Today Show Appearance (Behind the Scenes, too!)
Watch my Today Show Segment here and then scroll down for behind the scenes photos and details!
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
To visit my post with step by step photos of how to make Lela’s Fried Peach Pies, click here.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY PLAYED SWEET HOME ALABAMA FOR ME! I didn’t know they were going to do that and when I heard the music begin right before we started talking it was all I could do not to wake up in the middle of this dream and start crying. But that is a post for another day.
I almost didn’t make it to New York for my scheduled appearance on The Today Show. Can you believe a blizzard affected my life? Even crazier, there is a blizzard up north and I’m flying INTO it? My first flight was canceled but I managed to finagle a flight the next day and get there just a little over an hour before my rehearsal was scheduled.
This is at my rehearsal with lead food stylist, Bianca Henry. She is awesome. I have a lot of folks who email and ask me how I manage to travel and have all this wonderful food ready for tv and food stylists are the answer!
A few weeks before your segment you work with the program over what food they want you to prepare on air. The food stylist collects your recipes and goes over them, then calls you to go over presentation of the segment and any questions they may have as well as to get any of your preferences. For example, I prefer to use a regular fork instead of a pastry cutter and I don’t like to use fancy dishes so these are things the food stylist takes into account when setting up for my segment.
When you arrive, the food stylist has usually already prepared your recipe once to make sure there were no hitches. Then, they arrive before you do and get everything going so it will be fresh and ready for your segment.
If you’ll watch my 700 Club appearance where I told the story of the seven cakes, at one point I gave that away when I got to talking about Aunt Sue’s pound cake and I mentioned the sauce. I was surprised to look down and see the sauce sitting on the counter and I said “Oh look, you have the sauce!”. Of course, if I had of made all of that myself I would have known the sauce was there. 
But imagine me trying to get seven cakes on an airplane or how I would have looked if I woke up early enough to have seven complete cakes made by a nine o clock segment! hehehe
Oh, by the way, I didn’t realize until I was on my second connecting flight to NYC that I had silly putty stuck to my shirt. Hey, I’m a trendsetter.
This is the kitchen setup when we did the dry run through. The post it notes are all imaginary ingredients
This kitchen is beautiful. ~sighs~
Okay, I gotta tell y’all something. While I was waiting to go to meet Bianca (because I am chronically early and I like it that way) I mulled around a bit. You see, the Today Show studios are in Rockefeller Center. That meant absolutely nothing to me because I hadn’t a clue what on earth Rockefeller Center was but I found out that it is pretty much a mall. So while I was waiting I saw this really fancy looking chocolate shop and decided to dart in and maybe get a little chocolate or two….
See how pretty their window is? You’d probably wanna go in, too. So I saw this teeny tiny box of chocolate, it had four little chocolates in it. You know those little four piece tiny Whitman samplers? It looked like those. The Whitman sampler ones usually cost $1.00. I know this because I often buy thirty or so of them for Brady to give all of his teachers and school staff at Christmas time.
I thought “Well now that would be neat. I could eat a piece and save the rest for Mama.”
I nearly choked when I saw the price tag for that teeny box of four pieces of bite sized chocolate… $55.00.
I’m totally serious and I’m pretty sure there isn’t a diamond or gold nugget in the center of each one. I doubt they even have a golden ticket in the box.
Whew. I very calmly got out of that store as fast as I could!
Okay so everyone wanted me to see the Rockefeller Center tree and a really sweet family from Virginia took a photo of me in front of it so I could have proof that I did.
Is it just me or have you noticed that “Rockefeller” sounds suprisingly like it was named by a Southerner? Sounds like mountain talk to me.
and this is how I spent my big night in New York. I went back to my hotel room and embroidered a cute little design, then went to bed .
The next morning I walked through a whole lot of snow and slush to get to the studios.
This is Bianca and her team working her magic as they all work to get the pies prepared in time for the segment.
These are just random pics. I always think pics that show the camera men are neat
Behind me are food stylists feverishly working to get the rest of the pies done. This was about fifteen minutes before my segment and I was about to shoot a teaser.
I really wish I had video clips of the teasers, I think I did three of them. If anyone has a means of making them and putting them on line give me a holler, ok? I also want the full Today Show clip that shows Ann taking a bite and talking Southern at the end! They cut that out of the clip that is online and it was the best part!
This is me doing a teaser before the commercial break.
Another teaser spot. Notice Bianca is off to the side out of camera view!
CHEESE!
Another teaser
No idea what this expression is about.
This is me meeting Al.
This is me and Al explaining to the crew that we are going to take over the world and there is nothing they can do about it.
or something like that.
Umm, this is me having lint brushed off my sweater right before airing.
I just think its neat that for a few minutes, I was considered by someone to be important enough that they brushed lint off of me.
Al darted out so I could do the final tease, which went on twice as long as I had expected it to so there was a very awkward pause of me holding a plate of pies.
In my second teaser I got to wave at the camera, which is really important and thrilled me because that is what Katy Rose always wants me to do whenever I do TV. “Are you going to wave at me Mama?”. I very sheepishly asked the crew “Do you think it would be alright if I waved during this one?” and they said “SURE! have fun!”
They really really are a FUN group of people at that show. The entire atmosphere is one of joy and fun.
After the teasers were done Ann brought the Davis family in to chat and meet us!
This is Al and I laughing at the folks who thought we were joking when we said we were going to take over the world. 
And this is us plotting how we are going to do that. We used a highly sophisticated form of ESP to work out the details of our plan and decided to meet back at old man Dither’s amusement park after we distract Scooby and the gang to put our plan into motion.
Or we could just be thinking about what flavor of pie we want to eat first. You decide.
We had a LOT of fun doing the segment!
If you tied up my hands I wouldn’t be able to talk.
Okay, at this point, I gotta tell y’all, I was looking up and thinking “Where is AL going?”. I knew we were live and was waiting to see if he actually left the kitchen. If he had of I was about to turn to the camera and close out the segment myself because I knew someone had to!
“Well folks, that pie must have tasted so good Al just had to leave and go slap his Mama for not making it for him as a child! I sure did enjoy getting to visit with you today and hope to see you again soon!”
Even though my closing monologue would have worked, I was pretty relieved when Ann Curry and the Davis family walked in to close out the segment!
In the past year I’ve learned that anytime you do tv, especially live, a good 99% of everything you do is just winging it.
I was relieved to see Ann burst through the door with the Davis family and rest of the Today Show crew!
This felt like home. I loved having everyone pile into the kitchen laughing and eating. It was wonderful!
This is the Davis family: Jim, Jessie, Little Jim, and Caroline. Jim is a police officer who is also in the Army and is being deployed to Iraq soon so they took a family trip to New York for Christmas before he goes. It was such an honor to meet them and their kids are amazing! Little Jim took one bite of my pie and I said “Now do you talk like me?” and he said “Yayus!” lol
Caroline wants to be an actress when she grows up and Jim wants to be an astronaut!
This is me and Al Roker. He is a VERY nice man. Just as friendly and personable as the day is long.
This is Al signing my book. I have two of my cookbooks that I take with me when I do big tv and such and I have the people I meet sign one for Mama and one for me.
This is Ann Curry signing mine and Mama’s books.
Let me tell you something about Ann Curry. This woman is the sweetest, most caring and compassionate person. It is impossible to meet her and not love her.
This is me talking with little Jim and Caroline after the show was over. Turns out their dad did some training at the military base in my hometown!
And this is Bri, she is in marketing and pr at my publisher and took all of these photos for me! She also went and actually got me tylenol when I had a headache – Bri that was SO SWEET and really kinda neat! I felt like I had a best friend with me!
Everyone keeps asking me if I met Duran Duran because they were there at the same time I was. I haven’t had a chance to go google and see what they look like or watch their segment so soon as I do I’ll let you know if I met them or not!
For now, I’ve really missed my family. I’ve been traveling a lot (a whole month of only being home on weekends in October) and you know, I was never meant to be away from my kids.
Being a mother is my most important job and everything else is just a side gig. So with that in mind, I’m going to go devote the next week to my family as we head off on a family vacation to end out their Christmas holidays from school. I have a few posts scheduled to help with New Years meals while I’m away.
I’ll try to post a little about our adventures and fun together on my Life At Bountiful section of Southern Plate so be sure and subscribe to that portion of the website if you like by clicking here. Regular Southern Plate Subscribers receive an email notification each time I post a recipe but I keep the non-recipe posts separate on most occasions so be sure and subscribe to both if you’d like!
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Gratefully,
Christy
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Posted by Christy Jordan
on Dec 30 2010. Filed under Cookbook News, Life at Bountiful.
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You did wonderful and looked absolutely gorgeous! I see the next Food Network Star!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Love ya girlie!
Thank you so much Sandi!!
That was really neat…. too bad they couldn’t let you go on longer because you are such a joy to watch. Cracked up at the part about if the kids ate your food they would talk like you. Sooooo funny!!!! It has been incredible to watch you go from your original cook books and starting the blog to the big time on the TODAY show in NY!!! Wishing you even more success in 2011.
Thank you so, so much Michele!!
Christy, you were great!
Thank you so much Betsy!!
Great job, they seem like they would be neat to work with! I watch their show just about everyday. You did a great job, your down home appeal is so refreshing in our fast disappearing modern world. I hope that other young women and moms see that you can honor your family just by cooking them a home cooked meal. I love that you stand for what is good, right and true. You embody the proverbs 31 woman that we were meant to be!
Blesssings!
Carey
Thank you so much Carey!! ~Hugs~
So proud of you sis! You are such an amazing woman and I am ever so proud of you and what the good Lord has done in your life!
Thank you Suzanna!!
Great job. You’re a natural.
Thank you Nita!!
Hi Christy,
This is wonderful. You look beautiful!! I did not get to see it since I was at work. thank you for sharing. You did a wonderful job. I am so proud of you and so happy for you. happy new year!! Hope you and your family have a wonderful vacation.
Pam
Thank you bunches Pam!
Fabulous!! so glad that you put this up for us to see. You looked great and the blue is wonderful on you. Have a blessed New Year!
The fried pies are on our list for this weekend.
Thank you so much Peggy! Enjoy a pie for me!!
You were wonderful! I’m so happy for you! God has blessed you abundantly…enjoy!
Thank you so much Suzette
OMG! You did a wonderful job on the Today show. I am so happy for you and wow did you look fabulous! Just glowing. Congratulations to you! I am such a fan of yours.
Thank you so much Shelly!!
I was sick at home with the flu and certainly perked up when I saw your segment on the Today show. i yelled at my husband, “BABE!!! That Southern Lady I love is on TV!!” He was actually amazed that I had enough energy to yell across the room at him
Your segment was delightful and I thought that blue sweater was just stunning on you. Your cheerful personality and fun-loving nature is an encouragement to me!! Keep up the wonderful work!!
Thank you so so much Sara! Hope you feel better soon!
Christie, I was sick and didn’t wake up in time to watch the Today show segment-I’m so glad you posted it! You were absolutely FABULOSO!!!! You represent all of us so well! Love everything you do!
Thank you Jan!! Hope you feel better soon.
I enjoy watching you as you meet and greet your new friends. I hope Al send something for Brady. May the Jordan family’s vacation leave you rested and full of joy from the time you spend together. Happy New Year to the Jordan Family.
Thank you Sandra, Happy New Year to you too!!
Christy, you are a natural! OMG! You are going places, girlfriend! It was so nice to see you on the Today show. Can’t wait to see more of you on TV. Next… maybe a cooking show on one of the cooking channels? Well, we can always hope, right? Happy New Year to you all from our house to yours!
Thank you and Happy New Year Jeanne!!
How fun!!! You did a GREAT job!!! Very proud from one Christy Jordan to another!!
enjoy this clip…You are wonderful to watch ..Laughter heals! I know what I want to be when i grow up! A food stylist..dont think i could do it in front of the camera as you do but think i could do the stylist thing! Thanks for all the laughs and great recipes
I just have to say that I LOVE your name!! It has such a nice ring to it!
Oh shoot Christy, I just have to blame my missing you on the Today Show on my having the blanktity blank flu. I got up expecially early to watch you on the GMA show and I watched and watched and finally said, wellllll I guess she didn’t make it to NY because of the storm. Fiddle sticks, I was on the wrong station. I blame it all on the ole flu bug I have. Wellll anyway I am so glad you put your sagment here or I would have lived out the rest of my life kicking my behind…You, girl are a natural and I know the Good Lord has a great plan for you……Any girl from N. Alabama can’t be nothing but beautiful and good. I know because I come from you neck of the woods too. YOU GO GIRL.
Thank you so much Chris, I sure do hope you feel better soon!
Love the pix and glad you made it to the big NYC! Love your hair!!!
Thank you Angela!!!
you were awesome..Its nice to watch someone so real! Laugh heals!
I know now I want to be a food stylist wonder how you go about persuring that career choice? i could not do what you do in front of the carmera but I think i could do the !Love your recipes!
Thank you Jeri!! I am not sure how you would go about becoming a food stylist but most of the ones I’ve had the honor of working with had home ec or culinary degrees. I think the main requirement is that you love what you do so you’re halfway there!
Check out my behind the scenes posts on making my book and the southern living shoot for more food stylist info!
Christy., I was so excited that I got to see your segment on the today show. I am usually at work but I am on vacation this week and just happened on it. I was like, Hey that’s Christy, I readI her blog and make her recipes. When you have been reading someone’s blog for a while you feel like you actually know them. It was like I was watching a good friend on national tv. You did great and seemed so relaxed. I probably would have fainted on the spot. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes and see what you are going to do this next year. Happy New Year.
Thank you so much Teresa! I feel like you are all family and we have know each other for ages!
You look beautiful and I love that our true southern accent got some airtime! I feel like I’m watching my sister when you’re on there because we become such part of your life through this blog! I was reading the Southern Plate cookbook I received for Christmas last night while my chicken/sausage gumbo was cooking on the stove…I LOVE my cookbook and can’t get enough of it! Happy New Year to you and all of “our” family!!
Thank you so much Rhonda!! I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying the cookbook!! Happy New Year to you too!
Christy,
I love your recipes and have been getting ;your emails for well over a year now. I’m at work so I usually don’t take the time to comment about your wonderful recipes; however, my boss is out of town and I watched the video of your appearance on the Today show. You were great! I grew up in Texas and went to college in Alabama, and your being yourself on the show made me feel like I was back in the South. I know you will continue to be a big success. Love your recipes.
Thank you so much Laurel!
I just watched the Today Show segment and wanted to tell you that you looked beautiful girl with your hair all done and that pretty blue sweater!!!
Thank you Elizabeth!!!!!
That looked like so much fun! The pies looked delicious too!
Thank you Pam!!!
Hi Christy,
You looked so amazing— loved your hair all fluffed up! I got to meet you in Asheville so I feel like we’re old friends. I was very proud of you and how natural you were on TV. You represent the south in such a wonderful, positive way! I’d vote for you for President any old time. You go girl! Have a very Happy New Year with your family!
Thank you so much Jane!! Not sure about the running for President thing, then when would I have time to cook? Happy New Year to you and your family!!!
I LOVE your sweater and I LOVE your hair big like that! You look gorgeous and I’m so happy you had this wonderful experience and got the word out there on Southern cooking to EVERYONE!
Happy New Year, Christy!
Happy New Year Claire!!!
Oh Christy, did you see the beautiful chandelier as you walk into the Rockerfeller Center? It’s absolutely amazing. Did you have a chance to go up to Top of the Rock? The city views are amazing!
Christy, you were marvelous on TV and so at ease! You just seem to be really comfortable around anyone and it shows! And I laughed when I realized that the “Sweet Home Alabama” song was not on my cellphone-it was from your segment! (“Sweet Home Alabama” is my ringtone on my phone! LOL!)
Hope you come to my hometown someday-in the meantime, I will watch you on the telly! I think you will be on tv a lot this new year! Happy New Year to you and your family.
Thank you so much Janet! I love that you have Sweet Home Alabama as your ringtone!!
Christy, I loved watching your Today Show appearance- from one Alabamian to another- “You did us proud girl”! Happy New Year!
Thank you Melissa! Happy New Year!!
Hey, you are featured on MSNBC’s food & wine section of their web page today!
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40819021/ns/today-foodwine/
Oh My Goodness! ~squeeeee~
Thank you so much for letting me know Sonya!
Wow! how exciting for you! You look great in that shade of blue, it’s definately your color!!
Thank you Laurie!
I love what you cook, but I also love how you write. You have a talent for both, that’s for sure. We are all so proud of you, Christy!
Dana
Thank you Dana!!!
Thanks for all the behind the scene photos and commentary. We watched and glad we did because our dvr didn’t do its job. You did a fantastic job. We were proud.
And, yes, Ann’s end of the segment was priceless.
Thank you Julie!!
Christy,
Anytime we travel through the Athens Huntsville area on I 65 I look for the sign that will say, “Welcome to Madison-Athens-Huntsville, the home of Christy Jordan of Southern Plate.”
Tupper
~giggles~ That would be funny!
Posts like this make the inetnret such a treasure trove
Happy New Year Christy!! I received your cookbook as one of my Christmas gifts FINALLY!! I had been dropping hints to everyone in the family for the past 2 months.
I taped your segment on the Today Show. You were wonderful and don’t ever change your southern ways. You had the Today show crew wrapped around your little finger I plan to make the fried pies next week. My mother always made these when we were growing up. . I have just finished reading the stories in your cookbook. Your stories are priceless and made me both laugh and cry. Really pulled at my heartstrings.
I hope you enjoy the book Rachel! Thank you so much and Happy New Year!
I just fell in love with your honesty and southern style when I saw you featured in a magazine…it was one of those…Country Living or Southern Living…SOMETHING. When I saw you online by accident, I just felt like I had discovered a gold mine. I ordered your cookbook immediately. It was supposed to be a Christmas gift to me from…ME…but I couldn’t put it down. It never made it under the tree. The world needs more good old country people out there…the world needs YOU! I can’t wait until you have your own show.
You were great! Loved it!! I was visiting my daughter in Michigan and happened to see one of the teasers. I had given her a signed copy of your book for Christmas (which she loved!), told her all about meeting you at the book signing, and all the wonderful things happening for you. It all made seeing you on the show extra special!! The blue sweater was fabulous! I think we’ll be seeing you on Food Network soon!!
CUTE embroidery!
Thanks Debbie!
Loved you on the Today show! Also loved your embroidery! So cute!
Thank you so much Rachel!!
[...] Christy Jordan wrote a behind-the-scenes blog post about her experience on the Today Show on her blog, SouthernPlate.com. [...]
Christy, you did such a good job! You were just as sweet on tv as you are in your book and blog.
I love your cookbook and gave one to each of my sisters this Christmas. Thanks for all your cooking encouragement.
Christy…was looking at this …watched..saw u and Mrs. Henry and thought…what did Ann Curry do to her hair????? ..lolololol…sorry Ann. Then I read the script below, yes, I had a moment..and Im not even blonde! A good chuckle to self~
[...] just can’t once you hear and see her. She is so stinkin’ cute and likable! Check her Today Show segment. Tell me what you think her recipe is. Seriously leave me a comment and lemme know how you think [...]
Love it! This looks like so much fun! You did a great job! There should be a Fried Pie Monster! Move over Cookie! =)