Photographic Evidence

Ok, I finally got Picasa to make it easier to upload pictures and share. These are the pictures from my trip to NYC. (If someone could tell me how to add a link to my pictures along the side of my blog the way Greg has it, that would be super)_

New York June 2009

New York was a lot of fun! I never really got to tell you about my day in the city or the Letterman show (which aired friday, if you missed it that is ok, Greg and I didn't get any air time - we were edited out).

I went into NYC on Monday around noon so I could do some shopping before it was time to go to Letterman. I had done some research about some good discount places around town and the best subway routes to get everywhere. I never got a subway map, so I had to memorize which stations I knew I had to get to, then look at the wall maps to remember which train I wanted. I was pretty proud of myself! I got everywhere I needed to and never really felt like much of a tourist. Although I did have to by an "I <3 NY" shirt from a street vendor for one of my friends. I also ate some pizza and a bagel for one of my New York native friends from work - oh woe is me, right?!

I got to New York & Co, H & M, Filene's Basement, the CBS Store, and a couple other places. I even made the trek to a couple of places that were closed - which bummed me out, but it was still fun to navigate around the city.

I got to Letterman about an hour before I was supposed to meet up with Greg, and noticed that there were some barricades people were standing behind across the street from the theater, and there were some paparazzi near a back door. With nothing better to do I figured I should stand around and see what happened. Emeril Lagasse got dropped off to do the show, I got a bad picture of the back of his head, but I did see him. I was a little surprised he was showing up at 3:30 pm for a show that wasn't going to tape until 7pm but whatever, maybe he had some cooking prep to do.

It wasn't until I met up with Greg outside the theater that he told me they tape the Monday and the Friday shows on Mondays and we were actually going to be going to the Friday taping. Which means, I thought I was seeing Samuel L Jackson and Emeril, but really was seeing someone else! We got in line for the tickets at 4:30pm. at 5:30 they started moving the line and we got our numbered tickets and were told to return at 6pm and get in line in the order of our ticket numbers (Greg and I were 69 and 70). We toodled around Times Square for a while and used a bathroom (since the show won't let you use theirs)and made sure we didnt bring any food, drinks, or gum into the theater with us. We got back in line and were brought into the lobby. Some of the Late Show pages went over the rules 1)no gum chewing or going to the bathroom 2)no "woo"ing when you were excited or agreed with something Dave said, or when your hometown or favorite team was mentioned 3)everything Dave says is the funniest thing you have ever heard 4)laugh heartily! a chuckle or grin doesn't cut it 5)the more you seem to be enjoying yourself, the more likely Dave will use better jokes because the audience is responsive 6)no photography before during or after the show - hence I have no pictures of it.

after what seemed like forever in the lobby, they finally filed us into the theater, and Greg and I were in the 4th row near Dave's desk's side of the stage. the stage itself is tiny! there is maybe 12 feet between the band and the guest chairs and the whole stage is only 30 or 40 feet long! the band came out to pump us up and a warm up comic also came out to tell us we would be seeing Martin Short and Regina Spektor would perform.

Dave came out about 5 min before the show started just to meet the audience and let us answer questions. then he got backstage and they immediately started the show at 7pm sharp (it was over at 8pm sharp). Because of the tight hour timeframe for shooting the show, and the fact that they really do take the commercial breaks so it seems to be taping live, when I actually watched the show, they had edited the episode and cut out one bit (the audience participation part that Greg and I were in the backgroud for). they even edited a joke Martin Short said. He made a joke about calling his one man show "Sunday in the Park with George Michael" and they dubbed out the George part. I don't know if the joke was too risque (does anyone care if George Michael is made fun of?) or if it was copyright infringement to say Sunday in the Park with George and thought it better to make it sound like he said Sunday in the Park with Michael? andhoo, Martin really was hilarious! Regina on the otherhand (like most late night musical guests) sang a really bad song. it was the type of song I would expect a singing comic to write. the lyrics were all about how "nobody is laughing at God in a hospital/nobody is laughing at God in a war" but the chorus was "but God can be funny/God can be hilarious ha ha" yeah, the ha ha's were part of the song. it was weird.

the show ended at 8pm and they opened the exits and kicked us out, there was zero time to hang out, see the stage, or talk to anyone. But it was still really fun! and I am glad we got to go.

My entire trip was so fun and I can't wait to come again. I even want to get tickets to Late Show with Jimmy Fallon. I have the bug! I am going to become a serial audience member! If you watch Jimmy's show then you know I want to go on a shared experience night ;)

PS dad, during the commercial breaks, Paul Schaefer and the band played songs to entertain the audience, and Alan Coulter just disappeared for most of the show since there isn't much for him to do. although I did find it funny because we would write notes on his script - like there was a lot for him to remember, or he was adding lines. he literally introduced the show then did a commercial teaser. not much to make notes about.

Dave and his executive producers and writers would confer, pretty nonchalantly even though they were still making last minute decisions about jokes. the cue card guy was the only person working hard getting things organized or rewritten.

Also, Dave hates suit jackets. during every break he took of the jacket. He is also full of energy. he literally ran out to the audience before show, and he ran across stage to get to his entrance marker at the start of the show. much more energy than he shows on the show.