I present to you: nine and a half of my fifteen minutes of fame.
When I was about five years old, I got to be an “in-studio friend” on Romper Room along with my good friend Julie.
I don’t remember much about the experience aside from the fact that I threw a full-on tantrum about my outfit just minutes before we went on air. And really, I think the only reason I remember that is because my mom has never let me forget it.
“We picked that outfit out together ahead of time! I asked you, ‘Marcelita, te molesta?’ and you told me it was fine.” What my mother was asking me was “does it bother you?” because when I was a child, every article of clothing “bothered” me. Had I been a child star (and not just an “in-studio friend”; not bitter), my catchphrase would have been “Me molesta!” - it bothers me.
Although the outfit had passed whatever arbitrary standards at the time of its selection, it failed miserably on the day of the shoot and what ensued was what I can only imagine to be the most glorious temper tantrum the likes of which my mother was all too familiar with. Honestly, the way she describes it, I’m surprised I was even allowed in front of the camera afterward.
Well, they did allow me to go on-air: I’m the one in the tacky-even-for-its-time sweater and blue skirt; just look for the albino. Also, there’s a close-up of my mug about 5 minutes in.
