Golden-voiced Ted Williamswas on the Today show this morning, explaining more of his backstory and being warned about instant fame, courtesy of an overly earnest Matt Lauer. “[Meredith and I] both worry a little that a lot is happening very quickly, and some people might find that hard to deal with,” Lauer told Williams. Yep, let’s really slow down the not-being-homeless process. Williams says his “new sense of spirituality” will keep him sober and thoughtful through the strange fame rollercoaster.
Look, I’m really happy for Ted Williams, but I’m stunned by just how shocked everyone seems that he has a talent. Imagine! A homeless person! With dignity and skills! Come on, world. It’s like a Susan Boyle redux — can you believe people other than the rich and beautiful are capable of things?
Anyway, congratulations, Ted Williams, and we all look forward to hearing your velvety voice for years to come.
What do you want to hear Williams announce, PopWatchers?
Great point Margaret.
I disagree. I think the shock is that he has this great voice and can’t find work. It took a reporter to showcase him to help him find work. Why couldn’t he walk into the Cav’s front office and ask for a job? So yes, I am shocked that it was discovered this way, not that he was homeless and had a great voice.
Plenty of broadcasting jobs are disappearing.
If you take a moment to speak with them, there are MANY very intelligent homeless people. Many are brilliant, but have mental illness which gets in the way of having an organized life: holding down a job, paying the bills on time, maintaining relationships… I have had some amazing and very enlightening conversations with homeless folks – and was one myself, at one point.
They are people just like the rest of us…they were children at one point, looked forward to a good future… loved and were loved… some were very successful before falling on hard times.
I am thrilled for this guy – I wish him the very best and hope he can take sobriety one day at a time. And I wish him some peace, quiet and privacy too.
Unfortunately in the Obama USA that we live in, people expect things to be handed to them rather than having to work for it. Why reward this guy for doing nothing with his talent all these years? Apparently he has an extensive criminal record as well. But all that goes out the window when you get a YouTube video and the media gets a hold of you.
@kaylen
the very sad fact that people need to be reminded that, yes, homeless people are people first and foremost says a great deal toward the times we find ourselves.
[voice of don lafontaine]
in a world where everything happens in the blink of an eye. where people move too fast to think about others..will a homeless man’s voice shatter all preconceptions and usher in a new age of enlightenment?..or will it destroy the very fabric of time and space? the golden voice, starring edward norton as ted williams. coming soon.
He couldn’t find work because of his choices to use drugs, and all the other things that caused him to land up on the street.
No one can know who you are unless you show them. If your life makes me believe you can’t be trusted, I’m sure not going to give you a job.
I’m happy for this guy, but the media has beaten this story to death already.
The media always beat every story to death. At least this time it’s good news.
Oh “Mike” just shut up. Your comment makes you sound like a bitter whiny loser.
Guess what honey-bunny:NObody’s perfect (*gasp*). People make mistakes. What makes them whole-heartedly redeemed is the fact that they embrace their second chance with open arms. Grow up a little & try to remember that the next time you prepare to throw a stone at someone.
Let’s just be happy that the guy is turning his life around by doing something GOOD.
I wish this guy all the best with his new lot in life.
He looks so much like Tim Meadows in this photo.
Brenda! I’ve been trying to place who he looks like – and that’s certainly one. I also think he looks like Sammy Davis Jr.
This IS real news! Great for Mr. Williams! I wish him all th esucces in the world. He sure has come a long way and just suddenly rose from the ashes of despair. He’s a human incarnation of a phoenix. This man’s story has made a huge impact on me! We could all take something from this!!!!
Ha!! Margaret, I like your take.
I don’t know if people are so shocked by his voice but appreciating that he was down and out and given a chance. What if that person never stopped and taped him?
Good luck to him and thank you to the person who stopped to talk to him – he changed Ted’s life.
There were reports about how Howard Stern said that this was a hoax. Howard apologized for that today stating that a long time industry insider had sent him the video clip and told Howard that the tv station had made it up for ratings. Howard said that they guy told him that he was mislead, and Howard said that he was glad for the guy to get his life back. He also said that had he taken a judge position on a tv show (not American Idol, btw,) that he would have pushed to have this guy hired as their “Ryan Seacrest.”
I think the shock is that here is someone with skills and yet they ended up homeless anyway. How many of us have looked at someone down on their luck and thought, that would never happen to me. If it can happen to him it can happen to me There but for the grace of God go I.
Speak truth, econruth!
It is a great story, but he didn’t become homeless because he (like so many Americans) lost his job due to the economic downturn. He was homeless because he was a drug and alcohol addict who threw away his life and career and ended up on the streets. It’s great that he’s been given another chance, but I certainly hope that so many who lost their jobs not of their own fault will get their “other chances” too.
God judge, the Holy Spirit convicts and I am charged to Love. He without sin cast the first stone. We All fall short of the Glory. But, it takes the grace and mercies of God to keep us daily.
Terrible point Margaret.
This is not a story about talent, this is a story about redemption.
Adster? Is that you? Please email me! Your son misses you!
Could we recruit him to be the commercial announcer at the Oscar (the guy that says “after the break, Robin Williams will present Best Animated Feature”)?
Big Thumbs Up to this. He could take over for John Hodgeman, alternatively, as the guy that gives you strange facts during one of the awards shows as winners walk up to accept awards.
Actually during an interview with a Columbus radio station the woman who says “And now from the Kodak Theater, here is the Emmy Awards” or something like that plus her bus partner called about him coming to Hollywood for some sort of announcer competition. Not sure where that ended up though.
Where in the world is Matt Lauer’s head? Oh yeah, up his poop shoot.
It’s sad that Matt feels the need to question the employment opportunities of a homeless person, but no one on the planet seems to think twice about throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars at no-talents like Kim Kardashian, who get paid to show up at events to do absolutely nothing.
Oh, thank you so much for saying that! This man has a genuine talent, and I wish him a happy life. The Kardashians, on the other hand, need to go away and never be heard from (or of) again. It’s disgusting to me that they are getting all that money for doing nothing, while hard-working, intelligent people are on the unemployment line.
Damn good point Mr. Marmalade!
Indeed! Your point fits well with a host of these reality stars.
his voice is so amazing to listen to. i’m so glad that he was discovered and has been given this opportunity. hopefully no one tries to take advantage of him and helps him adjust to his newfound chance.
I think if Ted Williams stepped into the shoes vacated by Don “In A World…” LaFontaine as the movie-trailer guy, the world would be a better place.
Agreed.
That’s the first thing I thought of also, that he could be the new movie trailer guy.
Indeed – I was just thinking this!
Awesome idea!! Someone get on this!!
He would also be great for a network announcer similar to Ernie Anderson for ABC.
I would much rather see a show about his redemption that Sarah Ferguson on OWN. This is what Oprah needs.
I’m surprised that Oprah hasn’t jumped all over this story actually.
Give her time…he’ll be on a show before her last year ends.
Agreed, Margaret!
He seems extremely grateful and humble. And it seems like he has his head on straight about the whole thing. I wish him all the success in the world.
Something just isn’t right about this guy. I think this is going to end badly and he will have a relapse or something.
Just worry about your sausages.
That was funny.
i agree w/mr. marmalade and sweet.
The should create reality show based on going around looking for talented homeless people (copyrighted)
No Rusty they should not make a reality show out of something that is so pure as this, realty shows stretch the truth to extremes they do these shows for profit which gets in the way of the real truth behind the story.