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How
I Actually Didn’t Really Chat With Apolo During the 2002 KCAs It was a well know fact that Apolo was making an appearance as a guest host on the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (4.20.02) with a possibility of him showing up on the backstage KCA chat box. A few days before the KCAs I had a crappy experience trying to join a chat event with Rusty Smith. At the last minute I had learned I didn’t have the software required to participate in the chat. I was majorly put out. So, I was determined that wouldn’t happen again for this rare opportunity coming up with Apolo.
Finally, finally a name went through. I was, at least for the duration of the KCA chat, “RainyNight.” (It wasn’t until later I thought of an even better name I’m sure no one else would have had: iLuvFlan. But, it’s useless to hang on to regret. Moving on.) On Saturday, before the show started, I logged on to the chat. I stayed logged on for the whole show, though I wasn’t in front of the computer the whole time. In fact, I just went back to check the chat box during commercial breaks. I was quite sure I’d missed chatting with Apolo. Surely he’d already come on while I was watching what had to be the most annoying show I’d seen in my whole life. I mean, why was Rosie yelling at me like that? I thought she was gonna bust a gut. I kept asking myself, “If I were still 8 years old, would I like this crap? Was it ever necessary for things to be amazingly loud and slimy for me to enjoy them?” I really think the answer is “no.” I was most certainly cooler than that even at 8.
So, anyway, the show finally ended. I went back to my computer to log off the chat. However, I noticed it was still going on — the chat that is. I thought, “Humph, wonder if Apolo is still running around backstage.” So, I just typed in, “Is Apolo still around? I dug his shirt.” (You gotta understand. It took all my discipline to keep my questions kid-friendly.) Then, suddenly, right after I submitted my comment, the moderator announces, “Apolo is here!” He asked if anyone had any questions. I started shooting off every “Nickolodeonized” question I could come up with. “What’s you favorite flavor? Mine’s flan.” Instead, in seemed like most of the questions were coming from the moderator. Just seeing “Apolo Anton Ohno:” followed by a response filled me with delight. Bam! I was 8 again, but yes, still a very cool 8-year-old. Thank you. Here is the actual chat transcript: NickYapper: Apolo is here! NICKMare: If anybody has a question for Apolo Anton Ohno, please send it in... I think we have time for a couple NickYapper: Give me an impression of the whole show... NICKBird: What color slime do you think would go best with your outfit? emilie87: I LOVE U APOLO!! KCA_Star: Apolo Anton Ohno: it was fun! The kids were crazy! There was a lot of people here and it was crazy it was so loud! NickYapper: When's your next competition? KCA_Star: Apolo Anton Ohno: My next competition is in September and now I'm just relaxing... Siren264: Apolo is an awesome athlete! NickYapper: Anybody you really wanted to meet tonight? KCA_Star: Apolo Anton Ohno: Everybody. I wanted to meet Ashanti...everybody!! SportyPrep: Apolo, what is your favorite color? NickYapper: Were you in danger of getting slimed? KCA_Star: Apolo Anton Ohno: I got slimed!! KCA_Star: Apolo Anton Ohno: My favorite color depends on what kind of mood I'm in... AaronTay:if you could be any cartoon character, what would it be? NickYapper: Have you ever met anyone that made you starstruck? NICKMare: [giving Apolo a mood ring] KCA_Star: Apolo Anton Ohno: A little bit...I look at everybody as a person and just try to get to know them. There are a lot of good people. KCA_Star: Apolo Anton Ohno: Ohh...Superman. RainyNight: Is Apolo still around? I dug his shirt. MichBot1 : What is your favorite tv show? NICKMare: Ok folks, Apolo had to leave, but we'd like to thank EACH and EVERY one of you for Blabbin with us tonight!
Did you see that? I made the chat! However, what made it was the dumbest question/comment I had submitted. Gurg! Why did they pick that one? I submitted it BEFORE he showed up. Buh! Then he was gone. I bet he didn’t even see my comment — not that it really required a response. Maybe my comment was so dumb it scared him away. I was just so bummed. I guess I should be thrilled that I even made it onto the chat when so many people didn’t. However, I was bummed all the same. So, so totally close, but not really at all. Bummed. Bummed. Bummed. Then something occurred to me — a startling revelation. I scrolled back up to see the dialog again. Yes! Yes! Apolo is on top of me! Apolo is on top of ME! *Woo! Check me doin’ the little “chattin’ with Apolo” dance!* It was a grand, grand, but subtle Dark Blades moment forever immortalized in the history of Nickelodeon online chat. Apolo’s name is on top of Velma! (Er, Velma in disguise. Hmmm . . . gurg.) The tiniest of all possible victories is mine. Oh well. Better to have chatted and lost than never to have chatted at all. “There you have it . . . the biggest, messiest, loudest stunt ever right here on the Kids’ Choice Awards!” — Apolo
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So,
the day before the KCAs I went to the Nick site to make sure I was set up
properly to participate in the chat. It turned out all I had to do was set
up a screen name. Can you believe some nutty kid out there has already
taken the name Velma? The nerve! So, I had to come up with a new name.
Every time I clicked SUBMIT I was told the name I had chosen was already
taken. Amazing. I went through “TrueVelma,” “VelmaDay,” “SnowBird,”
“SnowDay,” “SnowyNite,” and “RainyDay.” All taken. How is that
possible?
However,
I was only watching for Apolo. When he first appeared I was struck by this
“broadcast personality” coming from him. I was like, “Oh, man. Who
is that?” It’s nice to know there is still so much about him that is
unknown, so many hidden capabilities. And . . . Dang! That controversial
dress shirt. I wasn’t in love with it, but I didn’t hate it. It was
refreshing to see him in something a little different.