Crafting the perfect "News To Me" episode

Howdy gang, Associate Producer Grayson here.

Last Saturday while shooting “News To Me” we had the opportunity to pick up a couple of scenes in a location I thought would be awesome. Mostly because there was a famous person in there and there was a good chance I'd get to meet him.

See, Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio has just opened up his new restaurant called Craft Atlanta in the Buckhead hotel district where we were shooting. We were there before the grand opening and were given very spur-of-the-moment permission to record a couple scenes inside!

As it worked out, as nice as Craft is, it was not perfect for the scene we were shooting. Yes, technically it would have worked, but with so much preparation going on for the grand opening we would have been in the way. Plus, the scene really needed more of a casual vibe.

Instead the fine folks at the "Corner Bakery Cafe" just down the street allowed us to take over a booth to get the shot.

So we didn’t get to shoot in Craft, but I DID have a brush with fame! As we were leaving Craft, none other than the man himself, Chef Tom Colicchio walked right past me! I think I said something stupid like "Hey, you're Tom Colicchio!" Not an official "meeting" per se, but close enough!

Check out a couple more pictures from our afternoon on Peachtree Street

Eric (above) praying that his laryngitis gets a little better. You'll definitely hear a little hoarseness in his usually dulcet tones this weekend on "News To Me."

We went underground for the shot above. I don't remember the line we shot down there, but it apparently cracked up Gerald, our Turner audio operator.

Inside the "Corner Bakery Cafe" (above).

It was a cold shoot, and a fairly long shoot as well. Towards the end of the day Eric slipped into this Hotel lobby vestibule to warm up and jam to something upbeat on his iPhone to get psyched for the final shot of the day!

See you Saturday!