Good Morning Darlings!
If you have been reading the blog for a while, you probably feel like you know my friends really well. One of my very favorites, Chioke, moved to NYC last year. And while I miss him like crazy, I was thrilled when he agreed to become my big city correspondent and attend a very special event.
It is so exciting to know that Chioke is in New York and willing to act as our bureau chief so we can bring you lots more exciting news.
And now I will hand it over to our NYC Bureau Chief for AOADP, Chioke. Thanks, Honey!
When I got a call from Patti to cover a story in New York City about Jimmy Fallon, I was excited at the idea of seeing behind the velvet rope which is NBC Universal Studios at Rockefeller Center. When I later found out that Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream would be in the picture- how could I say “no.” Who can say no to meeting the charismatic late-night host, Jimmy Fallon, “no” to Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream— even more so, who could say “no” to Patti Davis . Not I – so with my finest blazer and loafers, I arrived at 30 Rockefeller Center- home of NBC Studios and The Jimmy Fallon show and picked up my press pass.
From that point, I along with 20 or so other journalists, were taken behind the velvet rope (literally) and whisked up the bronze elevator into Studio 6B. We were met by the lively and gracious Sean Greenwood, PR Director for Ben and Jerry’s, who lead us into the NBC lobby, which at the moment was lined with Ben and Jerry’s huge Ice Cream barrels, and all the ice cream we could eat. While we licked the barrels clean (ok, that was only me), Sean tells us all about Ben and Jerry’s newest endeavor: a Jimmy Fallon Ice Cream.
Ready to scoop and sample.
The “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” show is teaming up with the iconic ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s to introduce the new flavor entitled “Late Night Snack”. The unique new flavor features a rich vanilla bean ice cream with a salty caramel swirl and crunchy fudge covered potato chip clusters – the perfect mix of salt and sweet for a late night snack. The concoction was inspired by the Late Night skit in which Fallon and house band The Roots performed an original song, “Ladysmith Snack Mambazo” about Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream. (http://www.hulu.com/watch/157725/late-night-with-jimmy-fallon-ladysmith-snack-mambazo-ben-and-jerrys)
This is going to be great!
After eating as much of the wonderful new flavor as we could, Sean ushered us into the famed Studio 6B for some one on one time with Jimmy Fallon, and Ben and Jerry’s founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. The excitement was palpable as we entered the studio which has been home to Jim Henson’s The Muppets, Jack Parr’s and Johnny Carson’s Tonight show and now is home to the nightly Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon.
For the next 30 minutes, Ben and Jerry discussed with us their interest in moving Ben and Jerry’s in the “Fair Trade” direction, which essentially means paying a fair price for products found in their ice cream, as opposed to the common practice of paying extremely deflated prices to Third World countries for many common ingredients. Great- truly! But the entire time, all most of us could think about is how hilarious Jimmy Fallon was, as he interrupted the conversation multiple times with witty quips, and “If it was too late to go back into the lobby and get more of this great new ice cream!”
Jimmy, with Ben and Jerry
Ben, Jimmy and Jerry with Late Night Snack.
A highlight of the night was Jimmy Fallon’s rant of Stephen Colbert’s Ben and Jerry flavor- Americone Dream. Fallon joked, “I hope I never see that man’s ice cream next to mine. In fact, I’ve asked it be separated on the shelves from his ‘Americone Dream’ — ice cream cones in ice cream? Oh my gosh, what a genius idea!” Even saying that from this point forward anyone who lost a game on his Late Night Show would get a pint Colbert’s ice cream. Even without the cameras rolling, Jimmy Fallon was at his SNL best!
As the night came to an end, we were offered one more chance to sample Late Night Snack in the lobby. Needless to say, I walked out of NBC with a pint in my hand laughing all the way to the train. From now on, when I turn on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, I will reach in my freezer and grab Late Night Snack- and remember this night, laughing all night.
Chioke, what a fantastic write up! My only complaint is that I wasn’t there with you for all the fun.
Now….where can I get some of that ice cream???
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Jimmy Fallon talking about Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream (look for Chioke in the second row at 1:04 – so cool!!)
I love, I love, I love! I need some of that ice cream to make my life complete! Excellent article!! 🙂
I know, right, Melanie?? Trying to find out when it hits the national scene. Stayed tuned, Darling! oxox, P
Super cool… great job Chioke!
Patti Cake, you make me want to move away so I, too, can be a Bureau Chief! LOL
No, Don’t leave me, Kathy!! If you ever want to write for the blog…I would love that! xoxoo, P