Show #2 in Chicago - Umpy's Report

Again, how does this guy get to all these shows? I don't care as long as he keeps us informed.

We started out our day by heading over to the NBC studio for a taping of the Jerry Springer show.

We arrived at the studio at about 1:30.

Life is ironic. We have "stalked" Bruce at each of the shows that we have gone to and as of yet we have not seen or gotten Bruce's autograph. When we arrived at the NBC studio, we were trying to find our way to the Springer show. We were not in the builing for more than 30 seconds when we happened to bump into the man himself; Jerry Springer.

We were second in line waiting to get into the show (a much better process than Bruce's GA's).

We were let into the "audience waiting room" at about 2:30 pm. However before we got to the waiting room we had to pass through a metal detector.
We were not allowed to bring cigarettes or lighters into the taping area.
We had to check them a la a coat check. While me were waiting to get into the taping, producers from the Steve Wilkos show came in and started asking people if they knew others who would want be a guest on his show. They were looking for leads on people who are involved in abusive relationships. They were willing to pay people $100.00 for every lead that panned out.

After over an hour wait we were finally lead into the studio to begin the taping. We ended up sitting in the second row dead centre. Yes, the rabbi did come through in the clutch.

Jerry's producer(?) came out to warm up the audience prior to the show. He said theat the show has Nudity, profanity and is meant to be silly, dirty and fun. He added that if you are looking for clean, go down the block to the Oprah show

There were two story lines that were being taped for the show. The first story involved a gay midget who slept with a women and fell in love with her after a night of drinking. He claimed that the women has caused to "change teams". The only problem is that both the women and the midget each have separate boyfriends. We were prompted to say such things as "bitch slap the midget", "take off your midget pants", and "this story sucks".

The second storlyine involved two "brother" rappers fighting over the same woman. When I say fighting, I mean fighting. They went at each other for at least five rounds. At one point they were fighting no more than two feet in front of us. The audience was prompted to say things like "fight like a rapper".

During the question and answer period I was successful in obtaining my Jerry beads. You will have to watch the show in order to see how I got them.

Did I mention that Bruce played his second of two shows in Chitown?

This was probably the best show that I have seen so far on the tour. Bruce and the band were very loose. Although there were few audibles, six songs which were not played the night before were played last night.

Bruce performed 3 tour premieres; Tunnel of Love, Spirit in the Night and a great version of Thunder Road. Thunder Road was an audible which was played by request for a 12 year old boy who was in the front of the PIT.

During She's the One, Bruce's guitar came unplugged and he had to finish the song with only his harmonica and a set of Macorinas (I have no idea on how to spell it).

I now have a 12 day break before I travel to see the next shows in Cleveland and Detroit.