ADG Perspective

so I have always wanted to do one. This one was tricky because it's a daytime show, so I couldn't count on illuminated windows. It needed light without actual lights, so I decided to make it skeletal, with the windows and fire escapes oating, and the backlit sky drop coming through where there should be walls. It's very airy and of course, purposely very theatrical. I still work a lot in theater, and I'm always trying to bring that aesthetic to television. he cityscape was actually built by retired set shop owner Robbie Berkheimer in Las egas. He closed his shop a few years back but has a little shop in his backyard to build hobby proects. I keep bringing him out of retirement with small proects that will physically fit in his shop and because he's retired, he's not doing it for profit. He wants to cover his costs and make a little on top, and he goes WAY over the top on attention to detail, because he's basically playing in his backyard, so I knew he would nail the cityscape. My favorite aspect is the old Harlem streetlamps, which are actually Coke bottles. I added the legendary Apollo sign as a centerpiece, which allowed me to get a bit of my trademark neon into the set, but also grounds the show in Harlem, which was very important to Nick. There was a whole thing about that sign. I of course, assumed the Apollo would be kissing my ass and sending me thank you chocolates because I put their brand on a daily syndicated show, but they were very worried, especially because it was all slightly abstracted. We had several Apollo executives visit the load-in, and eventually, they loved it and gave me their blessing. he set is a little A.D.D. I'm not a less is more guy. I tend to throw the kitchen sink at my sets. Not necessarily a good trait, but I get excited when I'm researching ideas and ust want it all. I should have dialed it back, but honestly, it does work with Nick's style. The idea from a logic perspective is that Nick lives in this converted loft in Harlem and he's pimped it out as his ManChild Playground. Nick's exact words to me,Make it a ManChild Playground. The shoe wall is my favorite part of the set, that was one of the first ideas I had nearly two years ago when I started. I knew Nick had a crazy shoe collection. Worth millions incidentally. I had assumed we would purchase fake bedaled shoes, but Nick insisted that his actual shoes be on the set. I personally loaded them in the shelves the first time with the help of props head Jesse, and we were both so worried, carrying them down from Nick's dressing room and standing guard over them like they were crown ewels. Nick has one pair with real diamonds, and that one pair of shoes is worth a million dollars...nuts. The record album wall was to reect that Nick loves music and has recorded himself. I stupidly assumed we would be allowed to put classic covers on that wall, you know, Sgt. Pepper, Thriller, Pink Floyd, A. OVERHEAD VIEW OF DIGITAL MODEL. B. STAGE PLAN. C. & D. UPSTAGE CITYSCAPE. SET PHOTO. E. CITYSCAPE DETAIL WITH STREETLIGHT AND APOLLO SIGN. SET PHOTO. F. NICK'S SHOE COLLECTION. SET PHOTO. G. CANDY WALL. SET PHOTO. E F G

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