The last comment made as The View http://theview.abc.go.com/signs
off for the day usually comes from Whoopi (the moderator's job) and it
has been this "Take a little time to enjoy the view" A play on its
title-and it has worked well. I have been a fan since its debut on August 11, 1997. Read more if you like-it has an interesting history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_View_%28U.S._TV_series%29 . The show was a new concept-women sitting around talking about issues of the day as well as voicing their opinions strongly.
THE VIEW BACKDROP FROM MY SEAT
I wrote away for tickets 3 years ago and
receive them in April 2012-a long time to wait to enjoy The View. Our tickets are for Monday May 14, 2012.
I
have been to several shows and The View's approach is the most formal.
The tickets are hard copy (no printing off the PC) the attendees must
arrive as a pack, no standing in line waiting for other members, they overbook so you may not get in. The instruction sheet is one page two-sided-
9 rules on the first page and 10 FAQ's on the second side. Even for a procedurally trained retired Federal worker that is a
lot of info. The envelope in which these instructions are mailed
must be brought to the show.
We are ready. Plans set for meeting time and place on Monday.
Then the big announcement -POTUS (President of the United States) will
be on The View on Tuesday. The show will be taped Monday. Will we see
The President? If we are the "live" audience, who will be the taped audience with
President Obama? Liam barks his request, he wants to attend. I know
why. He thinks Bo Obama, The First dog, will be there. This is not an
impawsible (sorry) idea. Paul and I attended a Cesar Millan appearance
in January at TimesTalks. Cesar brought his dog, Junior, with him. see
blog story for more info. http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2012_01_08_archive.html
Liam believes Bo will accompany PLOTUS (Pack Leader of
the US) and he wants in. After all Bo has been on Air Force One-he knows the drill. The campaign is on-Bo could garner some strong support among the canine contingent-who are very influential with their parents. Liam prepares by getting his toys ready. He has his favorite red Kong stuffed with treats. Bo will like it.
LIAM WAITING
We (pack of three) meet at the ABC Starbucks, Columbus and 67th -
GRANDE SKIM LATTE
everyone meets here before or after ABC shows. and often the celeb guests walk by to stop and chat on the street.
We walk down to the studio that is located near West End Avenue. I thought all ABC shows are on West 67th. There is a police presence-not too strong yet. The President will be in the area in a few hours, speaking at Barnard College.
He will be on The View. Imagine! Not our View. We have a wait. Our numbers are 56, 57, 58. With over 200 in the audience,
not too shabby to have landed in the first quarter
ON LINE FOR THE VIEW-
I
have some issues. My right eye is leaking, causing disturbances in my
eye makeup-bald eye syndrome. This happened with my last show taping-The Chew. I watched the Sunday night Survivor finale and was too keyed up to sleep so I picked up my Kindle and read some of "Fifty Shades of Grey" not a bedtime story (for sleeping anyway) so I am a tad tired. In addition, I have had anxiety in choosing what to wear-the result of a weather forecast that predicted cold and rainy but the reality is
warm and muggy. They say dress bright, and nice. Many folks
apparently did not read the instructions and are barely covered -showing too much of some parts. All that said, I am thrilled to be here. The next pic is our view.
OUR VIEW OF THE STAGE
I
am happy to have the entire View crew there. I do not want a guest
host. We have many guests. Suze Orman, Chris Cuomo, Dan Abrams, a
parenting doctor expert, Jenna Ushkowitz (who?) from Glee. Oh no, I am not a fan of musicals and this show seems to be musical- like. I fear a "glee" CD/DVD as a gift. Our seats are
close, slightly obstructed but I am the closest I have ever been at any
show. Midway through, Barbara does that little audience bit right in front of me and my
big face is on the screen to her right. After she is done she turns to ask how we are-Yikes-Barbara is addressing us - We answer, "Fine" what else?
BARBARA DOING HER LITTLE BIT IN FRONT OF ME
During a commercial break, Sherri comes up and chats about DWTS. The show goes
quickly. Slightly surreal. Everything is smaller in person, the set, the women.
Whoopi, Barbara and Sherri are much smaller than on TV; Joy and
Elisabeth about the same size. The hour flies by. I find segmented blocks of time always do. Barbara ends the show with the request "take a
little time and watch us tomorrow" We are done by 12 and out on the street by
12:10.
Outside the street has changed. Cordoned off. Police all
over. A buzz in the air. Excitement. The President will
be in this same studio later today.
I don't know where they got the audience for the President's
View. He taped at 3PM. I think we could have asked to be standbys and wait the 3 hours. We did not. I am just a tad disappointed to have come so close
to seeing him. I realize that my feeling pales in comparison to
Barbara's who really is chagrined that the announcement of the President's support
of same sex marriage was not done on The View. She even mentioned it to him. I sort of think that might have been his plan, but Joe Biden jumped the gun
GETTING TIRED OF WAITING FOR BO
I had my own problem to deal
with-Liam was home waiting for Bo. He
waited all day. expecting Bo to visit some doggie day care centers,
give a little bark out for PLOTUS.
WHERE IS BO?
It is what family does
in an election year. No, The President does not dispatch any family members to
drum up support. He comes to NYC alone. The family stays home, including Bo.
GUESS HE IS NOT COMING
After a few fundraisers, the president leaves NYC at around 8:30. Liam still waiting. No First Dog.
And to that question often asked after a visit to these tapings -"did you get any gifts?" No, and I am okay with that.. I feel gleeful being "Glee" free. I feared a DVD of all the seasons.
No show can ever top the freebie on Rachael Ray when Tom Colicchio guested. Don't know Tom Colicchio? read up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Colicchio
He made us all paninis. I have had the best time saying "I had a Tom Colicchio panini http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panini_%28sandwich%29 on the Rachael Ray show.
I
actually say the line differently (usually leaving out the "a" and
adding a "s" after Tom's name) depending on my audience. And I enjoy it
every time. That is the gift that keeps on giving. A funny line.
