The second event of a fun-filled week happened on Tuesday night. My son, Michael and I drove to Nashville to be part of the audience for the taping of the CMT special, Blue Collar Comedy: 10 years of Funny. It featured 3 of the 4 popular stand up comedians from the Blue Collar Comedy films and TV show and CDs: Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry The Cable Guy.
The programs was staged in Studio A of the Grand Ole Opry House just across from the Opry Mills Mall. That's the mall where our family went to the IMax movie on New Year's Day.
I had been in Studio A 9 years ago when I went on the tour of the Grand Ole Opry House with my Pennsylvania family. The show Hee Haw was filmed the last 15 seasons of it's run.
I got the tickets for free from the website of Zanies Comedy Club. I was on the site to purchase tickets to another show (more about that later in the week) when I saw the tickets were being offered for free through email. I snatched a pair up as quickly as I could.
I was really excited knowing I'd not only get to sit and watch 3 of my favorite comedians talk about their success but I would get to see how a TV show is made at the same time.
We stood outside in the cold evening temperatures for a few minutes. The most memorable thing about the wait was seeing a picture on the Opryland electronic billboard that I thought was Rosie O'Donnell but it turned out to be Ronnie Milsap. As Michael the resemblance was uncanny. We had to wait outside while a woman, who was professional audience specialist, was inside seating everyone in the arrangement most compatible with the production standards.
We ended up sitting in the back row of the sections of seats to the right hand side of the stage. Not the best seats in the house in fact they were some of the worst. The metal folding chairs were rather small, flimsy and uncomfortable. Also, they fastened together so you couldn't move them to get more elbow room. I guess you get what you pay for.
As she was finishing seating the audience the woman expert asked everyone with open chairs in their rows to spread out so that it looked full. She suggested we take up 2 seats if we had to. I told Michael that I had spent $3000 and worked for 6 months so that I wouldn't have to take up two seats I was just fine sitting on one.
I knew from the email that taping was scheduled to last for 2 hours from 7-9. I was looking forward being entertained by stories, jokes, and personal recollections by this trio of redneck funny men. But the best thing about the night came as a complete surprise.
Just before the taping started I found out that one of the stars of my current favorite sitcom, My Name Is Earl, was going to be hosting the show. I was going to be in the same room for 2 hours with Jaime Presley. She's the actress that plays Earl's ex-wife, Joy, in the show. Although she had cut her long blond hair really short getting to see her in person was icing on the cake for me.
Once the show started there were lights, cameras, and teleprompters everywhere. The comics were terrific.They were very friendly and funny as they talked about 10 years of working with each other and being friends both on and off stage.
I'm not sure if Michael and I got on camera but we had a great time. I don't know when the show will be on CMT. I'll have to let you know when I find out.
Even if we didn't make on the show I just want to document the fact that we were there. So that when it airs and I tell people about it I can prove it by the fact that I wrote this post long before it came on TV.
So far 2010 has been pretty good year year for special event with my family members. Going to the movies on New Year's Day with the whole family, seeing the Globetrotters with James, and Michael and me being part of the Blue Collar Comedy anniversary special audience is a relatively good start for the year. I hope the trend continues. I know it will. Later this week Paula and I are going to Zanies in Nashville a comedy show. I'll tell you more about that on Saturday.
No comments:
Post a Comment