The Big Move: Five Years Later

Tired and with a heavy heart while at the pump, the first picture taken of me on my cross-country trip to California.

This Memorial Day marks the five year anniversary of my relocation from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles.  To mark the occasion, I’ll be posting daily anecdotes of memories from my first few months as a wide eyed 22-year-old in Tinseltown.

For those who don’t know the story, I was plucked from a career in retail by my mentor and friend Mikey Glazer in 2006. Mikey and I initially began a correspondence after he discovered my college television show, “Gettin’ Later.”  Two years later, I became the first person he hired before a face to face meeting.

Mikey was staffing up his casting department for the Telemundo version of “Deal or No Deal,” titled “Vas o No Vas.”  I was working as a cashier at Best Buy and pondering my place in society.  He told me the job was mine, and after contemplating whether or not I actually wanted to leave Pittsburgh, I took the job and drove cross-country with my friend Jeremy.

Some people thought it was great that I was perusing my aspirations.  Others thought I was silly for leaving my home town.  One coworker, in a moment I will never forget, told me that within a year I would be broke and back living at home with my mother.  I had many doubts myself, but ultimately decided if I were ever to make the move I’d been talking about for years, the time was then.

And here I am five years later, still living in Los Angeles.  Though still far from financial security, I can pay my bills while doing what I enjoy, I have a great life and great friends, and I can go to the beach anytime I damn well please.

So thanks to everyone I’ve met along the way during these five years.  To the people I’ve bonded with over a beer, the women I’ve dated, my work colleagues, and everyone I’ve ever had a moment with.  You’ve made my time here wonderful.

Also, thank you to my friends and family back home who have supported my decision to live across the country.  Even though they’re always asking me when I’m moving back home, I know they’re happy for me.

Here’s to five more years!

A Legendary Sports Commercial

Here’s a fun video from way back in 1981.  I can only imagine that it took many, many hours to tape with all those costume changes.  It stands the test of time and is just as awesome now as it was 29 years ago.

I had the pleasure of meeting John Steigerwald once.  I was 12-years-old and the Steelers had just earned a trip to Super Bowl XXX.  I ran into him at Woodson’s All Star Grille on the southside of Pittsburgh.  We bumped into each other, and he was very nice.  We chatted briefly as I towered over him.  He’s probably 5’5” at the most.  Not to make fun of his height, but it was exciting to discover I was taller than someone I watched on TV.

It was an exciting time and I managed to sneak into the background of an interview he did with Rod Woodson.  It was the first photobombing of my life, and it made it to the 11 p.m. newscast.  One of the most thrilling moments of my life.  For that opportunity, and this video, thank you, Mr. John Steigerwald.

Goodbye, “Sportsbeat”

“Savran on Sportsbeat,” a Pittsburgh sports institution and one of the main influences on my career, has been cancelled.  It’s a sad day for Pittsburgh and for me personally.

airstaff_savranjunker200Hosted by Stan Savran and Guy Junker in its golden era, “Sportsbeat” was a call-in talk show where viewers would speak about Pittsburgh sports with the two most knowledgable people in town. 

Savran and Junker piqued my interest in broadcasting at a young age.  I discovered the show in January 1996 while eating lunch at Woodson’s All-Star Grill at Station Square the day after the Steelers won the AFC championship.  I walked through the lobby and noticed a camera crew setting up.  Intrigued, I asked one of the crew what they were doing, and they told me “Sportsbeat” was airing from Woodson’s that day.

Later that day, I watched the show over dinner, and proceeded to watch nearly every night for the next 10 years.  The show got me interested in television to the point where I wanted to make it my career. 

“Sportsbeat” afforded me the opportunity to attend my first Penguins game thanks to a promotional contest held in 1997 called “Front Row February.”  I was the lucky 3rd caller, and had all the code words from the week of shows.  My prize?  Two front row tickets for the Penguins vs. Red Wings, a night at the William Penn Hotel, a copy of Jaromir Jagr’s autobiography (which I had signed), and a “Sportsbeat” hat. 

Even more exciting was talking to the producer, who called my house and asked questions about me.  The following night, Stan and Guy spoke about me for a couple minutes.  It was one of the top 10 moments of my childhood.

My mom took me to the game, I witnessed Mario Lemieux’s 601st and 602nd goals and Scotty Bowman’s 1000th career victory in a Penguins overtime loss.  There have been other games since, but that was a milestone for me. Ryan Muldowney with Stan Savran

Later on in my life, during my run at Slippery Rock University, both Stan andGuy were nice enough to appear on my talk show “Gettin’ Later.”  They were both generous and down to earth.  I was able to take a photo at the “Sportsbeat” desk with Stan, something that fulfilled a childhood dream of mine.  I was also lucky enough to shoot a promo for my show where I harassed Stan.  He was a good sport. 

Once, I had a random encounter with Guy Junker at the Atlanta airport.  I went up to him and introduced myself.  He remembered me and we talked for a few minutes.  He introduced me to the crew he was traveling with and didn’t act like he couldn’t be bothered. 

After college, I asked Stan and Guy for advice on how to break into television, and they both were kind enough to give their knowledge and words of encouragement.

Though Guy Junker left the show in 2003, it continued without him until now.  Stan and Guy recently reunited on the radio, and no one was happier than me.  I still listen to their daily podcasts every chance I get. 

I thank Stan and Guy, the producers (especially Gina Drzal, who interacted with me after I won the contest) and everyone associated with the show over its run for all their work and for helping a kid from Jefferson Hills figure out what to do with his life.