Endings and Beginnings......

Post-show and I am a bit puffy-eyed and weepy for our final Toyota Live photo.

If you told me in 2007 that I would still be doing the same show, Toyota Live, in 2012, I would laugh in your face.  Here I am, some 4000 shows later, and finally on the precipice of retirement.  It was a hard decision, but one that was pretty much sealed after this post.  I accomplished everything I wanted with a  show that was basically built around me and my co-host, Matt Troyer. I was having trouble balancing my work and personal obligations in LA with life on the road.  It's hard to give up a job that I really enjoyed and a job that I was incredibly grateful for, but it was time.

An old 2008 team photo with Emily and Amy.

Now Matt and I went through it all from trying to do shows with laryngitis to on-set pranks (usually involving unattended iPhones and new wallpaper.), it was never a dull moment.  We weathered through a rough economy, a massive recall and the subsequent media onslaught, and an earthquake/tsunami in Japan.  Toyota stood behind our show through each and every event.  I am not sure many people can say that about a corporation in this day and age.  I started the show with a Corolla and I end it with a Prius.  Yes, I drive a Toyota and it was a true pleasure to represent the brand on and off the stage.

This was a hard moment, our last sentence of the show:  "This is Toyota Live!"

Yesterday, we said our final farewells to the show as a team.  Matt is off to another city for another job while I still have three more days in New York to finish out the show.  I didn't expect our last show to be so emotional.  I walked onstage not expecting anything but a regular show, then reality set in. The crowd was huge, our supervisor, Simms, started the show with a moving speech, and we kicked it off with a final surprise rendition of Michael Jackson's "Beat It". (A dance I often bust out on command.)  The show was electric, but the final moment had come......"I'm Kristyn"....."I'm Matt"......and I heard the crack in the voices.  I know our last line of "This is Toyota Live" came through a flood of tears.  Even when you are ready, it's sometimes hard to say goodbye.

Backstage, the countdown continues....

I leave with a huge sense of gratitude to Toyota, Productions Plus, Mindfield Pictures, and GPJ. Thank you for an incredible opportunity, it's been such a wonderful journey with all of you. (I will be thanking you individually offline since there are so many of you!)

If you ever wanted to know what a Cobra is.....this is a Cobra. 

To all of the kids who came year after year to see our shows, play our games, and win prizes:  You have no idea how much fun it was to see you each year after growing a few inches, losing a few baby teeth, and still coming up with hugs even though twelve months had passed since we last saw you.  I won't forget you.

To our TDs, Cobra and Larry: Thanks for feeding me lots of candy, teasing me unmercifully, and playing ridiculous sound effects for us.....my Justin Bieber joke will always be my favorite because secretly, I am a Belieber, not Matt.

The team last weekend with NASCAR/Joe Gibbs driver, Joey Logano.

To our Toyota Racing expert, Trackside Tina:  You are a true inspiration and you bring so much joy and enthusiasm to the team.

To my co-host, Matt Troyer:  You are the best co-host in the world, but you are an even better friend.  Thank you for the laughs, the tears, the support, and your friendship.  I will always try to break into your phone and change your wallpaper.

Thank you, Toyota Live, Goodnight!

New York Auto Show, 2010.

Dancing on the Red Carpet

For all of the fans of So You Think You Can Dance and America's Best Dance Crew, this video is for you.  I had the opportunity along with Dance Channel TV to cover collidEdance's blink/drEam last week at the Music Box Theatre in Hollywood.  It was a hot night on the red carpet with many alumni from the FOX and MTV dance shows.  Some dancers were there to dance while others were there to support choreographer, Erica Michelle Sobol, in her whimsical and lively evening of dance.  Erica was a pleasure to interview because she was easy to interview.  Why does that make a difference?  Some dancers are not media savvy, their art is created and performed with their bodies, not their voices.  So sometimes, red carpet interviews are awkward.  However, Erica gave great sound bites, she was friendly, and she has a great on-camera presence.  Another superstar on the red carpet was Lauren Gottlieb from SYTYCD.  Her mentor is Tyce Diorio and it shows.  She navigated her way through the press line like the star that she is.  Tyce is a genius at this too (See the documentary Every Little Step to see what I mean.) and he is passing this great quality on to Lauren.  Another great dance mentorship hard at work-genius!

To see the real stars on the red carpet, head over to WireImage for photos of the evening.

This was one of my most unusual nights on the red carpet.  I poked choreographer, Sohey Sugihara, in the eye to show that the frames to his glasses were just that frames, no glasses (Stay until the end of the piece, you will see what I mean.), I stumped many dancers with the easy question, "Who is the one major dance influence in your life/career?", and I made Janet Jackson's choreographer, Gil Duldulao, cry.  Yes, I said cry.  He is such a sweet man and I wish more of his interview made the final edit.  Here's the scoop:  I asked him how his working relationship with Janet has changed since Michael was such a huge influence on her work.  Well, Gil is a very close friend of the family and the emotions of the loss of the pop icon are still raw.  His eyes welled up with tears and he explained that his influence is so great, it is almost like Michael is still here.  It was such an emotional moment on the red carpet.  One I have never experienced before and one that I will never forget.  I sent Gil off with a big hug after our interview.

We were also able to capture some of the rehearsal footage with the dancers and grab what happens behind the scenes on the night before a big performance. And I know, I know, it's "bad rehearsal, good show.", I think I screwed that phrase up in the piece.  So, sit back, relax, and enjoy all of the hot action from the red carpet:  

2009 in Review: June

Okay, we are officially at the halfway point and this is where my year started charging full speed ahead and it doesn't slow down until we hit the Christmas holidays.

Hanging at E3 with the 2010 Toyota Prius and The Sims 3:

This still remains one of my favorite locations from The Web Files, The Hollywood Wax Museum. I adore the cast from The Crew and I am so happy for their success. Check out our episode with them here: The Crew

Covering the Whatever Works premiere at the Pacific Design Center for Focus Hollywood. I interviewed some fantastic actors at this premiere, Ed Begley, Jr, Patricia Clarkson, Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Peter Fonda, and John Lithgow. See the footage here:
Whatever Works Premiere

My coverage for this panel will stand out in my mind forever. I attended Dance Camera West's Choreography Media Honors Panel to cover the events for Dance Channel TV. One of the dancers, Chuck Klapow, was currently rehearsing the "This Is It" tour with Michael Jackson. Read the article: Choreography Panel. Sadly, we all know the outcome.

On set with The Web Files for Episode 4 featuring Space Hospital. They are currently airing Season 2, so be sure to check them out. This is also the first shoot we came across our current makeup artist, Melissa Anchondo. A fortuitous day! Here's episode 4: Space Hospital.
Things only get busier as the second half of the year brings a lot of growth to The Web Files. Remember, we didn't even launch until July 8th! Come back for more tomorrow.

Dance Channel TV Can't Miss List: Episode 8

This is it! No, really This Is It! Yes, the movie has opened to big box office and of course, we spoof MJ a bit in Episode 8. I cannot wait to see the movie, but it looks like I have a little more time since SONY extended the run through Thanksgiving. (Like we didn't see that coming even before it opened.)

So, if you like what you see below, head on over to Dance Channel TV for more fantastic dance videos!