The Harder Reality of TMB

I am so used to blogging about all the fun and wonderful and fluffy things about running a show like TMB that I thought it was time to give a little insight into the "behind the scenes" of production.  I think we could base an entire reality show off of just stuff that happens that no one ever knows about.  So now you will know - a few things at least:).

So yesterday I was running errands before going home to edit the Season Premiere of The Mormon Bachelor which took me to the far corners of Sherman Oaks, CA and Ventura Blvd.  It is one of my favorite streets in Los Angeles for the great eateries, chandelier stores, and 2nd hand clothing stores.  It is also one of the longest streets ever and incredibly busy.  So imagine my horror when I was pulling out of a parking lot onto the crazy street only to start blacking out.  I drive a Prius which was great because it has an on/off switch and I managed to push the "off" button as I was leaving the world for 3 minutes (I only know that because as I was turning off the car I saw the digital clock which read 11:59 and when I woke up it was 12:02).  I woke up half-way out of the parking lot and half-way onto Ventura Blvd. and hunched over my seatbelt sweating profusely wondering where the "h" I was and what I was doing there.  It was possibly the most terrifying feeling like something was very wrong and I was powerless to do anything about it.  The miracle was that everyone was just going around my car as if I had fallen asleep at the wheel for a power nap and like it was no big deal.  No one even honked at me or anything.  It was so weird.  I was able to back the car up into some shade in the parking lot, curl up in a fetal position, blast the air conditioning, and wait until I didn't feel like throwing up to start driving again.  I also called every friend I have in LA to help me but no one answered.  So an interesting day to say the least, I realized that I am overdoing it a little bit.  All I remember dreaming about while I was passed out was how I needed to edit the Season 4 premiere of The Mormon Bachelor before I left town the next day and I didn't know if I was going to have time because if I didn't start feeling better I was going to have to drag myself to the hospital.  I remember the first season of The Mormon Bachelorette Aubrey was so exhausted from all the late night dating and blogging that she had to go get an IV.  But we do it all in the name of true Mormon love… and reality online TV of course.

Needless to say, I drove home in tears with the worst headache of my life and the resolve to get some rest.  My sweet sister and her husband and baby drove to come over and make sure I was really lying down.  I was able to work on the season premiere of TMB, and my Co-Producer and Director, Devin Colvin made my life even better when he found someone to help him film that night's date with Chris and his beautiful date that had flown all the way in from Salt Lake City so I could finish the premiere that you guys can watch on Thursday.

It is amazing to me how much we can really accomplish that seems impossible in the face of physical and even emotional limitations.  I mean at lunchtime I thought I might die in the slums of Sherman Oaks in my Prius, and then later that day I was editing TMB and listening to Justin Bieber as happy as a clam.  Driving home after surviving the whole ordeal I couldn't stop crying but I wasn't sad - I was actually laughing about the fact that I was crying so much.  Maybe I just needed to get it out I don't know but regardless, I ended the day laughing with friends and loved ones and getting so excited about this experience I am having with all the wonderful people involved with this show that Aubrey, Emily and I started 2 years ago.

I want to thank a few people for seriously making this whole process so much easier for me to go through.  I don't know how I could do it without your help - just try to answer your phones next time I call you when I am passed out in it:).  Peter - you have been so helpful from start to finish, especially with your encouragment and advice.  You are the creative master afterall.  Thank you:).  Devin - I know I can always rely on you for anything.  You are my partner until the end - so don't quit OK?  Aubrey - even though we don't get to see each other as often the fact that you and your family are doing so well is motivation for me to keep going.  Chris - you stepped up to the plate big time and you better get married to one of these awesome 12 girls OK?  Seriously get married. :)

That's all for now - I will try to keep you updated with our progress from behind the scenes.  And not just when the big crazy things happen - like saturday.  It's not all drama - or maybe it is but that's half the fun:).