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.
- Working on the crystal cave
- A turkey vulture picking at bones
- Crunchy monster fingers and pimento cheese paws – the finger nails were almonds.
- A beautiful, but spooky woodland forest
- Glowing eyes seemed to be peering out from everywhere!
- Green eggs of newt – they were actually large beads of tapioca.
- The cured epidermis – salty ham
- Audience members in the waiting area
- Lovely audience skunks
- A vial of monster mucus – raw oysters!
- Jars of pickled brains – cauliflower heads
- A platter of dirt and worms made from hot dogs
- Dani Fiore – set decorator – as a wild bird
- The original award-winning book by Maurice Sendak published in 1963
- Calia Van Dyk, studio manager, in a menacing pose.
- Our ghastly buffet was actually set upon this wild guy.
- There was amazing detail in all places.
- Creatures big and small
- More glowing eyes
- Audience members dressed as KW and Carol with Producer Barbara Fight
- My makeup artist Mary Curran (middle) with a couple of other wild things.
- Creepy Bat wings – chicken wings in a black bean marinade – very yummy
- Thirst quenching eyeball Martinis
- Radishes stuffed with olives – so ghastly!
- Here I am backstage with Jimmy Fallon.
- The audience was amazing!
- More great costumes
- Did you know that a group of owls is called a parliament?
- Beautiful detail
- More great masks
- I just love how the audience really got into this show.
- The buffet table engulfed in fog
- That’s Jimmy Fallon getting very spooked! He was so much fun.
- Jimmy Fallon and I really enjoyed slurping Eggs of Newt together!
- I’m standing with some ‘wild things’ and Sonny Gerasimowicz, the creative designer of the wild characters.
- Posing on set with my TV crew
- Warm up artist Joey Kola looking very wild, indeed
- Set decorator Aaron Caramanis – wearing one of his designs
- His ‘comb’ is made of rubberized work gloves.
- Here I am talking to the audience after the show.
- My boots were quite wild – After the show, I had to remove the right one because it was hurting my foot.
- Wouldn’t you know it? The fire department stopped by for an inspection! They were only a little surprised.