American Idol Recap

I'm not going to lie.  I have a really fun life.  I have fun friends and together we do really fun things.
Who gets to spend a day in LA at an American Idol taping?
Cool kids do.
I LOVE IT!!!

Did we spend hours sitting on the sidewalk in our dorky matching TOMS? (Unplanned, promise!)
Without chairs? (Oops.)
Getting super tan? (a.k.a. sunburned.)
Waiting for the Sprinkles truck to drive by?  (It didn't.)
Did Amy use her mad Cricut skillz to make hilarious signs? (Thanks for all of the ideas!)
Did they confiscate our phones and cameras before we were allowed in the studio? (Hello! I have a blog to write!)
Yes. Yes and yes.  
Every single minute, even the ones where we were totally MELTING, or had to use the port-a-potties, or when I broke down and bought a diet coke from the vending machine, was crazy, silly, giddy, fun. 

But in actuality, the fun hadn't even really started yet.
After the crowd warmer up guy did his thing (we won a free McFlurry for being the rowdiest section) the show started.  Ex to the cit to the ing.

Seriosuly.  How HAWT is J. Lo?
Want to know a secret?
She has a full time hair petter.
Didn't know that was a job did you?
During every single commercial break, (which are four minutes long by the way, I had no idea how much time our DVR save us.  Crazy!) this guy would come out and smooth and pet her hair.  Not kidding.  For four minutes. Can you imagine his resume?

Job Experience
2011-2013  Personal Hair Petter for Jennifer Lopez

How can I get him to come work for me?  Because I have some major FRIZZ to deal with up in this place.
If by chance you were looking for us or our signs in the audience, no such luck.  We were above and behind the stage.  Perfect for a 360º view.  Not so perfect for this shorty girl to get any airtime.
But my arm, one eyeball and forehead had their primetime debut during James Durban's song.
The song where they made us rock out with our fists in the air.  Not kidding.
The stage manager gave us lessons during a commercial.
J Lo got her hair petted and we were taught how to be rockers.
Cheesetastic.
But the best, best, best part of all was the most unexpected.
After leaving the studio, walking all the way to The Grove, looking for someplace to eat, bummed that the Nordstrom's didn't have a cafe (rich people problems), we decided instead to grab something on the way home.
As we exited the Grove I spotted Casey's parent's.
For reals, yo.
I whispered to Amy
"There's Casey's parents." as I stealthily pointed them out.
She answered, "lets give them our signs!"
To which I retorted "NO!!!!!"
To which cooler-than-me Julie said "YES!!!!!"
As they walked over and started talking to them.
I was dying.
Dying.
Cooler Julie asked if we could get a picture with them.
They kindly obliged.
They were so sweet and excited about the signs.
I offered to take the picture.
Obviously.   Because I was DYING!!!!

But Cooler Julie gave her camera to a random dude and forced me to be in the pic.
Still dying.
Dying that Mr. Abrams is holding a sign that says YUMMY!
Dying that this is really happening.
Dying that I stammered out to his mom "thanks for raising him on Jazz."
Superdork.  Party of one.
But that is why I like them.  Because they are quirky and silly and different.  Because they raised a musician with a passion for MUSIC, not just singing.  Because they raised him on Jazz.  Because they were excited about our silly signs.
My coolest celebrity encounter to date.


Posted in

34 Comments

  1. {cuppakim}March 31, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    such a cute story. hahaha.
    and girllll as for all of the awkward things to say to famous people - TOTALLY NOT AWKWARD. You were smooth like butta. :) At least in my book.

    Me on the other hand...I don't do so well under famous pressure. :) I'm going to reread this entry for tips in the future :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. MichelleMarch 31, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    This has nothing to do w AI, but just wanted to let you know I adore you and your uplifting, funny and helpful blog. I made cheater baked ziti last night, so yesterday you helped me put a great meal on the table and today you made me laugh. Thanks dude.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SarahMarch 31, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    So freakin awesome. All of it.
    I love that Jlo has a hair petter. I mean seriously.
    I'm still so jealous you got to go. I'd hate you if I didn't like you so much. ;)
    And I would have had the same reaction to getting a picture with Casey's parents. (I heart Casey!)
    I spotted Brooke White after she performed at the state fair in dallas, and I had a super dorky reaction wanted to get a picture, but just froze and acted like a silly person. ugh. They are just people... I don't know why I have those reactions.

    And dorky me was SO scanning the audience for you. I was even scanning up there in the top when James came down, but didn't manage to spot you :(.

    Loved hearing about all the happenings.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bonus MomMarch 31, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    Seriously. You are SUPER, cool, Julie, and I live vicariously through you ;)
    sincerely - landlocked, boring, midwest gal Gail

    ReplyDelete
  5. Michelle {Daydream Believers}March 31, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    What an awesome post! It sounds (and looks!) like you had LOTS of fun! :) Thanks for letting us in on the secret to JLo's A-MAZ-ING hair... now I just need find myself a hair-prettier and I'll be all set! ;) Seriously though, I lol'd at the thought of that guy's resume! Funny stuff Julie! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Casey MartinezMarch 31, 2011 at 6:05 PM

    Oh my gosh how fun was your time!! A hair petter eh. Wow, that is pretty crazy;0 and your friend was smart to get a pic with the parents;0. You will be really happy that you have that forever!! awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  7. forever folding laundryMarch 31, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    Hair petter? Seriously!?
    Did Ryan Seacrest have a personal
    spray-tan reapplier during the
    commercial breaks?
    I totally think he does.

    What a super fun night!
    And how awesome that you got those
    unexpected fist pumping lessons!

    :)
    ~Keri

    ReplyDelete
  8. Joy FrameworksMarch 31, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    This was the best post! Rock on!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousMarch 31, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    Sounds like you had a blast! I would love to do somethign like that someday. You are awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  10. BethMarch 31, 2011 at 6:55 PM

    I love being a part of your life!!! thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  11. Marta @ Haus of GirlsMarch 31, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    "thanks for raising him on Jazz."
    dying!!!
    claaaaaasic Peg is, from now on, claaaaaasic Jules.
    You are the best!
    thank you for this rad recap.
    PS sorry to spill the deets tonight. Claaaaasic Marta!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Candace McClintickMarch 31, 2011 at 7:43 PM

    Love it! your so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  13. sarahMarch 31, 2011 at 7:55 PM

    Ive soo been waiting for this post to hear all about it! so exciting!!! sounds like yall had a blast, love that you got to top it off with pics with caseys parents. and i love your comment to them, classic. :) glad you had fun!

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousMarch 31, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    SO funny! Forget American Idol ... I'm coveting those sequins-covered black TOMs! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Heather @ Glitter and GlossMarch 31, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    I love it, I love it! How fun - I have never been to any sort of tv taping (and hello - super dork party of one over here too) that's kind of one of my dreams to be in a tv audience.

    Love your alloraliciousness!

    ReplyDelete
  16. SoSoBellaMarch 31, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    He's my favorite!! Looks like tons of fun ;)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jessica JohnsonMarch 31, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    dying dying DYINGGGGG. you could not have planned that more perfectly. speaking of, j lo IS perfect. but it's surely because of all the hair petting. and beardy's dad was a total sport. a yummy sport. LOL! my fave line by far.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Leslie @ top of the pageMarch 31, 2011 at 9:46 PM

    that story is AWESOME!!! so funny. in addition to the hair petter, does J.Lo also have small puppies jump through those earrings during commercials?

    ReplyDelete
  19. JodiMarch 31, 2011 at 10:20 PM

    Great recap! I was watching for you all last night - and I thought for sure I saw you too, guess not! You guys made awesome signs. Laughing at your introvertedness being outed by friends! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. RachelMarch 31, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    That was the FUNNEST! I love that you guys ran into his parents afterward - what a terrific way to wrap up your adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Handbags*and*PigtailsApril 1, 2011 at 5:28 AM

    Ok is it just me or does that dad look like Ed McMahon with a beard? Im just sayin...
    Glad you had such a fun time:)
    XO,
    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  22. teal915April 1, 2011 at 6:05 AM

    We DVRed it and didn't watch until last night. I did see a bright pink sign behind the stage at one point, but it was too far off to read. I wondered if it was yours?

    ReplyDelete
  23. LoriApril 1, 2011 at 6:06 AM

    My favorite post of yours ever. I love Casey too, and that he was raised on jazz. And that you acted like a dork to his parents. I'm a first class dork myself and I like other dorks a lot. What a great time!

    ReplyDelete
  24. meg duerksenApril 1, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    everyday is an adventure with you. :)

    this is so fun.
    and i told scott as he was trying so hard to find you....
    "she's probably wearing turquoise"
    HA!
    how funny is that?!

    ReplyDelete
  25. DeniseApril 1, 2011 at 7:32 AM

    CUTE story!

    you are the coolest person i know...today anyway.

    hair petter?! i need a hair petter!!!!
    i could be a hair petter.
    if you want i will intern as your hair petter (i would be so good. too good, your hair would look awesom all the time). i have references, just as my kids, i pet their hair all. the. time.

    ReplyDelete
  26. A+A=HappyMommaApril 1, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  27. A+A=HappyMommaApril 1, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    I loooooove this post! I looked for you on Wed. night and had MANY sightings, but none were really you :(
    Thanks for sharing your fun with us, Rockstar :D
    <3 Tyanna

    ReplyDelete
  28. JanetApril 1, 2011 at 10:32 AM

    Ok, since my hub took a job at our local church and we have less income- we DO NOT have TV or Cable!!!
    Pity me, please!

    Thank you for making me feel somewhat current on the whole Idol deal- you are hilarious and I'm so glad you went and had a BLAST!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. CelesteApril 1, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    This is too cool, Julie -- from your arm being broadcast, to your chance meeting w/ the Abrams. Awesome. The whole shabang.

    I am curious, though:

    1. Did JLo's hair-petter always dream of being a hair-petter.

    2. Did he receive a degree in hair-petting? (is there such a thing)

    3. I want one.

    ReplyDelete
  30. CelesteApril 1, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    I forgot the question marks in the above comment. fail.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Kimberlee JostApril 3, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    I've watched every season but this one and this is the best one I'm hearing/seeing. Shoot. (Does that sound like KS or what?!)

    I wonder what a hair petter job description looks like? That must be hard to advertise for without looking too kinky. :)

    My husband loves S. Tyler. Has had a thing for Aerosmith forever. He also read your post and loved it. Question: Does S. Tyler look as gaunt in person as he does on tv? Just curious.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Heidi Jo the ArtistApril 3, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Cool story! I've never seen an episode shockingly. Now I'm going to have to see if our rockin' library has them on DVD at all. I watch everything on DVD and can't watch regular TV because I hate commercials so. My soon to be 4 year old daughter would love the show though; she is always dancing and singing around the house. :)

    No wonder J-Lo looks great all the time, with her own personal petter, who knew!?

    Love the sparkly TOMS! I was saving up for a pair of the pink sparkly TOMS, well because they don't have purple, but now they are out of my size. :(

    ReplyDelete
  33. TDM WendyApril 3, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    Ummm - did you tell them your hubby was the drummer for The Supertones. They probably recognized you from the video and were dying. Just dying.

    ReplyDelete
  34. KellyApril 6, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    Ha! You're hilarious! Plus I'm stoked to know there are Americans with GREAT taste - I'm a New Zealander who watched 'Idol' a few weeks ago when Casey ended up in the bottom two (we're probably WAY behind in the episodes, by the way) and had to 'sing for his life'. My husband and I were going "What?? WHAT??!?" at the TV, incredulous that Americans obviously had NO recognition of real talent!! I most humbly stand corrected :) I

    ReplyDelete