When we had received our list of things to bring, they initially told us to bring any "props/costumes used in our videos"...but when I mentioned Gabe's Horsie was quite bulky & would require extra "oversized baggage" fees (ie $50-80), I was told not to worry about it...
Well, just after getting checked into our room at the hotel, the Talent Coordinator informed me that The Producers had changed their minds & wondered if someone at home might be able to box up "Ol' Sliver" & send him out "Pony Express"(make that NEXT DAY Fed Ex!!!)? Hubby feverishly manufactured a box big enough to house Gabe's mount (since he couldn't find one around that fit)...and missed the deadline to get it to us the next day, but he DID find out that it would cost a small fortune to overnight such a substantial package! Before going ahead with shipping it off, he called the network to see if the nearly $500 price tag would be within their budget, & if so, it could arrive in time for Friday's dress rehearsal & taping of the show! Even though they were running a pretty tight ship, they ok'd this extravagance & "Ol' SLiver" was off to meet up with his Canine Cowpoke!
On Thursday & Friday we were scheduled to "work" at Barker Hanger (gotta love the name for a Doggie Awards show site!). We were picked up by noonish (earlier on Friday) and taken over to The Hanger, where we checked in. There's tight security around the studio and anyone going in or out & about, has to have the proper ID tags/pass, etc.
No sooner had we entered the building, than we were approached my non other than "Mr. Biggie" himself, Albie Hecht, CEO of Nickolodeon Network (his company is called "Worldwide Biggies"). "Here comes Gabe!" he said excitedly as he walked up and introduced himself. I was aware of who he was from reading about the show, but was very impressed with how "down to earth" he was. He didn't act like the Classic "Stuffed Shirt" CEO, but came across more like "the guy next door".
Each of us were assigned a "Talent Escort" who helped us be where we needed to be, when we needed to be there, & was supposed to know where we were at all times. One of our escorts was Alyssa, who seemed to hit it off quite well with my eligible & handsome son, Micah (BTW, they spelled his name wrong on the show )
We spent most of the first day in a rather cramped & spartan room with the other five finalists & their families.
Here's Gabe posing with "Best Dressed" Finalist, Phoebe Buffay & "Owner Look-Alike" Kaine, with his little "brother" Jesse the JRT who was a semi-finalist in Gabe's category. (their two owners, the Brooke sisters, both made it to the semi-finals with their pooches). This little guy (Jesse) is VERY talented & recently won the Bissell Contest, winning $10,000 for the rescue group of his choice)
Kaine, the shepherd, was very scared of Gabe as he'd been attacked by a BiG BaD BuLLy at a dog park a while back, & he kept barking whenever Gabe came around. He was a sweet dog, but was generally suspicious & wary of new dogs. We did manage to get them to pose together in a group "BoW", though the photo isn't the best
One at a time, we were taken out to the set & walked through our "intro" for the show. We reviewed the interview questions that Fred Willard would be asking us as he presented our award & gave them an idea of what our responses would be. (Of course Fred, being the Master of Improv, changed his questions/remarks every time he got to me! The first day Fred and the three judges weren't actually there, so they had actor "stand ins" who read their lines from the prompter screens.
This fellow, Reg (didn't catch his last name) really took Micah under his wings & encouraged him in his film career pursuits, giving him lots of pointers & tips for success. (and you'll note he has GREAT taste in clothing...he had his "Gabe" shirt on, sporting a white bulldog and little bones )
Meanwhile there were scores of people up on catwalks, cranes, etc. adjusting lights, sets, etc. Gabe was pretty much unfazed by any of it and he walked the grounds like he owned the place! Several people commented that he had "star" written all over him!
Of course THAT'S exactly what our PawSee's been tellin' em, right?!! How could they resist this FACE?!!!
*** Tune in tomorrow for The GRaNdE FiNaLE!!!
NOTE: Photos property of SittingBullies.com All rights reserved.
Posted on Oct 8, 2008, 10:11 PM from IP address 76.28.212.3
)
