Eddie the Eagle.”

1. Show Open 2. Interview with athlete, Michael Edwards “Eddie the Eagle.”

Here are sample scripts (and show summaries) for the segment we will be recording, on 2/23.

Take note of the graphic components, as we will need to start developing those as well.

1. SHOW OPEN Paul: "I love that music! I just have to say it again, I do love the music for the intro. Welcome to the Not Old – Better show. I’m Paul Vogelzang. BTW, in case you’re wondering, that’s from Pond5, where I serve as a digital ambassador. Not a sponsor, but clearly someone I’m close to, work with closely and support them, their artists, and their new approach to creativity. Enough of the soapbox. But, I will say, enough of you in the audience have also commented to me about the music that I’m considering something fun, maybe very cool, but that’s all I can say. Stay tuned to our announcements." 2. INTERVIEW, MICHAEL EDWARDS, “EDDIE THE EAGLE.” NEW FILM, COMING SOON, RELEASE DATE: 2/26 Paul: “As many of you know, I ski raced competitively in college, and like Eddie Edwards, Eddie The Eagle, didn’t make the advanced Olympic training squad. But, unlike Eddie, that’s where I stopped. Eddie/Michael didn’t stop. This is the story of Michael Edwards, the man, who he is, and how he came to be, including a brief update on where his is today. So, for everyone, meet Michael Edwards, and enjoy the new film, opening this week, which I’ve seen. And the backstory to Michael Edwards…

First off, my question for Michael, knowing of his background, in his own words, to have provided a short history. Many of you likely remember the name: Eddie the Eagle, but may not recall all that transpired prior to the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary. It’s been over 28 years since those days, when British plaster turned ski jumper, Michael Edwards, made a name for himself - of course, the name: “Eddie The Eagle – by not ski jumping at the Winter Olympics.

Michael Edwards appears easy going, honest to a fault, and in the words of NYT writer Ken Belson, who helped me with this story, “delightful.”

Michael Edwards grew up in working-class Cheltenham, where his mother worked at an aluminum-door factory; and his father, his father’s father and his father’s father’s father were all plasterers. Eddie was a mere eaglet of 13 when he first strapped on skis during a school trip to Italy. Within four years he was racing with the British national team. Unable to afford lift tickets, he switched to the cheaper sport of ski jumping. During the summer of 1986, eighteen months before the Olympics, the 22-year-old resolved to take time off from plastering and try his luck and pluck against the world’s top jumpers.

He had no money, no coach, no equipment and no team—England had never competed in the event. Driven only by determination, he slept in his mum’s Cavalier, grubbed food out of garbage cans and once even camped out in a Finnish mental hospital. From shoveling snow to scrubbing floors, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to jump more. Nor was there anything that could stop him from jumping: Following one botched landing, he continued with his head tied up in a pillowcase toothache-fashion to keep a broken jaw in place.

His distances improved. Slightly. Though he shattered the unofficial British 70-meter record, it was noted that the old mark, set in the 1920s, could have been calculated with a standard tailor’s tape measure, and that the tailor himself could have leapt it.

By the time Edwards arrived in Calgary—where the Italian team gave him a new helmet and the Austrians provided his skis—he was legendary as the jumper who made it look difficult. Others flew. Only the Eagle could launch off a mountain and plummet like a dead parrot. “I was a true amateur and embodied what the Olympic spirit is all about,” he says. “To me, competing was all that mattered. Americans are very much ‘Win! Win! Win!’ In England, we don’t give a fig whether you win. It’s great if you do, but we appreciate those who don’t. The failures are the people who never get off their bums. Anyone who has a go is a success.”

But, plasterers from Cheltenham aren’t meant to want to be ski jumpers. They’re not meant to get into the Olympics. And then become one of Britain’s most famous Winter Olympians - my guess is that he’s less well known than Torvill and Dean, but better known than pretty much any other of the country’s skaters, skiers, bobsledders etcetera. Although some see him as a famously ‘bad’ competitor, a ‘loser’ and figure of fun, when he competed in Calgary in 1988 he was ranked 55 in the world as a ski-jumper.

That’s more than respectable. If I was the 55th best writer and podcaster in the world I’d be pretty pleased with myself. He was the British record holder – which he held for many years – and was an internationally ranked amateur speed skier. According to Edwards, “I’m 50 now but I feel like I’m 25 years old really. If I’m in a competition I want to try and win it. Even if I don’t really have a chance, I’ve always got that drive to do the best I can.” At 50 Michael Edwards is building a house in South Woodchester, UK where he lives with his wife and two young daughters. It’s a project he’s devoting a lot of his ‘spare time’ to. I want to know “If building a house as a property developer in his ‘spare time’, well, what’s work?” I think Mr. Edwards would likely say, “The PR stuff is work,” Like promoting the movie, I imagine. Getting us back to the interview, or lack there of, at least for now. When not on our screens or working on his development, Mr. Edwards, who completed his law degree at Leicester de Montford University, likes to spend time with his wife Samantha and daughters. So I wonder, how do people react when they see him out, with his family, this curious mixture of media star and very ordinary bloke? I read that Michael said: “People still ask for an autograph or a picture and I never say no. I like it. But I think people like me because they think I’m one of them, I’m just a normal person.” And what about those who deride him? “Oh I don’t mind that either. “I just think ‘they haven’t thrown themselves off a 90 meter ski jump’. “Until they do, there’s not much they can say to criticize.” Michael Edwards does seem one of us.

For most of us the sight of Eddie the Eagle at the top of the 90 meter hill putting his goggles on over his specs was a sort of inspiration: that could be me up there. I’m not some stern-faced Nordic superman, but neither is he, and look - he’s been in the Olympics. But, as Ken Belson from the NYT mentioned, delightfully open and unaffected as he is, I’m not so sure that Eddie the Eagle is that much of an ordinary bloke. He decided he wanted to jump off mountains on skis; funding it himself, he got to the Olympics; he got himself a law degree; he beats people half his age in TV sports competitions. So yes, he’s the plasterer from Cheltenham with the steamed-up glasses, ill-fitting ski- suit and came last in the 1988 Olympics. But under all that I suspect there’s something pretty special. I’ve seen the movie. It’s wonderful. I think there’s “license” taken with the performance, and I think Michael Edwards would tell us that, but we’ll await his interview, but still rooting for the hero that he is.

PLEASE REFER TO THIS ARTICLE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article- 2545919/Olympian-Eddie-Eagle-says-ski-jumping-90-cent-balls-10-cent- technique-Unfortunately-I-neither.html AND THIS ONE: http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/Big-Interview-Eddie-Eagle- Edwards/story-20298619-detail/story.html

PLEASE VIEW THESE VIDEOS & STIES: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- dyn/content/article/2011/02/07/AR2011020706073.html?sid=ST2 011020706437

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- dyn/content/story/2011/02/07/ST2011020706437.html?sid=ST2011 020706437

http://www.besamecosmetics.com/home.cfm

After movie “exit” interview questions: 1. Thumbs up, or not? 2. If you compared this movie to any other, which one would it be? 3. Did you know Michael Edwards’ story before tonight? What did you think of him, Michael Edwards?

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. I have nothing but respect for the guy. He bravely entered a (very) extreme event at world class level despite not having the years of experience, funding, and opportunity to practice as the other competitors and you know what, he did his best! Whilst he may not have achieved the distances of the other competitors (probably due to the lack of training/poorer technique, as well as his heavier weight/poor vision) he had the guts to do the jump and he landed better than most amateurs would have been able to. 2. I always thought him gallant steadfast and courageous. 3. In an era of steroid use, drugged professional sports stars, cyclists, American football, and baseball, I will take your spirit and pluck over any other “so called” athletes. 4. I appreciated your glowing sportsmanship despite his unlikely chance at improving his place beyond dead last. There is only one gold medal but everyone competing are also judged for how they play the game. Eddie was a winner in that competition, as judged by thousands. 5. I’ve really tried to prepare for this interview, Michael, but I know we’ll not be breaking any news here. None the less, you are such a fascinating person, and I’m so pleased you’ve given me some time today, on your press tour for the film, “Eddie the Eagle,” which I saw last night. I loved it, BTW. But, for our audience who’s not seen the film yet, take us back to Calgary, 1988 and tell us what it meant and why it was important? How did you get there? 6. Were you surprised by the adulation then, and even now? 7. Why did you work so hard? 8. You’ve done many things in your life, been to law school, world class athlete, son, plasterer, reality TV star, inspiration to many. What a life! Besides on the ski slope itself, were there any stumbles in your life? Or, ever any self doubt? 9. What can you tell us about your mother, a real influence, it seems, and your father? From your heart, what do you say to them today? 10. What do you tell young athletes today? 11. What does the word “perseverance” mean to you, Michael? 12. Michael, our audience is yours, anything else you’d like to share to buoy spirits and inspire us?