Tsk, Tsk Tusher!

It came as quite a shock to some people when Daily Variety’s usually acerbic Will Tusher was honored with the Publicists Guild’s Press Award. But the aftershocks of his acceptance speech at the guild’s April 8 luncheon were even greater.

According to accounts: Tusher thanked God that he was a journalist--because otherwise he’d be working at Rogers & Cowan. He told the crowd to take heart because “if you fail in everything else in life, you can always become a publicist.” His remarks--and profane language--cleared half the Bev Hilton banquet room.

“OK, I went on too long,” Tusher told us. “But I was putting them on, not putting them down. I was cut off before I could finish my speech, which would have explained a lot to the people there.”

Closing words, courtesy of Tusher, would have included these observations about reporters and publicists: “We are bound together like marriage partners. We need each other, we use each other, we abuse each other, we take turns cursing and appreciating one another. We get along fine as long as we respect each other’s needs and understand one another’s limitations.”

Publicist Julian Meyers felt the crowd mistook Tusher’s sense of humor for bile: “He’s a candid, courageous journalist, even if he’s not a great speaker.”

Tom Pryor, Tusher’s boss and a past winner of the award, said the only calls he’s received about the speech have asked if he’d heard about it: “I’ve talked to Will and he feels embarrassed about the response. He’s sent the guild a letter of apology.”