Wednesday, November 29, 2006

EXTRAS.... the New York Version.


Yesterday I spent the whole day doing something I've always wanted to do as a true New Yorker: performed as an extra on a TV show. Over the years, I've always joked about wanting to play a corpse on one of those "Law and Order" shows (maybe it's the chalkline), but never really gave it much thought... until last week when MR. LOW KEY's girlfriend approached me with an offer I couldn't refuse: An opportunity to fulfill one of my lifelong ambitions by playing an extra on an NBC sitcom. When offered the opportunity, I, of course, said yes without hesitation!

Turns out this was going to be an interesting taping of the sitcom 30 ROCK on NBC, starring TINA FEY ("Saturday Night Live") and ALEC BALDWIN ("Running with Scissors"," The Departed"), among others. The episode would take place at a black-tie event, which meant that yours truly would be wearing a penguin suit (aka tuxedo) all day long. The storyline involved an eccentric prince of one of those fictional Eastern European countries, in town to celebrate his birthday with his equally eccentric family. ALEC BALDWIN was invited to this event and needed a date, so he brought along TINA FEY, who reluctantly agrees to go. The plot takes many twists and turns at the black-tie event and yours truly gets to sit in on all of the hijinx. Other celebs making an appearance included PAUL REUBENS (Pee-Wee Herman) and ISABELLA ROSSALINI (International film starlet) and JANE KRAKOWSKI (Ally McBeal).

My day began at 5:30am when I met MR. LOW-KEY and DAPPER DAN for our trek to Brooklyn where the set was located. We began at approx. 6:30am and when all was said and done, it was well past 7:30pm when we left the film set. Throughout the day we were either on set, filming various scenes, or sitting around in the room where the extras were stationed, bored out of our minds. We got a lot of face time and chances are pretty good that we'll be on TV when the episode airs. However, I have to say that while I am glad I got the opportunity to be an extra, I doubt it very seriously it would be something I'd consider doing full time. The monotony in between filming scenes is enough to make you want to scream. And the other extras that are there with you run the gamut: from friendly, interesting types; to closet and/or full-blown wackos. You see it all. I will keep you updated on when our episode finally airs on NBC. To learn more about 30 ROCK or to see past episodes online, go HERE.





DECEMBER BARTENDER OF THE MONTH: "PUFF"!


This month's bartender honoree is a veteran of the bar scene in Murray Hill, and one of our longest tenured bartenders. A Syracuse grad, when he isn't hard at work in the field of Advertising, he's busy slinging mugs of beers on Tuesday nights at Third and Long. Anyone who is anyone knows that working a shift on Dollar Draft night isn't nearly as easy as it looks, and PUFF is one of the best at it; handling 8-10 full mugs of beer is a breeze for him.

That being said- here are five random questions for December's Bartender of the Month:

1) How long have you been a bartender?
(7 years- not including the occasional Bar Mitzvah)

2) What's your signature drink?
"D'uh!? Bud Light (I work Tuesday nights, remember???)

3) Biggest Pet Peeve?
When a group or an individual calls out a drink order individually, instead of ordering them all at once. (I can relate to that).

4) Largest tip ever received?
Don't quite remember; Besides, i'm not in it for the money, but mostly I do it for the craft.

5) Unique/Funniest pick-up lines.
A girl was so smitten that she offered the following: "Come downstairs and like.....make out with me for like....five minutes!".
(um.... no thanks).

That's just a brief snapshot of PUFF, the MAN, the MYTH... the LEGEND. Congrats on making it as BARTENDER OF THE MONTH 9Good job P-Diddy)! If you want to learn more about the big man, catch him on Tuesday nights at Third and Long!

As for me- I am going for some much-needed sleep. MORE UPDATES TO COME!


nuff said