This was the last time I wore this suit back in 1996 for a photo shoot at a former Home Depot warehouse. I thought I'll never wear this armor again. One night, Wami on Miami producer Steve Czanecki gave me a call inviting me for a live appearance on his famous local TV show "WAMI ON MIAMI'S BIG 3-O"
Two of the "Wami on Miami" host, Erin and Alex, talking on the phone with a viewer while 2 wami producers, who spent 30 minutes suiting me up, walked me outside to setup my entrance (see the circled area). Real police officers awaited for my arrival.
After a caller tried to pull a prank-call by cussing on the air, I was introduced coming out of an actual Miami police car.
The producer of the show did my robo-voice off camera. He sounded more like C3PO trying to be badass.
That's my cue!..I'm told by the TV crew to move my lips like I'm talking and step out of the car, walk towards the studio
Cameras followed me as Miami Officer Angel (forgot his last name) says "let's go fight crime, Robocop." They opened both doors as if I was busting them open.
Here Inside the studio as the Wami on Miami hosts welcome me. Circled on the right is Steve, show producer doing my robovoice with that mic and circled to the left is officer Angel of the MBPD.
This's one of the best shots, but suiting-up as The future of Law enforcement is no chick-magnet
They can't get over me. I was not actually scheduled to appear at all so it took everyone by surprised.
"we will be right back after these commercials. ROBOCOP IS HERE! We'll be back!"
A few hours later, they made me do the"wami dance" with the young, live audience.
Singer, recording artist Tevin Campbell was the celebrity guest that day. He had an album called "can we talk for a minute." He was confused with Will Smith.
THE END
During comercials, the crew held water under my chin for me to sip it up with a straw and constantly wiped the sweat drops off my face. I lost the feeling in my right arm and needed 3 guys to pull the arm pieces off. My weak and numbed arm was soaked in sweat. It was so weak, I couldn't move or lift it. Overall, took 20 minutes to take the whole thing off. I hanged with the TV crew for the rest of the show and a few hours later I went home. The Armor was delivered back to me the next day.
It took me nearly 4 years to build this suit out of cardboard, plaster, epoxy and PATIENCE! A few days After this presentation, sores broke-out all over my body. That was the last time the armor was worn. After the intense abuse the armor endured during most of the filming it was retired to be piled-up in a corner of my house. About 4 years later, it was beyond repair and fully retired.
Most of the Wami viewers must be in their mid to late teens by now. A year or so after, the whole station started canning more shows and finally shut down for good. Wami producer Steve move to LA to continue his pursue in television while Wami show host Rob became a game show host for the Learning channel. I'm still in touch with some of the crew. We get to have dinner with Steve, Alex and Rob whenever they are in town. Erin and Stefie are MIA.
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