Friday, October 3rd was our BiG day! That day we would have our Dress Rehearsal, followed by the taping in front of a live audience (sure glad they weren't dead, that's for sure! )
We checked in at the gate & got our VIP passes...
...then we were taken to our VeRY OWn TRaiLeR on the lot out behind the hanger. There was a trailer for each of the "stars"...Fred Willard, Vivica Fox, Tamar Geller...and GABE!
The dogs had "duplex" trailers with each dog's name next to the door. Inside it was fairly spartan, with pergo flooring, a corner lounge/bed, microwave, fridge, DVD player (nothing to watch), and bathroom.
Right outside the door to each trailer was our own PRiVaTe PoRCh PoTTy...
(some of the dogs didn't know how to use these posh potty pads on the first day, so Gabie gave 'em a good demo to get 'em started...he's pretty helpful that way!)
We had to have our wardrobe approved by the Special Wardrobe Examiner. They'd given us mixed messages as to what we were supposed to wear, so many of the finalists had just brought jeans, though the producers were hoping for slightly nicer attire! (...never thought I'd be accused of being "over-dressed", but actually they said they liked my choice..."Dress for Success!" works, I guess!)
We hung out in our trailer while we waited for Dress Rehearsal to begin...tried to catch up on some ZZzzz's (not too successfully, I might add!), checked in at make-up to try to get some help in hiding the Sleepy Bags under the Ol' Eyeballs, and then hung out behind "Stage Right" while awaiting our turn on the stage.
(I REALLY started to have second thoughts about my "wardrobe" when I saw Fred & the judges come to the "Dress Rehearsal" dressed like THiS!...but then I was assured that THEY had NOT "dressed" yet! Whew!)
During the rehearsals, we practiced "Being Eliminated"...The first time they randomly drew 3 names out of a hat "just for practice" & had those dogs run through being axed, then the next time we practiced with the remaining three. Each time they had the three dogs they were eliminating step forward, then walk off stage...SO, when they called Gabe as one of the three names during the REAL show, I was quite surprised (I couldn't imagine them paying a fortune to ship Gabe's Horsie overnight Fed Ex, just to see us end up in the bottom three!). Strangely, I didn't feel upset or worried--just puzzled...
THEN, Fred said the magic words, & I knew we were "Home Free"!..."AND YOU THREE DOGS ARE SAFE!!!" I knew from our practices that the weimaraner, Chalcy, would be retrieving the RED block for her owner as that was the one she had scented...and I saw out of the corner of my eye that GABE'S name was on that block After the announcement that GABE was the new WoRLdWiDe FiDO, they brought Ol' SLiver out for his "victory ride"! Gabe immediately climbed aboard his faithful steed & THEN...THE SKY STARTED FALLING & GABIE SAID, "WHA' HAPPENED!!!" (Ha! Ha!...that's a Fred Willard quote from "Best in Show" in case you didn't catch it! ) The confetti was the only thing that threw this boy off...but I knew he HAD to get in a good ride for the cameras, so I waited for the confetti to settle, & then got in some rockin' & wavin' for the crowd. They were happy. The Gabester came through!
After the show, we had to go "meet the press" off stage for a de-briefing. Gabe & I posed with Albie (The NICK CEO) & Fred...
(THiS trophy was the one for Best Trick...the SMALL one!!!...someone whisked the BiG FiDo TRoPHy away to a safe place so it isn't in the pix)
...and Tamar Geller
Gabe felt right at home with Tamar...you can tell she's a "dog" person as he really was happy snuggling in right beside her, even though he didn't really know her. (notice his expression when she's in the pic, as opposed to his "tired & bored" frump in the previous one )
The two trophies were held back by the network in order to have the name plate engraved & attached & they'll be sending them on to us after that. Here is The BiG ONe (it must weigh about 40-50#...it's HUMOGEROUS!!!)
(the yellow "Fido Awards" bone is not on the actual trophy--just a space for the name plate to go) Told hubby when I called home with the news that I had "Good News" & "Bad News"...the Bad News is that he's gonna hafta build us a new room to house Gabe's trophies...the Good News...well you KNOW!!! WE WON!!!
We returned to our hotel after a LOOONNNGGG twelve-hour day of "work", and I ran into Albie Hecht in the lobby of our hotel. He said they were having some hors d'oevres & invited Gabe, Micah & I to join them...his treat. So--Gabe had mammoth Prawn Cocktails with Albie & all the Hob-Nobsters!!!
As a fun aside, Micah & I were sitting next to a lady who told us she was a producer of independent films...she gave Micah her card & told him to send her some of his stuff When we got home, Micah found out on the internet, that she has won TWO ACADEMY AWARDS for short films she's produced & has been nominated for two others!
*** MANY THANKS to all our Loyal GaBeSTeRoOTeR PaWSeE PaLs for believing in us, voting faithfully & rooting us on to VICTORY! We offer our heartfelt appreciation & gratitude for a job well done! ***
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