From the WLOS blog, it’s Diva Darcel:
The People I Meet
February 19, 2009
Darcel Grimes
AnchorOkay, it is Saturday and I decide to brave the crowds and head to SuperWalmart. I throw on a pair of my son’s old jeans and a sweatshirt(forget the make up) and head out. I rush around the store grabbing groceries and other items. Then I head to the check out. I am determined to make this a quick trip. But, I soon learn, that’s not going to happen. As I search for the shortest line, I make a new friend, a lady who tells me she has “no patience” and that she is going to find a quick check out. I reply, “I’m following you.”
Well, I finally settle on a self checkout lane and she moves on. As I’m standing in line, a gentleman leans over and says, “My wife says that you are Darcel Grimes. Are you really Darcel, or are you an imitation?”
Well, considering how I am looking, I am really tempted to say I am the imitation. But, I laugh and tell the truth. And then we share a few stories on self checkout. You know the kind… it’s never as easy as it looks. By then, it is time for me to check out. I struggle, but I finally make it. Then a few people wave and say Goodbye.
I wave back and wish them a Happy Valentine’s Day and then think that wasn’t a bad trip, after all. I met a couple of really nice folks today.
9 Comments
Ditto, Deborah!
I worked with Darcel for many years and she is sincerely one of the kindest and finest people you will ever meet.
With all due respect, BB, Darcel Grimes has been at WLOS since 1981. I realize 28-years is a long time in the world of local television, but if you were “a little kid” when she started, you are NOT “old now.” Stick with something more like "over 65" as a realistic age-benchmark.
As far as “what kind of process the locally famous have to go through when they are out and about?” Well, my guess is that if his-or-her head is not about to explode from a terminal case of Egoitis, he-or-she smiles, says “hello”, “nice to see you”, “thanks for watching” and then continues shopping. (You all knew I would not be able to resist mentioning the always-down-to-Earth Frank Kracher here.) Asheville and its surrounding areas are still relatively small-town and absolutely Southern-style friendly. Local anchors and reporters are certainly famous to a degree, but they are also just like you and me.
Here’s what really happens during their normal day. They poop, blow their noses, feed their kids, argue with their spouses and get pissed-off about having to go to work. You will never get that type of admission or any kind of real honesty from a “behind the scenes” blog-feature on a TV station website. These added features cost management nothing to produce and are designed to create the illusion of being tied-into the high-tech world of internet information. Plus, my guess is the “celebrities” involved hate taking the time to do any of this extra stuff. They have to do it.
Can you say “it’s all bullshit?” I knew you could.
She’s been on the news around here since I was a little kid (and I’m old now) so I’m sure she must have stories like this to tell every day by now. I’ve often wondered what kind of process the locally famous have to go through when they are out and about since we never hear of it on this level of "fame" (only only the movie star/rock star level) so I was actually interested in hearing about her day to find this out. However, I would like a more honest and comprehensive blog about how this day to day interaction with the public REALLY takes a toll (for instance, I’m sure people say the same things, time after time, ad nauseum, thinking they are the very first. Maybe a blog about the top 10 questions/statements she never needs to hear again or something like that.)
All I can think of is "Stars…they’re just like us!" Haha. It’s a stupid feature that some magazines have showing a celebrity pushing around a shopping cart or buying dog food.
Hey! I go to the grocery store too!
Wow. No wonder I won’t watch WLOS. Can’t wait to hear what she did yesterday! Trip to the car wash AND a latte? Ooooooo……baby. Did she start out at the Citizen Times?
Doesn’t seem as though she’s too good of a writer. That just read awkwardly in some places, at least to me…
Now that is some great reporting!