Fran's World…and Welcome to It!

Someone asked me the other day what it was like doing a taping of a TV show. Now, nearly 250 TV shows later, I still remember the excitement I felt when I did my first show, which happened to be the Joe Franklin Show. In case you haven't heard of him, he's in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest running talk show… I think his first set was in Lincoln's log Cabin …yeah well, you get the point.

Anyway, I remember I brought my mom with me because I was so nervous. I was on to promote my product, the "Pet Fleas". They were tiny little stuffed fleas that came with a care book, and a tiny matchbox home. I would sell them at flea markets.

I remember that Jackie Mason was on the show with me and the first comment he made to Joe Franklin was that everyone in the opening montage was dead…"What is this… a show for dead people?"

Afterwards, he asked my mom if he could take me out on a date. Although I like his humor…he was old enough to be my father, and he wasn't exactly my type, so I turned him down. His secretary later called my house and told me I was making a big mistake. Such is life.

Anyway, for those of you who have never been to a taping of a TV show, I thought you might find it interesting to know what goes on behind the scenes when you get asked to be a guest. Let's cut to the chase and say they know about your talents (in my case they are usually interested in my fast-talking) and they want you to come on the show to do a segment. They usually have a theme in mind, or a plan set up already (like with me playing a prank on Martha Stewart on April Fools day).

So the first thing that happens is the segment producer will call, introduce herself, ask you if you'd like to be on the show and tell you what they have in mind. Once you say you are available, she'll begin to interview you by asking you a bunch of questions, similar to the questions they would ask you on the show. Thus, without you being aware of it, you are being screened and interviewed. They're testing to see your responses. Do you have funny stories? Are you articulate? In short, will you make an entertaining guest?

Once they like your stories you'll usually get another call, this time from another producer higher up. You then repeat the same stories and then often are told…"Good tell that story," etc. In my case, they always ask how I broke the record and what I can do to demonstrate my fast-talking. Then to personalize the segment, they want me to fool around and read the news or the weather, or fast talk to another guest…just something fun.

The type of TV show determines the setup. If I'm doing a single interview like when I did a segment for Extra, the host is going to be off camera and my responses are me talking into camera.

If I'm doing a announcing segment, I'm by myself at first off camera then I go and sit with the hosts to be interviewed like when I did Chase and Crook out of Seattle.

And if I'm in a group setting where I'm one of people promoting a product like when I was one of the authors in Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul, talking about the story in the book will determine what props the producer will ask you to bring.

If it's a single interview segment or group segment, they may ask if you have any pictures, plaques, anything visual to bring to liven up the segment. If you are doing announcing or a prank, they usually just want you to know the script.

After all the preliminary setup, and they like you, they'll give you the date and call time that you need to be at the studio, which is usually an hour before you have to go on. They'll also remind you what not to wear, "no whites, reds or black (for some stations), no small print, turtle necks, stripes or logos." These are all colors or things that will drive the camera screen crazy, and in the case of logos, there is no free advertising on TV for the company and more importantly, the company can sue because you displayed a product without permission. That's why, unless there is a product specifically placed on a TV or movie set, the titles are blurred out or the boxes turned around.

Okay, back to the schedule. Next you'll receive another phone call from the travel person who will tell you what time the car service will be at your house to take you to the station or airport…depending on the location.

Sometimes it’s a limo, other times one of those CIA looking cars. Usually they pick you up in a limo and drop you home in a cab, like they did with the Geraldo Show…but that's show business.

Once at the station it’s a lot of hurry up and wait. Some stations have makeup and hair artists…some just makeup…and some you are on your own. I always ask in advance so I know how to prepare.

When I was doing the 17 TV shows for Auntie Anne's in July, only Fox and San Antonio Living had makeup people (news shows generally don't). It's nice to have their professionals put on the makeup because they know how to do it to look make you look your best in the studio lighting. I remember this one time when I was on Gerlado's "Top ten wacky, weird and Wild" show. This one woman insisted on putting on her own makeup…well the result was she looked like something out of the Rocky Horror picture show. TV makeup is different than your normal street makeup…so if its an option, let them do it. And for you guys, a dousing of powder on the forehead and face, makes you look nice, not like a shiny lightbulb.

Okay, so now you went to makeup and you are waiting in the green room. Depending on the segment (if you’re a featured guest) or part of a topic…you will either be in your own green room, or with others. In the green room usually there is bottle water and some food like bagels, fruits, and snacks. There is also usually a telephone, bathroom and TV set, which is tuned to the show you are going to be on. Whether it's live or taped you can see what's going on in the studio.

At some point the segment producer will come over and discuss the show format, when you are going on, remind you of what stories they want you to tell, and tell you how long you will be on for. If you have any props (like a book, or pretzels, or a cup from the Titanic) they will take them from you at this point and set it up in the studio so the cameras can get a shot.

If you are union (AFTRA governs TV) and are getting paid to be on the show you will have to fill out paper work and have photo id. If you are non-union, you will just usually sign a general release form saying they can use your image and likeness. This is on talk shows, not on news shows like Good Morning America, etc.

Okay, so when your segment is going to be on soon, they take you to the studio and the sound guy mikes you up with a lapel mic. For women, you want to make sure you don't have any long jewelry that will clank against the mic. The battery pack of the mic goes under your shirt and tucks into your pants, or skirt.

The sound guy will ask you to do a mic check, usually by counting to 10. That's when I usually act like a wise guy and count either really fast or in Greek. (I learned how to count in Greek when I was dating a Greek guy in my teens.)

Depending on the format of the show, you will either walk out when you are introduced, or be seated so when they come back from a commercial break you are already there. If you are walking out, they will show you your mark to hit, and then tell you which seat to go over to. These are usually done when there is a live studio audience. In news segments, the guest is seated between the commercial breaks. The hosts will usually be both on the same side of you so that you can face one way when talking. The hosts will give an introduction about you, and then there will be a shot of you.

Now it's your time to shine. Stay calm. Remember it's only a conversation. The second you are on start smiling. The lights are bright and hot, but act as if you are as comfortable as can be. The studios are usually air conditioned anyway to keep the equipment cool.

There are usually three cameras on a set; one on the hosts, one on the guests and one on all three of you. The director tells them when to cut to close ups, long shots etc. One way to tell what camera is on is by looking for a tiny red tally light on top of the cameras. When that light is on, that camera is on air. When talking on camera remember to "cheat to camera". That means that your body is essential facing forward and you are looking towards (NOT AT), towards, the camera…but to the home audience it looks as if you are talking to the hosts directly. The reason you do that is so that people at home get a full face, not a profile the entire time.

So then, all you have to do from here is be animated, and show enthusiasm. Remember the better the guest you are, the better their ratings, and the more likely you will get invited back. But while you are being your best self, also remember to focus on your topic, remember your key points and what you want to say. It's very easy to get wrapped up in a host's questions, and run out of time while forgetting to plug whatever you were on for…. so stay on focus.

Also remember the principle of "YES and…." If you are being cross-examined by the CIA you might want to give one-word answers…but on TV that is the death of an interview. Its boring TV, and makes everyone uncomfortable. So for example if the host says, "How long you been in show business?" and you answer "A year," he has to ask you another question. But if you say, "a year…the whole thing started as a joke when I…." now you're talking, everyone is listening, and you're doing the thing your're there for…to be on TV and get noticed…

Okay that's enough talk…. roll camera…see you at the next blog.

Side Note: All this information and more is in my book
"How to Get Publicity Without a Publicist" (visit my bookstore at www.francapo.com) for more details.

Behind the TV SCENES

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