Desperate as a Housewife - Jef goes Hollywood
So, little did I know that my conference turned vacation in Los Angeles would lead to my national TV debut. It all began in February while attending a work conference in Newport Beach. I decided to add a few days on to the trip and visit my dear friend Sarah in Los Angeles. For those of you just tuning into my life, Sarah + Jef = wacky adventures. We've been friends since high school, and our powers combined lead to many hair-brained ideas and a menagerie of really cute pets.
I knew Sarah would be tied up with work until evening (she's a costumer on Jimmy Kimmel Live), but she had proposed the intriguing offer that Amanda (Sarah's secret twin and business partner) said I could vist her "on set" (yep, I slip right into the Hollywood lingo). Set in this case was Desperate Housewives, so you could bet I was all over it.
The ride from Newport Beach to LA was perfect. The weather was in true California form, I had my trustee GPS navigation system in the rental car (I named it Sally Space box) and the radio station, Indie 103.1, was playing the Portuguese version of Life on Mars from The Life Aquatic soundtrack. I was so happy that one lone tear flowed down my face like those old commercials where the Indian cries about pollution.
Under the tutelage of Sally Space box, I arrived at a graveyard in Alta Dena, hence forth known as set. I should have guessed that my day would take a turn for the surreal when I stopped the car and noticed a chicken crossing the road. No, I'm not setting up a joke here, it was literally a feather-clad chicken (and later multiple chickens) walking in front of my car. I'm still not sure why they were there, but they were certainly something that couldn't be omitted from my adventure.
My first stop on set was a wardrobe trailer resplendent with fancy star wear and notable nametags hanging about -Teri, Nicolette, Marsha. From there we marched up the hill to the actual filming. Seeing all the celebs up close and personal was a total delight. But despite my inner glee, I managed to keep up an exterior as surly as gothic teenager - afterall, I didn't want everyone to know I was a giddy tourist. And besides, I was in graveyard and isn't proper etiquette to be all somber and reserved?
Inbetween scenes, Amanda introduced me to a few folks as her visiting friend from Dallas. In retrospect, I think the whole Dallas thing really ruined my street cred as the actors probably assumed I would greet them with a howdy y'all through a mouth clenched around a piece of straw. Nonetheless, I ended up having a delightful chat with Felicity Huffman (Lynette), who I might add is the wife of William H. Macey. She asked me about the reason for my visit, and I got to use my "I'm not Jewish, I'm Jew - 'ish' (inserting finger air quotes for the' ish') joke" to explain that I was attending a marketing conference for Jewish community workers.
After hanging about the graveyard for a little longer and watching a few more scenes, including one with Marsha Cross (Bree) dressed in a fabulous Jacquie-O-esque, black and white ensemble with oversized hat, we went to craft services for lunch. Again, slipping right into the lingo, craft services is the on set catering that is pretty fancy business. Imagine an all-you-can-eat buffet filled with only the most delicious things waiting for you everyday at lunch? Ahhh Hollywood.
After lunch, I headed into another wardrobe trailer so Amanda could talk to the costume designer. They left me alone for a moment and knowing this was my one chance to get a photo, I snapped a frantic pic of myself that ended up looking like it was shot with a fish eye lense - but it is documented proof of my Housewives adventure. When Amanda came back, she broke the good news, not only did I get to visit ... I was also going to be an extra (or background as I learned it was called) in a restaurant scene filming later that day. Needless to say, it was shaping up to be a really good day.
To get over to the restaurant, we piled in Amanda's car where we were joined by this hunky Hollywood-lookin' guy with a sparkly-white, anchorman grin. Turned out that this everyday hottie was actually Rick Ravanello, who plays Edie's hunky contractor Bill Cunningham - a new character on the show.
Again, I hung out around the wardrobe trailer while Amanda dressed an entourage of fellow extras as busboys, waiters and restaurant patrons. I ended up wearing my own clothes since I had a suitcase full of outfits in my trunk.
The restaurant scene was filmed just outside the Rose Bowl in some kind of country club building. After introducing me to the director, assistant director and countless other crew members, Amanda led me to the background holding area - think cattle car with show folks and food. All I could think of was that "I hope I get it" song from A Chorus Line as I saw the 60-70 aspiring actors milling about - all waiting for their moment in the spotlight. In chatting with the various extras, I learned that everyone was there for different reasons. There was an older lady who used to do PR for Bob Mackie, but after retiring did extra work to stay busy and make new friends. There was another guy who made his living almost exclusively from extra work, he had most recently finished a 30 day stint in the background scenes of Princess Diaries II. And, of course, there was an abundance of actor-by-day, waiter-by-night types who, ironically enough, were dressed as waiters for the restaurant scene (is that one of those life imitating art moments I've heard about?).
After hours of waiting, chatting, people watching and, of course, grazing on craft service, my big moment arrived. I was paired up with the Bob Mackie PR lady, as a mother and son going out for a fancy dinner. We were led into the dining room and placed at a booth behind Rick Ravanello and Teri Hatcher (Susan). We did about three or for takes of the scene, pretending to drink wine and laugh at my on-screen mom's jokes, while Susan was confronted by Edie in the middle of the restaurant. If it all works out, you can see me, or perhaps just a passing glimpse of my earlobe or elbow, on either the March 27 episode Ladies Who Lunch or the April 3 edpisode There Won't Be Trumpets.
But no matter what happens, I'll always have the memories of my network TV debut, the autographed picture of Bree that Amanda got for me and the $43.49 I was paid as an extra on TV's hottest show. So please tune in and keep an eye out and you might just see me on TV.
Love, Love
Love as fast and full-color as my two-second cameo
Love, Jef
P.S. For those of you who just can't get enough, take the Which Housewife Are You? test at http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/quiz/index.html.
I knew Sarah would be tied up with work until evening (she's a costumer on Jimmy Kimmel Live), but she had proposed the intriguing offer that Amanda (Sarah's secret twin and business partner) said I could vist her "on set" (yep, I slip right into the Hollywood lingo). Set in this case was Desperate Housewives, so you could bet I was all over it.
The ride from Newport Beach to LA was perfect. The weather was in true California form, I had my trustee GPS navigation system in the rental car (I named it Sally Space box) and the radio station, Indie 103.1, was playing the Portuguese version of Life on Mars from The Life Aquatic soundtrack. I was so happy that one lone tear flowed down my face like those old commercials where the Indian cries about pollution.
Under the tutelage of Sally Space box, I arrived at a graveyard in Alta Dena, hence forth known as set. I should have guessed that my day would take a turn for the surreal when I stopped the car and noticed a chicken crossing the road. No, I'm not setting up a joke here, it was literally a feather-clad chicken (and later multiple chickens) walking in front of my car. I'm still not sure why they were there, but they were certainly something that couldn't be omitted from my adventure.
My first stop on set was a wardrobe trailer resplendent with fancy star wear and notable nametags hanging about -Teri, Nicolette, Marsha. From there we marched up the hill to the actual filming. Seeing all the celebs up close and personal was a total delight. But despite my inner glee, I managed to keep up an exterior as surly as gothic teenager - afterall, I didn't want everyone to know I was a giddy tourist. And besides, I was in graveyard and isn't proper etiquette to be all somber and reserved?
Inbetween scenes, Amanda introduced me to a few folks as her visiting friend from Dallas. In retrospect, I think the whole Dallas thing really ruined my street cred as the actors probably assumed I would greet them with a howdy y'all through a mouth clenched around a piece of straw. Nonetheless, I ended up having a delightful chat with Felicity Huffman (Lynette), who I might add is the wife of William H. Macey. She asked me about the reason for my visit, and I got to use my "I'm not Jewish, I'm Jew - 'ish' (inserting finger air quotes for the' ish') joke" to explain that I was attending a marketing conference for Jewish community workers.
After hanging about the graveyard for a little longer and watching a few more scenes, including one with Marsha Cross (Bree) dressed in a fabulous Jacquie-O-esque, black and white ensemble with oversized hat, we went to craft services for lunch. Again, slipping right into the lingo, craft services is the on set catering that is pretty fancy business. Imagine an all-you-can-eat buffet filled with only the most delicious things waiting for you everyday at lunch? Ahhh Hollywood.
After lunch, I headed into another wardrobe trailer so Amanda could talk to the costume designer. They left me alone for a moment and knowing this was my one chance to get a photo, I snapped a frantic pic of myself that ended up looking like it was shot with a fish eye lense - but it is documented proof of my Housewives adventure. When Amanda came back, she broke the good news, not only did I get to visit ... I was also going to be an extra (or background as I learned it was called) in a restaurant scene filming later that day. Needless to say, it was shaping up to be a really good day.
To get over to the restaurant, we piled in Amanda's car where we were joined by this hunky Hollywood-lookin' guy with a sparkly-white, anchorman grin. Turned out that this everyday hottie was actually Rick Ravanello, who plays Edie's hunky contractor Bill Cunningham - a new character on the show.
Again, I hung out around the wardrobe trailer while Amanda dressed an entourage of fellow extras as busboys, waiters and restaurant patrons. I ended up wearing my own clothes since I had a suitcase full of outfits in my trunk.
The restaurant scene was filmed just outside the Rose Bowl in some kind of country club building. After introducing me to the director, assistant director and countless other crew members, Amanda led me to the background holding area - think cattle car with show folks and food. All I could think of was that "I hope I get it" song from A Chorus Line as I saw the 60-70 aspiring actors milling about - all waiting for their moment in the spotlight. In chatting with the various extras, I learned that everyone was there for different reasons. There was an older lady who used to do PR for Bob Mackie, but after retiring did extra work to stay busy and make new friends. There was another guy who made his living almost exclusively from extra work, he had most recently finished a 30 day stint in the background scenes of Princess Diaries II. And, of course, there was an abundance of actor-by-day, waiter-by-night types who, ironically enough, were dressed as waiters for the restaurant scene (is that one of those life imitating art moments I've heard about?).
After hours of waiting, chatting, people watching and, of course, grazing on craft service, my big moment arrived. I was paired up with the Bob Mackie PR lady, as a mother and son going out for a fancy dinner. We were led into the dining room and placed at a booth behind Rick Ravanello and Teri Hatcher (Susan). We did about three or for takes of the scene, pretending to drink wine and laugh at my on-screen mom's jokes, while Susan was confronted by Edie in the middle of the restaurant. If it all works out, you can see me, or perhaps just a passing glimpse of my earlobe or elbow, on either the March 27 episode Ladies Who Lunch or the April 3 edpisode There Won't Be Trumpets.
But no matter what happens, I'll always have the memories of my network TV debut, the autographed picture of Bree that Amanda got for me and the $43.49 I was paid as an extra on TV's hottest show. So please tune in and keep an eye out and you might just see me on TV.
Love, Love
Love as fast and full-color as my two-second cameo
Love, Jef
P.S. For those of you who just can't get enough, take the Which Housewife Are You? test at http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/quiz/index.html.
posted by Tingleyallover at 2:57 PM
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