The program airs on Saturday nights at 11:30 locally. It's a local comedy show that is similar in format to The Late Show and The Tonight Show.
A few weeks back, Dan's sidekick, Joe Kennedy had inquired about using R2-D2 for a skit prior to the release of the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens release. It sounded like something fun to do, so I said 'Sure'!
R2-D2 has had a quiet couple weeks, so asides charging the computer and batteries, we were set to go!
The show is filmed at Husson Unveristy's Gracie Theatre, a beautiful facility that opened in 2009. They were filming three episodes this evening so we got there early. With the help of staff and a few NESCOM (New England School of Communications) students, we had R2-D2 and support equipment unloaded and in the theater.
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| Microphone setup underway. |
Upon reviewing the script, we had to figure out where I could stand and safely drive R2 around the stage while being out of audience/camera view. The stage manager, whose name I can not recall, was superb. He held the script for me while my hands were busy with the controls and after a few test runs, we were ready to go.
And then the wireless microphone batteries died on our first roll out. R2 beeped but not loud enough for the production equipment to hear it. There's one for the blooper roll! The staff quickly did a battery swap out and we returned to our start positions for another try.
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| Waiting for the show doors to slide open and make our appearance! |
After we made our appearance, we hung out backstage for pictures with the crew. Again, the NESCOM students were fantastic and were kind enough to help me load R2-D2 back into the van.
A few photos...
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| R2-D2 on the set |
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| Paul and R2-D2 |
