Uploaded July 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Sometime in 1994, at the first TV station where I worked, I got shanghaied into being on-air talent during kids’ programming. Our kids’ club talent had just left, and there was a perfect storm brewing:
* The Humane Society did pet-of-the-week spots in our kids’ programming, which helped the station to fulfill its “local public service” quota. Those spots now had no host.
* The station had just gotten a pith helmet in a National Geographic promo kit.
* I was already on the payroll.
With no contract, no additional pay, and no perks, I was suddenly… Explorer Earl.
Things that suddenly jump to mind upon watching this for the first time in years:
Hey, kids! Want to know why you really couldn't adopt this kitten? Because *Explorer Earl adopted her*! What a lying bastard! You never had a chance to adopt April. Which is just as well - it turned out her entire litter had health issues; sadly, she didn't live very long. :(
Sometime in 1994, at the first TV station where I worked, I got shanghaied into being on-air talent during kids’ programming. Our kids’ club talent had just left, and there was a perfect storm brewing:
* The Humane Society did pet-of-the-week spots in our kids’ programming, which helped the station to fulfill its “local public service” quota. Those spots now had no host.
* The station had just gotten a pith helmet in a National Geographic promo kit.
* I was already on the payroll.
With no contract, no additional pay, and no perks, I was suddenly… Explorer Earl.
Things that suddenly jump to mind upon watching this for the first time in years:
Hey, kids! Want to know why you really couldn't adopt this kitten? Because *Explorer Earl adopted her*! What a lying bastard! You never had a chance to adopt April. Which is just as well - it turned out her entire litter had health issues; sadly, she didn't live very long. :(
