{"id":19871,"date":"2017-08-28T00:02:06","date_gmt":"2017-08-28T07:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/?p=19871"},"modified":"2017-08-28T00:03:01","modified_gmt":"2017-08-28T07:03:01","slug":"day-jay-thomas-shocked-public","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danoday.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/day-jay-thomas-shocked-public\/","title":{"rendered":"The Day Jay Thomas Shocked Me by What He Did in Public"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Jay<\/a>I didn’t know Jay Thomas<\/strong><\/span> very well, but I did know him for a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n

He subscribed to my radio comedy service back when he was a jock at WAYS\/Charlotte.<\/span><\/p>\n

I saw him make the jump from Charlotte to New York City, then to Power 106\/Los Angeles.<\/span><\/p>\n

At a radio convention in Dallas, however, I realized he had a unique quality as a performer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jay was on a panel that I moderated.<\/span><\/p>\n

I don’t remember anything about that panel, but I remember being in the audience during some other session…or perhaps Jay had a solo spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

That’s when I realized that as a performer, his comic mind had no governor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Governor: A device automatically regulating the supply of fuel to a motor vehicle, thereby limiting its speed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jay made a joke that was funny and true…and I couldn’t believe he had said what every guy in the audience would agree with but would never publicly admit to.<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve encountered other funny radio personalities who never realized when they had veered off into unfunny territory.<\/span><\/p>\n

That wasn’t the case with Jay.<\/span><\/p>\n

He knew.<\/span><\/p>\n

And yes, if you’re familiar with the cause of his demise on Cheers,<\/em> you know there were times when a “governor” would’ve been helpful.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not limiting his own output doesn’t mean he didn’t know what he was saying or the kind of effect it was likely to have.<\/span><\/p>\n

That’s why all these years later I vividly recall that one remark that Jay made.<\/span><\/p>\n

The one that was true, was funny, and that most performers would’ve been afraid to voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are tons of people who can share many more (and more interesting) stories about Jay than I; I have only that one.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, at least for me, it was an eye-opening experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

So long, Jay. I barely knew you, and I miss you already.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s a video clip (courtesy of George Junak’s California Aircheck<\/a>) of Jay at Power 106.<\/span><\/p>\n