you've joined the TV family

Once you have earnt your runner stripes, and people in the industry get to know you you can start to build your CV.

If you make your self invaluable then people soon hear about you, and pass your details on to other people looking for runners. Its not what you know in this business its who you know. Just like in my previous blog TV a family affair once people know you and know that your good and committed then your in, you've joined the TV family.

This was true in my case, we had a new coordinator on the show and she seemed to like me and could see I was good at my job, when she moved to a new show she took me with her. This show was a afternoon chat show and involved me carrying furniture onto set, ironing tea towels and arranging cream cakes. On the show I meet lots of celebrities mostly Z list but still celebs none the less, and I soon realised that its the ones you least expect to be diva's that are, and the ones you expect too be that aren't.

Gordon's Alive

None of them were on a pare with the stories I have heard about Maria Carey and a dressing room filled with puppies but there were some that I was shocked at.

I did meet Brian Blessed tho who had us all in stitches backstage with his constant reciting of "Gordons Alive". Those of you to young to understand this, I suggest you watch Flash Gordon, you'll know what I mean then.

Nancy Lam

We also had Nancy Lam on the show a few times.
This women is mad! I cried with laughter at her cooking segment. During rehearsals we had some stand in's to represent the guests and audience. This is where I met Stop. He was a stand in for the show but was quite good and seemed to have lots of energy, I later put him forward for a runner job on the daytime talk show I work on and he's been there ever since. Now Stop is a slightly buck toothed camp little character who can be hard to keep quiet, and during rehearsals would wear his trousers slung low so the crouch is somewhere near the knees and we all got to see tomorrows washing. Nancy had took a liking to Stop particularly as they looked similar. "I like you" she had said to him one day with her oriental broken English accent. "I like you cus you have bucked teeth like me."

Stops Face was a picture

We had been practicing the cooking segment for a few minutes when all of a sudden Nancy rounded the desk she was cooking on, making a beeline for Stop who was stood with his back to her, she cupped her hand reached between his legs and yanked at his trousers, telling him to pull his trousers up all the time while cupping him. The look on his face was a picture. Needless to say these days he wears his trousers correctly!

So when you work in TV and don't want to be groped by the 'talent' always ensure you are dressed correctly!