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.

Nutty JetBlue flight attendant unlikely to get entertainment deal

by Tom Johansmeyer on


How much can Steve Slater milk his 15 minutes of fame? The coverage has come quickly, and Slater has started to become a bit more comfortable with it. Reports are coming in that he wasn’t satisfied with his job (you think?), and it’s clear that this could be seen as a major opportunity for something of a career change for him.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Slater doesn’t have much of a shot at turning his career-limiting move into reality show fame:

Major talent agencies are unlikely to sign anyone who doesn’t have a background in a craft such as acting or writing. Companies that book reality TV stars and celebrities of varying degrees as guest speakers might be a more logical fit.

After he runs through the late-night talk show circuit, Slater will be finished. At that point, he’s likely to be another unemployed flight attendant … though he won’t be able to blame market conditions.
Nonetheless, talk about Slater has run through the advertising business. Chris Raih, founder and managing director of Zambezi in Los Angeles, noted:

“People around the country seem to have followed this classic go-to-hell moment with voyeuristic glee,” he said. “They want to root for him even more in a recessionary environment when many have gobbled up their anger.”

The real risk with using Slater in a commercial, according to Raih, is that it takes a few weeks to shot one, and even more time to get the campaign off the ground. By then, he’ll probably be irrelevant.

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.”

JetBlue flight attendant hiring: police and firefighters preferred

by Tom Johansmeyer on

“Turn off your electronic devices” may soon be followed by “Up against the wall!” on JetBlue flights. The airline is looking for flight attendants who have real backgrounds in safety: it’s targeting former police officers and firefighters for flight attendant jobs. JetBlue has reportedly hired “several hundred” of New York‘s finest over the past decade, and up to 10 percent of the cabin crew has had experience in emergency response work.

The first JetBlue flight attendant class included a former New York City firefighter, which caused the airline to think more about this talent pool. After all, police and firefighters are trained in dealing with emergencies, making them inherently more qualified than the flight attendant candidates airlines pull off the street.

So, I need to know: what’s next? Will American scrap its existing hiring model and look for green berets?

[photo by See ming-Lee via Flickr]

Former American Airlines flight attendant charged with making terror threats

by Scott Carmichael on

A former flight attendant for American Airlines has been arrested and charged with making terrorist threats. Rodney Lorenzo claimed he sent secret airline information to 25 Muslim charity organizations in the U.S. and U.K.

Lorenzo had been fired by the airline for throwing a coffee pot at a fellow flight attendant, and apparently held a grudge against his former employer.

According to court papers, he sent a letter to the corporate headquarters of the airline, telling them “Karma will soon bite back and your aircraft will begin to fall from the sky like dead birds.”

Lorenzo claims he made hundreds of copies of the airline safety manual, but in the letter he sent to the airline, he also made threats to the employee that was involved in the coffee pot incident, proving that he’s not a very bright terrorist. He has been released on a $50,000 bail awaiting his trial.

[Photo credit: AP Photo/Chris O’Meara]