We've just concluded an amazing couple of days on the Hugh Hewitt Show, starting Monday with a three-hour chat with world class journalist on both sides of the Atlantic, and right hand man to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, John O'Sullivan. John's a man who's been there and done that in every imaginable way if you're a political junkee in the West. He had been in Palm Springs, and was on his way to Los Angeles, so we intercepted his travel plans, and sent Hugh's servant, Moses, out to the Springs to retrieve him. I really wish I had heard that conversation during the two hour car ride back. John's a tremdously gifted writer who was blessed to be able to experience in near proximity many of the events that led to the fall of the Soviet Union. In the other seat, we have Moses, who is conversant in drumming, Shark Week, and Brian Wilson.
John had mentioned he'd like to get a bite to eat before getting to the studio. Did Moses take him to a sit down restaurant? No. Did he take him to a place befitting a man of John's stature? Not exactly. Moses drove through In 'N Out, news of which made both Hugh and I wince in almost exactly the same way. But John was a good sport, and was tremendous on the air.
Today, legendary novelist, blogger and retired Army Colonel Austin Bay was in town, and ventured down to the studio for an hour-long chat about the state of the surge, and what he wants General Petraeus to address. I'd talked to Col. Bay about a hundred times over the years, but this was a treat to meet him in person. He finished the hour and did a quick change into his Walker, Texas Ranger chic clothes to be able to catch the Yankees-Angels game at Anaheim Stadium. While he was transitioning his way out of the studio, in walked Oscar winner Jon Voight and writer/director Chris Cain, in studio to promote and talk about the new movie September Dawn opening up this Friday.
This is the second time we've been able to visit with Jon. Considering his film accomplishments, he's remarkably down to Earth, moreso than you would expect with someone of his caliber. Both times he's been to the studio, he's spent the down time before or after the interview either going around the office and talking to people to find out who we were, what we did and how we thought about things. In this shot, he wanted to see how Hugh did what he did. Hugh is showing him how the call screener program shows him who's on what line. Jon is one of the most naturally inquisitive people I've met.
Break time during the two-hour interview with Chris Cain. By the way, Cain is the father of Dean Cain, himself an accomplished actor, most notably remembered in the ABC series Lois And Clark in which he starred alongside Teri Hatcher.
Team Hewitt...or at least some of them. The guy with his eyes closed on the left, a site we're growing used to seeing at the Hugh Hewitt Show, is Andy the Intern, a remarkably good kid who was Hugh's spy at Disneyland, following me around to make sure I rode all the Fastpass rides in three hours, and to call 911, if neccesary, in the case I collapsed. Then there is some radio producer with a million dollar arm available to throw out first pitches at any major league stadium at a moment's notice. Next is Chris Carter, Mr. Voight, Adam Youngman, the person who is the third leg of radio Hewitt, who presses the buttons and makes the trains run on time, the secret weapon of the Hugh Hewitt Show. Front right is Aabria the Bruin.
Aabria is easily the most lively intern we've ever had. It's virtually impossible to have a flat show when she's around. She knows everything about Harry Potter, and being a UCLA Bruin, absolutely nothing about football.