(Photo property of Forbes)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Last week, Jake’s Take traveled to the Big Apple.
Here are some of my favorite highlights from my vacation.
My view from “Live with Kelly & Fred Savage.” (Photo property of Jake’s Take)
Visiting Live with Kelly
One of the highlights of my trip happened last Tuesday when I visited ABC’s syndicated morning talk show: Live with Kelly. I have watched the program since 2000 during the twilight of the Live with Regis & Kathie Lee days and the beginning of Live with Regis. I spent most of my life watching Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa when during my off days from school and many summers. Live prepared me to be an interviewer. I have always wanted to sit in the audience of the Emmy-winning talk show, and my dream came true when I walked into the show’s hollowed soundstage. While I was the runner-up to become Live’s Take Off Travel Trivia dancer, I enjoyed my time watching Kelly and her guest co-host, fan-favorite Fred Savage, interact with Justin Theroux and Olympic skier Lindsay Vonn. I also enjoyed two performances from my fellow native Kansan, Melissa Etheridge, who performed two songs from her latest studio album: Memphis Rock & Soul.
“I grew two inches.”
While I was in NYC, I visited the ladies of The View. This marked my second time visiting them at their studio near Lincoln Center. I was glad I had the chance to visit them during their 20th anniversary season. The hosts for my show were stalwarts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, Good Morning America Weekend’s Paula Faris, new host Sara Haines, and contributor Jedediah Bila. The topics the women covered included the Vice Presidential debate, Kim Kardashian’s robbery, and the controversial story about a hospital charging a new mom $39 to hold her newborn. Before guest Kelly Clarkson came out to discuss her new children’s book: River Rose and the Magical Lullaby, I was able to be one of the lucky audience members to ask a question to the co-hosts. My question to the co-hosts: “How has The View helped you grow as an interviewer?” Without hesitating, Joy stated: “I grew two inches” and the whole audience erupted in the laughter. Whoopi perfectly added: “That sums it up.”
How ya’ doin, Wendy? (Photo property of Jake’s Take)
Dance-off: The Son of the Disco Queen vs. the Queen of Hot Topics
The Wendy Williams Show is my guilty pleasure! Ever since I discovered the show back in November 2014, Wendy has become my go-to show whenever I need to smile and laugh. The last time I saw Mrs. Hunter live was when she came to Kansas City for her Stand Up Sit Down Tour. After I met her and watched the show, I knew that the next time I was in the Big Apple I had to see a live taping. My wish came true last Thursday when I (along with over 200 fans) screamed: “How You Doin’?” to the Emmy-nominated TV host. Throughout the commercial breaks, DJ Boof tuned on some impeccable tunes, and the audience got their groove on. My dance moves got noticed by the Wendy staff and soon after Executive Producer Suzanne Bass saw my moves. Finally, Wendy herself and I got into a dance battle for a hot minute, and I had the time of my life.
Posing with Olmec at the Nickelodeon booth. (Photo property of Jake’s Take)
Legends of the Hidden Temple takes over New York Comic Con
If you grew up in the 1990s, then you probably heard of a little show on Nickelodeon called Legends of the Hidden Temple. The fan-favorite game show introduced the world to Olmec, Kirk Fogg, the Temple Guards, and the Shrine of the Silver Monkey while providing families with wholesome entertainment at the same time. Nickelodeon brought Olmec to the pop culture celebration as it released its first trailer for the upcoming November feature-length film.
The lovely Nichelle Nichols and I. (Photo property of Jake’s Take)
Meeting Star Trek royalty
I am very grateful to my father, Matthew, for introducing me to Star Trek when I was a kid. While Star Trek Voyager was the first Star Trek show that I watched with my dad, it was the Gene Roddenberry films with the original cast that captured my attention. It was truly an honor to meet the lovely Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed the U.S.S. Enterprise’s incomparable communications officer Uhura. Ms. Nichols also broke down barriers on television as the first woman of African descent to be featured in a non-menial role on a TV show. I want to thank Ms. Nichols and her team for making this incredible memory for me.
Comic creators assemble!
One reason why I love going to comic-cons is that it gives fans the opportunity to interact with their favorite creators. I enjoyed reuniting with several fan-favorites such as All-Star Batman scribe Scott Snyder and Superman writer Peter J. Tomasi, while meeting one of my favorite Batman writers of all-time, Greg Rucka, for the very first time. Another highlight was meeting Batgirl and the Birds of Prey writers Julie and Shawna Benson and talking them about potential new team members and the identity of the wicked Oracle. Finally, I went to Madison Square Garden for a conversation that Kevin Smith moderated between three iconic Marvel Comics creators: Walt Simonson, Chris Claremont, and the one and only Stan Lee. To hear about the House of Ideas’ glory days from the men that brought me so much joy to my childhood and my adult life at the Garden will always be a highlight of this year.
To see more photos from my trip to New York City, visit my Facebook page!
