Favorite Things: Crossing the Finish Line!

Welcome to Favorite Things!  Here at The Jill Dobson Show, your favorite Oprah segment lives on, as I reveal the coolest tech, beauty, home products and more... except without Oprah, without any TV airtime, and without the free giveaways.  Hey, I'm doing the best I can here!

Ever since my friend Alicia told me about a program called "Couch to 5K," I've been intrigued and inspired by the concept.  It's a workout plan designed to "transform you from couch potato to runner."  It aims to help non-runners ease into fitness, so that in just two months they are able to run 5K (3.1 miles). 

I love the idea, for several reasons.  Among them:

--My favorite thing in the world is a good makeover story.  So I can't get enough of Average Moms Wear Capes blogger Christie O's story of losing 40 pounds after starting Couch to 5K (and advancing to triathlons).

--I'm expecting a baby later this year, and the idea of returning to my old fitness regimen afterward is pretty daunting.  But the Couch to 5K program sounds like something I can do.  Here's Day One: Jog 30 seconds.  Walk 90 seconds.  Repeat.  I could do that!  And so could you, right?

--A recent issue of Fit Pregnancy magazine included this quote from reader Becky Frost: "After I had each of my two babies, I signed up for a half-marathon, trained for it and ran it about six months after giving birth." Ever since reading that, I've been inspired to try to do the same thing!

--I just learned my best friend Heather is doing the program, with an upcoming race later this summer.  Go, Heather!

--And the real kicker...  I was reviewing the blog stats for The Jill Dobson Show and I learned that one reader found my blog the following way: By googling the phrase "Jill Dobson Fat."  Ouch!*  The correct term for my condition is "pregnant," buddy.  Give a girl a break!  

You've heard the phrase "success is the best revenge," right?  When I successfully cross the finish line in a 2012 half-marathon, that dude (we all know it's a guy, right?) can belly up to his computer, google "Jill Dobson FaSt" and wish he had it in him to run 13.1 miles!  

But I digress.  Couch to 5K is one of my Favorite Things because it gives people a realistic, step-by-step way to achieve something they might not have ever otherwise achieved.  And that's awesome.  Kudos to the plan's creators.  And to everyone who's ever finished a 5K.  And to retired Quincy High School cross-country coach Andy Parzych, who inspired me through many a 5K, and whose words are with me every time I gear up for a workout: "The hardest step is the step out the door."  Thanks, Mr. P!  I'll head out the door now!

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*This is better, though, than the (ax-wielding?) reader who found my friend Ben Bowman's blog, The Boiling Point: A Journey in Improv, by googling "Benjamin Bowman Murder."  That kinda puts being called fat in perspective... at least no one seems to be actively plotting my demise! (Note: I asked Ben's permission to share this story.  He responded, "Feel free to use as you see fit.  Unless you plan on murdering me.  Then don't.") Love him!

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Casting Call: Ben Bowman

Welcome to another edition of Casting Call: Jill's Search for the Perfect Co-Host!  With each Casting Call, I advocate for someone I'd love as my future talk show co-host.  Eventually, the viewers (and the network executives) will make the final call.

Ben Bowman (red tie, 2nd from right) on the improv stage

Today's Casting Call features... Ben Bowman!  Years ago, when I was a reporter at WWMT News 3 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, producer Ben Bowman was one of my favorite co-workers.  To this day, he remains one of the all-time funniest people I've ever met. At News 3, not only did Ben brighten my day with his wisecracks, he also encouraged me to make the nearly 3-hour drive to Chicago to take improv comedy classes at Second City (proving grounds for Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Mike Myers, Joan Rivers, Fred Willard... the list goes on and on and on).  I followed his advice and drove to Chicago every Saturday for months.  I absolutely loved the improv world, and continued studying and performing when I moved to New York.  I recently raved about Ben when I was interviewed for this article... though, sadly, my glowing quote was cut and there was merely a fleeting mention of "a co-worker" instead.  Well, I say, now's the time for Ben Bowman to get his due!  
These days, Ben lives in Chicago, where he performs improv comedy at night, and works as a TV producer by day.  In fact, he once used his TV connections to get both of us tickets for Letterman, Ben's favorite 11:30pm funnyman.  (Although you wouldn't know it, from the title of Ben's recent YouTube clip, "Jay Leno is a Comedy God."  Click here to watch!)
Many of you commented that my previous Casting Call choice, Courtney Friel, might be too similar to me.*  The good news with Ben is that we're very different.  Different gender, different worldviews (one of us doesn't drink, the other strongly believes it's always "5 o'clock somewhere"), and different approaches to comedy.  I try to never really insult anyone.  Ben, meanwhile, recently wrote on Twitter, "Moments ago, I thought of former MTV VJ Jesse Camp.  Then I wanted to kill myself because I remember former MTV VJ Jesse Camp."  Another difference?  I'm married to Hollywood Super Agent Jim Ornstein.  Ben is single, despite great dating advice he has received through the years, like this gem he recently Tweeted:
Actual dating advice from my grandfather: "Say, 'You are even prettier than your sister.' Don't say, 'Your sister is even uglier than you!'"
(Ben is @BowmanInc, for those of you on Twitter.)
We're also different because Ben is funnier than me.  Fact: When I was doing improv comedy shows, my audience was always composed of friends and family members who were strong-armed into attending, while people (strangers!) actually pay money to see Ben's amazing performances.  Next time you're in Chicago, you must see one here!
And next time you encounter a high-level TV executive, please let her know that she really needs to greenlight The Jill Dobson Show... and that Ben Bowman deserves a shot at the co-host chair.  Gracias.

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*OK, not one person said Courtney and I are too similar.  Instead, I received several comments, via Twitter, of the "how many lingerie pillow fights will you have" variety.  I did not dignify such questions with a response.  The Jill Dobson Show is a family show, people!  (And, since you asked, we'll have four.)