Friday, January 22, 2010

My Stop @ LXTV

Happy Friday!! I stopped by NBC's LXTV studios the other day to share some smiles and recipes. I got to there early to go over the recipe with their staff culinary stylist and then went to the green room area to hang out and chat with people. There I was just chatting away and waiting for my time to go on when something special happened ... a blast from my happy past.

This is Wendy McSwain, head of talent relations at LXTV-NBC.
Why is it special I ran into her? Well, years ago when I was on HOT 97 here in NYC, she worked at MTV. Her title was similar, but basically she did the talent searching and hiring for the network. I was called into her office sometime around 2002 or 2003 and was asked to audition to host a show on MTV2. I went in a few times for call backs and each time, I enjoyed chatting with her more than trying to get the job. Imagine that, lol. So anyway, I did get to fill-in and I hosted a special and some countdown shows for her and MTV2. You may ask, why then did I not pursue television? Well, the answer to that is, MTV2 didn't make me catch the bug. I was already a radio host doing pretty much the same thing and MTV2 was scripted even in the interview portions, I really enjoyed the freedom of expression radio gave me. Anyway, back to Wendy. We kept in touch long after my stint on MTV2, but a few years back she up and left corporate life and decided to see the world and do some good at the same time. Last I knew, she was in Costa Rica teaching kids with an outreach. So, imagine how excited I was to see her in the LXTV green room! She totally gave me my first paying television gig and always told me she thought I had a future in this field. I guess it just took the right thing and timing to make me want it. Anyway, so she's back in the corporate world and while she was away working her dream, I was working mine. What a neat reunion and I'm so happy we reconnected. I really thought I may never hear from her again as she headed out on a different path in life. Incidentally, she also gave LXTV's host Sara Gore, her first gig in television as well.

So, we chatted, then I went on to prepare my Baked Salmon with Blackberry Ginger Glaze & Wild Style Grains n Thangs. I said quinoa before, but we switched it to one of my wheat bulgar recipes. Equally healthy and yummy as well.

Here's Sara, myself and Megan after our segment.
Sara has a stacked resume of hard work and we chatted some before we went on, really love that we have the Wendy link. The other host, Megan, works from like 4AM until 6PM or something, with a nap in the middle, but that's a long day!! And she's a mommy!!! Mom power is fierce! Ok, I have some recipes to work on and some calls to make, just wanted to share. If I get a video link, I'll post it here. Looks like Monday I'll have it.

Speaking of sharing ... if you Tweet, well tweet on over to @VivaTowels and follow em! Retweet, tweet and all of that :-). They just started the page yesterday and there should be some fun tweets and stuff up. Plus, I have some appearances coming up with Viva Towels that they'll update and tweet about over there .. ok, have a great weekend!!!

10 comments:

The CDM said...

I have something to share.(Look VERY closely) The Empire State Building behind you makes you look like you are wearing a tiara...and a tall one at that.


That is all I have to share.

Stephen Cosey said...

Luv your show Sunny!

tamilyn said...

I love your shirt! It is gorgeous! Glad you had a chance to catch up with an old friend :)


And I do love Jell-O salad, we here in MN get ribbed all the time about it being a staple in our diet. It's in there 'cuz it is good :)

Anonymous said...

hey Sunny! where do you get your wigs and do you get them cut into that style? i think i need to look into getting one soon :( and you look so good that it might not be that big of a deal. you are giving me hope, girl! i'm in Atlanta btw. so let me know if you know where i should get started. i don't know the first thing about finding one or maintenance. xoxo!

Anonymous said...

Love watching you on food network, and I love the new hairdo!

Jennie,
Riverside, Ca

ken said...

Hey Sunny.......

Miss Food NetWork MVP....... just wanted to say.......

.......(COUSCOUS).......

Ken AkA Mr MTV2.......

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Wow, that is pretty cool! Must be a reason ya know??! :)

I've been following VivaTowels since I first saw someone retweet something!

Sunny Anderson said...

complaint dept. mgr., teeheehee ... thanks for the eagle eye, it made for a fun rewind then play on the dvr! too funny. i guess i need to start acting like a princess now huh?

stephen cosey, thanks!!!! i really appreciate it and welcome to my blog!

tamilyn, thanks! i got it from nordstrom.com and added the brooch. and yes, jell-o is goood. add salad, even bettaaaa! i'm an omnivore and can find delight in many different things. i love texture and crunch and spice and salt and sweet, but then there are things you just can't explain. don't listen to the ribbin'!

anon, i get my wigs done by hadiiya barbel. the maintenance isn't bad. I wash them myself and even style them. she of course does a way better job, but the upkeep isn't bad. she cut this current short bob from a 16 inch wig and i have another like it with tracks sewn in. both are nice, one has different low lights. i say go to the local wig shop and give em a look. i have significant hair loss, so i know how it feels if this is your next step. don't stress, it's just hair.

jennie, thanks! it's a new cut and i'm gonna stick with it for a minute!

ken, u r so silly. hope the d is doin well!

mary, yaaaaaay! i like viva, i went to the headquarters and met the staff ... great group of foodies. we had a cook off i judged and ate lunch and hung out, a really nice company and i like the campaign, totally up my alley. it's fun, simple and happy. i think i'm gonna do a contest with them on the blog eventually. tell them @vivatowels i said hi, i've still yet to make my twitter account active.

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

I swear I'm gonna get ya on Twitter one of these days! ;)

Sunny Anderson said...

mary, i'm there ... just not tweeting :-). i just think my day to day is very boring and i don't like how the press is very lazy and looks to twitter for stories and quotes. here, i can compose a thought. there, i think i'd just spout off random boring stuff. i dunno. plus, i had a break in and just don't like the feeling of always telling people where you are. scary. ever have a break in? i dunno how long it takes to get over it, but i'm still annoyed.