Sean Evans interviews Terry Crews

When we lived in Momote Village I'd listen to Johnny Carson at night over the military radio station. I had no idea what he looked like. I didn't know why people were laughing. I couldn't see the facial expressions, nor did I understand half the jokes, but I still thought I could do that. I could be an interviewer like Johnny Carson. And I held that conceit for years. After all, I had interesting conversations with people and I could draw out things that are not usual.

For example, I met a bunch of new people at a party. Several were standoffish, particularly one guy. He seemed resistant to talk to me. I sensed he didn't like me for some reason. But we're at a party, so suck it, now talk. I struck up a conversation and interrogated him about Viet Nam. He was reluctant to get into the subject. Just talking was a bit like pulling teeth. I said he must have been very young at the time. He said, yes. I asked if he was the youngest in his squad or his platoon. He said, yes. I asked him, due to his small frame today and young age then, did the other soldiers treat him protectively or did they give him a hard time. At this point he must have thought, "Gee, this guy is actually interested" because he bloomed in exposition about the very real time of his life in Viet Nam, where he came from, what he escaped by joining the Army, what he got from the Army, how he was treated throughout, how his personal relationships went, how his experience was somewhat unique and certainly unique in his platoon. He opened right up.

So things like that made me think I'd be good interviewer.

But I'm wrong. I watch interviewers today and they outdo me completely. I give up. All these other guys win. They're all much better at this than I am. They all come prepared. They're knowledgeable. They move the interview along. They control the interview. They bring out the unexpected much better than I do. They're engaging in ways that I'm not.

I don't know either of these two people but this interview made me appreciate both of them; the interviewer for his skill and his grace, and the guest for his interesting life and his impressive attitude. My favorite part is Terry Crews describing his father and deciding the things he will change with his own children. I've seen my own siblings do this same thing.

Boy, Terry Crews sure does have white teeth.

A few weeks ago I complimented a girl on her brilliant white teeth. We ended up talking about dental care for some time. She told me some of her friends, but not her, brush their teeth with powdered charcoal. I go, ew, gross. I told her onetime in hospital following a seizure the doctors suspected poisoning and had me drink liquid charcoal, a thick back goop. I complied and gulped it down obediently in one swig then drank more water and swished it around to clear it out of my mouth. The next morning I looked in the mirror and my mouth and teeth were still grossly black and had been all night. Like poorly done Halloween makeup. So each time a nurse came in, that's what they saw. It took a good deal of brushing to get rid of the remnant charcoal. The girl goes, "I bet your teeth were white."  Teeth white as Crews flashes seem unreal.