We got to Chicago Tuesday after being delayed in air for an extra 25 minutes after a prior aircraft landing drove off the runway. Our ‘car’ drove us straight to Harpo Studios.
Sarah (or amazing producer) met us at the door, where we exchanged hugs. After the many, MANY conversations we had over the last few weeks, it was pretty awesome putting a face to a name. She took us backstage (OPRAH’S backstage!!) where some of the other guests were rehearsing their on-stage reveal. We ‘made ourselves comfortable’ on the famous red audience chairs. I immediately shed a few tears. Seeing the director ‘Joe’ in action, taking in the whole moment, well, it was incredible.
We then went into the dressing room, where some women were deciding on their outfits. Mike changed about 6 times. Dress pants, swim trunks, back and forth, back and forth. They decided against the shirtless walk on stage in the trunks, because it would be too hard to explain why he was in swim trunks with the current scripting. But they immediately took him to the photo studio for some stills, one of which was put on the screen during the show. We were told then that Mike’s segment will be 3.5 minutes. Oh ya, he gets a WHOLE SEGMENT!
I had to sneak a picture of him standing there in his trunks in front of about 4 women. It was so insane!!
Later, our car took us to our hotel to check in, then on to the spray tan place, where Mike got a airbrush tan, even though he wasn’t even going shirtless anymore!
We had dinner in our hotel, Restaurant 676 – a $150 dinner, all paid for by Harpo! It was awesome. It was pretty fancy, and absolutely delicious. I had two martini’s, which didn’t feel like such a great idea the next morning, but it sure helped me sleep that night!
Wednesday morning was a total whirlwind. We were up at 4:15 (which was actually 3:15 Calgary time!) We got ready, had $22 room service toast, and out to our waiting car at 5:45. We were both so nervous, we barely spoke to each other until we got to Harpo. We were shown to Green Room 3, where we sat nervously for about 1/2 hour. Then the hair & make up team came in, set up, and called ME over to a chair. I had NO idea I was getting my hair & make up done, so this was pretty cool. The lady who did my make up has worked for Harpo for 20 years!
While I was getting my hair done, our producer Sarah came in to talk to us about the questions Oprah might ask. Then we went to the stage to run through where Mike would go and how he would walk onto the stage. After that, we went back to the green room and sat around for a bit. Finally it was time for Mike to get dressed, and then the sound crew came in to put mic’s on both of us. They came to take me to my seat, and I had to leave Mike in the green room forever! I went and sat in my chair; front row! I missed most of the ‘audience warm up’, but when I came out, they confirmed the taping would be aired on May 10.
Then Oprah came out, no major fanfare or introduction; she just walked on to the stage. She was briefed very quickly, read through the introduction on the teleprompter, and then it was go time! Mike was the 6th segment (out of 7), so unfortunately he had to sit in the green room for almost the entire show. He was really nervous back there, and I was equally nervous out in the audience. The 5th segment was Bob Green, and after his segment, the seat filler beside me moved, and Bob sat beside me. Before Mike’s intro, Oprah kept talking to Bob, so I might be in those shots too, if they don’t edit it out. Finally it was time for Mike’s segment. The director came up and briefed Oprah on the next segment and gave her a card with details and Mike’s picture on the top. Then he said, “Mike’s wife is in the front row there, Shannon” and he pointed to me. Oprah looked at me, repeated “Shannon” and I gave an excited little wave. Oprah said my name!
Then it was time. Oprah said a little introduction, while a couple fat pictures came up on the screen behind her, and they played the Dr. Oz clip.
(The Dr.Oz clip, for those who don’t know, is what got Mike selected to be part of the show. Mike had told Sarah the first time they spoke, about an Oprah show years ago with Dr.Oz. on the show, Dr. Oz said for every 35 pounds of weight a man loses, he can gain an inch of penis length. Sarah (and obviously the rest of the team) thought this was so funny, that Mike was upgraded from 1 of 100 audience member who lost 100 pounds or more, to an actual guest. When we arrived the day before for rehearsal, Sarah let it slip to me that they had been referring to Mike as ‘penis man’. And when she went to introduce him to some other staffers, one guy said, “oh we know who YOU are!” it was hilarious.)
Then Oprah called Mike out. The rest is a blur. I remember him coming out, giving her a high five and sitting down. I remember the first question; about the Dr. Oz clip, and what that did for his motivation. I remember him blushing, and talking really fast during the first answer. I know the second question was about him never wanting to take his shirt off in public, and they showed a shirtless pic. And the third question was unscripted, she asked if it had become a lifestyle for him. He did awesome answering that question, thinking on his feet. Of course after the taping, we thought of a better answer than what he gave…hindsight!
I had been coached that Oprah might ask me about the saying we have at home, that Mike is now “half the guy he used to be, but twice the man he was”, so I had been repeating that quote over and over in my head, not wanting to screw it up, during the entire taping. Well, she didn’t ask me that! She asked me if Dr. Oz was right. Lol. I said “yes, Dr.Oz was right” (I think). I may have done some spastic move with my head, I’m scared to see it. I was a little taken aback when it wasn’t the question I was expecting.
After Mike’s segment, he came and sat down with me (they moved Bob over). The 7th segment was blank on the show plan, so we figured there was some kind of surprise coming, and there was! Everyone in the audience got a gift (you’ll have to watch to see!
After the surprise, the directors where organizing all the special 100 audience members to come up for a picture. At that moment Oprah was standing on the stage, about two feet in front of me. What just happened suddenly hit me, and I lost it. I started doing the ‘ugly cry’. Oprah probably thought I was a crazy person, totally thrilled to get the surprise gift or something. She looked at me and asked in amazement, “Why are you crying??” I said, “YOU!!”, she said “come here for a picture”, and gave me her hand. After a very ungraceful mount on to the stage in a tight skirt, she put her arm around me, gave me a huge squeeze, and we smiled for the photographer. She kept her arm around me for what seemed like forever.
That was an amazing experience. I was now in shock, where I stayed until the next day sometime. Oprah then thanked everyone for coming. She acknowledged all the hair-dye that went into us all being there, lol. She also acknowledged the time off work and the babysitters people had to get. She was so gracious, and honestly thankful, it was awesome. We went back to the green room, where a couple Oprah mugs were waiting for us, all gift wrapped. We got our microphones off, said goodbye to Sarah, and got back in our car.
Our car took us to the Omni to pick up our bags, then on to the SAX hotel, where we stayed for the next two nights. While we were checking in, we saw Dax Shepard and Kristin Bell talking to the concierge. Cool!
That afternoon we went to the Signature Room for lunch. It’s on the 95th floor of the Hancock Tower. I did the death grip on the handrail in the elevator all the way up, and down. The view was incredible, even though it was cloudy and rainy. 
We walked around a bit after that, and then went back to the hotel. We meant to go and plan out the rest of our day, but ended up having a 2.5hr nap. Apparently we were exhausted! We had dinner at The House of Blues that night,
and then headed over to Howl at the Moon, a dueling piano bar that was recommended to us by our friends who had been to Oprah/Chicago back in February.
It was really fun. In addition to pianos, there were also drums and bass, and all four of the performers played all the instruments and sang. And did it well! Incredible.
The next day we walked and walked and walked! Checked out the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park and did a river cruise from the Navy Pier.
Of course during the cruise, the sky opened up and it started pouring. It was really cold, but interesting. We had to go into a pub (Harry Carray’s Tavern) at the Navy Pier to have a drink and warm up afterwards. We walked around the shops a bit, and found Garrett’s Popcorn, which was one of Oprah’s Favorite Things once, and I can see why.
Ya, it’s just popcorn, but OMG!! So good. That night we went to Dick’s Last Resort for dinner. I knew what to expect, I know they are known for being crass and rude to the patrons, but wow! It was pretty hard to get used to.
It ended up being pretty fun though. After that we headed the the Redhead Piano Bar. It was really swanky, and full of 50 year old cougars. Lol. Not our thing. So we only had one drink there, and then headed back to Howl at the Moon. It was even better than the night before. By 10 pm it was packed with people, and they had 6 people performing instead of just four the night before.
I highly recommend this place, it really puts our dueling piano bar in Calgary to shame. While we were there, Vickie from Housewives of Orange County came in. But she only stayed for about 10 minutes. Friday we were up at 5:30, and got to enjoy one more chartered car ride from Harpo to the airport. I love having a driver!
It was an amazing trip, and an incredible experience from start to finish. I don’t know how many times Mike and I said to each other, “is this really happening?”. We are so grateful for this experience, and it couldn’t have been any more awesome.
Air date of the show is scheduled for May 10th.
See the rest of the story (and the Oprah clip!) HERE!
