The MARTHA Halloween TV special behind the scenes
If you didn't see my television show on Friday, you would be correct in assuming that it was our annual Halloween special, which my TV crew and I simply adore. This year's theme was inspired by the new wonderful movie, "Where the Wild Things Are," a beautiful and creative adaptation of the award-winning classic book of the same name, written by Maurice Sendak in 1963. Our set was transformed into the Land of the Wild Things, complete with a crystal cave and a spooky forest. I was dressed as the Queen of the Wild Things and I had so much fun with my first guest, Jimmy Fallon, who, by the way, says he is afraid of dressing up in costume. Jimmy was terribly impressed with our Monster Buffet, but I have a feeling, I better be careful when I am a guest on his show next time.
1 Jimmy Fallon and I really enjoyed slurping Eggs of Newt together!
2 I'm standing with some 'wild things' and Sonny Gerasimowicz, the creative designer of the wild characters.
3 The original award-winning book by Maurice Sendak published in 1963
4 Working on the crystal cave
5 A turkey vulture picking at bones
6 Glowing eyes seemed to be peering out from everywhere!
7 There was amazing detail in all places.
8 More glowing eyes
9 Creatures big and small
10 A beautiful, but spooky woodland forest
11 Set decorator Aaron Caramanis - wearing one of his designs
12 His 'comb' is made of rubberized work gloves.
13 My makeup artist Mary Curran (middle) with a couple of other wild things.
14 Calia Van Dyk, studio manager, in a menacing pose.
15 Dani Fiore - set decorator - as a wild bird
16 Audience members in the waiting area
17 Warm up artist Joey Kola looking very wild, indeed
18 Our ghastly buffet was actually set upon this wild guy.
19 The buffet table engulfed in fog
20 That's Jimmy Fallon getting very spooked! He was so much fun.
21 Green eggs of newt - they were actually large beads of tapioca.
22 Creepy Bat wings - chicken wings in a black bean marinade - very yummy
23 Crunchy monster fingers and pimento cheese paws - the finger nails were almonds.
24 The cured epidermis - salty ham
25 A vial of monster mucus - raw oysters!
26 A platter of dirt and worms made from hot dogs
27 Jars of pickled brains - cauliflower heads
28 Thirst quenching eyeball Martinis
29 Radishes stuffed with olives - so ghastly!
30 Lovely audience skunks
31 Audience members dressed as KW and Carol with Producer Barbara Fight
32 Here I am backstage with Jimmy Fallon.
33 The audience was amazing!
34 More great costumes
35 Did you know that a group of owls is called a parliament?
36 Beautiful detail
37 More great masks
38 I just love how the audience really got into this show.
39 Here I am talking to the audience after the show.
40 My boots were quite wild - After the show, I had to remove the right one because it was hurting my foot.
41 Posing on set with my TV crew
42 Wouldn't you know it? The fire department stopped by for an inspection! They were only a little surprised.
Great show, Martha! Loved, LOVED Jimmy Fallon's reaction to the "monster mucus" oysters. He was certainly skeptical about the entire buffet, but a really good sport.
(I think it's pretty clear that he *doesn't like* oysters
)
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | November 2nd, 2009 at 1:02 am
Oh, what fun your Halloween show must have been - everything is so creative!
Love the Martini 'Olives'.
So disappointing that we can't watch from Canada this year - hopefully you will be back in 2010!
Posted by: Donna Olson | November 2nd, 2009 at 1:09 am
How wonderfully creative you and your staff are! I loved seeing all the new (new to me) ideas for your gastronomically ghastly Halloween food... and so eyeball appealing too I might add. How fun. I saw so many people really get into Halloween this year. It seems to have exploded in popularity... maybe because we are all weary and needed something fun to celebrate. Thank you for adding to the fun. I think we should invent the Frankenstein Culinary Award and present it to you, Martha. You're the best!
Cheers!
Posted by: Lin Valentine | November 2nd, 2009 at 1:09 am
Many compliments to Sonny Gerasimowicz for the beautiful characters, to you and your wonderful TV crew. The set you recreated was simply perfect...and the Monster buffet! Orrible! How disgusting was the monster mucus!
I would like to join your show to savour the spooky Halloween atmosphere...
Daniela
Posted by: Daniela | November 2nd, 2009 at 6:44 am
as a tradition halloween isn't something we do in finland, but it's getting more popular each year. my nieces and nephew love hot dogs, not sure they would eat them as worms, though... very clever ideas all around!
Posted by: liisamarja | November 2nd, 2009 at 7:55 am
Great show! It was cool to see the set on Friday - your art department is so talented! Thanks for all the ideas and fun. I'll have to get my hands on some faux fur for next year...
Posted by: CraftyRachel | November 2nd, 2009 at 9:57 am
Great Halloween show Martha! The audience did a great job designing and creating their own costumes. I especially loved the butterfly masks in picture #37! You're the best!
Posted by: MarthaStewartFan | November 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
YOU and YOUR STAFF never cease to amaze me . .. .THank you so much for sharing the Halloween Show . .I was working and have to way to tape the show SO it was great seeing the pictures!!!
IT looked like so much fun and the FOOD!!...wow,!! I will have to only see and eat oysters right in the shell from now on!
Thanx again .. .YOU are stupendous .. .
nina
Posted by: nina zeumer | November 2nd, 2009 at 11:21 am
Hi Martha, wow! great Halloween show, love the photos. The Monster Buffet looks amazing and spooky delicious. Everything looks so wonderful and creative. Love you Martha, you are an inspiration. Can't wait to watch the show.
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | November 2nd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
The set looks amazing! It reminds me of elementary school in California when we would create rainforrests and jungles in the classroom!
Posted by: Jessica | November 2nd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Dear Mrs. Martha,
I am from Brazil/ Rio de Janeiro and I love and admire everything you do. I am very sorry that I can not see your show at the Brazilian TV anymore.
Congratulations for your marvelous job and I learn everyday on your website.
Thank you very much,
Sincerely yours,
Lylian Falcao
Posted by: Lylian Falcao | November 2nd, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Thanks for these behind-the-scenes photos, Martha...you captured many things that I didn't pick up on when I viewed the show (or I got to see them more clearly and up close when viewed here today).
~
The set! - OMGoodness, it was fabulous! It's such a shame, though - all the work that went into it had to be undone fairly quickly, I'm sure, for more tapings and live shows. You know what a talented staff you have, and they NEVER disappoint us, do they?!
~
Well, it's November already! It's a gorgeous, calm day today here in Maryland - clear blue skies and brightbright sunshine! It's hard to believe that in 3-4 weeks it will be r-e-a-l-l-y beginning to look winterish, with most leaves down and blown away, and the days getting shorter and shorter as Christmas approaches.
~
Hope your booksigning in King of Prussia was a success today - I know it was!...it HAD to be - YOU were there! [giggle] Your poor hand, though - hope you fared okay after hundreds and hundreds of signatures!
~
'Til tomorrow, my friend,
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | November 2nd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
What fun! A wonderfully decorated set and, oh, that ghastly food. I loved your boots...sorry they were uncomfortable! Adorable costumes worn by audience members, too!
Posted by: sherey | November 2nd, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Martha,
Really neat Halloween show. I loved it! Your sets seem to get better and better with each season!
Was your costume heavy to wear, or your headpiece? Probably not as bad as last year's with the snakes huh?
Hope you had a nice Halloween and party at Bette Midler's. Did Bette like your costume?
Thanks again for another great show!
Paula M.
Posted by: Paula M. | November 2nd, 2009 at 8:32 pm
The buffet and costumes are AWESOME!!
I am hosting a Halloween party this coming Friday evening and I found many fun ideas from your show to incorporate in my own party!
Lots of fun as always with your shows!
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, ME | November 2nd, 2009 at 8:47 pm
What a fun time was had by all! How your staff keeps comming up with such fun and interesting programs is amazing. Your show is the most inertaining hour on televison.. We look forward to another year with you Martha.
Sylvia CMGCLS@cox.net
Posted by: Sylvia | November 2nd, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Hi Martha, What a fantastic blog about your fabulous Halloween show. These behind the scenes photos tell it all! Your crew did a fabulous job of decorating the studio and their costumes, as well as yours, were absolutely the best. Your audience was absolutely spectacular! They really got into the act! How long did it take for the crew to decorate the studio and then undecorate it for the next show?! They are very special people! Can't wait for the next episode. Your show today was great. Loved the planting of the maples. Beautiful! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | November 3rd, 2009 at 12:47 am
Great Halloween show. I loved it. The next days show was great too. I love your Japanese maples. They are gorgeous.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | November 3rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
Martha, I loved this episode so much! I am in awe of the work, imagination and energy that goes into creating such a spectacular Halloween episode. Your team is such an inspired bunch of talented designers! I loved the show. You looked wonderful. (I loved how you stayed in character for nearly the entirety of Jimmy Fallon's segment. Haha!)
Posted by: andrew ritchie | November 3rd, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I just wanted to tell you a story about my son and your Halloween show. Halloween is his favorite time of year, his name is Joseph and he is 5. I was watching your Good things for Halloween show and I called my son in to watch and it was almost over, it was time for him to go to sleep and he started screaming, "I WANNA WATCH MARTHA, I WANNA WATCH MARTH!" He was screaming and crying for a good 15 to 20 minutes. I couldn't help but laugh. Who would have thought that my son would love to watch your show as much as I do. It was so funny, thank god I have a DVR. We can watch whenever we want! I think about it everytime we sit down to watch your show. Thank you.
Posted by: Toinette | November 4th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I love your Halloween Special's every year and got tickets this year to the show and also got to be in the fashion show. We had so much fun making our costumes. We went on last I was Carol from the movie. I want to thank all the people at MSL for being so nice and helpful. They even fixed my tail when it came loose. Thanks again for a wonderful show. Looking forward to your Christmas Show!
Patty Swiderski
Posted by: Patty Swiderski | November 4th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Martha,
You really outdid yourself.
October was your show's best month yet! I watched every day but Friday (due to a doctor's appointment.)
So happy I was able to see hilights from Friday's show on your website. Absolutely fantastic.
Thanks so much for all that you do.
You make a difference in this world.
Keep shining.
Cindy
Posted by: Cindy Lichtenstein | November 5th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Dear Martha,
This year's Halloween Show was the best yet!! You looked so amazing, especially in person. Seriously, those boots were hot and I really want a pair. You do have the best legs and even when answering questions after the show with one boot on, and one high heal on, you still even pulled that off looking spectactular. Topping this one next year will be a real feat.
My aunt and I were two of the lucky "Wild Things" that were invited to be in the audience, and we had a blast. The set looked magical. Do you save any of the decorations, especially those trees? What hard work went into those trees, the ice cave in the craft room, and the Monster Buffet! The monster looked like a bat and was spectactular. Jimmy Falon was a great sport, but Martha, paybacks are a "you know what"!!!
There is also no other audience in television that is as dedicated to you and your show as we are. What other audience would dress up as well and creatively as we all did? The amount of work that went into these woodland creatures, and our enthusiasm could not be beat. And, as you know, we all do it since we love you and all the "Good Things" that you do.
Looking forward to what you have in store for Turkey Day.
Be well and Gobble Gobble,
Kim in N.J.
Posted by: Kim in N.J. | November 7th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Hi Martha,
I live in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada and really miss your show. Hope to see you on t.v. again soon!
Posted by: Bertha | November 28th, 2009 at 1:51 pm