Gaining Traction in LA

It's been an exciting few months for WheelsTV. We've been busy meeting with various potential cable and satellite distribution partners, working on new programming, licensing some of our library for VOD and making the rounds in LA.

While in LA we had a chance to meet with an old friend, Jay Leno, whom I have worked with in the past. As most of you know, Jay is a true car enthusiast. He puts much of his pay check into his rare collector cars, many of which he drives around LA on a daily basis.

Because Jay works long hours, he likes to have his meetings after the show, right in the Tonight Show studio. So, he invited my associates, John Coscia, Greg Willis and I to come to the show and meet with him afterwards.

We ran late at the previous meeting. So, when we got to the studio, we were quickly ushered to our seats as the audience was being warmed up and coached on how to act when the show's taping began.

The show started at 4:30 local time. Jay ran on stage to tumultuous applause from folks who had waited long hours to see the show. (The woman next to me had waited since 1:00 a.m. the night before.)

Of course, when Jay comes on, those in the first few rows jump up and high five Jay. When the crowd all jumped up, Greg and I looked at each other and said, "Why not?" We were the only members of the audience in business suits. Jay got a chuckle out of that. The moment was a cameo for Greg and me. We were seen by numerous friends watching at home... even my brother who lives and works in Seoul, South Korea!

The show was great, as usual. Jay had Reese Witherspoon on. She talked about her hit movie, "Vanity Fair," and about her dad who collects old Cadillacs and parks them all over the front yard of the family home... much to her mother's chagrin!

Jay also had the Women's U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Team on and for music, Tim McGraw and his band.

After the show, we met with Jay right on the Tonight Show set and talked about his participation in WheelsTV. Jay, being the car nut that he is, is very interested in what we are doing. He is busy with the Tonight Show for a few more years, but with Conan O'Brien taking over in '09, we're hoping to see Jay on WheelsTV in the future.

By the way, Jay drove his new red Ford GT to the studio on this night. Jay was a real gentleman and had his cameraman take some shots of us. One of which you see, here. Of course we brought him some goodies... A WheelsTV hat and press kit and a DVD of a documentary of another old friend of Jay's, Rex Trailer, who was a TV cowboy here in Boston for many years when Jay and I were growing up. Jay is in the documentary and he appreciated getting the DVD. Rex was also my mentor when I was first getting into the TV business... but that's a story for another time.

Meanwhile, thanks for your interest in WheelsTV. We'll be making some big press announcements soon. So, keep an eye on this website.

Thanks and please drive safely,

Jim Barisano