American Curls Featured on “Martha Stewart Living”

by Caroline Scott and Michael Tucker

In June 2004, CFA’s Allene Tartaglia asked Michael and I if we would be interested in having our American Curls be the featured breed on the Martha Stewart Living television show feature, Petkeeping With Marc Morrone to air nationwide. Well of course! We always jump at any promotional opportunity involving our still-not-a-household-word Curls; and since we have done similar engagements throughout the years, we thought it would be pretty much the same straightforward routine involving some general breed descriptions, a minute of playtime and then it would be over. But when the big black Martha Stewart Living limo pulled up to our apartment door, little did we know that this day was going to be much, much more professional, educational and delicious.

lot, where we spied another “CFA-er,” Norma Burke and her Cornish Rex, also taping a segment. Michael and I were immediately greeted curbside by Lenore’s assistant, Ashley, who led us into a lofty, one story, hangar sized building to a private cubical where we could let our cats out to exercise and relax, while we happily had lunch with the Martha crew. I was particularly interested to see just what that would be like since we were in “Marthaland.” There were two large, freshly-made salads, with baby greens and avocado, along with a nice sized platter of what were BLTs. Since there was only one sandwich left, the staff was instructed to make more for us immediately. And this was not just the usual BLT. There were strategically placed, halved grape tomatoes sitting amongst crispy apple-smoked bacon and one-half leaf of perfect romaine lettuce on very thinly sliced premesis-made peasant bread, garnished with fresh herb seasoned mayo. Yum!

Lenore added another hospitable touch by joining us and making sure we were comfortably seated as she went over the set logistics and the host, Marc Marrone’s, “creature credentials.” We knew that this was going to be a really well-orchestrated piece, but Lenore again took it a step further by making our conversation especially

caring and personal. She asked how it was  breeding in the Big Apple, what we liked about showing and our accomplishments. This gave us the opportunity to expound on CFA: why we chose this association over the others, why CFA clubs put on shows, i.e., fundraisers to benefit no-kill shelters or whatever causes clubs deem worthy for distribution of the shows’ profits and feline disaster relief. Subsequently, The Cat Fanciers’ Association was mentioned several additional times during the taping, which Lenore added at the last moment.

After lunch, Ashley took us for an impressive tour of the communications hub. One huge space was busy with people stationed at MacIntosh computers, all located in the center of the area with a ceiling of open skylights. We then went into another huge open area with people communicating with other Martha Stewart Living employees in major cities via audio/video monitors. It was demonstrated to us how someone standing in front of a video screen in Connecticut can converse, as if in person, face-to-face with someone in the Chicago offices, with just a touch of a key. Heck, we were impressed.

Well, it was finally show time and we scrutinized our little stars for their close-ups. There was no waiting around – everyone knew what was going on and who was where and why. I was told to put the kittens into a Plexiglas-encompassed area where Marc was sitting cross-legged in the middle of various cat toys, as he held our adult. In front of Marc was a curious battery-powered yellow toy, with a mouse that flipped and spun about.

It seemed cute enough, although I wasn’t sure if the kittens were going to like this new continuous whirring sound. Whew! No problem. They scampered and rolled around just as if they were home. “Four, three, two, one,” and each little Curl face was on one of five cameras, simultaneously shooting those expressive close-ups, set shots and antics. Marc began with his well-researched script from the cue cards and for the first 15 minutes of taping, all was perfect under Lenore’s super direction. Then, as Michael and I stood together watching the monitors and feeling amazingly confidant and parent-like, it happened. Too curious for their own good, one of the kittens lunged for the flipping mouse in “attack mode,” and ran off with it across the set, making a horrific sound as if a paper-shredder was on the loose Stephen King style. Klang! Bam! Screetch! Clippityclip! Wham! The kitten cleared out the entire set of Curls. They all hid somewhere and after five minutes of coaxing the escapees, they all came out and seemed normal again, except for two that just were not buying it. Meanwhile, the professionals remanned their stations and without a hitch, the production went on regardless of the AWOLs. This certainly proved that even amidst all that perfection, if something can go wrong it will. After all, what would an afternoon be, even at Martha’s, without something amusing happening due to the unpredictability of cats anyway?

So the journey to the Martha Stewart Living television studios will now be the standard by which all our future publicity tapings will be measured. Michael and I would like to sincerely thank Allene for recommending us and giving us the opportunity to not only enjoy a most memorable day, but to also have the occasion to shed more light on the good works of The Cat Fanciers’ Association, while highlighting another one of its wonderful pedigreed cats.