“Today? Today.” “Yes, the Today Show!”
Jill: “Hey Jack, you know who Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are, right?”
Jack: “I know who Faith Hill is.”
Jill: “So you know their music, right?”
Jack: “I know who Faith Hill is.”
Jill: “Would you be interested in seeing them?”
Jack: “I’d be interested in seeing Faith Hill.”
Jill: “Nevermind.”
Jack: “What about Faith Hill?”
Jack and I both enjoy country music, myself more so. And perhaps for different reasons but I digress.
As luck would have it, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill would be performing on the Today Show, which is filmed in/at Rockefeller Center in the BIG city. New York City. Having received fan passes from the show, we were guaranteed a spot near the stage. Given the overall time commitment involved with this endeavor, I would be forgoing Jack’s company and enlisting the company of my dear friend, Cleveland. She and I were to embark on this adventure together!
Up at 2:00AM, out the door by 3:00AM (I remember coming home at this time!), I picked up my accomplice and made the trek into the Big Apple.
Getting into the city and parked was clean-smoothing. After a few loud screams and some dancing in the streets (I’m sure the ‘suits’ appreciated the break in their morning ritual… one of the building’s security guards certainly did!), we headed to the center and our spot in line.
It was now 3:56AM and we had the company of approximately 20 people in front of us. If you ever find yourself in this type of scenario, you quickly find a sense of community, camaraderie with those around you. Some would call it the, kumbaya-effect. Others… misery loves company!
Some of our cohorts hailed from Jacksonville, Florida and Missouri, and we also had the locals; New York and New Joisey.
Something else to understand is, Mother Nature must wait as the facilities are not at all readily accessible. As such, NO FOOD OR DRINK FOR YOU!!! It is at these very moments when one truly appreciates those simple things in life, such as COFFEE!
One of NY’s finest came over to chat us up as we waited. Jack insists that’s a given though my feeling is he was more interested in visiting Cleveland.
He shared the happenings of the city streets during his shifts. As an aside, he even provided the definition of petty larceny which, evidently, can include borrowing a chair from a nearby restaurant.
Jack: “You did what???”
Jill: “Nevermind.”
Our knightly blue stud was very entertaining and made our time pass quickly. Seeing as it was a very windy, Winnie-the-Pooh type of day and we were near-frostbitten, that was a very good thing. The Floridian friends shared their afternoon’s itinerary (a visit to the South Bronx) with our handsome sentinel to which he laughed, adding it was an ill-conceived plan and provided a frame of reference. With all the tawkin’ we did, I have no doubt they’ll go back to the Sunshine State with a healthy New Yawk accent and a thirst for dirty watah dawgs.
Excitement filled the air when we saw the NBC staff come over to our line with the lists of names and lanyards for our fan passes. Upon receiving our passes, we all commenced with a happy dance, me spinning about and Cleveland being, well, Cleveland. This naturally attracted more uniforms our way.
Eventually we were moved toward the stage area of Rockefeller Plaza. FYI… Just learned this today; if you don’t know the lyrics to the songs and are on camera, simply sing the word, watermelon. Because of the syllables, no one will be the wiser. So we tried it, using the Floridian as our guinea pig and by golly, it looked as if she knew the actual words to the song.
So they corralled us and we moved to our final destination, the concert stage, but not before doing the security thing; purses/bags through x-ray and people through the scanner.
As I was walking to the stage, there was a wide open area. So what did I do? But of course, I DANCED! This was the BEST dance of the day. I got the moves, I tell ya! Once again, I was caught by security which seemed to bring them great joy.
Finally, Tim & Faith made their appearance for the sound check and the crowd went loco! They sang 3 songs, talked to the crowd and goofed around with each other. I have to say, Tim seems like a funny guy just like my Jack. Jack always keep me laughing and smiling. Love that about him. Everyone had their phones out taking photos galore and videos. It was great fun. Tim & Faith eventually left us to go inside the studio for their interview and to change into their performance attire.
An employee from NBC then came over to give us our show notes. Tim & Faith would perform one song at 7:50am, 8:00am and 8:40am, with the show ending promptly at 9:00am. “Scream and wave when you see the camera.” Hoda, one of the show’s hosts, came over for a visit, sans box of wine. Naturally, I went for the selfie. I asked. She agreed. Insert photo bomber and upload to social media. Not a good hair-day but hey, it’s a selfie with Hoda! Bottom’s up!
The magic of Hollywood (ok, mid-town Manhattan) unfolded and we all screamed and waved as instructed. Well, that camera continued to come over every 5-10 minutes for the next 2 1/2 hours. I have to say, being on TV is hard work! Tim & Faith came out performed at the designated times, and had lots of interaction with the crowd. When they sang their new love song, The Rest of Our Life, I balled! Mushy songs get me every time, right, Jack?
In their last number (that’s entertainment talk for, song), Tim came walking through the crowd, right up close and personal… in my face. So close, I could touch him. So I did. And he touched me.
Actually, looking at him, I couldn’t help but think of Jack and how hot he would look in that cowboy hat! Then again, Jack looks hot in anything he wears… or doesn’t wear.
Sadly, all good things must end… and we were freezing. Leaving Rock-Center (entertainment talk for, Rockefeller Center), Cleveland and I bid our adieus and made our way to get some much needed cawfee and thaw out. After that, we headed back to the Joisey side!
