Behind The Scenes with Rosie O’Donnell

Photo By: Dan Barbossa

On Windy City LIVE today, we were very lucky to have Rosie O’Donnell as our special guest for the hour.  But it didn’t start off so smoothly.    Rosie was caught in traffic.  Chicago traffic is a nightmare and Rosie learned that the hard way this morning.  As show time approached, Rosie was no where in sight.  Thankfully, she is a prolific Twitterer.  She started tweeting us updates.  “Oy in traffic – 6 mins says opera rap star driver Khary Laurent.”   Followed by, “cutting it close -fear not I am camera ready in an odd orange frock…”

So we had to formulate a back-up plan.  We had this elaborate open planned.  We put together a great skit on tape that culminated in Mark DeCarlo running into the studio and cue-ing a singer to begin.  The singer joins the chorus (The Chicago Red Line) and the song ends with Rosie walking on stage.  Well, no Rosie, no song, so we had the hosts vamp a little.  The show begins and I’m waiting in the lobby for Rosie.  Producer David Plummer is waiting outside.  News crews are gathered hoping to get a sound bite with Rosie (who just landed an exclusive sit down with Patty Blagojevitch).  There was no way that was happening.  We had to get her in studio.  We had a microphone waiting.  All we needed was Rosie…

So Rosie’s driver takes her to the side entrance of the building instead of the front of the building and everyone starts running.  I run to the back of the building, but my the time I get there, Rosie has already gotten out of the car and is somewhere in the building.  I grab part of her entourage and run toward the greenroom and studio.  At some point, another Rosie group joins in (she had a behind-the-scenes camera crew following her for her show).  At one point, I turn around an yell to the group, “Where is she?”  I hear a voice say, “I’m right here.”  Standing in front of me was Rosie O’Donnell.  In all of the commotion, I didn’t even see her.  She was running with us.  DOH!

We got her miked and hustled into position.  I ran into the Control Room and told them to throw to the tape… and our show with Rosie began.  A few minutes late, but better late than never.  LIVE television.  Gotta love it.  Of course, right on cue, Rosie walks out and lights up the room.  See the video below… Rosie’s intro starts at 4:30…

Photo By: Dan Barbossa

Of course, Rosie was a pro through the rest of the show.  And at the end, we had The Chicago Red Line sing to her again, one of her favorites: Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep.”  Due to rights restrictions, I can’t post that, but we’ll give you an encore of it on Friday’s show (03/03/12).  Be sure to check it out.