The Daily Show taping and Manhattan day
 

Times Square and I didn't know you could just effing set up a drum kit. I don't know who decides what's allowed to go on here.

http://cellar.org/2012/tds0.jpg

Carnegie Deli, and one half the world's most massive Reuben. That's right, and I had the other half. Or I should say half of the other half because even half is too much. The best corned beef ever!

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http://cellar.org/2012/tds1.jpg

Me waiting in the first line outside TDS taping. They have a dedicated theatre for it.

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NYC randomness.

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Can't show pictures of TDS interior and set... they don't let you and they are ultra-strict about it.

Mr. Stewart is better live than on TV. We wound up sitting near a production table where one guy was tasked with setting the pace of the teleprompter. That meant I could read the teleprompter while Jon was doing the show with it. And I'm telling you now, he's SO good that a good third of what he says is unscripted. He makes it look effortless. It is a true talent.

Unrelated to that, there's a lot more Daily Show taped than is aired every night. J and I both noticed entire sections at the taping that were cut out of the final show. It was really surprising to find it edited. Some pretty funny things did not make air. I'm sure the show has to meet strict time limits so that's probably why it gets cut down.

Other findings:

There is a sort-of standard dog of midtown Manhattan, which is a white/tan/grey miniature poodle or sometimes an ungroomed bichon frise. This represented a large number of the dogs we saw. Also represented were chihuahuas (4 short hair 2 long hair), english bulldogs (3) and wire hair fox terriers (3). These types outnumbered all other variety. Most dogs were not just small but tiny. Many were wearing coats in the 50-degree weather. Also of note, not spotted were ANY pit bulls.

The standard dress of young women is black leggings with a black skirt two inches below mini, and natural leather calf-high boots. Men, I failed to notice.

The new generation of NYCers are very nice and polite.

Looks and sounds like you guys had a great time! I'm glad :D

Looks like an awesome time - glad you guys had a good time.

Thanks UT, looks like fun.

Back when I went to watch Have I Got News For You being taped I had no idea that 90+ minutes filming was condensed to 30 minutes (at the time). Or that the audience were asked to laugh at a joke again if a line was fluffed or there was a technical issue. We were only asked to respond as we had done previously, but now in the extended version they do show massive rounds of applause if something has had more than one take. It made me see the show as more clever and funny, not less.

The one I went to see was a Christmas edition and Kelvin MacKenzie - then editor of the The Sun - was a contestant. Some sparks flew between him & Ian Hislop, but he was thoroughly trounced of course. MacKenzie is a smart journalist but Ian is quicker with his wit. He also whinged on more than one occasion about his low fee for appearing. £70. Back then I earned £1.50 an hour as a barmaid. Someone actually heckled him (no idea how usual this was as it was cut out of our programme) "Yeah, well we came here for free, mate!"

The bits I didn't show were us navigating subways, getting downtown to a little mac and cheese place for dinner.

You're really only allowed to use the subway if you know how to do it, what signs mean what, how ticketing works, etc. It's really easy to get on the wrong train, or get on the right train but going the wrong way etc.

I was trying to talk a colleague through getting from Amersham to Earls Court today.
She thinks it will be a nightmare.
To me it's so logical. I have to remember that I cannot even remember my first trip on the Tube. I grew up with it.

She's terrified of changing lines.

I used the subway on my trip to NYC to see the 9/11 Memorial. It went okay, but mainly because we had a native guide. Wrongwaycorrigan is the sort of person likely to get into trouble, because she has no idea how to behave in a city. She makes eye contact, talks to people, and would give money to panhandlers, if you let her.

So, UT, you remember, the street musos, the small dogs, and the women's butts and legs.

I guess it is about priorities. :D

Precisely. Oh and the massive sandwiches. :D

This is not a credible assertion. I require photographic evidence.

The Evil Ex was a Crazy-Magnet.

He grew up in an East Midlands city, where people spoke to eachother. When I moved to Leicester (30 miles from where he grew up) I thought everyone was checking me out big-time. Took me about a month to relax out of London mode.

Anyway, in both New York and San Francisco he was approached by people on the street. I had the Londoner instinct of eyes averted, head up, you do not exist on my radar. He had the ready smile, head on one side for sincerity and demeanour of "I will listen to you, mate"

Tcha. That bugged me in the end.
Hail-fellow-well-met when it came to strangers, Frosty the Snowman when I reached out for advice or affection.

Good job though. We were a trainwreck.

I have a massive nutter magnet. I'm always getting approached with tales of woe and a request for help towards bus fare. Or people ask me if I can spare them a cigarette etc. or I end up embroiled in other people's crises.

Like the time I went to the chippy and ended up having to take care of an escaped psychiatric patient until someone could come pick her up. For real. Coat on over her jim jams and everything.


[eta] Undertoad I am jealous and impressed and just generally thrilled that One of Us got to go see the Daily Show. I am a huge fan.

:)