I am blessed with a rather special group of dog walkers who gather daily up at the local park. They are just such a positive, caring bunch. Earlier this morning as our dogs flew about chasing balls, eating sticks and in my dog’s case, begging for treats, the conversation turned from security concerns at this afternoon’s Super Bowl to the upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics. Having had the 2010 Winter Olympics in our backyard all of us naturally take a keen interest in the upcoming Sochi version.
I couldn’t help but think about the freedom of my Today Show experience of four years ago. Yes, (quick toss of the hair) I’ve been on more than one television show. Ha! Allow me to explain.
As you may remember, NBC’s Today Show with Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira was filmed at the peak of Grouse Mountain, our local ski hill, for the entire two-week run of the 2010 Winter Olympics. It was a spectacular feat. Other than a helicopter, the only method of transportation to the top (3700 metres) was the 8 minute Skyride gondola. Regardless of the distance, locals and visitors were encouraged to come up and view the filming in process.
I couldn’t not go. What an opportunity. Who knew when I’d get to New York or if I’d ever get another chance to see the show live?
The show was filmed between the convenient hours of 4:00 – 8:00 AM local time. I got up at 2:00 AM. Naturally, the only people who wanted to come with me at that hour were my school aged children; it was a school day so I sadly vetoed that. Everyone else thanked me but said they’d watch it from home.
“Make sure you get some autographs!” Like that was going to happen. I wasn’t about to fall all over someone for a scribbled piece of paper thank you very much.
It was a quick twenty-minute drive. I arrived at the base of the mountain to find a surprisingly empty parking lot. Unsure of where to get the ticket I headed for the only illuminated building. An employee breezily pointed out entrance to the line up. There must have been 50 or so people ahead of me in line and a couple of buses in that upper parking lot. It became evident right away that I was the only one who’d been sleeping and one of the few not drinking. The majority of the folks carried brightly coloured placards (Go Team USA!) and several were draped in American flags. You couldn’t have asked for a friendlier bunch.
Olympic Today Show
How to describe the scene up at the peak? Lights, cameras, action. And smoke. I remember lots of smoke from the fire pit that was host central.
- The Today Show’s fire pit. Anybody bring marshmallows?
The highlight of the celebrity interviews on that particular Olympic Today Show had to be the one with Canada’s gold medal winners (of just a few hours earlier) in Ice Dance. Skaters Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue.
I was lucky to see them come off the gondola. She gingerly walked down the final steps before whispering a plaintive “Guys, help. I’ve got the wrong shoes on!” Two fellows whipped her up off her feet and propelled her over to the fire pit for their interview. Of course, we all learned a few weeks later that she’d been suffering from compartment syndrome in her legs and that it had been excruciating for her to simply walk the 10 minutes from her room to the cafeteria in the Athletes Village. How she managed to perform a gold medal skate is beyond me. She is a true professional.
As the Olympic Today Show wound down I found myself being the most impressed with Meredith Vieira. Her interview style was relaxed and attentive. She really seemed to be listening. She also was so happy to sign autographs. My thoughts shifted. Perhaps I should get one? A close family member shared her name after all.
My opportunity came just after I bought a pen in the gift shop. Meredith was heading on set. She was all alone.
“Excuse me. Would you be so kind as to sign my Skyride ticket for another Meredith?” The Skyride ticket was the only paper I had. Afterall, I wasn’t in the market for an autograph thank you very much.
Just typikel.
With cries of “Meredith you’re on in 60” she beamed at me, took my pen and began to write.The ink refused to flow. She kept at it.
“Meredith you’re on in 30!” She kept trying.
“Meredith you’re on in 10!”
“I’m so sorry. It won’t work. We need a sharpie. Get a sharpie. Come find me with the sharpie…” her voice faded as she bolted to the fire pit.
What a gem. I didn’t follow up. The scratchy, barely legible “To Meredith …” and our 40 second engagement was enough.
Before signing off I have a treat for you. The Moir/virtue interview taped on my Olympic Today Show day. Have a look at this clip. Tessa walks only at the very beginning but she’s clearly having difficulty. It’s not only about those shoes …
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Once the show wrapped up and I returned to my car it hit me. I was free to wander pretty much anywhere on set. Not one person had asked me for ID. No one checked my purse or asked to see my camera. It was almost pure freedom.
I can’t help but think it might be quite different at Sochi.
Enough about me and my Olympic Today Show memories. I’m curious about you. Any Today Show treats? What are your thoughts on the security at Sochi? Are you looking forward to the games? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
18 Responses
Kelly I think you are absolutely right bout Sochi – I think it will be total lockdown and metal detectors. I’m an avid Today show fan and it seems to me that Matt and Savannah are a little nervous about the possibility of trouble in Sochi. My imagination? Maybe, but I think we will all be holding our breath for the entire run of the Olympics! Love, love, love the stories of your Olympic adventures! More, please!!
Here’s hoping everything goes smoothly Mo. I watched Today this morning and it looks like they have amazing facilities over there. Everything is within walking distance! So very different from “ours” where some events were a two hour drive away at Whistler and others were in Vancouver. I’m excited.
I was in New York City this past summer. Walked past the TODAY plaza in the middle of the day…had no desire to get up at the crack of dawn to stand there with hundreds of other people when the show was on the air.
Fair enough Kathy. I watched it this morning and had to laugh as the numbers of folks hanging around shot down when the skies opened up.
HOW FUN!!! I love that she was so sweet to you…she seems like she would be! My friend and I were interviewed on The Today Show by Matt Lauer (Bryant was still the host) back in the day (it was one of the first days they ever filmed outside and we were picked from the crowd)…I think it was 1995. We even got recognized later that day in New York City. Closest I will ever get to being famous! 😉 I am worried about Sochi. I hope everyone is safe.-Ashley
That’s cool Ashley to be there when they first started filming outside. You were recongnized later? Whoa. I got in the background of a couple of interviews up on Grouse Mtn however the only ones who recognized me were my kids and sister. Yes, here’s hoping everything goes well in Sochi. They certainly looked prepared!
Great story, what a wonderful experience !
Bless you once again Jane.
I admit to my concerns about Sochi. But it may not be just that it’s Russia. I suspect if it was the US, security would be very, very tight. Long ago, when it was in LA, it was fairly casual. I suspect not now. Here’s prayers and affirmations to a wonderful, peaceful yet exciting Olympics in Sochi!
Yes Linda. I’m with you – prayers and affirmations to a wonderful, peaceful yet exciting Olympics in Sochi!
I suspect they’re going to be locked down pretty tight. My daughter went to school with a girl from China who told her that during the Olympics there locals were not allowed to travel to the city and many residents were bussed out. I’m only repeating third hand information, I have no way of knowing how correct it is. The point I’m trying to make is that when powerful countries are on display and are targets for all sorts of political mayhem they will do what they need to do to save face.
So interesting about the Beijing story. I had a friend whose son was on the Canadian water polo team and they all went as a family. Had a splendid time. However, they were visitors and I suspect their experience was very different than the locals.
Amazing how things can change so quickly. I imagine that security will be extremely tight this go around and everyone will be double- and triple-checked. What a wonderful adventure you had!!! Thanks for sharing it! 🙂 ♥
It was pretty tight here too Jean but only in certain areas. Anything that was at the downtown stadiums – opening and closing ceremonies and the hockey games were in full on securit mode with several security checks. The outlying ones – like curling were much more relaxed.
Finally, a chai tea at my favorite tea house and typikal time. Gosh I like it here at your blog. I don’t watch the news (oops, cat’s out of the bag) so I hadn’t thought about security. As for the T Show, I’ve roamed Rockefeller Center in NYC–does that count? I am so excited about the Olympics. When I watch, my lip quivers and I cry for the athletes and their parents, and for peace, an Olympian-enduring peace.
Yes – time for chai tea. What a treat – and at your favourite tea house. I’m the same when I watch the Olympics Susan – I am all over the board with my emotions. Have you seen Sleepless in Seattle? The girl who plays Tom Hanks sister and is his wife in real life (they both seem lovely – I hope that they are) is me when she’s describing the NY Cary Grant movie. I forget the name of the movie. Anywho, as she describes the movie she’s crying. That’s what it’s like for me as I watch the Olympics and the athletes and think about their parents.
Kelly, how fun! I would have gone with you at 2am. I stood in line once at the Vancouver library to meet Bryan Adams. He signed his new photography book for me. I was an idiot and blathered about how much I loved his concert at GM Place the night before. Surprising how he stayed behind the table and didn’t rush around it to hug me or interact with me, right?!
Oh good on you! I would have blathered as well. And stood in line for Bryan Adams! You will love to know that my twin nieces got a second home phone line when they were in their teens. Guess whose old phone member it was! Yep. Bryan Adams!!! People kept phoning and asking for him. Went on for years.