Ed McMahon & Weather

I was the morning and noon meteorologist in Atlanta for 3 1/2 years from 1999 until 2002.  During my time there, I had the chance to meet many celebrities that would come through to promote programs and books and movies.  On some occasions the guest bookers would ask if they could do the weather with me to give the audience an impromptu look at that star’s personality.  It was always a lot of fun to do, so when they told me Ed McMahon was coming in and that he and I would have a weather segment together I was pretty excited. 

Normally when the stars would do this, I’d try to make them feel comfortable - after all, all they had to do was read the current temps and then I’d punch the button to the 5-day forecast but many would look to me for direction since they were unfamiliar with the format of the show.  So during the commercial break before we’d go on I’d say something like, “OK - what I’ll do is say something like, “Hmmm, I’m having a little trouble deciding on the forecast this morning…I sure could use some help..Oh - look everyone - it’s the Rock!  ...or “Donny and Marie”, and even Barney. ..And then I’ll pull you into the shot and we can joke for a minute before we go through a few weather graphics…it’ll be very easy!!“  They would get it, stand just out of the camera shot and wait for the red light and for me to pull them in.

I did the same thing with Ed - except that I only got halfway through my explanation of how everything would go down.  I said, “Ok, Ed, here’s what we’ll do…“...He said, “I think I know what to do” (in the nicest of ways).  My thoughts raced through all the years he’d been beside Johnny Carson. I then stopped and said, “Yep - I think you do”.  So after the commercial ended, the weather open rolled and I said, “Good morning everyone, it’s (7:35 and 63 degrees), hmmm, I sure could use some…“Hey everyone - it’s Ed McMahon!! “

Ed nonchalantly walked into the frame and said “Christy I just got the results in for the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes” 
“Yes?!?!“ I said, looking hopefully over his arm and onto the scratch piece of paper he was holding.
“You came in second!“
“Darn it!“, I said, stomping my foot in jest.
“Christy, there’s a question I’ve always wanted to ask a weatherperson.“
(At this point I’m trying to think of all possible questions he might ask so I could answer quickly and correctly - after all, it was live tv!)
“What the heck (he didn’t say heck) is a Doppler Radar?!“  By this time the studio swelled to about 15 people, up from a normal total of 7 of us, and the crowd howled.
“Ha ha!  Well Doppler radar enables us to understand how the winds are blowing in a thunderstorm so we can detect tornadoes…The Doppler effect happens when a train approaches and then goes by with the pitch going up and then going down.“  Then I heard the news anchor joke that we now know Doppler radar has something to do with a train…“It’s the same idea with Doppler radar!“

The whole studio was in stitches, and it was a neat moment with staffers from other departments peering through the studio window - everyone wanted to be in the same room to meet this man.  He was a complete gentleman and so much fun to broadcast the weather with that day.  We went on to talk temperatures and he showed the extended forecast before wrapping it up and going over to the couch for his more formal interview.  Of all the folks that cruised in with their press managers and agents and sidekicks, he was one of the nicest people I met while I was there, and it’s an honor to share this story with you.