By Producer Jack
Having just spent the best part of ten days in New York City between a hotel room in Soho, the surprisingly well stocked grocers across the street and the Radio City Theatre, our sudden drive through the expansive cornfields of Iowa is more eerie than it might ordinarily be.
Beautiful as it is, I look at the lonely houses scattered through the maze of maize and primarily wonder if perhaps I am metro-polised – a word I think I may have just made up for being institutionalized in cities.
The come down after a night as glittering as the VMAs is palpable. Even as a non-performing member of the team, the focus and dedication it requires means that mental readjustments are needed. I can only imagine how these are multiplied by the high of live performance and without the option of getting blind drunk after.
To be honest getting the tone of the material right this year was a little tricky. At times we were treading a comedy tightrope fit for Pink’s circus.
It’s a particularly precarious gig because of the odd atmosphere in the room and Russell’s admirable desire never to compromise. Prevalent concerns produced by these elements are these kind of questions: Which celebrities will handle a gag ok? Will the audience have the concentration to appreciate this joke? Does my bum look big in this skirt? Sorry that was just me.
Deciding what material to actually include is a bit like that moment when you have to decide what shoes to take on holiday. You know one pair will inevitably spend the entire break in the suitcase, it’s just bloody difficult to predict which ones before you go.
The dressing room prior to the show has the air that I assume is generally reserved for that of a pro boxer. By then the preparation is done, it’s just the psychological battle at this point. Russell calmly paces the room deeply inhaling as the team offer words of positivity. Finally there is a knock from the floor manager and it is time. A quick hug from the gang and he is off, wandering out into the abyss of a live nation. Rather him than me.
Backstage, in our little room we call the ‘dog basket’ the team huddle round an unnecessarily small TV with the collective nerves of a parent at the first school play. It’s odd to watch a man exit a room and immediately appear on TV, it’s especially hard to comprehend that on the other side of that grubby blue-tacked wall is the bonkers glam of the VMAs. There he is though, our very own Essex boy up on the stage effortlessly carrying some pretty weighty focus.
Meanwhile, back in the basket our odd co-operative silently lip sync his lines and cheer laughs like he’s scoring goals. Gareth and I look at one another grinning and realize he is comfortable out there – the show is in safe hands. Russell is a man uniquely at home in mind-boggling conditions, the added chaos of Kanye just made him more at home. I glance around at the traveling sitcom he has assembled as a team, there is a communal surge of relief and, might I add some really appropriate shoes.
Brilliant….. Not sure which I like the best… Finding out who wins or getting my Russell fix between the anouncements….. Russell is the cat’s meow
Enjoy your writing Jack. Next time in the states, all of you need to venture to Roswell, New Mexico if you haven’t already. I’d love to hear a recount of THAT trip through the eyes of you and Russell.
i love russel brand, and i think he did a fabulous job at the vmas, i also saw his standup after the vmas last year, and he was hilarious. i hope he sticks around the US, i’d love to see more of him. and congrats to the group of ppl who support him backstage and help him get his job done. =D u rock producer jack!
Hey Jack :)
unending support and kudos for the whole team
Kissed by the Moon
Shined at by the Sun
Supported by the Wind
He makes his way through.
somedays it is not until we look in the right direction do we see
what we need to see
somedays we fear we will not find it..
but centred and focused
we walk forward into the mayhem and make sense of it all
and when we do the Universal Wind
will support us as we roll into our bliss
with gratitude for the day
thanks for shareing
thanks for taking care of him
give him a kiss from the Moon
be safe
be well
Peace from the Rainbow
and remember
All Life is Energy, Stop and Feel It Daily…Because It Feels You :)
Jack, thanks for such a lovely writing, describing the events leading up to performance, and the travels afterwards traveling across country. You have a way with the words, my friend. Thanks to all who look after the man, and share some of your experiences along the way. Mucho gusto.
Thanks for the insight. I’m always more fascinated by the inner sanctum and goings on at these sort of events then the event itself. It’s much more interesting. I only watched the VMAs to see Russell and he did a really beautiful job. He’s a brilliant performer and I always get a huge kick out of him. He’s also lucky to be surrounded by a great group of people like you. Now, go spend some time in nature and balance out that urbanizaton you’re suffering from…:)
susie xxxx
Russell did a wonderful job, I thought. I was waiting with baited breath for the one gag to come out that would make the audience do a massive intake of breath, but it never happened. I would have liked for Russell to rip KW a new one, but he was PC the whole time, kudos. For all the longtime fans who are a little miffed that he’s becoming famous in the US, don’t worry, we’ll share, because we (I) know where he is truly happy.
I love you, Russell. Truly, madly and actually, but what happened this year? Where was your edginess? Where was your brilliant, clever humor? Was is just the teleprompter’s failure that resulted in a mediocre performance? Please don’t dumb-it-down. You’re too good for that!
Kisses!
PS: What’s next? I’m loving your old BBC radio podcasts. Will you do more?
my only complaint about the show was your presence was too little; I was expecting more Russell and less of that horrid mish-mash band that threw to commercial breaks.
thank you jack xx team brand is a recipe for comedy gold. all of you work so hard and it all comes together when ole russ steps out from behind the curtain. you are all loved and respected. thank you all so much. i am a mum,housewife,part time cleaner and at the end of busy days i take relief in an ipod full of heavenly podcasts….from 6 music days up to radio 2.. the laughter is pure escapism. i have lovely friends who also are OCD russell. and we never bore of retelling anecdotes from podcasts and watching russell. keep up the good work…. god bless all of you xxxxxxxxx
love tasha xxxx
twitter ta5ha69
Couldn’t help smiling right the way through that.. loved it!! =)
(What an well-written, interesting account!) Watched VMAs for the first time just because of Russell Brand hosting. This entertaining, talented man was perfection! And his commentary about Kanye West (during and after VMAs) was like a breath of fresh air. A gorgeous man, inside and out, with a big heart and spirit.
Good words producer Jack, good words.
USA, USA, Come back to Britain!
What a lovely account of what the gang was feeling backstage that night.
Russell did look comfortable and quite expertly handled hosting. ^_^