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Busted (My Run In With Eminem)

Ok, so I naively thought this day would never come, but I have been busted. I mistakenly believed that I could get through my adult life without this being brought up 13 years later, but people are smart and the internet is wide. So after more than a few “Who me? I don’t know what you’re talking about, haha” comment denials, I’m coming clean. My name is Sherry $herdog, and I was on MTV when I was 17. And it was easily the most embarrassing compilation of moments that could ever be edited together.

Fan Interview

I’m an over-sharer, so some folks might wonder why I’d try to hide from this video. And to you I’d say: it’s one thing to invite people into your home and share a video that accidentally features your bra laying out on a bedroom chair or an interview where you flail around nervously or admit that you walk around covered in dog fur and cream cheese smears, but it’s a whole different ballgame to say “Let’s take a time machine back to my most awkward moments as a seventeen year old girl being surprised while life-guarding and told she’ll get to interview Eminem for a show called FANatic on MTV – oh look, I have the whole thing on video for you, let’s all sit down and watch it together.” Now excuse me while I giggle uncontrollably for ten minutes. I do that when I’m nervous.

Allow me to spill a few secrets: shows like this are a smidge set up. It’s not to say that I wasn’t completely Marshall Mathers obsessed (I was) but there are certain things you’re highly encouraged to mention so that you come across as the most deserving fan. Things like “I aspire to be a rapper someday.” I’ll pause while you snort whatever you’re drinking out of your nose. It’s true that my best friend Mariam at high school talent shows (we once donned orange puffy vests and belly shirts and parodied the Eminem/Dre duet Forgot About Dre) but it’s a Jersey thing. You had to be there to understand that it was not meant to be taken seriously. So no, I didn’t actually hope I’d be touring the country as a famous female rapper when I grew up.

Of course the show sets up situations too, like us going to the old burger joint where Eminem used to work before the interview…

Fan Gilberts

… but it was pretty cool as a teenager to see some random restaurant and think “he really worked here just a few years ago flipping burgers?” Fun fact: the people I’m serving at that table in the restaurant are the limo driver and one of the production people who carted us around.

Another fun fact is that I hardly knew the girl who surprised me at the pool and came with me on the entire adventure. See, MTV required that the “friend” of the person being featured was 18 or a parent would have to accompany the fan and the friend (which I’m guessing cramped the crew’s style). So when I was going through the whole “you might be a finalist” phase of the process, they asked me about my friends and I gave a list of all my best 17 year old buddies and they sort of heavily suggested that I list someone over the age of 18. So the girl who worked at the front desk at the Marriott (where I was a lifeguard for years, represent) got listed – and she was the friend they picked to surprise me. And yes, it’s still really cool to be in a limo when you’re 17. Especially if you flash the peace sign with your sleeves rolled up.

Fan Limo

Here’s where it gets extra embarrassing. At some point in the interview the word “phat” inexplicably slips out of my mouth. I never said that word before and have never said it since. I can only blame the loss of my whole damn mind at the thought of sitting next to a hip-hop star and somehow thinking $herdog could pull off a term like that. And I couldn’t. It rung in my ears for the rest of the interview while I continued to grin like a crazy person and giggle nervously. Although a lot of this experience is what I like to call “retroactively embarrassing” (since at the time it was really cool and I felt really lucky to be chosen), the moment I realized I said “phat” on national television was the moment that I wanted to punch myself in the face.

Then they asked me to rap. Repeatedly. It’s bad. Very very bad. Oh and about the pigtails, I wanted to wear a ponytail and an arm band (yes, an arm band) but the crew gently suggested the pigtails and no arm band. I’m thankful they nixed the arm band but still a little weirded out by the pigtails. So without further ado…

As for how I even got on the show, my friends dared me to send in a tape since I really was a hardcore fan and they thought I had a shot at being chosen. Meanwhile I believed I had zero chance, hence me doing all sorts of ridiculous things that I thought would never be on TV/YouTube (like sitting in a tub full of M&M’s) because I truly believed with every fiber of my being that I would never make the cut.

MTV does a really cruel thing to make you think you weren’t chosen (at least it felt cruel at the time) in order to get that completely surprised ‘surprise shot’ when they sneak up on you. They’re in pretty constant contact with you for a while to collect things like “what you would ask if you were chosen” and “who you would bring as a friend if you were chosen” and then they say you’re a semi-finalist but it’s not a done deal, and then they cut off communication for a few weeks. Total radio silence. So you go from being hopeful that you might get picked to completely and utterly bummed out that you didn’t make the cut after thinking “dude, I might actually get flown to Detroit to meet Eminem.” Which is a pretty cool concept as a 17 year old.

This is of course when you forget about the footage of yourself in a tub of M&Ms and it sounds like it could be The Coolest Thing You’ve Ever Done and not The Most Embarrassing Thing Ever a decade or so later. But I have to admit that as a teenager it was an amazingly fun time. I got to fly somewhere with a camera crew and without my parents, they put us up in a cool hotel, and Marshall was actually a really nice genuine guy (now I’m going to get weird and tell you that he had the best looking hands I’ve ever seen in my life). And he did kiss my neck, which at the time made me believe we would soon be married and we’d go on to have three bouncing babies named Slim, Shady, and Stan (kidding). Dude, I took a picture of my neck after it happened. I’m that girl (can you believe I managed to bag a guy like John? I still can’t).

Fan Neck

So I’m extremely grateful for the experience. It just felt like… let’s not all watch it together on video and relive my teenage awkwardness together. But I guess now my “secret past” is out. In summary: it was pretty amazing (it made “the morning announcements” at my high school – haha), but the fact that the footage from a defunct show from over 13 years ago is now somehow on YouTube is something I never imagined. Oh well. The cat phat is out of the bag.

Now you tell me your most embarrassing secrets so we’re even. Go.

Comments

  1. Shay says

    Omg Sherry, this is absolutely adorable and
    endearing, even the phat comment. I understand
    being embarrassed, but you shouldn’t be. It’s
    too cute for words.

    Reply

  2. Alina says

    “Because I’m an aspiring white rapper and I, like, want to be taken seriously”. HAHA! $herdog for the win!

    Reply

  4. Jyl says

    Oh Sherry. Clearly, you were always meant to be a star! I love your super fast talking 17 year old Jersey self! I’m from Philly, so I understand a smidge.

    John, you have a whole lotta woman on your hands ;)

    Reply

  5. Robin says

    Bhahahahahahaha hahahahahaha!!!! That is AWESOME!! So if you ever read this, this is my embarrassing brush with fame- My husband found out that Bethany Joy Lenz from One Tree Hill was opening a restaurant near where we live and she was going to be there. I was in a pirate themed parade with my then 3yo son for my mom’s husband’s work-it was hot, and my hair was a mess (and of course I didn’t have a comb in my purse). So he surprises me with this chance to meet her and I was so nervous I just kept talking about how my middle name was Beth and her name was Bethany…SO embarrassing… She seriously looked at me like she was trying to find a polite way to not upset the crazy person she was talking to and get away! Ah, good times. I really do have a sweet husband-I just wish he’d given me more than 15mins of heads up! :)

    Reply

  6. Lynn says

    Well Sher-dog…I spent almost 2 years working for Vanilla Ice. Yes, Ice Ice Baby was too cold, too cold! I worked for his management and record company in Plano, Texas. Even have my multi-platinum record and my Vanilla Ice Tour jackets to prove it! I am now a high school Student Council advisor and at EVERY dance they get the DJ to play Ice, Ice Baby just to torment me!

    Reply

  7. Stacy Paige says

    I love this, Sherry! I totally watched this show religiously back in the day and even more embarrassing I wanted to be on it to meet Hanson…HANSON!!?

    Now for my embarrassing secret that I’ m sure will resurrect itself many times throughout the rest of my life…maybe you have seen or heard of the game show Wipeout on ABC that was popular the last couple years. You know, people run the ridiculous obstacle courses, wipe out, and get made fun of the entire show all in the name of hopefully winning $50,000. Well I was definitely one of those crazy contestants two years ago and was given the nickname of Silly Sounds Stacy apparently because of the weird sounds I made while I ran the course. :) Well I didn’t win $50,000 dollars, but I did walk away with the embarrassing moments, a new nickname, and $10 for gas money back to L.A., haha. Thanks ABC! ;) (Side note: It was totally fun and I would do it again in a second!)

    Reply

  8. Christian says

    I’ve only commented a few times but THIS IS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

    I can die happy now.

    Reply

  9. Becca says

    I actually was on the street outside the MTV studio in college when TRL was on. They pulled me aside to introduce a video. And….they told me what to say!!! So much is staged. I was introducing OTown (how embarrassing) and had to say “I was so excited they would be hosting TRL next week!”. Hilarious!!!

    Reply

  10. Amber says

    So my husband and I just sat down to take a break from our kitchen remodel and I popped on to YHL since I forgot to look at your 2nd post yesterday. As soon as the MTV video started my husband said, “Why the heck are you watching that? Isn’t that the girl that wrote her history paper on Eminem??” He totally remembered that exact episode.
    Okay, back to work- thanks for the laugh, it was a really cute video :)

    Reply

  12. Crystal says

    Don’t be embarrassed about this Sherry, it’s awesome! I love it! You don’t look much different now than when you were 17, adorable. Thanks for sharing. I wonder what Clara will think of it when she is 17…

    Reply

  13. Becky says

    This was amazing! And that’s so interesting to hear about the MTV acting like you hadn’t won thing. I went to a My Super Sweet 16 party once and was stuck by how manipulated everything was – they made the birthday girl stage a huge argument with her boyfriend while we all stood and watched so they could get some interesting footage. I guess they just wanted to pep up the storyline…but kind of a cruel way to go about it! Also, this is my first time commenting, so while I’m about it, I’d like to say Clara is the most adorable baby ever and surely destined for great things :-)

    Reply

  14. Janice says

    Totally embarrassing moment? I’ve had several, but the only one that is vaguely celebrity-related is the time I saw a taping of the Mickey Mouse Club (celebrating a friend’s birthday) and they had to redo a take because my feet were in the shot. We were on the upper balcony area and I let my feet dangle over the edge, which was not what they wanted.

    Reply

  15. LC says

    True story: I read that you got flown out to Detroit, and my first reaction was “OMG, Sherry from YHL has been to my city?! I wonder where she went and what she did! I wonder if I’ve been to any of the places she visited!” I guess it never occurred to me that you would’ve had a reason to come to Detroit, but it’s cool to hear someone famous talking about a trip to the D as an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, it was so much fun! They put us up in a cool hotel and the interview was in this cool two level bar/club. We had so much fun. Gilbert’s was really fun too.

      xo,
      s

  17. Jenny says

    AHHHHHMAAAAZZZZING!! Seriously love you! So hilarious. You totally held it together during the interview. When I met Amy Sedaris at work I was so nervous I looked down and saw that my leg was visually shaking. Haha! I have something almost equally embarrassing/awesome in my past… I feel you! xox

    Reply

  18. Lindsay B says

    Sherry. I will never look at you the same again.

    I am totally kidding! This is awesome! I’m pretty sure every girl who was a teenager in the 90s would have died to interview Eminem. I know I would have!

    Hope you’re having a phat weekend!

    Reply

  20. gini says

    Love it! It’s adorable– you were seventeen, don’t be embarrassed!

    I have nothing embarrassing to share that was documented in film– other than I walked around dressed like the 80s singer Tiffany– even had her hair for awhile! Those pics are bad!

    Reply

  22. Kristine says

    This is so awesome! It gives a whole new meaning of your nickname, $herdog! About 11 years ago, I was also on the Jenny Jones show, sitting in the audience about an episode about people who think they have talent (that really don’t). I was in the “prime seating” row, whenever Jenny stood in the audience to talk, you would see me right behind her. I even stood up to make a comment about a lady who just performed. I said, “You are so bad I think my dogs can hear you all the way from Texas.” And then a bunch of people made dog noises in the back ground. I never got to see the episode air, but I wonder if it is on YouTube today. I’m afraid to search for it, b/c it was definitely an embarrassing memory when I think of it now.

    Reply

  23. Letty says

    Sherry, you are so natural on camera! Hold your head up high, $herdog. :) Also, as soon as I saw your 17-year-old face I immediately saw Clara!

    Reply

  24. Jill says

    Oh, Sherry!! My friend and I made up dance routines to several Spice Girls songs and performed them at my grandparent’s wedding anniversary in front of about 100 people. I think I was around 11 at the time, and apparently shameless, but somehow that tape always finds it’s way to a VHS player whenever I visit my grandparents. When I took my now-husband to meet them for the first time, my granddad was all, “Well look what I FOUND.” How mortifying.

    I was also wearing pigtails, by the way. I was “Baby Spice”

    Cringe.

    Reply

  25. patty gil-diaz says

    Hi Sherry! I love your blog and this is the best post EVER. Haha. That was so cute. And you totally rocked that interview. I don’t think I could ever be as brave as you are and post embarrassing teen footage of myself. Awesome post!

    Reply

  26. Jeanine says

    Sooo jealous you got to meet Eminem!! I loved him back in the day. I totally remember that FANatic show on MTV. You did a great job. The interview was “phat” lol

    Reply

  27. Maky says

    OK, seriously… quite possibly the funniest thing I have EVER watched on YouTube!!! I have tears running down my face as I type!
    Oh the things I did when I was 17/18… I still cringe at the thought of some of them. Never made it onto some TV show though so it’ll all remain forever etched in my memory only! *phew!*

    Oh, and $herdog – seriously, you look today just like you looked when you were 17 (minus the weird pigtails LOLOL). And that’s a compliment! :)

    Thanks for sharing this with us!

    Reply

  28. Laura M. says

    I LOVE IT!! I was on MTV once too!– for like 25 seconds — in one of those “people on the street” type things. They asked “if you were on a desert island and could only have one music video with you, what would it be and why?” We were NOT just people on the street– they brought us in specifically (we had auditioned for a dance show and they called us back in for this when we couldn’t make the taping of that other show) and then they gave us a list of 50 videos to choose from. I said something like… “I would bring Aaliyah, ‘Are You That Somebody?’ because I could watch it and learn the dance.” At the time I thought I was pretty awesome. Thankfully, I think the clip only exists on my VHS tape at this point! :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M9BgfSHowg

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hahah, I loved that Aaliyah video! I tried to learn all the moves in the basement (I taped it onto VHS since DVR didn’t exist back then to pause it and learn the moves, hahahahah).

      xo,
      s

  29. laura says

    this was amazing, i had to pause it several times because it was just too much

    then i realized that if hgtv had a fanatic show, i would probably send in a terrible YHL fanvideo saying “$herdog is so PHAT! wait, not fatfat, like really cool! she is quite slim! *facepalm*”

    Reply

  30. Alissa says

    I’m so glad you still have that apron.
    A few years ago, my best friend applied for the second season of Engaged & Underage on a crazy whim(she turned 21 a couple of weeks before her wedding & her husband turned 21 a few weeks afterward). She got through the casting process and they asked her to name two people who were against their marriage. She could only name one, so MTV told her they were passing – but if she could find a second person, they wanted her to contact them because they could have a camera crew ready in a day. As the maid of honor, I was so relieved – could you imagine TV cameras at a newly 21-year-old’s beachelorette party? She was only going to get something like $500 for the whole thing, too. At least you got a free trip without parents to a cool hotel on top of getting to interview Eminem!

    Reply

  31. Claire says

    Sherry I thought you were so articulate and confident, it could honestly have been so much worse!
    My most embarrassing moment ever is also posted on YouTube. I acted in an amateur short film back in college. I did it because I hadn’t made many friends and decided to join the Film Production group. Like the sucker I am I agreed to play the lead role in this movie. What was it about? Oh, a lesbian couple living in a sci-fi world where men have died out. The couple want to have a baby and must go through a series of challenges (including a slow motion fight scene to test their relationship.) A very awkward lesbian kiss was part of the film. My husband will never ever let me live it down. Funnily enough, I’m not posting the link!

    Reply

  33. Abby Larson says

    BAR NONE the best post I’ve ever read. IN. MY. LIFE. And $sherdog, you are going down in COOL FREAKING HISTORY. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be grinning ear to ear for weeks. I adore you.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, thanks Abby. The feeling is mutual. Someday when we meet I will break out my finest rap for you. Haha. I’ll have to work on some wedding-related lyrics. Ha.

      xo,
      s

  35. Nicole says

    Oh my gosh!! I remember watching this episode and thinking “wow that girl is lucky”. I was obsessed with Eminem! And now 13 years later.. haha I reading your blog. How ironic!! ..I’m still thinking wow how lucky she is!!! lol

    Reply

  37. Anna M says

    Sherry!! Too funny, made my husband watch this then went and ate at Gilbert’s for dinner (we live in Grosse Pointe, about a 10 minute drive)!! I was standing under the bear trying to imitate you saying “Eminiem” :). Glad you decided to go public with this video! Love the blog.

    Reply

  38. Elise says

    This whole thing was beyond hilarious (sorry Sherry!), but I thought the funniest part was when you said “Good job” to your little brother – it sounded exactly the same as when you say “Good job” to Clara now!

    Reply

  39. juliana says

    OMG, I totally remember watching this when it aired! I think the only episode of this show that I ever wathched. How wierd! You’re totally cute in it though, don’t be embarressed!

    Reply

  41. Jess says

    this is possibly my favorite thing you’ve ever posted. and that’s saying something, because i love this blog! so jealous that you got to do this… you must have been the coolest girl in HS after this!

    Reply

  42. Simply Rooted says

    Ha ha ha! My favorite part was when Sherry said she was an “aspiring rapper” herself. Ha ha ha! That was awesome! Where did that dream go? Please rap about decorating sometime :)

    Reply

  46. jules says

    $herdog, can you please rap about DIY or at least rap out your next house tour? I You’re so skillful. You might be embarrassed but this is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. And I’ve never been so jealous of you as I am now that I know you were kissed by Eminem! I was/am obsessed too!

    Reply

  47. Emily says

    I cant stop watching!! it is just so amazing! I normally never comment (except for giveaways obv.) but I just had to say you seriously made my night! Please, please video some more raps! ;)

    Reply

  48. Kristina says

    That is so awesome! Where is that apron now? Obviously not hanging on your frame wall. BTW, I hate when I slip and say a word like “phat” (not that I’ve ever uttered it); it happens to the best of us.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, the apron lives safely tucked away in a drawer. Can’t bear the embarrassment of seeing it all the time, but sometimes it’s funny to stare at it and crack up.

      xo,
      s

  49. Wendy says

    I’m not afraid to admit that I auditioned for that show, and not to meet someone with street cred like Eminem.

    I wanted to meet Hanson. Yep, Hanson.

    Reply

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