twiddle thumbs and i left work early today to go down to hollywood and watch the taping of "jimmy kimmel live" because dave navarro and the panic channel were the scheduled guests. i don't think i've ever watched the show but i've always wanted to go to a tv show taping (i'm not sure how much the one we went to in new zealand counts). it was a nice change of pace and everything was funnier and more enjoyable when you're sitting in the tv audience. jokes you would normally only snicker at brought out a full laugh. you just need to bring out that audience vibe. we got to watch everything but the heidi klum segment as they taped it earlier. we saw the opening, the side stuff, and of course what we were there for. dave came out and sat on the couch. then it was time for the panic channel to perform. this is where the show is really cool. those of us who booked our tickets online to see the panic channel were seated in the fan section. the band performs in another part of the building, in the lobby, actually what we passed by when we were in line for the inner studio taping. they let the fan section get up out of their seats and go down to the lobby to watch the performance up close. i think they let in the rest of the audience in too but on the other side of the lobby where you really can't see anything. the band performed "the teahouse of the spirits" and "left to lose". it was awesome. after they were done, the show was over and it was time to leave. 2 songs were too much of a tease, i wanted them to keep playing! the band walked off but stephen perkins was last. i shouted out a thank you, something like "steve, awesome job!" and he came over. we brought their debut album cds with us and he signed each of ours. twiddle thumbs made a comment to him that next time he should throw the sticks our way (he threw 2 and we missed them). immediately he called out to his roadie to bring some "stickies". twiddle thumbs is so smart! the guy brought 3. i kept 1 and twiddle thumbs kept 2.

we left and just felt really good after that because we had been having a crap day which started the night before. we were a little hungry as we never got to eat a proper dinner so went down a couple streets to eat at california vegan. mmm, so good! they have so many tasty looking items on their menu. i don't know why i don't go down to eat there more often. oh yeah, i hate hollywood traffic!

time to watch the show!