March 2010
While TV shows have regular cast and crew members to carry the load, they need guests to help out now and then. That is where I come in whenever the temp agency calls; yet there are others who come and go along with me, albeit in a more important capacity.
I was reminded of that when I got to the "Glee" set in late March 2010.
At the time, the musical dramady was in the latter half of its hit opening season. So when I was selected to temp for the show, I was very careful in telling people in case they were rabid 'Gleeks' or haters. Whether one loved or hated it, no one could stop talking about it; so that hysteria and the extravagance on set would make this a busy job.
That made me swear to focus on work and put any thoughts of another hookup out of my head; for real this time. In any case, the most tempting females like Lea Michele, Dianna Agron, Heather Morris and Naya Rivera were all fairly young; yet fortunately older than their characters. And given the Gleek mania around the country, there was likely no way to get involved with any of them and keep it quiet.
Therefore, I was all business as I got to the studio lot. I was on time, so I headed to the "Glee" set on foot without being in any hurry. On the way, I briefly noticed a smaller woman walking several feet besides me.
I brushed that aside until I made a turn to the "Glee" studio set and noticed that the woman was still walking besides me. This made me study her for a second; before I realized why it shouldn't have taken me a second to figure this out.
"Are you....Kristen Chenoweth?" I should have been more formal, yet I was just starting to get taken aback by this. As she looked at me, I already had my answer before she stated it in her high, slightly accented voice; a voice that I knew soared even higher when she was singing. "That's what Ryan Murphy seems to think."
"My God, you're back on 'Glee' this week? I'm doing temp work for them this week too! What a happy coincidence, I'm such a fan of both of you! You and the show, I mean."
While I was excited and a bit cautious to get a glimpse of the "Glee" stars, it was easier for me to get carried away over seeing Kristen Chenoweth. That may sound strange to some, yet she had a substantial musical following as well. I first noticed her in the critically beloved, but low rated and recently canceled "Pushing Daises' for which she just won an Emmy for months ago. Then I took notice of her long Broadway career; specifically as one of the stars of the Wizard of Oz spinoff "Wicked."
I first saw that show a few months ago during my latest trip to New York and got hooked; then wished I had seen it while Kristen and the original cast performed it years ago. Nevertheless, she was still turning up on TV, most recently in a guest spot on "Glee" months ago. I had heard she would be coming back a few weeks ago, yet I somehow didn't think that she might be here while I was. I didn't know if my surprise was for the best or worst quite yet.
"Thank you, I'm flattered even if the show isn't," Kristen replied, so perhaps it was for the best so far. "Nah, don't worry, these guys are sweeties to new people. They must be or I wouldn't be back here, right?"
"Right, that does tell me something," I pretended to realize. "Well, you were great last time, and I can't wait to get glimpses of you being great this week!" She smiled in thanks as we walked again towards the set, so I decided to keep going with a joke/compliment. "Of course, you'd have been great if you were still 'Pushing Daisies' instead, but..."
"Oh, you miss that too?" she asked, to which I nodded yes before I figured out my next line. "But at least you got an Emmy as a parting gift! Congratulations, by the way!"
"Thank you, I liked that gift too," Kristen pointed out. "But being here is a great bonus gift too. Since you seem to be a Gleek, I guess you already got that idea."
"I have my suspicions. I'll have a better idea when I start working....which I should probably do soon," I remembered. "I should let you do the same, then."
"If I must," she said theatrically. "I wish you good luck from one guest star to another."
"Heh, I'm not the same kind of special guest star, but thank you," I cleared up. Kristen smiled and nodded, offering her hand. I shook it, taking in the full effect of how I was a half-foot taller than her. Yet I couldn't imagine her looking better if she was six inches taller, so I didn't. Fortunately, she headed off and waved goodbye before my thoughts got carried away in other ways.
I at least knew I would get a glimpse of Jenna, Tina, Christina and Kaley before I....got to know them better. But Kristen took me by greater surprise, although that was my fault for not remembering she would return to "Glee" right now. I wondered what that said about the chance of meeting again; until I remembered that I did swear to focus on work minutes earlier. In any case, these things usually worked out by themselves without my analysis.
They worked out days later when it was my turn to double check the "Glee" recording booth. I was nearly done my run through, which turned out to be Kristen's cue to come in and get ready herself.
"Oh, hey!" Kristen called out when she saw me. I indulged in my flattery that she remembered me, before managing to smile back. "I see you survived orientation after all."
"Well, it was a struggle," I got out. "But I'm here and the booth is just about ready for you."
"Thanks. I promise not to leave a bigger mess when I'm done," she reassured.
"That's all right. Finally seeing you sing should be worth it." I thought I said that last part to myself, but I quickly figured out I said it out loud. Not quickly enough, of course.
"What do you mean? You must have seen me sing on TV if you're a fan."