That Time I Was on TV and Tried Not to Blackout

Spoiler alert... I failed.

Truthfully, I remember leaning over to Taylor and asking, "So, how much time do we have until we start?"

She looked at me—and as I remember it (although it probably didn’t happen this way)—put her hand to her ear like a secret producer voice in an earpiece was counting her down. I think she said "10 seconds" or something equally horrifying, and in a flash I was being introduced.

The funny part about the entire experience was how reluctant I was to even do it. When she invited me on earlier in the summer, I was like, “hell no... that sounds terrifying.”

The thing is, all the super fun anxiety I have only really started to become a part of my life in the last few years. I mean, sure—it’s always been there. I just thought I was weird and would push through it. So much so that I found my space in the performing arts department in college, and while most of my time was spent building sets and hanging lights, I always wanted to be on stage. Front and center.

Kind of like how I am in close crowds of friends, where it’s safe. But live TV? Yikes.

That’s nearly-50-year-old Andy talking. The 25-year-old version of me—buried in the theater—would have killed for this opportunity. I’m pretty sure that after Taylor’s first words hit my ears, the me that is now left my body and the younger version took over.

And I have to say... I think he did a solid job.

Super huge thanks to Taylor Kinzler and the CT Live team for having me on to talk about this story I love so much.

Looking back, it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.