CBS Television City, where they tape what is referred to as “Kilborn.”

As our 28-day road trip comes to an end, we’re also wrapping up our brief foray into southern California. Wednesday’s weather was about as perfect as one could experience without having to fly to Honolulu. We took advantage of the sunshine and the perfect temp by visiting one of our dearest friends– Burbank. (We lived there for five years. We try to say hello when we can.) After dining al fresco and sucking down a cup of Starbucks (Sorry, anarchists, collectivists and anti-capitalist conspiracy cranks, but we loves them Starbucks!) we made our way over to the Burbank HQ of Hero Product Placement. Hero’s principals are “The O’s”– SHECKYmagazine readers know them as Steeves and Mrs. Steeves (actually, Julie). Their product placement venture has been going great guns for seven years now. We were treated to a tour of their spacious facilities over near the Burbank Airport and we tried, unsuccessfully, to catch up on all that has transpired since our last visit with Steeves!

Our visit was all too brief. We departed and headed over the hills via Laurel Canyon to CBS Television City, as we made arrangements with Late Late Show staff writer (and SHECKYmagazine columnist) Dan French to view a taping (the next to next to last taping!) of what has come to be know simply as “Kilborn.” We weren’t in the spacious (and well-stocked) green room for more than five minutes when Steve Gelder showed up (see photo). He resides in L.A. now, mainly writing. A party atmosphere briefly erupted after Mr. French appeared and taping neared. Bob Saget swang through briefly to scoop up some of the farfalle with chicken and pesto before making a “surprise visit” to Craigers. Eventually, we were escorted by the audience wrangler to our seats in the studio. Comics make lousy audience members at these tapings, but we went in anyway. (Was it absolutely necessary to put us in the first row?!) We watched as Saget, Carl Reiner, Cole Hauser and Diane Druger (the gal who played Helen of Troy in “Troy”) came out and did their guest spots. The taping was a well-oiled machine. (And that Gelder did a hilarious– and wildly insincere– parody of a frothing, ferocious audience member. At least we hope it was insincere! At any rate, it made us look bad by comparison. All that clapping is suprisingly exhausting!)

Steve Gelder and Kilborn staffer Dan French in the green room at Kilborn

OXYGEN IN THE CONTRACT?

Soon, we’ll head to Flagstaff for Traci’s gig at Northern Arizona University on Friday night. One part of Traci’s contract for her NAU gig stood out:

#25. Flagstaff is at an elevation of 7,000 ft. above sea level. If artist will require oxygen, arrangements must be made directly between Artist/Agency and an appropriate vendor.” Traci is kicking herself for not asking for oxygen.

“But,” she says, “Who knows if you’re going to require oxygen if you’ve never performed at 7,000 ft. above sea level?!” It would have been quite a spectacle if she had arranged for oxygen and actually sucked it down throughout her set. We hear that Rodney required oxygen when he visited Aspen for the USCAF.

CELEBRITY SPOT, PT. II

We were checking our email and getting some business done in the Burbank Kinko’s upon hitting town Tuesday afternoon when we spotted someone who looked familiar two cubicles over– Jane Wiedlin of the Go Go’s. (She was the one with the short, black hair.) The main reason we were able to I.D. her is that she looks exactly as she did in 1983!

Editors NOTE: We’re in Flagstaff right now… we fly outta Vegas tomorrow… we’ll be posting a final L.A. experience posting and wrapping our trip up when we get back to SHECKYmagazine.com HQ… look for another update in 48 hours!!