Last week, I, along with five of my fellow cast mates, was lucky enough to go to a special preview screening of the first episode of Big Break Ireland in New York City.
We arrived in the Big Apple on Monday, got settled into the city and ordered in Chinese for the night. Our plan was to visit SoHo, do a little shopping and get ready for our Big Day on Wednesday. As we sat and chatted in the small two-bedroom NYC apartment (Annie’s older sister Ellie’s place), the discussion quickly turned to Wednesday’s special screening. “What is it going to be like?” “It is going to be so weird seeing and hearing ourselves on TV?!” “How are we going to be portrayed and come across to the audience?” The conversation seemed to come up like word vomit between all of us.
Tuesday, we wandered around NYC taking in the sights and keeping ourselves occupied until the big day.
Wednesday morning. We wake up to a message: “Sending this to all of you… there are a LOT of things said by y’all during the series that we use. This is reality TV, so just want you to be prepared.” Everyone was still pretty much sleepy or sleeping and I sat up immediately wide-awake!! “Oh, no!?! What does this mean?! Did you all get this message?!” I said loudly to everyone else as I read the statement aloud. Everyone acknowledged they got it as well and stress levels rose immediately as we start to gossip about what this can mean to all of us, and secretly wonder what this means for us as an individual. What are we going to look like to the rest of the world? WE know what truly happened there those two weeks, but they can’t show all of it, there isn’t enough airtime, and now we are all the closest friends. Slight panic, “Are we going to be friends after this airs? Am I about to lose someone I am close to now? Did I say something or did they? Did they mean it? Smack talk my golf all you want but are they going to say something about me as a person?”
After breakfast we packed up and went to catch a cab to head to the Warwick Hotel. Thank you, Tourism Ireland for the great digs!! It was absolutely beautiful. After we all arrived and got our stuff in our rooms, we occupied ourselves until it was time to get ready. We occasionally chatted about the message again. Trying to recall if we said or did something… keeping our minds busy and trying not to over stress. Not gonna lie, I was a mess inside and Mallory seemed to be on the same page, as well. The others had their moments, too.
Walking to The Perfect Pint was a blur. I wanted to get there so badly and sit down and watch the show. It was surreal walking in, getting to see some familiar faces and new ones who were there to watch us on the show!! That was mind blowing, and I still do not think it sunk in completely. We went up to the viewing-room, and there in the center was our Big Break Ireland poster. Looking at ourselves on that poster was jaw-dropping, grin ear-to-ear, excitement! I just could not believe this was really about to happen, after three months of waiting this is about to hit big time television for the world to see. It was picture time with the cast, nerves set aside for a moment, but after that was done we realized we were within the hour of watching ourselves on TV! I was too anxious to eat so we all decided to take a delicious baby Guinness shot; “Cheers I love you all no matter what. We are the only ones who know what truly happened. We didn’t know each other then like we do now.”
We walked in and took our seats, all sitting together. Nerves were running high waiting for the show to start, and I truly felt like I was going to vomit. But weirdly after the show started and I saw us, US! My friends and I on the screen, all the nerves left me and I just watched, screeching with laugher, taking in the snide comments, and just sat in amazement. There was still a little rollercoaster of nerves going on but it was truly amazing!
After the show finished we all were so happy together. We all know that things are going be said. The pressure while you are there is more than anyone could ever imagine. Emotions are running high, you’re tired, you’re hopped up on adrenaline, and fighting for the win. We all understand that, and at the end of the day, the same people who may have talked a little crap on you were also the ones who comforted you. We are our own Big Break Family.
Cheers to Golf Channel for capturing us on and off the golf course. And world, you better be ready for the greatest season ever of golf. Sadly, you won’t be able to see all of it, as there is too much to show, but know it is all stunner golf skills!
Have fun watching this season of Big Break Ireland!
Nicole Smith
