On September 6, 2005, The Slime
Society had the privilege of interviewing cast member Sarah West
about her time on YCDTOTV. Sarah was an original cast member of
YCDTOTV, taking part in the live CJOH broadcasts of 1979. Below
is the transcript.
 How
did you get involved with YCDTOTV in 1979?
I
was attending Ridgemont High School. My dramatic arts teacher told
us about auditions that were being held to be in a new kids show
at CJOH. I had been involved in a "think tank" earlier
in the year about what kind of shows would appeal to kids. When
I went to the audition, I realized it was the same people involved.
I did a screen test. They asked me to do a southern accent because
I had spent a couple of years in Virginia. I attempted and then
started giggling and giggled my way out of the shot.
Since you were a part of the premiere
season with more of a "live" feel, please tell us about
the atmosphere in the studio and during tapings. I would imagine
it was tough doing a live show with taped segments.
Most of the segments were taped. Most of the live parts were more
like segues from one skit to the next. It was fun being in the studio.
We would rehearse one week, tape the next and the show would air
on Saturday morning. We would go to the studio every day after school
and on Saturdays. We had great wardrobe. All our outfits were from
a very cool store downtown called Flash Cadillac. You know, satin
pants with flashing lights on the back pocket, etc.
Do you remember how many episodes
you were a part of during 1979? In our records, we only have you
confirmed in two episodes.
I think
I was in three. But one of them I don't believe I was in much. I
was the eldest girl on the show and I think the show appealed more
to pre-teens. The most successful kids on the show were about 12.
I was 17.
Why didn't you go on with the show
after 1979?
I discussed
it with Roger Price and we decided I was too mature for the show.
Hey, if I had known where the show was going I would definitely
have tried to stay on in whatever capacity I could!
Time
for some name association...
Les Lye -- He was the adult that held the show together.
Probably one of the funniest people I've ever met. He was very easy
to work with!
Ruth
Buzzi -- I met her when she came to do the network
show. My favorite scene with her was in the movie theatre when Jonathan
took one of her sweets and it turned out she was sucking on them
and then spitting them back in the bag.
Christine McGlade
-- Moose was wonderful on camera and a great girl! I remember her
buying a Fiat Spider before she was even 16.
Roger Price -- Roger
is probably the hardest person to explain. He was very childlike.
He would goof around on the set, but you sure didn't want to get
him mad! He definitely knew what he was doing, didn't he?
Geoffrey Darby --
I had a big crush on our director Geoffrey Darby!!! We would go
out to the teen disco to find people to appear on the show. I remember
dancing with Geoffrey. I heard that he went to Nickelodeon.
What was it like to work with such
a TV veteran like Ruth Buzzi?
I didn't work with her, but I did meet her when
she was in town and I think she might have been at one or two of
our workshops. She was very kind to all the kids and gave us advice
on what to do with all our down time when taping.
You got slimed during the early years
of the green stuff. Tell us about the consistency and the experience.
You know we invented it! Originally it was green jello, flour and
water and would dry like paste on your skin. Green slime has come
a long way since then!
On
one show in 1979, the plot surrounded the cast trying to get you
a date. How true to life was that plot?
I
was the prize for a contest, actually. I went on a double date with
a local DJ who was featured on our show. I got dressed up in a chiffon
dress and we went to the Hayloft for dinner and then roller skating.
I'll never forget skidding along the floor on my behind with chiffon
flying everywhere! I don't think my date was impressed.
Any funny stories you have from the
1979 season? Any "live" goofs that you remember?
In 1979, I learned that 13-year-old boys were very
dangerous! I had to be quick on my feet when Kevin and Jonathan
were around.
It was a great year. I got to participate in lots of activities
in the studio and in the community.
I don't really remember any goof-ups on the set. I do remember hanging
out alot at the studio.
The
1979 season featured some live musical guests. Did you get to interact
with any of them? What was it like having rock stars on your show?
"Here
they come, the boys in the bright white sports car" ... that
was my favorite song. I didn't meet the band, but I did see their
performance.
We had the privilege of going to a concert as well ... The Village
People!!! Don't know whether that's something I should be telling
people, but Moose and I were there in our flourescent overalls!
Did
you continue watching YCDTOTV after you left? Did you like the fact
that the show moved away from the local, live version to the 30-minute,
syndicated taped show?
I
didn't watch much after I left the show. I think I was trying to
be grown up. But when Nickelodeon started and I had children of
my own, I really noticed how much of an impact our little show had
on children's television today!
Were
you shocked to see how popular the show was around the world?
Not
really. When people asked me about it, I would tell them it was
kind of like Laugh-In for kids. Especially
with all the skits and the locker joke scenes. And of course kids
love bathroom humor and we had a lot of that!
What
are you up to now? Did you want to continue acting, or did you pursue
other things?
The
summer after the first year I helped our television acting coach
at a summer camp. After that, I never pursued anything as far as
acting. But I am certainly not afraid to get up in front of a crowd
or do something a little whacky every once in a while.
I live in Jacksonville, Florida, now. I'm a registered nurse and
I have two children. My daugher is 17, and my son is 13. I'm a single
mom, so it's a good thing I still have my sense of humour!!!
The Slime Society wants to thank Sarah
for shedding more light on what it was like to be a part of the
original 1979 cast of YCDTOTV. Good luck in Florida, Sarah!
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