I know everyone’s talking about those new Miley Cyrus bikini pics, but for me today was all about Bridgit Mendler and Jason Dolley’s new show about Good Luck Charlie. I went to the filming of episode #111 “Kit and Kaboodle” today at the Sunset Bronson Studios in Hollywood California.
I’ve never been to a live filming before, and I have to say it was a lot of fun! The audience was some 140 people (five rows of 38 chairs) with 22 ticketed guests, roughly 70 kids from school groups, and the other 50 where reserved for special guests. Besude me sat two guests of Ryan Newman!
Speaking of Ryan Newman (you might remember her as Young Miley on HM or as Ginger on Zeke and Luther) she has a guest spot in this episode as the love interest of the youngest brother (played by Bradley Perry)
But I’m getting ahead of myself. We where seated in the audience area at about 4:20 pm. Once we where settled in, they started by showing us the first episode of the series, to introduce us to the characters. We learn that the mom is a nurse, and it’s her first day going back to work. Her husband Bob runs an exterminator business (Bob’s Bugs be Gone) and assures her that baby Charlie will be fine. Meanwhile, Teddy is trying to kiss “the hottest guy in school” and keeps getting interrupted.
I was honestly quite impressed. It’s the first show since Lizzie that actually features a normal family (no pop stars or wizards) with normal problems. It’s a refreshing change, with good characters and great pacing.
Next, they brought out the crew and began filming the first of four scenes with the live audience. The rest of the episode (which required sets in other places) had been prerecorded earlier this week – including the scenes with Ryan Newman. We the audience, watched the tape of the previous sections to provide the laughs and then paused to watch each live scene as it was filmed. So despite the fact that it was filmed out of order, we still saw the entire episode in order.
In “Kit and Kaboodle”, the eldest brother (Jason Dolley) takes Charlie to work with him in order to get bigger tips. Teddy (Bridgit Mendler) babysits the neighbor’s cat Kaboodle. And Gabe (Bradley Perry) falls for Ryan Newman’s character but his lies get him in trouble.
Burring the breaks in the filming, our “audience warn up guy” did trivia from the first episode, a name the song type of competition (the first song was the KP Theme song! :)), a spelling competition, and a comedy open mic. Everyone got a raffle ticket for showing up, and everyone that “won” got a bonus raffle ticket. He raffled off five autographed photos, two autographed GLC script covers, and three DVDs.
I won the second item! A signed Sonny with a Chance photo! 😀
Needless to say, I was excited to actually win! I never seem to win anything, so I was shocked when my number was called. They also gave us candy (as if the kids weren’t hyper enough already) and pizza.
After the filming was finished, we where able to get autographs from the cast. 🙂 And I was able to tell Jason Dolley and Bridgit Mendler about my Good Luck Charlie Fansite: Good-Luck-Charlie.com. And I tweeted them too, just in case. 🙂
The mom, played by Leigh Allyn Baker signed on the back of my card. She reminds me a lot of Nicole Sullivan!
Now, my rule is always to see three episodes before I judge a new series, but I can’t wait until April to make up my mind. So I’m gonna go out on a limb and predict that this show is gonna be a hit. I was a little skeptical going in, but after seeing it played out I’m convinced that it will work. And I eagerly await the premiere of the show so I can see more! 🙂