Used to be, my name was rare. Yes, there were once a startling number of Rabbi Basches in the Brooklyn phone book (and, yes, there was once a "phone book"). And the coveted domain "Basch.com" is taken by a Buddy Basch, but I couldn't find any PETER Basches.
But now there's a new show on TNT called Franklin & Bash, and the main character's given name is Peter. I just looked at the promos, and girls in bikinis are prominently featured, so it does bear a great deal of resemblance to, if not my life, than that of yet another Peter Basch, my late father. He was a glamor photographer, so bikini-clad girls were his stock-in-trade.
[Note: now that I've seen the pilot, I can only hope that the show lasts long enough that they need a Peter Bash Sr.; I'd be perfect!]
There are two other Peter Basches I know of. One is Peter Basch MD, a prominent DC doctor who testifies before Congress on electronic medical records. I've never met him, but I occasionally get his emails. He seems to have a very pleasant life! I got an email from a congressman, inviting me to a golf game in Virginia. And once, eerily, just before I went on a trip to Ojai, in Santa Barbara county, I got an email from The Oaks, a terribly expensive spa there, confirming my/his reservation. Of course I don't stay at the Oaks. They strictly limit how much you can eat between your yoga sessions. Not for me. All I can say is Dr Peter Basch has a pretty nice life.
A few months ago, a Peter Basch in Florida got in touch with me on Facebook, just out of curiosity. His picture bore a strong family resemblance to me and my father, except he looked to be in better shape, tan and fit for the beach. But the same mittel-europaische look, and the same almost-no-hairline.
So now there's a TV version, minus the "c". Strangely, Bill Chais and Kevin Falls, the head writers, haven't called me to either cast me, or to research what it's like to be named Peter Bas(c)h.
