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Crew Blog
05/21/13
We all love Memorial Day for a plethora of reasons: the warmer weather finally arriving, time spent with family and friends, and the always welcomed three-day weekend (one of my personal favorites). Now of course we can't forget the reason the holiday exists; to remember the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. And, what better way to pay tribute to those who have served our country than by making a movie about it, right?!? Well, that's exactly what our very own home-grown trio Sam Fischer (Director), Jeff Traxler (Executive Producer &Story By) and Kyle O'Malley (Executive Producer & Story By) decided to do! And, their movie 'Memorial Day' will be airing at 7pm on The CW Twin Cities!
Carly and I had the pleasure of interviewing the three masterminds behind the movie a few weeks back and it was nothing short of astounding. This trio came up with the concept, storyline, and budget to make the film all on their own. And, the kicker? THE ENTIRE FILM WAS SHOT HERE IN MINNESOTA!!! That's right! From Holland, Germany, Belgium, and even Iraq, the creative minds behind the film managed to shoot realistic and authentic scenes right here in our own backyard. In fact, the house that is used throughout the film is located in Faribault, MN (just south of the Twin Cities).
Between the film being shot in Minnesota and the emotionally provoking stories of a boy's Iraq war experiences and his grandfather's WWII experiences, Memorial Day truly hits the mark. Recognizing that the film was shot in our backyard makes it that much more phenomenal. And, knowing the Director and Executive Producers hail from this great state, make the film epic for those who call themselves Minnesotans. You can check out our C-Whats Now interview with Sam, Jeff, and Kyle this Thursday at 9:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 7pm. And of course, make sure to watch 'Memorial Day' this Memorial Day on Monday, May 27th at 7pm on The CW Twin Cities!
05/16/13
As networks continue rolling out their 'Upfronts,' or programming schedules for fall 2013, The CW announces a HUGE deal with Clear Channel...
The Hollywood Reporter announced that The CW has secured the festival it opened the fall with, iHeartRadio's Holiday Jingle Ball and the iHeartRadio Ultimate Pool Party. We will also broadcast album release parties and other concert specials under the agreement.
The CW Twin Cities skews to an audience that loves music; a young, vibrant audience that invests in concerts and festivities. So it seems only fitting that we ink a three-year deal with media and entertainment giant Clear Channel to broadcast their biggest music events. Stay tuned for more information including schedules, performers and your chance to get in on the action!
-Carly-
05/15/13
Welp, there was no avoiding this one. I have now turned the wonderful (yet dreaded) BIG 3-0. That's right, I'm 30. My youth is now behind me and I can no longer use age as an excuse when it comes to immaturity or general youthful slacking. Truthfully, Id like to think now that I'm 30 I can claim I'm old enough to know what I'm doing, yet young enough to still do it. Some might call it delusional but its my current truth and I'm sticking to it! A fellow CW'er told me yesterday that anyone under 40 is still a kid. He is my new favorite co-worker.
The question now is what did I do to celebrate? Aside from my family throwing me an AMAZING surprise birthday party (I love you all to death!) I decided to contribute to the greater good and head to Edmonton, AB to participate in the Women's Retreat and Gala. Yes, that means I spent my birthday weekend in Canada, eh. The first annual event was organized to support the WIN House which is an Edmonton women's shelter for domestically abused women. I was fortunate enough to be joined by a few of my past 'Bachelorette' and 'Bachelor Pad' buddies so the weekend wasn't ALL business.
From an in-depth drilling of questions from the crowd about The Bachelor to being auctioned off for a date with contest winners, the weekend was nothing short of amazing. Women showed up from all across the Province of Alberta to be pampered, shop, drink wine, and be entertained by me and my friends. The response from everyone involved with the event was so flattering and positive that I couldn't think of a better way to put my 20's to rest and roar into my 30's. In fact the number of people that came up to me in thanks for coming out to support the cause and event was nothing short of astounding.
Between hanging with my buddies, to being entertainment for the guests in attendance one thing is for sure; giving back is ALWAYS a good way to spend your time, and there's no faster way to feel fulfilled than contributing to the greater good. My 30's are off to GREAT start!
05/10/13
From MN to LA: My visit to Extra and omg! Insider
There are days when I really, REALLY love my job. Flying to Los Angeles to visit the sets of Extra and omg! Insider definitely tops the list of favorite 'job responsibilities.'This week I had a chance to head to California and find out what makes these two entertainment shows must-see TV...
There are several things I love about visiting Extra: 1. Mario Lopez has a true soft spot for Minnesota, including a favorite restaurant (Chino Latino) 2. They film at The Grove, which is every shoppers dreamland.
Watching co-hosts Maria Menounos and Mario Lopez in-action is always an exciting endeavor. The pair credit their ability to have fun on-set as part of the shows on-going success. And it only takes one night of tuning in to understand what they mean. I challenge you not to crack a smile while watching them deliver the latest Hollywood gossip.
Next stop, omg! Insider, where I had a chance to interview hosts Thea Andrews, Kevin Fraizer and Michael Yo about their work on the top-rated entertainment broadcast. Now only six months old, Kevin, Thea and Michael told me what sets omg! Insider apart from the dozens of other broadcasts focused on Hollywood news; their resounding response? Social media interaction. The newly converted show (formerly 'The Insider') focuses on audience interaction on Twitter and Facebook. The hosts are directly responsible for tweeting, re-tweeting and posting messages to fans, and responding to fan questions. In fact, I challenge you to tweet them right now using hashtag: #omginsider. More than likely, you'll receive a response from one of the TV hosts within a few hours. omg! Insider's commitment to this type of interaction is proving to be exciting, engaging and rewarding for their audience.
Although these shows maybe considered 'rivals,' you get the sense that the talent and crew have a mutual respect for each other. A somewhat surprising discovery in the typically cut-throat land of Hollywood.
Don't miss omg! Insider weeknights at 9:30pm followed by Extra at 10pm.
...And catch my interview with these talented hosts (airing between their shows!) Thursday, May30 at 9:30p.
-Carly-
05/10/13
It should be no surprise that I've always enjoyed the fun aspects of being a TV personality; coming up with segment ideas, covering current events, getting involved with the community, and of course being in front of the camera. However, before this smiley face hits the TV screen there's a whole host of things that happen before you see the finished product. That my friends would be the wonderful world of editing!
I knowingly came aboard The CW Twin Cities with little editing experience. Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration. I had NO editing experience. I didn't know the difference between the editing programs 'Avid' and 'Premier.' (For those familiar with editing that would be a laughable statement) With that in mind, my task this week has been to get to work contributing to the greater good of The CW Twin Cities by learning to edit. Like a child learning to ride a bike, I've had my hand held every step of the way. I walk up to whichever producer 'victim' I can find with sad puppy eyes sheepishly saying "help me, I'm editing illiterate!" Usually someone begrudgingly takes a break from their work to show me kindergarten level skills on the Avid. Yep, welcome to my week. Slowwwwly sucking the life out of my fellow co-workers. Okay, so I like to embellish a bit. Truth be told the crew here has been nothing but helpful in learning this whole editing process. You have to learn to walk before you can run, right?
I've been honing my skills all week, and before you know it that clever little C-Whats Now segment you're enjoying very well could have been a product of my newly-refined editing skills. Watch out, Minnesota! I'm adding another weapon to my arsenal.
-Kirk05/03/12
There's nothing better than a guilt trip, right? Okay, well maybe that's not entirely true. But for me, I had no problem wallowing in guilt this week the guilty pleasure of interview both Anne Fletcher (director) and Dan Fogelman (writer) of the film 'Guilt Trip' starring Barbara Streisand and Seth Rogan. That's right, my first big-time interview with people that have Hollywood credentials!
Interviewing both Anne and Dan was a pleasant reminder that even when you've gone Hollywood you can still remain grounded. They both gave a superb interview and were quite fun to chat with. Not only were they super cool, but they've made one heck of a movie! I found the film relatable and laughable as it closely depicts the lovingly nuances of a mother/son relationship. We all love our moms to death, but sometimes their love becomes hilariously suffocating. Regardless, Seth Rogan and Barbara Streisand nail the mother/son role as they head across country on one whirlwind of a road trip.
Make sure to tune into C-Whats Now to check out my exclusive interview with Anne Fletcher and Dan Fogelman Thursday, May 9th at 9:30pm (before omg! Insider), Saturday, May 11th at 7pm before 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' and 7pm Sunday, May 12th before 'Little Women.'
05/01/13
Voltage gives a whole new meaning to the term 'rockin' the runway.' And after a yearlong hiatus, you can bet MNfashion is bringing Voltage back bigger and better than previous years.
Part rock concert, part fashion show: the runway will feature 8 apparel designers and 8 accessory designers alongside four local bands for a night of fashion and music. Voltage has played a special role in MNfashion's history and growth as an organization and were looking forward to reinstating it as an annual production, says Amy Overman, executive director of MNfashion.
The Voltage designer lineup is a showcase of top Spring 2013 collections in the Twin Cities including CounterCouture, Idle Child, Lindsey Hopkins, Blasphemina's Closet and local favorite Danielle Everine.
Music lineup includes: Bomba de Luz, Sean Anonymous and Dreamcrusher, Aby Wolf: Wolf Lords, The ChaliceAll bands will be dressed by four local boutiques. Music before the show will be DJ'ed by The Current.
More details will be available at MNfashion.org.
-Carly
04/23/13
Holy man, Minnesota! In the past 4 days we have been dumped on with over 8 inches of snow! Its almost May, crazy. The Snow has prevented us from shooting warm weather outdoor shoots this week. Luckily, one day lightened up just enough for us to get down to Minnehaha Falls to shoot a few 'This is Home' segments. Its very nice to stay rooted here in Minnesota by being reminded what a beautiful state we live in. Even though the snow is being pesky right now, I still appreciate the beauty this state holds. So, I'll try not to complain too hard about having to shovel my driveway for the millionth time this winter! Besides, in a week it will go from 30 degrees to 70 and it will be all smiles on my end.
This past week has been a bit heart wrenching with the Boston Marathon Bombing that occurred last Monday. Its filled my mind quite a bit and is hard to understand how people could maliciously set out to harm others. I ran track and cross-country in college, and am very much in the runners loop here in the Twin Cities. I personally knew dozens of people and friends that were out in Boston to run the marathon or spectate. From past college teammates, to personal training clients of mine,people of all types went out to enjoy the celebration that is the Boston Marathon. Luckily none of my friends were injured and they have all returned in good health. But, it made me appreciate the people in my life and the family and friends I have and for that I am grateful.
On a lighter note I did my first C-Whats Now segment on a company called Face to Face Organics. The company was founded the first of the year and they make organic lip balm in which $1 of all the proceeds go to help children with facial deformities receive a smile healing surgery. So far Face to Face Organics has funded 4 facial reconstructive surgeries! And they have only been in business for 4 months! So amazing the difference a few people with a great idea can make. Way to go by giving back to the less fortunate, guys! You truly are an inspiration. I may add to this that I am still learning to be the interviewer and not the interview-e and I may or may not have burned a good 30 minutes of tape by messing up in some way or another during the Face to Face Organics interview. Haha. I'm sure I will look back and chuckle on how green I was back in the day! Without a doubt I'm still loving being a part of The CW Twin Cities crew!
-Kirk
04/12/13
Welcome to the world of television! I am quickly realizing things don't always go as planned and daily schedules can change in a heartbeat. Its actually what I love about being the Co-Host here at The CW Twin Cities. Things change so regularly it keeps me on my toes and always guessing whats in store next.
This week we were supposed to shoot This is Home spots outside amongst the scenery here in the wonderful Twin Cities. Of course, Mother Nature had other plans and dumped 8 inches of snow on us. In April. Ick. So, back to the drawing board this week it was. We decided to shoot my Intro to Kirk C-Whats Now instead seeing we could easily shoot that indoors while avoiding the slushy mess. It involved Carly sitting on my back while doing push-ups. Only here at The CW Twin Cities will you find your Co-Host trying to act coherent while getting their workout on. But, dun dun dun...after doing a million push-ups with Carly on my back and recording a rapid fire question and answer session we went to edit the footage and BAM, there was no audio attached to part of the segment. Know what that means? Time to do it again. Ohhh the wonderful world of technical equipment! Truth be told shooting is fun and I don't mind going back and re-filming. So, no sweat off my back there.
This week also involved shooting 5 second spots to preview our syndicated programming that we run each day including our Court Block Talk Show Block and Family Feud time slots. My face hurt from smiling so much, in a good way. And, due to a few scheduling issues the AWF Wrestling shoot I was supposed to do this weekend has been rescheduled fora later date. See! Things always changing! Again, I like being kept on my toes so I take it in stride. Next week Ill be shooting a C-Whats Now segment for Face to Face Organics which is a local, organic, lip balm company that donates $1.00 of every purchase to facial reconstruction surgeries. Also, Carly and I will work on re-shooting my Intro to Kirk segment and potentially do some filming in the gym for something fun I have up my sleeve. Very much looking forward to next week shoots and fingers crossed this weather warms up so we can get outside!
04/05/13
I'm amidst my third week here at The CW Twin Cities and can whole heartedly say Ive made a great decision to join The CW team! Ive been embraced openly as a member of The CW crew, and feel like Ive been a part of the team for years. Aside from my Co-Host Carly Aplin trying to push me off chairs, messing with my lines, and throwing me an elbow once in a while things have gone quite smoothly. Okay, I'm only kidding about Carly. Shes been great to work with, is extremely helpful, and our on-camera chemistry makes coming to work, well, not seem like work!
I will say it was quite amusing (and humbling) to be in front of the camera my first week here in The CW Twin Cities studio. I quickly learned all my little quirks that weren't so camera friendly such as hand gestures we have come to coin the chicken wing, and serving platters. Oh, and apparently saying the word "zoos" can be harder than you think. Hey, don't judge! You try saying "zoos" with perfect delivery! I only kid. I'm sure the crew here has plennnnnty of blackmail footage to use one day when necessary. However, with helpful coaching from our great team of producers I'm quickly finding my stride and feeling good in front of the camera.
This week we shot my Intro ID's welcoming me to the CW Twin Cities Crew. That's right, Minnesota! Ill finally be on your TV come the week of April 21st. Pretty cool, huh!? I'm ecstatic to see the last few weeks of work actually come to life on channel 23! As for next week, we are rolling into This is Home shoots and Ill be checking out AWF wrestling for an upcoming C-Whats Now segment. One things for sure, I'm excited to be a part of The CW Twin Cities Crew and am looking forward to whats to come!
04/24/13
We've all seen the Facebook and Twitter posts bemoaning the seemingly never-ending winter...
Complain no more! Come Friday, the combination of the potential (cross your fingers) 70 degree weather and sixth annual ARENA Bikini fashion show will have you saying, what winter?
ARENA Bikini: Neon Glam runway show features the latest in swimwear from a dozen local designers and boutiques. The combination of bikini-clad models and dance has earned it the title of the Twin Cities sexiest fundraiser. The night also includes music, silent auction and cocktails.
The best part? My new co-host, Kirk DeWindt, and I will have EXCLUSIVE access to the events red carpet. We'll have our mics and cameras so stop by, and tell us what you love about ARENA Bikini and of course, The CW!
Hope to see you there!
Friday, April 26th, 2013 // 8:00 PM 12:30 AM
Calhoun Beach Club
2925 Dean Parkway, Minneapolis
For more information, visit arena-dances.org.
-Carly
