After over 15 years of trying to get tickets to Saturday Night Live (they have a lottery system), I finally was successful this past November. I bought my airline tickets and reserved my hotel… and then the writer's strike it. The show was cancelled and I was devastated. While on a cruise in February, I got an e-mail from a friend saying that the strike was over and that I should try to get my tickets reissued. I figured it would be unlikely, since they issue the whole season at once. But, and incredible thing happened… they gave me new tickets with 15-days notice. Be in New York at 30 Rockefeller Center on March 8th at 10:30PM.
I invited a buddy of mine, Keith Brown, to join me and we met up in New York on the afternoon of Saturday, March 8th. We landed less than an hour before JFK was closed due to high winds. Just the landing was worth the trip (people were crying from the scary landing.) The wind chill was insane. When Keith and I were walking around Times Square, our cheeks hurt from the burning cold. Keith had enough and said that we should go and get in line early. When we entered 30 Rockefeller Plaza, we asked the security guard where the line was for SNL… he said, "Uh, it is a bit early, but it will form over there… you'll be the first in line." We waited. Eventually the line filled and the excitement from everyone in the group was building. Around 10:30, one of the pages came over to the front of the line and said, "you first six… please follow me." We did, and he said in a hushed tone, "I've got good news… you six are going to join the friends and family of the cast on the main floor, right in front of the stage." I couldn't suppress my grin.
It was absolutely one of the most enjoyable moments of my life. Looking Loren Michaels in the eyes and watching him sigh while the goofy stars of the show played around rather than take the show seriously. Watching the crazed floor manager drag the star, Amy Adams, around the sound stage immediately after each sketch. Seeing how the news desk was quickly assembled right on the main stage during a commercial break. Learning that the stage had a motorized extension system to make room for the whole cast during the goodbye segment. These memories and many more made the whole trip worthwhile. If you are interested in going yourself, you need so send ONE email during the month of August to snltickets@nbcuni.com and cross your fingers. Your odds are less than 1 in 50… which means it is a once in a 50 year chance you will get to go… but you never know…
Bob
