We started the day with a huge buffet breakfast, then went off to do our own things. I had to visit the mall and pick up some lighter clothes since I packed for 50-60 degrees, not 70-80 (but who's complaining). Then, I hung out at the Santa Monica beach for a bit, just taking in the scenery, both natural and human. Whoa! Almost time for the Paley event! Time to run home and gel, mousse, pluck, blend.

We left in puh-lenty of time; or so we thought. Rush hour in LA is not fun. We crawled almost the whole way up Santa Monica Blvd, nervously expecting to get there so late we'd have to sit in the back and use a telescope to see anything. Actually, the navigation went OK, and we got there in one piece (or three pieces if you consider how many of us were in the car).

We arrived at the Directors Guild Theatre (an adjunct to the Museum) an hour early in order to get a good front row seat but, hey! There were other people who also had that idea! No fair. We got on line in back of about 100 people.

First, we stand inside, taking turns, while one of us goes to the restroom. Or take a closer look at the Nanny memorabilia at the stall at the other side of the hall. Or walk along the whole queue, trying to locate Barbara and Lisa, something that's not really easy, considering we've never ever seen them before.

As we are talking outside, a woman passes by. Suddenly, she turns her head, and asks "Are you Sabine?" Uh, yes. But she is definitely not Barbara - she doesn't fit the description at all. So... "I'm Lisa!"

"Hey, hi, Lisa! How on earth did you identify me?"

"I recognized your accent."

Oh. Right...

Finally, they opened the doors and we rushed in and got pretty good seats -- about 12 rows back, but still in the middle. We settled in and then I went to use the restroom. Details not necessary, but when I emerged, who was standing mere feet away, through some glass doors, but Charlie! He was chatting with some official-looking person, but I got a good look. He's just as handsome in person but taller than you might think -- I'd say about 6' 2" He had on a gray double-breasted suit with a yellowish tie -- very Maxwell Sheffield. OK, time to stop staring and return to my seat before I get "escorted" to the exit door.

The Museum officials introduced the evening's event -- The Nanny was to be inducted into the Museum of TV & Radio as part of the William S. Paley/CBS contribution to comedy. A great honor, especially considering the (few) other great shows also inducted (I Love Lucy, for example).

The Museum official introduces the guests. One by one, they enter the stage and sit down in a long line of chairs. First director Dorothy Lyman, then the entire cast except for Lauren, then writers Frank Lombardi, Diane Wilk and Caryn Lucas, exec producers Rob and Pru, and finally Peter. When Peter walks up the stage, he takes the microphone and welcomes us all. Then, he introduces the final cast member who's not yet on stage. "My best friend, my partner and my wife: Fran Drescher!"

She walks up, arms in the air, broad smile on her face, then takes the mike from Peter. Explains that they feel very honoured with this whole thing, and that cast and writers had been asked to choose twelve episodes of The Nanny to put away in the Museum's vaults, for generations to come. Wow... Tonight, we will be shown two of those twelve, two that had been on everybody's list: "Lamb Chop" and "Hurricane Fran". I hear the people around me whispering approvingly.

Then, everybody walks off the stage and heads for the front right rows. The lights dim. And then, in that more dark room, while everybody is waiting in anticipation, we suddenly hear an oh-so familiar laugh rising from somewhere down to our right. For a split second, the whole hall is uneasily quiet, then everybody bursts into laughter, along with Fran. But it's not a mean laughter, no, it is just very spontaneous and meant in good spirits. And it's the first one of many laughs that night :-)

It feels so good to hear all these people laughing. And even though we know exactly what is coming, we gladly join them in their joy. Oh my, some scenes of "Lamb Chop" are simply hysterical... A classic indeed ! This must be feel so good to all the folks involved. All of us think that this must be about the very first time that they are experience to this kind of positive reactions of this large an audience. Surely this must be a very special occasion for them too.

The lights came back on and then, one by one, the cast and crew entered the stage again. Just about everyone was there, except Lauren, who had just given birth and was still convalescing (oy, I could just imagine!). Also, Joe Bologna, Robbie Schwartz, Howie, and the real Sylvia were in the audience. All I can say is that everyone was just gorgeous! Even the writers looked like stars, especially Frank and Diane. Peter is really good-looking and an absolute doll. Fran literally radiates off the stage -- she was in a fabulous flowing orange print Gaultier dress -- and is very likable. But, if you can believe it, the voice is "worse" (yet endearing) in person :-) Charlie was very quiet and kind of aloof until the end when he got to tell some funny DOOL stories. Nicholle was very charming, Madeline seemed a bit scared, Ben was a riot, and Renee IS Sylvia! She told some dirt about Liz Taylor and a doctored photo, then leaned over to the packed auditorium and said, "But it doesn't leave this room, OK?"

Of course, after Daniel made his entrance, most of my attention was focused on him. Oy, this man was a bazillion times better-looking in person than I ever imagined! Handsome, tan, built, and an incredible smile -- and not at all like Niles in his mannerisms or demeanor -- this guy is a hunk! He was wearing gray sorta baggy/hip-hoppy pants, a black polo shirt and a charcoal blazer. He was very personable on stage and made some witty comments: "I used to joke that if I ever met Clinton in high school, I didn't inhale -- now, I'm not sure what to say."

Then, during one of Fran's many rambling speeches (oy, the woman can go on!), he got up to pour himself a glass of water, stopped in the middle, looked up at the audience, and said in his best Niles' voice, "Can I get anyone anything?" LOL!

The question/answer session continued and we found out some interesting facts -- like Fran is writing another book and Caryn Lucas is writing the wedding episode. I'll let Sabine fill in the rest, as she took meticulous notes!

So I did. My notebook never leaves me, you never know when the need arises to write something down :-) During the Q&A session, I desperately try to launch some of our own questions. But the guy never seems to notice my stretched arm. Which is a shame, because our questions were infinitely more clever than asking Fran "Are you the one who sings the title song?"

Still, as Abby pointed out, we do learn a lot of interesting things, none the least because Fran just babbles away all the time, which sometimes leads into a very interesting answer to an incredibly dumb question. On the other hand, I sorta feel sorry for the rest of the people on that stage. They've come all this way, and hardly ever get any question directed to them.

First of all, the Museum guy asks Fran to tell us how the idea for the show was born. So we all get the "I was in England visiting my friend Twiggy" story. This is interesting alright, but we are all familiar with the history. Next up is a question for Charles. Was he raised by a nanny? Oh yes, he was, and then the link that she was nothing like this nanny though. And although we also know this story, I think the way he describes Maxwell's feelings for Fran F. is actually quite funny and accurate: "He just watches the whole world fall apart in front of his eyes, it's like the Empire crumbling again, but slowly, he's coming to terms with that."

Has Rachel's character Val been modeled after Lucy's best friend Ethel? "Not really", Rachel explains. "It was just logical for Fran having a best friend. I think Val makes Fran look more sophisticated." Upon which Fran compliments her publicly for being a very good actress to play said role since she is highly intelligent.

Daniel again has to explain that no, he is not a native Englishman and yes, he really was born and raised in Arkansas. Oy...

Then Ann Guilbert, who you'd never recognize without her Yetta disguise! She's asked about the Dick Van Dyke show that she played Millie in. How does it compare to The Nanny? Oh, much more work. They shot 32 episodes per season for that one. Jeez - if only we were so lucky!

Renée makes the audience shudder from laughing with telling how her Sylvia is or is not linked to the real Sylvia ("She's such a flirt, while I myself am such a very laidback person..."), then she asks the real Sylvia to stand up and take a bow.

Dorothy Lyman says she has directed 76 of the episodes and still loves doing the work behind the camera, upon which Benjamin brings up that she did step in front of the camera in the Dinner Party episode as society woman number 1 or something?!

The it's on to the 'children'. We get to hear more stories on how surprised they were when they heard Fran speaking for the first time. "And I thought, my God, who is this woman? She is terribly overacting! What is she doing??" Nicholle confesses.

Upon which Fran responds "Five years, and I've never heard this story!"

Madeline seems terribly nervous when she tells how she got the role, recounting her "Hand That Rocks the Cradle" experience.

Benjamin on the other hand, comes across as very self-secure and witty. He starts off by declaring he actually loved Fran's voice. His audition was sort of a last-minute affair, and as soon as his mother had noticed Nicholle, she kept pushing him. "That's the girl from Beethoven, go impress her!" He, on the other hand, had impressed the casting directors, but had not really been aware of it. Even when they'd asked him and his mother to cancel their flight and stay in a nice condominium in Santa Monica, he still hadn't realized something was going on. he just thought "Well, these are really nice, generous people!" But then again, there had been quite a lot of child actors at the auditions, and you could see them being put in clusters of blonde or brown-haired kids, the casting people trying to configure a family out of them. Apparently, they went for the blondes. But it wasn't until he was asked what he planned on doing the next seven years and his mom started to yell, that something began to dawn on him.

In the midst of Benjamin's talk, the lights flickered, and Rachel went "That's my clue!" She got up, and Fran explained Rachel had to catch her Red Eye flight to New York.

Then the Museum guy asked the writers and producers what were their favourite moments of The Nanny. Pru said it was definitely that one scene in "Close Shave". Rob agreed, explaining that Fran had been quite worried about the scene at first, because there had been no lines in it. But they'd assured her it was gonna work just fine, and it sure had, because that scene lead to the longest laugh they'd ever had in Nanny history!

Diane says that her favourite is the Dynasty parody in "Kissing Cousins". I can only agree that that was a riot indeed, I just died laughing when I saw Fran and CC grabbing each other's throats as Alexis and Krystle!

Caryn declares that she loves every single moment of the show. Oy...

Benjamin adds his thoughts on the 'funniest moments matter' by saying that the taping they had done last Friday had been very funny. In fact the best one of this season. Steph and I wholeheartedly agree on that one, and we are secretly happy that at least someone of the people up there is not afraid of implying that maybe the past season had its weaker moments...

Frank's most memorable moment is the meeting with Liz Taylor, upon which Renée starts telling on how she had her picture taken with Liz. Liz had only agreed to that if the picture would be altered afterwards, making her appear younger, prettier and thinner. "It cost $125, but now I have this picture where we both look 19 year old and are a size 4. I tell ya, it was worth every penny!"

And now that we've hit the topic "guest stars", Fran 'reveals' that they'd just had Whoopi Goldberg on last Friday's taping, playing a photographer, and that Whoopi had liked it so much that she'd asked if she could return, and now she will!

Daniel tells us that his mother always asks who the guest of the week will be. So a couple of weeks ago, his answer was "Ray Charles and Coolio". To his surprise, his mother didn't ask who on earth this Coolio was, so he checks if she knows this guy. "Sure I know him! Coolio Iglesias!"

Then the audience gets to ask questions. I will omit the silliest ones. Interesting to know is that Whine Cellar is another episode inducted to the Museum. Also interesting is when Fran is asked how she feels about being regarded as a gay icon, along with Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler. One long story somehow getting to the Nielsen Ratings not reflecting the gay community...or TN would have much higher ratings. And yes, she will write another book, "Denial - It's Not Just A River in Egypt".

Charles is asked about 'Days Of Our Lives'. A question that suddenly brings him back to life, and he straightens himself in his chair, before he starts chatting away, saying how on DOOL they'd just cut loose on the set since they usually lost track of the plotlines. Well, when he was saying how much fun he had doing that show, when Fran leans over and asks jokingly if doing The Nanny is not as much fun then. Oh, the tongue in cheek there :-)

We continue laughing away when Charles goes on explaining on how silly it is that the writers from that soap had never really got rid of his character, Shane. "Six years ago, Shane went off to Europe to retrieve someone, and he's still there, looking! Every now and then he calls back home. That just shows how silly they are!"

Speaking of Europe, Benjamin recalls that in Spain, his voice is dubbed by a woman...

Final question. How does Fran D feel about Fran F being a role model for the Jewish community? Unfortunately, I didn't catch it all, but she ends by saying that in essence, it didn't really matter where you come from, just be yourself, and Fran F is basically a warm, loving person, which probably explains why her character also appeals to kids so much.

And then they all stand up, take off their mini microphones and walk off the stage, accompanied by a deafening applause.

After the show was over, most of the Nanny folks zoomed offstage to avoid the encroaching fans :-( But as I was leaving, I noticed there was a small group gathered on the side of the stage, so I made my way over to check it out.

No way! Renee and Daniel were still there! Now for some smooth operating. My mission is to get as physically close to Daniel as possible. I manage to elude the guard (heh heh heh) and get within five feet of him. Oh. My. God. Gorgeous at a distance just got multiplied by infinity! His huge eyes are peacock blue and I nearly had to duck in order to avoid being struck by their foot-long eyelashes! He is about 5' 10", broad shoulders, and built very solidly. Then, he smiles. That's it, I can die now... Hoo-ha!

So, after my "close encounter" I was sorta in a funk all night. But I did manage to fall asleep since my "mission" was now accomplished! The taping of the show the group was to attend would be the icing on the cake.

Go On to Part Three of Our Excellent LA Adventure
Taping Number Two!