Tips for When You're on TV

Make a better impression.

Opinion page by Duane Alan Hahn.

The following tips are for people who might be on U.S. television news shows such as reporters, lawyers, police officers, movie stars, or average people who are thrust into the spotlight. No one wants to look like a clueless doofus on national TV, so these tips should help you make a better impression than you would have before reading this page.

Overused Phrases

Below are some overused phrases with words you could use to replace them. For example, instead of saying continue on, you would say continue or go, depending on what you meant.

continue on

continue or go

past experience

experience

past history

past or history

(History is in the past so choose one or the other.)

(at that) point in time

then

(if you must use the words at that say at that time or at that point.)

(at this) point in time

now

(if you must use the words at this say at this time or at this point.)

I myself

daily basis

daily

in order to

in order for

for

in spite of the fact that

though or although

in the near future

soon

extend an invitation

invite

fled on foot

ran

The list above does not contain every redundant or overused phrase, but it should be enough to get you thinking of ways to be more concise so you won't sound like the average clueless talking head.

Better Pronunciation

Here are some words that are frequently mispronounced on TV. Most of the following is from or based on The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations.

culinary

KYOO-li-ner-ee < Correct

KUHL-i-ner-ee < Wrong

The first part does not rhyme with gull or skull. It rhymes with the letter Q. You don't say kuhcumber when you pronounce the word cucumber, so that's a good way to remember how to pronounce culinary (Q-linary or cue-linary). Think of cucumber and culinary as if they were cousins.

often

AWF-in or AHF-in < Correct

AWF tin or AHF tin < Wrong in the USA

The T is silent. You don't sound more intelligent by pronouncing the T, you just sound uneducated. You do not pronounce the T in the words: sof[t]en, lis[t]en, glis[t]en, fas[t]en, chas[t]en, gris[t]le, epis[t]le,

apos[t]le, bris[t]le, rus[t]le, has[t]en, and mis[t]letoe, so why would you pronounce the T in of[t]en?

obvious

AHB-vee-us < Correct

AHV-ee-us < Wrong

The B is pronounced. Movie stars are famous for mispronouncing this one.

sandwich

SAND-wich < Correct

SAN-wich < Wrong

SAM-wich < Wrong

SAM-mitch < Wrong

The D is pronounced.

length

LENGKTH < Correct

LENTH < Wrong

jewelry

JOO-wuul-ree < Correct

JOO-luh-ree < Wrong

JER-ee < Wrong

JEW-ree < Wrong

If you can say jewel, you can say jewelry.

salmon

SAM-un < Correct

SAL-mun < Wrong

The L is silent.

data

DAY-tuh < Correct

DAT-uh < Wrong

genuine

GEN-yoo-in < Correct

GEN-yoo-wyn < Wrong

There is no wine in genuine.

zoology

zoh-AHL-uh-jee < Correct

zoo-AHL-uh-jee < Wrong

The first part rhymes with toe or show. It does not rhyme with poo. There Is No Zoo in Zoology.

For more, check out my What to Say in the USA page.

Confessions of a Talking Head

The following article by Fraser P. Seitel is used with permission from O'Dwyer's.

July 8, 2002

Did you catch my favorite television personality who returned to the airwaves last week, after a brief hiatus?

As he responded with verve and wit to the pointed inquiries of the likes of Connie Chung and Greta Van Susteren and Brian Williams and the wacky morning crew at FOX & Friends — one couldn't help but confuse him with a slightly graying Brad Pitt.

Who was this TV hero?

Me.

A friend once told me, "There are two things in life you never pass up — sex and a chance to be on television."

I know nothing about the former but recently, in response to Martha Stewart's PR troubles and before that because of Gary Condit, I have become very much involved with the latter.

Specifically, I have become what is fondly referred to as a 'talking head' and less fondly, a 'bloviated gasbag,' on cable news talk shows.

In my case, I appear as — you should pardon the expression — a 'PR expert,' most recently dissecting what Martha ought to be doing to defend her reputation, besides cavalierly cutting cabbage in the CBS kitchen while her empire burns.

Thanks principally to the travails of the damaged doyenne of domesticity and the cornered California Congressman, I have logged more than 30 appearances, on the Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC and Court TV.

Throughout this tour of TV duty, after hooking up with everyone from Larry King to Bill O'Reilly to TV psychiatrist Georgia Witkin, I have learned much about the inner workings of this mysterious medium.

And so, as Martha kabuki dances her way out of the slammer — and my fellow talking heads and I drift back under our respective rocks — I thought it might be useful to pass along the following 'talking head tips' so you're prepared when you, too, get your 15 minutes of TV fame.

This is first, because it is irrefutably most important.

TV is what they call a 'visual medium.' That means that nobody cares a whit about what you say or how you say it. But you must look good — especially good hair and good skin.

If you're nice to the makeup lady, she will allow you to use the 'liquid makeup' applied with a cooling air brush. This miraculous elixir, normally reserved for the anchors, makes you look just like the aforementioned Brad Pitt. Or at least it does in my case.

They hate that.

Plus they have no time, generally arriving for taping just long enough to do their hair and makeup (liquid, of course), grab their papers, and fly onto the set to read the teleprompter and find out who the guests are.

Pre chit-chat between guest and anchor, therefore, is strictly off limits. It spoils the spontaneity and gets in the way of the hair spray.

It's not that the fruit and the cheese and the crackers and the brownies aren't edible. The spread is often quite tasty, and you may be hungry, having spent most of the day preparing to go on television.

But don't you dare. Glomming onto the cheese and crackers, prior to airtime, brands you as a 'TV neophyte.' Experienced guests avoid the buffet like the plague.

Don't ask me why this is. It just is.

The true veteran guests pace the Green Room, keeping their own counsel, acknowledging no one, steeling themselves to enter the ring.

Consequently, don't chat them up either.

Smart blouse and jacket for women. Smart suit coat, pressed blue shirt and solid Regis-like or bold patterned rep tie for men.

Since virtually all television talking head shots are framed from the torso up, you needn't wear fancy pants. [D.A.H.: You might want to go ahead and wear those fancy pants since the bottom half is shown more often today.]

As the floor manager ushers you into Studio A, don't be surprised if the trumpets are muted.

In fact, there aren't any trumpets, just wires to step over, cameras to avoid and people to not bother. You sit down over there, shut up, and wait till the red light goes on and they start talking to you.

On the outside, you may well be the Distinguished Professor of Literature or the Senior Vice President for Finance, but in here you are but the most recent piece of chuck served up to feed the never-ending appetite of the talk show beast.

There is no gray in TV talk — just black and white.

Absolute certainty that your position is correct. My way or the highway.

"Martha Stewart must go public before it's too late."
"Tom Cruise ought to leave now for bad-mouthing the country."
"The landscaper's alibis don't hold up. He's guilty."

And so on.

Conditionality, equivocation, wavering in any form is grounds for immediate disbarment from the TV talking head fraternity. Caution breeds contempt from the viewers. And contempt breeds channel switching. And that's bad.

So the mantra of the true talking head must always be: "I'm right. You're wrong. He's an idiot (or 'she,' depending on the sex of the person in the split screen)."

Talking headdom is a 'survival of the fittest' environment. Courtesy and decorum simply don't apply. As Leo Durocher might have said, had he lived to witness cable, "Nice guys don't get invited back."

I met one guy in the Green Room, who I had heard previously on the radio. Real nice chap but very shy and soft-spoken. I wondered how such a reticent fellow would fare once he entered the Studio A snake pit. As soon as the red light went on, he metamorphosized into Rasputin, bellowing, "Tom Cruise is slime. He ought to get out, and leave our country to people who respect it. He is dirt."

I was astounded. But that's the game.

You've got to yell and shout and badger and bully to be heard above the din of the other 'experts' yelling and shouting and badgering and bullying to be heard above you.

It makes for illuminating television.

They pick you up at your home or office and take you back after the show. And it's all paid for — tip and all — by the program.

That, by the way, is the extent of your remuneration, regardless of your preparation, profundity or position in the talking head pecking order. Appearing on TV, you see, is a 'privilege.' No guest ever gets paid.

That's why Rupert Murdoch is rich, and you're not.

Strictly optional.

That way, after your appearance, you can go back to the Green Room, load up on those refreshments you avoided earlier, and pig out on the car service ride home.

One final piece of advice: Never go head-to-head in a TV shout fest with Alan Dershowitz. He'll chew your head off.

TV Dos and Don'ts

The following tips are adapted from Media Training Worldwide / TJWalker.com.

Before the Show

Do you like it when possible business partners, clients, or dates don't return your phone calls? The media will hate you if you don't return their calls promptly.

When given a choice, always opt to do a live interview rather than a taped interview. Live formats give the person being interviewed a much greater chance of controlling the message.

Ask the producer when you are expected at the studio and then arrive 10 minutes earlier than that.

One extra person is OK, but don't bring an entourage with you to a TV studio.

Avoid carbonated drinks before appearing, otherwise you might belch.

Don't do interviews on an empty stomach; your growling stomach will distract you.

Drink plenty of water before a TV interview. Otherwise your mouth will become dry and you will lick your lips in a distracting manner.

When you are in the green room before an interview, don't tell the producer or anyone else everything you are going to say. If you do, you might forget what you said once you are on the program.

Pump the producer for as much info on how the issues will be presented, what other guests will be appearing, and what position you are expected to fill.

Not only is it a really stupid idea to ask reporters for their questions in advance of an interview, but they aren't going to give them to you.

You CAN ask a reporter what the focus or slant is for the interview, and if there are any special areas it might be helpful for you to prepare for in advance of the interview.

Make sure your earpiece fits properly and doesn't pop out before the interview begins.

Don't demand to be called 'Doctor' or 'Ph.D.' or people will think you are a sanctimonious windbag.

Don't demand that the media obey certain ground rules or observe 'conditions' for you to be interviewed. You are not Frank Sinatra.

If you are anywhere near a camera, assume it is on and recording every word and action.

Lots of people have lost their jobs over comments that were printed when they thought they were speaking 'off the record.'

When getting ready for an in-studio interview, a producer will often ask you to count to ten for a microphone volume check. Instead say "hi, I'm (your name) and I watch (name of program) every chance I get." First, the whole staff will appreciate your enthusiasm. Second, they might use what you just said as a promo for years to come, giving you a publicity windfall.

Compliment the media person you are dealing with in a specific and sincere manner before and after your interview.

Words and Speech

Brainstorm every possible message point you could make on your subject. Then go back and cross off all of them until you are down to three. If you don't edit your story down to the three most important points, then some editor or audience member will edit your story down to the three least important points.

Ask other people in your office for good sound bite ideas (you don't get any extra credit in the eyes of the media for making up your own, only for saying them).

The beauty of focusing on only three message points is that now you don't have the pressure of trying to remember an entire cabinet file full of facts.

If you could write the headline and the first three sentences to your story in the newspaper, what would they be? If you can't answer this, you aren't ready for your interview.

Rehearsing your news media interviews, including the exact sound bites you hope will get used, will result in a NET SAVINGS in time for you (your interviews will be much shorter because the reporter won't have to probe you for good quotes).

If you try to sound important by using big, abstract words, you won't be quoted.

People who consistently prepare message points and sound bites rarely have to complain about being misquoted.

State your most important message first—don't bury your main message (and don't build up to it slowly).

It doesn't matter if your interview is 60 seconds or 60 minutes long. You should communicate everything you need to in the first 30 seconds. Any additional time should be spent expanding your basic points.

Repeat your message often using different examples, phrases, and ordering (don't repeat yourself word-for-word).

It’s not good enough to appear interesting, witty or good looking. You must deliver a memorable message or you have failed.

You cannot look at notes while you are live on TV or in an interview—you'll seem unprepared and unprofessional. Since you've already narrowed your message down to three message points and a few sound bites, you don't really need to look at notes, do you?

When appearing on TV, don't think about the audience; instead focus on the one person you are talking to at that moment. Since you talk to one person at a time all day long anyway, there is no reason to be nervous.

If you focus on not saying the wrong things, you will say the wrong things. Instead, focus on saying what you do want to say.

When you are on TV, you are not giving a public speech. You are having an engaging conversation with one or two people.

Don't use words in an interview that you wouldn't use in a normal conversation.

Don't say 'um,' 'uh,' or 'er,' to fill up space between words or sentences. This is not like first grade where you have to color every inch of the paper or you receive a frown from your teacher.

Don't waste time by saying, "as I mentioned earlier." Just repeat whenever you want to; you don't have to provide roadmaps to your whole conversation.

Don't say, "that's a great question." Nobody cares about your metacritique on the interview as it is going on. Just politely give your answers.

Don't use stupid, time wasting words and phrases like "if you will" to make yourself sound smart.

Pat yourself on the back for going to Business School, but don't say "going forward" when "in the future" will work even better.

A reporter can use an obscenity in an interview, but you can't.

If you are in studio with a host who is ripping you apart, don't be afraid to sit closer and touch his arm and smile—it will be harder for him to be nasty to you.

Don't say "no comment," unless you want this to appear as your sound bite/quote.

Never use humor, sarcasm or irony with the media during a crisis.

Don't dodge questions! Answer the question in eight seconds or less and then bridge back to your main message for the next 25 seconds or so.

If a reporter asks you a complex, detailed, five-part question, focus on answering the one question that leads you back to talking about your message points.

When listening to a reporter’s question (and you must listen very carefully), don't think about how your vast database of knowledge can provide 10,000 new facts to answer every nuance of the reporter’s question. Instead, focus on how you can honestly answer the question in a way that allows you to talk about one, two or three of your message points.

Sarcasm doesn't work for TV, radio, or print.

Don't just react to the questions; always initiate your own message.

Unless you are on a live talk show, do not debate journalists (you won't win).

(For taped interviews) If you have finished your answer and the reporter says nothing and looks at you like he/she wants you to say more, don't say anymore. Either stare back and say nothing, or repeat your basic message.

If you are nervous on TV, you are likely to speak softer and flatter than usual. Compensate in advance by speaking louder and with more energy than usual, but DON'T YELL.

Television will suck the natural energy out of your voice.

You need to speak with more range and variety when on camera. If you JUST speak with more volume, you'll seem unnatural.

Don't drop the volume at the end of a thought. This is OK and common in normal conversation, but when speaking on TV, no one will be able to hear you or understand you.

If you hate your voice, get over it. It’s probably not that bad. You may just need to get used to your voice, which you can do by listening to more of your audio rehearsal tapes.

If you are promoting a particular book, company or cause, don't be afraid to mention it by name.

When giving out a web site address or phone number, do it twice — slowly.

If a caller starts trashing you repeatedly and the host doesn't intervene, just smile and start talking in a calm voice. You will drown out the negative message of the caller and yet still appear to be calm.

Your Behavior

If you want to know how your body language is communicating on TV, then videotape yourself being interviewed and then watch the tape with the volume off.

Don't react to the energy level of your host. Focus on the energy level you want and planned for.

When sitting in a chair that swivels, DON'T SWIVEL. Move the top half of your body, but keep the bottom half frozen.

Do not sit up perfectly straight in front of a TV camera; you’ll look stiff and nervous.

If you lean forward (15 degrees) into the camera, any double chin you may have will disappear and you will appear to be thinner, younger, more confident, and have a stronger jaw line.

If you are being interviewed by remote and there is a TV monitor next to the camera, don't glance over at it to look at yourself while the interview is going on. You will look shifty-eyed, nervous and weird.

When doing satellite interviews, remember to blink. You must also consciously move your head to look natural and relaxed (nervous people freeze their heads, so they look scared).

During a TV interview, don't look up at the ceiling when you are thinking what to say (you'll look like you are BSing). Look down if you need to look away for a moment. You'll look thoughtful.

Smile slightly all the time on camera, especially when someone else is talking. (A slight smile won't really look like a smile; you'll just look confident and relaxed.) If you don't smile, you will look like you are frowning and can't wait to get out of there.

Be careful about popping your 'p's into the microphone. (when a 'p' is formed by your mouth it causes a forceful gush of air that can explode into the microphone)

Don't dart your tongue out while you speak, you'll seem like a serpent.

Don't chew gum.

Don't look at the camera unless there is no reporter or host around to speak to or a producer orders you to do so.

If your earpiece pops out during the middle of a live TV satellite interview, don't scream, "Oh my god! I can't hear anything! I’ve lost my earpiece!" Instead, simply find the earpiece with your hand closest to it, put it back in your ear, and act like it’s no big deal.

When being interviewed via remote with an earpiece on, consider using an earplug in your other ear to block out distracting noises.

If you move your hands when you are appearing on TV, you will seem more confident, energetic and more interesting to watch. Don't move your hands above your face, below your chest or wider than your shoulders.

Your Makeup

Every TV anchorman, soap opera actor, sitcom star and talk show host on TV is made up and groomed for TV. Unfortunately, this is who the TV audience will compare you with.

Even if you never normally sweat, you will sweat on TV because of the hot lights. Makeup will make you look like you aren't sweating.

You can't count on the makeup department at TV stations or networks—they might be busy, at lunch, or in a bad mood. Be prepared to do your own makeup.

Apply translucent powder makeup before going on TV. If you don't wear powder on your nose, forehead and face, you will look shiny, oily and plastic.

If you are bald or balding, be sure to powder your head so it doesn't shine.

Make sure the powder makeup you use on TV is the same color as your skin, not lighter and not darker.

Don't wear lip gloss or any makeup that is shiny.

What You Wear

People shouldn't judge you by your appearance, but they will.

For men, if you have zero fat on your waistline, have a new, perfectly tailored suit and a perfectly tied necktie, you can leave your suit jacket unbuttoned. If you are a man with even an inch of fat on your waist or are wearing a suit that isn't 100% perfectly tailored, then keep your jacket buttoned. This will keep your tie in place, your suit symmetrical, minimize your gut and show less of your light colored shirt.

Don't wear bright reds. They 'bleed' on camera and are distracting. TV viewers should focus on your face and what you say, not your clothes.

Don't wear stripes, herringbone, small intricate designs or flashy jewelry. They are hard for a TV camera to pick up on.

Don't wear black clothing on TV. Black is too harsh and can suck up all the light.

Don't wear White on TV. It’s not that white looks bad, it’s just that it is bright and it becomes the most noticeable thing on the TV screen. You want your face to be the most noticeable thing on the screen so viewers can focus on what you are saying.

If you do or wear anything distracting on TV, people will remember that and nothing you say.

Don't wear dangly earrings on TV. They distract.

Don't wear glasses that darken when exposed to more light. The TV lights will make the glasses get dark. This will obscure your eyes and make you seem untrustworthy.

If you normally wear glasses, get glare proof glasses or have your existing glasses glare proofed.

Wrap Up

When the TV interview is over, sit still until the producer or host tells you that you are done and may leave.

After interviews, offer to do promos, that is, "Hi, I'm (your name) and I watch (name of program) on (name of channel) every day." Even if the producers don't want/need you to do it, they will appreciate the offer.

After the interview, give the reporter your home phone number, pager and cell phone. Tell the reporter to feel free to give you a call anytime about anything—but mean it.

If a talk show producer really liked your performance, ask if you can be scheduled right away for your next appearance

National holidays are great times to pitch yourself to the media. There are more news/guest opportunities (think of all those hours Cable TV has to fill on Christmas and New Years). You will have less competition and the stakes are lower in case you are inexperienced.

The more often you do TV interviews, the better you will get—but only if you review the tape each time and try to improve.

If you want to get better at TV interviews, watch other people being interviewed on TV with the sound off.

Don't send journalists gifts, they probably can't keep them and it will just cause problems.