Okay, I won't go so far as to bash my own intelligence. The truth (as I've mentioned before) is that I am wildly impressed by fun gimmicks, and this one was no exception.
It all started with a handful of Twitter messages from a certain daytime talk show host:
 |
| "Ann Arbor! You can be on my show, help a kid in need, & win big @Walgreens. 7:30 p.m. It's a win win win. Wear your favorite holiday outfit." |
When Brad and I arrived at the Ann Arbor Walgreens shortly after 7:00 p.m., the parking lot was already completely full. (In fact, this picture doesn't do the scene justice, since the line to claim a raffle ticket actually wrapped around the back of the building and into the parking lot of a neighboring business.)
 |
| Jeannie! She works for The Ellen Show and used a megaphone to keep the 2,000+ people in line. |
 |
| There was one TV set up for everyone to watch the main portion of the show as it was taped in Los Angeles. The screen size was probably just around 32 inches, and it was basically a communication porthole for the huge crowd that assembled in Ann Arbor that night. |
 |
| Toys for Tots Donation Box |
Because we found out about the event so close to the time it began, we completely forgot to bring toys. Unfortunately, Walgreens was closing up in preparation for the show, so Brad made a quick trip across the street to get a couple things while I wandered around and took pictures.
 |
| Fans of the show didn't hold back when it came to festive Christmas wear. |
 |
| Christmas Present Buddies |
These were my favorites. The wreath just made me giggle, and I'll admit . . . the fake Ellen correspondent actually had me believing she was the real thing. I blame the cold for my momentary lapse in judgment.
Meanwhile, the crowd kept growing and everything kept changing. Every few minutes, it seemed, a new line formed. Then, as the line moved up, the people at the front were told to line up somewhere else to wait for the taping to start. By the time Brad got back with a couple of toy trucks, I had been moved to the sidewalk, onto the grass, back off the grass, then routed around the back to stand in the biggest line I'd ever seen. Thinking there was no way we'd get back to the front of the building by the time Ellen telecasted in, we tried hanging out with some other bystanders, but were eventually told to go around the back of the building again. As luck would have it, the line moved quickly; we had, however, a lot more time to kill than we originally thought.
 |
| Literally running around the building to form a new line |
 |
| People waiting for the show to start after finally getting through the raffle ticket line |
It probably goes without saying, but I was not one of the lucky people who won a prize that night (or one of Ellen's studio audience members, who all won $100 Walgreens gift cards). After the cameras stopped rolling, though, Jeannie called out ten or so more numbers, with each winner receiving a Walgreens gift card of their own. Finally, she made one last announcement: apparently, this was one of the largest events of this type the show had ever encountered, so Ellen was offering one more prize opportunity in exchange for us waiting outside in the cold all evening.
Jeannie's Final Announcement:
As it turns out, 100 more winners would be chosen at random from the crowd--all we needed to do was snap pictures of ourselves at the Ann Arbor event to upload on Ellen's website the next day. The photo, along with a description of our evening, would serve as a ticket for a one-in-twenty (or twenty-five) chance to win one of Ellen's 12 Days prizes! Technically, the odds were still against us, but to be that close to winning an iPad, laptop, year's supply of cheese, whatever--I wouldn't turn it down. So, we got our cameras and phones out and started snapping pictures of each other. The best part about the evening ending, however, was knowing that it was time to go back to our heated car and warm home.
This morning, I watched the Ann Arbor episode of Ellen with a much different perspective. I'll never again take for granted how much work goes into making a TV show, or the influence that a celebrity or someone with similar importance can have in gathering people to support a cause. I know I did my share of whining for being cold and not winning anything that evening (and I have yet to find out if I'm still in the running for a 12 Days gift), but the truth is--would any of those people have showed up with a toy to donate if it hadn't been for Ellen? Regardless of the fact that I didn't win anything that night, it was exciting to be part of a nationally-recognized event that brings happiness to so many children.
Of course, I can't help but keep my fingers crossed that I'm one of those 100 people Ellen chooses for a last-chance prize. But I guess I shouldn't get ahead of myself on that one.
Of course, I can't help but keep my fingers crossed that I'm one of those 100 people Ellen chooses for a last-chance prize. But I guess I shouldn't get ahead of myself on that one.
