I was lucky enough to get to go to the Sydney taping on Saturday 23 March 2013. As a huge Ellen fan I was super excited. I started off leaving my house at about 9am, got on the train to Circular Quay and had a leisurely walk past the Opera House and through the Botanic Gardens where I met some girls who were a little lost so we decided to walk there together since I knew the way. We arrived at about 10.45am and got in a huge queue. We were given pink wristbands and free QANTAS hat. We were told after about 10 minutes waiting that we were guaranteed to get in, I was so happy.
We waited in the queue for about 30 to 45 minutes but the queue was moving the whole time so I wasn’t bored at all. Angela Bishop from Channel Ten was there doing interviews with people in the crowd. There was a girl dressed in a Giraffe suit because Ellen saw the Giraffe’s at the Zoo and Angela Bishop interviewed her and I later saw that interview on Ten news at Five. I was slightly confused as to why I only saw Channel Ten there interviewing the crowd int the queue given that Ellen show airs on Channel 9. After this the queue moved really fast and before I knew it we were at the entrance getting tickets. I was in Section C Roy Y seat 31, up the back but I didn’t care I was there! So we got to our seats and found a few goodies from SWISSE – hand wash, bottle water, pen, and a hat that says Sydney loves Ellen (Two hats in total – one black, one red).
The crowd guy comes onstage, think his name was Tom. Music blares from the speakers and we got to dance. Although I couldn’t see it they did a dance off with people from the crowd. They also through Ellen’s underwear, tshirts and other goodies into the crowd but as I was up the back I didn’t get any. After alot of dancing and clapping DJ Tony arrived onstage, this was about 12.15pm (the show was meant to start at noon). We all cheered. OMG It’s DJ Tony! So he played as more music and we continued to dance. Then finally at around 12.30-12.40pm the moment we were all waiting for….. Ellen arrived!! OMG. I can’t believe it’s her right infront of me I thought as we all cheered and clapped and called out her name.
Ellen told us that she loves Sydney (screams) and then she went to hug hello to DJ Tony. She then introduced the people that came here with her (but as if they need introducing!). First Portia came out (OMG) and said hello to us all (she seems a bit on the shy side). Then Andy short shorts came out and then Jeannie came out. Jeannie said she was having so much fun here. Andy short shorts got to play the digaredoo. Then the underwear model came out and Jeannie, Andy and Portia left. Ellen said bye baby to Portia (aww, so cute).
Ellen & The underwear model talked and then Ellen announced she was doing a Sydney underwear model search. The guys she has chosen started to come out just wearing the new underwear – which was in bright pink! So there were five guys in total on stage wearing nothing but bright pink underwear. We helped her choose the winner as we screamed at which one we liked the best after they said a bit about themselves. The winner got to wear a Sydney sash and will have to beat someone from Melbourne as to who will represent Australia.
Ellen had previously told us to dress up in Aussie pride so she had chosen some people to go up onstage (including the girl in the giraffe suit). Once they were all introduced (about 5 of them) Ellen told them to make up a song of some kind to a country tune. The winner would win tickets to see her in LA. Then there was a break where Ellen was onstage with some of her producers (Mary, the other Andy) so Tom the crowd guy threw out more free stuff and this happened more then once. One time Ellen said it’s like we are watching the rehearsals.
So they bring out this big box type thing with SWISSE logo on it. Ellen told Andy shorts shorts to get in it (he was wearing short shorts and a long top all casual) the next second someone appeared in a suit. It took me a second to realize it was Russell Crowe! Oh, wow. So Russell and Ellen hugged hello and he then presented her and Portia a gift – whips. He then proceeded to crack the whip and made Ellen try to do it as well. Ellen could not get it. They talked for a bit and Ellen joked that they were looking for a good whip (haha!). Russell then told Ellen that he stole a map of Australia out of his sons room and once the map arrived he showed her where she and Portia should go while they are here. He then got a couple of Rabittoh’s to come out and they presented Ellen & Portia with membership to the club.
Next they played Know or Go. Ellen had already chosen audience members and they were already up there. The game was in the harbour and they had to drop 4m into the harbour. This one girl named Gabby was really scared and if you have watched Know or Go before you’ll know what I mean. Ellen asked them questions and one by one they each drop into the harbour. They all got $500 from SWISSE.
After another break Ellen introduced Jessica Maouboy. Ellen told her she loved the Sapphires (I must see this movie). Jessica was there to play a segment called finish the lyric. A guy called William was called from the audience and as they started to play we could tell William didn’t really know any of the songs that Jessica sang including Physical by Olivia Newton-John which Ellen said she didn’t know either. William got $500 from SWISSE anyway. Ellen then asked Jessica to make the noise of the Kookaburra, so she did and then Ellen did as well. I think this is where a real Kookaburra came and made a real noise (although I could not see it).
The people that dressed up came back onstage and sang their songs. Ellen picked a winner who got tickets to see her in LA. The rest of them got $500 from SWISSE. Next a couple was up from the audience needing money as they had student loans. They played that game where they pick money up from the cash machine where the money is flying everywhere and they have to catch it. Ellen told them there was $8,000 in it but once finished Ellen told them SWISSE made it $10,000 for them.
After that Ellen took Q&A’s from the audience. One person asked what should she do when she goes to LA in a few months. Ellen told her obviously to see her show so she said to her to give her details to Jeannie and Jeannie will give her tickets (lucky!). Another asked what kind of potato would she be… Ellen answered Backed potato. Then Ellen thanked us for coming and then she left (nooooooooooo) and it was all over at around 1.45pm.
Thankyou Ellen for such an AMAZING day. If you’re in Melbourne tomorrow go and see her! You’ll have an amazing time. New episodes of Ellen will air in April.