THE TAMRON HALL EFFECT CONTAGIOUS CARING

by yvonne medley for the urban sentinel

Tamron Hall redefines her niche of giving a voice to people, underserved and overlooked; and a platform for issues, seldom revealed or discussed. During the Global COVID-19 Pandemic, Hall dispenses information, inspiration and empowerment—all while being sheltered in place.

Hall also continues her segments of relatable fun facts centered around pop culture and entertainment, featuring big-names and ordinary heroes. It brings audiences in. But Hall keeps to her hard-hitting news roots, too. Her secret sauce is the delivery. She reports news with a palatable touch to land a pivotal point at ground zero—that in this world, people, governments, cultures, companies and organizations must be passionate about caring for others.

Like most news and talk shows, The Tamron Hall Show spotlights both current events and consequences concerning COVID-19. Her interviews cover the need for testing, the bravery of first-responders, the need for hospital space and medical equipment, and the need to shelter-in-place as well as the critical statistics of those who have fallen ill and those who have succumbed.

TAMRON HALL EFFECT CONTAGIOUS CARING

But she also digs deeper by covering the gross injustices and acts of systemic racism that serve to compound the lack of medical and financial outreach, and the inhumane treatment of hundreds of individuals due to fear and misinformation about COVID-19. On major network news programs, little attention is given to such facts. Hall has interviewed health and science experts, and government officials from hotspots around the world to ask poignant questions to hopefully wash clear solutions.

And, oh what seems like a lifetime ago… The Tamron Hall Show debuted on September 9, 2019. Though it seemed like the show’s birth announcements had been disseminating on social media for a while with everyone asking just when was that baby due—when the blessed day did arrive, Hall hit the ground, running. She and her team, tagged Team Tamron, sculptured a unique one-hour timeslot, shining spotlights on seldom discussed issues, often centered around families and how differently they can take shape.

From its beginning, Hall offered her in-studio audiences a person-to-person feel. They were not just voyeurs but invested participants. Hall spent as much time chumming with folks who came to see the show as she did, sitting in her interviewer seat, talking to her in-studio guests.

On any given taping of the show, a line to get into midtown New York’s ABC Studios could snake from its entrance door, down the block and around the corner, while the streets, bustled with honking NYC yellow cabs, double-daring each other, or hedging delivery trucks and slow-moving sightseers. To hold on to the hope of getting in, fans needed to get there early. The proof of happy compliance would be evident by the sight of comfortable shoes and the contagious chitchat, spreading throughout. Pressed in a line of close quarters, airborne exchanges of interesting life stories and newly accrued contact information seeded fresh acquaintances.

Once fans were guided inside, and separated into two lines for fast security vetting, cheery members of Team Tamron ushered folks inside a waiting room that could quickly fill up, seat-to-seat. However, the wait was doable, probably due to the hearty avail of snack foods and drinks. Finally, clusters of folks would be directed onto The Tamron Hall set, a bright, colorful and cozy studio, and led to their seats. It was getting to be the norm for out-of-towners to make a special New York trip to see the show. Karen Wink, an English professor, who has made the short trip from Connecticut several times, commented, “I love the total experience.” The folks seated behind her were giddy South Carolinians. Before showtime, a member of Team Tamron comes out to greet and warm-up the crowd. A couple of lucky fans, not able to be in the studio, are selected to virtually appear on the show’s big screen.

Hall loves fashion, so audience goers are encouraged to “dress to impress”. Hall also loves to give little known and/or up-andcoming fashion designers and beauty professionals a platform by allowing them to dress her and do her hair and makeup. Hall makes sure she gives them onscreen kudos by often dedicating segments of her show to them. Never forgetting how hard it is to make it in broadcast journalism, Hall freely shares nuances of her ladder-climbing experiences, and she often lends a helping hand to others. A graduate from Temple University in Philadelphia, she remains involved in the school.

Back to Hall loving fashion, unbeknownst to the in-studio crowd, one fan, deemed bold, charismatic and fashionable, is selected to briefly meet Tamron, backstage; and on camera, they get to hand Hall her cue cards as she struts her stuff on camera. During the show, that person, and perhaps a few others, are spotlighted—in the name of fashion. It is Hall’s opportunity to be one-on-one with a fan. For that lucky chosen one, it’s 15 seconds of fame and a lifetime memory. Hall often admits that the fashion highlight is difficult to make. Because every audience takes its best-in-show, seriously.

Effectively, throughout the show, Hall keeps close contact with the audience by walking through the audience tiers and conducting some segments there as well. The show will often feature question-and-answer segments. These audience-host exchanges are meaty, and sometimes unpredictable. But Hall’s smooth handling of such, brags her professional journalistic prowess, her ability to handle people with dignity and her gift to remain cool—if a situation gets sticky. She appears to be fearless when it comes to approaching touchy topics or sharing about her personal life, on-air. Her fans love to hear about her journey of becoming a new wife and mother. Hall shares about navigating the terrain of trying to have it all— facing the same uncertainties shared by millions of parents.

It’s nothing for her to say, “I had an argument with my husband …,” making audience goers feel like they’re casually sitting with Hall on her sofa. Or casually refer to her ongoing friendship with NBC Today Show’s Al Roker. Or joke about the fact that she had been, “… unemployed for three years.”

Her unemployment came due when she abruptly resigned from her positions as MSNBC Live with Tamron Hall anchor, fill-in news anchor on NBC’s Nightly News and co-host of the third hour on NBC’s Today Show. The gutsy move demonstrated how the beautiful black Barbie Doll from Luling, Texas, who grew into an award-winning journalist—don’t-take-no-mess (forgive the double negatives).

Hall’s total journalistic journey has taken her to several network stations, and opportunities to interview interesting folks and notables, including Mr. Barack Obama before he announced his intention to run for president. She is a staunch advocate for domestic violence awareness, and recently launched a fund, christened The Tamron ❤Renate Fund in honor of her sister, who lost her life as a victim.

Warmth is what radiates from Hall’s delivery whether she is in the studio or hosting, sheltered in place at her home. But … ahhhhh … alas, to commingle in that onset space, again, will depend on the future of our nation and our world’s new normal—destined to come.