Beep! Beep! Beep!
3AM....
3AM....
3...bleeping... AM
I woke up early this morning (understatement of the year) and and got ready to head downtown. Although just last week I was GOING TO SLEEP at 3am, I didn't need any extra motivation to get up. I was headed back to Colony Square 400, on a mission. I was getting ready to sit-in on Frank and Wanda in the Morning, one of the most popular urban morning shows in the country.
I get to the building around 4:50 and called up one of the show's assistant producers to let me in the room. Just like Janet the receptionist, this lady was cool from the jump. After introducing herself, she led me to the office and explained the ins and outs of the job. My first task was simple- find some stories to present for on-air discussion. Cool, right? WRONG! A normally easy task was made nearly impossible by the 1997 model computer I was assigned to use. I think I could have ran out and got coffee for the entire staff in the time it took me to copy and paste just one story on that yellowed Dell (which was equipped with a state of the art, extra large floppy disk slot... who needs a USB?). I was able to get two stories to print, and I was off to the studio for pre-show prep.
I forgot to mention- I met the other Morning Show intern. She's been there about a month, and really knows whats going on. Pretty cute, too. I'll probably just follow her lead for the first week or so.
So, we head into the studio for show prep. My first prep lesson: Frank Ski likes room temperature water, Wanda likes cold water (that's it?! No request for 203 green peanut M&Ms?). After that, my fellow intern shows me how to set up the headphones and news printouts, and we're off!
It's about 5:58 AM when two large speakers start to blast the full Frank and Wanda theme song (wait... you mean it's actually more than just "Frank Skiiiiii... and Wanda in the mornin"?). Frank is there... but where's Wanda? Who knows. We go live with Frank, who gives the ususal before going into a music break. After that, we're formally introduced.
Frank: How are you young man?
Me: Doing well, how are you?
Frank: You gonna be interning?
Me: Yes sir.
And with that, the world's longest handshake finally came to an end. Wanda then made her way into the room, and got the make-up treatment (Frank and Wanda air weeknights on CW, so a make-up lady comes in every morning to do them up).
*Fast forward*
About an hour into the show, the first guests come in. Holy smokes! It's Terry Crews (White Chicks, Everybody Hates Chris, those new Old Spice Commercials) and Essence Atkins (Half and Half, Smart Guy). Both came off as really genuine people on and off the air. Essence is definitely a 10... she caught me looking at her a couple of times (or was she looking at me? Hmmm)
The next guest to come in was British singer Corinne Bailey Rae. She brought her entire entourage with her... nice people, but unecessary nonetheless. I think she went MC Hammer and required that everyone in her crew have an abstract haircut. Lots of geometric shapes and spritz and grease and what not. She too was very pleasant and seemed like a nice lady. And that hair! So much of it! All hers! I was tempted to walk up to her and have myself a little tug, but I'd rather keep my internship and good reputation.
The morning show wrapped up, but not before I had a few encounters with Miss Sophia. For those of you who don't know, Miss Sophia is a charasmatic "female impersonator" who hosts the Girl Talk segment on the show. When I accidently came close to running over her foot, we had this exchange:
Sophia: (Taps me on the shoulder) Excuse me
Me: Yes?
Sophia: Do you know that you almost rolled over my foot?
Me: Oh, I'm sorry.
Sophia: Don't be sorry, cause sorry people don't get anywhere in life. Just be careful.
Me: Ok (awkward smile)
Later on...
Sophia: (Extending hand) What's your name?
Me: Bryan
Sophia: Bryan, you alright? I just mess with you.
Me: Yeah, I'm good (awkward smile)
Our interaction did not end once the show wrapped up. Later on, I went to go get Wanda from the production room. The door was closed, so being the well-mannered young man that I am, I knocked.
*knock knock knock*
...no answer
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
(Sophia answers the door)
Sophia: Did you just knock on this door?
Me: Yes
Sophia: Don't ever knock on this door. You see the light over there?
Me: Yes (I'm not saying sorry this time!)
Sophia: When that light is on, don't come in. But when it's off, just open the door.
Me: Ok
*We stare for about 7 seconds
Sophia: Ok
Me: Thank you. (Awkward smile)
And so went my second day at V-103. Perhaps tomorrow will bring even more fun.
....
awkward smile
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