Ted Williams Reunites With Mom, but Not Before Some Morning Show Drama

By Marc Schneider Posted Jan 7th 2011 08:30AM

Kleenex is going to have a very good day. Ted Williams, the homeless man with a golden voice, was finally reunited with his mother Thursday in a supremely emotional exchange that was delayed because of two feuding morning shows and their cutthroat quest to capture the moment.

In the end, The Columbus Dispatch, which introduced Williams to the world, was the first outlet to post video showing the moment when he and his mother, Julia Williams, reunited for the first time in 10 years.

"Hi, Mommy! Hi, Mommy! Hi, Mommy!" repeated Williams as he approached and embraced Julia in a New York City hotel. "I told you I was coming this year. I don't look my best, but I'm home."

Williams, wearing the same Army jacket he had on in the Dispatch's original roadside video, clutches his 90-year-old mom as she rejoices, "My prodigal son has come home."

When she tells him, "Please don't disappoint me," he responds, "I'm not, Mom, I'm not. I'm through with it all. Mother, I love you so much."

The reunion should have happened earlier, but conflicts between NBC and CBS held things up.

A 'Today' producer told the Dispatch that Williams and his mom had been booked for NBC interviews on Thursday, but CBS swooped in and intercepted her.

"They held her up so we couldn't do the reunion," said the producer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. They claim that CBS wanted no contact between mother and son until their morning shows had concluded.

A CBS spokeswoman called that account "a complete fabrication."

"When NBC learned of our intentions to bring Julia to the airport (Wednesday night) to meet her son, they told us that they would not let them reunite even if it meant keeping Ted and Julia apart for days and that the reunion had to happen live on their show -- and that's exactly what they did. They snuck him off the plane into a van and away from the airport in order to avoid his mother."

CBS brought Julia Williams to La Guardia Airport on Wednesday night, but Ted "was whisked away by another media outlet" before the two could meet eyes.

"I was waiting for you to get off that plane," Julia told her son during their meeting Thursday.

Ted aired his concern about his mother's safety during the media swarm. "I thought they kidnapped you. I thought these people thought this whole experience was worth some money to them."

He then tells her how certain individuals, possibly news and TV producers, began contacting him to extract information on her.

"People in Columbus were saying, 'What's your mother's name? Where does she live? We wanna go pick her up. We wanna do this, that or the other.' And I was scared because anybody could have come in and said, 'I'm from whatever and ride with us,' and take you away. And then when that woman wouldn't let me speak..." Williams' statement ends there, and the raw footage from the Dispatch then cuts to another part of the conversation.

Williams has stuck with NBC for his appearances since coming to New York, having made a memorable debut on 'Today' and later doing voice-over work for MSNBC and Kraft Foods (a Mac & Cheese commercial). He capped off his busy day of work with an appearance on 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.'

Williams, a Brooklyn native, became an online sensation just this week when The Columbus Dispatch posted a video of him demonstrating his voice-over skills by the side of the road.

Tags: Ted Williams

Comments

(412)

Friday 07 January

By Mae

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I saw that mother on tv with her son today. No wonder he turned to drugs. I understand this man has disappointed her several times but to belittle him on national television when the world is at his feet and he is trying to make a turn around. I must say she is MEAN!

By Danny

First things first. God has everything to do with all things good and bad. This guy has been given a second chance and we are not to judge, let him fly. If he falls as we all have many times may another kind soul be there to lend a hand. I am 52 and to this day still seem to stumble, but God has given me the strength and knowledge to know how to get up and try again. Don't judge a man until you have walked in his shoes.

By JoJo

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Amen to that Mary :-)

By sldeshaies

His mom is in her 90's and I would immagine he has support as it is sense he has been clean 2yrs and he knows the hard knocks. Having productive work will do a lot to boost his worthness.

By Susan

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You are soooo right. She needs help to understand how to best support her son. I was so worried when I heard her judegmental words towards him. He just wants her to love and approve him and be happy for his new found blessings. I wish the best for both of them.

By Rosa Lee

I totally agree with Mary. Julia needs to get a positive attitude! Give him a chance, please.

By bushstaged911

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North Korea and Iran are quiet . Lets beat this story to death

By Lissy

Lovely story, but shame on CBS and NBC for delaying this reunion for their own selfish reasons.

By Christine

when isn't the media greedy? all they know how to do is be nothing but pains in rear!

By Vince

" And what were your feelings when you saw your husband jump from the 10 story building?"

By LM

I agree with you Lissy........ If people would stop being so selfish, then maybe they will see the needs of someone else.....They have such tunnel vision, to all they see if what they want, what they can do, how it will get them more attention..... Sit down, GOD ordain this meeting for Ted and his mom. They stepped in once, but HE certainly didn't allow it to happen again..... Don't mess with GOD...

By Eireann

Lissy, that is exactly what I was going to say, shame on NBC and CBS for making it all about them.

By Lips

I don't see that CBS did anything wrong it was NBC that kept the two from a reunion. SHAME ON NBC. I have watched there station for the very last time. I watched the first interview on CBS and was watchin the next day as Julia and the CBS reporter were standing there waiting for Ted to get off the plane. HE never got there and Julia was very hurt.

Now that I am off my soap box what a wonderful story and I do hope that Ted manages to stay clean and sobber. As long as Ted and his family give thanks to God for what has happeened to turn Ted's life around they probably have a good chance of making this all the way. God Bless and Keep them.

By Henrik Drescher

..this man is walking on thin ice.

By L

You need GOD....

By nellie

How do you know?

By Donna

Ted baby, you're right, this is ALL GOD and don't you forget it! You stay clean and live the way your Mama raised you to live and you'll be OK. Keep your eyes on the Lord, Ted. There are sharks around you, so keep your eyes on God!! I am Sooooo very pleased for you and thankful to the Father!

By rs

To "L": YOU need SCIENCE.

By Alejandro

NBC and CBS both did a great job! and yes Ted needs GOD in his life, sometimes it doesnt matter how hard you work others will find fault with everything you do. You can read so many people with negative attitudes, that I wonder...Why do some people focus on negative things while ignoring all the good that goes on in the world?

By forgotten

donna i agree we all have storiws i fir one have many testamonies and came out dry on the other side of the storm i have no special gifts like ted but i know who saved me i got lots to tell to help some one god takes us when we are at our lowest point to bring us to him we are who he want i WAS like ted amen

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