Wish Upon a Star

On By Michele LeeIn Humor, Prose, writing

Some little girls dream about becoming a princess or a famous actress. I am sure I did the same, at least once, but grander than any of those fleeting fantasies were my dreams of writing for people like Johnny Carson and for shows like Saturday Night Live. ✍🏻 What a funny little girl I was. Johnny Carson’s characters, interview style, and his laugh made me laugh and I remember the first time my brother and I were allowed to watch SNL, with the original cast of Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, and others.

During that “first” show, John Belushi said, “Damn.” Gasp, my mom did, sending shock waves through our living room! Damn, that was funny. Lying on our brown carpet next to our brown couch, I watched shows like these and dreamed my little writer dream. Lucky me, I was in an early school setting that allowed me to create and act out characters. My most memorable character was Shinah Door; she was my version of Dinah Shore. As her, I interviewed students. Those interviews were recorded. Sure would be fun to see those recordings now! A comedic writing seed nurtured when I watched reruns of The Dick Van Dyke Show. For those who are either too old to remember, or too young to know, that black & white show is about the life and antics of the character Rob Petrie, a comedy writer married to Laura (Mary Tyler Moore). Petrie is the head comedy writer for a fictional comedy/variety show produced in Manhattan.

(A few) Comedians who got their start on The Johnny Carson Show:

“In school, every period ends with a bell. Every sentence ends with a period. Every crime ends with a sentence.”

Steven Wright

“The first time I see a jogger smiling, I’ll consider it.”

Joan Rivers

“America is the only country where a significant proportion of the population believes that professional wrestling is real, but the moon landing was faked.”

David Letterman

Thanks for sharing a visit and a laugh! Be well. 💗 Michele

Find my photos, reels, and micropoetry on IG ~ @mlsefton

Photo: girl (Shutterstock)

© 2022 MyInspiredLife

115 thoughts on “Wish Upon a Star”

  2. Poetpas

    I loved Johnny Carson and the Tonight Show. So many funny characters on it. From Robin Williams to Don Rickles, Jonathan Winters, Joan Rivers, Steven Wright. And I loved Carnac the Magnificent. Ed McMahon was great as sidekick. Who wouldn’t have wanted to write for him 😁
    I still watch it on YouTube.
    Good share!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Yes! So many memorable characters and guests, along with his sidekick. I loved his Carnac the Magnificent character. A funny exchange between Johnny and Ed at the start of this video. 😂 Thank you for sharing the clip! 👏🏻 People who don’t like to write would not want to write for him. Or people who aren’t funny, but those people are sometimes the last to know. 🙃 Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

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  3. Thanks for sharing the gift of laughter, Michele. Yes, I remember watching those same shows and great comedic skits. 😂 Enjoying your sense of humor as I do, I’m certain that you would have made significant contributions writing in such venues, including the witty Bob Newhart show. Have a great day!

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  4. Timothy Price

    I loved Johnny Carson. I had a rare condition in my knees in 1968. I had trouble sleeping because of the pain, My mom let me watch Johnny Carson that ran from 11 pm to midnight in those days. He made me laugh, and that really helped with the pain. I watched Johnny Carson every night for two years. I was 9 years old when I started watching the Tonight Show. I think JC had a lot to do with my rather warped sense of humor.

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    1. Laughter is the best medicine, and he delivered his share. Sure, blame JC! 😆 Thank you for the visit and for sharing your connection to his show. Comedies do help during difficult times.

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      1. Timothy Price

        Ok, Flip Wilson, and George Carlin helped. In my teens I was introduced to Firesign Theater Cheech and Chong and Monty Python. There were a lot of influences warping my young mind.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. These shows bring back memories! I loved the Dick Van Dyke show. I’m with you, when I was a young child/girl I wanted to be a writer or actress. Neither panned out lol I loved the Joan Rivers comment you have, so funny. Thanks for the laughs today Shina Door!

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. So true! A flood of funny memories. Joan Rivers was a character! She left behind a legacy of laughter. Sadness too, but that is every life – seems heightened in celebrities though. Writing this post reminded me of Shinah Door. I had not thought about that in years. Made me laugh too. I was really into that character. What a little nerd I was! 😂 Thank you!

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      1. She was a character! I read somewhere that the show Marvelous Mrs Maisel was either based on her or Phyllis Diller. I can’t believe you were a nerd lol. I spent every waking moment behind a book so maybe I was too 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      4. It must have taken incredible desire and inner strength to pursue that career. I applaud them for their ability to forge a new path – that extends to all women who have had the courage to do so.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree! I am certain it isn’t all laughs, but it would be fun seeing and hearing people laugh at words you’ve written. Right! Being a pampered princess sounds boring. I’d rather be toiling and creating. 👸🏻

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  11. So glad to read your childhood wishes in this post dear 🙏♥️ Definitely you try means you can be an actress 👍🏻🥰
    Such a beautiful and talented you are 👏♥️ Now also you are so good Author and very inspiring you and thank you
    for sharing this lovely article 👍🏻🥰sending love and grace wishes to you 🌷🙏♥️🌷💐

    Liked by 2 people

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  16. MadisonViddy

    What a post! I am 42 & this made me question if I was a weird kid, or just an old soul who appreciated good writing, watching Dick Van Dyke & Carson. Very nostalgic, thank you!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Madison. “… an old soul who appreciated writing.” I love that! In a world that pushes us to conform, being “weird” can be a blessing. Of course, that thinking does have its exceptions. 😆

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  17. Michele, my belle, girlfriend, thanks for taking us back down memory lane. 🤔 Honey, I can’t forget our old B/W television and watching shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Tonight Show every night they came on. Those shows were not just entertaining, but show-stopping priceless! These were entertainers and I guess that is the reason why we loved those shows so much.

    I am certainly not surprised by your lure into the entertainment (behind the scenes) industry, where concepts came to life, because such influence is certainly evident in your aura, and has truly lit your intoxicating creative fire that lights up our world. Thanks for that girlfriend and continue to shine!!! 🌞✨🥰🌟💖⭐

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    1. You are most welcome, Kym. Thank you for joining me down memory lane! It was a fun visit that made me smile. Like you do! Great shows, and there are many others.

      You truly are an uplifter. To write about my aura in the way that you do, makes me feel on purpose and grateful for your recognition. As a “behind the scenes” person, I would rather the spotlight be on someone else, but I gladly stand in your light and receive your compliments with an open heart. I will reread and cherish your words. Thank you, Kym. 🙏🏻✨💞

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      1. Awww Michele, I am humbled by your words. I appreciate the light we both stand in. 🌟✨⭐ Now, you definitely stand out in the spotlight girlfriend, don’t get me wrong. You earned your spot there and you represent brilliantly. But you also understand the mechanics of what goes on behind the scenes and you very valuable skillsets 🥰🌺😍💋🤗💖😘 graces the hearts of us all. Thank you for that my friend. You are appreciated more than you know.

        Liked by 1 person

  18. Thank you for the retrospective! I particularly enjoyed Carson’s Karnak with the envelopes, his interviews with Carl Sagan, and Doc Severinsen’s orchestra. I watched Dick Van Dyke as well, also SNL, and other shows of the time. I thought about writing then, too, though not for comedy. Your vision was (is) cool.

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    1. Thank you! Carl Sagan, yes! I do remember his visits-he was a fascinating human and through his writing and recordings, his memory and ideas live on. Of course, Doc, we can’t leave him out. Should you decide to write about the era, I am sure it will be an interesting piece. I am pleased to read you enjoyed my direction with this post. 🙏🏻

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  20. Pingback: Wish Upon a Star – Nelsapy

  21. I loved comedy too, I would pretend to sleep until my mom left for her job on the night shift. Then, I would get up and watch a stand-up comedy show that came on at 11pm called ‘Comic Strip Live.’ I don’t know why they named it ‘live’ because it didn’t play live, but the next day my sister would always tell on me for all the off-color jokes that laughed at. I would repeat the comedian’s jokes for the kids at school until I learned to come up with my own. Lucky for me that I didn’t know that coming up with jokes was writing because, as a kid, I hated anything to do with writing. lol 🙂

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    1. That is a funny story, Richard. Thank you for sharing. I remember that “live” show. Late night lessons! 😆 Siblings! 🙄 Writing or improv – both a great foundation. Bravo for coming to your writing senses! 😁

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      1. Turns out I was always a writer. I just hated to commit anything to paper. In k-12, the teachers would sometimes pay lip service to the acts of proofreading and revising, but it was painfully obvious that they wanted things written perfectly the first time. They would not allow you scratch paper nor would they give you time to rewrite anything. And once I got in high school, they preferred we write in pen. and I wrote slowly with bad handwriting and worse spelling. So I always thought I was a bad writer. It wasn’t until I got into college and started writing with word-processing software that I realized that writing could be more than just an exercise in futility.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I do think some people are born to write. It makes me sad that it took you a while to discover your love of the craft due to the expectations of misguided teachers. Not to speak ill of teachers – it is a difficult job, but teaching should bring out student gifts, not shrink them. Writing is a process. I enjoyed seeing the stages of my students’ writing. Prewriting, first draft, revisions, etc. Those were my expectations. It was time-consuming, but I think more beneficial for their growth. I am happy to read you found your writing voice, with the help of software. Bravo!

        Liked by 1 person

  22. Laughter is the best medicine. I wanted to help children when I was a little girl, poorer kids or kids from bad situations, or an art teacher with a business on the side. Oh, and have some sort of animal sanctuary too. Love the little critters.

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    1. I must agree! 💗 It appears you are living your childhood dreams through your creative and giving spirit. My daughter wanted to be a dolphin trainer. An interesting dream for someone who grew up in the desert. She became an artist instead – one who lives closer to the beach. 🌊

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  23. Pingback: Wish Upon a Star – medicalbazeblog

  24. Great post shared, dear Michele! I loved read your vivid story and learn about your big dream as a little girl. And no doubt, you have achieved much more than that for a fresh sense of humour is just a part of you, there are also much beauty, much divinity, much humanity in your person and in your writing!

    Thank you for your stunning vibe and sharing this funny video (as it did give me good laugh from the beginning to end, haha )!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you very much, dancing poetess Annabel. Your sweet comments made me smile. I appreciate your kindness and sincerity. 🌼 I am so glad to know that you laughed at the funny video. Yay! Silly stuff from two legends. Enjoy your weekend! 🌞

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  25. That’s great, I’d love to see those old videos as well! We cut our teeth on the same comedy.

    I was just reading an article the other day on the little-known hobbies of celebrities and nonagenarian Dick Van Dyke is now into 3D modeling! Some of his work was even used on one of the tv shows he was on.

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    1. Thank you, sudra. I am glad you connected with my post. Fun memories and the best comedy!

      What an incredible human! I just looked up his age. He is 96 and still creating. What an inspiration he is. Fantastic! Thank you for sharing.

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  29. I remember wanting to become everything ranging from an astronaut, to a model, to a detective! 😅 Good old days.
    If anyone enjoys reading diary musings, do visit my page and follow if you like what you see. ❤️

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  32. Pingback: Wish Upon a Star – Great Feeling

  34. Good post Michelle. Well I am not a girl but an old boy in his 20s who wants to be a Stylist one day hence I have started writing blogs about Mens Fashion & Style.

    I want to have my own Fashion store one day and sell my clothes to make money😊

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thank you very much, Mthobisi. I appreciate your visit. I wish you the very best of luck on your exciting dreams. Keep working, one day at a time – you will get there! I will check out your blog. Best to you!

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  36. Pingback: Wish Upon a Star – Velensia Posts

  38. Pingback: Wish Upon a Star – TRUE CATHOLICS

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