Yes, kids I went to the tapping of SNL on April 11th and the kicker of the night was being seated on the floor! It was absolutely one of the most fun and memorable nights I will ever have in NYC. It all started in August when I signed up for the lottery; this is the only time of year you are eligible to sign up for the upcoming season. Funny because in March I was thinking that the season is half way over and well maybe I will have better luck next year. A few days later I got the email saying that I had been chosen in the lottery. So of course my first thought was I hope I am in town, seeing I have been traveling every weekend.
Courtney was my date for the evening and we kicked it off in style with martins at TAO, followed by a spectacular dinner. We ordered a couple of appetizers that were fantastic, yet I must say and highly recommend ordering the filet mignon cooked in a ginger scallion broth was the highlight of the meal, we also had the miso glazed sea bass which was spectacular but the filet mignon ruled the night!
The presentation of the filet mignon is quite impressive seeing it is served raw, however they bring a small black cast iron fondu pot to the table and the ginger scallion broth is bubbling. Our waiter instructed us on how to cook our filet to perfection and seriously it was out of this world!
So after a bottle of wine, great conversation and a spectacular meal, Courtney and I literally had 3 minutes to get to 30 Rock on time, seeing we had to be there by 10:15pm. We jumped in a cab and told our driver that we were in a hurry to get to SNL. So he quickly got us there and we literally ran inside the lobby to get in line. Of course I was like great we are here but our seats are going to be just terrible for getting there so late. To our dismay the girl is like well you are now in Emily’s line (at least I think that was the girls name) seeing we were supposed to be in Brandon’s line. I started looking around and realized that our line was rather short compared to the other lines and I told Courtney, I think we might actually have good seats, and one can only hope to be seated on the floor.
So our page came over to inform us that we would be going up soon, seeing the group from the dress rehersal was walking out and that we are going up in groups of four. At this point we are frantically calling our families to tell them to watch and to look for us as we might be on the floor. I had just enough time to call my parents chit chat for a few minutes and then call both of my sisters and post an update my status on Facebook, just in case some of you were on-line.
Finally we get the ok to go up and for once it paid to get there super late to be one of the first four to make our way through security where we received our SNL wrist bands.
Courtney and I made our way to the elevators and were instructed to follow our page, who led us through the doors which leads you down to the infamous hall way where the walls were adorned by autographed photos of former guest host and a flurry of activity. This was the very hall where some monologues have taken you back stage, and as we stood there patiently waiting to be seated, Bill Hader walked by. He was walking with his head down and then I think he must have heard me say “OMG” and Courtney “that’s Bill Hader” that he looked up and in a voice between Keith Morison (Dateline journalist) and the Italian journalist Vinny Vedecci, acknowledges us with a “Hello”.
Of course we make friends in line, there was a couple who just got engaged over the weekend who are from Houston and the guy works for KPRC as a sports producer and his fiancé works in the medical center so we chatted with them. Always nice to run into people who are from Houston! Bill Hader once again walks past us and looks at us and says “Hello” again but the funny thing is that he did not acknowledge other people in line.
Finally, we get the ok to go in and that is when it hits me, I am sitting on the floor of Saturday Night Live! Seriously, I have been watching SNL ever since I can remember, back in the 80’s with my parents and sisters, when Eddie Murphy played Gumby and Buckwheat, Martin Short and Christopher Guest as synchronized swimmers (if you don’t remember the skit click on the link below, one of my favs), Chevy Chase was weekend update, Phil Hartman and I could keep going on and on but I will stop here.
It was surreal and I could barely comprehend the thought of me sitting in one of the most famous sets in television history (34 seasons to be exact). There was just a flurry of activity; camera’s getting in position, the SNL Band playing for us, and sets being moved in position.
The very funny Jason Sudeikis warms up the crowd in his Joe Biden attire and then he introduces Kristin Wiig and Fred Armisen who perform Blondies, One way or Another (I’m gonna gettcha gethca) Kristin sang while Fred played the guitar. They were fun to watch but funny thing is that they were not very animated; Fred seemed to be in the zone possibly channeling his inner Obama for the opening skit.
As soon as they were done performing they walked off the stage but then hustled to the changing area which is located in the back of where we were sitting. Lorne Michaels (a true icon) was behind us talking to a few people and the stage hands were quickly moving the “Oval Office” set to the center stage.
There is so much that takes place that I must say one never thinks about when you are sitting at home watching. I knew it was a small sound stage because of the NBC tour I took several years ago, but they really have to pull together to put on a successful show funny or not.
Once the first skit is done, Sudeikis and Armisen literally run off the stage and the stage hands begin moving the set off the stage for Zac Effron to walk out for his opening monologue. I was amazed out how fast they moved, seeing they only have the length of the credits to get everyone and everything in place.
Effron steps on stage and slides across the floor for his grand entrance and the crowd is just going crazy with excitement. Abby Elliot, Wiig, and Armisen are sitting in front of us and that is when Courtney and I are hoping that we will make our debut. During the monologue they show the cast in their seats and you can see me playing with my hair and my forehead and this is when Courtney tells me I am on camera. For once in my life I actually did not mind being shoved by someone and I owe a huge thank you to Courtney, she is the reason my head pops in and out of the frame (It’s about 1:32 into the monologue and right before Arminsen starts talking).
http://www.hulu.com/watch/67436/saturday-night-live-zac-efron-monologue
The “Today Show” skit was right in front of Courtney and if you sat just right you were able to watch the skit through the camera’s and those standing around, “Gilly” was performed right in front of us as well, along with the several other skits. Lorne Michaels was on each set before we went live talking to the cast to discuss any last minute changes. Then at one point I looked back and saw Tom Hanks hanging out with the cast and with Lorne right before the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s took the stage. They were fantastic to watch, the first song they sang from their latest album was great, but I was thrilled that the second song was Maps, one of my favs and considered it one of my summer song last year.
Weekend Update, was hysterical loved the New Jersey gay couple and the Bon Jovi “Opposite Band” (Balls of a Tiger and Your Hate is Like Good Medicine, GENIUS!) and I must say
“Oh B!tch Please” catch phrase from the movie blogger Angie Tempura played by Michaela Watkins was hysterical. I think it was just fun to watch because they were trying so hard not to laugh.
Before the HSM (High School Musical) skit started, we moved from our seats to stand with the crew so that the cast could sit down and as we are standing there I saw Daryl Hammond to my right and hit Courtney. Daryl noticed that I saw him and kinda gave me a nod. Come on, DARYL HAMMOND, is SNL seeing he is the longest running cast members on the show. He is brilliant, a true fixture of the show. I was in AWE that he was next to me and quite possibly the highlight of the evening!
So to all you kids who think SNL is not funny or a hit or miss some times, I can honestly say I have a new appreciation for all the men and women who make the show a success each weekend. What they do to put on a show every Saturday is truly amazing, not just because of a talented cast, but what happens behinds the scenes is truly remarkable! So to all you stage hands, camera crew, PA’s, make-up artist, wardrobe dressers you are phenomenal in your own right, without you the show would truly be nothing!
1 comment:
Sounds like you are having a good time...when are we going to see you in H-town again?
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