As a wildlife expert on television, there isn't anything much better than landing an appearance on Late Night - One of the most coveted spots in the industry. All the greats, from Jim Fowler to Jungle Jack Hanna, got their start on this prestigious program. Making my debut last week on Late Night with Seth Meyers was literally a dream come true. All the years of touring the country, appearing on local TV, speaking to various audiences large and small, is starting to pay off. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at my experience at Late Night.
What a lot of people do not know about animal segments, is the amount of time it takes to plan them. This segment took approximately two months to coordinate. A team of people including talent coordinators, segment producers, and animal handlers work closely together to make sure the segment goes as smooth as possible. The first step is picking out the animals (My favorite part as I feel like a kid in a candy store!). I typically pitch anywhere from 8-10 animals and the segment producers make the final choices.
Picking the baby tiger cubs for the segment was a no-brainer! The cubs, at approximately one month old, completely melted the hearts of everyone in the building, from the Late Night staff, to the Saturday Night Live staff who tape on the same floor.
A lot of people wonder where the animals come from. The cubs, capybara, and alligator all came from a licensed facility in Pennsylvania, which I've seen firsthand. The facility has spacious habitats, outdoor ponds, and the animals receive the best possible care.
The mother tiger would typically hold the cubs by the back of the neck, so holding them in this position, is the most comfortable way to handle them. They literally go into a 'trance-like' state.
My dressing room was packed with everything you could think of: Various snacks, an assortment of drinks, and gift bags.
A lot of people have asked me how Seth was in person. He was extremely friendly and genuinely grateful to have us there.
Having appeared on national television for quite some time, I've been able to work with various celebrities; some nice, some not-so-nice! Let me tell you, it was a huge relief meeting Andrew and seeing how down-to-earth he was! He also brought his family and young nephew, who was a HUGE animal fan. I think he won an award that day for being the coolest uncle!
The segment was an absolute hit! Seth and Andrew interacting with the animals was hilarious, and the cubs completely stole the show. All fun and games aside, I'm happy the animals served as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. If you haven't had a chance to see it yet, you can check it out below.
Thank you all for the support! I enjoyed seeing your pictures you sent while watching the segment on your TV's!
The stage manager of Saturday Night Live was such a big fan of the animals, she invited us on set to watch rehearsals and take pictures on the set. Talk about a surreal moment!
The following day was spent exploring the city, stopping at every single pizza stand (the best I found was in Queens), and enjoying the great spring weather in NYC!
Thanks for taking the time to read about this exciting new chapter in my life. Until next time-Corbin