Interview posted 08/28/2019
For background purposes, where are you from?

I am originally from Pittsburgh but I have lived in Baltimore for almost 10 years.

I work in annual giving at the University of Baltimore (fundraising for scholarships, etc.)

My hobby is my blog, Dinner is Served 1972. I established it in 2011. I basically collect cookbooks from the past and then cook from them. The biggest project so far was completing all 118 dinners from the original Dinner is Served 1972 recipe card set. you can read more at the site www.dinnerisserved1972.com

No. But I will now!

I don't know. I know it has been on for years. My boyfriend and I went through a phase a couple of years ago where we would watch it while eating dinner. We are currently watching The Office.

I didn't audition--the casting company reached out to me. Once I agreed there were many steps--multiple phone interviews, skyping and then they came to my apartment and filmed all of the footage that appears in the beginning of the episode.

For decades! I remember watching the show in reruns as a small child. In the mid 90s when I was in high school there was a 70s revival of sorts which coincided with the stage show The Real Live Brady Bunch, which ultimately became The Brady Bunch Movie. I saw the Real Live Brady Bunch at Slippery Rock College. They performed "Getting Davy Jones" and Davy was there playing himself. I bought one of my favorite t-shirts at that show--it was baby pink and had Davy's photo as well as "How about the flipside?" That shirt fell apart about 20 years ago.

They didn't tell me that they were the hosts! I wasn't acting when I came out and lost my mind. It is a very long day--and I was only there for the first round, It is a lot of being herded into multiple rooms and back out again, etc. Everyone was very nice, but there wasn't any food. Just inedible dry toast and tea. But it was a great experience and I had so much fun. Susan, Maureen, and Chris were lovely and charming. Chris totally eviscerated me for my dish--which was totally warranted. (they made it look better on tv than it was!) When I was Chopped I asked if I could say goodbye and all three came over and gave me giant hugs. The definitely knew I was a fan.

No. But I do plan on tuning in. I did ask them about it while we were setting up some of the segments.

This was one of the best things that has ever happened to me and it's all because of my retro food blog! I never expected it. Chris is now following me on instagram :) I can't believe that it is the 50th anniversary of the show. That blows my mind. I told Maureen how fabulous she looked. People have been trashing Susan's looks online and it's not cool and it's not true. She looks good, too. I assume that the kid who won had NO IDEA who they were when he entered the kitchen because they made him come back into the studio twice to look more surprised.