Tonight’s filming was awesome! Unfortunately, I wasn’t seated in any of the areas of the audience that were panned over, so you won’t see me and my hat on film, and I wasn’t able to get Jon’s autograph, but it was still a great experience.
One highlight was getting to see Jimmy again. We met at last year’s PA Shindig, and we’ve been conspiring ever since on a Firefly filk musical to top last year’s grand performance of “Once More, With Feeling”! He lives a few blocks away from where The Daily Show is filmed, and he told me to call me if I got any time on my own.
We ended up having an hour to wander around while those that didn’t feel like wandering waited in line, so we got together at Sbarro’s, then chatted in line almost until the doors opened. I’m so glad that the timing worked out, and that I’m going to be able to attend the third annual Shindig, which will be held in the summer instead of the fall!
Anyway, once we were finally in the building, we filed in to be seated. I actually ended up with excellent seats–close to dead center, and high up, so I could see everything, but not too high to the point where I felt I was too far away from the action. An aide came in to rally our enthusiasm, picking out members of the audience and poking fun at them, then Jon came out to enormous applause. He answered a few questions from the audience (he thinks Scalia is the hottest Supreme Court justice, because as evidenced by the “nude photos” in America: The Book, he’s swinging serious pipe), then he promptly launched into the show.
It was so much fun to watch him when the camera wasn’t on him. There were moments during the correspondent pieces where he was cracking up in silent laughter, banging his fist against the desk. Then there was the interaction with Stephen Colbert in the “check in” segment! What viewers at home see is barely a fraction of what goes on! Jon immediately complimented Stephen on his new suit, then remarked about how gay he was for noticing it was new. Stephen then launched into a story about how he’d been wearing size 40 since he was 18, but that his tailor recently told him he should move to a size 41, because of the size of his posterior. It was a hilarious exchange, unfilmed and lost to the fans forever. The “official” exchange, the one that was filmed, wasn’t nearly as funny.
All in all, it was a great experience, and I’m thrilled I was able to be a part of it. Now I’m off to watch the episode to see if I can pick out any distinctive cheers!
