What’s it Like to Watch a Taping of DWTS, You Ask?
November 16th, 2009 · 11 Comments · Celebrity, Jacquie's Posts
Exactly a week ago today I was in Los Angeles getting ready to head off to the CBS studios to catch a live taping of Dancing With The Stars. The week before I was sending silly, joking emails to my girlfriend and fellow fan, Celia, about where we’d like to sit if we could score a couple of the coveted seats. We both decided anywhere would be just fine as long as we could see the dance floor. If this isn’t a perfect example of the law of attraction in action, and how sending the universe a request can truly work, I don’t know what is. It still seems surreal that Celia and I actually made it there!
I’ll come right out and admit it… we’re both big time Donny Osmond supporters and he’s the only reason we’ve been 
following the show this season. I’m normal and sane and perfectly well-adjusted in every other way, but I guess I’ll always have a soft spot for my pre-teen crush that will never completely disappear. Fortunately, Gavin gets me and isn’t threatened. Like Donny would ever leave Debbie for me!… ( Sorry, wavy dream sequence squiggles blurred my vision momentarily)
I’m not going to tell how we got on the guest list because that would require spilling the beans on someone. Let’s just say fake names were involved! Two women had to cancel at the last minute and we just assumed their identity. No biggie. And, no! We didn’t knock them off in order to get their spots!
Celia and I were told to be at the VIP gate by 2:30PM the day of the taping. We were to be dressed in cocktail attire, and absolutely no jeans, no matter how expensive, would be allowed in the audience. We found the gate quite easily, passed three check points and went through security, metal detectors and had our purses inspected. We were in! Made it!
I wish I had photos to show of the inside of the studio but we weren’t allowed to bring in cameras or cell phones. I understood, but I now know Marie Osmond to be a rebel. From her front row seat she was definitely Twittering throughout the show! I guess ET correspondents need to stay in the loop : )
A comic/host named Corey was in charge of audience management (my term for what he was doing) and he had us all practicing when to applaud and encouraging us to show as much excitement as possible. At one point he reminded everyone to feel free to boo the judges if we didn’t like what they had to say. By the fifth dance I was starting to feel like an unpaid extra on a TV show, and then I realized, YEAH!… that is what we are! But we’re having a blast so that’s OK! My hands were numb from clapping so much, but Corey was always there to keep it going…and going…and going…
We got a special bonus with the taping of Susan Boyle’s performance for the Tuesday elimination show. You’ve heard of her – she’s the UK singing sensation from X-factor, or Britain’s Got Talent, or something like that. She truly is marvelous and, even though it was weird to be cheering the dancers over her singing, it didn’t look rude at all when we watched the actual show on TV. Magic!
It was a great show. The competition was exciting and we could really feel the hyper-energy in the room when the dancers and celebrities performed. They all clearly wanted to do their best. My favourite dance of the night had to have been the futuristic Paso Doble by Joanna Krupa and the blond cutie Derek Hough. It was outstanding. Corey encouraged us to give them a standing O and we willingly obliged (although secretly I was hoping she’s trip on the steady cam operator’s electrical cords and have to leave the competition, heheehee). Donny’s Adam Ant inspired, 80’s Paso Doble (above) didn’t fare quite as well, but Celia and I, and most of the women in the audience, if I’m not mistaken, still cheered him on loyally and thought it was extremely entertaining. Sigh!
This is a shot of the parking garage at the Grove where we were instructed to park. We didn’t use the valet service, of course, but we had to get a shot of the set up! It was gorgeous and all for a shopping mall parkade!
The whole thing was enormous fun, especially being there with a good friend who I knew wanted to be there as much as I did.
Oh yeah, and Mimi Rogers was there, in JEANS!
Tags: Dancing With The Stars·Derek Hough·Donny Osmond·DWTS·jacquie janzen yee·Joanna Krupa·Mimi Rogers·Susan Boyle
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Jacquie Janzen Yee
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Sounds like you had a great time!
Power of attraction really does work…can you focus on our site reaching the top of the blogoshere now? Hee hee
I’m sure you looked purdier than Mimi in your dress anyway so there!
What a fun experience!
What a great post, I felt like I was there all over again and enjoying myself so much. I am so lucky to have such a great friend to share wonderful experiences and times with. A friendship that I will always Cherish!!
A memory that will last a life time no doubt ! You both look beautiful and match even !!! Great photo’s ! What fun !
Twitted by vincentleleux // Nov 16, 2009 at 1:01 p
[...] This post was Twitted by vincentleleux [...]
Unbelievable….what a great experience that must have been although I never did have a crush on Donny Osmond – mine was Leif Garrett.
That was a great night to be there as well as I also loved Mya & Dmitry’s 70’s Samba but have to admit the Futuristic Paso Doble with Joanna and Derek was out of this world.
I have never paid too much attention to this series as well but have to admit Donny did lure me in.
Thanks for sharing this.
Yeah, Mya and Dimiti did an amazing job! She could wind up taking the whole thing. It really was perfectly done. I find Joanna a little stiff, but that’s why the futuristic thing worked so well for her…she nailed it! Bravo to those Pro dancers/choreographers who have to come up with new routines every week. They are the real stars because without them it wouldn’t be a show.
I had a mini crush on Leif Garrett, as well as Jack Wild- the Artful Dodger from the musical Oliver. Ah, to be young!
uberVU - social comments // Nov 16, 2009 at 3:24 p
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You look maaaaaaavelous, dahling!!
What a great story, Jacquie. These kinds of experiences are the best!
A few similar stories for me me involved Model Search America, being on stage with the band Live, and having Harry Connick Jr stand in front of me playing his guitar. What a performer!
Having the ability to catch a glimpse into the up close and personal lives of artists we admire, is a lot of fun.
I have only been on one show taping (my favorite late night host, Jay Leno), and on the set of Friends (off-season), but it’s an enlightening experience seeing how it’s all done. Especially as you mentioned, watching it on television later on to see how it all comes together.
You both looked great. That yellow (what seems to be Lamborghini) sports car in the background isn’t bad either.
I fell in love with those cars when the Cannonball Run movies came out.
Thanks for sharing, Jacquie.
Lawrence, I was thinking that if a guy had taken that photo in the parking garage you’d have only seen a snippet of the floral arrangement and much more of the car!
And you’re so right; being anywhere near talent that you admire is an awesome experience, especially when it’s live. I’ve worked as a stand-in and photo double on countless movies and TV series, but being part of a live studio audience is different. Jay Leno would have been fun to see and being next to Harry Connick while playing! …. lucky you!!
Celia and I were 5 minutes late for a taping of Fresh Prince of Bel Air many years ago and it really was a disappointment to her. This made up for that!
I bet the Model Search of America story is interesting!
Svaha
Truthfully, the photo would depend on the subject, and I think the photographer captured this picture perfectly. Elegance with elegance. The car is just flash and that is neither important, or interesting.
I would never want a car like that, but the whole door opening up was cool as a kid. I’ll take a classic car any day though.
The stand in gig sounds like fun. With all the movies shot in Hamilton these days, that would be something different to try to add to the list of crazy stories.
Fresh Prince would have been amazing. I loved that show and have been a fan of Will Smith from the beginning. Still very talented and up there with my favorite actors.
As for Model Search, it involved early 70’s plaid bellbottoms and an ‘86 Mustang that barely took us back across the border into Canada. lol
My goal is to have a million stories to tell my grandchildren one day, as my grandfather has shared with me. How can life ever be boring, when you can look back on stories such as yours, and laugh and know that you have lived.
There is a great quote out there with regards to skidding in sideways when the end comes, which to me, is about an abundance of moments such as these.
With regards to Donny, perhaps I can lure in Marie; leaving Donny vulnerable to your comforting shoulder.