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Busted (My Run In With Eminem)

Ok, so I naively thought this day would never come, but I have been busted. I mistakenly believed that I could get through my adult life without this being brought up 13 years later, but people are smart and the internet is wide. So after more than a few “Who me? I don’t know what you’re talking about, haha” comment denials, I’m coming clean. My name is Sherry $herdog, and I was on MTV when I was 17. And it was easily the most embarrassing compilation of moments that could ever be edited together.

Fan Interview

I’m an over-sharer, so some folks might wonder why I’d try to hide from this video. And to you I’d say: it’s one thing to invite people into your home and share a video that accidentally features your bra laying out on a bedroom chair or an interview where you flail around nervously or admit that you walk around covered in dog fur and cream cheese smears, but it’s a whole different ballgame to say “Let’s take a time machine back to my most awkward moments as a seventeen year old girl being surprised while life-guarding and told she’ll get to interview Eminem for a show called FANatic on MTV – oh look, I have the whole thing on video for you, let’s all sit down and watch it together.” Now excuse me while I giggle uncontrollably for ten minutes. I do that when I’m nervous.

Allow me to spill a few secrets: shows like this are a smidge set up. It’s not to say that I wasn’t completely Marshall Mathers obsessed (I was) but there are certain things you’re highly encouraged to mention so that you come across as the most deserving fan. Things like “I aspire to be a rapper someday.” I’ll pause while you snort whatever you’re drinking out of your nose. It’s true that my best friend Mariam at high school talent shows (we once donned orange puffy vests and belly shirts and parodied the Eminem/Dre duet Forgot About Dre) but it’s a Jersey thing. You had to be there to understand that it was not meant to be taken seriously. So no, I didn’t actually hope I’d be touring the country as a famous female rapper when I grew up.

Of course the show sets up situations too, like us going to the old burger joint where Eminem used to work before the interview…

Fan Gilberts

… but it was pretty cool as a teenager to see some random restaurant and think “he really worked here just a few years ago flipping burgers?” Fun fact: the people I’m serving at that table in the restaurant are the limo driver and one of the production people who carted us around.

Another fun fact is that I hardly knew the girl who surprised me at the pool and came with me on the entire adventure. See, MTV required that the “friend” of the person being featured was 18 or a parent would have to accompany the fan and the friend (which I’m guessing cramped the crew’s style). So when I was going through the whole “you might be a finalist” phase of the process, they asked me about my friends and I gave a list of all my best 17 year old buddies and they sort of heavily suggested that I list someone over the age of 18. So the girl who worked at the front desk at the Marriott (where I was a lifeguard for years, represent) got listed – and she was the friend they picked to surprise me. And yes, it’s still really cool to be in a limo when you’re 17. Especially if you flash the peace sign with your sleeves rolled up.

Fan Limo

Here’s where it gets extra embarrassing. At some point in the interview the word “phat” inexplicably slips out of my mouth. I never said that word before and have never said it since. I can only blame the loss of my whole damn mind at the thought of sitting next to a hip-hop star and somehow thinking $herdog could pull off a term like that. And I couldn’t. It rung in my ears for the rest of the interview while I continued to grin like a crazy person and giggle nervously. Although a lot of this experience is what I like to call “retroactively embarrassing” (since at the time it was really cool and I felt really lucky to be chosen), the moment I realized I said “phat” on national television was the moment that I wanted to punch myself in the face.

Then they asked me to rap. Repeatedly. It’s bad. Very very bad. Oh and about the pigtails, I wanted to wear a ponytail and an arm band (yes, an arm band) but the crew gently suggested the pigtails and no arm band. I’m thankful they nixed the arm band but still a little weirded out by the pigtails. So without further ado…

As for how I even got on the show, my friends dared me to send in a tape since I really was a hardcore fan and they thought I had a shot at being chosen. Meanwhile I believed I had zero chance, hence me doing all sorts of ridiculous things that I thought would never be on TV/YouTube (like sitting in a tub full of M&M’s) because I truly believed with every fiber of my being that I would never make the cut.

MTV does a really cruel thing to make you think you weren’t chosen (at least it felt cruel at the time) in order to get that completely surprised ‘surprise shot’ when they sneak up on you. They’re in pretty constant contact with you for a while to collect things like “what you would ask if you were chosen” and “who you would bring as a friend if you were chosen” and then they say you’re a semi-finalist but it’s not a done deal, and then they cut off communication for a few weeks. Total radio silence. So you go from being hopeful that you might get picked to completely and utterly bummed out that you didn’t make the cut after thinking “dude, I might actually get flown to Detroit to meet Eminem.” Which is a pretty cool concept as a 17 year old.

This is of course when you forget about the footage of yourself in a tub of M&Ms and it sounds like it could be The Coolest Thing You’ve Ever Done and not The Most Embarrassing Thing Ever a decade or so later. But I have to admit that as a teenager it was an amazingly fun time. I got to fly somewhere with a camera crew and without my parents, they put us up in a cool hotel, and Marshall was actually a really nice genuine guy (now I’m going to get weird and tell you that he had the best looking hands I’ve ever seen in my life). And he did kiss my neck, which at the time made me believe we would soon be married and we’d go on to have three bouncing babies named Slim, Shady, and Stan (kidding). Dude, I took a picture of my neck after it happened. I’m that girl (can you believe I managed to bag a guy like John? I still can’t).

Fan Neck

So I’m extremely grateful for the experience. It just felt like… let’s not all watch it together on video and relive my teenage awkwardness together. But I guess now my “secret past” is out. In summary: it was pretty amazing (it made “the morning announcements” at my high school – haha), but the fact that the footage from a defunct show from over 13 years ago is now somehow on YouTube is something I never imagined. Oh well. The cat phat is out of the bag.

Now you tell me your most embarrassing secrets so we’re even. Go.

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    I am so happy this happened. I had no idea you were this gangster. I can’t wait til Clara watches this.

    Reply

  4. josie says

    oh, sherry… i had to stop the video, like, 4 times to laugh. this makes your $herdog moniker completely legit, now. :)

    Reply

  6. Kathleen says

    Totally cool of you to put this on your blog and share with all of us, I probably would not have seen it otherwise. SO Thank. You. It was great!
    I used to be obsessed with Macaulay Culkin, and I wrote to his fan club and he “wrote me back” I had that thing posted on my wall for a long time :)

    Reply

  7. Amanda says

    I think I sort of always knew you were like this (I am/was too). Or hoped. I was just grinning like an idiot, watching this at the airport. I promise, I didn’t let anyone see the screen over my shoulder. ;)

    Hilarious post, I loved it!

    Reply

  9. Julia says

    I remember watching that show back in junior high! I probably even saw your episode :) Huge props to you for coming clean! Now I have to share the crazy pregnancy dream I had about you guys last night:

    I had a dream last night that my husband and I were staying with you guys and your house was a hot mess, stuff everywhere as you were remodelling pretty much every room at once. I kept getting pissed because I wanted to see Burger and he was hiding from us. And THEN Katie Bower came to visit! And you guys were totally fighting because Katie called the tile you used “cheap looking.” lol.

    The weirdest part: the reason we were staying with you was because we were undercover FBI agents (???) and were trying to get evidence that you involved in a crime…involving STOLEN PUGS. But then Sherry you gave me a bunch of baby clothes and I felt guilty for trying to trap you and get you sent to prison! So be honored, you were the subjects of my first truly crazy pregnancy dream :)

    Reply

  11. Megan says

    Bwahahahaha! Hee hee! That was funny. You should TOTALLY put your hair up in pigtails every time you’re $herdog from now on. It would add to the alter ego! ;)

    Reply

  14. Ashley P. says

    How has that apron not made the gallery wall?? Thanks for sharing that gem of a video. Yesterdays humiliation is today’s blog fodder. Seriously, best.post.ever.

    Reply

  15. Annie says

    Thank you for sharing, that is amazing! My teenage self would have been so jealous.

    Did you call yourself $herdog back then?

    Reply

  16. Elaina says

    That was awesome! I’m not sure if anyone else has asked the burning question, but do you still have the autographed apron?? hahahaha…..He might be keeping up with your blog now;-)

    Reply

  18. Michelle says

    Wow. I remember watching that episode but never would’ve made that connection. What a brave thing to post that video. I think it’s quite endearing. We were all crazed fangirls at one time or another. What a cool story to tell!

    Reply

  19. casey m says

    Oh Sherry….I LOVE THIS STORY!!! HAHA!!! The things we think are great when we are young is just classic!!
    -When I was 8 or 9 I became OBSESSED with Grease the movie. John Travolta was(still is) my lllooovvvveeee. So one night I got the bright idea to go to bed early. Like 7:00pm. Just to get away from the whole family. I snuck the phone in my room. And with my heart throbbing I called the operator and whispered the whole time thinking my family would hear me. I asked the lady nicely to connect me to John Travolta. And I was as serious as a heart attack. Seriously…haha! Well she couldn’t hear so I just hung up and was bummed that I went to bed early for that! Well about 20 seconds later SHE CALLED THE HOUSE BACK!!! My Dad picked up and I heard his voice “”Ughh Travolta??” I knew I was in trouble!! He yelled for me to come downstairs and I thought Oh god Im going to be punished! He asked me (with both my brothers and Mom glaring at me) very seriously if I have called the operator and asked to talk to John Travolta. I lied…that didn’t work! They all busted up laughing. The laughter lasted about 1 hour….and to this day it brings great laughs to the family dinner table!

    Reply

  21. Jennifer says

    HAHAHA oh, wow. I remember that show!

    If I were you I’d feel the same way; excited as a teenager, mortified as an adult.

    Mad props for posting it ;o)

    Reply

  22. Bethany says

    That has got to be one of the best things on the entire Internet. Sherry, as always, thank you for being so real, fun, adorable, and just well… Phat! Have a great weekend!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, I waited a few months, tried to warn him, then played it. He died laughing. You really can’t warn something about something like this. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  27. Kristen Winter says

    When I was awesome enugh to write for our local newspaper as a teen, I use my “influence” to try to write this huge exposee on how…. ahem…. no one should believe in Santa Clas because he’s a phony and childhood magic is dead, blah blah blah. Thank heavens I didn’t end up getting it published, but WHY did I think that was a good idea?? Someday my kids will discover what an idiot I was at 17…

    Reply

  30. Jennae says

    Sherry, I love you, but I am literally dying with laughter. Thank you for being such a good sport and sharing this. I can think of a couple of celebs I would’ve sat in a tub of M&Ms to meet when I was a teenager!

    At least now that your most embarrassing moment has been exposed, you can stop worrying that someone will stumble upon it accidentally :)

    Seriously though, when you said “phat”, I was laughing so hard that my daughter came over to make sure I was OK.

    Reply

  31. Alison says

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry. We all have our moments, unfortunately yours was on TV. Luckily I don’t remember most of my embarrassing moments but there was this one time we were at a Brazilian BBQ place where they bring around the different BBQ to you and you pick what you want and when you don’t want any more you turn your little wooden peg on the table from green to red. Well I was done and turned my peg over and as I sort of slammed it down onto the table I yelled “Chink!” (I like to make sound effects for things, I know, weird) Well my husband and his family that we were visiting all looked at me like I was crazy and my husband quietly pointed to the table of Chinese business men that were sitting behind us. Luckily I don’t think they heard me but I was so embarrassed because I would have never meant that as a negative racial term. I didn’t know his family very well either yet since we were just recently married. They probably thought I was a lunatic.

    Reply

  32. Lynn @ SafeBeauty says

    I don’t even. know. where. to. start…haha…I think after getting over the fact that Marshall looked like he was trying to cop a feel when he went to hug you, my next favorite part is when he says “I wrote a song about how much I love my daughter…and killing her mother.” And you go…

    Snicker, snicker, giggle, giggle…..LOL! Priceless!!! I was like “Wow she’s got it bad and she must not have even heard what he actually just said.” No matter, MTV apparently cranks out future stars like the Disney channel. Remember that dude Sean on the Real World who fell in love with his castmate Rachel? Well he’s a US Senator now, married to said Rachel – with 6 bouncing babies! And hands on the man, that does it for ya? Haha! That’s too funny because I am also an obscure body part appreciator – forearms. Oooo gives me the shivahs.

    My best, Lynn
    *how this didn’t get dragged out for that Improv night you guys were a part of I’ll never know.

    Reply

  36. Louise says

    That was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. You absolutely should not be embarrassed. Love to see a teenager with that much personality and that much confidence. It’s actually kind of shocking that MTV didn’t try to hire you for TRL. Fools!

    Reply

  37. Sarah G. says

    You kill me, dawg! You sound so ghetto fabulous too! I’m so glad you posted this. “WE NEED BUNS!” :0)

    Reply

  38. Stacia Reagan says

    I didn’t think it was even possible to love this blog anymore than I already did . . .I stand correct. You are so funny. Amazingly funny. How can anyone possibly have a bad day with your comic releif around? Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply

  40. Meg says

    Oh you were SO cool at 17. When I was a teenager I was at the community pool and my bathing suit top BROKE AND FELL OFF. No joke. I wish I had a cool embarrassing moment like you!

    I’m 35 now and I go running to Eminem radio on Pandora. Only time I can enjoy his stuff b/c my kiddos aren’t around. ;)

    Reply

  41. JMJE says

    My friend emailed me the link to the youtube video the other night. I watched it awe. I was literally fascinated by it. I may have watched it again since the first viewing. It was my dream to go on MTV FANatic to interview Jewel. Unfortunately I never even submitted a tape. There is a pretty embarassing youtube video floating around somewhere of me in my wedding dress doing a video for a Jim/Pam The Office contest. Luckily I’m not famous and people will probably never have a need to look it up.

    Reply

  42. Paige @ Little Nostalgia says

    $herdog, that was hilarious! I was a big Em fan back in the day too, but I never got to meet him.

    My dad worked at a country radio station when I was a kid, and for a few years they had what was essentially a local access TV show where he and his co-host would talk for a few minutes in between music videos. Well, one year he made my sister and I appear on the show around Christmas. We had to talk about what we wanted from Santa and basically act like normal humans, but the lights were so bright, and we were super young, and my sis was afraid of the cameras… It was a big awkward fest.

    Fast forward 17 or 18 years when I end up getting a part-time job right after college at that very same radio station (long after my dad moved on). A couple of his old co-workers were still around, and they DUG OUT THE VIDEO. And showed it to people.

    Reply

  43. Kristen says

    Oh.Em.Gee. I am so glad you shared this story! I certainly have some embarrassing moments in my closet o’ shame as well. You reminded me what it was like to be 17!

    Reply

  45. Jennifer G. says

    Best. Post. Ever.

    And we all take you seriously as a white rapper. I think you could be the next Slim.

    And I loved the awkward handshakes…

    Reply

  46. Jessica Kish says

    you were adorable!! I was on a show on ABC Family when I was 16, so I completely relate to the embarrassment thing!

    Reply

  47. Kimberly says

    Oooooohhhhhhhh my woooooord. I’m . . . just . . . I had my hand clamped over my mouth for a good chunk of this. I’m embarrassed FOR you! Although — $herdog has major ovaries for sharing this with everyone, haha.

    Reply

  48. Leigh Anne says

    As a fellow 30-year-old who’s always had a special place for rap in my heart, I must say that your video is DA BOMB! My husband and I even walked into our wedding reception to “Here Comes the Hotstepper!”

    Reply

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