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Major
milestones in the life of Jann Carl have coincided with
Telethon broadcasts. In 1997, Carl co-hosted shortly before
the birth of her son, Matthew.
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Many people closely involved with MDA refer to the Association
as "the Family."
For MDA Board member and television personality Jann Carl, the
term goes beyond an affectionate reference: Her MDA involvement
is woven into some of her life's most significant milestones.
The Honeymooners
Take for example, her honeymoon, which essentially began on the
set of the Los Angeles broadcast of the MDA Telethon in 1988.
Some months before, her producers at KTLA had asked if she'd
consider hosting the local Telethon broadcast.
At the time, she and then-fiancé David Sears were counting
their blessings and pondering ways to give back.
"Like everyone else, I remembered watching the Telethon
for so many years. And I went home and told David that I had said
yes and how excited I was," she said.
"Then he reminded me,' Hey, isn't the Telethon on Labor
Day weekend?' and I went (GASP!), because that was the weekend
we were getting married!"
Somehow Carl found a way to get married in Illinois on Saturday,
eat breakfast with her family on Sunday morning, fly back to Los
Angeles, shower, and then make it to the studio in time to host
the 21-hour show beginning that afternoon.
"When it was all over, we jumped on another plane to the
Caribbean" for a traditional honeymoon, Carl said. "David
and I sort of laugh that we celebrate our wedding anniversary
with a couple hundred MDA volunteers and staff every year."
Adding to the Family
Since her first Telethon, Carl's family life and career have
continued to blossom along with her MDA involvement.
In 1996, a year after her move to "Entertainment Tonight,"
TV's top syndicated entertainment newsmagazine, Lewis asked her
to co-host the nationwide Telethon.
Now, "I just can't imagine being any other place or doing
anything else on that weekend," she said.
Carl recalls two Telethon broadcasts that she did with hugely
swollen feet and ankles. She was in the final weeks of her pregnancies
with Katherine, 12 this month, and Matthew, 7.
Lewis was a little uneasy during the 1997 broadcast.
"I was walking out there with this huge stomach. He really
did seem concerned, and I was like,' Oh relax, I've got three
more weeks,'" she said. "Except that 48 hours later,
my son was in my arms!"
On the Telethon, she's noted for her compassionate live interviews
of MDA clients and their families, which reflect her primary motivation
for her work with MDA.
"What's kept me involved is a combination of the patients
and their families. I don't know how you could meet them, any
of them, and not continue to be dedicated," she said.
Giving and Receiving
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Carl
is known for her thoughtful interviews with MDA clients
like Elio Navarro on the 2003 Telethon.
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For all that Carl gives of her scant free time to MDA, she said
she's received priceless gifts in return.
Her son, Matthew, is affected by a rare form of epilepsy. During
the scary time before the family had a diagnosis, Carl said, she
drew strength from the many families she'd met through MDA.
"I think I felt, I can handle this because I've seen so
many amazing patients, and so many amazing parents, grandparents
and aunts and uncles. That was a gift," she said.
Memories and friendships are another gift, such as the special
relationship that she and her daughter had with the late Mattie
Stepanek.
"Mattie was my daughter's first crush," she said. At
Mattie's funeral in June, Katherine was a gifts bearer, and Carl
spoke on behalf of MDA and Lewis.
"It was a sad celebration. It was one of those things that
you experience, and once again, you rededicate your life to making
sure that this stops. That this pain and the suffering and the
illness and the struggles stop," she said.
Midwestern Girl in Tinseltown
Before moving to California, Carl was a reporter, news anchor
and show host at a station in Chicago. She earned her degree at
the University of Missouri, a top journalism school.
Now in her ninth season with "E.T.," she's a correspondent
and weekend anchor. She covers movie premieres, special events,
press junkets, and sit-down interviews with some of the most recognized
people in the world.
She's played herself in three movies, and is often tapped to
cover or host live events like the pre-Oscar or pre-Emmy shows,
or the Rose Bowl Parade.
Despite her success, some who know her well say she still has
the values and sensibility of her Carthage, Mo., upbringing.
"I think I consciously strive to stay close to my roots.
"For me there's a huge distinction: I am a reporter who reports
on celebrities, and they're the celebrities. That line is not
fuzzy for me," she said. She relies on wardrobe and makeup
staffers for her glamorous look.
So what's a typical week for her?
"There's no such thing," she said.
"That's what's great about it, and that's what's tough about
it. It's really hard being the mother of two and making sure you're
going to be there for the school play or the T-ball games."
At the time Quest interviewed her in July, the previous few days
had seen her interview Will Smith, Sylvester Stallone, Sugar Ray
Leonard, Marie Osmond and Kathie Lee Gifford. She was preparing
for an interview with Oscar winner Halle Berry the next day.
Staying Grounded
As a journalist, Carl also reports on serious issues in the entertainment
industry, and she's earned respect by developing solid working
relationships with many stars.
But that doesn't mean she isn't affected by moments, such as
when Julia Roberts, toting the Oscar trophy she'd just received
as Best Actress, said, "Hi, Jann! Do you want to hold it?"
Carl said family, friends and MDA keep her grounded, and help
her remember what's most important.
"When the day is done and I leave the Hollywood lights behind,
all I really want to do is spend time with my family curled
up reading a book, playing a board game, and asking them what
was the favorite part of their day."
