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Houseguest: Tom Green, a homegrown talk-show sensation who made it big in Hollywood. Sound familiar? What Brings You to Valparaiso? An airplane. The comic winged it in from the Left Coast for the specific purpose of sitting on the Essany couch. The guy didn't have a thing to plug. Nothing. Now, ain't that sweet? Michael says he thinks Tom Green recognizes him as a compadre. "Here's a guy who started out on local cable and hit it big, and now I'm on local cable, trying to hit it big," he says. Dad, the Chauffeur: For his Valparaiso visit, Green actually stayed at a hotel in nearby Merrillville. The day of the shoot, Father Essany met Green and a pal at a Denny's and gave them a ride to the house. Dad says the drive was right nice. Green asked about Michael's show, how it works--and what they'd be eating for dinner. "To be honest with you, the guy's a really nice guy," Mr. Essany says. "He's really levelheaded, and he's extremely funny. He couldn't have been any nicer."
Green-Room Gossip: Green loved Mr. and Mrs. Essany's lasagna. "He really put it away," says Michael. For those keeping score at home, Green took seconds. He also filled up on pumpkin pie (two whole pieces!) and Mike Randazzo's mom's homemade chocolate-chip cookies, which, as you may already know, are Michael's favorite dessert. Yes, Green the prankster did his hosts proud. Says Mom: "No matter what he did, I would forgive him because he loved my lasagna." Something He Did... During the interview, Green performed a spit take, or, as the show-biz staple is known in everyday terms, he spewed all over the carpet. Fortunately, the spewed liquid was water. Mr. Essany, who cleaned the carpet after the show, reports Green's spit take caused no damage. Whew! Something Else He Did... Hearing that the Essanys had provided Kevin Bacon with a mango when he appeared on Michael's show, Green, too, requested a mango. Always accommodating, the Essanys bought one. But Green didn't eat it. Audience Etiquette: About 20 invited guests, including Michael's uncle and assorted Valpo U. friends, witnessed the Tom Green taping. "We ask that they not talk," Michael says of audience members. "But they're free to laugh at monologue jokes and interviews. Anything that's funny, we welcome laughter for it." Behind the Scenes: After the shoot, Green inquired about Valparaiso's nightlife. Mayor Butterfield suggested the go-cart track at Zao Island, a local entertainment complex complete with miniature golf course and batting cages. Feeling the need for speed, Green and Michael hopped in the mayor's car and hit the track. The final standings? "The mayor took us," Michael says. The Advantage of Having Your Life Documented on Video: Michael can't remember who paid for the go-cart rentals. "Once [the park employees] saw the cameras," he says, "I don't think they charged." Talk-Show 101: "If you're a host and you're trying to top your guest, you probably shouldn't be a host," opines Michael. "I love having comedic guests [like Tom Green] on because they can really carry an interview. Your primary job as host is to set them up for their material." Totally Obscure Factoid: Mom did Tom Green's makeup. He was very tired, Mrs. Essany says, and asked for a little touch up under the eyes. Sidekick Mike Randazzo's Prediction: "I can tell Tom Green definitely
likes Valparaiso, and I think he'll be back." Do your homework and pay
attention Sunday, March 9, at 10:30 p.m., as The Michael Essany Show
continues on E! His guests will be Tom Green...and you! |
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