ULV senior sent on trip of lifetime
Campus Times
February 15, 2002
Senior communications major Ross Mathews, who recently completed an
internship with "The Tonight Show," was sent as a correspondent
to the Salt Lake City Olympic Games. Mathews will appear nightly through
Feb. 23 interviewing athletes and spectators.
When senior communications major Ross Mathews failed to snag an interview
with Julia Roberts at the premiere of "Ocean's Eleven," he didn't
lose his faith and trusted that his shameless efforts would not go unnoticed.
Nor did he lose heart after Courtney Love shined him on at the premiere
of "Vanilla Sky" or think his job as an intern-turned-celebrity
reporter would soon end.
His efforts on the red carpet, including harmonizing a rendition of
"Tiny Dancer" with Cameron Crowe and speaking Spanish ("Hola!")
with Penelope Cruz, impressed enough insiders to result in job offers within
the biz, but those are on hold until after he returns from the Olympic Games.
For Mathews' latest assignment, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"
has sent him to the 17th Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. But don't
expect him to be catching air on the snowboarding halfpipe or racing down
the bobsled track with the Olympic athletes. "The Tonight Show"
just expects Mathews to continue to create comedic situations wherever he
goes.
"They don't tell me what to do or say; they just want me to be
myself," said Mathews via phone from Salt Lake City. "There is
pressure because nothing is scripted, but that is why it works so well."
As Ross "The Intern" Mathews, viewers may already have caught
him parading through the Olympic Village interviewing athletes, receiving
professional reporting tips from international journalists, interviewing
commentators Katie Couric, Al Roker and Bob Costas and skating with 1998
Olympic Gold Medal Figure Skater Tara Lipinsky.
Since Feb. 8, Mathews has been shooting segments on a daily basis with
a crew from the show. And he was even featured through a live feed after
the opening ceremonies. These segments, which so far have included taking
skiing lessons with little children and interviewing journalist Jim Lampley,
are then edited and beamed back to Burbank for final production.
Mathews not only attended the opening ceremonies, but also sat in the
ninth row of the stadium.
He is living in his own apartment near the Olympic Village - equipped
with everything from a television to a kitchen stove. His place is close
to the Olympic Medal Plaza and the Delta Center, and nearly every night
he is able to hear the national anthems from countries all around the world.
"The attitude from everyone here is great," Mathews said.
"And the blending of competition and unity is overwhelming."
Mathews, who began his internship in September, earned his invitation
to the Olympic Games after attending the premiere screenings of "Ocean's
Eleven" and "Vanilla Sky" and impressing "Tonight Show"
producers with his natural ability to remain calm yet funny while questioning
and commenting on the celebrities.
But it was the original proposal from "The Tonight Show" head
writer to attend the red carpet gathering of "Ocean's Eleven"
that surprised Mathews the most.
"It was my very last day interning, and I got called into his office.
When I walked in I thought, 'What have I done wrong?'" Mathews said.
On that day, Mathews was invited to follow George Clooney to the screening
of his latest movie. So, with a camera crew and an earpiece, Mathews was
asked to interview celebrities and to ignore the excessive pomp and circumstance.
Nothing was prepared and nothing was scripted, and the producers were not
even certain whether they would be able to use what was filmed.
"They said, 'Ross, we know you want to be a talk show host, and
we love your personality. So, we are giving you your big break,'" he
said.
"But, my first thought was, 'What do I wear?'"
Armed with only a microphone and dressed in his everyday jeans and fleece,
Mathews wowed everyone with his spontaneity and ability to make people laugh,
as he joked his way through his first-ever red carpet experience.
"He is just naturally funny and witty on his own," said Rene
Mooshy, an NBC receptionist who worked with Mathews during his three-month
internship. "The staff realizes that not everyone has this attitude;
it sparkles, and it shines. They see someone with such great enthusiasm,
and they understand that his timing is impeccable."
Working on the red carpet was nothing Mathews hadn't thought about before.
Since his childhood in Mt. Vernon, Wash., he dreamed about being on television.
Growing up in this small town from birth through high school allowed him
to keep his eye on that goal with few distractions, he said.
"I have known him since he was 14 years old. He was a chubby little
kid with curly hair and he would always talk about this dream," said
Kelley Kirkpatrick, a former high school debate coach and close friend.
"And for as long as I have known him he has set out these steps towards
success and worked them out. It's amazing."
Mathews was following that dream when he relocated to the University
of La Verne because of its proximity to Los Angeles and started taking classes
in the Communications Department. He knew that in order to get into show
business he had to learn how everything behind the scenes worked.
"In both of the classes he had with me, it seems that he was genuinely
interested in learning as much as he could about the industry," said
Michael Laponis, ULV professor of communications. "He learned the technical
part but also had a strong sense of creativity. He is always fun to have
in class."
Mathews understood that it would be difficult to break into the business
and make the transition to becoming the host of his own show. He has always
been aware of the uncertainty of the industry and the luck involved in making
it.
"I've wanted to do this ever since I was a little kid," he
said. "But it is not a normal goal, and I never knew what was the
right path to take. It's not as if there is an advertisement in the paper
saying, 'Talk Show Host: Wanted.'
"(But) I have never had to work at being funny, and luckily, people
just find me funny. It is something that comes naturally to me."
When he learned of "The Tonight Show" internship from a friend,
Mathews applied and was given the job after one interview. Quickly, he
established himself as being an eccentric individual with a great personality.
"The staff doesn't usually get close to the interns because they
leave so quickly. But Ross came in and shined," Mooshy said. "He
was a pleasant person that people would ask about."
Today, as Mathews prepares more segments for the upcoming weeks, he
has begun to grasp his local celebrity status and his position, as a staple,
on "The Tonight Show."
"Since the first two segments have aired, I have achieved a certain
amount of fame already. It is surprising and humbling and flattering when
everywhere I go someone asks me to take a picture. People are relating because
what they are seeing on television is really me."
Mathews understands that he's on the right track with his future in
television broadcasting. But, as he hopes for longevity with his gig at
the show, he also hopes that people will continue to laugh with him, not
at him.
"Everyone has been overwhelmingly supportive, and they keep assuring
me that the reason I am here is not because people are laughing at me, but
because they like to work with me and because they think I am immensely
and naturally talented," he said. "People at the show tell me
to not change my personality. I assure them and myself that I don't forecast
a change in my behavior.
"I meet people everyday who are funny enough to be on TV, but it's
not what they want to do," he said.
"Luckily for me, I do want to do this."
