WCT 1.3: WB

 Today was our “down day” as we had no plans as the day started.  We filled the time.  It is LA.

K wants me to put in here how funny we think it is that we have “friends” who we told we were coming here and they went like “ew…why?”  We both love it here. First, there’s the weather (~80 again today, in mid-January); then there’s some of the scenery; and finally there’s all the things to do, whether basketball games, museums, beach, or, like today a movie studio.  What’s not to like? 

Yes, we went to Warner Bros.  We never discussed the other options.  Who knows the difference (ok, someone more nerdy about where things are filmed than either of us)? 

I’ll go with the money shot for the thumbnail —

We started the day with the worst (though not bad) breakfast.  K had the NOHO — we don’t know what it stands for: 

I had the American, which is what you’d think it’d be. 

Then off to WB, eight minutes away. 

You may not believe it, but they have a lot of people doing studio tours there.  Like a cart of 14  five minutes.  Sometimes the street sets looked like traffic jams.  

The “highlight” of the experience was our tour guide.  No, she wasn’t good.  You’d think you have made the circuit multiple times a day for awhile you’d have th script memorized, but she kept saying “where was I?”  She stood little chance of answering impromptu questions.  Multiple times she confused places.  We’re not sure we know the real deal, but not sure it matters.

Since you probably don’t know any more than I did before we started, Warner’s did Friends, Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, George & Mandy, and Abbott Elementary on this lot.  The Abbott external street was good.  

Their two stock streets — Hennessey and Midwest — are familiar.  Outside scenes from Friends were shot in the first and the externals for Music Man at the latter.  To name a few.  A certain amount of “this from Gilmore Girls was shot here”.  We both commented how ratty all the buildings looked and wondered how they showed up on screen.  Or if they repainted them before shooting in front of them. 

We were taken into one soundstage (no pics allowed)— the one where they now shoot George & Mandy.  It used to be Big Bang’s stage.  As we entered she said “dad with the Purdue hat” (that’s me) and asked me to be the last one in. 

The end of the tour you go through a soundstage that holds the old Friends, Big Bang and Lord of Rings sets — giving you the opportunity to have your picture taken in each of them.  If you desired.   

And finally there was a Harry Potter exhibit (though it was shot at WB London, not here) and K did the sorting hat thing and was put in Slitherin house.  As we all suspected about her 😂

After a post-tour Starbucks run that involved both elaborate turns and driving, and a brief, painful question about how important Starbucks was (duh!), we went back to the apartment and rested for dinner. 

We listened to the end of the first half of the national championship game on the way to dinner; had them turn it on the TV during dinner, and listened to the late third quarter on the way back. 

Dinner, which was 4 miles and 20 minutes away, was basic pasta.  A step or two above Olive Garden.  Neither of us was particularly hungry.  We’ll go with K’s chicken parm as the food porn.

We tried an “ice cream place” down the street for dessert, but they had two flavors — plain or vanilla — and cookies, but no ice cream sandwiches.  We’ll do better next time. 

It was a blah day.  K said on the way back from the studio that she was glad she didn’t haven’t to be charming again today (her?!?!!?) and no one on the tour did or said anything very noteworthy, other than the inept guide. 

Tomorrow is the UCLA game.  Famed gym and a hard place for road teams to win.  It’s a late game, so not sure when and if a blog will appear.  

Manana…