NYC-Feature Story

My Big Moment on TV

By Desiree Bailey

“Fifteen minutes before we start filming!” I heard someone say.

Desiree Bailey

I was backstage on the lower Manhattan set of New Morning, an uplifting, life-loving cable television show on the Hallmark Channel.

The words sent a jolt of nerves through my body as I realized that I was going to be on TV! How could they expect me to string together coherent sentences beneath the blazing stage lights, heavy make-up and producers’ stares?

I appeared composed on the outside, but I was secretly beginning to doubt myself. What was I doing? How did I get here? Another dreadful thought of everything that could go wrong was about to creep into my mind when I heard the fatal words, “You’re on!”

Click here
to see Desiree on the Hallmark Station's New Morning Show.

Click Here
to read Desiree's Story 'Coloring Outside the Lines'

I’d been having a regular day of writing and responding to edits at the Youth Communication office when my editor told me that a morning talk show wanted to interview a New Youth Connections writer and his or her editor. Would I be willing to do it? Not one to pass up opportunities, I excitedly accepted the offer. It seemed like something fun and extraordinary to do. When I told my parents, they were amazed that I would get to be on TV.

The theme of the show was “Expressing Yourself” and I was supposed to discuss how writing and New Youth Connections helped me to do just that. At the time I was only thinking about how great of an experience it would be and not about how nervous I would become.

Finally, the day of the taping was here. I hopped out of the car that the studio had sent to pick me up after school in Queens. As I walked into the building, I thought about how my afternoon would be. Would the crew be annoyed by my lack of TV and camera knowledge? Would they bark incomprehensible stage directions at me?

When I actually met the crew, my fears evaporated. They were extremely friendly and seemed so happy to work there. One of the producers, Nyja Greene, is a former NYC writer and she lives in my neighborhood. She stayed with my editor, Katia, and me every step of the way—from the time we arrived at makeup and hair to the actual interview. Nyja helped us become more comfortable with the interview questions by asking us about how we come up with story ideas, how I write and how Katia and I work together.

Before I knew it, Katia and I were headed to the set to begin filming. “This is it!” I thought. A wave of nerves threatened to return but it quickly subsided. After a couple of last-minute tips from the stage crew, it was time. Once the cameras started rolling, I read an except from “Coloring Outside the Lines,” an article I wrote about coming to terms with race and stereotypes in America.

Then the host, Timberly Whitfield, began to interview me. She asked how writing helped me overcome racism, other prejudice and self-doubt. She wanted to know how writing and other ways of expression contributed to my life.

I felt like the interview rolled along effortlessly. My editor and I took turns responding to the questions and it really felt like a conversation. I was surprised that the seven minutes flew by so swiftly. Before we knew it, it was over. It felt unreal almost as if it hadn’t really happened. Then I was back in the black town car heading home to Queens, so tired I fell asleep a couple of times during the trip. As I look back on the experience, I feel honored just to be considered for this interview. I’m so excited I got to do it!

My interview on the Hallmark Channel airs May 28 at 7 a.m. Check the show’s website, www.newmorningtv.tv (and click on the Channel Finder), or your local cable listings for channel information.