Anyone can interview a certified celebrity. Well, maybe not anyone, but we certainly have enough talk show hosts and celebrities with new films, books or confessions to keep our magazines and TV screens filled with familiar faces -- all day, every day for our entire lives.
Yet, how often to you get to know the celebrities that you mention daily in the course of normal conversation? Don't know who I mean?
How about “They,” “Someone” or “Mr. Know-It-All”? Sound familiar? Well, the fabled QuestionMan has scoured the earth to locate these people and find out just what makes them tick. You might be surprised to read what they have to say.
THEY
Casual conversationalists like to confidently quote an authority known as "They." QuestionMan was able to locate a spokesman for They and secure the following outstanding interview.
QuestionMan: Wow, I don't believe we've ever had a more immaculately dressed interview subject. What's with the tux?
They Spokesman: Thanks. They say you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
QM: Right you are. I don't mean to get off on the wrong foot with you, but "They" statements seem an awful lot like cliches. What's the difference?
TS: Standing alone, a cliche is no more than a tired, old opinion. Begin any ordinary cliche with "They say," and you've got an authoritative statement.
QM: I see. I grew up with all of these expressions, even found myself using them. I never knew that they came from you.
TS: They say we're young, and we don't know. We won't find out until we grow.
QM: Hey, isn't that from an old Sonny and Cher song?
TS: We had it first. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
QM: How are your expressions developed?
TS: Many of our sayings begin with a specific person, often a famous quotable person, such as Benjamin Franklin, Sir Winston Churchill or Tom Arnold. Although we don't encourage the practice, those who use a new saying soon forget who originally said it and replace the author with "They." They say let's give credit where credit is due.
QM: Well, they say all good things must come to an end, even this extremely fascinating interview.
TS: Thanks for quoting us. They say it could only happen on the internet.
QM: Hey, I've never heard that one before.
TS: New material. They say you can always feel free to quote us.