When people are being interviewed on television or on a podcast, I sometimes get more caught up in the backgrounds than what are they saying. I look at:
Bookcases
The larger the number of books, the more confidence I have in what they are saying. And if they've written a book, it's usually displayed. The titles, when readable, are also telling.
Rooms
I check out the furniture, windows facing a variety of outdoors scenes, city street or garden..., drapes.
Journalist Polly Toynbee has the most beautiful blue cabinet that I would love to have. I saw it several times when her interviews were from her home during COVID. See the interview and cabinet here.It's at 22.08.
Kitchens
I especially like to check out what's on their counters: appliances, fruit bowl, coffee maker, tea kettle. I imagine if someone uses their kitchen as a backdrop they have washed any dishes before the interview.
Wall hangings
Original art? Prints? Certificates? Diplomas? Original things like hats, swords? etc.
Animals and children interruptions
There was the famous interview where the mom had to grab the toddler that wondered in. Dean Withers was interrupted by his cute kitty are two examples. Watch toddler here. Watch Dean and cat here.
When I've been interviewed about my writing, I'm afraid my bookcases are a mess. Thus I've chosen My Nest, a studio in the attic of a 400 year old building. The background is a stone wall with a stylize drawing of a Remington typewriter. My father once held a franchise. Or, I could straighten the bookcase.
Nah!
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