October 24, 2025
OK, this one is just stuck in my short-term memory, and I can’t get it out:
No, that is not the set for CNBC Half Time Report, but you could be forgiven for the confusion:
On the Thursday Night Football panel, the woman at the end is Charissa Thompson. Her role is “sideline reporter” but they bring her onto the panel at half time. (She has a BA in Law and Society from UCal Santa Barabara). OK, so here’s the thing:
They never give her a close-up! All the guys get close-ups when they start talking, she does not. And we’ve been monitoring this on other channels/broadcasts…same thing. The woman, always seated on the left end, never a close-up. I ask myself: Why? A cynic says, “because she has nothing to say.” But that’s wrong! She does and can be more coherent than some of the jocks they have up there. She gets to comment. But she does not get the close-up.
Its evidently “a thing” in football broadcasting. I am perplexed. It appears when you are a sideline reporter, you are sidelined in more ways than you may have anticipated.
I’m sorry, Al Michaels either needs to retire or needs to take espresso intravenously throughout his broadcast, get some energy going.
Children In Restaurants
Lest you think me harsh here, just to point out that Michael and I have 14 grandchildren and each, three children, so when it comes to the parenting thing, we have street cred.
Last week, we took Michael’s parents to Mezzaluna in Hendersonville for dinner, get the kind of food you get at a restaurant named after a half-moon. Mezzaluna must hold the world’s record for Most Used Names for An Italian Restaurant. It’s a kind of casual place, a mix of families (Pizza!!) and couples (Chicken Parm…) in a nice modern setting.
OK, so 12 feet away from us is a family sitting in a booth. Father, Mother, Grandmother, and three unbelievably rude elementary school children. One kid couldn’t stop blabbering, and I’d have counseled the father the kid might be tested for hearing issues…off the Decibel chart. And then his brother poked his ribs, and they both started yelling and giggling. The Grandmother had a vacant and forlorn look on her face, staring down at the floor. Dad would actually interject…egg them on with a rib poke or a tickle. In familial matters you are reminded that apples do not fall from their tree.
A couple next to them, blasted away by the noise, asked to be relocated. We were on the cusp. I got the restaurant manager and suggested that if she didn’t say something, I’d be happy to.
It would be something like: “Dad, you’re going to think I’m being rude and mean, but actually, I’m trying to help you and your kids. First, no one can live continuously with children like that and not be warped from the experience. Second, no one wants kids like that around, so you are condemning them for several years and perhaps a lifetime of people avoiding them. You know, they’ll be getting therapy for rejection issues after school…”
Of course, he would have taken issue with me and life is short…
Well, it was unnecessary because they rushed the food out to them, and that dialed down the decibel level by many factors…chewing will do that.
Fast forward. Michael and I are at El Torito in Monterey California (thumbs up, great food), Michaels’ seventh grandchild came to the world this week, we’re here to help out. Anyway, we got a lovely booth right on the water, great view of Monterey Bay.
Behind me, and facing Michael, a family sits down, a clone of the Hendersonville Mezzaluna horror. Two of the kids stand up on the seat of the booth and bounce up and down like on a trampoline. And talk all the while.
And as you’d expect, the parents are oblivious. They’re chatting away while their children are doing all of this. We asked the waiter to move our table (which he did), and we told him why.
Just as in the Mezzaluna familial horror story, they did nothing to quell the disturbance.
As you know, restaurants go out of business at a dizzying pace. And I am of the opinion that some may deserve it. Because for every behavioral send-up they allow, they alienate dozens of other customers. Not to mention the wear and tear on their physical plant.
If you are a restaurant manager, and you allow patrons to inflict themselves like that on your other customers, you have to go home with them and live with that family for a week. Straighten you right out, that would. And if you are the parents, just remember that Dante’s Circles of Hell are fixed, but there’s always room to send deserving people to new ones.
Just to say that we’ve been random hosts to Michael’s two-year old and four-year old grandchildren here at our rental home to allow the parents to get some sleep. It is initially startling to see a four-year old walk into your bedroom at 2am, you forget how that was when you were raising yours. But you get used to it. It feels like a normal thing. You also realize how exhausting kids are and you come to agree that they are best had by young people who have the energy to handle all of that.
Consuming Consumers
This is going to shock you:
We had a pleasant experience on United Airlines.
United has long been, for me, near the bottom of the heap. Whenever an airline makes you feel you are doing them a favor by showing up that’s been United:
Me: Can you tell me what time are we boarding?
Gate Agent: When we’re ready to board.
Me: Some kind of US nuclear code secret?
Gate Agent: Security! I got a hostile here!
OK, so we took United from Asheville to Monterey. First, Asheville direct to Denver. You’re right…that’s one weird direct flight schedule, but they do it. The crew couldn’t have been nicer. We were on the upgrade, so we got two very nice meals, presented in a clean and convenient box with everything inside. The food was good and the box helped everything stay organized. We had a reservation snafu…but here’s the real shocker:
Michael’s tixs came through with her former married name, all her ID is now in her maiden name, we imagined we could get deported at TSA. She called United customer service (I packed her a nice lunch to eat). They picked up in 10 seconds, the guy on the phone had fixed her in under a minute. When I brought her back to consciousness with smelling salts, she pronounced it the best customer service experience she has ever had, on any airline. And she’s flown dozens of them.
So, my question is: Have aliens taken over United Airlines and if so, what did they do with all the airline employees? I’m researching meanwhile, I’m changing my tune on United. Well done, United People.
Thoughts, questions, or reflections? I’d love to hear them. You can reach me anytime at anthony@workingprofit.com
