Life in the Journey

Outside at Rockefeller Center

Chris in front of "30 Rock"

Chris standing with our tickets in Brandon's Line (see if you can read the sign behind him)

(Sorry, they didn't allow pictures inside the studio, so the description below will have to suffice.)

Here goes the run down on everything that happened once we were inside the studio. First off, I couldn't believe how small it was. All of the sets other than the band area are on wheels and after the skit was over, would be wheeled off & just lined up one in front of the other in one of the back sides of the studio. The seating is up on a balcony like area that hangs over the set. We had seats in the front row on the right/middle side. The band is set up in the middle back of the studio a little elevated from the main studio floor - they're the only thing that doesn't move. From under them, a stage area comes out - that's where the host stands & does their little welcome skit. Also, that's where the Weekend Update skit is taped. They put up the backdrop right in front of the band (SNL band, not musical guest) and wheel the desk up there too. It's pretty incredible how fast everything moves! All of the cast members are pros at they ridiculously fast set & costume changes, but the guest host gets his own handler that literally grabs him by the hand & runs him backstage to change. It was pretty funny watching Brian Williams be led around by the hand and running like a little kid. Anyways, I digress. What else? My favorite skits were the first one (Bill & Hilary's Halloween party w/ all the democratic hopefuls in attendance) - with the surprise appearance by Barack Obama - the audience went crazy! It's funny because about one second before he took off the mask, Chris & I had the same "aha" moment where we realized it was really him. In my mind, it happened like this - hey, look at that guy's hands, he's really black. Wait, there's only one black cast member & he's not nearly that tall & lanky. Oh my goodness, that's really him! So, that was cool. Then there was the Bronx Beat with Amy Poehler & Maya Rudolph which took place literally right in front of us. I'll take this moment to clarify - b/c the studio is so small, skits pretty much alternate sides. They film one skit on the right hand side, and then the next one will be filmed on the left side of the studio while the next set is being assembled on the right side. That means that depending on where you were sitting, you had a better view of different skits. They were both hilarious & Brian Williams did a good job in that one as well (it was one of the few skits where he didn't just play a version of himself). Finally, of course there was the Weekend Update where Kenan Thompson (playing feisty black nanny, Barbara Birmingham) flustered Seth Meyers by lunging across the desk at him & actually grabbing a hold of his tie & somehow in the process managing to unbutton his top shirt button. Seth kept trying to fix it, but Amy Poehler finally reached over there & just messed it up more in a gracious gesture saying "forget the tie - move on". Other high points included seeing the famous Lorne Michaels - he's really hands on, making sure everyone is standing exactly where he wants them & that the sets are just right. Also, it was pretty impressive how versatile Amy Poehler was - it's hard for me to recognize when I'm watching the show who all is in each skit, but being there, I got to see that she was actually in just about every skit - needless to say, she was running around like a crazy woman!

After the show had finished, everyone exited the studio & walked down the long, skinny hallway lined with pictures from the last 32 years of SNL skits. As we were leaving it was so quiet. It was really weird - everything was so high energy while we were in the studio, and then just silence. That would have been fine, but for the fact that the cast was walking out at the same time. I looked to my right & I was standing right next to Maya Rudolph & Kristen Wiig. Then, right behind them was Seth Meyers. Anyways, I felt really bad that no one was saying anything to them after they just worked their butts off entertaining us for the last 2 hours. Maya was looking right at me, so I said, "you did a really good job." To which she replied, "awwww, thank you so much." I thought it was the least I could do for how awesome they had been. Anyways, then we walked on towards the elevators & headed back home. This was our latest NYC night out by far - I think we made it home a little before 2:00 a.m.

Sunday, we were feeling that late night! By the time we got home from church & lunch, it was 3:00, which left only a little over an hour for a nap before we headed out to the Knicks game. But, we soldiered on and by 5:00 we were out the door headed to the game. It was so exciting being at Madison Square Garden for the home opener! The game was really close all throughout, and there were some awesome slam dunks & ally oops thrown in for good measure! The Knicks City Dancers (NY's Laker Girls) were good, but the Knicks City Kids were even better! They were these kids (boys & girls) who were incredible dancers & tumblers, and to boot, they danced their whole routine in those wheely shoes & incorporated some really cool wheely moves. Of course it's always fun when the cameras pan to famous fans, and turns out, enjoying the entertainment along with us were David Duchovny & Chris Rock. Very cool. We also especially enjoyed cheering for Florida's own David Lee. In the end, the Knicks prevailed over the Timberwolves, 97 to 93. I was only slightly perturbed that they didn't break 100 =).

Watching the game brought back so many memories of watching my brother play & cheering on my high school! I must say that pro games are impressive, but there's nothing like the excitement of a game you're actually emotionally invested in. Chris & I enjoyed talking about those old high school days, the array of colorful coaches my brother endured at Mosley, and my dad's classic phrases like "Come on Ref, you're missing a good game." Lol. Those were the days!