And everyone in the day-to-day production family on stage 1 seemed genuinely happy working thier gig. It really means a lot to me to have a jovial, helpful and professional energy on set. And it didn't hurt my feelings at all when they moved cones so Jack and my car could park at the stage door rather than at the parking structure 100 yards away. Parking at the stage door. Now that makes a girl feel like it's gonna be a stellar day!
The Tonight Show treated us well, pre-scripted hilarious material for our segment, pre-constructed a new target board for us, and allowed us on the stage to set up camera angles and get us aquainted with the Tonight Show studio space. When Conan arrived, each act had on-set rehearsal with him before he put on his game face. The neatest moment by far was after rehearsal, watching Conan's creative process from our dressing room monitors. He had pages of pre-written material he would read out loud from, testing it's funny and testing it's flow. He'd furrow and grimace and completely scratch out some material. He's play with other material, making post cut suggestions, he'd reword punch lines and repeat his delivery until he felt comfortable, but still fresh. In the end, what appeared to be a royal counsel of writers stood behind him as his favored test audience. They laughed, everyone relaxed and then the show was written!There was very little downtime backstage, but still the friends Jack and I invited to sit as guests in the studio audience got to hang out in our dressing room with us while we put the final primps on our costume, hair and makeup. And then without delay, our friends were whisked away to their seats, the cameras started to roll, and that band - oh, Conan's band is the moving force of the show! - they struck chord and wow, the show was on!
The Tonight Show doesn't do retakes and they actually keep the cameras rolling the appropriate amount of time for the commercial brakes. The intention is to shoot a live-broadcast show with the luxury of being able to edit out the offensive word or dragging stage cross if needed. But never do they edit something that wasn't there in. For all intensive purposes, when the band plays, that show is a locomotive and ain't stoppin for hurricane, well-dressed women or sunset views. We were off like a train and and I was gently walked backstage.
The Tonight Show is Conan O'Brien's show. And there is a good reason for it - this man is gifted with the funny. So a good segment on the Tonight Show, the way I figure it, is a segment that inspires Conan to his funniest - and that would be our segment on the Thursday July 30th broadcast! Conan was full on physical comedy (at 6'5 or something towering like that, physical comedy takes special dimensions). He was ninja squatting, running laps, punching balloons, sassily aggressing the audience and was ON. If his job was to bring the funny, and Jack Dagger's job was to bring the expert skill set, my job was to be available. I needed to be available to the funny and the skillset and you'd be surprised how difficult that job is, sometimes; it's easy to be in your head, thinking other thoughts other than being available. But I did my job as did Conan and Jack and what a show stopping segment we created!
I have so much respect for this machine.
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15 Comments:
This was the show that caught my eye, with you in particular. He seemed to constantly be trying to shake your hand or greet you in some manner and you handed him a knife and a cucumber at various points instead. haha. Awesome show. His antics had me rolling as they always do.
Thanks for noticing, cablebfg. I had a hoot on stage with the knife throwing men. Conan really turned it on for the cameras and I am honored to know how this late night talk show is made in broad daylight! I'd do it again right away it was so fun!
intents and purposes ;^)>
Tonya you rock, you guys did a fantastic job.:) Thanks for sharing an interesting glance behind the scenes, AND for helping me pick out a headshot! ; D
yt,
€isley J. Const.
You are welcome. Your work is vital as an artist. Keep discovering that aspect of your person!
So, how does it work? Do yall get invited or do yall send something in for the chance to be picked? I know some guests have been on there a few times, but I don't know about acts like yours.
Clue me in a bit. :)
I think people hire big publicity agents and managers to submit them to late nite talk shows like the Tonight Show, but Jack gets called directly often because our act is so one-of-a-kind. We got direct called in.
Loving the quick responses! Very interesting that Jack gets called directly. Must be exciting to work in such an unique act.
So, was the original plan to have Conan throw knives at YOU, like it sounded like? Or was it always going to be Tom Cruise? Or was it The Fonz. Now I can't remember. Haha.
No. Absolutely no. Conan was never to throw knives around me. And please make that correction, even Jack does not throw knives AT me!
Wow, that Fonz chracter was straight from my childhood. And looked so grossly real in person.
hahaha. My fault. No, I certainly hope no one is throwing knives AT you. Good call on never thinking to have Conan throw knives around you at all.
Though, I was impressed that Jack got Conan to throw it pretty well.
Nothing better than the creepy Tom Cruise. But the Fonz is hilarious. Did you ever see the episode with the Fonz at the urinal?
I don't have television!
But I did hear about the urinal episode on set. It's famous with people.
I loved the tonight show segment! I actually e-mailed Jack to find out who you are because you were awesome, funny, and of course gorgeous. It was nice to see someone with some personality in a show like that! Usually it's just some emotionless smiley girl.
Ash, thank you so much for noticing! I am not your emotionless smiley girl, that's for sure. I do my own stunts!
And if you want to see me throwing the knives, subscribe to my online itinerary http://tonyakay.com/itinerary/itinerary.php and watch Comedy Central's new series Secret Girlfriend this October. It airs in the time slot after South Park! And I am playing a reoccurring role, Cassidy, the lesbian burlesque dancer who beats up boys. And yes, I'll be throwing the knives, among many other stunts.
Ash, I checked out your paranormal websites. I am impressed.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Margaret
http://powerleveling.info
Thank you, Jesus.
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