An Unlikely Pair

Watching America’s Next Top Model is one of my many guilty pleasures. I do not, however, watch the Tyra Banks talk show. To my surprise, though, I fell asleep on the couch the other night and woke up to Tyra interviewing Hillary Clinton. I’ve heard about Tyra stripping down to her underwear on her show to prove that tabloids are wrong about her being fat. I’ve heard that she’s done this more than once. I figured it was a ploy for ratings. Imagine my surprise to find the shameless model face-to-face with one of my heroes. Hillary, to me, is a hero. This posting is not about my respect for Mrs. Clinton (I’ll write that one later). It is, however, about my respect for Tyra, and the producers of her show. I have to say that Tyra handled the interview extremely well. Because of her own celebrity, it didn’t occur to me that she would be daunted by Hillary. I just wouldn’t have thought she’s be quite so up for the challenge. From time to time I am wrong (shh – don’t tell anyone). Tyra’s interview was a perfect combination of serious politics and humor. Hilary’s answers were the perfect package of lightheartedness and decorum. Especially, I liked their conversation on how a black woman, like myself, should choose between her race and her gender in the upcoming election. Hillary’s response was to suggest that black women don’t use either attribute to choose. Instead, she opined that we simply listen to all the facts and decide who we think will be the best new president. For my money, I think Clinton and Obama should have run on the same ticket. Again, that’s a different subject for a different day. Tyra mentioned that in her world travels, she is often reminded of how Americans are hated by many nations. Hillary admitted knowing that this is true, and insisted that she has a plan to show other countries the best of America – dispelling the myths that we are selfish warmongers. Hillary also spoke candidly about how she (like many politicians) are often misunderstood. In a vulnerable moment, she spoke of the damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don’t phenomenon when making public statements of any kind. As a reporter, I know that position all too well. I’d only seen Tyra’s talk show once prior to the Hillary episode. I wasn’t impressed. Tyra spent most of the show over-talking her guest, as if what she had to say wasn’t important. Hopefully, that’s not her usual style, but it certainly turned me off. After interviewing Hillary Clinton, I was impressed with Tyra. I was impressed with them both. What an unlikely pair to bring out such good qualities in one another.