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The Stars Align Over 'Stuckeyville' (10/11/02) (by MS) For a long time I had been wanting to visit the set of "Ed" but I had never made a real effort until a couple of weeks ago. I was in contact with GP off and on about it and decided to finally take a chance and make a trip down. So I drove from Ottawa and flew to NY from Burlington, Vermont where I met up with GP at the NBC store. I made plans with GP to see Tom Cavanagh on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" which was really cool because it was her birthday and I didn't think I would get in. Tom was the first guest and he talked a bit about when his sister came to Conan's show with her boyfriend and Conan danced with her. Then Tom told us how he played a joke on Julie by tying a mouse-like thing to a fishing line. They showed a clip of her screaming and Tom laughing hysterically. They also chatted about Ed and Tom joked how the love triangle will be a revolutionary idea on televison. After that they talked about the showtime movie "Bang, Bang You're Dead" which Tom appeared to be really proud of. Then on Thursday we tried to get on "The View". Neither GP nor I had tickets but we were going to try to get standby ones. We were first in line and ended up being standbys #1 & 2. But we later found a woman next to us who had a bunch of extra tickets so she gave a couple to us. Tom was the first guest on "The View" too. He wore a blue shirt (again:) and sat between Star Jones and Whoopie Goldberg. They joked around about his eyes and how he can't possibly be wearing a blue shirt to bring out his eyes :) Then they chatted about Lisa Ling's guest role on Ed and showed a clip of her being the marriage counselor for 'Mike' and 'Nancy'. There was also a clip from 'Bang, Bang You're Dead', which Tom got a lot of praise for from the ladies. Then after he kind of just left and seemed like he was in a bit of a hurry. But it was great to see him twice in one week :) GP organized a meeting with RD and PG on Thursday and we met for lunch in Manhattan, where we talked about our Friday trip to NJ and the Ed set. At first GP and I had talked about Monday, but Friday seemed to fit better with everyone so we figured it would do. So GP and I met RD in Manhattan and from there we crossed the bridge and went to NJ to meet up with MK and RW. PG wasn't sure when he'd be able to meet us, but he said he was going to try. MK was meeting us at the Hennessy's parking lot (a restaurant next door to the set that is owned by Jill Hennessy and Benjamin Bratt) and then we went to pick up RW. When we all got together we decided to check out the set and see what we could find out because we noticed the red light was on. We noticed a dark-haired guy walking toward the set and stopped and asked him questions. He explained to us that it was very difficult to get on the set but we could try talking to a security guard. Then RW and GP asked him what he did on the set and he said he was a stand-in for one of the actors. I think one of us asked him if it was Tom and he said "yes". So we shook his hand and then decided to have lunch at Hennessy's next door. At Hennessy's there is this man named B who runs the place and knows a bit about what goes on at the set and can easily get in and out of it when he wants to do so. The others convinced me to talk to him so I casually approached him and asked him questions. I told him how I was from Canada and I was wondering how easy it would be to get onto the set just to see the inside or something. He told us that they were filming a big scene there right before we walked in and that Michael Ian Black was coming back with the Travel Channel to do an interview with him about Hennessy's. B was very cooperative with all my questions about the set, the actors, etc., etc. He even gave me a little tour of Hennessy's and showed me all the work that Jill and Benjamin did for the restaurant and told a few stories about them and the other famous patrons. He told us that we were welcome to stick around while Michael and the crew came in to do the interview and that he would ask Michael to come over after the segment was done. So we decided to wait and have some coffee. After a while B let us know that Michael was coming over in about ten minutes. So we waited calmly at our table. Before we knew it, Michael was walking in with the Travel Channel crew and went over to talk to B. We were just sitting there when all of a sudden B comes over and asks us if we would be willing to do a segment for the Travel Channel. Of course we said we would so he told us they would be coming over with release forms. When we were all doing that someone from the Ed set came over and told us what order to line up when we were waiting for our cue. I was first, then RW, GP and RD. So we went in order and Michael greeted us. Then they asked me how I got there and I said how I flew down from Burlington after driving from Ottawa and such. Then they asked us all what we liked about the show. B was there with us too. We all gave interesting answers and then explained to them how we all met through stuckeyville.com which I think really impressed them. Then PG shows up all of a sudden which was just perfect timing! Then after all that we kind of chit-chatted with Michael for a bit on camera, and someone mentioned the Ed seminar a couple of years ago, and how MIB couldn't make it because he had a new baby at home, as well as the auction that Justin Long attended. MIB joked that he was in Las Vegas so he didn't make it to the auction. Then before we knew it we were getting invited over to Stuckeybowl for a private tour with Michael. Before we headed over we just kind of talked to Michael for a while and he took some pictures with us and then we headed over to Stuckeybowl. When we got there it seemed like we all gravitated into Ed's office. I can't speak for the others, but for me it was so surreal to be in there looking around and sitting in Ed's chair. I noticed a lot of Canadian and hockey stuff around which was obviously Tom's influence. We all just kind of went around and took pictures of various things. We discovered that the law books were actually real! Then Michael said "You guys have to follow me and see this it's really cool." He led us into this hallway-type thing which looked kind of shifty, but when we walked through the door we soon realized that it was The Smiling Goat set! Where all the souls of Stuckeyville come to drown their sorrows! It is actually located directly across from Ed's office and behind the grill/snackbar area we see on the show. It was funny because it really did look like a bar/restaurant type of thing that I could see myself going to with my friends. I managed to ask Michael if it was Tom's idea to drink Labatt's Blue on the show and he said "Yeah that's all Tom". Then he asked me if I remembered Tom's beer commercials and I said of course I did, and I found out that anything Canadian we notice is Tom's doing which was interesting. PG asked him if they ever come and do a couple of rounds of pool, and Michael said not really. Then PG had Michael talk to his wife's answering machine which was hilarious! After a while we had to get back with the Travel Channel crew who taped us getting the tour of Stuckeybowl from Michael. He showed us the bowling ball cleaner,which he sat on and explained it is good for cleaning his rear, then he asked for a volunteer to demonstrate the actual bowling part. RW was the lucky one! She bowled a 9 which was pretty good and they got her on camera. Then Michael asked GP to flip the lights, and he showed us a couple of things that he does behind the shoe counter. I found out that the shoes actually come from other bowling alleys that they are throwing away. I also asked Michael if 'Phil' still lives on lane 16. He said "I think we need to clarify that". Then we kind of ended the segment with the Travel Channel. They taped us all standing around talking about our tour and thanking Michael. They asked me where I got my Ed shirt and I told them from the NBC store and that it cost 22 dollars, Michael joked around and said he got his for 5 dollars from there. :) I even got a hug from Michael at the end! After that we just hung out with Michael for a bit and talked to Dana, one of the producers on the set. There was another man there who works behind the scenes that was very nice but I can't recall his name or what he does. Then we all said goodbye to Michael who took our messages for the other cast members that we didn't get to meet. Tom was on the set, and they said he was trying to make it over, but they were filming a big scene and he couldn't come over (I think it was in the court room because we didn't get to tour that area). We also took pictures in front of the Stuckeybowl sign which was now lit up as we were leaving. RW was really happy about that because she said it has always been off when she went by it previously. They all treated us very well and they seemed to enjoy being able to show the set to fans. After we said our goodbyes, we went back over to Hennessy's to have dinner and say goodbye to B. While we were there we took pictures with B who we believe convinced the Travel Channel to include us in their documentary. He brought over some of the art directors of the set and said they were all going to be famous some day. So we took pictures with them too. They seemed really nice and even though they were on their way out they still took pictures and talked with us. One in particular was surprised when he found out that Ed is watched in various countries. Then we said goodbye to B and thanked him for everything. I believe we really have him to thank for most of what happened that day. We are going to send him pictures that we took with him as well and I think also to Michael and some of the crew that we met. This definitely was a surreal experience. I think RD hit the nail on the head when she said the stars WERE aligned for us that day! Now more than ever we are connected to the show than just watching it every week, but I think this experience has created more of an appreciation for the people we see on the screen, as well as the people behind it. On a personal level, I am glad that I was able to experience this with such a great group of people. For people who don't believe that dreams come true, hopefully this will make them think twice. (Webmaster's Note: Thanks to MS for this informative article and to MS, GP & RW for the photos.) |
GP & RW hang out at The Smiling Goat. |
RD waits for her order at The Smiling Goat. |
Phil with 'Phil'. |
The appreciative fans say their thank-yous and goodbyes to a very hospitable Michael Ian Black. |
Tom on "The View". |
At Hennessy's. |
GP in Ed's chair. |
Michael Ian Black in Ed's office. |
Lanes 10 to 16. |
Lanes 1 to 9. |
Nice bowling shirt. |
Taking a break. |
Preparing for the Travel Show film shoot. |
RW bowls for the camera. |
The Stuckeybowl Cafeteria. |
The Smiling Goat dining area. |
