Updated July 10, 2009 - my official feature article on the event including my interview with Josh published on the NoControl TV Blog - Click HERE to read it :)
A detailed write up of my trip, then video of the event and exclusive photos after the report.
Exclusive Website Coverage of SyFy Relaunch Event - July 6 - 7 2009. Providence to Boston to NYC and Back. Josh Encounter Included.
I guess I should begin the story of my encounter with a back story. I’ve always been a bit of a fan of Josh Gates way before Destination Truth. I saw him on Beg Borrow and Deal when he was a contestant on the show and thought he was a goof, which I love. I didn’t really start to become a hardcore Josh fan until about sometime last year when I went through something, for lack of a better word, horrific and DT helped me to learn that laughing was okay again and that there were bigger things to be scared of in life.
I started this site sometime last year because I saw that there was a bit of a stagnant energy between the fans of DT. While other big shows on the SyFy network had throngs of interactive fans and tons of discussions, I noticed that a lot of talking between DT fans was focused merely on when the new season would premiere. I loved the movement that ensued, and I hoped that one day, I’d be as lucky as the fans I featured on the site who had met Josh.
Turns out, the day I would meet Josh was thrown at me short notice, and I took the opportunity. I was tipped off of an event thrown by the SyFy network that Josh would be at, and immediately contacted someone there. I knew I was already going to be in NYC on family business, so I figured I would give it a shot. I packed my stuff on the off chance of being able to go to this event, and sure enough, I opened my email on the train to find a confirmation from Maureen in the publicity department that I was to be invited. I was then given a contact, Gary, to check in and be sure that I would be taken care of.
So in true DT style of glossing over hours of travel snafus - after trains, buses, Subways, walking with huge bags on my shoulders in the heat, running family errands, and surviving a relative’s cockroach and ant infested apartment , it was soon the next day at 6:30 in the morning. I got myself ready to go and went to Rockefeller Center.
I started this site sometime last year because I saw that there was a bit of a stagnant energy between the fans of DT. While other big shows on the SyFy network had throngs of interactive fans and tons of discussions, I noticed that a lot of talking between DT fans was focused merely on when the new season would premiere. I loved the movement that ensued, and I hoped that one day, I’d be as lucky as the fans I featured on the site who had met Josh.
Turns out, the day I would meet Josh was thrown at me short notice, and I took the opportunity. I was tipped off of an event thrown by the SyFy network that Josh would be at, and immediately contacted someone there. I knew I was already going to be in NYC on family business, so I figured I would give it a shot. I packed my stuff on the off chance of being able to go to this event, and sure enough, I opened my email on the train to find a confirmation from Maureen in the publicity department that I was to be invited. I was then given a contact, Gary, to check in and be sure that I would be taken care of.
So in true DT style of glossing over hours of travel snafus - after trains, buses, Subways, walking with huge bags on my shoulders in the heat, running family errands, and surviving a relative’s cockroach and ant infested apartment , it was soon the next day at 6:30 in the morning. I got myself ready to go and went to Rockefeller Center.
The Event
I got there pretty early, so I called Gary and Maureen to be sure that I was confirmed. They told me they would be down soon, but to check out the special exhibits set up around the area. For a few minutes, this was great, but I wanted to be close by to the action. I made my way back, where I sat and found myself being scoped out by someone in a suit, who turned out to be Gary. He looked over at me, pointed, and asked my name, so we both had a laugh that he should have known it was me (DT Fan pin right on my shirt). He ushered me into the press area, where I was free to roam Imagination Park and talk to the wonderful NBC/UNI stage hands.
The minutes were ticking closer and closer to 10 a.m., so while a Today Show segment was being shot, Gary pointed me out to Maureen. She, just as Gary, greeted me in a very friendly manner, and asked if I was being taken care of. I confirmed that I was, and asked if Josh would have any free time today. I expected either a no, or maybe enough time for a snap shot, but Maureen told me that once Josh heard I was coming in, he wanted to spend time together for as long as he was on the set or until I had to leave. I didn’t expect it, but I was now even more anxious for 10 to hit than ever!
Josh arrives on set
I decided to go back with my stage hand buddies to talk about college and careers and getting into the TV/film industry. We traded business cards, and we all chuckled over one guys' crinkled old paper business card in comparison with my modern, small plastic ones. I went to grab water, but as I turned my head toward one of the barricades, I saw a swell of people come nearby. Throughout the mesh of people, I caught eye of a familiar face – Josh’s! As quick as I had turned back to grab my camera, I could already hear him on the microphone welcoming everyone to the re-launch of SyFy. I dodged my way up to the front of the press line (sometimes, it pays to be short) to take photos and video. It was pretty surreal and though I have done press events and backstage work before, this was by far the coolest experience I’d had yet.
I stood by with Maureen as Josh was interviewed by the Sci-Fi Wire, but we were both dismayed as Josh ran off. She looked at me and said “don’t worry, I’ll get him.” I wasn’t too worried, as I a figured he was probably running to the bathroom (I would be too if I were wearing a black blazer and drinking hot coffee on a sweltering July morning!) Sure enough, she comes back with Josh in tow, who is holding another coffee.
I stood by with Maureen as Josh was interviewed by the Sci-Fi Wire, but we were both dismayed as Josh ran off. She looked at me and said “don’t worry, I’ll get him.” I wasn’t too worried, as I a figured he was probably running to the bathroom (I would be too if I were wearing a black blazer and drinking hot coffee on a sweltering July morning!) Sure enough, she comes back with Josh in tow, who is holding another coffee.
Meeting Josh
Maureen introduces me to Josh and his face lights up as he puts out his hand to thank me for coming to the event. I looked at him and said “you get a hug, not a hand shake,” which he gladly accepted. He wiped some sweat off of his forehead and I finally just asked him what the hell he was thinking with the jacket and hot drink. He chuckled, shook his head and said he had no idea. He then asked me about how the fumigation process was going, the whole reason I was coming into town, and I told him they hadn’t come yet. I then simulated the experience of being woken up by creepy crawlies and a game I created involving a can of raid while chasing bugs, which he found quite amusing.
We then decided to do the interview, and he seemed to appreciate my unusual interview style and that not all of the questions were focused on DT. He then happily posed for photos with me, which was awkward yet fun because I am 5’ 1” and he is…not. Once we shot some photos, he told me to stand by while he was being photographed because he wanted to talk more. I gladly stood by as I witnessed his humble banter with photographers. At one point, he spotted one of his friends, but was still at the mercy of the photographers. Josh once again made a quip about how sweaty he was, and the photographer told him “it was okay, to feel it.” Josh seemed to like when I made fun of the guy telling him to “work it” and to “feel” his sweat.
Josh then went off to talk to his friend, so I took advantage of the situation and walked around the Imagination Park. I got to see the filming of a Today Show segment with the stars of Warehouse 13 and found David Howe, SyFy President, standing around. I was tempted to go over and speak to him but he was approached by someone with a tape recorder, so I decided to give up. I then found Josh over with Maureen watching the “House of Imagination” film, and Josh asked me if I liked it. I told him that I honestly liked the film, but not so much the song. He then rolled his eyes and said that it was so infectious that it was now stuck in his head.
We then decided to do the interview, and he seemed to appreciate my unusual interview style and that not all of the questions were focused on DT. He then happily posed for photos with me, which was awkward yet fun because I am 5’ 1” and he is…not. Once we shot some photos, he told me to stand by while he was being photographed because he wanted to talk more. I gladly stood by as I witnessed his humble banter with photographers. At one point, he spotted one of his friends, but was still at the mercy of the photographers. Josh once again made a quip about how sweaty he was, and the photographer told him “it was okay, to feel it.” Josh seemed to like when I made fun of the guy telling him to “work it” and to “feel” his sweat.
Josh then went off to talk to his friend, so I took advantage of the situation and walked around the Imagination Park. I got to see the filming of a Today Show segment with the stars of Warehouse 13 and found David Howe, SyFy President, standing around. I was tempted to go over and speak to him but he was approached by someone with a tape recorder, so I decided to give up. I then found Josh over with Maureen watching the “House of Imagination” film, and Josh asked me if I liked it. I told him that I honestly liked the film, but not so much the song. He then rolled his eyes and said that it was so infectious that it was now stuck in his head.
A Day in Imagination Park with SyFy stars
I then asked Josh a few more questions, spur of the moment, which he was more than happy to answer. Suddenly, I remembered that I had some “DT Fan” stickers for him. I handed him two, to which he promptly turned to Maureen and asked if it would be inappropriate to have a sticker on declaring himself a fan of his own show. Before she could even answer, he peeled off a sticker and stuck it on her shirt, to which she scoffed and said “really appropriate, Josh.” He stuck a sticker on his own jacket and posed for more photos. We then spoke for a little while about life, in general, and he asked me how my trip down to NYC was. I rolled by eyes and he said he could already tell it was a “been there, done that’ moment. I told him about how much riding Fung Wah buses sucked, and he agreed, saying the last time he was on one, it was way too fast and he was sure they would crash.
Farewells and Trip Reflection
The whole experience was really awesome, and whenever Josh would reconvene with me after an interview or a photograph session with someone else, he thanked me profusely for my support of his career, the show and his crew. He was extremely humble, patient with my asinine questions, and would not stop thanking me, which meant a lot. He was also generous with hugs, which I’m a fan of. I truly believe, on a personal note, that if more people hugged instead of giving an impersonal handshake, we would all feel a lot more at ease with each other in this world.
Eventually, though, I sadly had to pull myself away from this amazing event to go back home. I found Josh and told him I had to leave. He looked a little disappointed, but he understood and thanked me again, reaching automatically for a hug. He wished me a safe trip and confirmed that we would do a radio interview in the fall, as well as meeting up again if we were in the same place at the same time again. I left, amazed that I didn’t make more of an ass of myself, but then I forgot how to exit the press barricades, so I jokingly yelled out “I’m trapped!” Josh chuckled and said “you’re trapped here forever, and you love it!”
I had the greatest time at this event, and was admittedly pretty sad that it was all over (had a bit of a “post vacation blues” type feeling). Regardless, I thank Maureen, Gary and everyone at SyFy for being awesome. The key to any company surviving is reaching out and making a connection with the customer, and if how I was treated was any reflection of their future, they will do amazing!
Eventually, though, I sadly had to pull myself away from this amazing event to go back home. I found Josh and told him I had to leave. He looked a little disappointed, but he understood and thanked me again, reaching automatically for a hug. He wished me a safe trip and confirmed that we would do a radio interview in the fall, as well as meeting up again if we were in the same place at the same time again. I left, amazed that I didn’t make more of an ass of myself, but then I forgot how to exit the press barricades, so I jokingly yelled out “I’m trapped!” Josh chuckled and said “you’re trapped here forever, and you love it!”
I had the greatest time at this event, and was admittedly pretty sad that it was all over (had a bit of a “post vacation blues” type feeling). Regardless, I thank Maureen, Gary and everyone at SyFy for being awesome. The key to any company surviving is reaching out and making a connection with the customer, and if how I was treated was any reflection of their future, they will do amazing!
Exclusive Photos of Josh and I, as well as fan site stickers
