Barbie Ross is a St. Edward’s University alumnus and winner of CBS’s “Best Seat in the House” contest. Ross created a 30-second video detailing a week in the life of TV’s biggest fan. After a rigorous Facebook campaign and an outpouring of support from family and old friends, she was declared the contest winner. Her prize was a trip to the 61st annual Primetime Emmy Awards where she appeared live on camera. Below, Ross gives us a behind-the-scenes look.

 

The day the contest was to close, I sat at my desk, waiting quite impatiently. Around 2:30 p.m., CBS called to inform me that I was their winner and that I’d be flying from Houston to Los Angeles in less than 24 hours. I couldn’t believe my luck. Finally, watching so much TV had paid off – hear that Mom?

The next morning, I was off to sunny California where a town car waited to take me from LAX to a four-star hotel in the heart of Hollywood. I even had a view of the famous Hollywood sign from my room.

Saturday, Laura Passero from CBS.com accompanied me to the Nokia Center, where the Emmy Awards were to take place the next day. After having my credentials made and taking a tour of the theatre, including backstage, I was introduced to Joe Kelly, head writer for the show, and Don Mischer, the producer.

Kelly informed me I would be a small part of the show, included in a running gag with host Neil Patrick Harris. Now, I was nervous.

I stuck around the theater for a few hours, watching presenters like Amy Poehler and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and the casts of How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory practice with the Teleprompters. After snapping a few pictures beside the celebrity seat place holders, Laura and I were off to dine at one of Ashton Kutcher’s restaurants.

Sunday. The big day. I went down to Laura’s hotel room for hair and makeup. A foundation airbrush and seven bobby pins later, I was transformed into a glamorous Hollywood Barbie. I even had a Hollywood dress, once intended for a celebrity client from my public relations internship the previous summer.

At 2 p.m., an Escalade came for me and Laura and drove us directly to the red carpet at the Nokia Center. I walked the red carpet and was interviewed by TV.com about my experience thus far. The word ‘excited’ was used repeatedly. Once inside, I stood in the lobby watching guests enter before heading to my seat.

Not even 30 minutes into the show, Neil Patrick Harris explained CBS.com’s contest, introduced me and there I was on national television. When he asked how my “best seat in the house” was, the camera quickly backed away to reveal two very tall Harlem Globetrotters obstructing my view. Later in the show, Harris asked once again how my seat was as I was shown sitting on top of equipment behind the cameramen. I really did have the best seat in the house after those bits – I sat in the front row, next to the cast of 30 Rock.

And just like that, the night was over.

The whole weekend was incredible, but also inspiring. Being in a room full of television industry successes made me want to work hard to achieve my dream of being a television writer. I truly believe I can accomplish anything I set my mind to and the possibilities are endless.

 

 

Ross graduated from St. Edward’s in 2008 with a degree in psychology. She currently works in communications for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.