Thursday, April 10, 2014

Man Up! by Ross Mathews

Ross Mathews. Man Up! Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2013.

Ross Mathews began his TV career as an unpaid internship, while in college, on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno/” He arrived dress in a used suit (crossing his legs to hide a hold in the crotch) to discover he was interviewed by a woman wearing sweat pants. When she explained the internship would not be glamorous work, he replied it was better then cleaning the inside of trash cans at McDonald’s. He was hired on the spot.

The internship consisted of making copies, getting lunches (even though food was provided by caterers throughout the day), and delivering mail and messages

While the internship was unpaid, Mathews learned how to “accidentally” on purpose take extra food from the NBC cafeteria and to hide it to eat later. When he was called in to see the head writer, he feared he had been caught and feared getting arrested. Instead, they asked if he wanted to be on the show during interviews at a movie premiere. He accepted.

The eccentric Ross Mathews was a hit. “Ross the Intern” was given additional on the air assignments.

He met Gwyneth Paltrow while interviewing her. He asked to be friends with her. He was surprised to learn she watched him on “The Tonight Show” and agreed to be friends. They really did become friends.

Chelsea Handler asked Ross Mathews to open for her during some of her comedy shows. She was impressed She now produces an interview show Ross Mathews has on the E! network.

Ross writes about his life long interest in entertaining. He also writes about his youthful realization that there are people who bully people who they think are gay. He also writes how he realized he is gay and how he embraces who he is. 

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