I had a great time being on “The Tonight Show” on Friday! Here’s a rundown of the exciting day:
A limo picks me up at my hotel. This wasn’t just any limo, either. This was a big 6+ seater with a TV and drinks. Once inside the NBC Studios I meet Rickey Minor (the band leader), and he we talk about his transition from being on American Idol to The Tonight Show, and how he at first turned down the job. He then let me know that he was going to play off of a “Lights Camera Jackson” song when I came out on the show. I have no idea what he was talking about. So he takes me into his huge dressing room, that includes a recording area and large keyboard. It turns out that he took the song for the intro from the one I do at the start of my radio/podcast reviews. It sounded amazing when Rickey and the Band played it on the show.
A few minutes later Jay walks into my dressing room. There was already a guest gift bag waiting for me when I arrived, but then Jays hands me another, personal present: A Regal gift card. How did he know? We talk about current movies and how he tells a story about how he once came to my town my to perform at a club. He had no idea until he got there that the theater was closed, for good.
Michele, segment producer, takes me out on the set, before the audience is let in, just so I can see the couch where I’ll be sitting and how way the enter the stage. There are two steps up and then two steps down. To be sure no one trips the have words on the steps: “Watch the Steps”. Very good idea.
Back to the dressing room to relax. Once the show starts and I can watch it in my dressing room on a large flat screen TV. Next it’s time for make-up and a trip to wardrobe, and then, following Emily Blunt’s second segment, it’s time to go onstage. The only thing I’m worried about is not tripping. Because, remember, you have to walk up two steps, then down one, and then quickly another while still trying to wave to the audience.
Fortunately I was able to pull it off and not fall. The segment with Jay was fun. Emily was so friendly. She grabbed me and pulled me over to the couch with her when Chris Medina came over to talk. We talked about “Gnomeo and Juliet” and “Jaws” (her favorite movie). Then, when one of the stage hands came up behind her and was adjusting her microphone (and she didn’t know it) she leaned over to make sure that it wasn’t me.
After the show we all shoot some promos with Jay and then do some Backstage interviews. Then I got to hang with everyone for awhile. It was an incredible experince.
If you missed any of the show you can watch it at The Tonight Show website: http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/