(Missed any part? Here’s the whole series.)
Picking up from last time –
At the top of the final commercial break, we were told that next up was the last deal before the Big Deal.
This was it. Do or die time.
I’m in the best costume I can think of, and gave the best interview I could. I won the hat during the break. I’m dancing in every break as though there’s no tomorrow. Yet I’m not sure anyone’s even noticing I’m alive.
“Is this just not my show?” I wonder. “Am I not as fun as I think I am? Do the people on Let’s Make a Deal just not like me?…”
Then, as these thoughts are swirling in my head, with really the main idea being, “What am I doing wrong; why am I inadequate?!” a camera turned directly on me. And I danced and my little heart out!
I wondered if perhaps the camera was on someone else (or if maybe I was just imagining things). But then, an audience member with a huge headpiece on her costume drifted in front of me, in the camera’s line of sight, as she danced. The camera moved to counter, and it honed right back in on me.
Once that happened, I knew someone must be [*in Rockewell/Michael Jackson inflection*] watching me. So, I daaaaance and dance, smiling so hard I think my cheeks might explode.
The music settled, people sat, and we came back for the last regular deal.
I almost whisper to my dad, “I’m pretty sure I’m up next.” But, I didn’t want to be that obnoxious (especially since they were watching me). Sure enough, I get called.
So, I run over there. I think about giving my dad a hug on my way, but instead I do some weird high-five/hand-holding thing. I thought it might look weird if I bent down for a hug, though I think it would’ve been fine… (Plus, how weird did that awkward high-five look?)
And there was time since Wayne was picking another girl as well. But whatever, no need to overthink it. (There are too many other things to overthink… I hug my dad all the time. Time to let this one go.)
So, I get down there with Wayne and the other contestant.
When I see Wayne, I lamely say, “Nice to meet you.” One of the many cool things Drew Carey does, is he always says, “Nice to see you” instead of “meet you” (in case he’s met you somewhere before). (Also, it just sounds nicer in my opinion.)
I have tried to implement that in my life. Yet, on national TV, I come out with, “Nice to meet you.” I think I may have technically met Wayne at my friend’s improv show (that Wayne was in) one night.
If I did meet him, it was one of those super fast, sort of barely say hi, because you happen to be in two melding groups in a hallway where some people know each other and some don’t type of things – which is why neither of us would remember it. I know we’ve never been formally introduced. So even if we were in the same talking circle, we didn’t technically officially meet.
(Ugh, this story, right? How do you not know if you’ve met Wayne Brady? But that’s why you always say nice to see you – not meet you!)
So, already the first words out of my mouth, and I’m already acting like a fool. But no matter. Let that go, ’cause it’s time to play.
And this is where I’ll pick up next time.