I was lucky enough to get a "ticket" for Clay's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel on Valentine's Day! Here is my adventure.

I got there about noon and there were already quite a few people in line. I counted about 60. Obviously that changed by the time the wristband people got there. I was trying to stay zen about the wristband situation, but was anxious. The whole TV show taping ticket thing really bites. Hard.

I did see some lovely people, like Perma, California Clayfan, SmartyPantsSuz, SleeplessinCA, nordie, GreenEyedRobin... among others, of course. There was a very cute girl a bit behind us who turned out to be clayaikenslosangeleslover from CB who was nice. It's always jolly good fun to hang out with other fans. In addition to the usual festive cast of characters on Hollywood Blvd., there were people with huge paperboy shoulder bags passing out samples of the new Hershey's CACAO RESERVE. Handfuls of them! I didn't eat mine because for some reason I don't want to eat things he's allergic to before I see him, just in case. I ate some at home though and it is quite good. Someone made big Valentine cards for Clay and Jimmy and passed them down the line so we could all sign them. I wonder if Cleto and Uncle Frank feel left out.

A girl from 1itoa came out, counted people and cut the line about 4 in front of me. Our bit was told to back up and begin our line again on the other side of the El Capitan entrance. GreenEyedRobin was moved to the same place last time and didn't get in, so there was a bit of angst back there. We tried to stay positive and not let the wind blow our happy Valentine mojo down the street. I am always a bit anxious when I don't know for sure I can get in. It really isn't a fun feeling, but we passed the time chatting and singing along with the Peter Pan music looping from the ElCap. After a while I went to wander up to the front part of the line to say howdy and saw some characters lined up and a camera pointed at them. Turns out this was the rehearsal and it took far too long because it was past time for the Wristband Fairy to visit us with his magical bracelets.

Finally we see him! It's Kyle the Wristband Fairy! He most likely wouldn't appreciate that nickname, but one cannot deny the special magic that is the Jimmy Kimmel Wristband. He and his merry band of men count, check tickets and ID and bestow upon the lucky recipients the Magical Wristband of Happiness. I watch. I wait. I see them stop just a handful of people from the end of the first section. Oh dear. Kyle then returns to the studio without so much as a how-do-you-do for my section! Of all the nerve! What a rude Fairy.

Luckily, a very thoughtful fan came back to see if we had been informed of what was going on. After she agreed that it was quite rude to leave us in the dark, she let us know that they said it didn't mean it wouldn't get a seat and they would be back later. Not too much longer Kyle returns! He and his merry band resume their festive distribution process. Slowly. The cute daughter of the lady in front of me schmoozes Kyle and the four people in front of me go up to get their Magical Wristbands of Happiness. Once again, Kyle tries to avoid eye contact with us as he leaves.

I was the first person to NOT get a wristband, which kinda sucked but I was still hopeful. I figured between taking care of the neighbor across the street and skipping the last party because of it, I had some good karma stored up. Finally someone told us that we may or may not get in, they really didn't know. They did seem hopeful but didn't want to commit to a yes and then have us impale them on sharpened CD cases should they not be able to seat us. We were told it would probably be about 5:30 before we knew anything. We split up and some of us took turns eating or running to the little Clay fans room. The positive mojo got a bit harder to hold on to, but I was trying to stay very zen and breathe myself calm. A couple of times a few of us, inspired by the Tinkerbell poster in front of us all day, engaged in a short "Clap if you believe in Wristband Fairies!" applause session to raise our spirits. (Bite me, we were tired.)

Finally the group with the Magical Wristbands of Happiness started going inside. We watched with what must have been pathetic puppy dog faces as they slowly entered the building. Then Kyle was walking toward me! I chanted under my breath, "I believe in Wristband Fairies!" while trying not to puke. I got very excited as he walked right up, grabbed the red velvet rope in front of me and said, "I have some bad news." I did not buy it for a second! Naughty Fairy! He did not even bother giving us Magical Wristbands, but took us right up to the front of the studio! Oh Happy Day! Six hours of tension, wondering if you get to spend Valentine's Day with your boyfriend or sit on Hollywood Blvd with Jolene's rejected superheroes is really not my idea of the perfect date.

Up the steps and through security, where I had to check my backpack and then to the big mob/line thingy in the lobby. I'm not sure why they make us stand there so long. They do show video of some amusing Kimmel clips, but it's just the same as they had in September and you stand there long enough to see it at least 3 times. There are two bits with Clay in the video. One of him beating Jimmy's ass and a long clip of them singing Reunited. We always cheered quite loudly when Clay came on the screen. I knew Clay could hear us (I think the green room is under that lobby) and I bet he was thinking something like, "Ah, my Claymates are here!"

ALL of the people with tickets got into the show, and then some people off the street! I guess they really didn't want to overbook this time. When we got up to the door of the studio, there was a girl asking how many in your party and pointing you at an area where you will sit. We got to her and my friend Renegade was in front of me. The chick saw her necklace, which has a charm that says STYX, as she is a big Styx fan. Audience Chick's Boyfriend is a Styx fan too it seems, so Renegade told her that there is a local concert coming soon. The chick looked really happy, made a split-second decision, and pointed at the front row.

!

Renegade was going kinda slow so I pushed her and said, "Go go go!" EEEEEEE!!!!! The stage is just inches from the seats (making it a little hard to cross your legs) but less than a foot high. We were two from the end and sitting right next to Invisible1 and jjung. They told us they took her daughter and she was going to do a thing on the show! How fun! I see them at all the local stuff and they are both quite nice so I was excited for her. I turned around to see where everyone else was and a bunch of people were waving at me and grinning and being all YAY go posh! They were so happy I got front row! What nice people!

Lame Warm-Up Guy (WUG) came out and I remembered how much I did not like him last time. I still feel the same way. He is not good, they should get the guy from Megan Mullally. Anyway, he tried to get us to do his bidding but we know what we need to do and when and really just want him to shut up. Jimmy came out and said fun things to us. He told us about Charles Barkley being there but they were taping his part for later in the week. Yay! More time for Clay! They taped the Charles bit for Friday. They were funny but the man needs to get his ass to gamblers anon like, now. Yay for the pre-tape! At one point Jimmy said that he liked having US there, and the worst day is always the day after Clay is on, because the audiences all just sit there and look at him like, "Hey, where's Leno?"

Jimmy went to change out of Friday's outfit. WUG did some filler where some audience people got up and sang. One guy was good. One fan sang. Afterward they got Jimmy Kimmel nail clippers. They reset the stage by putting a bowl of conversation hearts on the table and a stand of some sort behind the couch. Some guy also put a mic near the arm of the couch and made sure Jimmy knew it was there.

Now it was time for our show! Yay! Jimmy did the monologue and the bit with Jolene. I like her so it was amusing to see her up there with Jimmy. I saw her a little after and she did meet Clay backstage and got a hug. She asked for a pic and he said OK but she didn't have a camera. (Don't feel too bad, she's had M&Gs before.) She was really cute and made the best of a lame bit.

It's time for Clay! He comes out and the first thing I saw, after he got out from behind that giant balloon thing, was HAIRCUT! He had on a blazer and airbrushed t-shirt of Jimmy's face. He gave Jimmy the balloon heart (and put in the stand behind the couch), Clay face shirt and M&Ms. Jimmy whipped off his jacket and put on the shirt, but he did accurately say it looked like Clay Asian. Their BFF man love always cracks me up. I am very amused by how much they amuse each other.

Clay was very cute and happy and twinkly, and had lots of fun giving Jimmy gifts. It was funny when Jimmy said Clay had promised a new song and Clay was all... WTF? His acting is much better than it used to be! Then he reached for the bowl and I was all... HOLY SHIT he's gonna sing the candy! And he did! As soon as he sang the first one we were all.... "squeeeee! His voice was so pretty!!" Then he got louder, and then the mic! GAH!!! DAMN his voice sounded SO PRETTY! So, it was funny and cute and sweet and thudly and I enjoyed it tremendously.

At the break he and Jimmy chatted a bit and had their photo taken, then there were a lot of people milling about. Some people went to put makeup on Jimmy and show him some things, cue cards I think. Clay picked up the bowl of candy hearts and walked over to the audience! EEEEE!!!! All I could think of was how for days I kept saying to people that I wanted him to give me a Valentine donut, and here he is now passing out candy hearts! Luckily he came down the line towards me! Renegade was closer and she took a small handful (to share). Clay saw this and was admonishing her for taking so many! It was very hard to hear him even standing inches from us, because the band is loud. Clay PERSONALLY gave us candy Valentines, y'all!!

Here is where I had a bit of a dilemma. I am seated. Clay is standing directly in front of me on a stage a few inches high. Now I ask you, just where is a girl supposed to look? I tried looking at his face but it was rather awkward with my head so far back, looking up his nose. He was holding the bowl in front of me while he was scolding my friend so I reached in and took one, but I only got a sliver! So, I ate it (It was rather tangy) and got one from Renegade. He took so long scolding her that I didn't even get looked at, he moved right on to the next girl. After the guy on the end, he offered the bowl to the people behind me. Lawd Jesus! There he was, standing on the edge of the very close stage, leaning forward and holding a bowl out over my head/left shoulder. Clay was literally leaning over the top of me. I was inches from the man from my ankles up, over the top of my head and slightly behind me. I was staring up, hardly believing that I was surrounded by Clay. He's lucky I'm not a grabby girl. (Or fixated on the status of his zipper)

He held the bowl out for a few more people and put it back on the table, sat down and ate some himself. I'm not sure which break it was, but during one of them Uncle Frank went over and shook his hand, and grasped it with the other hand. He had a big, warm smile. I think Uncle Frank really likes Clay.

When Gabrielle comes out, you can see Clay reach for the little table. What he did was switch the glasses of water so they would be in the right place for the new seating order. Awwww! Gabrielle was gorgeous and very sexy. In a good, attractive way, not a skanky way. She gave Clay and Jimmy both gifts and flirted with both of them, and us! She is a smart woman, that Gabrielle Union. I thought it was very good of her to give gifts to both men. When she handed Clay the chocolate-covered strawberries, he took them looking very excited, untied the ribbon and said they'd be gone by they time she was done. Then he made like he was going to open the box. I was thinking, "Don't eat them Clay!" When he saw on the monitor that he was no longer on screen, he put them aside. He did not open the box. He set them on top of the DVD/CD at the end of the couch. During the break he had someone come out and take them backstage.

During the commercial Gabrielle would chat with Jimmy while Clay sat there. Clay smiled and waved to some of the audience. I looked back and the section was waving at him. So then another section started waving, and he waved at them. Lots of smiling and waving. Then Gabrielle would talk to Clay and Jimmy would talk to show people. She leaned in (loud in there) and Clay would lean in too. They seemed to enjoy their chat.

The musical guest sang and Clay, Gabrielle and Jimmy all turned in their seats and watched. I had to turn my head to her to watch her, and I did because I was afraid Clay would think I was naughty for not watching her like I should. I did sneak a peek out of the corner of my eye a few times to see what he was doing, and he was watching her and tapping his fingers on the back of the couch. Once I was looking sideways at him and he looked sideways in my direction so I quickly looked back at the singer. All that man has to do is flinch and I jump.

During the next break Jimmy and Gabrielle were talking and Clay got up and went over to the singer. He shook her hand and I'm sure said something nice. I could see her smiling and nodding, his back was to me. Then he sat back down and I think ate some more hearts. At one point I was groovin to Cleto and the Cletones and looking at Clay. He looked in my direction. (who can ever really be sure if he is looking at you or people behind you? It's so hard to tell.) I know the people in the row behind me were not Clay fans, and then there was the big isle and cameras, then the stands. So, it might have been me, maybe not. Anyway, he (seemed) to look me right in the eye. Then he smiled and waved (Like he had been all night, with his arm low and just the hand moving) and smiled a squishy-faced smile. I smiled back and scrunched my nose at him. Then he looked away. Renegade saw it and thinks it could have been me but neither one of us know for sure. For all I know he was waving at PermaSwooned, but I don't really care, he was cute either way.

They did the closing and when the whole show was over Clay waved at us and went to leave with Gabrielle. They walked right past us. There is a step down from the stage and he waited and helped her down the step. He left through the door we came in (which also leads to the green room) and I saw Uncle Frank pat him on the shoulder. Clay turned, smiled and shook his hand. Then the chick sang another song for us and we all left to squeeee outside in the wind.

Renegade and I couldn't stay for dinner, but we dropped by at Mel's to say goodnight and pass around the Valentine Candy Heart of Love so people could get some Clay cooties.

After I watched the show, I saw a couple of edits. Jimmy did one joke or something in the opening that kinda bombed, and like 4 people clapped. He said something like, "well thanks for that." ... that was cut. (And put back in last night. It was the bit with the Anna Nicole judge/Sopranos joke) Also, when Clay mentioned the teeth and people went "awwwww" and Clay said "awwww" ... then he was all, why are you awwwing and Jimmy told him "they love you just the way you are" and we clapped. Jimmy told him he should have gotten a grill. Clay told him they have them at the Slauson Swap Meet.

I'm still trying to figure out what I should do with my candy heart.