The Ellen Degeneres Show Taping

Another win in life! Here's my story of the taping of The Ellen Degeneres Show.

The beginning

I was planning my US trip many months ago and I knew I would have flexible time when I am in LA as that part would be a self-tour. I've always love watching The Ellen Degeneres Show, so her youtube channel is one of my most visited link! LOL

So with the self-tour and all, I kept wondering if I should get my hopes high by applying audience tickets to "The Ellen Degeneres Show" when I plan for my trip in LA. I know it's a one in probably a gazillion chances to win those tickets so I didnt want to put my hopes high. But then I couldn't help but to leave a space in my planning the whole time. 

So, I started googling to get tips to increase my chances on the tickets. After some research, I found out that September tickets would usually be out end of June. I put a reminder on 15th June in my phone to start checking out Ellen's website for tickets. My plan is to check at least once every day so that I don't miss out! #Perseverance #NeverGiveUp

I tried but the dates weren't open, until Aug when I finally see the calendar for Sept is out! After TWO months of checking daily on her website!! But the dates where I will be in LA (4-8th Sept) was still blank (no taping showed). The following week's tickets were already fully booked. Ellen tickets finished faster than hotcakes! I told myself that maybe we were not that lucky as the taping might only start after we left LA. But, I still continue to check a few times a day, because I didn't want to crush my heart.. 

Then suddenly on Wednesday (10th Aug) morning, the dates that I'm in LA was open! I quickly apply 4 tickets on 7th September and hope that I would get them. Then, I calm myself down as I do not want to give myself too much hope, as I do not want to be disappointed. After all, I'm competing with Ellen's gazillion fans. 

On Thursday (11th Aug) morning, I received an email from The Ellen Degeneres Show audience department! My heart skipped a beat! Or was it two beats? LOL! The email gave me more details about the taping date I requested and asked if I am still interested to go. OF COURSE I DO!! I replied quickly and gave them the name of guests attending as requested. 

After replying that email, I was so excited! Will I really get tickets to Ellen?! The email clearly states "This is not a confirmation email". But it also says "Once we receive your response, you will receive a confirmation email stating that you in fact have tickets for the taping". 

Okay, calm down! No concrete confirmation, better stay calm!

Woke up the next day at 6am instead of the usual 6.45am and quickly update my emails. OMG!! OMG!! I received a confirmation email that I will have 4 guarantee tickets to Ellen's taping on 7th Sept!! WOOHOOOOO!!!! Suddenly, I am wide awake and so excited! Quickly send messages to my friends and inform them that we are going to The Ellen Degeneres Show!!! And they are Guarantee Tickets, not Standby Tickets!

I was so happy for the whole day!! I'm not so unlucky after all!! 

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

6th September 2016
In the evening after we got back from our touring in LA for the day, we decided to read the instructions again for the Ellen taping the next day (although we have already read that for at least 5 times!). There are a few simple general instructions like no flip flops, no black and white clothes, no shorts, no hats, etc....but that's when we realised it says NO T-SHIRTS!!

Although we have read it like 5 times, somehow none of us noticed the NO T-SHIRT instruction and we were all actually plan to wear jeans and t-shirts the next day! We panicked as the shops were already closed so we couldn't go shopping for new clothes. Don't tell me, I was lucky to win the tickets and only to realised we don't get to attend because we do not have the right clothes with us!! T____T

After about 1 hour of fumbling here and there with the stressful moments, somehow we managed to find sort of the appropriate clothes by borrowing clothes among each other. I said sort of because we weren't completely sure. Like for me, I'm wearing a dress, with a sandal. Will they refuse me entry with the sandals? It was such a stressful moment, but we can only hope for the best!!

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

7th September 2016
In the morning, we had our Warner Bros Studio Tour. We passed by outside Ellen's sound stage and our tour guide mentioned that the queue for the audience ticket is 5 years. Me and my friends were grinning ear to ear! LOL #Win

After the WB Studio Tour, although we were in the same premise, we have to walked to Gate 3. We asked around and walked our way there. It was a brisk 15-20 minutes walks. When we reached the gate, we saw the signs for Ellen audiences.

The waiting space was located next to the carpark, and a big crowd was already gathered there! Very obvious Ellen have super devoted fans!

We waited for awhile and later the staff announce that we can start our registration. We proceed to our queue - Guarantee Tickets. There is another queue for Standby, where if there are empty space left, they will distribute the Standby tickets. When I was researching, I googled and it says that people started to queue for Standby tickets as early as 9am everyday! So grateful that I have the Guarantee Tickets!

We showed our confirmation, verified with our passport. We got our hands stamped with the UV ink stamp, and got our queue number.

I remember getting more and more excited, as it seems like it is really happening! The time is getting nearer and nearer! We then continue to wait for awhile in the waiting area. The staff do make us all hyped by finally announcing the Guest List for the day - Eddie Murphy and Alessia Cara!

Later on. the staff instructed us to queue according to our numbers and they brought us to the opposite building (studio) batch by batch. We went through the security check point, and were so glad when all of us went through.We passed the dress code! All the worry the night before... *relieved* After security, we were asked to wait in a room with photos of Ellen and celebrities throughout the past 13 seasons.

Then we proceed to the next room, which is The Ellen Shop!

The people seated were those in queue, and some took the waiting time to go shopping for Ellen goods. Me and my friends looked around as well. So many nice hoodies and T-shirts and Ellen underwears! I knew I must myself a souvenir or I would regret for life! Hahhahaha... So, I ended up buying for myself an Ellen water bottle and a shot glass for my sister (she collects them).

We waited for awhile, and then we were finally getting into THE studio. The scene was so familiar the moment I stepped in. It's like finally my YouTube screen becomes 3D!  =P

We were ushered to our seats (6th row from the front) and then the warm-up guy is there to brief us and that our taping will be aired the next day. No photography or video-taping from there onwards, so no more photos inside the studio to share!

Then we were up on our seats and dance.. halfway through, DJ Twitch came out! He started to walk around and danced with the audience. When he came towards our side, he walked all the way to our aisle . We got a bit nervous as you know la, Asians can't dance well.. or specifically, me and my friends don't dance well. Sweatttt.... Luckily Twitch called the audience on the opposite to come out and dance with him. And we got a good view as he was just dancing right next to us!!

Twitch walked back to the stage area and continued dancing when Ellen was introduced! We didn't realised that the taping already started! She walked out and toss her sweet to the air and caught it in her mouth. She thanked the audience and started her monologue - about the weather, the new iPhone 7 and Taylor Swift changing her boyfriend. Of course the monologue ended with a dance!

Ellen dance her way to the audience, all the way up the two aisles and yeap, it means that she danced her way right next to us! For that one moment, we were just 2 feet away from her! #StarStrucked

On her way down to the stage, she took two bags from the audience. She opened a bag and took selfie with the audience's phone!! That's so coooool!! When she opened the 2nd bag, she pulled the ID out and read Kerry Washington. YES!! She's a surprise guests for all of us!!!

After her interview, there was a commercial break, where all of us are up on our feet to dance again. Yes, we are required to dance in all the breaks to keep the energy up! After the break, it was the interview with the comedian, Eddie Murphy.

We have another commercial break after the interview with Eddie Murphy. They also explained that now they change the sequence of the taping, where they will record the ending first instead.

Ellen introduced Alessia Cara, and she performed her song 'Scars to Your Beautiful' before she proceed with the interview. And the end of the interview, she thanked her guests and said her tagline 'I'll see you tomorrow. Be Kind To One Another. Bye bye.'  

But as I said, the taping continued. After another break. Ellen introduced the next guest - which is the Orlando shooting victim.

He told the story of how he was shot four times in the back and pretended to be dead for an hour in the shooting and even died on the way to the hospital. Katy Perry's song 'Rise' inspires him, and Ellen surprised him by inviting Katy Perry!!

Not only was him surprised, but everyone in the audience too!! We did not expect another surprise guest after Kerry Washington!

The taping finished after Katy Perry joined the interview. After the taping is done, Ellen thanked the audience again for coming all the way, and hope we enjoyed ourselves. OF COURSE WE DID!! Twitch and Ellen danced again before waving goodbye to us and went backstage. 

On our way out, we collected our gift - Alessia Cara's CD - Know-It-All.

It was really a fun and memorable day. Would definitely go again if I have a chance to visit LA again, and lucky enough to get the tickets! Thanks Ellen and team for the opportunity!!

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Printscreens of us in the episode - Season 14 Episode 3 that airs on 8th September 2016

When Ellen asked if anyone has a cracked screen on their phone

Ellen danced her way up our aisle where we were sitting

Ellen danced her way down back to stage and spied at an audience's handbag

Ellen took the audience's handbag and danced her way back to stage

The audience member who was talking to Ellen when she looks into her handbag and took out her belongings

Everyone was surprised with the appearance of Katy Perry!

Audience shot at almost the end of the show

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Videos of our episode that we were in

Winning the Mamma Mia! Musical Tickets

I have, and always been a big fan of musicals. When I found out that the cast of Mamma Mia! musical from west end London is coming over to Malaysia in Dec, me and my mum decided to watch it even though it is held in KL.  We do not want to miss it and regret later! Not like we are going to London anytime soon.. lol

We booked our tickets a few months in advance, in September for RM331.50 after the early-bird discount (before discount is RM390 - third expensive ticket for the show). Then I just saved the tickets confirmation and decided to only look into it in December. 

Then December arrived. One day, as I was driving to work, listening to Red.fm as usual, suddenly I heard that they are giving out tickets for Mamma Mia!. They will play a snippet of ABBA's song for the contestant to guess. If you win, you will win two tickets to the show.  And it's the tickets for RM590 seats - most expensive ticket for the show. "Most expensive should be the ones with the best seat right?". I thought.

I also thought, "Why cant I be the winner of the radio competition?". Then it suddenly hit me. It's because I NEVER CALLED. Never call how to win? So I decided to give myself a chance and just call lah! 

I saved Red.fm's number in my phone so that I can call when I hear the cue the next day. Kin cheong also actually. I went to google the list of songs in the musical. Everyday, I have to make sure that I leave house on time just because I'm afraid that I will miss the cue to call. LOL

First day of calling in is the most exciting. I was self convinced that I will get through and win me some Mamma Mia! tickets. But with high hopes comes high disappointment. The line was busy even though I kept clicking redial for 10 times. LOL 

I kept calling for the next few days. Everyday was a disappointment as the line was always busy or sometimes it rings, but no one picks up. I could only listen with envy when I hear other contestants won their tickets on the radio. :(  

On Tuesday, fifth day of calling, I almost got a heart attack when finally someone picked up my phone. It was the announcer JJ! However, JJ told me that they already have a winner for Mamma Mia!. but he offered me to join the next competition. As I only want the Mamma Mia! tickets, so i rejected and said thanks anyway. 

Super duper disappointed on that day. I was also thinking, should I just go ahead with the next competition just now? I mean, better than nothing right? But I really only wanted the Mamma Mia! tickets. I would've done badly anyway in the next competition. LOL.... I decided to still continue to call the next day to try for Mamma Mia!

LUCKILY I did not give up because the next day, my call got through again!!! When JJ picked up, I thought JJ is gonna tell me that someone has won the Mamma Mia! tickets and asks if I would like the join the next competition, but he did not! I MANAGED TO CALL THROUGH AND IT IS FOR THE MAMMA MIA! COMPETITION! My heart was beating super fast and my hands went super cold... I keep telling myself to calm down and speak calmly as I do not want to sound like a crazy girl on the radio. LOL

They played the ABBA song for me to guess -

♪♫ There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright, Fernando ♫ ♪

I guessed "Fernando" and I WON TWO TICKETS WORTH RM590 each TO MAMMA MIA!!!!

When I listened to the playback on the radio, I sounded very calm and thanked JJ & Red.fm, but I remember I was feeling superly happy inside and was fighting myself not to scream out loud early in the morning in my workplace. Probably my heart and brain was doing cartwheels inside my body! LOL

So, this is the story of winning a prize from a radio station. What an experience!!

Afternoon tickets that we won, Night tickets that we bought

Outside the Plenary Hall, KL Convention Centre

Us before the show starts!

Of course, we had a blast at the show! Hope there will be more musicals coming to Malaysia!

Greenapple Ballet Charity Concert

i just came back from the Greenapple Ballet Charity Concert.

i totally enjoyed myself! honestly i wasnt expecting much at first as the ticket was only rm30. how good would you expect the show would be right? sorry greenapple

but it was really fantastic. the dancers was so graceful and full of energy. and they were a total of 18 performances. from ballet, to tap dance, modern dance, jazz... and even to belly dance!! there were about 200 dancers, age from as young as 3 years old!

there would be another show tomorrow (1st march 2009). if you are free, i suggest you to grab a ticket and you would really enjoy the show. plus, the show is for charity! All proceeds will be going the children orphanage homes!

so, you pay rm30, getting a good show for about 2 hours, plus you are doing a good deed! sounds fair =D

i remember mum asking me to join ballet classes when i was young, probably about 6 years old. but i said no firmly. and that is one thing i regretted. when i was growing up, i began to realised that i should have take up ballet classes but it was too late. bones are too stiff already sob sob how i wish i wasnt that stubborn when i was 6 years old.

because i couldnt log in msn

i couldnt log into msn. i gotta try for about at least 5 times before i could log in, then the very next second, i'll get disconnected. arghhhhhhhh my email is extremely slow. it took me 15 minutes to go into the inbox page!! *faints*

so, i guess it gives me a reason to stop being lazy and giving excuses to blog.

let me bore you with how my day goes. lol

woke up at 9.30am and bathe. when i was out from the bathroom, wrapped in towel, suddenly i saw miss leong tsu yin in my house. thank god i didnt drop the towel or anything. hahaha.. but the most important is, she came to my house with CHEESECAKES!! those cakes are actually from sandy. during our last outing here, she actually did mentioned that she likes to bake cheesecakes but doesnt like to eat them. so she says that the next time she bakes a cheesecake, she'll give me some. i didnt realised the cheesecake will come so soon. anyway, i muaks muaks muaks muaks muaks you, sandy. i love cheesecakes! and they were delicious!!

was halfway eating before i realised i forgot to take a picture

then i went to gurney plaza with my sister, yin. we had sushi king. she belanja of course. hahaha

we are going to watch FREE movie. erm, actually mine is free because of gsc-birthday-coupon, while yin actually "stole" my 2nd sis's birthday coupon from her. hahaha it was my evil idea though.. since wen will be back to SA d mar. dont waste a free ticket right? guide law number 9, 'a guide must be thrifty' ;) once a guide, forever a guide right?

one bad thing about free movie ticket is that you only get to choose those movies that has been in the cinema for a long time. so, new movies are out of our bounds and we were not given many choice. my sis wanted to watch twilight or quantum of solace, but i've already watch twilight and quantum of solace. so i sorta mentally force her to watch transporter 3 with me. hahahaha before the movie, she actually says if the movie is not good, she's gonna complain for one whole week. =S luckily the movie turn out to be quite a nice show. or i'll be dead for a week!

**Jason Statham returns as hardman Frank Martin, an ex-Special Force agent where his duty includes delivering packages without questioning. In this third instalment, Frank who has just relocated to Paris, awakes to find himself with a bomb strapped to his wrist – one which threatens to blow up should he try to remove it. -gsc.com.my**

i think the movie is nice. i can totally understand what is happening in the movie despite not watching transporter 1 and 2. and no idea what movie is about at all before watching it. the storyline is quite understandable. not too canggih for noobs like me. not too lau beh also. just nice. a rating of 3.5/5.0 from me! in fact, i feel like watching transporter 1 and 2. anyone has the dvd?

we then went shopping for awhile before we go home. on our way home, i suddenly remembered my talent when i saw my beautiful work.

see! see! it's the tissue cover project that i did for my pmr. nice right? i'm talented right? hahahaha okok, it's not perfect. the sewings are a little too tight. but overall, it's still nice right? for a 15 year old girl who never did any sewing in her life before that. right? RIGHT?

i went out again at 5.30pm to meet lean in sunrise mcd for our lunch before we left for dewan sri pinang for this:

it was a really nice play. it will be held in dewan sri pinang from 19th to 21st december, 7.30pm. admission is free. i think their play is great. and their props, WOW! go see it yourself..

me and lean before the play starts

did you notice something different?

no?

dont you feel like a look like a kid in that picture?

yes. it's because i have a shorter fringe in front. and my face looks round. i look like a kid now. arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh but i kinda like the fringe actually at times. it makes me feel younger. hahahhaahahaha

anyway, that's my day! reached home at about midnight.

i think my day is great! afterall, you dont often wake up and have cheesecakes specially baked by your friends for you right? thanks again sandy!

ps: it's 1.23am now and i still couldnt log into msn! *double faints*

beauty and the beast

just came back from the beauty and the beast show in kl convention centre.

it was FABULOUS!!!

it's really worth the money that we paid for. their acting.. their voices.. their songs.. their props.. everything is just so nice and beautiful!!!

and it's not just the normal beauty and the beast show. they add in some scenes and songs. and they were fabulous. i personally like the part where belle teaches the beast to read. so romantic..

i like lumiere! he's sooooo funny and sexy! LOL for those who went, remember the part "be - our -... guest"? lollll i bet everyone in that room laughed! hahahahaha

pic 1 - lumiere in the cartoon
pic2 - lumiere and cogsworth in the show

i like belle too. she has a beautiful voice. her singing is clear and her acting is so good! the beast is slightly smaller than i expected.. you know la.. beast must be like monster size a bit wan right? but what to do.. he's also a human in real life.. lol... i like the ending part, where the beast changed into a prince charming..

i like the bad guy, gaston too!!! he's so good in acting a bad guy. really portrays what gaston is in the cartoon..

i like their dancing.. their songs!! *listening and singing their songs now.. lol*

the show is really AWESOME!!

i'm lovin' it


note: all pics are taken from the net except for the last picture.

disney on ice

*mickey mouse music playing*

well, disney on ice is NOT for kids only okay? it's for people who likes disney movies.. and adults like ME can still like disney okay?!?!?!?!

first of all, gotta thank my big sis for belanja-ing me! lotsa muaks muaks and kiss kiss to her! =)

so disney on ice is of course about disney.. but the nice part is the whole show was performed on ice! they skate on ice, they dance on ice, they sing on ice, they even gymnast on ice!! and disney music was played throughout the WHOLE time.. i feel like i'm in a fantasy world the whole time i'm there.... so nice and so disney-ish~!~!~!


they started with their first ever cartoon of disney.. which is MICKEY and friends!! and then came lion king... but we forgot to take any photos.. too excited i guess =.='' and i couldnt find any of them online.. so i'll juz put this pic la k? hehe





then came 101 dalmations and Cruella De Vil!!






followed by.. UNDER THE SEA, UNDER THE SEA... the little mermaid!!







then come tinkerbell, captain hook with PETER PAN.. all in Neverland!!




next, comes lilo and stitch.. *hawaiian music playing*





then obviously comes the grand finale... where all the cast comes out for the final dance!







after the show, me and my sister and bro in law walk around the stalls to have a long at all the disney merchandise they are selling.



sad to say we didnt bought any! as it wasnt cheap.. sob sob

kesimpulannya, i would say that disney on ice is a SPLENDID show.. the costumes, the props, the dances, the skating, the... EVERYTHING is just nice!! i enjoyed myself very much!! i'm goin if there's a next one!! =)

ps: the videos are found in youtube. not taken by me... and sorry for blur photos... sponsor me a nice camera and i promise to have EXCELLENT photos the next time.. hehe

oh ya.. and i finally decided to continue using digi... for now =)