Ellen Day 1

I'm sure most of you have heard way too much about this but I need to type it out so I can always remember this experience. I've already forgotten some things.

About a month we were @ Disneyland and my friend Jamie got a phone call from the people @ Ellen. Jamie had entered for tickets to the show a few weeks prior and they called to tell her she had 4 tickets AND that is was the Halloween taping-meaning we all had to come in full-on costumes. We racked our brains on what four of us could be to coordinate but we ended up all doing our own thing kind of last minute.

Showing up to the show we saw some AMAZING costumes. Where do they think these things up? Our entire ward was pretty much there (the wife half anyway). It was so fun to see so many faces I knew!

A lot of our friends have gone to Ellen several times and have even been on the show and won crazy things, so they gave us the low down on how things went. Before the show people walk around with clip boards looking for possible show contestants. They told us to be smiley and nice to them in hopes of getting on the show. Here's what I was thinking: 'the last thing I want is to be on tv in this flapper costume, making a fool of myself and peeing my pants in the process.' So I decided I was going to sit contently and watch last years Halloween episode that they were airing for us. And it worked! The clipboards came and talked to my friend Blair and then were out of sight. Then a voice came over the loud speaker and said: "We're going to choose about 5 people from each isle to do an audience survey in the back with us." Hmm, I thought, I can do an audience survey if they ask. {Sidenote: there were a lot of other flappers present, no one had given me a second look the whole day and I thought I was totally safe.} Then out of the blue a girl walks right up to me and asks if she can speak with me. I'm thinking, 'uh, what did I just agree to.' They grabbed about 50 of us and had us all stand in a line, as they walked past they would either tell you to go back to your seat or to go to the bungalo. In my head I'm yelling, "Send me back to my seat, Send me back to my seat." And then they say to me, "Alright, you go the bungalo." AHHHHHHH. 7 girls in the bungalo including me. Surprisingly I knew 2 of them and they live in our building!

In the bungalo {aka, trailer in the parking lot}. They ask us lots of questions: Name..Where do you live..Are you married..What does your Husband do..What do you do..Any kids..How long have you watched Ellen..What is your favorite part..THEN there were lots of shpheels on fake excitement and not being shy {shy, me? who's shy?}. We then got to "practice" being called down to play a game. Yes, screaming, jumping up and down and hugging a fake Ellen. This actually really helped to loosen up. They then tell us there is a game on the show today and that it involves running and water. I'm thinking, 'did you look at my costume?!!! My mother made this when I was in 8th great! Hello? I'm going to rip it!'

They then whisked us away to find the rest of our groups in the Rifraf room. I spot Jamie {hott lady gaga} and immediately spill how freaked out I am! I also text my family to tell them this crazy news and to pray that I didn't make a fool out of myself if I was chosen.

Ok so you know when you're watching, Ellen, Oprah, etc. and they come back from commercial everyone is screaming and clapping? Ya, there's a LOT of screaming and clapping and dancing! Lady gaga was pulled to the floor and worked it before they show started {so proud of you Jamie}!

So I ended up NOT being one of the 2 chosen to play the game, but Ashley {a girl in our building} did get picked to play Bob Snap! Bobbing for apples while being bungee corded to your opponent! They both ended up winning flat screen tv's! And my friend Blair was chosen for the top ten costumes! {She's Ellen's recording label in the video}

At the end of the show they read several names {mine was the first} to meet in the back of the Rifraf room. So I'll make this part short. The next day was a taping with Portia de Rossi promoting her new book Unbearable Lightness. They asked a few of us to read as much of the book as we could and to think of some questions we would want to ask Portia if time permitted during the show.

Pretty much wraps up Day 1, here's a video clip of the Halloween dancing sesh! You can see me twice. Blue Flapper Dress, Black Bob Wig...really doesn't look like me at all! I'm in between Lady Gaga and an Oompa Loompa {my friend Jenny}.