We interrupt our journal of that eleven-day trip that I took recently with my fine friend Amber to Las Vegas, Philadelphia and New York. Before we leave Philly and move on to New York, I have a few things to add, starting with this photo which I plumb forgot Amber took. It's me and Jake Tapper…
Note that Sergio Aragonés is behind me. Sergio is always behind me except when he's in front of me. Also note that for the rest of my life, this is about as good as I'm ever going to look. That's the reason you should never wear a tuxedo. If you don't, people can at least say, "Well, maybe if you put him in a tux…"
I should also have mentioned that Mr. Tapper gave a very nice speech at the convention about his love of cartooning and how he pursued that profession for a long time before turning to journalism. He was there as this year's recipient of the National Cartoonists Society's A.C.E. Award, the "A.C.E." standing for "Amateur Cartoonist Extraordinary." It's for someone who has distinguished themselves in the public arena but either cartoons on the side or once set out to become a cartoonist and changed careers. Past recipients have included Carol Burnett, Jonathan Winters, Jackie Gleason, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Orson Bean, Ginger Rogers, Al Roker, Denis Leary and Morley Safer. It's — and this is openly admitted — a shameless way to get a famous person to appear at an NCS awards ceremony.
Tapper spoke just before the intermission in a pretty long awards show. He was there with his father and I figured that when we took that recess, he'd seize upon the opportunity to get the heck outta there…but no. I think his father left but Jake Tapper sat there 'til the end and was on his feet applauding for the Reuben winner and at other appropriate moments. I was impressed with that.
He spoke about the award in this interview and this seems like a good spot to also insert this video of him with Garry "Doonesbury" Trudeau…
Several of you have written to ask me about the National Cartoonists Society and how one joins. I refer you to the NCS website which happens to be down as I write this but will probably be back online shortly. Basically, you have to be a professional cartoonist or someone who fits in well with them. The NCS has regional chapters that meet often and once a year, they have their Reuben Weekend gathering, which is both a party as well as a place where cartoonists learn from one another and address issues facing the profession.
Lastly, I've had a number of requests like one from Jim Guida who wrote to ask me for — and I quote: "Less stories about old television shows, more photos of Amber." Here are two more from the evening of the NCS Banquet. Click on the pics to see them larger…and if you think she looks good now, wait'll next month when the braces come off…
