getting ready for TV

Since I’ve never appeared on a TV talk show before, I’m really not sure what to expect. I did make sure to get a better haircut today, but whether the cleaners will be done with my best suit on time is about 50-50, I’d guess. Then they’re going to send a car for me an hour or so ahead of time.

My thoughts on international intellectual prizes… Yeah, I do have a number of thoughts about them, and have even studied them a bit, but it will still be a bit shocking if I show up in the studio and the person in Washington (still undecided when last I spoke with the producer) is Edward Witten or James Watson or someone like that. Or Jimmy Carter.

Or, maybe the other two will be no-shows and I’ll have to fill a full hour of airtime. It’s unlikely, but you have to be prepared– and so I won’t be doing anything at all tomorrow other than writing my thoughts down on notecards, just so that exact sentences are sitting in my mind for quick use. I know a bit about the topic, but it’s not like I’m being interviewed about Heidegger’s tool-analysis or late 1990’s professional sports or anything like that.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I ran into my ex-Dean on the street today in Zamalek and took a few tips. She’s been on C-Span, the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour, etc.