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Browsing all posts tagged with oprah.
11/21/11
The Rosie Show on OWN – Experience Attending a Live Taping!
When The Oprah Winfrey Show left Chicago after 25 years, the stage at Harpo Studios was left empty – but that is no longer the case. As of October 10, Rosie O’Donnell has taken up residency and is OWNing the spotlight. Airing weekdays at 6pm on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), The Rosie Show hosts diverse actors, musicians, public figures, and members of the community.
On Monday, November 14, I had the opportunity to attend a taping of the show. In the element of full disclosure, I have been a fan for many years, so I was excited to be there.
From the very start – standing in line to getting to our seats – the staff and experience started out on a high note. As my good friend and I sat down in front of the band, a producer came out and encouraged us to be ourselves and to have fun. Soon after that, Rosie took to the stage and made everyone feel even more comfortable. She was engaging as she interacted with audience members; encouraging us to ask questions.
As a film student, it was interesting to see the cameras and producers at work. The stage floor rotated and each piece of the background was changed depending on the event. For the game show segment, the band played their tunes and Rosie asked questions about celebrities. Check out the photo above I took from my seat – look at all of that confetti!
The guests for the day were Chaz Bono and Rachael Ray. From Dancing With The Stars to cooking food for Thanksgiving, each had a meaningful interview. Chaz surprised the audience and a fellow guest with his appearance and Rachael Ray cooked up some colorful sweet potatoes.
At the end of the taping, Rosie stayed on stage and continued to take questions. “Was there a teacher who inspired you?” “Will you attend our fundraiser?” No matter the question, she had an answer. From the beginning to the end, we were encouraged to have fun and to be ourselves – and we did. Chicago is lucky to have this leading lady in the city.
Tags: 25 years, Chaz Bono, chicago, Dancing With The Stars, Harpo, October 10, oprah, Oprah Winfrey Network, OWN, rachael ray, Rosie O’Donnell, thanksgiving, The Rosie Show
05/16/11
Billy Dec joining ABC’s NEW SHOW filling “OPRAH” time slot called “Windy City Live!”
Shocking title I know – someone who beat me to the paper just texted it to me! Just wanted to confirm its true and that I couldn’t be more excited! Although I’m sad to see Oprah leave on the 25th, I’m thrilled to join the on-air team for the NEW ABC morning talk show filling her time slot (9a) the very next day (5/26) with such a wonderful group of talent, execs, crew…I can’t wait!
I’m most excited for you all to see my every Thursday segment about Entertainment/Buzz/Social Media/Events (set your DVR’s now just in case!).. But don’t just tune in then, as you never know when or where I might pop up elsewhere on the show… not to mention everyone on it rocks!
As always, follow me on www.twitter.com/BillyDec & www.facebook.com/BillyDec not only for what’s happening behind the scenes & what’s to come, but also to shoot me any events, trends, stories… you think I should share on the show!! Speaking of, be sure to follow http://twitter.com/#!/WindyCityLIVE & http://www.facebook.com/WindyCityLIVE?sk=wall as well!!
Shoutout to all on our team…President & General Manager Emily Barr, Executive Producer Marlaine Selip, Supervising Producer Cindy Patrasso, Senior Producer Hank Mendheim, Co-Host Ryan Chiaverini, Co-Host Val Warner, Producers Dan Barbossa, Mary Hynes, David Plummer and Matt Knutson, Producer/Editor Jared Hoffa, Director Greg Klazura, Associate Producers Jessie Kalin, Dawn Watkins, Ji Suk Yi and Lynne Wisnesfski and the Producer for my segments Emerald-Jane Hunter (who was my Producer when I Hosted her show on NBC!), all our fabulous interns Anna Simovska, Chelsea Collins, Courtney Mosley, Dana Weems, Myke Marinkovich, Steven Hurn… And the many many many other great people on set and behind the scenes that I can’t even name because the list is so long and wonderful.. Hope you all tune in and support!
Tags: abc, abc's windy city live, billy dec, chicago events, entertainment, facebook, last show, morning talk show, NBC, new show, news, oprah, oprah finale, oprah replacement, oprah show, oprah time slot, oprah winfrey, rockit, rockit bar, rockit bar and grill, rockit ranch, rockit ranch productions, ryan chiaverini, social media, sunda, twitter, underground, united center, val warner, windy city live
07/28/10
Oprah’s sex & relationship dr. laura berman casting new show in chicago!
As a past guest on oprah radio (click here to hear my radio reel w/a funny clip of me on it!) w/ sex & relationship expert Dr. Laura Berman, I was asked to help spread word about a casting call for her new show “In the Bedroom with Dr. Laura Berman” for Oprah’s new channel, OWN!
as chicago’s very own world-renowned sex & relationship expert, dr. berman is looking for couples in the Chicago area that need help with their sex life & relationships. If you & your significant other are struggling to keep the spark alive, Dr. Berman is looking to show you how to get exactly what you want to have a better relationship inside & outside the bedroom! For further details and to apply to the show, visit www.oprah.com/drberman.
Tags: advice, billy dec, dr. laura berman, oprah, relationships, sex
03/18/10
Chicagoans Support Artist Jesse Palter Live
Thank you all for sending me great chicago talent to feature & support, keep em coming! The latest of talents was into’ed to me by several people that follow me on twitter, a friend that works for Oprah, and from a handful of raving comments made on my facebook fan page, and so I’m sharing it all w/you now, meet jesse palter!
Jesse Palter is a young up & coming songstress gaining a huge following and making a big time name for herself in the music scene as we speak. Jim DeRogatis, a Sun Times Music Critic, put it as.. “…Lady Gaga, watch out!”
Her bluesy, jazz vocals infused with an ever-so-catch pop tone is impressing audiences from coast to coast. I love that she has the all natural combination of an amazing voice, she writes her own music and that she has organically built a loyal following that has aggressively sought out more exposure for her through every medium, which for example, has lead to my support here and now!
Check this new super cool sensation out at one of my fav lil jazz joint hangouts called “Pops for champagne” on State St this saturday (3/20) at 9pm. There’s a $15 cover- but well worth it to say you saw her live in chicago 1st, when she is walking up for that grammy one day soon.. Enjoy!
Thank you all for sending me great chicago talent to feature & support, keep em coming! The latest of talents was intro’ed to me by several people that follow me on twitter, a friend that works for Oprah, and from a handful of raving comments made on my facebook fan page, and so I’m sharing it all w/you now, meet jesse palter!
Jesse Palter is a young up & coming songstress gaining a huge following and making a big time name for herself in the music scene as we speak. As Jim DeRogatis, a Sun Times Music Critic, put it as.. “…Lady Gaga, watch out!”
Her bluesy, jazz vocals infused with an ever-so-catchy pop tone is impressing audiences from coast to coast. I love that she has the all natural combination of an amazing voice, she writes her own music and that she has organically built a loyal following that has aggressively sought out more exposure for her through every medium, which for example, has lead to my support here and now!
Check this new super cool sensation out at one of my fav lil jazz joint hangouts called “Pops for champagne” on State St this saturday (3/20) at 9pm. There’s a $15 cover- but well worth it to say you saw her live in chicago 1st, when she is walking up for that grammy one day soon.. Enjoy!
Tags: facebook, jesse palter, jim derogatis, oprah, pops for champagne, sun times, twitter
09/09/09
oprah live in chicago on michigan avenue!
I absolutely loved being live on NBC w/ anchor Marion Brooks for the Oprah taping yesterday on Michigan avenue! Check out the video above- it was so official, up above the crowd stage-side all mic’ed up, filming live while praising the beauty of our great city, the energy of Chicagoans, the talent of Oprah, all the positive exposure she has brought to Chicago and how that translates into value for all of us… wait till you see when it airs tomorrow morning for the world to be blown away by our beauty… you will know what I’m talking about.
Which makes me wonder… w/ all that good, both in this video and on the show tomorrow morning, why were some locals complaining about Oprah filming on Michigan avenue? I for one am thanking her! The amount of positive exposure she gives our city is priceless. Like Mayor Daley found out from other mayors, any city would die to have her pick up and move it all there, including one day of filming outside in the heart of the city as the backdrop. (Reminds me of Olympic exposure financial benefits at the end of yesterdays blogs if want to see those huge numbers!)
Yes, there were some inconveniences and extra work, but what good things in life don’t have that? I mean, yes I had to think about my route to work that one day and take an extra minute or two to get there… Yes, I lost business that one day because of some street closures… but I am perfectly happy (and thankful) as that short sighted loss of that one day is extremely outweighed by all the dollars (many millions in my opinion) that Oprah’s free PR drives to our city in tourism for many years to come.
I do have to admit that I almost got upset too when someone said I had to walk 3 blocks extra to get around the excitement on the way home, but then remembered I was just taking a wonderful stroll on a beautiful day not working, while someone else had to work, w/huge investment, all while she was bringing my city exposure, tourists, money, and international respect & admiration. That and I knew that if we all complained about the relatively little work that it takes to allow someone else to invest a lot of work, money, love, effort… into our city, there would easily be countless cities elsewhere ready to snatch it all up from us one day… and that would just suck.
Tags: 2016, 2016 olympics, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olypics, marion brooks, mayor daley, michigan avenue, NBC, olympics, oprah, oprah winfrey
06/05/09
my craziest day on radio ever!
Yesterday I started as a guest on Mancow / wls 890am … listening to him scream at me & everyone else angry-faced about obama, david carradine, patty blagojevich and all kinds of crazy stuff… while I’m there to talk about how rockit won “best burger” in the country… (so random right?)… totally live, syndicated, I’m sure with a bajillion people listening… just wondering, what the heck am I doing here?
Then I get out only to go to my gig at harpo studios to be a special guest on oprah xm radio (click here to listen!) sitting in a quiet calm recording studio w/ dr. laura berman talking sex, dating, relationships, love,… also w/a bajillion listeners from all over the country… only this time w/ more love interested women listening than angry opinionated men… again wondering, what the heck am I doing here?
Unfortunately I didn’t come up w/ any answers… but I thanked god that he let me be there to experience it all… and that I live in a community w/ some of the greatest entertainers in the world w/ different backgrounds, talents, positions, character,… that the world listens to out of straight respect, interest and intrigue… and just pray that I only get to be a part of that craziness more and more in the future! Thx for listening!
(btw i tweeted all the behind the scenes details – click here to hook up with me on twitter.)
Tags: david carradine, dr. luara berman, i'm a celebrity get me out of here, mancow, obama, oprah, oprah winfrey, patty blagojevich, xm radio