Ok, I’ve told this story a few times, but maybe never here.…

I was about 6. I was in the car with my mother. We were driving a few hours from home to go to Orlando. My parents were letting me audition for a tv show. It would end up being my first job. I was very excited. But, in the meantime we drove and listened to Rush’s show.

There was some sort of trivia question they posed to the audience. I don’t remember what the riddle was, but I remember I knew the answer right away. It was phrased in this way that was somehow just simpler to see from a kid’s perspective. The answer was CAROUSEL. I was elated.

My mother was THRILLED. She insisted that we call Into the show using her “for emergencies only” giant cell phone. It was this phone:

I called in. The phone rang for a while, but someone answered. It was an impatient-sounding dude. The screener. I said I had the trivia answer. He wasn’t charmed, I could hear him rolling his eyes. He asked me what it was. I told him. “Please hold.”

After a few minutes, I was taken off hold. Rush picked up and told me I was on the air. He asked me what the answer was. I told him. He asked me how I knew the answer. I told him the truth... that I just... did? He started to goad me.

This is the first time I can ever remember this happening, btw. It was very confusing. “Come on, your mind told you the answer.” “No! She didn’t even know it!” I told him. He stays on this bit for a minute, then he switches gears.

“What are you doing out of school?” He asks. I’m excited to say why! “I’m auditioning for a tv show!”

This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have told him this.

He asks to speak to my mother.
At this point, my eyes kind of start to glaze over. I realize this guy is going to give my mom a hard time for letting me do this, and I probably should’ve kept my mouth shut about the trivia answer.

He’s now berating her for being a psycho parent.

After she speaks with him for a few incredibly uncomfortable few minutes, we get off the phone.
But the show has changed course.
They’re talking about me and my mom. And then in general about how insane it is to let your kids have hobbies like acting or whatever. I

It was incredibly surreal. We kept listening in silence. The whole show was now about this topic.
I don’t think we ever even spoke about it.
Anyway, maybe he was right. My mom was kind of a psycho parent, and maybe I shouldn’t have been an actor?

So, RIP Rush. Thanks for the good story. You’ll always be the first grown man I remember gaslighting me for being smart. 🥰