…the third week of December! Maybe that doesn’t sound as catchy as an SNL opener, but for anyone who follows our Instagram pictures and asked for the videos that matched those goofy photos, here you go. It sounds almost unreal to type this: we spent a busy week doing live television. It was equal parts thrilling and nerve-wracking. Also, about that photo on the right… we didn’t plan to match the set. It just happened, and it was hilarious.
By coincidence, two local Richmond stations invited us onto their live programs this week. That meant our words would go straight to viewers’ television sets with very little delay. Yikes. Wait, let me rephrase that. YIKES.
The first appearance was Tuesday on NBC’s “First at 4.” We were welcomed by Ryan Nobles, a local newsman and social media enthusiast who we’d met before when he interviewed us about radon at our house. It was fun to reconnect with him in the studio and a little surreal to be back under studio lights instead of behind a laptop.
One silly behind-the-scenes moment: as Sherry and I stepped into place for the interview, the producer quietly handed her a small booster box to stand on behind the news desk. So my petite wife spent the segment perched on a little riser. It was adorable—and a reminder that television involves tiny adjustments you never notice on screen. As for the interview itself, it felt pretty tame on the embarrassment scale, aside from Sherry declaring twice that chalkboard paint is great because “you can tell people what to do.” She says she couldn’t stop repeating it.
We’re grateful to the folks at NBC12 for having us and for helping calm our nerves enough to avoid any on-air faux pas. Live TV has a way of making you hyper-aware of every word, and we were thankful the gods of television kept us from cursing, fainting, or swapping a word like “art” for something less suitable.
Two days later we arrived at CBS6 for our second live appearance. We were still nervous, but a little steadier after the earlier segment. Sherry decided to skip her comfort blazer in favor of a brighter jacket—she calls it coral; I’m calling it orange—and vowed not to repeat the “tell people what to do” line. Small victories.
This morning show, Virginia This Morning, is one we’d visited years ago, so returning felt a bit like coming home. The hosts were warm and welcoming, which made it easier to relax. We learned we’d have not one but two five-minute segments—short windows, but they gave us a chance to share quick, practical ideas and a few personal stories without overstaying our welcome.
During the first segment we chatted about everything from thrift-store scores to Clara’s favorite tool. The hosts even offered up a playful, hybrid celebrity-style introduction, which made us laugh and eased the tension. While waiting to go back on, we also watched a local tween jazz band perform a spirited version of Jingle Bell Rock—a reminder of how much local programming can be full of charm and unexpected talent.
The second segment focused on simple, fast projects from our book that would make great last-minute stocking stuffers or hostess gifts. It was fun to demonstrate ideas that viewers could actually recreate in an afternoon and to emphasize approachable creativity over perfection. We managed to finish without any wardrobe mishaps or FCC-worthy incidents, which felt like a small miracle.
Overall, the week was a whirlwind but a rewarding one. We left both studios grateful to the hosts and production teams who made the experiences welcoming and manageable. Repeating the process taught us a lot about pacing, on-camera presence, and how helpful a friendly host can be when you’re nervous.
Have you ever had a TV experience—good or bad? Did your fifteen minutes of fame lead to recognition in public, or did you walk away with an amusing memory and nothing else? Share your stories. We’d love to hear how others handled the spotlight, whether it was a live interview, a local segment, or an unexpected moment on air.