Blog Entry: The Tyra Banks Show

Normally, I'd go for something more recent but this was too much fun to forget and the two-year anniversary of our visit is coming up, so I'd like to share.

This is a recap of a trip I took to the Martha Stuart Studios to accompany my daughter on her guest-appearance on a talk show:

RECAP OF

AUDIENCE GUEST APPEARANCE

FEBRUARY 5, 2009 Taping

“FREE STUFF” Episode

The Tyra Banks Show

The Tyra Banks Show is taped live at Chelsea Studios which is located in the 6^th Avenue Fashion District, south of Central Park on the island of Manhattan.   We stayed at the Holiday Inn only one block away, and were collected as a group (there were three other guests there we discovered) for the short walk to the studio.

Upon arrival, our cameras, phones, and other electronics were taken by security at the front door.  They patted people down, checked coats, luggage and made us go through the metal detector.  Although security was very professional, the receptionist was not so.  She was yelling at her boyfriend on the cell phone and cursing like a Brooklyn truck driver… but she was pretty.    Even my twenty-year old daughter, who works at Beer-N-All in San Antonio, was offended by her lack of professionalism.   The décor was exciting, subdued lighting overall, but back lit with blue and purple and pink neon. 

From the guest entrance we were escorted up the elevator by an assistant producer.  A man with a backpack in the elevator turned around and accidentally pushed buttons for random floors.  As a result, we made a couple extra stops on the way up.  It was interesting that some floors opened up into hallways and others opened up to uniformed security.  Martha Stewart occupies a good portion of the building and we caught a whiff of some divine kitchen odor as we continued up.   I stifled the urge to just step off as the doors were closing, so I could go explore this incredible crazy building.

We stepped off the elevator into madness.  Or it just seemed like it.  The Tyra show tapes two shows a day, three days a week.  The morning segment was still in progress and though our greenroom had our name on it, it was stilled occupied by a group of ladies doing the beauty segment for Show One.  We found an empty corner and stashed our luggage and purses, grabbed a piece of fruit from the fruit basket, and sat down to watch the end of Show One on the monitor.    There was a bathtub on stage and it was filled with ramen noodles.  A lady got into the tub for a beauty soak that she swears will leave your skin soft and moisturized.

Next on the show was Miss World, Aishwarya Rai, and a group of middle eastern dancing ladies.  As we were watching them, a flurry of activity arrived in the hallway and we were moved out of our greenroom and into the dancing ladies greenroom, so that the noodle lady could change.  We were joined by some more guests of Show Two, including a nice young man who came to talk about ‘couchsurfing’.  In no time the dancing ladies came in and the room was filled with glitter and sequins and beautiful ladies.  They didn’t complain about us being there, but one mentioned that she had to go directly to work and was in a hurry.  I took over and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this.”  I flagged down an AP working in the hallway and said, “She has to change,” and I pushed everyone out into the hallway.   The dancing lady looked really relieved and grateful.  The AP wasn’t happy about the traffic jam, but our greenroom was empty again as Show One wrapped, and we settled back in to hurry up and wait. 

The only problem was that our room smelled HORRIBLE!  In fact, the noodle lady left a dripping trail of the worst possible odor of ramen and garlic all down the hallway and stairwell down to the main studio.   The next ten minutes were spent freshening the room and getting the smell out.  It was a tough one and they came back every ten minutes or so for three or four times, with the Febreeze and many complaints and apologies.  We thought it was pretty hilarious.

Jessica was assessed by wardrobe for clothing options.  They took her away and she came back with different shoes and a salmon pink sweater.  She looked much more New York-ish.  Then she went to hair and makeup and the transformation was complete.  She was prettier than anyone else there (except Tyra.)  As things transitioned to Show Two – Free Stuff, is the name of the episode—it got crazy again.  A director came to get Jessica to sign some papers, basically a release and a statement saying that she was not “paid” to appear on the show.  The director was abrupt and her personality rubbed Jessica the wrong way.  Jessica was relieved that she was interrupted during the briefing and left the room.  When our friendly director came back, Jessica told her nicely to keep that woman away.

Mike the mic guy came in with his bucket of remotes and twisties and gadgets and got Jessica ready.  The ‘Audience Guests’ were rounded up and escorted down for the show.  A few of us were tagalongs and were told to wait in the green rooms and watch on the monitors.  I heard Jessica telling them she was promised her mom could stay with her, and working it hard to get me a seat.  Not too many minutes later someone came and got me.  I was given a seat on the very edge underneath the camera.  I had to remain seated sometimes when the audience stood, so as not to block the shots. 

The cameras for this show included 3 large studio cameras, 3 portable studio cameras on lighter-weight rolling tripods, and a boom camera.    The stage was crescent shaped with a runway on one side and a conversation area on the other.   (As part of the ‘Free Stuff’ theme, the wicker set furniture, carpet, table and centerpiece had all been obtained for free at the end of a yard sale.)   I have to admit that I did not get a good inventory of the lighting that was used.  Mostly because I did not want to get caught staring up at the ceiling like a dope, I had plenty else to see. 

The man working the crowd was late twentyish.  Everyone had been placed in their seat and instructed to stow their bags and coats under their chairs.  His job was to warm up the audience, so they sang to the theme show, passed around the microphone, told jokes, prissed down the runway, etc.  During one of the breaks he brought me a bottle of water.  He told me his job description is ‘Audience Director’ and when I complimented him on a job well-done, he told me that his major was psychology.   He seemed like the life of the party and very at-home with his job. 

Security came out ahead of Tyra, in dark suits with curly cords in their ears, they stood on either side of the stage scrutinizing the audience.   Then the floor director started barking commands and the show was on.  The music came up and Tyra appeared behind the curtain at the entrance of the runway.  The crowd cheered and applauded as she strutted to the end of the runway, blew kisses and smiled and took a seat in her chair. 

Her three spotlight guests were women who had a multitude of tips to offer for getting free stuff.  They had specialties like family travel,  internet specials and one was the author of a book.    As Tyra and these guests talked about their specialties, the audience guests were introduced.  There was the couch surfing guy, who started a website where people who are traveling can sleep on a sofa in return for allowing someone else to sleep on theirs.   There was a couple who sold their house by raffle, and the woman who won the $1.7 million home for $100.  There was a young woman who sold her hair and got $1300, another young man who wants to sell his kidney, or trade it for a college education for his children.  Jessica was the ‘plasma girl’ who donates the gift of life in exchange for extra cash.  And perhaps the craziest was the woman who sells her breast milk on the internet.  Hey, don’t laugh, it sells for $2.00 an ounce, 30% cheaper than the milk-bank.  She’s made many a car payment and mortgage payment with her industrious money-making efforts.

The taping wrapped and Tyra left the stage, the audience director took control of the crowd in their seats and the audience guests were escorted out.  I left my seat and followed them out, not wanting to miss a thing.  We went back up to the green rooms where they came promptly to collect anything that had been borrowed for the show.  Within a few minutes, our cars were announced and we were taken straight to the airport.   As we left, we were handed an envelope with a $40 per diem payment.  We didn’t get any show memorabilia, no t-shirt, not even a coffee cup.  Jessica told them she was very disappointed that she didn’t get to meet Tyra and they promised to get a personalized autographed picture.  They also said they would call and let us know when the show will air.  (In the next two to four weeks.)

Overall this was an amazing experience.  The trip to New York was a first for me and my daughter, and it was Jessica’s first time to fly.  We found the myth that New Yorkers are unfriendly to definitely be untrue.   While we did not receive ‘Rock Star’ treatment, we were very well-received by everyone from cab drivers to hotel and restaurant workers.  Even the construction workers and people that we chatted with randomly on the street were really nice.  It wasn’t as though they were being tolerant either, they knew we were tourists and they were genuinely friendly and helpful. 

The night before we left, I sent a letter to CBS mailbag requesting tickets so my Radio/TV/Film professor would excuse me from class.  I told them my daughter was coming to be a guest on Tyra, and that it was our first trip to NY, etc.  When our plane arrived in NY, I checked my voicemail and had a message from them that they were giving us tickets.  Unfortunately it was a few hours too late.  I made sure that I called them and thanked them anyway, they sounded surprised, maybe next time.

I would love another opportunity to visit New York like this.   But it wasn’t enough time!  I need that room at Holiday Inn for a month, and maybe then I would have enough time to see a tiny piece of all there is to see and do.  I discovered I like the energy that is in the studio.  I think there are a number of jobs that I witnessed being performed that I know I could do and do well.   The format of a talk show itself is interesting to study.  Seeing it all come together like a well-practiced orchestra, makes me realize that I would really love to be a part of it.