A Photo Journal of My Time at The Real

Personal

Apr 28

I was scrolling on instagram today and saw the news: the daytime talk show, The Real, has been canceled after 8 seasons. I was lucky enough to start working at The Real during season 1, starting on my 18th birthday. I moved to LA to live with my aunt, who was the Executive in Charge on the show and she got me a gig as a Production Assistant “temporarily”. That temporary gig turned into 3 years with production and my first introduction to the art department. I spent birthdays 18-23 on this show. We made jokes that The Real was my “college” and I even continued on to grad school there.

I was given a lot of responsibility at a young age on this show. It led me to grow up quickly and toughen up to this city. I met people who’ve influenced my life and career forever. Experienced I could never recreate. I learned so much. I can’t emphasize it enough. I think that’s why I feel so stunned by the end.

After hearing the news, I went down memory lane looking through some old pictures of my years there. If I’ve worked with you on that show, I probably have a photo of you on here (sorry). On to the gallery:

One of my first gigs when I started as a PA was to take care of the EP’s dog. I used to come in early with everyone’s coffee order and entertain Frankie during the morning meetings. Then twice a day, I drove him to the park to take a walk.

We were so low budget when we started… here’s a pic of the PA’s standing in as “models” with Tamera Mowry.

This was my very first project helping the art department. The wooden lemonade stand was rented from the WB prop house and I was asked to dress it up with chalk. I wish I took better photos of this!

Most of the time I was trying to make the most of my many market runs…

Watching Fran Drescher on the show Season 1

This was taken on the show phone for a segment about selfies…

After showing off my chalk skills on the lemonade stand, our art director asked me to draw this for a segment

My coworker Blake and I celebrating our Employee of the Week nominations (I did win the drawing a couple times 😉)

I was so excited to be on the same set as Jodi Sweetin!

So I guess “typography” was my foot in the door of the art department…. And I wasn’t even that good… LOL

The giant lunch bag I decorated on set

And the rest of my time was spent scanning and filing releases

The art department needed photos of these outfits for a segment and asked for my help!

This is around the time I started seeking to help the art department. I spent over an hour applying these letters to make it perfect!

Christmas sweaters with my friends Arnold & Carly. I later went on the photograph Arnold’s wedding in Houston and now we have sons 5 months apart!

Me & My future husband at the Christmas Party ❤️ Bruno did security on the Real for 3 years

No words… we were standing in for something

The caption says it all

Always standing in… But this one looks good 😉

Counting petty cash

But really I just made these lanyards

And I made these construction paper silhouettes of the hosts for a decor segment

Blake and I worked side by side for like 3 years

This is my friend Kacie’s (center) favorite pic of us

Sister Sister!!!

I walked this celebrity her dog on camera… Can’t remember the woman’s name 😂

Me & the dog

FedEx delivery

More behind the scenes: Making fan posters for the audience to hold during a segment

My 20th birthday

The production team at the Christmas Party in 2016

I was so excited to help on these science fair style triboards for a segment. I believe we actually donated these to the prop house to be rented out in the future, so I always check the background of science fair scenes when I’m watching TV

One of the coolest things I did as an official stand-in was act as the human claw in a giant money pit.

And after the money pit segment… we hop in and sort the bills

My hand painted emoji eggs!

My friends in production: Erica and Blake

Whenever we had a giveaway on the show, the PA’s have to pack and store all the gift bags

I got to work with my aunt for 6 years

I brought my family to visit the set many, many times

One of my first opportunities to really help out the art department. They were able to score an art PA for a field shoot and they chose me! I helped decorate these mailboxes

My first team pic when I offically joined the art department as their designated PA

MY art director asked if I could do graphics… Well, I could do graphics, and I did. They asked me to design this poster for the lobby of our main office and backstage where the hosts get ready.

Season 4 I started working with art department and we started shooting our show LIVE every morning. This was definitely a new, exciting, experience .

Usually I was shopping for something silly…

…or learning origami to zhuzh up my gift wrapping…

…or making graphics like these paddles and ordering from the print shop.

I will always have a sweet spot for the production department!

My 21st birthday shot cart surprise!

I loved every project I did for this show

…Except for this wheel. When I started doing graphics, no one left me the original file for these pieces so I had to do the MATH myself. I couldn’t believe I even figured it out

And then once I had the graphic made, they had me change it up frequently

These are the first prototypes for my favorite graphics project ever. My oversized cereal boxes!

My friend and coworker, Nina!

I recreated the rug from Moesha on Adobe Illustrator

My coworker and friend, Stacy and I worked on these incredible bottomless boxes for a Valentines segment. We used foam core, super soft fleece and fiberfill and I still think about them sometimes…