What it’s like being on the Tyra Banks Show
Posted in American Gladiators, Book, Publicity on July 19th by Dan.
Cheers Tyra for winning the Emmy!! Now if readers ever wonder what it’s like to be on the Tyra Banks Show, in this post I’ll take you through a step by step description of the process of getting on her show — from the initial phone call to hugging her goodbye after our segment. I was on recently and love to give you the 411.
The first thing you need to know about Tyra is that she works her tail off and has a great, hard working staff. It’s her vision, but they make it happen. A special shout-out to exec producer John Redmann. The next thing you need to do is be ready and bring your "A" game ’cause it all happens fast. I got the call from Tyra’s staff asking me if I would be interested in coming on the show on a Friday to talk about my memoir "Gladiator – A True Story of ‘Roids, Rage and Redemption." Then Saturday I did the pre-interview.
Monday I’m on a plane from Los Angeles to New York. Tuesday I’m on the Tyra Banks show. The reason the pre-interview you is because the want to make sure you’re lively and great on the phone — meaning you will make a great guest. The pre-interview was new experience for me. Most of the talk shows I’ve done were for the American Gladiators. There have been numerous — from Good Morning American to the Tonight Show — and I simply showed up on set and talked about Gladiators — talked about being Nitro.
Being on as an author was definitely new territory. I knew I couldn’t go on and be that cocky-guy who lead with his fist — but I also wanted to be exciting, interesting with a touch of salaciousness. The pre-interview went on for nearly 90 minutes. Even though I knew I was going to be on the show, I was a tad bit nervous, thinking I was going to screw it up somehow. I guess the biggest thing is being true to yourself and your message and not pushing or forcing to try and be something you’re not, so they’ll think you’re great.
I arrived in New York late Monday night for my appearance the next day. I won’t bore you with my nightly rituals, except to say — I called my girlfriend, told her I missed her, then drifted off to sleep. My publicists and I arrived at the studio in the early afternoon and were immediately buffeted into a dressing room. No sooner had I put my bag down, when a bouncy producer walked in and handed me my script and asked me if I wanted to run through it once. Huh? Remember that pre-interview? Well, they take all of the good stuff, put it into a question answer format, and basically hand you an outline of the show. This is what Tyra is going to ask you. This is how you’re going to respond, or at least did in the pre-interview. Hint- hint. Wink-wink.
Bouncy, cute producer tells me she’s going to be Tyra and I’m going to be me, and wants to run through it once to see how it plays. Alrighty, then. We go through it once and I’m disappointed because all the questions are geared around sensationalizing the side-effects of steroids. I’m more then disappointed, I’m disheartened. Because I know my memoir goes miles deeper and at the heart of it, it’s about: identity, love, family, addiction and survivorship told through the prism of celebrity. I also know that to connect and really resonate with Tyra’s female audience I had to find a way to work in the "human" side of the story into my segments. I had to let her audience know this book was an emotional journey — about a little boy whose parents we’re divorced when he was 5 years old and who was crying inconsolably until a man told him "big boys don’t cry." That boy took those words to heart and didn’t cry when he was ten years old — and his older brother die in his arms — then spent the rest of the life trying to become whole again, trying be human, trying to feel.
Yes, this journey involved drugs,women, celebrity — but I also knew even at the darkest points my humanity shined through in my life and on the page. Suddenly a producer popped in — whisked me down the hallway to the stage area — all I can think about is how to get the story I want tell across while still satisfying the producer’s needs. Now, I’m standing behind a curtain at the back of the stage while they are doing my introduction and it’s really something. "Most famous Gladiator, huge hunk, every women’s fantasy." I feel myself swell up with pride until — the announcers says — "Who grew breast from steroids. Welcome Dan Nitro Clark!" The stage manager pulled back the curtain and tells me to "Go, Go!" I stumbled on stage feeling awkward as hell, not sure whether to smile and wave, or hang my head down in shame and embarrassment. I kinda did both. I think. You’ll have to watch my entrance and let me know.
So, I’m sitting next to Tyra, still a little thrown by the introduction — being in front a live audience staring, by having three cameras targeted toward at me like canons. But now, I’m more determined then ever to tell the story I want to tell and not get caught up in this whirlwind of sensationalism about steroids. I make up my mind right then and there that no matter what she asks me — I’m going to answer her question then start talking about "human" aspect of the journey. Tyra asks me the first question, "When did you start taking steroids?" I give her the one sentence answer and dive into, "But what I really want to talk about is how we stereotype boys and girls at a young age."
I could see Tyra look at me a little funny. I keep going and tell the story about my parents being divorced, being inconsolable, the words big boys don’t cry, and how it affected me. I tell her about my brother dying in my arms, and how I didn’t cry. I tell her about how I spent the rest of my life building this huge body, all to protect that kid inside. And I’m talking FAST. Really fast, just trying to get the story out. And I’m aware that I’m talking hyper-fast which makes me even talk faster! I keep thinking at any moment they are going to "Gong me" and stop shooting and tell me to get the hell back to the script. As the words keep spilling out of my mouth, I see Tyra keep eyes shoot down to her script then back at me with a glare that says, "What the hell are you talking about?" I now realize I’ve been talking non-stop for close to a few minutes when Tyra suddenly looks at me and says: "Oh my God, how did your brother die?" Her question is sincere and her eyes are full of compassion. I take a deep breath in and tell her the story. Then we took the interview from there moment by moment.
Kudos to Tyra for letting me have that moment and being such a pro that she knew a better story when she heard it, and for trusting herself and me to go with it. That being said, I haven’t seen the show as of writing this. It airs today, Thursday the 16th of April. For all I know… they could introduce me "Nitro — the man who grew boobs" and cut the rest! As for the producers? They all rock! And we all slugged back margarita’s later that night in a little Mexican bar in the meat packing district. And yes, I bought. How could I not? After all they told me it was one of the best segments of the year! Let me know what you think after watching it.
Be brilliant!
Dan "Nitro" Clark
Technorati Tags: Tyra, Tyra Banks, What’s it like being on Tyra, Emmy, talk show guest, Dan Clark, Nitro, Dan Nitro Clark, Gladiator, American Gladiator, Memoir, book, author, tv show, What it’s like being on a talk show, Dan Clark, Nitro, tv show guest,
Loading ...
You handled it very good when she said, “Let’s get back to the BREASTS!”, “I want to talk about SEX with you”, and u replied…….”I was hoping”……”LACTAID shooting out of the BREASTS”…..(regarding the Italian kid).
“Her WOOHOO WOOHOO”, regarding the female body builder was very interesting, funny, and very sad as well!
Dan, you did a great job, and remember…..YOU are enough!!
Take good care~LENA
Still in S.A., but I’ll snag it online somewhere. But, that being said, the blog was a good write and gives some good insight into what goes on behind the scenes. Good stuff.
The show was great- You were great! Thank you for sharing and being so honest! God bless and take care!
Dan,
I just saw the show and thought you did a great job-I didn’t think you were talking too fast at all, and that you did well to lead the conversation toward the areas you wanted to stress. It seemed like she wanted to sensationalize stuff a bit, talk about shocking things, but you got it on track to talk about deeper more important issues. I think you aced the interview and kept her from making it a “tabloid article” kind of interview. I was a bit surprised, too, when she said that so many women were liking the book, but I guess the body image issue would resonate with a lot of women as well as with a lot of guys. I mean, doesn’t everyone want to look good?
I like how your book and the interview got to the root of the matter, that you had built a psychological shell around you from your childhood, and that it eventually included the physical shell as well. Again, you didn’t let the show turn your story into something it isn’t. Way to go-you were excellent.
Dave
Danny,
I saw the Tyra Banks segment and it went well. I don’t think the audience or Tyra has any real knoledge of steroids.
Dave, from the feedback and review so far, women are absolutely loving the book because it’s such an emotional journey and it’s written from a place of vulnerability. The number one complaint women have of men, is that men do not communicate. So I wanted to make sure to let them see behind the vail and be as open and honest as possible.
Dan
I saw the interview. First of all–get rid of the jacket and long sleeve shirt. You’ve got those “I can carry you away” arms and you never seem to show them! I was disappointed in the way Tyra was trying to sensationalize her show. I am glad you got her back on track. She could have had a different interview than anyone else if she would have asked questions like: How are you now? What were the other effects on your body beyond the sexual? What was your family’s reaction to your life and the book? Are you more careful about what you put in your body–all natural or not?
I have talked to others about your book. My brother reminded me that he was on steroids for Lupus for about 10 years before you started taking the other steriods. He is grumpier that he was before and still is. He also said that he did have the “bitch tits”. He said his were so bad that at a party he said he would have at least placed second in a wet tee shirt contest! Sometimes you just have to find the humor in life.
Can’t wait for your next book and I hope you let us know what the project is that you did for the Disney company and when it is coming out.
Jan
Dan, I saw the show and you were terrific. After the show I downloaded the book onto my Kindle and read it until 3am. I couldn’t put it down. What an emotional story. I’ve already cried a few times while reading it. It’s made me think about some things that have happened in my life and see things differently. Thank you for for that and thank you for writing such an amazing book.
Stephanie — thanks for the kind words. Thanks for taking the journey with me. Above all else it feels great to be connected to people and I think the book really celebrates the fragility of the human experience — and that we’re all beautiful in our imperfections.
Be well,
Dan
Dan, I loved the show yesterday. The crowd seemed to really be into it, from what I was seeing. I also strongly agree with Jan about, just like other hosts, Tyra trying to sensationalize the show. I was hoping that the interview didn’t have to go into that, but it WAS cool seeing you put her on track to where you wanted the interview to go, while also giving true detail on what steroids REALLY do to the body. Jan really summed up my thoughts.
I don’t really watch Tyra that much, and from the little I’ve seen, she’s always came off a bit “insincere”, like trying to ACT like she was into whatever her guest was talking about. Now, it sorta looked like she was going that way, but then IMO, once the story actually got into the real details, she was actually REAL for the conversation, and it was a hell of an interview.
— Most famous Gladiator, huge hunk, every women’s fantasy. I feel myself swell up with pride until — the announcers says — “Who grew breasts from steroids. Welcome Dan Nitro Clark!” —
^^^ I laughed my ass off to this line! This was a cool blog post. And others are obviously loving it as well! Thanks for the heads up BTW. ;)
Hi Dan,
The show re-aired this morning.
You were honest, sincere and authentic.
That’s the most important factor for me. After reading your book,I wanted to find you and give you a hug.
I was a bodybuilder and everyone around me wanted me to juice and I didn’t. I never wanted to compete, but I wonder what I would have done if I did want to, y’know?
I just wanted you to know that my sibling died in my arms and the only thing that got me through was taking time to examine who I am and who I am becoming.
You seem to be doing the same.
Nothin’ but love for ya, Dan. Nothin’ but love.
Dan,
Thank you for your honesty.I was very disturbed at how Tyra kept pushing the boobs and sexual side affects of steriods. I know she has to get the audience’s attention, but really…she pushed it too far. Thank you for bringing it back to the real story of your brokenness and identity. It’s amazing that you were able to “go there,” find the root of the issue, and are now working on the process of being whole.
We all are broken in our different ways, but so many don’t want to go back to their painful moments, or so many don’t want to do the hard work it takes to become whole. And it is hard work, but it is so worth it. So thank you for doing the hard work and for sharing your story. Do NOT be embarrassed, although people might try to focus on the sexual side affects, manuever them back to the real story. SHARE your story so that others can be blessed and start their own journeys of healing.
I work with youth at a church and am going to share your story with them. You know how kids need “real life examples” and I’m going to focus on your childhood story and on how you were told you couldn’t cry as a boy…etc, you know the rest. Because the real lesson is not don’t do drugs (although I’ll mention that too, haha), but it’s where do you find your identity and how do you go through healing so as not to find other harmful ways to deal with the pain.
Thank you for sharing once again! You are SO brave and more “manly” now than ever before. Your interview was great! You didn’t talk too fast and you really knocked it out of the park! Homerun! Keep doing what you’re doing and always stay true! You are a beautiful human being! God bless you!
Thanks for the kind words. And thanks for coming by to post. The media is indeed a strange beast.
Dan