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Breakfast's "Meet and Greet" girl Chloe - Source: Breakfast -
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Turns out my first blog was quite a success with many of you having a cheeky read. This week, I want to tell you a bit more about what goes on behind the scenes here on Breakfast!
While you're all still sound asleep, the Breakfast team are already at their computers, at times half asleep themselves, coffees in hand, headphones on, tip-tapping away at their keyboards. We all have flat screen computers at our desks, along with a television so we can watch the show while it goes to air and keep up with any breaking news from overseas.
Ali arrives at 4:30am along with the executive producer, NZI Business presenter Corin, and the news team. Paul gets in at 5am on the dot, disrupting the peaceful atmosphere by bellowing out "Morning chaps". This happens every morning without fail. If the team isn't awake by then, they are now!
Tamati gets in about 5am too and gets straight to work at the weather desk writing his script.
Until Peter Williams' bike was pinched by some dodgy scoundrel this week, he would cycle to work (probably decked out in the latest bike shorts and rash shirt, with a flashing helmet, although, no one has ever seen this as he changes into a suit before he comes into the newsroom). Now, that he is bike-less, he's entirely reliant on his Toyota RAV. He arrives about 5:15 am.
I learnt a long time ago that turning up to work at this hour looking a bit worse for wear is completely acceptable. Paul, for example, opts for a baggy, faded t-shirt, either three quarter jean shorts or cargos and a freebie pair of hideous white jandals.
Ali dresses casually, but of course, always looks good no matter what she is wearing. She heads into make up about 5am, while Paul continues to disrupt us in the newsroom, going over his interviews for the morning, throwing in outrageous comments and picking fights with producers as he does so. This can be HILARIOUS to watch. I usually just stay quiet and focus on cleaning up the crumbs with my dust pan and broom.
Speaking of crumbs, on the off chance that anyone decides to bring food into the newsroom at this ungodly hour, the team (including myself) are true gannets! It is surprising to see how food can change the mood of a room. Sometimes one of the producers, Sarah Bristow, will bake a batch of scones or cookies (that Paul often criticises on air), or I will have to cook some pancakes. Yes, that's right... at 6am, while the team puts the last touches on the programme, I am there in the middle of the newsroom, with my electric frying pan, a bowl of pancake batter, spatula in hand, sweating over the heat, flipping pancakes. Luckily, there's usually one burnt, half-eaten pancake left for myself. Nice.
At 6am Paul goes into makeup. All men who come on the show get a quick once-over with powder to stop their faces shining under the studio lights. Paul even has his own make up tray, which I have inspected. It contains hair gel (or moolee-mash as Paul calls it), face powder labelled "PH", concealer to hide the significant bags under his eyes (ha ha), and lip gloss. Let's just call it "man shine" to save Paul's dignity.
The make up room resembles a hair salon, where presenters, reporters and guests are glammed-up. There's a general air of hilarity in the make up room as Ali and Paul get ready for the show. Laughter can often be heard from the other end of the corridor.
At 6.25am, both Paul and Ali are looking FABULOUS and head into the studio. By 6.30, I must have their first coffee on set (you should hear the moaning if I don't). Paul drinks at least three coffees a morning, while Ali will have one or two.
By 6:30, the "control room" is also full with the people who put the show to air. It's a small, dark cave and there are buttons and TV screens for AFRICA in there. Most of the people in there are as crazy as Paul is and it's not unusual to hear yelling or hoots of laughter as the show goes to air.
I have so much more to tell you about the behind the scenes antics, but it'll have to wait (trust me - the best is yet to come!)
If you have any questions about how things work here at Breakfast, feel free to email chloe.smith@tvnz.co.nz and I will try to answer them in my weekly blogs!
Better get back to the crumbs. Oh, and I've just found some remnants of Mr Cheese to scrape off the wall.
Goodie.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentSimon_Visser said on 2009-06-30 @ 21:22 NZDT:
Oh yes it would! I can picture it now..... you, me, a cheap bottle of wine on the top of a mountain in a snowstorm! we could take the one news helecoptor if they have one! I'm glad your enjoying your newly beloved job at 'breakfast' and i wish you the very best for the future. You could knit me a sweater anyday sweety!..... Silly "SallySays," dosn't know a good reporter if it hit her in the bottom! Have a good day tomorow at work! i'll be watching! Whens your next snow report?? Simon!
krill said on 2009-06-30 @ 10:24 NZDT:
Hey Simon! Thankyou so much for your message! I'm glad you like the blogs - I really enjoy writing them but once I get started I just can't stop - so have to keep chopping them down! Snow all year would be a goody :)
Simon_Visser said on 2009-06-29 @ 21:21 NZDT:
Hey chloe! I always watch breakfast in the mornings before i go to school in Sunny Nelson! I think that the program has now got so insanly good talent since you have joined the team! Keep up the snow report, if it were up to me, id make it snow all year round just so you can keep reporting! Have a really good night, your crush...... Simon!
nzrodders said on 2009-06-29 @ 11:37 NZDT:
"my face looked like a dropped pie" I've never heard that saying before but it cracked me up! Always look forward to your blogs and your weekly snow report. Keep up the good work!
duck said on 2009-04-27 @ 15:07 NZDT:
Chloe you are so clucky! You do write the best blog and I can just imagine you with your broom cleaning up just like Cinderella but much more gorgeous! Great you are doing so well, you are the coolest. Harley and Caitlin say hi, they saw you on TV at school Duck