Delusional JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater wants his job back

by Tom Johansmeyer on


Who wants a job that drove him so nuts he went ballistic and jumped out the back door of a plane? Well, that would be Steven Slater, of course. The flight attendant now famous for popping the escape chute, grabbing a beer and going home from JFK airport in Queens – who has been thinking about this for the past two decades – wants his job back. And, that makes sense, since he isn’t likely to get his own reality show.

The man whose father was a pilot and mother was a flight attendant has the aviation industry “in his blood” says his Legal Aid defense attorney, Howard Turman, who continues, “That’s what he likes to do.” Of course, the fact that Slater has a funny way of showing it went unmentioned.
According to USA Today:

“His hope is to return to the aviation business,” Turman is quoted as saying by The Associated Press. AP writes that “Turman portrayed his client as hardworking, loyal and surprised by his own overnight fame. Slater ‘wants to thank the world for its understanding,’ Turman said, referring to the Internet and media response to his client’s public unraveling.”

And, Slater wants to go back to JetBlue. After all, Slater believes, according to Turman, “JetBlue is a wonderful airline which he (Slater) has loved working for, and wishes to continue working for. He understands the problems, but it has been a fair and understanding airline.”

Now, it seems, the limits of that understanding will be tested. JetBlue seems unlikely to welcome the wacky flight attendant back with open arms, according to an internal memo covered by the Wall Street Journal. Though the story of how Slater bailed hasn’t been corroborated, the airline says his actions were “unacceptable.”

Duh.

Fortunately, there are many opportunities open to him, especially if he can get Hertz to give him O.J. Simpson’s old gig. Slater clearly knows how to make a run through an airport.

Five new jobs in media for flight attendant Steven Slater

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Even though the president of the flight attendant union has come out in support of Steven Slater‘s keeping his job (requiring some sort of mental gymnastics I simply can’t fathom), there is a shot the temporarily famous flight attendant may have to freshen up his resume. The odds that he’ll get a gig in Hollywood seem low, but that doesn’t mean he can’t get a fantastic gig with its unappreciated cousin: commercials.

Slater, if he can keep the hype around him pumped up for a while longer, might be able to turn his JetBlue flight meltdown into another 15 minutes of fame, though reality suggests this won’t happen. Who cares about the odds he’ll actually make some big cash on this? Let’s take a look at five commercial/spokesman jobs that would be perfect for this particular disgruntled flight attendant.

[Image: AP Foto/Louis Lanzano]My thoughts:

1. Monster: I’d love to see Slate shilling for the job search website, especially since he should probably spend some time there. In fact, if I can see building a YouTube reality series around his job hunt, which could bring some viral love to Monster. Of course, this probably isn’t going to happen.

2. Resort industry: Imagine that crazy smile surrounded by the words: “Need a vacation?” Do the math on that one. Especially since people are increasingly unlikely to take their vacation time, I can see some serious potential with this idea.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

3. Beer: The Hollywood Reporter calls this a natural fit, “given that he had a cold one before his exit from the plane”

4. Service companies: Michael Priem, CEO of USDM.net notes an opportunity for service companies to use Slater as a spokesman. That could work, depending on how it’s spun. USDM.net is an agency that works with airlines, hotels and other travel industry companies. Says Priem, “He could show how painful it is to be in the wait line for a cell phone carrier or sit at a service center that frustrates us.”

5. Famous angry guy: Angela Farrell, at marketing firm MSCO, suggests using Slater as a controversial judge on “American Idol.” That could work … for half an episode, if Slater still matters by the time the ink dries on the contract.

Steven Slater on airport stunt: I thought about it for 20 years!

by Tom Johansmeyer on


Former(?) JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater may not have stepped onto the plane with the intention of grabbing a beer and dropping the emergency chute, but it wasn’t far from his mind. The New York Times got a few moments with the now (in)famous flight attendant in the elevator of the Upper East Side apartment building where Slater was camped out after being released on bail.

In this exclusive – and enviable – interview, Slater told the Times, “I’ve thought about it – for 20 years I’ve thought about it. But, you never think you’re going to do it.”