Risë Birnbaum and "the buzz"

Ash Wednesday

Who would ever guess a volcano in Iceland could throw a monkey wrench into the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of travelers plus cost the airlines hundreds of millions of dollars a day?

But there they were.  On the radio, TV, Internet – millions of stranded passengers sleeping at airport gates (some with no money) as they waited, day after day, for the plume to stop and the ash to clear.  The cost?  Almost 7 million stranded passengers and $200 million a day for the airlines.  One passenger said she was living out of her one carry-on (she had no idea where rest of her baggage was) for 5 days in a row.  

While airlines have resumed travel and returned these passengers to their homes, there’s a chance the volcano might blow again. As an alleged “PR pro” I wonder how so many airlines and hotels missed an obvious win-win with the stranded, great unwashed.  I think a British Airways or Lufthansa should have opened up their first class clubs so stranded passengers could take a shower…or the Hiltons and Hyatts that are generally adjacent to large airports should have let folks stay for free.  Why have any vacant rooms (if there were any) when there are travelers whose only wish was a shower and a bed?  And what a great PR gift for those hotels.  Couldn’t you see the headline?  “Hyatt Opens Doors to Stranded Travelers.”  You can’t pay for that kind of ink.

To show how this latest disaster trickles down, I innocently called American Express the other day to use miles for a trip to Italy in June.  The nice woman on tape informed me that I should try again in a few days given the “ash” situation.  It hadn’t even dawned on me that the volcano in Iceland would affect little ole me calling AmEx from my ash-free den in Washington, DC.

This whole ash thing just reinforces the thought that we are just pawns in the wake of Mother Nature.  Now, after about half a dozen earthquakes in a row, some experts are predicting the “big one” in California could come sooner than later.  Given that my daughter is currently living in Hollywood, I wasn’t too keen on that news.

So what’s the takeaway from this latest dis-ashter?  For me, it’s booking my travel sooner, getting a very large carry-on and bribing my daughter to look for a TV job in NYC.

Moose & Me

I never really wanted a dog to begin with.  I’m allergic and also figured I’d be the one stuck walking it. So, it was all my daughter’s fault.  At eight years old she came to my husband and me with pictures and descriptions of dogs in the hopes of twisting our arm.  Well, it worked.  She wore us down.  After about two weeks of pleading, we went out and bought our first dog, a non-allergenic maltese.

We named the dog Moose ‘cause my husband and daughter had just seen a moose in Jackson Hole and we all thought the name was pretty cute for a four pound white bundle of fur.  And Moose was definitely my daughter’s dog.  He slept with her and she walked him…until she went to sleep away camp that following summer, when he became all mine.  If anyone came within about six feet of me, it was Moose to the rescue.  And it was also Moose who would lick my face every time I hugged him.

One thing you should know about a maltese…they really like to hang with people.  So, I’ve spent the last chunk of my life holding, feeding, sleeping with and catering to the little guy in just about every way you can imagine.  Groomers – been there.  Vets – done that.  Doggie cardiologists – even done that.

Moose was 15 when I had him put down last week.  It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done.  He wasn’t feeling well for a few days so I brought him to the vet.  He threw a blood clot to his lungs and was in an oxygen tent for three days.  It took those three days and the hospital trying everything they could to finally come to terms with letting him go.  So, he rested his chin on my hand while I gave the doc the green light.  What a horrible moment.  This adorable dog that provided me with unconditional love after a divorce and my daughter moving to the coast wasn’t coming home.

I still feel like I’m living in the Twilight Zone.  I come home, open the door and expect Moose to run around in crazy circles so happy to see me.  And I was so happy to see him.  And I say to myself if I could only turn the clock back a few weeks…or the snow storm hadn’t come and I had taken him to the hospital a day earlier.  It’s like I’m on empty or aliens came and abducted my best friend.

Anyway, friends tell me I’ll feel better in time and suggest I get another dog, and I guess I will on both fronts.  But, in the meantime, Moosie, this blog’s for you.

 

 

zcomm : The Oscars Edition

As the Academy is voting for those lucky actors, producers, directors, et al who get to pick up a golden statue, we decided that the zcomm staff should do the same and make a few predictions before they roll out the red carpet.  And, just to keep things on the up and up, we asked our accounting firm of RSMI McGladrey to oversee our balloting process.

And now for our results:

Best Picture

• Avatar
• The Blind Side
• District 9
• The Hurt Locker
• An Education
• Inglourious Basterds
• Precious
• A Serious Man
• Up
• Up in the Air

@risezcomm: Hurt Locker. Kept me on the edge of my seat!

@kimblelayne: I think Up in the Air should win. Avatar is new and exciting (which everyone loves; no other movie came out in IMAX 3D-it’s not just a movie, but an experience) but UITA tells such a real story. It’s one of the most relatable movies of the year.

@mindofmcn: Avatar seems like the safest pick, biggest movie ever and Academy loves Cameron

@robinhlane: They should just re-name the category cool and shiny movie of the year because Avatar is going to win.  I haven’t even seen it but the commercials alone… anything this flashy, and blue, will win. For the record, I really liked District 9, though I doubt anything will break through the shiny that is Avatar.

@P_C_M: I almost never get a chance to go to see “the moving picture show.”  I’ve heard “the talkies” are quite popular nowadays but.. Avatar - I actually saw this flick.  And, given James Cameron’s track record, I’m thinking he’s got a good shot at it.  Blue folks are always a winner…didn’t you love the Smurfs as a child?

@nicolesoufi: Avatar has won everything so far, so I expect it’ll win this as well. I’d love to see it go to Inglourious Basterds though!

Best Actor

• Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
• George Clooney, Up In The Air
• Colin Firth, A Single Man
• Morgan Freeman, Invictus
• Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

@mindofmcn: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart – probably the best category, I think it comes down to Bridges and Clooney, but I think Bridges has gotten more Buzz lately

@risezcomm: Jeff Bridges. Who knew the guy could sing?

@nicolesoufi: Jeff Bridges. Again, he’s won everything else already so I think he’s a safe pick. George Clooney would be a close 2nd though.

@P_C_M: George Clooney, Up In The Air - Does it count if the role was written specifically for you?  I mean, he does a great job, but it’s not like it was a huge stretch

Best Actress

• Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
• Helen Mirren, The Last Station
• Carey Mulligan, An Education
• Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
• Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

@mindofmcn: Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire – Seems like it could be anyone from this category except Streep who is always nominated but never wins anymore, Sidibe seems like the best story

@robinhlane: I’d really like to see Sandra Bullock win. Oh come on, she’s come a long way since Speed. I can say I wasn’t a huge fan of Streep in Julie & Julia- could have been because I was on a plane for 8 hours and cranky. That said, I have no idea who will actually win maybe Helen Mirren

@risezcomm: Carey Mulligan. This Audrey Hepburn lookalike has star power.

@nicolesoufi: I think Gabourey has been overlooked! She was spectacular in this movie and really deserves to win!

@P_C_M: Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire - Given that I saw none of these movies, I'd thought I'd go with the independent flick. Plus, a little bit of diversity never hurt anyone. And, for the record, "blue" doesn't count as diverse no matter what I said earlier.

Best Supporting Actor

• Matt Damon, Invictus
• Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
• Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
• Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
• Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

@mindofmcn: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds – this award has been going to the best villain

(Ledger in Dark Knight, Bardem in No Country), and the Nazi’s are the best villains ever

@risezcomm: Christoph Waltz. Brilliant!!

@nicolesoufi: Christoph Waltz. No contest. He speaks about 5 languages in the movie, how can he NOT win?!

@kimblelayne: Waltz!

@P_C_M: Matt Damon, Invictus - he’s hot and apartheid sucks.  I got nothing else…

Best Supporting Actress

• Penélope Cruz, Nine
• Vera Farmiga, Up In The Air
• Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
• Anna Kendrick, Up In The Air
• Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

@mindofmcn: Anna Kendrick, Up In The Air – No idea who to pick here, but I think they’ll want to honor Up In The Air so it will either be screen play or one of the actresses (if they don’t split the vote).

@robinhlane: Is it bad that I’m voting Maggie Gyllenhal to win, because I think she’s cool? Hope not, because she gets my vote! 

@risezcomm: Vera Farmiga.

@nicolesoufi: – Mo’Nique should win it. She made me gasp and cry more times than I remember with her performance.

@P_C_M: Vera Farmiga, Up In The Air - As an adulterous workaholic who gets “turned on by elite status” Vera rocks out.  She’s open, she’s out there, and she’s in the only movie I saw in the category.

I’d like to thank our panelists. And don’t forget to follow us @zcommunications and each of our esteemed panel of judges on Twitter for more thoughts on this year’s Oscars …and I guess we’ll throw in some PR thoughts too.

 

STATE OF THE UNION – NO SWEAT

Ya know that old saying… “Never let ‘em see you sweat.”  Well, President Obama was a shining example of that in his State of the Union speech.

With a gazillion dollar deficit, 10% (or more) unemployment and a healthcare bill that’s not yet reality, the Pres had to hit a home run…and he did.

After the formality of shaking everyone in the place’s hand (guess they stock the aisle seats with dems), Obama strode up to the lectern looking every inch the president in his dark suit and red rep tie.

From the moment he began, it didn’t take him long to let everyone know this mess is not his doing, he inherited it. Up front, he mentioned from the minute he came into office we were on the brink of financial disaster and thanks to the stimulus package, he was able to steer the ship around. Just goes to show you what a combination of leadership and a good Public Relations strategy can do.

In addition, he addressed unemployment with a jobs program, small biz tax and loan program, college loan program and even repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”  All without a drop of sweat.

This is one cool cucumber. Don’t know who does his media training (or if he ever needed it), but the President is terrific at reading the Teleprompt-r.  And whoever wrote his speech gets an “A” in my book.

And not only did Obama blithely and almost flawlessly read his script in a deliberate and calm manner, he also even cracked a few jokes and called out the Republicans and the Supreme Court for their partisanship (repubs) and bad decisions (court).

This guy is a PR pro’s dream.  He’s polished, conversational, fluent and drives home his messages.

Here’s the $64 trillion dollar question – can the polished guy who speaks so well get healthcare passed and start fueling and funding millions of jobs all without sending our grandkids into debt?  He’s got the poise and the noise. If he would just take a play out of “Shrub’s” playbook and ram a few things through Congress that Americans so desperately need and deserve, we’d be a lot better off.

brrrrrrrr

Oh the weather outside is frightful…   I just logged on to weather.com and it looks like the entire country is purple, red or blue.  And that means blizzard, freezing or hazardous conditions. 

As I left the office for lunch here in beautiful downtown Bethesda, MD, I began to wonder when North Face became the parka of the people? Me, dressed in my very warm sheepskin jacket, came face to North Face jacket about every five feet. This is Bethesda, not Vail and I’m headed to work, not on a double black diamond run. 

By the time I got back you could have tossed me into a tumbler and swirled me around with the rest of the ice cubes. I’d head down to Miami to visit my former home at WINZ Radio, but it’s about 40 degrees there and everyone thinks it’s freezing, too. Not exactly swimming weather. 

While the temperature continues to drop and we are treated to even more delightful freezing rain, I remembered something. I like work even more when it’s nasty out.  I have no problem with the snow, unlike the other DC drivers. My 4-wheel drive car provides the piece of mind I need when the grinning weather guys and gals are calling for 12-24 inches. I think their serotonin levels go up whenever they sniff some “unusual weather” headed our way.

I must admit though as a Public Relations person I do love to watch the weathercasters. This is their 15 minutes of fame. They’re in their glory. They lead the news then come back for their extended segment and then get to promo the news again.  And while, I’ll bet nearly 75% of them don’t have a degree in meteorology, they do have good hair and they know how to banter. They also have their Doppler radar, golden snow shovel and satellite photos from Mars.

The moral of this story?  Why venture into five degree wind chill when I can go voice a PSA or bang out some copy for a radio promotion in a well-heated office where there’s plenty of coffee and snacks. Throw another log on the fire, grab a cup of soup and grilled cheese and settle into your desk. Stay warm.

EAT & GREET

For the past five years what news angle have PR pros tapped into the most?  Obesity.  Headline after headline about the “fat Americans.”  It’s made the papers, radio and TV.  It’s gotten such great press it’s even triggered a whole reality TV craze with shows like “The Biggest Loser” and “Dance Your Ass Off.”

The message has come across loud and clear, Americans are fat and unhealthy which can cause Diabetes, heart problems, etc.  So, with all the air time why don’t these campaigns actually succeed in fixing the problem?  Why do most Americans still choose the donut over raisin bran or Whoppers over grilled chicken? 

For me, it’s about one word:  comfort. It’s all about the comfort of a muffin and piece of crumb cake at a breakfast business meeting – the comfort of a cocktail and plate of fried calamari on a date – of food for 100 at a Thanksgiving table that seats 12.   It tastes good and gives you something to do…a filler, a prop.

Eating fries and Mac & Cheese is more filling and less expensive than steak, spinach and a baked potato so in these lean times the lean have turned soft. And, while schools have tried to make school lunches healthier by banning soda machines in favor of milk, it’s not working all that well. And college?  Forget it.  The freshman 15 is now the freshman 25. 

So what’s the answer?  I think, given my PR background, it’s all about measurable results.  First you have to understand you’re overweight and then you need a goal and some action items.

If you want those extra calories, balance them with the gym.  As you start to get healthier, feel better and see results, you start eating less on your plate. It’s win-win.  And weigh yourself daily or weekly so you always know the score. 

And the Holidays?  Give yourself a pass for a few weeks and then stick to your New Year’s Resolution.  Too many folks give up by February.

Listen, I’m no preacher.  I’m a NJ native in love with huge, greasy slices of pizza from some hole in the wall with Tony Soprano eating in the corner booth. But, along with my pizza comes an IOU for 45 minutes on the treadmill.  And I always try to pay up. 

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Tiger Tale

Down, Tiger.  Who knew?  When you set yourself up as a choirboy, the fall is that much steeper.

I knew from the start that Tiger wasn’t going out for a carton of milk at 2:30 am and that his wife wasn’t practicing her golf swing.

Superstars just have a different set of rules than the rest of us and the temptation is there. If you’ve got a Pepsodent smile, are the best golfer ever and make $100 million a year, there will be no shortage of women around you at any given moment.

So now that he’s been caught, the big question for Tiger isn’t what’s next for his personal life or will his wife stay with him.  The real concern is, what do his publicists do to repair the damage and return the prince of the links back to his throne?

I was interviewed this morning on this topic and here is what my 20 years of expertise in video and radio PR experience tells me.

Tiger needs to go on Larry King and Oprah, look us in the eye and show us how sorry he is.  But, that doesn’t mean we’re not tired of the good wife that stands by her man and community service as ways to diffuse guilt. 

David Letterman got out of his jam (at least for now) by half-joking about the his “office affairs” with the audience.  He was lucky and masterful in what he did.  But, Tiger blew it from the start by not being honest. Can you imagine having a two and a half year affair and not thinking someone would rat you out?

Did Tiger wait too long to come clean to save himself with the public? I don’t know how. I do know Tiger Woods has lots of good will in the bank and at some point the media frenzy will die down.  But, for now, the media has Tiger in their crosshairs and they have very itchy trigger fingers.

While this has been the worst thing that’s ever happened to Tiger Woods, it is probably the best thing for the PGA. I’m guessing the whole world will be tuning into the very next tournament Tiger decides to play in.  Who knew golf was so sexy?

 

SIN CENTRAL

Guilty pleasures -- everyone’s got ‘em but not everyone is gutsy enough to admit ‘em.  Well, must be the hot summer sun here in DC or too many bus fumes, but here’s my list (not in any special order):

Burgers – ya gotta understand I’m a relatively healthy eater, but happen to have this thing for juicy cheeseburgers with tomato, pickle, ketchup, mayo and mustard.  And with each bite I take, I just slather on more Hellmann’s.  Maybe I’m a condiment junkie disguised as burger addict.  Add the fact I was brought up Kosher and it doesn’t quite compute.  

Vegas – what’s better than a few all-nighters loaded with craps, clubs, good eats and then an affordable room that could sleep 12?  Actually the bathroom sleeps 12.  

Fast cars – I know they’re definitely not “green,” but I’ve been a car lover all my life and ‘til now have liked cars that (sadly) guzzle gas like a 1960 Corvette.  But, I am eyeing the new Tesla.  

Any movie – doesn’t matter if it’s Journey to the Center of the Earth (with Pat Boone) or a Sundance award winner, I will literally watch anything on a big screen where they also sell popcorn.  I am that discriminating. 

Reality TV – Def taken with every show from “The Fatsos of Marin County” to “Watch Me Eat Bugs.”  Made up the titles, but you catch my drift.   Moose – Love my 15 year old maltese, moose.  Talk to him, sing to him and if anyone saw me they would take me away in a net and lock me up for life.

Hamptons – OK, so I know it’s a bit of “my Porsche is bigger than your Porsche” out there, but beaches are beautiful, friends are long-standing and cocktail hour is from like 4pm to whenever.  

Facebook –No, I’m not a 23 yr old (but have one) but it is such a kick to connect with “kids” I was friends with and barely said a word to in high school.  Unfortunately most look like my grandparents these days. 

Online dating-- as a single mom with a college grad on the west coast, it's a good way to fill time while scouting out the landscape. And if Jon Hamm's twin brother happens to be online within 50 miles of DC, so much the better.

-Risë

HOOKED ON REALITY

Not sure what’s wrong with me.  I work hard, travel, have a daughter, friends and a loving maltese (Moose), yet I’m addicted to reality shows.  I should probably tattoo Bravo or Food somewhere on my body or at least see if they’re publicly traded.

I come home from work, make Moose and myself dinner and then start clicking away.  Anthony, Bobby, Heidi, Isaac, the NYC preps and the Real Housewives (no matter where they’re from) have become my new best friends.

Yes, I read the news and even have a stack of magazines (unlike Sarah Palin) and paperbacks on my nightstand, yet I am drawn like a magnet by the guy who eats goat guts and the doc who lets himself get bitten by bugs head to toe.  I’m amazed by the spoiled brats in NY who constantly talk sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll (wonder which colleges are actually accepting them).  And I get hungry when Flay does his throwdown and nauseous when Adam scarfs down 12 pizza with extra cheese.  Yet I stay glued to the screen.  Kinda like a train wreck.

What is it about reality shows that reels me in?  Don’t I get enough reality watching one disaster after the next every day in the news?

I’m trying my best to figure it out and I think it’s watching real people do outrageous things that turns me on.  It happens in the news, too, but by the time I see the news it’s usually over and done.  With reality TV you’re not quite sure what will happen.  So, I find myself rooting for Adam to down the last pastrami sandwich with fries or the NYC prepster to toss his hair and say something totally obnoxious or the hotties in Miami to go clubbing all night.  When they do something like that, I feel a touch more normal.  Is that normal…who knows?  All I know if that when Anthony Bourdain goes to Vietnam and rants about the food and the booze, I wish I could be by his side.  So, while Tony gets plastered, I stay plastered to my plasma. 

Will I be able to free myself from my reality habit?  Probably, but it might take a 12-step program and RA (reality anonymous) meetings. And at the moment, I’m just having too much fun.

THE HANGOVER

I was really psyched to see this film.  My 23 yr. old daughter in Hollywood said she laughed so hard her jeans split and I really needed a good laugh.  Friends my age even said it was a kick.  Talk about word of mouth.

So, I bought tix online, went with friends and waited for the jokes to fly…and waited…and waited.

Do I like Brad Cooper?  You betcha.  Were the sight gags good?  Yup.  But when the credits ended and the flick was over I realized I never really laughed all that hard.  I tried to figure out why and realized that this newest comedy directed by an 18 yr. old was just a series of sight gags around a very thin plot.  And I def could have used more plot and less gagging.

My idea of a funny movie is Bachelor Party with Tom Hanks or one of the Vacation movies with Chevy Chase.  There’s more “there” there and those guys are really funny.

The four musketeers in Hangover are like four guys who shouldn’t be together in the first place and you don’t care much about.  Add a tiger in a bathroom and a few chickens, a naked Asian gay guy, a pissed off Mike Tyson and a saggy senior butt and I just gave away most of the story.

Do I like the new genre of comedies?  I really liked Forgetting Sarah Marshall, so the answer is yes.  But, that had a beginning, middle and an end.  The Hangover just gave me a slight headache and made me resolve not to do shots ever again.