The January surprise!

A new lesson learned in "How to be a producer 101": don't assume you know how a show will go until it's over! Prepping for the January installment of What's My Line was a rough road, plagued by scheduling difficulties and most seriously, the last minute loss of our celebrity mystery guest. With frantic last-minute efforts to secure a fill-in underway yesterday, winter finally arrived after weeks of balmy temperatures. Combined with the month's gap since our last show, and January's notorious reputation for small audiences at any show of any kind, we were sure that we'd be presenting this show to an audience of about 5 people, four of them contestants.

But then, four hours before the show, Jo "Boobs" Weldon agreed immediately to fill in as our mystery guest, which is a great example of what a supportive and classy performer--and good friend--she is. (And when she's in the middle of prepping to leave on the Sex Workers Art Tour, 35 cities in 5 weeks!) Then, as the cast sat in the back lounge of the Parkside, running through some practice sessions and the mikes were being set up around us, the bar was steadily filling up with audience members. By the time they took their seats we officially had our best turnout ever, and last night we played the game at our most fun and loose as well, showcasing the growing chemistry between the panelists and a general mood of camaraderie and good humor in the crowd. Talking to audience members afterward, we discovered that word-of-mouth is building and press listings actually work! Never assume, people!