Randy Olsen Blog

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It would be hard to count the number of Hollywood award shows and after parties I have attended, and been involved with, over the years.

The Golden Globes®, Academy Awards®, Directors Guild Awards®, Producers Guild Awards®, People's Choice®, American Music Awards®, Grammys®, Country Music Awards™, Emmys™, SAG Awards™,... have I forgotten any? Likely.

The most wonderful thing about all of these award shows, for me, are the parities that follow. This is were friends are made, conversations are spun, fun is had, and, most often, good food abounds! That's Jamie Lee Curtis' arm you see making rabbit ears behind Ellen's head, while we were all having fun at the Golden Globe Awards®.

I'm not sure I've ever sat all the way though any award show. Has anyone?
In fact I'm cretin I have not. The times when I was simply attending the show I've always managed to find an excuse to wonder into the lobby to chat, find my way back stage, or slip into the press room. But often I had the best excuse, I was busy producing the event or coordinating publicity.

These pictures show me and some of my award show night friends. Sometimes I was having fun, making sure things flowed smooth, or orchestrating the, crucial, publicity "moment".

GLODEN GLOBE statuette is copyrighted property of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association; and OSCAR® statuette is copyrighted property of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

One night, while strolling along the beach I came across, Dr. Stephen Hadley and his wife Denise, in the final stages of pregnancy with their first child. Steve said, "Randy, I've got a crazy idea about an aquarium, marine life research center, rescue and education facility, and you're going to help me build it, you're going to get people to see the vision and get behind it." He went on to say, let's get together after the baby is born to discuss the details. Denise would go into labor that very night.

When Steve laid out his brilliantly, detailed, and impressively extensive plan to meet the needs of a marine life rescue, research and, most of all, education facility I exclaimed, "I'm in", with out hesitation. When I asked how much money we needed he said about $60 million, a number that would later become $80 million, and finally $117 million.

But I did not hesitate for a moment. Steve's vision was clear, the mission wonderful, and I had that familiar feeling when something comes from a place of passion and wanting to make a positive difference in the world. I knew Steve wanted to help, I knew he genuinely was driven to open the eyes of the public, especially children, to the marvels of the sea, and, through education, instill a sense of wonder and stewardship. I was resolved, this aquarium must be built.

Impossible, we were told. "You can't do it". "You'll never raise that kind of money these days", were the words of a leading fund raising expert. Just a few years later I would find myself at a meeting, regards another project, with that same fund raising consultant. The room happened to over look the, now in construction, Aquarium. He promptly acknowledged his miscalculation and extended his enthusiastic congratulations.

    

  
The top four finalists of the University students Aquarium logo contest
and the logo selected for the Aquarium of the Pacific

But the true success of this ambitious project was with in the coming together of countless individuals. There were times, at the very beginning, just Steve and I, when our task seemed daunting. But one by one people started to see the vision, get the mission, and begin working toward making the aquarium a reality. The millions of dollars raised started with a single donation of $150.00 from one individual. The project took on a life of it's own, driven by the collective desire to help, to make a difference, to better the world. When people want to help, I've found, rather than consider what's in it for them, we witness amazing power to make things happen, resulting in true and genuine satisfaction.

In 1992 the vision was fulfilled, and it was clear that a world class aquarium, education and research center would become a reality. Construction on the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific was completed in 1998.

Pictured below you can see (from L to R) myself, then Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neil, and founder Dr. Stephen Hadley, at the Aquarium of the Pacific Grand Opening. Stephen Hadley also served, for a short time, as CFO of Celebrity International.

We are capable of anything if we just believe, in our own infinite potential, and come together as one.

I have attended many an event, award show, and tribute over the years but none, in recent memory, were as moving as The Tribute to Mike Douglas yesterday.

For two decades The Mike Douglas Show was an institution on American television. In those 20 years virtually all the great performers, actors, comics, singers - and many sports figures and statesmen appeared on the show. Even Presidents would grace Mike's stage.

The beautifully organized event was held at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, home of the Emmy ® award. And attended by hundreds of television industry folks including former guests of the show, co-hosts, heads of studios, producers, show staff, and press.

From the testimonials it quickly became clear how deeply this kind and gentle man had touched so many. Here show creator Woody Fraser and former show producer, now head of Fox Television, Roger Ailes reminisce about Mike Douglas.
Over and over I heard what a thoughtful, generous, honest, and all around nice guy Mike Douglas was. He made all feel welcome, at ease, and important. Always taking time for everyone and open to giving a chance to new talent. During the speeches one commented that, "Mike Douglas was a moral compass for all of us in television, for those years"... going on to say that he set a standard of integrity and fair treatment. Mike gave equal opportunity to all, a pioneer of equality, opening the door for many whom had found it closed in the past.

I am honored to have been a part of this historical and memorable event, thankful to television producer, creator of such shows as Hollywood Squares & CHiP's, and former producer of the Mike Douglas Show, Rick Rosner for involving me. Rick is seen here with actress and singer Della Reese.

I am pictured here flanked by prominent television executive and head of the Television Academy, Alan Perris and writer / motivator / pro athlete, Kamy Bruder (on the right). It is worth noting Kamy's touching and moving recounting of his experience attending the Mike Douglas Tribute in his blog entry.

More Photos from the Tribute...

The Emmy ® statuette is the copyrighted property of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS/NATAS). ATAS/NATAS also own trademarks for the Emmy ® name and the Emmy ® statuette.