Are you a couch potato? If you are, then head on over to west 48th street to see television actors looking for bargains on music row.  Is it any wonder?  Not quite, because just down the street on 6th avenue is the head quarters for FOX TV. If you are interested in appearing on television, check out “Today!” The morning show is

presented live from the corner of ‘Music row’.  For all of you ‘hip hoppers’ out there, lets not forget MTV headquarters is located on Broadway   in the heart of Times Square.

A few days ago Barry Williams — better known to one and all   as Greg Brady of the classic TV show “The Brady Bunch” — stopped by, seeking a cool looking guitar [see attached-photo].

“Every time I am in New York I just have to pay a visit to west 48th street”, he said excitedly.  Barry was putting the finishing touches on his latest project, a new solo show that will open at the MGM in Las Vegas later this month. He needed a guitar for a sketch based on the classic Brady Bunch “Johnny Bravo” character, the wannabe rock star (also played by Barry) who appeared on a few episodes. He picked out an acoustic  and spent the rest of his visit gabbing with me about the latest rock and roll gossip on music row!

Some stars don’t just play “wannabes” on TV.  They might not come out and admit it that easily, but some live the “closet rock star fantasy” thing in real life, too.

Every Sunday night countless women tune to HBO’s hit series ‘Sex and the city”. My wife is usually checking out   Samatha , Carrie, Charlotte & Maranda on TV to see what they get them selves into during that particular episode.  From week to week you just never know where those sassy “Sex in the city” girls would turn up?   One afternoon last spring I was standing in front of the store. I just returned from the corner deli with my customary tea & donut, when I noticed a slender, red-headed woman carefully eyeing over the guitars on display in the front window. “Hey wait a minute” I said to myself “That is Miranda!”(Cynthia Nixon) from Sex in the city. “Doing some window shopping” I casually commented. “Yes I love checking out the guitars” she answered. “Here is my card if I could ever be of service and have a nice day” I said as I headed back into the store. “Real smooth.” I thought to myself always the professional salesman here!  That night at home casually mentioned to my wife that I had a few words with one of her good friends “Miranda” from ‘Sex in the city’!

‘Oh really?’ My wife pleasantly responded. “I didn’t know she is into guitars?” Obviously my wife never misses an episode of ‘Sex in the city”!

A Wannabe rockstar, Gary Burghoff, better known as years back “Radar” from the ever-popular TV series M*A*S*H popped in the store. Little did I know before the visit, the actor is quite a talented, hobby drummer.  After checking out the drum department he left with a new pair of drumsticks in his hand. I guess he wanted a momento of his music row visit!

Another aspiring drummer Jack Lord — the tall, striking lead character in the popular television drama HAWAII 5.0. – stopped ready to rock out. His visit was several years back but I remember it like it was yesterday!  The man in charge of the elite 5.0 team, known on the show as Steve Magarret, was standing right in front of me.  The music theme came immediately to my mind. Who could ever forget the coolest, television theme song ever written?  The opening scene set the tone for the show, deep blue water, hula girls in grass skirts and the 5.0 team ready for action!     I went over and introduced myself to him and screwed up on the spot: “Hi Mr Magarret.. er…. I’m sorry. Excuse me, I mean Mr. Lord.” He smiled: “That happens all the time. Forget it,” he said laughing.  Then he got to business: “I always wanted to play the drums and what better place to shop then west 48th street in New York city?”  I lead him to the drum department to check out some kits and instructed, Jack, the sales manager of that department to assist Mr. Lord with his purchase.  Jack proceeded to pick out a full-blown drum set including extra tom toms and even hanging chimes.  As the drum department sales manager finalized the invoice he also accidentally called the good-humored celebrity by his TV name as he asked for his mailing address.   “Just address the boxes to “JACK LORD, HAWAII” They know me there!”  Then Mr Lord looked over at me smiled and said, “See I told you so!”.  –His drum set was picked up at the airport in Hawaii.

Another popular TV show from that period was the original “That’s Incredible”.  John Davidson was the premier host of “That’s Incredible” and in the mid eighties

he picked up a beautiful Gibson 5 string banjo for his finger picking pleasure! To this day I remember how nice he was to all of the customers in the store that requested his autograph.

Just the other day another television star from the 80’s

paid a visit to famous west 48th street. Rue McCalanhan, “Blanche” on the hit TV series the Golden Girls, The sassy TV personality was purchased a   vintage Gibson ES 150 jazz guitar as a gift for her son.  At a $7000.00 dollar asking   price , I am sure her son will enjoy the extremely rare vintage collectors instrument !

The younger, the bold and the beautiful also pay their respects to music row from time to time. One day I was near the front register and when I looked up I saw a very familiar-looking, attractive woman in front of me. I knew she was too dazzling to not be “someone.” Even though she was some what disguised with a baseball cap pulled way down low over her face, I knew I have seen this beautiful blonde before. She was just too attractive not to be somebody! When she signed her credit card slip I glanced down and discovered it was Genie Francis – “Laura” one of the stars of the popular day time soap opera “General Hospital.”

During last years Thanksgiving weekend  rush , Sam Waterston of “Law and Order” came in to purchase a guitar . As a civil war buff, I couldn’t help initiating a conversation in the middle of the sales floor about, of all things the civil war. “I myself have quite a collection of civil war books and other artifacts.”  I mentioned to him. “I also trally enjoyed your work in “Gore Vidals   “Abraham Lincoln,”  The  made for TV movie about the president. I casually continued.  He told me while preparing for the role, he had the opportunity to visit the Smithsonian institute in Washington and even examine up close Mr. Lincoln’s top hot and gloves.

As we all know, some stars seem to have their head stuck in the clouds. Take Kieifer Sutherland, a huge Fender tele guy, for example. The hero of the Fox network hit TV thriller “24” stopped in the store looking for a unique Fender Telecaster electric guitar to add to his collection. I brought him down to the private stock area where I had some killer instruments that just arrived in stock. I proceeded to demonstrate 5 or 6 beautiful custom guitars for him   — one more exquisite then the next. I mean I know at least ten rock guitarists that would even cut their hair to buy one of those babies! But from his lack of his enthusiasm I could sense this was going nowhere fast.  After all as a veteran of music row, I have seen it all!

Come to think of it, maybe that is why I do not care for “24” that much!