Knox County Mayor Tim and Allison Burchett were two of the guests at the Moxley Carmichael tables.
Election years always provide the best material for the good folks from the Society of Professional Journalists who are writing and producing the annual Front Page Follies shows. The shows, performed largely by local journalists and PR people, are designed to raise money for journalism scholarships. The strategy: Serve cocktails and dinner. Have an auction. Make as much fun as possible of local politicians and other newsmakers.
This year was the Follies’ 33rd performance. And the honoree was Jack Neely of Metro Pulse. Neely is Knoxville’s “unofficial” historian and he writes the popular Secret History column in the weekly newspaper. The scholarships will be named after him this year. Cool, huh?
Jack got his own special song! To the tune of “Secret Agent Man,” the entire Follies cast gave us “Secret History Man.” Here are some of the words:
There’s a man who solves a weekly mystery/Helping Knoxville learn its “Secret History”/Each fact that Jack tracks down/Sheds new light on our town/Odd things we will read about tomorrow.
Secret History Man!/Secret History Man!/They’ve given you a deadline/And history is your game.
I do think Jack was a little embarrassed by the go-go dancers who surrounded him when he was hauled to stage for this performance!
An annual big hit of the Follies is the weather skit. Weathercasters from each of the local TV stations come together for this one, which they usually write themselves. This year we had Todd Howell from WBIR, Matt Hinkin from WATE, and David Aldrich from WVLT. The name of the skit: Give ‘Em Hail! Ha.
To the tune of “Bad Moon on the Rise,” they gave us “Bad Forecast Tonight.” Sample lyrics: We see a bad moon a-risin’/We see trouble on the way./We see hail storms and lightnin’/We see bad times today.
Chorus: Don’t go risk your life/We’ve lost power and traffic lights/There’s a bad forecast tonight.
Anyway, it was quite funny. The political gags were good. Imagine, if you will, “Glad, Glad Daniel Brown” to the tune of “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” and “You Don’t Wait Around for Tim” to the tune of “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim.” And, of course, UT sports always get the treatment. So we had “Cut Bruce Loose” to the tune of “Footloose,” and someone playing Derek Dooley singing “Someday, Someday” to the tune of “Monday, Monday.” There was a sweet tribute to interim Athletic Director Joan Cronan, as well: “Come Together at UT” to the tune of the Beatles’ “Come Together.”
All in all, a good time. I even won a round of golf with one of our guests, Congressman Jimmy Duncan. Only problem: I don’t play golf. Guess Alan will be using it with some of our valued clients!
The cast included Adina Chumley, Shaun Fulco, Lisa Hood Skinner, Kristi Nelson Bumpus, Leslie Judson, David Lauver, Michael Foster, Anne McKinney, Robin Paige Sharp, Dr. Jeffrey Eberting, Kristina Canan, Monty Howard, Ernie Roberts and Megan Venable Smith. Director was Terry Silver-Alford of UT’s Theater Department.
Jim Clayton poses during cocktails with Shaun Fulco of Moxley Carmichael, who was a cast member, and Jean Ash, right, a long-time Follies veteran and member of the auction committee.
During the silent auction in the Marriott's lobby were, from left, Ellen Bebb, Phyllis Nichols, Brooks and Karen Clark.
From left, Bill Lyons of the city of Knoxville, cast member Ernie Roberts, and Congressman Jimmy Duncan. Moxley Carmichael was honored to have Lyons and Duncan as guests at our tables.
Also at the Moxley Carmichael table were Larry Martin of the city of Knoxville and Lynn Duncan.
Also at Moxley Carmichael tables were, from left, former state Sen. Jamie Woodson, Bill Woodson and Melinda Meador.
Janet Crossley and Bill Regas looked great.
State Senate candidate Becky Massey, left, and cast member Anne McKinney
Honoree Jack Neely with his wife, Janet, and daughter, Rebecca
Marsha Grieve, left, with City Council candidate Marshall Stair and his girlfriend, Brittany Mayfield
City Councilman Duane Grieve, left, joined Patsy and Charlie Daniel.
Gideon Fry and Georgiana Vines
Joe Dickey, left, and Knoxville mayoral candidate Joe Hultquist
Knoxville mayoral candidate Mark Padgett and his wife, Katie
From left, Lauren and Steven Rider, cast member Ernie Roberts, Joanne Rice, mayoral candidate Madeline Rogero, and, in back, Cheryl and Jonathan Ball
Council candidate Marshall Stair and Knox County's First Lady Allison Burchett
Back at the Moxley Carmichael table, our vice prez Scott Bird was giving encouragement to our CFO, Shaun Fulco, who was about to take the stage.
And then it was showtime!
Jack Neely enduring the send-up, "Secret History Man"
Anchors for the show were Brittany Bailey of WBIR, Alan Williams of WVLT, and Lori Tucker of WATE. They did a great job.
Here is WBIR weather anchor Todd Howell during the skit, Give 'Em Hail.
WATE's Matt Hinkin
Ernie Roberts played mayoral candidate Ivan Harmon.
Anne McKinney as mayoral candidate Madeline Rogero
Michael Foster as mayoral candidate Mark Padgett
Interim UT Athletic Director Joan Cronan enjoyed the complimentary skit about her.
After the show, Becky Massey chatted with, from left, Alan Carmichael, Gay and Bill Lyons. Candidates never miss an opportunity to fly the flag -- or, sign.
Madeline Rogero, center, passed a few minutes with Jane and Larry Martin as the festivities let out.
What a great group of folks! I miss my fellow Follies cast already. I look forward to participating in this show each year in support of such a great cause. This year’s show was a blast. Many thanks to all of you “news makers’ out there! Kudos to Erin Donovan for a fabulous job with the live auction. She should do that again next year AND be in the cast (come on Erin)!! Thanks to my employer, Moxley Carmichael, who supports this event in so many ways; enabling me to be a part of the cast, purchasing multiples tables and filling the seats with the folks that everyone’s hoping to see there, participating in the silent and live auctions and helping to get the word out pre and post event! It was nice to see so many of the “movers and shakers” of Knoxville out to support a fundraiser for education. We live in such a great city!
Great evening! The writers, performers, and director do an amazing job.
Thanks for your comments, Gay and Shaun. Glad you both were there.
It was a great Follies show this year – loved “Secret History Man” and the “Cuonzo, Cuonzo, Cuonzo” song. Jack Neely was a very worthy honoree, and his history of the Marriott site was a unique twist to traditional recipient remarks. I am glad the Follies cast now has people who can actually carry a tune, unlike me. Great job, Shaun.
Thanks so much for your support of the Follies! The cast and allq the many others who worked on it behnd the scenes appreciate you, and I them. See y’all next year!
I agree with Jean. Thanks so much for continued support of the Follies.
I never cease to be amazed at the Follies. The cast was talented and the writing was, as always, terrific.
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