Mr. Rejecto


April 13, 2002


BROOKE GLADSTONE: The reason why Louis Rukeyser was deposed from his throne at public TV's long-lived Wall Street Week is that he, too, is long-lived. In other words -- old. Or at least in the view of the show's producers -- too old to attract a younger audience. Jeff Colt, an actor recently relocated to New York from Hollywood has had his share of rejection or ejection from the host's chair. Jeff, you weren't fired for the same reason as Rukeyser, were you?

JEFF COLT: No, but oddly enough, Brooke, it was similar. I like to refer to it as the "Thicke Affair." [LAUGHTER] We're all familiar with the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Mm-hm.

JEFF COLT: And who doesn't? And it was a great idea, but Regis Philbin singlehandedly undermined [sic] the entire industry.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: How did he do that?

JEFF COLT: Well when Regis's show became the number one show on ABC, everybody thought it's not just a hip show. They love Regis, cause [IN EXAGGERATED VOICE] Regis was saving the network!! And Regis is 70. 75? Something like that, and then everybody thought you know what -- I think everybody wants the father figure again. I auditioned for this game show called Three's a Crowd, and they wanted young and hip. It's a dating show. And -- have you seen the dating shows?

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Some of them.

JEFF COLT:Yeah. They're pretty risque, a lot of them, and mine was particularly offensive, where [LAUGHTER] you'd, you'd actually pit one-- ex-boyfriend against a current boyfriend and you'd find out who was better in bed and you'd ask in front of the girl -- it was just-- low brow.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Yeah.

JEFF COLT:And they hired me for the show because I'm low brow enough and-- and then I got the call - I booked the show and we did the pilot and it was terrific, and then I got the call from my agent saying that I'd been replaced. And I, I said why - why had I been replaced, and he came up with an idea - and Hollywood's most annoying because it's much like dating in that you'll never get an honest answer from anybody. You know? [LAUGHTER] It's like a blind date. Everybody breaks up with you, and it's never because of you --it's something else. But--

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Oh, so they said it, it's not you, it's - it's us?

JEFF COLT:Well [LAUGHS] - right. Obviously it's me. And originally they'd come up with the idea -they said you were too nervous during the commercial breaks. [LAUGHTER] During the commercial breaks?! What is this? 1952? I'm doing Camel spots live? I could vomit on my shoes during the commercials! I'm fine! And they said well actually we're going with Alan Thicke.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Not a young man.

JEFF COLT:No disrespect; he's a talented guy. I saw Chicago -- he's - sure! He can tap - he's great. He's at least 55 if he's a day. When was that sit-com he did - 1978? '82? Kirk Cameron is 46 now. Alan Thicke is an older man and the dating show was so beneath him -so they replaced me with Alan Thicke and I was just incensed by the whole affair, and-- it was explained to me that a lot had to do with, with Regis -- good old Regis.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Ah-ha. So--

JEFF COLT: They wanted older.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: They wanted older. Now that wasn't the only time you were rejected as a - as a talk show host.

JEFF COLT:No, there have been other hosting--opportunities for me to be rejected. I, I've had some success but-- the few that, that really resonate are the rejections because of - as I said, the dumbness in which they try to deflect the fact that you're being rejected. At no point will an executive ever sit you down and say well to be honest, Jeff, the reason you're not getting the job is well, quite frankly, you suck. [LAUGHTER] And every now and then you need one of those just to know -- and I actually had pitched a show to MTV, and I went in there and we had a great pitch - I went in there with a partner, and we pitched a show; it was a great show -and pitching myself as the host - I have a lot of hosting experience, and I'm quick on my feet and fairly affable and-- it all went very well. And the next day they called me for a-- a meeting at a coffee shop, and you know you're in trouble when you're having a meeting at a coffee shop. It's like when a girl calls you at home and she knows you're at work. So -she doesn't want to get you. Coffee shop is easy cause they can just skirt in and out, cause they're never going to sit with you for longer than a cup of coffee. And the executive--

BROOKE GLADSTONE: And they're not going to be picking up a big check either.

JEFF COLT:No! It's a dollar 40! [LAUGHS] You put in vanilla syrup - it's a dollar 80 - that's it -and they write it off. And she sits me down, this woman from MTV - a lovely woman - a fine network - I would love to work for them. At some point she says to me: We love the show but unfortunately you're not going to work out. And I, I said why not? Why, why wouldn't I work out? I'm the host of the show. And she said well-- they seem to feel you have too broad of a mass appeal.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Uh-- Uh-huh?

JEFF COLT:Yeah, that's what I said. Oh, that must be good - [LAUGHS] but I had to ask her to explain it, cause again I didn't get it - I said please repeat that. And she said you have too broad of a mass appeal. I said correct me if I'm wrong -- does that mean I'm too likable? She said -- yeah. So I said you want a unlikable host?! She said -- yeah. That would explain Danny Bonaducci [sp?] but as an industry standard that makes no sense! Who wants the-- I don't get it! I could be sexier. I could be more unlikable - just tell me to be something - but to say I'm too likable - it's-- I - it was very disheartening.

BROOKE GLADSTONE:Well Jeff it, it really has been a pleasure talking to you. The truth is you're actually too-- interesting for public radio so-- I, I don't think this is going to work out, but--thanks for coming in.

JEFF COLT: Thank you, and my best wishes to Louis. [LAUGHTER]

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Jeff Colt is an actor recently relocated to New York City after a really tough time out in L.A.

BOB GARFIELD: Coming up: Why we hate Barney and why we should love Speedy Gonzales. Also, why Celine Dion is un-P.C.

BROOKE GLADSTONE: This is On the Media from National Public Radio.