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.
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…
… 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.
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).
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.
Erin says
Ahhh.. I am cringing with a smile while watching this- the same way my sis and I do when we’re confessing our latest embarrassing moments to one another. I want to cover my eyes and say, “no- don’t tell me!” because it’s so funny but I can’t take it when I hear stories like this! You and I must be about the same age and I am SO, SO glad that youtube did not exist back in the 80s and 90s. In a way I’m glad that digital photography and facebook were also not around yet. It’s bad enough those moments exist in my memory- I was a totally awkward girl! Your clip reminds me of one Halloween I was in college. I was a totally white bread Midwest farm girl- every other girl I knew was dressing as sexy nurse for Halloween and I decided for some reason to go as a rapper- I cornrowed my hair and bought a gigantic jersey and visor to wear. Ugh.. I die thinking of that. I die.
em says
This was hysterical. And yes-I did snort.
Deanna says
This is soooooo great! I died laughing!! My high school was featured on the MTV show Taking the Stage. I was never a featured student on the show, but in countless scenes you can catch an awkward glimpse of me eating a sandwich, scratching my nose and there’s a scene where I literally fell out of my chair. Although this was only three years ago, I had dyed my hair black and had a ‘mullet’ hair-cut. Yep, that’s on film now… I don’t know what I was thinking! We all have our embarrassing TV moments, this is just precious and I have a whole new respect for you as a die-hard Eminem fan!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s so funny! At least it was only three years ago so your clothes aren’t crazy dated like my frankenstein shoes!
xo,
s
Bridget says
This. is. awesome.
erica says
You are the cutest 17 year old ever! I love this. :) It’s not too late for you to reach your dream of being a white rapper! ;)
Cara says
You are so adorable. Makes me love you even more. You’ve always been so fun and bubbly :)
Meg says
I made a Fanatic Video to meet Andrew Keegan. I was BEYOND obsessed! I never sent the video in though. Funny enough thirteen years later I’m actually friends with him. He’ll never know my dark secret….. muahahahahah!
Penny Smith says
So… Do ya still have the apron? (I got thru the first page and idn’t see anyone asked you! :) Sorry if someone did later!)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes I still have it! Tucked safely away in a drawer!
xo,
s
Emily says
Oh man! Hilarious!! :) And that’s really funny they wanted you to have pigtails. . . .
Maureen@The Parkland Project says
OMG this is great! I love old throw backs of 1999. Totally remember seeing the “Slim Shady” video for the first time at a Superbowl Party with all the cool kids. I always wanted to be on Fanatic for the band Everclear. When I found out someone else beat me to it. I was pretty angry because clearly she wasn’t as big as a fan as me. I have meet them since the show aired and even danced on stage.
Lucky you!
Sherri says
BAHAHAHAA!!! That’s so friggin awesome! Thank you for sharing. I was out of town for a few days so I missed this little confession when you posted it. This totally just made my day!
Abby says
At least you were 17 so you had an excuse. Just a couple years ago, my husband and I were on an episode of Desperate Landscapes on DIY Network. I was 27 and acting like a fool. I was at my heaviest weight ever (30 pounds more than I am now) which I know shouldn’t matter, but everytime I see the footage I cringe. I was awkward and giggly and generally ridiculous. They also stage a lot like knocking over our trash cans and placing them in our front yard, smearing dirt every where, etc to make the yard look even worse. I’m completely embarrassed everytime some one brings it up, but at least we tons of new plants and a new paver walkway out of the deal. :)
YoungHouseLove says
So funny to hear how they stage things and try to make the before look worse!
xo,
s
dave says
two words: FANatic younghouselove
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha, that would be hilarious.
xo,
s
Rachael says
I’m sorry but I have to share this…
I vividly recall you being at celebrity status at PHHS when you returned from your Eminem adventure. And even more vividly, I remember you came in to drama class one day with videotape in hand and we all watched the episode as a class.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahahahahahahahahahhhahahhhaa, no way! Hi Rachael! I must have blocked that out. Seriously I just remember Josh Shaffer and John Kleinchester saying I looked “ok” after they saw it. Haha. As long as I wasn’t wearing the apron when I brought that tape to class I think I can live with myself. Hahaha.
xo,
s
Rebecca says
That is AMAZING! I was watching it and embarrassed for you! So awkward, but hilarious! I loved it, and so glad you shared! I don’t know how you kept that gem hidden for so long!
Sarah says
Please tell me you still wear the apron?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I just have it folded up safely in a drawer.
xo,
s
Malia says
That is amazing Sherry! My sister and her bf were obsessed with Eminem in high school too! They used to rap verses in class. I bet they’d be jealous of your MTV stint! :)
Kate @ Read Make Do says
BEST. POST. EVER.
$herdog, you are my hero. Not at all even kidding. Can we PLEASE see more freestyle rapping from you in home tour videos? <3 That rules, thanks for being cool enough to share that….and cool enough to do it in the first place.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I’ll have to brush up on my freestyling since I’m a little rusty…
xo,
s
Nicole says
Uggh, I totally had my “moments” as a pre-teen (ok, and teen and adult, who am I kidding?) When I was 12 I opened a museum in my garage with family memoirs and junk I found in the woods (no lie) and I was interviewed for a local paper and news channel. The best part of the interview? When I said, “Its nice when old people come in here that remember this stuff.” Yup, that line HAD to make the news broadcast.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, nice!
xo
s
Lauren says
I LOVE this! So glad I just looked through my unread blogs on bloglovin’!
Melissa M says
Amazing! Good on you for owning this. You were just as cute and personable on camera at 17 as you are now… well, maybe a little more polished and mature now :)
Do you still have that apron!?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes I still do! It’s folded up and safely stowed in a drawer.
xo,
s
bob says
this is great. i’ve been a huge hip hop fan my whole life and still am, even though i’ve “grown up” and read blogs about decorating and diy home improvement lol.
my wife was in the car and that lighters song came on and she mentioned something about it being an eminem song, and i was like pffft! that’s bad meets evil! that’s 15 years in the making!
if that’s the best kept secret;
i guess that you just leaked it.
respect. i did not expect hip hop to ever come up on my home improvement blog feeds. this was an amazing treat. nothing to be ashamed of.
Eve says
I cannot BELIEVE you were the girl in the bathtub full of M&Ms……I saw that way back in the day, and have since imagined myself doing that with skittles. Yeah, I’m a weirdo!!! I always wanted to ask “The Bathtub M&M girl” how many bags of M&Ms it took to make that happen. So…..how many?!?!:-)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, the secret is that me and my friends stuffed the tub with towels first, and only got 10 bags to pour over them to make a top layer. Haha, it was our version of special effects in the nineties!
xo,
s
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
listening to eminem on the radio right now and thinking of you and wondering if you like his newer stuff too? it’s the love the way you lie song by him and rhianna. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, oh yes. I love it all.
xo
s
Jennifer says
I’m curious how many m&ms packages it took to fill the tub…
YoungHouseLove says
The secret is that me and my friends stuffed the tub with towels around me and then just poured a top layer of M&Ms to look like it was full- which actually took ten bags!
xo,
s
MaryBe says
Years ago my husband was a broadcast engineer and did some work for MTV (back when it first went on-air and actually played music videos. Video Killed The Radio Star anyone?). Anyway, he brought me home one of the original MTV jackets. I thought I was all that ;)
Sadly, it was stolen from an (attended) coatroom years (decades?) ago. I am still angry about that!
It’s amazing how much you haven’t changed! Love this video
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no! That sounds awesome and I’m pissed for you that someone changed it!
xo,
s
Michelle says
Omg, I just got a chance to watch this video, this is absolutely hilarious! I was a late bloomer (read: complete dork in H.S.) but I don’t have a single culminating moment this awesome to remember it by, lolol. I think you have officially earned your $herdog nickname!!! :)
Erin says
I have been a long time stalker and have never felt the need to leave a reply…until this post. ;-)
Oh, $herDog, you had me rolling at my desk. I love to cringe along with you watching it. It is beyond excellent. One of my biggest fights with my mother was when I was in middle school and I wanted to buy Hammer pants and those black patent leather shoes. She absolutely would not buy them and I still thank her to this day for that. Thank you mom!!
p.s. waiting for future posts of your rapping career taking off. lol
Have a great day!!I love your site!!
Mallory says
SHERRY! I just finally got to watch this video and oh my goodness you were so starstruck. I don’t even believe that your obsession was over-exaggerated. ;) Can I be honest? Oh you know I am going to be…that was seriously amazing! You totally got to hang out with a celebrity…wearing pigtails! Loved every bit of it!
Sarah Clark says
This is awesome. Just plain awesome. I totally made a Fanatic video with my best friend when we were 15…we really wanted to meet *Nsync, didn’t happen though :( lol
Marissa says
When I was in high school I was completely obsessed with Hanson. We’re talking pictures of them covering every square inch of my bedroom walls, crying when they came on the radio… the whole 9 yards. I did try to get on Fanatic but that didn’t work out. My most embarassing moment was when I went to one of their concerts in North Carolina when I was 17. I wanted to stand out and draw their attention, so I brought an air horn with me. My friend and I blared our air horns during one of their songs and they actually stopped the song and Taylor (who at the time was my future husband) said “Whoever has the air horn, please stop. It’s disrespectful and rude.” I was sooooo humiliated!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh! No way!!! That’s the best story ever. But hey, he talked to you, right?!
xo,
s
ashley says
I still have (in secret hiding) a tshirt I had made back in the day. It was one of those where they can put you in a photo with anyone they have a pic of and then you can put that picture on shirts, mugs, etc. I thought I was so cool and did that so I have a shirt with a picture of me (side ponytail and all) leaning on Donnie’s (from New Kids on the Block) shoulder. Below the photo the shirt says “He’s All Mine.” haha I proudly remember wearing that shirt (tied on the side w/ a rubberband of course) with my neon shorts & neon socks to match. ha oh me… I hate to get rid of it b/c it’s so funny but I dread the day it gets into the wrong hands!!
YoungHouseLove says
Bwahahahahhah. Too funny.
xo,
s
Laeh J says
I don’t know how I missed this post, but this is fantastic. Love him! I remember his videos debuting on TRL, back in the day. I probably even saw this. What a great memory to have for Clara.
I’m pretty closely related to Warren G. I remember visiting his grandma’s house and talking him and Snoop on the phone. All I could say is “that’s cool” over and over again.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh, that’s awesome!
xo,
s
Amanda Kaiser says
I personally think the video is AWESOME! I, too, was a huge Eminem fan as a teenager and could only imagine how fun something like that would have been at the time. No reason to be embarassed. :)
Besides, you look like Natalie Portman in the video!
Lee says
Fantastic find after a very long work day. I loved that show- and have the same Jersey accent and giggle… and I still not only love Em but I would want to go to lunch with him – I always want to “fix” him. Phat. That was the best, Thanks for sharing.
Veronica M says
It wasn’t bad at all!! I thought you were wonderful. The pigtails were a little silly, but after all, that wasn’t your idea anyway! Cool experience.
virginia says
HOLY LAWD. Sherry, that is hands down the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. Thank you for thoroughly making my day. I giggled and snorted through the whole thing. Okay, I totally concur that that is 100% embarrassing, but um…also TOTALLY amazing! That’s like every tween’s dream to be chosen for some random MTV show….are you kidding? And I totally feel ya on the Marshall’s love. I was SO the nerdy white girl who rapped along to every word. I didn’t even understand what he was rapping about, but you can best believe I pretended!!!! And knew enough to turn the volume down when my mom came in the room! ha! Anyways, I’m so tickled that this has resurfaced AND that you are ballsy enough to share it with all of us! I read your blog every single day, and I really think this is my fave post! xo ~ Virginia @livelovediy.com
anne says
thoughts: you are very cool on video :), looks like eminem reached for some side boob and you look like natalie portman
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, hilarious (and the last one is something I totally bragged about at 17).
xo,
s
Kristin says
That. Was. Awesome!!!!!!!!! I was too young for it back when FANatic existed (I’m 24 now) but oh my goddddd Sherry, I was just as (if not more) obsessed with Em as it seems you were. I had about 8 posters of him in my room and every song he’d every lent his voice to. I can’t believe you got to MEET him! And HUG him!!! Props to you for holding it together. I would’ve been a shrill, weepy mess! Haha :)
Rhiannon says
You are so completely adorable, Sherry. I loved every minute of that video! You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. You were so genuine, and super funny! :) What a great personality you had! If I was on that show when I was 17, I would have been a complete spaz. You did a great job. You were 17…give your self a break. Seriously, it was super adorable!And I’m sure a million girls were totally jealous of you. On a side note…he seems way nicer than I imagined him being. What a cool experience.
Paige says
Oh an, what is that hand shape you keep making? I want to say Vulcan, are you a Trekkie? ;)
YoungHouseLove says
It’s a peace sign. Must be a Jersey thing, haha.
xo,
s
Laura says
I know I’m a little tardy to the party here, but I just saw this video and it is hilarious. Thank you so much for posting this.
Lindsay A. says
OMG!!!! I swear I have been thru your WHOLE blog, but I have somehow NEVER seen this post!!!! I think I love you even more!!!!! lol.. I LOVE the questions you asked and I think I would have peed my pants if that were me!!! I LOVEE Eminem!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thanks Lindsay!
xo,
s
Leslie @ NE Portland Bungalow says
This… is amazing! Thanks for sharing this! :)
Lawren says
this just made my day. actually i might save this to my favorites and watch it whenever i need a pick me up. hahaa!
Danielle says
I don’t know how I missed this. This made my day!
Jenn says
Hilarious! I love this!
J. Epstein says
Oh. Wow.
Macey says
That was really entertaining. Glad you shared :)
Katie says
I know I’m late on this, but I think that video is AWESOME! I love it! I’m curious, how did John react when he first saw it?
YoungHouseLove says
He just laughed at me. And said he still loved me. Whew.
xo
s