Weird to think that a year ago I was flying home from an amazingly Zen-tastic trip to India.  The day after I got back, I started my illustrious TV hosting career on KC Live.  Yesterday, we celebrated our one-year anniversary with props, kudos, hoopla, fanfare and a lengthy, amusing blooper segment. Uh, and, of course, cake.

Looking back, the past twelve months have been a big blur.  From humble beginnings, we’ve eked out a nice little following and we’ve honed our show to make it both informative and irreverent. While I doubt I ever have kids, I’m calling KCL my baby … and it’s been a joy to watch it blossom, grow and occasionally spit up on itself.

I was thinking about all the highlights from the past year … the things that really clinched why I have the best job in TV.  For one, creative freedom runs amuck with our amazing team. We’ll throw anything against the wall to see if it sticks. Sometimes it proves worthy of good TV … and sometimes it flops, but regardless we gave it the ol’ college try.

Speaking of highlights … here are a few memorable ones:

*On the first day of the show, I was nervous. Wildly nervous. I radiated nervous energy.  I would constantly high-five Michelle for no reason. I clapped. I fidgeted. I swayed like Stevie Wonder. I read Michelle’s lines with wild abandon. On that first day any technical thing that could have went wrong … did.  The only saving grace? While Michelle was introducing a story about me she said, “Let’s take a look at Michael’s package.” Of course, the “package” (read that: the segment in question) did not air properly so they cut back to me hanging out alongside the meteorologist.  My response? “My package!?  Michelle! Awk-ward!” It was just the moment of levity I needed to exhale … and finally enjoy the show.

*I’m rarely flummoxed by celebs, but I nearly lost my ever-lovin’ mind when fashionista Carson Kressley visited KCL. I’ve secretly adored him for years and even though I’d interviewed him once at a red carpet event, I was positive he wouldn’t remember me. (He did.) And he was just as funny and affable behind-the-scenes as you would hope he’d be on camera.  Another cool moment?  When the beloved Marion Ross (Mrs. C. from “Happy Days”) leaned over in the middle of my interview and kissed me on the cheek and said, “Such a sweet boy.”

*The worst interview you ask? That’s easy … a no-named comedian who spent the entire segment staring at himself in the monitor and commenting how awful he looked. Seriously. It was teen angst for four minutes. The longest four minutes of my life.

*I’ll admit that when I’m struggling for words or in a bind, I will use some off-the-cuff, colloquial term I have parked in the back of my medulla oblongata.  Hopefully, I have banished the following from my vernacular: “easy-peasy”, “girl, girlfriend, hey, girl hey”, “thanks to the magic of TV” and the one that got me in to trouble, “skank-ass”. (Apparently you can say skank or ass … but you can’t say them together.  Who knew?)

*We are blessed with the single goofiest production crew ever assembled. Not a day goes by that I am not lovingly mocked or chastised. (This morning it was my multi-colored tie.) And not a day goes by that I don’t laugh at the insane, behind-the-scenes antics of our team.  The show goes off smoothly because of them … and that’s despite occasional off-screen anarchy.  I truly love them with every fiber of my being.

*I have been pelted with fake snow. I’ve knocked over a $200 vase on live TV. I’ve introduced Tim Gunn as the host of “Pwoject Wunway”. I’ve been kissed by a lizard. I’ve introduced Kansas City to dozens of artists, bands and performers. And I’ve gained and lost and gained and lost and gained and lost thirty pounds.  That’s what happens when all you do is eat and drink on your show. And I’ve gained a true partner-in-crime with my wonderful work-wife and co-host, Michelle.

While I can’t wait to see what the second year brings, the first year was just about the most fun I’ve ever had with my clothes on. (And keep in mind Michelle and I have been naked twice for two different stories. Yeah, so that happened.)  So thanks for watching, commenting, sharing and adoring.  Here’s to twelve more months of the best frenetic, kinetic, zany, awe-inspiring, civic-minded live TV in KC.