The Day I Met THE Steve Harvey
I know the rule is *pics or it didn't happen* but I wasn't allowed to bring my phone in, so you're really just going to have to trust me on this one people.
I either have the luck of a leprechaun or worse luck than Steve Harvey at Miss Universe circa 2k15.
Today was one of those days that my luck was on the good side when I got a call from a casting agent asking if I wanted to sit in as a paid audience member on the set of Family Feud. Now let’s get something straight about me really quick. I just made the move from a broke college girl in North Carolina to being a broke adult in Atlanta.. with $88 in my bank account. Ya girl is living a champagne life on a Natty Light budget. So, when I got this call I was not only ecstatic to go watch my ALL TIME FAVORITE SHOW in real life, but to also get paid to do so??!! This was the quickest yes I’ve ever said.
Fast forward two days and I am on my way to see the one and only Steve Harvey in the flesh. I drive to the Atlanta Civic Center by myself with no idea of what to expect. All I knew was that my casting director told me to wear business clothes (still to this moment I have no clue why), that I was supposed to be there for 8 hours, and that I was about to mark this off my bucket list! I get to the Civic Center and wait in the lobby for about 30 minutes with the strangest crowd of people I have ever seen and then am instructed to file into the set. To my surprise, it was EXACTLY like it seemed on TV. There was no editing or green screens needed for this set because it looked just as crisp and clean in real life as it does when I watch it at home! The audience was very small, probably around 100 people, but it made every seat feel up-close-and-personal to the stage.
Once everyone was seated, a short little man came out and hyped up the crowd and taught us all the do’s and don’ts of the show. Since I am pretty much the #1 fan of FF I didn’t even need to listen because I have been a consistent audience member 3 times a day on my couch in Greenville. But for those newbie #fakefans in the audience, we learned things like: do say “awhhh” when someone gets an answer incorrect, and don’t blurt out answers or you would politely be asked to leave.
The time came when the moment we had all been waiting for arrived….. STEVE HARVEY CAME OUT AND I MAY HAVE SHED A SMALL TEAR IN THAT MOMENT. I love that man forreal, he just seems so awesome. The game started and it was exactly like I was watching it at home with just a few more funny Steve jokes. I seriously felt like I was getting paid to listen to a Steve Harvey comedy show, that man had me crying laughing.
Unlike other sets I have been on, there were no cuts in the film or do-overs, all the jokes, laughs, and emotions from the families, the audience, and Steve were all very genuine. When a commercial break would cut the scene, makeup artists would run out and touch up the families and Steve would walk down to the audience and have a conversation with us. He was so personable!
Once the Fast Money round was played and the show was over, all the families and crew had left the stage except Steve. He stayed just to talk to the audience about his love of God! I experienced a side of him that isn’t shown on TV, a real genuine Christian man. He told us about his life story and how he was homeless living in a car for 3 years until one day Jesus answered his prayers and put him on television. He stood in front of the entire audience giving his testimony and attributing all his success to our wonderful God! It was so empowering and positive! It was something that I hadn’t seen coming but I loved it when it happened! I now have a new love and respect for Steve Harvey.
There is about a .00001% chance that I will be seen on TV in this show, but I am now $62 richer, one bucket list item lighter, and a little more obsessed with Family Feud.
Thanks for reading,
Steve Harvey's Biggest Fan
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