Hey all...

Hope everyone had a great week.  Early this morning I got back from a week of fun, sun, and work in Southern California.  Since I used to live in the Palm Springs/Los Angeles area for years it was like a return visit home.  It's a great place to live - Palm Springs is the most beautiful city in America and L.A. is the most fun...plus the fact all my friends live there.

I spent much of the day on Tuesday across the studio driveway from "Ellen" where my pals Nancy O'Dell and Billy Bush host "Access Hollywood."  That is where I began my career in broadcasting as an intern and there is a reason why it's so popular...everyone there is a class act and they produce a fantastic product.

However, the main reason I went was for Ellen DeGeneres.  She rarely does interviews and despite her very public job, she is very private, and believe it or not, fairly shy.  I went to her studios in Burbank where her publicist gave me a behind the scenes tour of the set and backstage then I headed in for hair and makeup before the show.  The guests for the show was Neil Patrick Harris, some girl from "The Bachelor" and some kids who fly. 

People have asked me what Ellen is really like off camera.  Is she that funny in person and behind the scenes?  Well, she is very guarded.  She has a very powerful team of people protecting her (literally and figuratively with publicists and security guards).  She's a very smart business woman and when she speaks people listen.  Even being there for a few hours I instantly knew who's the boss.

Ellen answered many of your questions, joked around a lot, and professed her love for me....it had be laughing  lot.  Her crew and folks at the show could not have been nicer and the in studio audience had a blast (by the way, plan on waiting 3 years for tickets...yes, the wait is 3 years). 

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN THURSDAY, MAY 8 AND FRIDAY MAY 9 FOR MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH "AMERICA'S FAVORITE TALK SHOW HOST AND TV PERSONALITY" ELLEN DEGENERES! 

js

**BREAKING NEWS:  It's official:  I have 2 V.I.P. tickets to see Ellen in Chicago next Saturday, May 3.  Tickets sold out in seconds (literally seconds) and I want YOU to go.   Watch 16 Morning News and keep checking out my blog to see how YOU can take my V.I.P tickets and see Ellen!!! 

Plus, check out my next blog for pictures.