I used to have a close buddy who worked in aerospace and who was always pestering me to tell him little Show Biz News Items that weren't yet announced…things he could tell his co-workers and impress them. Every so often, I'd hear about some show being cancelled or some casting change before it became common knowledge. I'd tell him and then he'd tell all the folks at McDonnell-Douglas and he enjoyed this very much.
So now you remember when Shelley Long left Cheers? That was a big news story for a week or so there, and many were wondering who'd replace her. I was talking to one of the story editors on that series during this period (Cheri Steinkellner, who later became one of the producers there) and she told me that they'd just signed Kirstie Alley to more or less fill the slot Ms. Long had vacated. This had not been officially announced but it was not a secret and Cheri said it was okay to pass it on to l anyone I liked.
A few minutes later, with impeccable timing, my Aerospace Pal called to badger me for "inside info" he could spread at work. I told him about Kirstie Alley and he was ecstatic. It was a Sunday and I think he wanted to race to the office and camp outside so he could tell each and every employee as they arrived the next morning. I was thanked profusely.
Monday night, he called to thank me again. He'd told the news to everyone at the plant and had impressed the pants off of most of them. A few had questioned his info and without telling them how he knew it, he staked his reputation on it being true…and even staked some cash. Two co-workers had bet him a few dollars that it wasn't true and he'd taken the wager because he knew it was so. "Well," I said. "I'm glad you'll be making some bucks off Kirstie Alley's new contract." And I suddenly heard him cough and gasp.
"Kirstie Alley?" he moaned. "Did you tell me Kirstie Alley was joining the cast of Cheers?"
"Sure," I replied. "What did you tell everyone today?"
He coughed again and said, "I told them Ally Sheedy was joining the cast of Cheers."