Ryan O’Bryan to Guest Host Local 7 ‘Lifestyles’ Next Friday

I'm ready for my close up Mr. Deville.

Earlier this week, I received an e-mail from Laura Kirtley, the host of Lifestyles on WTVW, Local 7 that said that while they continue to search for a permanent replacement for Julie Dolan, who left a few weeks ago to take a job at a TV station in Lexington, KY, they've been inviting people to fill the empty chair as a guest host and wanted to know if anyone here at KISS would be interested in taking the gig for a day.

Normally, this would be a perfect opportunity for The Rob or Kat Mykals to get themselves out there for a little self (and station) promotion, but Lifestyles airs live from 8:00 to 9:00am, and since Rob and Kat are on the air with the morning show until 10:00, that counts them out. So I told Laura that if she didn't mind a second-tier, B-level talent, I'd be more than happy to be a part of the party. She accepted my offer and that was that.

Although it doesn't happen often, this won't be my first time in front of a camera. As a Communications major at USI, many of my broadcasting classes included learning the aspects of both TV and radio, a few those requiring performing in front of a camera as part of a class project. I've also done an quick interview or two for a TV station covering an event we're hosting. Certainly not enough to say that I'm comfortable in front of the camera.

Truth be told, even after doing this for 15+ years, I still get a little nervous from time to time. Not so much when I'm in the studio handling afternoon drive every Monday through Friday from 2-6pm (shameless plug), but more when I'm taken out of that "comfort zone". You see, from time to time, I'm asked to make public appearances that can be anything from talking to the group of what seems to be nearly 100 students at Youth Resources, to speaking to a class of wide-eyed, aspiring broadcasters taking the same classes I took during my day's at USI, to kicking off a performance of the Shrine Circus inside the Ford Center. Regardless of the engagement, I get antsy before each one, pacing back and forth, going over what I'm going to say in my head, and yawning. That's right, for some reason when I get a bit nervous, I yawn. I don't know why, I just know that I do.

But there's one thing that provides comfort in each of those situations, the microphone. It's like my big boy pacifier. Holding the mic brings me back to that comfort zone I have in the studio. It's familiar. Plus, it gives me something to do with my hands. I do a lot of talking with my hands. Even in the studio when I'm talking to you every day. For example, anytime I tell you about something that requires you to make a visit to this website, I point to the computer that sits to my right in the studio. Why? I have absolutely no idea.

When I sit in the guest host chair on Lifestyles next Friday, the mic will be clipped to my shirt in some fashion, leaving my hands free to keep themselves occupied in some way. Mark my words, I guarantee those hands will dance in some way to illustrate whatever point I'm trying to make.

Laura was nice enough to send me a rundown of the show and the times I'll be involved, so I at least have a rough idea of how things will flow. But what will I say? See, that's another issue I have. Instead of relaxing and letting the conversation flow then chiming in based on what's being talked about, I almost want to script everything out. Plus, I also put an immense amount of pressure on myself to be funny and I want to come off that way, not because I'm hoping they invite me back someday, but because I'm putting myself out there and want people to really get to know who I am.

I'm probably over-thinking the whole thing, and I'm sure it will all go smoothly. Or it will be a total train wreck. I guess you'll have to tune in and see next Friday, October 5th at 8am to see which way it goes, won't you?