In the past I’ve had the pleasure of being a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and The Jimmy Kimmel Show, but this was the first time that I was ever a guest of a comedic show in the host’s living room!
I was in LA shooting the 2008 Slamball Championship Series at Universal City Walk for the past ten days. While on the west coast I was also filming interview segments for my new internet show Down to Business that launches in August when my agent Josh Pyatt called to see if I would appear in Tom Green’s Living Room – literally!
My son, Michael, and my son-in-law, Jeff, were visiting me at the time for some Slamball action when Josh’s call came in and they both jumped at the offer. “We love Tom Green! And we’d get to hang in his living room!”
And his show really is filmed in his living room.
Tom Green and his producer Victor wired up the living room of his Hollywood Hills home to resemble a first class TV studio. In addition to the ubiquitous host desk and two guests chairs, there’s space for a band, and what the internet viewers don’t see is the half dozen digital video cameras stationed on tripods throughout the room that automatically catch every word, gesture, and antic that happens within that space. Victor sits in a corner production cubicle to ensure that there is no off-camera for Tom and his guests.
He’s a very funny guy and a great conversationalist. We talked about a variety of subjects ranging from Skinny Water, where he went on an extemporaneous commercial riff (see picture below), to the NHL, since the show is aired on broadcast TV in Canada and my former roots with the Philadelphia Flyers as the team’s physical conditioning coach.
Whenever I’m a guest on a comedian’s show, I’m always mentally prepared to be the blunt of the host’s jokes. It goes with the territory. But during my time in the “living room,” and although Tom had fun with my many ventures and adventures over the course of 21 minutes, he was always respectful of me and appreciative of my agreeing to come on his show. In fact, he invited me for a return visit. I agreed as long as he doesn’t have any animals visiting during the same time slot. I’ve heard of his crazy stories with livestock!
The view from Tom’s desk while Victor manages the cameras.
Jeff and Michael chillin’ with a beverage in the grandstands of Tom’s living room.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 at 12:17 pm by Pat Croce
One Response to “Tom Green’s Living Room
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Janice Patton Schroeder Says:
June 17th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Hi Pat: How awesome! From Lansdowne-Aldan to Hollywood, what a terrific venture for you. As always, I admire your drive and motivation. Keep on truckin’. Love, Janice
June 17th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Hi Pat: How awesome! From Lansdowne-Aldan to Hollywood, what a terrific venture for you. As always, I admire your drive and motivation. Keep on truckin’. Love, Janice