My Ellen Experience (and might be yours too)!

I apologize for the delay of this post...  I've been coping up with what I've missed during my 2-week vacation and now is the only time I got to tell you how it all went during the Ellen show...

First, let me tell you that from the registration down to the exits, everything is absolutely organized and in proper order...  You just have to follow instructions...  No shortcuts, no power tripping, no vip...  Just observe the rules...  You'll have fun...

How I acquired Ellen tickets are found here (click the link).  The four of us left Vegas around 6am...  Arrived LA at 11am...  Had lunch at Ikea, loved the swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce...  ummmm...

At exactly 1pm, we entered Warner Bros. Studio Gate 3.  We were headed to the parking lot.  Parking attendants were everywhere and you wouldn't have trouble getting a slot, they will guide you appropriately. 

As soon as we got out of the elevator, a staff welcomed us and guided us to a queue for "Guaranteed Seats" audiences.  The queue was surprisingly short.  A staff carefully examined our tickets and all our ID's, then checked her own "guestlist"...  We were good, and given audience seat numbers, so we headed to another short queue.  Here, a policeman checks our IDs again, checked his own list, and put some ultraviolet stamps on our hands.  Then he showed us where we were supposed to wait...  We then saw a huge group of excited people sitting, eating, chatting, shouting.  So these are the people who will be with us during the entire show taping...

We sat down for an hour and a half, watched Ellen's previous shows on huge flat screens provided at the waiting area.  One staff finally announced who the guests will be - the First Lady Michelle Obama, and the Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden, and the performers were Sugarland.  I admit, I didn't know Sugarland, but I told myself, what the heck, at least I get to know their songs...  Then, again, I was a bit disappointed - because I don't get to see someone from Hollywood...  But then again, I told myself, I am here at Ellen!!!  It is she who I really want to see!!!

Tip:  The waiting area is not airconditioned, but since I was there in October, the weather was quite comfortable.  If you are planning to watch, make sure that you wear very comfortable clothes and shoes...  Coz' you're not just watching, you're going to party!!!

At exactly 3:00 pm, our numbers were called, and we were headed to the studio.  The numbers we were holding were the seat numbers as well...  We had to keep those numbers until we get to the studio itself.  We passed through heavy security on the way to the studio.  Our bags were entirely inspected, read:  Airport Security...  I don't know if this really how strict the guards are or we were just heavily inspected because of the guests...  

Then we entered the Riff Raff.  This is the where people who didn't get guaranteed seats were seated.  It's like a hotel lobby with huge flat screen tv where you can watch the taped episode.  The riff raff is located just behind the studio.  Secret service agents were all over...  (because of the guests)

We were seated almost at the back part of the studio...  But since the studio is quite small, I could see Ellen' s chair clearly from where we were seating...  A DJ was playing loud dance music.  We were asked to dance, sing, and party!!!  He was playing 80's dance songs which really enthused us since it was our era!  We were all energized and was ready to face Ellen...  

Ellen was then introduced and I was all smiles when I saw her enter the room... 

She waved back at me...  I swear!

Then she told us about X-Box 360 Kinect.  My heart was heavily pounding after I heard her say, "I thought of giving all of you this Kinect, but, you have to have an XBox 360 to play with it, so, I'm just GIVING YOU BOTH!!!!"  I don't exactly know how I felt when I heard that...  Honestly, I thought, what are going to do with 4 X-boxes???  Since I was with my hubby, my niece, and her friend....  Each of us are going to have one...  Anyway, I said to myself, what the heck, just watch the show!

Some US Marines and Militaries and their families were watching the show with us.   I figured out that the guests paid tribute to the families who saved many lives of the American people...  It was a really nice show and heartwarming.  

During commercial breaks, we were asked to stand up and dance the whole time.  At this time, Ellen and the guests talks to the director, scriptwriters, and staff...  Probably tells them what's up next...

During the last part of the show, 2 audiences were selected to join a contest.  One of them was an undercover staff of Ellen...  The other one was a wife of a soldier who was out in Afghanistan...  She was supposed to guess who were the people shown in the pictures.  But she lost the game...  And yet, she was given a car.  Such a heartwarming part...  Two other volunteers and military families were given gifts and thousands of dollars...  Then Ellen looked at her audience and said, I know you guys think, how about the rest of us???  Then she said, you are all coming back for the 12 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS in December!!!!  

I died...  

It was the most wonderful sentence I've ever heard in my entire life...

And then again...  Questions came running through my mind...  How can I go back in December?  Can I send someone in my behalf? Will my hubby come back with me?  How about Cassie?  How about my work back home?  

After the show, Ellen spoke to us, thanked us, and acknowledged everyone who came, especially those who came from different states and countries...

Then the DJ came back and instructed us about our "gifts"...  He told us to stay and fill out our registration forms for the 12 Days of Giveaways, and then, on our way out, the staff shall give us CD of the Sugarland, a Gift Card from Best Buy to get our X-Box 360, (which means we don't necessarily need to buy one) coz' we have a $350 gift card!!!

When we went back to Vegas, I was still problematic about coming back...  We've talked about it, and thought it would be very hard for us to come back since USA is Pacific Ocean apart from the Philippines.

I took the risk and called the ticket office of Ellen.  I told them the reason, and gave our seats to my sister and her hubby...  It was so easy I couldn't believe everything was hassle-free!

Am I lucky or am I lucky???  I guess it was the most wonderful time of my life!!!  Even better when I walked down the aisle 15 years ago!!! 

Today is the 2nd day of Ellen's 12 days of Giveaways, and my sister is going to be on the 4th day!!!  I am so excited to see her and her family on TV!!!  Even more excited to see their giveaways!!!  It'll be shown on Thursday, Dec. 9, I guess...

I just hope my sister gives me at least half of what she's getting!!! C'mon dear sis!!!

Well I hope I didn't bore you with my detailed experience with Ellen...  It's just that I had to document this event for me and my children's children to see...