say friday! #2

on set of espn's sports nation. 

growing up outside the lovely city of angeles, i've had the opportunity to attend countless tv tapings over the years. you can say i'm a tv taping pro and my fake laugh and enthusiasm are impeccable. i used to attend them practically 3 times a month in high school. it was a form of fundraising so we'd try and go to as many as possible since it was relatively 'easy money'. i remember taking my study guides to tv tapings and study during set changes (don't worry, i passed high school with flying colors and got into a good college). at times it might have lost its magic and the long waiting wasn't worth it, but recently i got the chance to go to a taping of espn's sports nation.

having applied to jobs at espn (sadly all of which i never got) and watching countless hours of espn this was just all really cool. as geeky as it might seem walking through the halls, peaking into the control room, and being on the set was for lack of a better word magical. as i sat in the audience, i looked around and felt a sense of comfort and belonging in the studio. 

overall the experience was great. the audience was small, which is always nice since i'm not a fan of crowds. also since it was a smaller crowd, the wait wasn't long and we got out sooner than expected. all big pluses when it comes to tv tapings in my book. the producers, cameramen/women, and everyone else in the studio gave off great energy themselves, so it was easy to get into the spirit of the show. plus the host, charissa thompson and marcellus wiley, were personable and even took time to take pictures and chat with the audience after the show finished taping. the fact that i was even allowed to take my phone with me into the studio and let alone take pictures on set was something i have never experienced. usually shows don't allow phones into a taping and either make you walk your phone back to your car or the nicer ones hold it for you until the show is over. it was just an overall great experience. 

it has been one of my favorite experiences at a tv tapings and already have tickets to a taping later this month. hopefully by them i'm employed by espn. HAHA. 

 ever been to a tv taping? how was your experience?