If you read my previous blog (Live TV, Instant Gratification July 4, 2010) you may think that you know what happened this morning on KTVK Ch3 since I laid out how it would go.  Guess again, it did not go at all the way I laid it out.  This blog should be called “Live TV: anybody’s guess”.

I arrived as did my beautiful model Emily.  I set up my Juvederm XC, applied a little topical anesthetic to Emily’s nasolabial folds (the groove from nose to corner of the mouth). Just before the numbing cream went on, the camera man got a “before” shot.  Actually the robot camera got the shot, there are no cameramen, just weird machines that move all by themselves and suddenly you notice your face is on the monitor.

Kelly, assistant producer, cheerfully glided in and out with bits of info: we were to do a “bump” (ie: teaser shot) in a couple of minutes.  This is that great shot where the guest for the next segment is spied upon while preparing.  “Just try to look busy” she said.  The camera robot loomed in and since Emily had the numbing cream on I just massaged it, trying to look busy.  In the small studio, away from the anchor desk, you do not hear what is going over the air.  What I realized later was that Tara and Kaylee (anchors) were chatting up the new, less painful Juvederm XC that gives immediate results.  It looked like the Juvederm was the cream and that the results would magically appear while I massaged.  Just a little confusing for the viewer I suppose.

Bump shot done and Kelly lets me know I have 2 minutes to do the entire treatment and back live with the after!!  What??  I thought we were treating live!  “No, we can’t .  Viewers will complain, they don’t like needles, you know” Kelly explained patiently.

No sweat, but no way am I doing a lightning fast treatment on my gracious model.   Two minutes is not enough. I negotiated for 5, barely enough for half a treatment if I hustled.  Gratefully, Emily was game.  5 minutes later there we are, Emily with an awesome right side.  Tara and Kaylee double teamed me and asked the usual relevant questions.  It was a bit awkward to compare the before picture with half of an after but in reality the “half face” comparison was just as compelling. No before was necessary.

Tara’s assessment:  it actually works!  When can I have some?  That is a great interview, when your host is convinced on and off the air.

I felt pretty good about it over all, I ran home to flip on the DVR and there I am, actually it’s mostly the back of my head with too much big hair.  The guest never gets the good camera angle.