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No matter how many times I've told people it's not true, acquaintances (and my mother) have this idea that because I occasionally work with celebrities, I'm secretly hanging out and having cocktails with them. Yes, in the eight years I've been here I've SEEN and maybe even spoken to dozens of recognizable faces. But no, I don't have anyone you would have ever heard of on my speed dial...or even my slow dial. But based on the number of celebrity magazines on newsstands ("Exclusive! so-and-so orders a large latte, extra foam!!!) and TV shows that profile their every move, it's safe to say we're obsessed with celebrities. So I thought you might be interested in hearing what it's like when we have famous people here at Harpo.
We have a team at the show devoted to booking guests - many of them celebrities. Once they're booked, that same team helps work on logistics - how is that person getting here, do they have something to promote, who is coming with them, etc. Once that's done, the bookers pass it off to the production team that's working on that particular show. Our job is to talk to the celebrity - or someone in their posse - about what we're planning for the show and get their feedback. We go to them with all kinds of ideas. (If we're interested, we figure you're interested too.) Sometimes, we'll ask if they'll give us a tour of their home, take us behind-the-scenes on the set of their latest movie or TV show. We'll ask them cook something for our cameras, or surprise a fan. (Speaking of surprises, here's a funny story from a few years back: I worked on a show where Usher was going to surprise a fan at a bowling alley. The fan's friend had written into the show and, of course, worked with us to plan the whole surprise. So, it's the big day and the two of them are bowling when Usher walks in to surprise them. The fan starts screaming and shaking and yelling and runs over and hugs him ... and hugs him...and then REALLY hugs him...and squeezes him. And here's the funny part - when her friend tries to go in and just shake Usher's hand, her friend shoves her out of the way! This friend who had written in and worked for days to pull off this great surprise gets totally shut out by the friend she hooked up! Reminds me of that expression "no good deed goes unpunished.") Anyway, if you watch the show, you know we've asked celebrities to do just about everything you can think of - and a lot of them have been very good sports.
Show day .... I've seen celebrities walk in by themselves and I've seen celebrities come in wearing sunglasses with 20 people in their entourage. Some are exceptionally friendly - Hugh Jackman and Kelsey Grammer come immediately to mind but there have been many - and some go into their greenrooms, close the door and don't make an appearance until show time. (Forgeddaboutit - not naming names!) There are two main dressing rooms - called "green rooms" because apparently the first dressing room EVER had green walls - where every guest gets his/her hair and makeup done, has a little bit to eat or drink, or just chills before the show. We love celebrities - but we love all our guests - and everyone, famous or not, gets the VIP treatment in our greenrooms.
One more thing our guests have in common - they love to check out the photos in the greenroom hallways. No matter who they are, or how famous they are, people seem to be fascinated by the photos of Oprah with dozens of different guests that line the walls outside the dressing rooms. There are photos of her with celebrities, politicians, Big Bird, Steve Irwin and a crocodile, and even Bob Hope. I don't know how many pictures are up there (of course, it's only a small number compared to the thousands of guests OW has interviewed) - but it's a great snapshot of 23 years of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Maybe you'll be a guest on our show some day - and can check out the photos in person!
Happy April.
- Caroline
Dear Producercz,
Thank you for the explaining some things about the Green Room. I like the idea of producers blogging. Love and peace