Monday, April 20, 2009

Why We Care

Jill's public announcement of her very personal loss has highlighted why there is nothing else in sales or entertainment quite like home shopping. The sales person at Macy's, Target, or Dillard's might have also gone through a recent tragedy in her life, but in most cases we would know nothing about it. In fact, we probably don't even know her name.

On the other hand, not only do we know Jill's name, we feel like we know her. We certainly feel entitled to comment on her hair style, her clothes, her sales shtick … and, in all honestly, being in the public eye, I think that's all fair game for discussion and opining.

Jill, like all the other hosts, talks about her personal taste, her lifestyle, and her family. We hear stories of how she grew up as an only child, how she met her husband, and what she's making for dinner that night in the pressure cooker (it's a time saver because she's a busy mom!) I know that she loves hoop earrings because she thinks they don't make her face look too full. I know that even though she tends to go for the more "understated elegance" look, she loves bold silver jewelry because it reminds her of what her grandmother always wore. I know that she wants a real emerald mother's ring. I know she's a good cook and that David Venable. loves to come over to eat and gossip. I can tell that it physically pains her to wear bedazzled Quacker Factory clothes. I know she was a journalist before coming the the Q. I know that she snagged the Silver Style show when Jane Treacy was gone and carved out that territory for herself. I suspect that she has a Martha Stewart perfectionist streak in her. And even though Jill's presentations on Saturday were technically fine, I could tell that she was not herself.

But, no, I don't really know her. And unless you are friends with Jill in real life, neither do you.

When Jill happily ... no, joyously ... shared her pregnancy news on air, she opened up the floodgates of well-wishers. It seemed every caller was truly excited for Jill and wanted to offer their sincere congratulations. It was that overwhelming outpouring of support that forced Jill to make that announcement of her tragic miscarriage and ask that it not be mentioned on air. The same community of people who shared in her joy, would also want to share in her pain. Obviously, this would make getting through a segment selling the latest Denim & Co. capri pant or Sleep Number bed without breaking down and crying a bit difficult.

As home shopping fans, we are privy to the joys and life-changing events of the hosts, the tense moments and off-the-cuff remarks, and sometimes, the shiny veneer is peeled back just a little bit and we get a peak at their hearts. And when that happens, we can't help but be touched.

Reality TV has nothing on home shopping. It doesn't get more real than this.

27 comments:

  1. Well written & from the heart.

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  2. I guess I never quite thought about the show hosts like you write about, but it makes sense. They are kind of like celebs. Well written, thanks for this post.

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  3. Don't forget, QB, Jill's mom was a teacher for many years and Jill has a soft spot :-)

    Jill's not my favorite host(ess), but I've been with her from pretty much the beginning, and you're right....when we let these people into our homes on a daily basis, we do think of them as family/acquaintances.

    I've never experienced what Jill has been going through, but I'm a mom and I couldn't even imagine....my heart goes out to her. I know Trevor and her step-daughter are her *world* and I commend her for that. My husband (who is not my son's bio daddy) has never thought of my son as *anything* but his own flesh & blood, and I know Jill feels the same way about her step-daughter.

    I really hope, with the help of the good Lord above, that she & her husband are able to overcome this tragedy and continue to try to add to their family. They are great parents and they deserve to be able to bless another little one with their love.

    Tara
    moonkween

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  4. I personally think it's strange, the way people go ga-ga over celebs, hosts of QVC, etc. I guess I'm guilty, though, just by coming to this website.:)

    I never have felt like Jill invites admiration...I think she's always been very private (compared to other hosts). In fact, I have often been uncomfortable when a caller mentions something about Jill's personal life b/c she seems to stiffen and act strange. What really suprised me was that she announced her pregnancy this early on, anyhow.

    That being said, I'm very sorry for her. I had 3 great pregnancies and then a miscarriage. Nothing prepares you for the sadness you feel...

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  5. Well said, QB.

    Though I'm not a huge fan of Jill's, I feel for her and her loss. That she has to mourn publicly must be difficult. I wouldn't want to have to do it. Still, when someone puts themselves "out there" like a home shopping host does, there's a privacy price to be paid. Nobody knows that better than Judy Crowel. Remember that uncomfortable situation?

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  6. I've had a hard time getting used to Jill. She explains things very well and has an expressive quality to her shows. But it also seems like she gets annoyed, or tends to "scold" the viewers. As a single person with no children, I don't always want to hear about her husband or Trevor.. but I am sorry for her loss and I hope she heals and stays with QVC for a long time.

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  7. very well said
    QB. thank you.

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  8. I felt terribly sad for her, but this incident is another reason why those testimonial calls should be eliminated. If she didn't have to deal with them, then she need not have said anything to the public. JMO but it would be a great service to provide better presentations and leave the callers off the hook.

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  9. I agree. Show the product! That's what you're selling, that's what viewers wnat to see. The product should always be on the screen and the host can be in a split screen when yakking with callers.

    QVC has terrible camera people, imo. So many times the guest or the host wants to show jewelry in new ways but the camera is on the model or the set-up shot. I think this especially frustrates Lee Sands.

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  10. Jill is usually information the products she is selling. She does her job well. Personally, I don't find her a warm, inviting person.

    As far as her loss, yes, it's sad. She is probably perimenopausal, hence the miscarry. Isn't she 41? She's up there in age.

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  11. So sorry to hear this news. She is a delight.

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  12. Sorry but she announced the good and then had to announce the bad. BOTH were her choice. Sure, it is too bad but it was broadcasted by her on live national television. Just one more reason that the hosts need to keep the personal stuff personal.

    I am TIRED of her constantly calling herself a busy mom. I do not care!!! Jill, you made the decision to get married to a man with a child, have another child with him AND continue your career. You are not the only female to do so. There are also many women out there that are not married or have kids by THEIR choice. What do your life choices have to do with the products you are supposed to be selling to EVERYONE, not just busy-moms? ENOUGH!

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    1. You are the rudist person to have posted what you did! A little jealous are we? Keep your meanness to yourself. Hosts would be awful boring if they were like unsharing boring robots with nothing for viewers to relate to. Get a life! Learn to be nice, not MEAN!!!! She is a lovely woman.

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    2. You are the rudist person to have posted what you did! A little jealous are we? Keep your meanness to yourself. Hosts would be awful boring if they were like unsharing boring robots with nothing for viewers to relate to. Get a life! Learn to be nice, not MEAN!!!! She is a lovely woman.

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  13. All these messages regarding Jill and her personal life. So I want to know, because I didn't realize that the daughter she speaks of isn't her bio child. Did she marry a widower or a divorced man? If divorced, why is she raising this child?

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  14. I'm also curious about the step daughter Kyllie... where is this childs mother? Is jill raising her with her dad, or does she just visit a lot? You can tell Jill is all about Trevor... not so much Kyllie... just when she's talking about being a "busy Mom". Sorry, but thats the reading I get.

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  15. Just watched a show last evening and as usual, Jill was wearing a blazer. This time her stomach stuck out even more than usual. She is either pregnant (pretty far along) or really has gained a lot of weight. I agree about not beeing warm and patient. It takes a very special person to do the job and don't believe it as easy as it appears. I wish her the best. But, has anyone heard if she is expecting again? 1/7/11

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  16. I've been doing the same post at my own blog and it'd be nice if you can add even more information to emulate this style, so I just need time to understand the main point behind this entry done 23.jj

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  17. I love this. Thanks for caring. Thanks also for the reminder that everyone needs to care.

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  18. If others do care, we do care at all times. Now, this is the point of the article.

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  19. Does anyone know anything about Jill Bauer?

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  20. That's not a question. Everyone needs to care.

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  21. I really love your testimony here. I love it. I just like the thought that each one needs to be care.

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  22. Your title moved me to read your nice content article. We need to care.

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  23. If no one cares, who will take the initiative. Nowadays, everyone needs to care. That's always our duty and responsibility.

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  24. Jill is annoying. She thinks she is Martha Stewart and she is no Martha Stewart. Her "crafts" and "recipies" all come from Pinterest. And when she does the "At Home with Jill" all she does is take the products to be sold and places them on a table or mantel. Nothing creative about her. He does get nasty at times and aggrevated when she talks. Jill goes this way, When Leah Willams said she loves yellow, all of a sudden Jill loved yellow, when anothe host talked about loving roller coasters, Jill told us she loved roller coasters, when Mary Beth talks about her daughter and horse back riding, all of a suddent Jill's step daughter was a rider. Also to end this Jill always acts like she is the only busy woman in America. Get a grip Jill you aren't. Many of us have children more than you, work full time, love our husbands and work hard but we don't go around telling everyone how busy we are.

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If your forbidden love is home shopping and you love all the latest dirt, then come on in ... Queen Bea is holding court!

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