parents that the series was not just another American shoot-’em-up cop show. It wasn’t long, however, before we were talking about Carol’s crawl to Paul. Derek told me the story made him cry. I knew even then that our ultimate fan was going to have a special time in Hollywood and I was being invited to join in the experience.

Flash forward to a plane landing in LA…. It was pouring as the airport shuttle headed to the hotel. It was 2:30 A.M. when I finally arrived, having received two messages. One was from Carol; the other was from a “Ryan C. Crest.” I woke poor Carol up and was informed that a limo was coming to pick us up at 9 A.M. the next morning. I tried to put my racing thoughts on hold and catch some sleep.

This would be no ordinary trip to the West Coast. Of that I was certain.

~~~

Carol and I circled the Mann Theater in Westwood several times, courtesy of our driver, Paul. As Carol has already said, it was never about the cardigan or the car. But I’ve got to tell you, when I caught sight of that shiny Torino under the bright lights, my heart leapt in my chest. I’ve never considered the car to be another character in the show. What it meant to me was that we were getting closer to THEM. The boys. Blondie and Curley. Sweet Starsky and Handsome Hutch. Paul and David. The next time we circled, someone was gunning the motor and producing a plume of smoke. Oh my God, another adrenaline rush. Somehow it all became real. As real as one can feel during a surreal experience.

The red carpet (with those infamous stripes) was already in place when Paul finally got the word to let us out to meet Drew and the camera crew. There were several tents that were still going up in record pace so that the festivities could begin. Carol and I were quickly rushed through a battery of last minute release forms and identification checks. We were wearing our press passes already and received another sticker indicating our affiliation with Warner Bros. We were then taken down the red carpet to our places behind the ropes.

Before we took up these positions, Drew gave us the opportunity to walk down the carpet one final time with camera in hand. Hell, we just HAD to film those stripes. We also had the chance to film the line of fans that circled the block. I loved that moment. It was great to see the enthusiasm of the crowd and how they graciously cheered us on. Then it was back behind the ropes to await the arrival of the stars.

This is where things got really interesting.

While Carol was waiting for THE interview, I was jockeying for position with the aforementioned “fan cam.” Drew did his best to situate us in such a way that Carol would have an unobstructed view of the carpet and I would have an unobstructed view of Carol’s interviews. What actually happened was a carefully orchestrated dance for me up and down a ladder and from forefront to rear.

Now, a word about Drew… As the main producer of the segment, Drew was responsible for making sure that Carol got interviews with several stars in addition to the ultimate interview with David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser. He also considered it his sworn duty to make sure that when the ultimate moment arrived, no one was standing in Carol’s way or distracting the boys from their moment with the ultimate fan. To achieve this, Drew spent thirty minutes behind the scenes cajoling and scolding photographers. In all things, he got his way and whenever anyone hesitated they received the wrath of this man. He meant business. And this is also an integral part of making dreams come true.

Cut to my big ooops…

I’m not well-versed in the wearing of hiphuggers. And on one of my forays up the ladder, I heard a great big rip. I later discovered the hole was a small one covered by my peasant shirt. At the time, I could only pray I wouldn’t have something else to explain to my students when I got back to PA. After all, the show must go on.

Carol has told you about all of her interviews. (I am particularly fond of her exchange with William Blinn.) But I want to focus on THE interview.

I love how on the segment that aired on the Ryan Seacrest Show there are repeated cutaways to Carol anxiously awaiting the arrival of the boys as they made their way down the carpet. Just when you thought the anticipation couldn’t be any sweeter, Carol ratcheted it up a notch. Twenty-nine years. And they were just steps away.

Let me share with you my experience of that special moment.

As you can well imagine, there is a lot activity and buzz surrounding a red carpet event. There is choreographed chaos happening behind the ropes as reporters and photographers position (or push) themselves into place. There are interviews happening up and down the carpet simultaneously. Add to this the rhythmic beat of 70’s music making even some seasoned professionals swing their hips in anticipation. Throw in a generous helping of ambient noise. My concern was that I be able do my part with the camera and still experience the moment live.

Carol and I had been given some rudimentary training prior to the red carpet; she on the fine art of microphone placement and I on the fine art of camera panning as one follows the path of the microphone. Now it was time to put our skills to the test.

From where I was standing (perched on the ladder behind Carol), I had a perfect view of Paul and David and their reaction to Carol. It gave me an opportunity to experience something that quite frankly I thought was a trite phrase in books I’ve read…to see the love from a person reflected back in the eyes of another.

The first thing I noticed was that Carol’s microphone was not going back and forth. It would not until she had had the chance to tell Paul and David of the magnitude of the gifts they had given to their fans over the years and the friendships they had and continue to inspire. And really, that was what the moment was all about. There could have been many different questions asked. But this was their moment. A moment to bask in the love they gave of themselves so richly on screen and in life. What I heard in Carol’s words was a question: Do you have any idea how many lives that together you have touched and how deeply? And what followed was the answer to that question that came straight from the heart. That’s when I saw the love reflected back.

The intensity of those two pairs of blue eyes cannot be underestimated. I was riveted. As Carol spoke on behalf of all the fans, they both leaned closer and closer to her. They were both beautiful in that moment. Paul was particularly radiant (and remember, this comes from a Hutchie gal). They did what Carol and I hoped they would, bask in the moment–THEIR moment. They heard, they felt, they responded. It was glorious.

Carol did ask them about their favorite moment. Paul seemed somewhat overwhelmed with where to begin and said, “Wow.” (So adorable!) David’s answer was candid and rang true. He approached the questions by saying that sometimes it was rather difficult to face the day and that the best part was knowing that the trust between them would see them through.

They shined. They truly did.

Twenty-nine years and worth every moment of the wait.

Sinjin