Guest blogger Kerri Pomarolli
Here at Thought Quotient, we’ve been big fans of Kerri Pomarolli ever since we first met her at the 2006 GMA Awards in Nashville earlier this year. This actress - turned stand-up comic - is open and honest about her faith in Hollywood. We’re honored to have Kerri as a ‘guest blogger’ from time to time as she updates us on what she (and her husband Ron Mcgehee - check him out at www.funnyron.com) are up to.
A Blog by Kerri Pomarolli -
Stand Up Comedian, Supermodel Wannabe (‘Tyra, Call Me’)
I first got into stand up comedy because I wanted to do clean material in Hollywood. I had no idea what doors would be opened if I just started speaking my heart. Because my heart was to talk about what is real in my life and that really revolves around my walk with Jesus and all the crazy adventures that go along with us. It started out as me being the “Christian Chick” in the bars and clubs and then progressed to being a full time ministry using comedy. Thought Quotient has been very supportive of my ministry after we met at the Gospel Music Awards where I was honored to host the pre show. There’s nothing like doing stand up comedy with Amy Grant and Stephen Curtis Chapman in the front row! All I could think about was my first album - Amy Grant’s “Unguarded”. Anyway, there have been many wonderful opportunities for me to be an “out of the closet Christian” in Hollywood even though it’s a hard road. I remember when Mel Gibson got arrested how infuriated I was that no one was standing up for him and saying that he’s just a human like anyone else and he should be forgiven. It would not be a popular stance in Hollywood because a lot of people just hate him purely because of his faith and his stand on moral issues. They want to see him brought down.
Recently I got the call to be on the TV show Showbiz Tonight on CNN network as a Christian in Hollywood. I was thrilled for this chance to speak up for what we believe in on a secular network like this. I had no idea what we’d be talking about but I assumed it wouldn’t be too hard. The day of the interview they called and said, “Well, we think you should talk about Mel Gibson.. you’re on his team and he just went on Diane Sawyer and apologized and no one is buying it!” I knew this was my chance to stand up for what we Christians believe in … forgiveness … repentance … God’s grace. Ironically, he made a movie about the ultimate act of forgiveness and sacrifice in Jesus, after all. So, I agreed to talk about whatever they threw at me. I met with my good friend - super stylist to the stars, Wendy Shapiro - in the parking lot of Coffee Bean. We had to convince the guy who owns the Mexican place to open up so we could use his bathroom/dressing room. Yeah, I’m a high roller. She gave me the work up and I had my outfit all picked out and ready to go. At 1:00 a nice big limo came to pick Ron and I up. We had to pretend we were used to limos pulling up at our door, but we were pretty pumped. I was sad there was no free soda or candy in the back though. We arrived at the CNN tower a little before 2:00pm and they told me I had 10 minutes to get in make up and on the set. Yikes…10 minutes? I told the make up guy, “Make me look pretty” and he went to work. They use A LOT of make up on TV and I’m all for it..the more the merrier. I wanted to compete with the “big girls” on screen. He plumped and powered and smeared and I was good to go at 2:10 pm - they rushed me into a tiny black room. I was confused because there was just me and an earpiece and a camera. Ron got kicked out by security and was made to wait in the hall. He was probably stealing tea bags again from the office like he does in all the fancy hotels we stay at. So, all of a sudden I felt freaked out because I didn’t know what was going on. I was used to doing TV live with a host in the next chair. All of a sudden producers were speaking to me through this earpiece and the host was actually in another room and all I could do was look at the camera. Below the camera was a screen of the host’s face and my face but it was 3 second delay so if you looked down it would totally confuse you even more. All I heard was, “Ok, we’re ready Kerri” and then bam…we were on. The host lady didn’t waste one second - she came at me hard and fast about Mel Gibson and wouldn’t let up. I did my best not to sound like a “moron” and I kept up with her questions and said, “I’m Christian and yes, I forgive Mel Gibson.” She wanted me to elaborate and I did. I even made her laugh when I told her about my original ministry: JFK - Jews for Kerri! (I used to date cute Jewish boys and try to woo them over to our team with ham sandwiches.) Then it was over. I was relieved. My earpiece came on again and the producer voice said, “Well Kerri..that was great. You’ve moved up to our list of favorites. We’re definitely calling you in again!” I said, “Good - Christians are in right now. You need us!”
I got back in the limo with my husband and rode home feeling like God has gotten me through this and given me favor … not to mention all the people praying for me - let me get through this scary set up and do God’s Will! Amen! Can’t wait to write about the next chapter!
- Kerri
www.kerripom.com
