Wandering

Ok, I really do have a life apart from visiting New York City talk shows.  A life which consists of writing a dissertation in fact. But who would not interrupt work on a graduate degree when a friend of a friend can provide tickets to the ”The View” — a show which describes itself as a “morning chatfest, featuring a team of dynamic women of different ages, experiences and backgrounds discussing the most exciting events of the day.” Really. My sister, cousin and I decided to make a day of it — they each left their 1-year-olds at home with their dads. With the friend of a friend connection, we scored door list tickets which means we didn’t have to wait in line outside (20 degrees outside and windy with striking writers picketting “All My Children” which is taped in the same building), and we were the first to enter the studio. After standing in line inside (and watching Soap Opera stars walk by – though I missed a couple when I was in the bathroom), we took an elevator up three floors to the studio. After grabbing a bottled apple juice and Special K bar from an intern at the door, an audience associate sat us — and she gave us the first row, first three seats.

I’ll spare you all the details (though I’m going to give you a few) between us taking our seats and my national television debut – the moments included a hyper comedian who warmed up the audience by having us dance to “Who Let the Dogs Out” and practically busting his own bicep in the process, the ladies coming out at 11 a.m. and talking about Rush Limbaugh nuzzling Joy Behar, the Republican presidential debate, Whoopi riding a bus instead of a plane, and speaking of planes…another plane that will be discoverd on “Lost.” Oh – and a little banter with Barbara Walters and Elizabeth Hasselbeck during commercial breaks. At one point during a conversation about losing weight after a baby, Barbara pointed to us in the front row and asked “Why are you all nodding your heads?” My sister: “We are just affirming you.” Still not sure exactly what we were affirming, but members of the Larson clan tend to be active listeners. And finally, here is our reaction – on national TV, recorded on Tivo - to audience members winning a fancy bluetooth (hands-free cell phone device) that we were not eligible to win because we had gotten the tickets from an ABC employee.

Now for the big news: During the first commercial, the same audience associate giving us the front row seats asked us where we were from – NY said my cousin, Philly said my sister, “DC” I said. D and C were magic letters that day — being the farthest away (and thus helping the show look like it has national appeal), she asked me if I wanted to do a promo for the next segment (a visit from Dr. Phil of Dr. Phil fame). My cousin and sister answered on my behalf – yes.

What follows is my LIVE moment with Babs. Keep in mind – this was not rehearsed, and right before we went to air Barbara slightly frantically yelled to the stage manager Larry “Where is she from again?” — yes, my friends, Washington D.C.

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**The above is not an endorsement of Dr. Phil.