Remarks by
Darren Otero
on the Occasion
of the
50th Anniversary of His Birth
1 June 2016

Pretentious enough?  That’s how I roll.

When I started thinking about my 50^th birthday, the first thing I thought of was: Maude. Not the actual actress Bea Arthur.  But, the early 1970s TV show.

Maude.

I grew up in a household of All in the Family and whatever Norman Lear had next. In 1973, the next thing was Maude.  Florida the Maid transformed to Good Times.  Because: JJ Walker was (Dy-no-mite)

But, I digress.

Who here remembers Maude, not as history, but as an actual telecast?

Crickets.  (Hang on for the ’70s T&A.  Keep scrolling.)

Like I said, we were an “All in the Family” family. And, then whatever came next. In this case, it was either Maude or Baptist Time or Jesus Jesus Jesus. We had three channels in Richmond, Virginia. We chose the Communist Broadcasting System’s (CBS) Maude. We were Revolutionaries. By default. I was 7.

There was an episode in 1973, which I absolutely remember to this day. Maude’s husband Walter (Bill Macy) turned 50. And, this was a Big Deal; the centerpiece of the episode. He hated everything about the milestone. Because he was old. 50.  He was passed by. He was a dinosaur. He was half-a-century old.  His friends were dropping dead.  Maude wore a Mumu.  Because, of course she did.

Laughs were milked in that ’70s live-audience way.

But I mostly remember Walter’s step-daughter Adrienne Barbeau. Because, even a 7-year-old boy would remember her…

Adrienne Barbeau. You see what I’m sayin’.

But, I also remember this specific episode. From 1973.

Walter felt the weight of being half-century old.  Because, he actually was a half-century old.  With the dust and the cobwebs and the aches and the pains.  And the younger people who didn’t make it that far.

Half of a Century.

When you are seven, a half-century is forever. And Adrienne Barbeau had big boobs. These are the things I remember from 1973.  And, they left indelible impressions. (There’s a joke there.  With the boobs…  but I’m keeping it classy.)

So, now I am at the half-century mark.

And, I realize that I won’t be getting a career-retrospective or a lifetime achievement award or a monument or a bridge or a park named in my honor.  I won’t be invited to give a commencement address or asked to write a memoir.  A scholarship won’t be offered in my name, and I won’t shake the President’s hand.  Or, go to Mars.  Or be the center square like Paul Lynde.  (Am I giving away my age?  Ha!)

No, my honor is that today, you have joined in my celebration, half a century in the making.

Hold my hand.  Even if metaphorically.  Give a squeeze if you are inclined.

And, with my incredibly smart, musical, and beautiful wife (also a couple of daughters ,,,  you read the blog, yes?), I get through life,

(And, just so you know. Maude’s husband Walter, Bill Macy, was born in 1922. 13 days ago, he celebrated his 94^th birthday.)  So, GO TO HELL Adrienne Barbeau.  Half a century ain’t nothin’.

I’m 50! (Though technically, Molly Shannon is a couple years older than me…)