On Location: 'Mobbed' scene plays out at a mall in Glendale
It may look more like Bollywood than Hollywood: One thousand "flash mob" volunteers recruited via Craigslist and Twitter show up at a mall in Glendale, where they break out in a song-and-dance routine for the new Fox TV show "Mobbed."
The scene, among the more unusual film shoots in Los Angeles, filmed late last year at the Americana at Brand with 16 hidden camera crews. The pilot episode will play out Thursday on national TV as Fox premieres its latest reality show.
Hosted by Howie Mandel, "Mobbed" uses hidden cameras and thousands of unpaid volunteers recruited via social network sites who help special guests plan "extraordinary surprises" -- a marriage proposal or a husband learning that his wife is pregnant -- for friends, family members, loved ones and co-workers.
Thursday night's episode took one week of preparation but shot just one day at the Americana. Married choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" worked with the hundreds of volunteers, who performed two songs, "Everlasting Love" and "Forever." The unwieldy size of the cast, however, meant that the entire sequence had to be captured in real time, with only one chance to get the shot right.
"The whole event is a high-wire act,'' said Chris Cowan, executive producer of "Mobbed" and co-chief executive of Angel City Factory. "We're combining a hidden camera bit with over 1,000 choreographed amateur dancers performing two separate musical pieces. Either element is a risky investment for a network and putting them together is nuts, but it's a rush as producer to try and pull it off."
More rushes could be in store for Cowan. Similar mob scenes will play out across L.A. and other parts of the country if the show gets picked up by Fox.
RELATED:
'Mobbed' host Howie Mandel talks about his 'annoying' feud with Piers Morgan
-- Richard Verrier
Photo: Volunteers perform a dance routine at Americana at Brand in Glendale for the new Fox TV show "Mobbed." Credit: Eric Vlasik / Fox
Can you say S T U P I D ? ?
Posted by: CaliPHOBE | March 31, 2011 at 03:21 PM
Everyone that lives in Glendale knows why they filmed @ the Americana....No one shops there so they did not have to close it down to film. This is private property so the City got nothing other than traffic.
Posted by: Armen Hakobyan | March 31, 2011 at 05:10 PM
Brilliant! Loved it!
Posted by: Clinton | March 31, 2011 at 06:45 PM
This is the most fun I have had all week. LOVING IT! You are so lucky she is a good sport. MORE MORE MORE!
Posted by: MAGGIE CARTER | March 31, 2011 at 06:47 PM
FANTASTIC!!!
I love it already!!! and It's not even over yet!!
From an old soul ina not so young person
RIGHT ON!!!!!!
Posted by: Fred Bessette | March 31, 2011 at 06:49 PM
You are a class act howie!!!! WAY TO GO!!!!
Posted by: Fred Bessette | March 31, 2011 at 06:51 PM
Call me a hopeless romantic, I don't care!! I LOVED this show..GREAT JOB Howie!! psst..I love you Howie :)
Posted by: Lisa | March 31, 2011 at 06:59 PM
Great show. The performance and proposal brought me to tears!
Posted by: Temika | March 31, 2011 at 06:59 PM
It was a cute show but that poor girl got married on TV in front of thousands of people with her dress all opened up in the back....wish someone could have fixed it for her.
Posted by: Molly | March 31, 2011 at 07:00 PM
This show was AMAZING! My best hour of the week!!
Posted by: Jodi | March 31, 2011 at 07:02 PM
I love it I had tear in my eyes the show was great ....♥
Posted by: Amity | March 31, 2011 at 07:02 PM
i actually cried. and i don't do that. GREAT JOB!
Posted by: Tammie Pollard | March 31, 2011 at 07:02 PM
Can you say NOT?
Posted by: Tammie Pollard | March 31, 2011 at 07:04 PM
This is the worst reality tv show I have ever seen!!! They hurt the girl's feelings! They carried it way to far!It was like some terrible clown show! couldn't they at least let the girl fix her makeup and hair for her wedding! come on! Not to mention the pressure of having to say YES!! in front of a 1000 people! What do you think she's going to say! That doesn't mean that's how she really feels!! You didn't give her time to think!, What do you think the poor girl is going to say?!!No ? In front of a million people?!!! What wouldyou say? Please! Com' on!!!!!!
Posted by: Andrea | March 31, 2011 at 07:06 PM
I love love love this show. I can not wait until they have another one.
I wish I had a secret.
**** = 4 stars from me
Posted by: Lorie Ann Bosetti | March 31, 2011 at 07:06 PM
It was not stupid, it was beatifully done. if ever i feel down i will watch it. great pick me up. great ending to my day.
Posted by: Tammie Pollard | March 31, 2011 at 07:08 PM
I'm just an emotional mess but in a good way ...I love musicals and to break out in song to make a special day happen is just beautiful. i will be watching this show hoping that one day i can have a surprise given to me in this way!
Posted by: millie rivers | March 31, 2011 at 07:42 PM
My family and myself really enjoyed your show, it brought us to tears. Love it!!!
Posted by: Mandy J | March 31, 2011 at 09:51 PM
Great show! I love it, what an experience that she will never forget!
Posted by: melissa | March 31, 2011 at 09:56 PM
The show was definately fun and entertaining, it inspires and shows the general public what love can be. Maybe Howie's ratings will grow as much as the divorce rate in California.
Posted by: anonymus | March 31, 2011 at 10:16 PM
I saw this last night...OMGosh, it was way better than I thought it could be! Absolutely a fantastic show ... absolutely.
Posted by: RixRox | April 01, 2011 at 04:09 AM
Oh Andrea ... I think she will forgive him for giving her a night, a marriage proposal she will always look back on with love in her heart for the man that gave it to her. She forgave him the second that cop started singing...peace.
Posted by: RixRox | April 01, 2011 at 04:12 AM
the best part was when the dancers in front of the girl moved to the side and she saw her soon-to-be husband...i cried like i never have for any reality show
Posted by: christine | April 01, 2011 at 06:42 AM
Absolutely awesome! what a fairy tale...and great story to tell their children someday..all on film and was on national TV. Congratulations to the happy couple..I cried and laughed with you.
Posted by: Jayne | April 01, 2011 at 06:46 AM
Two Howie Mandel quotes:
Everything I got grounded or suspended for makes me a lot of money to do now.
When asked if he liked to play pranks in school, he replied that he was more into the school-wide extravaganza.
So, the show makes sense!
Posted by: Lisa | April 01, 2011 at 08:02 AM