Let’s Talk Terror Read Free

asked.
    â€œI’ll be watching on a monitor while I confirm guest bookings for the rest of the week—one of my many jobs,” she added with a wink.
    Susan hurried off toward the offices while Nancy and George made their way into the packed auditorium. All around them, the audience buzzed in happy anticipation. Onstage Nancy noticed two bright blue sofas with red and yellow coffee tables in front of them. A TelePrompTer was hung overhead.
    â€œIt looks so different on TV,” George said.
    A dark-skinned woman in a red dress walked onstage, holding a headset in her hands. “Hi, everyone,” she said greeting the crowd. “Thanks for coming to ‘Marcy!’ I’m Brenda Fox, assistant to the producers, and I want you all to know that Marcy is real easy to talk with. So don’t be nervous if she asks you something,” she advised. “And if you’ve got a strong opinion, come on out with it! That’s what ‘Marcy!’ is all about.”
    â€œThis is so cool!” George whispered to Nancy.
    Ms. Fox held up a finger and paused to listen to her headset. “Okay, we’re ready, folks,” she said after a moment. “Counting, five, four, three, two—and rolling!”
    Bright lights and music came on, and suddenlyMarcy Robbins was onstage, with the audience applauding wildly.
    â€œYou’re so nice! Hi, I’m Marcy Robbins, and this is ‘Marcy!’ ” The music ended, and Marcy seated herself on one of the sofas. “Today I have a treat for you! We have some top male models with us. They’re gorgeous and they make big bucks—when they’re working, that is. But they may not be what you expect! We’ll meet Bill and Joe right after these messages.”
    â€œShe seems so relaxed,” Nancy said as a large monitor on one side of the stage began showing the commercials that the audience at home was watching.
    Onstage Marcy leaned forward and waved to some people in the audience. “How you doing? Having fun?” she asked. Then she turned to the stagehands and said something that made them laugh, though Nancy didn’t hear what it was.
    The makeup artist Nancy had seen backstage trotted on and began dabbing Marcy’s face with a sponge, while the hairdresser adjusted a stray curl of Marcy’s auburn hair. When the monitor showed the station logo, Jack, the production stage manager, appeared at the side of the stage. “Five seconds,” he announced.
    â€œWe’re back,” Marcy said brightly. “And now, meet Bill and Joe. Fellas, can you come on out here?”
    The audience applauded, and a few people whistled as Bill and Joe filed onstage and sat down. “Here they are,” Marcy said. “And aren’t they gorgeous. Could you tell us a little about yourselves and how you got started as calendar models?”
    Joe explained that he was a former fast-food restaurant manager from Pittsburgh. Bill had been a highly paid model since he was a child.
    â€œI work to support my mother and little sister,” Joe said with a shrug. “For me, modeling is just a job, like any other.”
    â€œThat’s not how I feel at all,” Bill said. “I love my work! It’s totally glamorous. And I love the money I can make doing it.”
    â€œThese guys are selling their images, so that women will drool over them. What do you think about that? Is this sexist? Is it exploitation?” Marcy ambled toward the audience and pointed her microphone at George.
    â€œWell,” George began, sounding slightly nervous, “it’s not hurting anyone. I think it’s okay.”
    â€œJust okay? I think it’s fantastic, Marcy,” a girl behind George piped up. “Why shouldn’t girls have a chance to appreciate good-looking guys?”
    â€œThis is more than appreciating, isn’t it? It’s ogling!” Marcy said. “And a lot of people say it