A Saturday Night Live Experience

Alright, here it is, the unedited story of what happened to me on this Saturday, 13 December when I went to New York. So, you're dying to hear details? Well, you're going to get them here!! I call this story "Touched by a Hanson" because that's exactly what happened to me, in every sense of the expression. What you are about to read is 100% of the truth, and it happened to me.

There must be something about the number 13 that is really lucky for me, for as some of you may remember it was on 13 June that my life as I know it first changed and I became the Hanson fanatic that you all know today. Well,
13 December, exactly 6 months later, my life would change again. On the way, I was sorely tempted to stop into a McDonald's for a hot chocolate, but I wanted to check out the line for the show first. So, arriving at NBC's GE Building at 5:00AM, I was surprised to see 8 people already camped out outside the doors. Keep in mind that it's still dark out and freezing cold. Apparently, a group of zealous fans (not Hanson fans, though) had been camped out since 6:00pm FRIDAY NIGHT, waiting to be the first to receive tickets for the show. Well, I got in line right away, being the 9th person to arrive. Two minutes later, two teenage girls arrived and got in line right behind me, followed by another group, and another group, and then two more. The Hanson fans had arrived!! I was the first, though, and I spent the four hours in line talking with and making friends with other people who like Hanson. They had come from Queens, Long Island, and even New Jersey to see Hanson perform that evening. Finally, at 9:30AM, after 4.5 hours of waiting in line, the NBC pages came out to tell us that the live show was over-booked, meaning no standby tickets would be given out. However, at 8:00PM there was to be a Dress Rehearsal identical to the live show at 11:30PM, but that it wouldn't be aired; tickets were available for this show, however. So, accordingly, I got ticket number 9 to see the Dress Rehearsal at 8:00PM. However, this was not a guaranteed seat, as the Dress Rehearsal also had the potential to be over booked as well, should everyone decide to show up. We wouldn't know for sure until just minutes before the show began at 8:00PM, so I had to hang around New York the whole day, hoping to get in to see the show.

OK, still with me so far? This is where the story starts getting good! At 3:00PM a limo pulled up and out of it stepped this rather familiar looking guy. It was Ravi, the backup guitarist for Hanson! (He's the dark skinned one with the greasy hair). He was immediately rushed into the building, but not before I had the chance to take some pictures!! Not five minutes later, another limo pulled up, and this time it was Scott, the fair skinned backup bassist for Hanson. Some Hanson fans mobbed him trying to get an autograph from him, but I just settled for a picture. The backup guys don't thrill me that much.

At 7:30PM, the NBC pages started lining up the standby audience while those with regular or VIP tickets just strolled right in. The whole lobby was just packed with young girls screaming for Hanson -- it was unbelievable. One of the NBC pages told me that NBC had to send out for extra security just for Hanson, and that no other host or musical guest had ever caused such a reaction. People had completely mobbed Rockefeller Plaza trying to get in to see Hanson, even if they didn't have tickets. Finally, at 7:50PM, a man came down and told us that all seats were full and that no standby seating would be needed. Just at the last minute, however, a page rushed down and said that they had found 10 empty seats; accordingly, those people with tickets numbered 1 to 10 were allowed in. I WAS #9!! If I had arrived just 2 minutes later, if I had stopped to get that cup of hot chocolate at McDonald's, I would have missed one of the greatest events of my life. As it was, only one of the other 8 girls I had met got in with me, and the rest were all crying. I felt so badly at first, but then I got over it, rather quickly!! I also realized that all of the girls had seen Hanson perform multiple times, and I had really sacrificed to see Hanson this first time, so it was my turn. We were rushed up to the studio just as the show was about to begin.

Now just a comment about the audience. For the Rehearsal show, I would have to say that almost half of the entire audience was comprised of young teenage girls, all with signs and banners for Hanson. When Helen Hunt announced Hanson as the musical guest, the screams were deafening. Appropriately enough, I was sitting in the Hanson section, and I was screaming along with the rest of them. When Hanson finally came on to perform, we were still in commercial, but people were going hysterical, climbing over chairs, screaming their brains out, shouting "I love you Tay" or whatever. Hanson came out during a commercial break and got into position, and the crowd was all psyched up. When Helen Hunt finally came out to announce Hanson the first time, the noise level was ear shattering. Taylor was trying to get them to keep quiet, but Zac was just egging us on by raising his hands. The camera cut to Hanson, they were cued, and they began "Merry Christmas Baby" (which was the first song during the rehearsal, they switched it later). Everyone in the crowd started getting up, dancing, clapping along, and the
ushers were going bananas trying to keep them seated and quiet. We were all
singing and clapping along, and Hanson really fed off of our positive energy
and performed incredibly well. The song was so much better live than what
you see and hear on the television. They all looked really great, and they
nailed the song. People were screaming all throughout the commercial break
until the next skit began. It was so great, I could see all of them so well;
they were only like 50 feet away from me, I wanted to reach out and touch them
all...

The show continued, and finally, the very last skit that was done was the elevator skit, and that was incredible too. Hanson did such a great job acting, and they didn't even have any cue cards (the cue cards were facing Helen Hunt, who was looking at Hanson the whole time). The only problem was that everyone in the audience (again, a very pro-Hanson audience) was was screaming at Hanson to not give in to the terrorists, and they were shouting, "No, Ike, don't give in!!!" and stuff. They were screaming throughout the whole skit that I couldn't even hear what Hanson were saying most of the time. But when Taylor was unaffected and eventually came to his brothers' rescue, and when Will Ferrel started dancing to "MMMBop", the whole audience just went nuts. It was crazy!! Finally, right after that skit, Hanson came out again wearing different clothing (Zac with his dayglow orange prison outfit) and Taylor with that funky shirt (which I actually liked, so don't knock it!), and once again Zac started getting the crowd all worked up (an easy thing to do), so when they finally came back to sing "MMMBop", the audience practically drowned out Hanson. Still, everyone was on key and there was a much better balance on whole. Of course, the whole audience was rocking in the aisles with Hanson, singing and clapping along, myself included. It was such a wonderful experience.

As the show ended, I started to head back to the elevators. Just as I did, this wave of screaming girls practically swept me over on its way back to the studio. Those girls must have super Hanson radar, because standing at the door to the studio, surrounded by the NBC guards, were Hanson. I followed of course, camera at the ready. The wave of screaming girls pushed right passed the guards like they were butter, but the guards didn't seem to care. Fortunately, this crowd of girls was relatively mild, and they only wanted to shake Hanson's hands and get an autograph. I rushed up and stood off to the right where I had the best angle to get pictures -- at 6 feet I towered over the girls and could see Ike and Tay at eye level. They weren't signing autographs but only shaking hands and telling people they had to go. I took advantage and started snapping pictures like crazy, until someone grabbed my hand. I thought it was a girl trying to climb me like a tree to see Hanson, but then I heard some one say "Hey, Mr. Camera Man!" I looked up, and right in front of me grabbing my hand was ZAC!!!!!!!!! I almost passed out from surprise! He was smiling that way he always does, looking right at me. Apparently, I was quite a novelty for him to see. All I could say was "Zac, you're awesome!" while shaking his hand (not very eloquent, I know). Zac just said "thanks" and went on to other fans. Then I noticed Taylor had moved right next to Zac and was looking right at me, so I reached over all the girls (it's nice to be tall) and grabbed his hand. I just called his name and he gave me one of those macho hand clasp things (I guess because I'm a guy) and he said "Thanks for being here, man!" And I said "No, thank YOU Taylor!". He smiled and then turned to the others. Ike was on the other side so I really didn't have much contact with him, but I did reach over and grabbed his hand to shake it for just a second before all three of them were whisked away by the staff. The whole thing couldn't have lasted more than 30 seconds, but those 30 seconds will stay with me for a lifetime. Oh, I love that Zac so much -- he is such a kind hearted kid. HE reached out to ME, of all people. I guess that being a boy and standing out in a crowd of screaming girls drew his attention to me. I don't know, but I will never forget him for it. Still, it makes me feel so good to know that I made a real connection with them, even if just for a second. It certainly meant
a lot to me. Those kids are the apple of my eye, and I will never forget them for their kindness and heart they showed me.

Oh, one last thing I have to mention. Right behind Hanson the whole time was this really tall man holding a video camera, and he was videotaping US, not Hanson. I really didn't get a good look at him, nor did I want to with Hanson there, but I really think it was Walker Hanson, filming the fan reaction at SNL. At one point he pointed the camera right at me (once again, I stood out in the crowd) and filmed me for a couple of seconds. So, don't be surprised if you see a very goofy looking Papa in the next Hanson video!!

There is my story. I hope you all liked it. My heart still races every time I relive those last few moments in my mind, and I feel like I am still there, being touched by a Hanson...

Frank Burns
Papa Hanson

Here are some of the exclusive pics that Papa took...his commentary is underneath each picture...PLEASE talk to us if you want these...that's important!!

Zac! I was literally stunned! He was standing right in front of me, hidden from the crowd, and had actually reached out to touch me, of all people! He was looking right at me, and all I could say was "Zac, you're awesome!" He smiled at me in that adorable way and simply said, "Thanks!" Walker Hanson is also visible in the background with his camera and Taylor is also visible in the upper left corner.

Taylor then comes over next to Zac and looks right at me! He is laughing--apparently he thinks its funny that I keep taking pictures instead of screaming my head off! He clasped my hand in a manly grip and said, "thanks for being here, man!" Isaac is visible off to the left.

I then got pushed out ofthe way by some girls (and not without a few dirty looks from some pushy mothers), but I got another shot of Taylor and Zac.

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