Did you catch me on the Today Show today?
It’s a funny story, how I ended up on the show, this time. The brief video is at the end but the story starts here.
Lifelong Today Show fan
As long as I can remember, I’ve watched the Today Show. In my teen years, admittedly, it was more of a timekeeper for me as I got ready for school in the morning.
As an adult, I gained a new level of appreciation for the show with its perfect combination of news, weather and entertainment. And who didn’t love the cute interactions of the anchors with each other and guests on the show?
And yes, it still offered me timekeeping. Before the pandemic, I knew by the time I heard Al uttering the words, “…in your neck of the woods”, I better be heading towards the door to start my one hour commute into the office.
Bucket List item
Those of you who know me, know I’m serious about my Bucket List. A good part of my list includes beaches across the world I’d like to explore. However, one of the non-nautical items on the list, for as long as I can remember, was being on the Today Show.
To that end, almost any time I went to New York, whether for work or for pleasure, I tried to figure out how I could go to the Today Show Plaza to get on camera to wave. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, it never worked out for me to actually make it to the Plaza.
Close but not Today
In January 2016, for my daughter, Nicole’s 18th birthday, we took a Girls Trip to New York, with my older daughter, Chalisse. I was excited about my daughter’s birthday but also because I knew it would give me another shot at getting on the show.
Unfortunately, as luck would have it, I injured my foot before the trip and couldn’t bear weight to stand in line.
So, I had to settle for sitting behind the prop desk at the NBC gift store.
Unrelated but hilarious!
This is not related to the Today Show but it is one of my favorite memories from that trip to New York. Watch as my daughters start randomly jamming in the middle of the store isle. Almost as funny, is the guy who walks up on them in the middle of their jam session and tries to bounce his way back out.
Another shot at the Today Show
When Nicole was invited to an in-person interview with Buzz Feed in June of 2017, I knew it might be my next best chance to finally get on the show. We arrived on a late Friday so we could hang out in the city before her interview on Monday.
I knew Saturday would be a great day to go because we both loved the weekend hosts, Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones. (Yes, I raised all 5 of my children watching The Today Show). So, we decided to go stand in line.
I finally made it!
The moment we arrived at the Plaza, I started taking pictures immediately.
I was rewarded with a shot of Sheinelle catching me, catching a photo of her.
Even a little rain didn’t deter us.
Here come the anchors
If you’re a pre-pandemic Today Show fan, you recall how it used to be so exciting when the anchors would come outside to interact with the crowd. You see me “fan-girling” with the pictures, don’t you?
Encouraging words
As Craig and Sheinelle started making the rounds through the crowds they both stopped and briefly chatted with Nicole and me. When they heard about her BuzzFeed interview, they both offered her words of encouragement and “you got this”. Both took a pic with us to help remember the occasion.
Even though we weren’t on air, we made it to the plaza AND we got to interact with Craig and Sheinelle. Not only did it make my day and my Bucket List got another check; it made quite an impression on Nicole. I think it gave her a little extra boost of confidence going into her interview. I predicted Nik would get the internship and created this sign to prove it.
She landed the internship!
The Today Show Virtual Plaza
With my mom’s 80th birthday coming up on February 4th, I contacted the Today Show to see if I could do a birthday shout out from the Today Show Virtual Plaza.
This was the week before the Super Bowl. A friendly producer named Kevin contacted me and said the Virtual Plaza was full on 2/4 but inquired if we were Bucs fans. Between Kevin’s engaging nature and my love of bragging about my grandchildren, one conversation led to another and my daughter and grandson’s ended up being on the show. Check them out!
Birthday Surprise
I didn’t let not being on the Today show deter me from finding a way to get my mother’s special birthday broadcast. Since I planned a surprise trip to Phoenix on her birthday I decided to do a Facebook Live stream of the surprise. You can check it out here.
A forever fan!
I was already a Today Show Super Fan because of the people in front of the cameras. However, in my recent interaction with friendly producer, Kevin, I learned the people behind the cameras are every bit as awesome as the ones in front of the cameras. This is just another reason, I’m such a huge Today Show fan! Read on to hear how Kevin made me a forever fan.
A shout out to producer Kevin, the patient listener
In my conversation with the friendly producer, Kevin, I excitedly explained to him how much I love the Today Show and how I’m a lifelong fan. Kevin made sure to let me know how much he and the Today Show appreciated me being a fan. He let me indulge him with my stories about going to the Today Show and never once made me feel rushed.
During our conversation, Kevin humored me and listened patiently as I told him all about why I wanted to do the birthday shout out for my mom, how long it had been since I had seen her and my plans to surprise her before going to Hawaii.
When I finished, Kevin asked if I would be interested in saying hello from Hawaii to Craig, Hoda and Savannah. Of course, I jumped at the chance!
Kevin, was funny, fun and seemed to truly appreciate me, as a fan. He didn’t have to offer me the chance to say hi to the anchors on air; but he did AND he even included the picture I sent to him that Nicole and I took with Craig on that memorable trip.
I have to give Kevin bonus points for helping me check yet another item on my Bucket List. This one was to do more than just stand on the plaza and wave but actually be “on” the Today Show! Now I can check that one off the list too. Thank you Kevin!
Check me out as I cross off another item on my Bucket List.
Morning companion
On my journey in life, the Today Show has been my consistent morning companion. It was there long before the dark days of anxiety and depression showed up last year and is still here, as I work on actively reclaiming my spirit.
Thank you Today Show and thank you awesome and friendly, producer Kevin! You made this old girl’s day with another positive step on my journey to reclaim my spirit!
