You made me laugh with that one….I agree about jury duty. “Jury of our peers” indeed! :-) Well you asked Lucinda, here goes….it’s a long one. No, I should clarify, taping doesn’t start at 6 a.m., they tell you the doors are opened at 7 a.m. for audience members to start standing in line to get in. So we showed up at 6 a.m. thinking that we would be the first ones in line. Ha! You’re given a number when you get in and we were #171 & 172! What does that tell you? Everyone was sleepy but excited at the same time. Actual taping didn’t start until 9 a.m. It’s a lot of fun. You show up and because it was cold outside they have this tent that extends to the door for everyone to stay relatively warm until you’re allowed in. Then they let us in and you snake around until you get to the coat check, where you have to give up your coat. Then you have to pass through security where they take your purse and go through it, you have to relinquish your cell phones, then walk through a metal detector. Then they give you your purse back, give you a bag with food and drinks (we had muffins, snacks and a drink). Then it’s up to this HUGE room with tons of flat screen monitors with a loop of her various shows (clips of them). Her show producers made the rounds picking people for future show topics that looked interesting. We weren’t chosen, guess I’m not interesting looking. :-) Finally at around 8:00 (It may have been a little earlier) they start herding us downstairs to the studio. The studio is smaller than it appears on T.V. But it is really cool. You’re seated by first come - first served, so those that were number 1 were right up front, but people like me and my friend were toward the back. If I ever manage to get a reservation again, I’m showing up at 5:30 a.m. Her senior producer came out with a microphone to warm up the audience. She was great! Super funny and nice. She kept us entertained and basically told us at that time what the show topic would be, (there was an audible groan when she said Haggard) what to expect in terms of taping and then asked questions of everyone. Then she explained we were going to watch the HBO movie on his controversy, and the large screen displayed an abbreviated version of the movie. Afterward she came back and asked questions of the audience about the movie. Then it was time for “restroom break” before the actual show started. So section by section she allowed people to go to the restrooms. It was very regimented. You can tell because they have done it so long, they have it down to a system! Then Oprah came out and the audience went crazy. She is so beautiful! And her stomach is flat! She has hips and a butt, but that’s about it. I do not see 200 pounds. If it’s there, she must be hiding it! :-) Her hair guy was on her, her make-up guy and a young woman who was placing her microphone down her boobs. She and those of us in the audience, had a laugh about that. She is really funny and joked with us about her shoes being only for sitting. She came out barefoot, but then excused herself to put on her heels. It was priceless! Then the show started. She did the introduction, they played a clip from the movie and then as that was playing they escorted Haggard out to the couch. Then the “real show” started. Forgive me for sounding like a broken record, I feel like I say this on every thread, but because almost every man in my family was/is clergy, I am super sensitive about hypocritical pastors. I know what a man of truth and honor is, so when I see one that lies from the pulpit……I get chills and cringe. So it wasn’t pleasant watching him and his wife. Between commercials we see a blank screen (but you know Lucinda I’m not sure about that because I was focused on Oprah) Her make-up guy would come out during each commercial to freshen up her make-up. Or her director would come out and whisper something to her. Its just a frenzy of activity between commercials. Haggard basically just sat there looking….like Haggard. I wish I could tell you exactly how long we were in the studio but I don’t wear a watch, I rely on the clock on my cell phone, and as I said they take our cell phones. The shows ends, she says her goodbyes and the director says clear and then the good part starts, what you referred to….the “after the show” part. Oprah REALLY lays into him and so does the audience. You can see both Haggard and his wife becoming visibly uneasy because of some of the questions from the audience. It was great! I was falling asleep during the taping, but the after the show part perked me up. I would say Lucinda over all the experience was great. It was one of the things on my Bucket List of things to do before I kick the bucket. So I can check it off. But everything was against us. It was taped Thursday morning a couple of weeks ago when the Midwest was in the midst of an artic freeze! I worked all day Wednesday, rushed to the train station to take an hour ride to Chicago on icy train tracks, only to find there was a train derailment! Scary. We checked into our hotel and had dinner, but didn’t make it to our rooms until almost 10 p.m. Keep in mind I said I had to get up at 4 a.m. so I was sleepy and rushed. If I had it to do over I would have taken off the day before. Spent a leisurely day in Chicago, window shopping and enjoying the city. Turn in extra early so I was rested in the morning. Left for the studio even earlier and probably would have been my usual perky, happy self. Who knows, maybe the next time a miracle happens and I am put on the reservations list again, I may end up at a show where someone I want to see is there! :-) See, now you can say through me, you’ve experienced what it’s like to see Oprah in person.

Ok C Hardy…a one and a two and a …”I love you, you love me”…lmao, I occassionally babysit for a little girl that loves Barney, and that song stays in my brain for days after she’s gone. Ugh! But I’ll tolerate it because, although I was blessed with three wonderful sons, I was hoping at one point that we would have a daughter as well. This little 3 year old girl, who loves Barney so much, and some show about a big blue dog, brings a smile to my heart, she is so precious, such an adorable little character. Maybe God will bless me with a granddaughter some day… I think it’s wonderful that you sing and dance along with your daughter to her favorite shows, for me it’s more like a marathon workout session, when I babysit this little girl, but that’s ok God knows I need the excercise!

Also C, you are right in not having her in front of Oprah, it’s great for adults but not for a 3 year old, you’ve got the programs on that she should be watching.