Sitcom Spectators

Never had I been to the taping of a sitcom. I’ve lived in L.A. off and on for ten years, I was on the set of many films and even made-for-television movies, but never did I experience a sitcom in its pre-edited fragmented stage. Since my brother Clayton is working in town this week, I decided to book tickets for my new sister-in-law Megan and I to be audience members for the brand new sitcom 2 Broke Girls currently being filmed at the famous Warner Bros. Studios (the 3rd oldest studio left in Hollywood.)

I didn’t want Megan to be bored since my experience only stemmed from the long monotonous hours I had once spent on film sets, so I came prepared with at least 10-15 of my most current fashion magazines and sweaters in case it was cold in the studio. The sweaters were forgotten in my car causing us to freeze in that studio, and the magazines were useless because we had a stand-up comedian entertaining us the entire time. So much for being an organized “Mom.”

The show follows the comedic trials of two girls in Brooklyn: one optimistic book smart girl who grew up with all the financial advantages the world could offer and suddenly finds herself penniless, and one pessimistic street smart girl that grew up with nothing but can bake a killer cupcake. Although these two opposites are begrudgingly thrown together, they have no one else to depend upon but each other, and decide to start saving the little money they make as waitresses at a diner toward opening up a bakery. It reminds me of an old-fashioned sitcom like Alice or Laverne & Shirley. It has more sexual innuendo since it has been created by Sex and the City executive producer Michael Patrick King, but it still has that vintage type sitcom appeal. We were there for the taping of the Thanksgiving/Christmas episode where the girls decide to get second jobs as elves at the mall.

My frozen feet from the blasting studio’s air conditioning and even the 1 and half hour drive to pick Megan up at her hotel and then the ridiculously long 4 hour drive to drop her off at her hotel and maneuver my way home between road work that had all the freeway exits I needed blocked off was worth it in the end. The look on Megan’s face during the entire experience--from walking onto a real studio lot…to seeing Central Perk from her all time favorite show Friends…to watching how a show comes together…to being called up front when the comedian heard her charming southern accent…to her being given a T-shirt from the show…to laughing with her at all the funny lines the characters delivered. Giving Megan the Hollywood experience she wanted and developing an actual friendship with my new sister-in law definitely made the obstacle course I went through to get her seem so trivial. When I finally got home at the end of the night or rather morning since it was 3 a.m., I couldn’t help but realize the message of the sitcom we had been watching all day: anything worth having takes effort. Cliche as the sitcom may be, I know its message to be true.

Warner Bros. started making films in 1918 after the four Polish brothers (Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack) decided to move on from the movie theater business.

The Warner Bros. Studio moved from the poverty section of Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. to Burbank in 1928.

Warner Bros. in Burbank, Ca in the 1950's. In 1968 the studio was sold to Steve Ross and Ted Ashley became head of the studio.Jack Warner, the CEO of the studio up until then, was outraged and retired.

Megan and I lunching at The Griddle Cafe before the taping.

2 Broke Girls starring Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs

Cream colored Rebecca Beeson shirt, thrifted leopard print eighties cotton pants; yellow and gold vintage necklace from the flea market; Nine West black flats; vintage quilted black, green, purple and green leather hand bag.

Close-up on yellow and gold vintage 1950's costume necklace; vintage gold chain.

Close-up on vintage eighties black, orange, green and purple leather hand bag that I bought in a London flea market.