Beyond the Mustache: Tom Selleck's New Memoir Takes Readers on a Personal Journey

Hey folks, grab a cup of joe and settle in. We're about to dive into the world of Tom Selleck – yeah, that Tom Selleck. The guy with the iconic mustache who's been gracing our screens for what feels like forever. Buckle up, 'cause this ride's gonna be as smooth as Selleck's charm.

So, Tom, your new book "You Never Know" is out. Spill the beans – how'd a guy who never wanted to act end up being, well, you?

Selleck chuckles, his voice warm like a well-aged whiskey. "Man, it was all about laying bricks," he says. "One after another, you know? I was 35 when Magnum hit, can you believe that? Before that? A long, long road of face-plants."

I'm thinking, geez, 35? That's practically retirement age in Hollywood years.

"Develop an appetite for failure. I had lots of it. Failure in school, failure in sports, and for many years failure in show business. It all gave me the tools to deal with what was a much, much longer ride than most people think."

Selleck's words hit like a friendly pat on the back. Suddenly, all those rejections from my high school drama club don't seem so bad.

You were a jock before you were an actor. How'd shooting hoops help you in Tinseltown?

"Oh, it was huge," Selleck says, and I can almost see him leaning back, probably twirling that mustache. "Sports teach you about losses, teamwork, leadership. I wasn't the rah-rah type, but man, when I got on set? I made sure it was a good place to be."

Mental note: Maybe those sweaty gym classes weren't for nothing after all.

"When I got Magnum, I had to live up to my earlier pledge to do right for the cast and crew, which isn't easy when you're working 14-hour days, but I certainly tried."

Okay, spill. What was it like meeting Mae West? I hear there's a juicy story there.

Selleck's laugh booms through the phone. "Oh boy, that was something else. Picture this: everything's white. I mean everything. And there's Mae, in all her glory, transforming right before my eyes."

"Well, I don't care about your credits as long as you're oversexed"

"That was her first line to me," Selleck chuckles. "I nearly lost it right there."

I'm dying to know if he kept a straight face. I sure as heck couldn't have.

Let's talk about the 'stache. It's practically its own celebrity at this point. Any regrets?

Selleck sighs, but I can hear the smile in his voice. "The mustache just... happened. Post-60s, you know? It wasn't some grand plan. But man, the number of talk shows that wanted me to act surprised when the whole audience had fake mustaches? Too many to count."

Note to self: Cancel order for 100 stick-on mustaches for next Halloween party.

"I can't say how many talk shows I've been on where they'd pull me aside beforehand and say, 'Listen, when we bring you out, everyone in the audience is going to have a mustache, and we want you to act surprised. It'll be great.'"

Last but not least – you tried out for The Dating Game? Tom Selleck needed help with the ladies?

Selleck's laughter is genuine and a bit sheepish. "Hard to believe, right? But yeah, I was painfully shy. Had to get my buddy Doug to set me up on double dates."

Suddenly, I feel a whole lot better about my awkward high school years.

"If you pick up a Person of the Universe Award one year and don't get it the next, aren't you in a lot of trouble?"

And there it is, folks. Tom Selleck, keeping it real since... well, forever.

As I hang up, I can't help but grin. Tom Selleck, the man, the myth, the mustache – turns out he's just as down-to-earth as the guy next door. Only with, you know, a lot more Emmy nominations.