Ask GMMR: Q&A

Last month I decided that it might me fun for me to answer questions from GMMR readers. I was really flattered to get so many questions. I thought I would answer a handful this morning. From time to time I’ll reopen the mailbag, so keep the questions coming. Click ASK GMMR to leave me your feedback on the site, ask questions, etc.

Alica (MySpace): Actually I would love to know who your favorite person has been to meet/interview/whatever? Who made such an impresion on you that your experience with them will last a lifetime?

GMMR: Alicia, I’ve been so lucky to meet so many fun TV people. I don’t think I could pick a favorite. As far as someone that has made an impression on me? Well, first let me say that although I’ve met a fair amount of TV stars, it’s not like I really know any of them. But for someone that made a big impression I’m going to go with Steve Carell. Here’s this guy who is a huge movie star and he was so nice and so down to earth and from my brief interaction with him I got the sense that he doesn’t take anything for granted. Again, I don’t know him personally but from the times I’ve met him I’ve been in awe.

Angela: Where did you come up with the idea of having a website totally devoted to TV? What is your favorite show? Thanks for doing this!
GMMR: Thank YOU Angela. A very good friend of mine has a gossip blog called FatbackandCollards.com. He’s the one that got me into this crazy world of blogging, and for that I’m forever in his debt. I started off with a celeb gossip blog, and I realized that I was happiest when I was writing about TV. So I decided to just do a blog focused just on TV and it’s brought me nothing but good things. As for my favorite show? Not sure if you mean on TV now or favorite show of all time (so I’ll give you both answers). Dawson’s Creek (before they went to college) will always be special 🙂 And nowadays it’s The Office (duh) and Friday Night Lights.

Brian: OK I’ve got a question. I’m one of your recappers (30 Rock), I interviewed you at length for an article about the site and I STILL don’t know how you pull off compiling and posting so much information every day while still having a life and a day job. So how do you do it? Elves? Cloning? Are you really Jenna Fischer, and this is what you’re doing at reception all day when you’re not in a scene.
GMMR: Brian, if I were secretly Jenna Fischer I would be staring at my hot stuff in the mirror and begging the writers for more kissing scenes with Halpert. Sadly, I’m not. I’m very lucky because I work from home and have a job that is supportive of GMMR. To give away a little secret…I very often write a lot late at night and early in the morning, and then just post that stuff throughout the day. If you are a regular reader then you know I post the most early in the morning, and then around lunch time. During the regular TV season I’m so lucky because I have a lot of help from the GMMR recappers.

A Dude: I don’t watch “So You Think You Can Dance” and you talk about it all the time. When will it be over?
GMMR: Dude (and is that your real name? HA). I know that we aren’t always going to like the same shows, and I know that I talk about some shows more than others (think about GMMR readers who don’t watch The Office), but I like what I like and it’s really easy for me to write about shows that I care about. I’m aware that I talk about some shows I watch more than others, but most of the time it’s because when I write about particular shows, I get a better response from readers. The comments leave on GMMR really help me to figure out what I should be writing about. And as for SYTYCD, it’s a summer show, and it will end on…you know what, it’s too painful for me to think it will end so I’m not going to answer.

Post it Thief: Hey GMMR,I miss my Gilmore Girls like crazy. So my question to you is…which of Rory’s past boyfriends wouldyou bring back to marry Rory? (The correct answer here, by the way, is Jess. But I want your opinion. But it’s still Jess.)
GMMR: I guess the answer is Jess. But if it weren’t Jess, I think I would go with Logan. Sorry, but I think with proper pre-marriage therapy these kids could have made a go at it.

Jennie: How are people able to become recappers? That seems like such an awesome job!
GMMR: I get a ton of email about this. Usually I’ll put out a call when I need new recappers (which I’ll be doing for the Fall shows). Since I get so many responses, I ask the recappers to write a full recap for me so I can get a sense of their writing style. I’ve lucked out with finding so many great people to recap for GMMR. It’s strictly voluntary, and recappers don’t get paid, so I’m always amazed by how many people are wanting to participate.

Joey: I love your site, I really do, but I wish you would talk about more shows. There’s great TV like “The Closer”, “ER”, “The Wire” etc and you never talk about those shows. Why?
GMMR: Joey, great question…one that I have been asked a lot. So here’s the deal. I can’t talk about shows I don’t watch. And while the shows you mentioned, as well as many others, are by all accounts fantastic, I just don’t have time to watch every show on TV. One day when I hit the lottery and can blog full time I will buy lots of TiVos and go TV crazy 🙂 If I don’t watch a particular show, it’s often hard for me to know what’s news worthy of sharing. I’m always thinking of new ways to cover more shows, so if you have any suggestions let me know.

Thanks for all your questions. If you want to know something….go ahead and ask me.