The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

As someone that has worked so many different sides of the media there are times when I question why I watch TV and still even like certain people on TV.

What is it that makes me unable to fall asleep at night unless I get a last minute peek at Don Shelby?

I had lunch with a buddy of mine recently and asked him if there was ever a person he admired and respected for their TV work.

He told me about an encounter with Wolf Blitzer of CNN at a basketball game.  My friend said he walked up to Mr. Blitzer and commended him for his long hours on CNN and told him it was nice to see him take some time off to enjoy a basketball game. He did not attack him, grab him, interrupt him, follow him--none off that crazy stalker shit--just a simple compliment coming from one of his devoted viewers.

In a nutshell, Wolf's' response to his compliment was a few obnoxious words under his breath followed by the big "I am too good for you" look. This really hit a chord with me because I have never understood why there is this giant pedestal for people who choose to put themselves in front of a camera and then bark at the people who watch them and butter their bread.

I told my tall and handsome friend that he should have said back to him, "Hey shorty pants when are you going to retire? The make up is not working on the age spots anymore," but my friend is far more mature than I am.

Back to the topic of who is your favorite TV Star and why. My favorite Local TV STAR is....DON SHELBY.

Here is why:

Don is a passionate journalist by trade who isn't afraid to let his audience in on both the confident man in the stylish pin stripe suits as well as being honest about his years as an alcoholic, or his health scare. My favorite part about Don Shelby is his zest for crazy outdoor adventures that would probably never be attempted by most men half his age.

I like that Don does the one thing I was told never to do in journalism (gives a personal opinion) during his "In the Know" segments. Don's middle name is Gilbert (love that name.)  I like that he has worked hard to get his current Project Energy going,

I like his afternoon show on WCCO radio, and that he gave up a premier anchor spot to Frank Vascellaro so that Frank and Amelia could delight us with their husband and wife anchor team at 6 p.m. and than comes back on at 10 every night wearing (yes I am going to say it) "his sexy suits" and that teeny little stud earring that keeps him as hip now as when I was a little Melinda.

But, hands down, what separates Don Shelby from the many people who make a living being in front of the camera is that what you see is what you get. You would think that's simple, but, in the TV business, many on-camera talents let their egos get the best of them and complain about being recognized when that little red light goes off.

I ask you to remember one thing that dawned on me as I was writing this story at a downtown Caribou Coffee and ran into Frank Vascellaro: Being humble and yourself is what really does separate the TV star from a TV STAR.  Frankie your next!

As the media industry changes and the power of people on camera could change too, I can only hope that the next group of TV icons will take Shelby's lead and remain down to earth and remember who butters their bread.

You never know who could be walking in with the next fresh loaf.

Last night, after watching another boring Red Carpet Event for the SAG awards, it really made me question why talented actors and actresses whore off everything from their hair to their underwear for the privilege of borrowing something that is probably not in "their" budget--but with the right PR will make you think it could be in "yours."

I am going to piss off a few people here by telling you the truth about this phony act they call "how you can look like your favorite celebrity"--for a price.

I remember years ago co-hosting an event at Planet Hollywood with the actress Jennifer Tilly and having her burst the bubble of me thinking she must make a lot of money acting in films to be able to afford the expensive dress she had on. Jennifer and I were in the woman's restroom waiting to go onstage to introduce her new movie but there was a problem: the zipper of her dress would not go all the way up her back because she underestimated her size to the designer--the designer who offered to GIVE her FREE clothes for her press junket if she made sure to tell every reporter and press person she could "who she was wearing".

I was stunned. The Gucci couture one-of-a-kind $5000 dress she got for FREE and all she had to do was blab about it.. The one mistake I don't think her advisor told her was to be careful about who she shares this little secret with.  Jennifer and I ended up bonding a lot (we both have a REAL set) which makes it difficult to wear certain designer's clothes, and we both knew that we would at some point need a buddy to go to the restroom with and help us zip up. After having a fun night of running to the restroom with my new friend Jennifer Tilly there was a part of me that was a bit pissed off about this free clothes nonsense.

How many times had I seen an outfit on an actress and thought I would invest my money with the designer in hopes of too looking like a glamorous celebrity.  What a complete waste of money over the years that I had thrown to these ego maniac designers who charged naive and shallow people like me thousand of dollars on clothes that were not made with their hard working hands, but with the hands of underage young girls who worked 16 hour days in horrible factory conditions  to just put food on the table for their families. I was disgusted in myself for not doing what was a tiny bit of homework on my part while the designer was boarding some 100 foot yacht in the French Riviera with their new celebrity muse of the moment dining on lobster and fine Champagne.

Well I thought those days were over of the glamorous actress trying to pretend that she spent thousands on gowns and jewels, but after watching actress after actress walk the red carpet with their crib notes on "who they were wearing"  it is clear to me that this ongoing game of celebrity that makes lots of money and still gets free shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, makeup, undergarments, feminine products, hosiery, spanx, gowns, jewelry, purses etc. is still very much a Hollywood game in play.

For young girls out there that want to look like their favorite celebrity, here is some advice from your much older sister Melly.."Don't try and look or act like anyone other than who YOU are.. Be creative and conscious of your budget and remember Hollywood is a GAME that should only be played when you can afford it".

By the way, here's the rundown on what I'm wearing in the photo: the only thing I paid for-the dress; makeup-none "free"; hair-none "free"; jewelry-none "free"; Chapstick-$1.00-Walgreens.