tv times

Now that March Madness is over, let's all breathe a sigh of relief.  Mostly because kU did NOT win.  I do NOT have to drown myself in whiskey to make the bad feelings go away.  Kidding, kidding.  I'm very aware that it's just a game.  But I can trash talk quite a bit in the name of fun, especially when my rivalry school is involved.  Good season though and so great to watch!

I've also had a busy few days in tv production world.  Out of the blue, I got the opportunity to go to a taping of Wheel of Fortune.  It's just one of those things that you can't pass up!  I remember watching Pat and Vanna on a tiny tv in the vacation cabin, usually with my grandparents.  I only have good associations with this game show and to see a taping appealed to my curiosity of how a big set production works.  It's pretty interesting.  Like, the contestant coordinator who teaches the contestants how to spin the wheel, how to project their voice, how to enunciate and to play quickly.  Fascinating.  They also construct the on location sets to an accurate, smaller scale.  The Portland set was pretty awesome with the St John's Bridge (cause it's the prettiest), the Schnitz, and the White Stag sign.  And Pat and Vanna seem super nice, answering the most awful, ridiculous questions from audience members ("Does Vanna still grow tomatoes?" and  "What about her duplicate stand in?  How many kids did she (the duplicate) have?").  These were questions not asked to Ms. White (who was getting her makeup redone at this point) but rather directed at Sajak.  WTF, people?  However, Pat and Vanna are professional and lovely and really like their fans, and turned it into a humorous, while respectful, exchange.  And yes, we got to yell WHEEL.  OF.  FORTUNE!  That was probably my favorite part.  I know, I'm 12.

On a smaller (but still pretty fancy!) set, Lincoln was anchoring so we went to the studio to see how it's done.  I'm so disappointed that he still never emulates anything from the movie Anchorman, even with my begging.  I just really wanted him to warm up with "unique New York" or end with "...and stay classy, Portland."   No dice.  He's worked for 3 stations since breaking into broadcast world and each station gets better, bigger, and more viewers.  I'm so very proud of my hardworking friend!

Since I'm used to working on location, remote shoots, this was a treat to see the other side of things.  Life is fun!     

This is as close as I'll ever get to being Lincoln's tv wife