Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Patrice from Arlington, TX on June 20, 2008:

Randy, I like the new videos. I think having you do them is much more fitting. I noticed someone mentioned you seemed nervous or stiff, but I think you did great. Perhaps they were thinking you'd give more of a spontaneous 'telling a story' feel to the clips rather than reporting the news? Thanks for all the hard work you put into 'This is True'.

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Good point: indeed I'm just "reporting" ...until I do the tagline. Glad you're enjoying them. -rc

Posted by Steven /Colorado Springs,CO on June 21, 2008:

It,s really good to have the videos back but I really think that Katie is a LOT cuter than you and with a lots better read on the "News". I personally don't see the problem with her getting the credit for "saying " what has been written for her. Does anybody really believe Katie Couric comes up with what she says on the news. Thanks anyways, it's good to see you back on the "air".

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No, and that's my point: people DON'T think Katie Couric came up with the news. But they thought "my" Katie did. Stupid, when it even said "Randy Cassingham's This is True"? You bet. But that what was happening. -rc

Posted by Betty, Kokomo,IN on June 21, 2008:

Great start here!

Glad you are reconsidering the backdrop... The lace curtain just didn't do a thing for you! I actually "kinda" liked the newspapers. They are a good fit with "This is True".

Keep up the great work!

Posted by Christy, Greensboro, NC on June 21, 2008:

I ditto Betty about the newspapers vs lace curtain.

And ok, there be an unnatural air to how you read the news, but practice makes perfect, and I'm much happier seeing you read it than Katie. :-)

Posted by Mike, New York on June 21, 2008:

I love the new video format. Only change I'd suggest is in the end, where you say "dear readers", you might want to say "dear VIEWERS".

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That was part of the tagline in the first video, so I was faced with a choice: keep it completely as written, or change it for the video. I'm usually loath to change things, especially written-on-deadline taglines, and it was an unusual situation that there was something that perhaps "needed" to be changed in the way you suggest. I'd be interested in what other readers think about that. -rc

Posted by Carl, Acworth, Georgia on June 21, 2008:

VERY funny stuff, Randy. I loved it !!!

And, yeah, OK, the newspapers make a better backdrop. The main thing though is that it is quite clear you are enjoying doing it, and that definitely adds to our enjoyment watching it. You have found the right formula for your show, so trust it. Information transmitted in an entertaining fashion - I have no doubt it will get better and better as you settle into it, just like a new pair of boots.

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That's my plan. I'm not sure what backdrop I'll do in the long run, but I'll be trying different things. And yes, I'm sure I'll get more comfortable in front of the camera as time goes on. -rc

Posted by Bill, NY on June 23, 2008:

Good to have the videos back. I enjoyed them before and I'll enjoy them now. That being said...it's weird to hear you react to the stupid people who don't know it's your story when Katie read it. I thought your quest was to fight stupdity, not to cater to it! Even with you in the video, you will have people who think that someone else wrote it for you (especially with the obvious reading you are doing). Consider that before you rule out bringing back Katie (or someone else more natural). Thanks.

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There's simply no way Katie will be back. That would mean moving the production back to Denver, to a house that's moved on to other things, at a cost that's more than I can afford (especially considering one doesn't make a dime by putting stuff on YouTube). -rc

Posted by Jonathan, New York on June 24, 2008:

I have no argument against the economics of your returning to Denver to the production house as opposed to your doing the videos yourself. That's your call. But I do have to tell you that I really enjoyed the mirth with which Katie presented the stories. She conveyed a genuine feeling of humor in the situations she described. And I never ever thought that she had participated in the work of finding the subject matter and writing the presentation for the videos. She was a narrator - a good presenter of your work. I sense that you might have felt slighted over someone seemingly attributing your work to Katie. It's possible that that person missed the video in which you introduced Katie as the future narrator of your work. I, for one, knew that it represented your work and your wry humor, for which I take this opportunity to thank you. I also want to thank you for your volunteer work. There can never be too much recognition given to EMTs and other first responders. You do your fellow man a great service.

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Thanks for your kind words. I for sure didn't have any problem with Katie's work -- she did a good job. At one point we auditioned a couple of gals locally to do the stories here, and that's when I decided I had to do the stories myself: they just didn't "get" what the stories were really about. That made me realize how good of a job Katie was doing in interpreting the stories.

That some people thought they were "Katie's comments" wasn't the primary driver of bringing the production in-house; economics was. We need to churn this out quickly and efficiently, since (as we know) "time is money" and without an income stream to offset the costs, we have to keep costs to a minimum. -rc