ABC's 'Supernanny' begins filming in Lincoln
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By ERIN ANDERSEN / Lincoln Journal Star
A brisk wind blows from the west, making it feel much colder than 34 degrees.
A TV boom camera focuses on the empty residential streets.
Headlights glow against the dreary gray sky. A shiny black Lincoln Taxi with a lit up orange sign, “London,” atop rounds the curve.
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'Supernanny' films in Lincoln
Jo Frost is in Lincoln to film an episode for the ABC hit series “SuperNanny.” A Lincoln family of five is spending two weeks with Frost ...
Its blinker signals a left turn. The taxi pulls into the driveway of a gray and brick two-story home and stops.
The back door opens. Out pop two legs, a gray skirt, black overcoat and an oversized handbag. The woman, hair tied back in a bun, walks confidently and purposely over the frozen snow mound and up the walk to the dark red door. She knocks and waits.
Seconds later she turns around and, like a video on rewind, goes back into the car, shuts the door and zooms off back down the empty street, around the curve and out of sight.
The last thing you see is the long yellow license plate spelling out the star’s identity: “SPRNANNY.”
The scene is repeated three more times before the production crew with the big large boom calls it a wrap. For now.
“Supernanny,” a.k.a. Jo Frost, is in Lincoln, featuring a northeast Lincoln family of five — mom, dad, two girls and one boy.
That’s really all Frost can say about it right now. The toys in the yard, a blue and yellow coupe car and two pink kick scooters, indicate the children are younger.
The Lincoln “Supernanny” episode will air sometime this season — no later than May — on ABC (cable channels 7 and 8).
During today’s filming, the family is not home.
Across the street, Dale and Jan Stuckenschmidt watch from their kitchen window, coming out every so often to see if they can catch a glimpse of Supernanny.
Jan Stuckenschmidt confesses she’s never seen the show. They intended to watch it last week, but forgot and invited friends over. They are a little preoccupied with this weekend’s wedding of their granddaughter, she explains.
As for the family across the street, they’ve been neighbors for about seven or eight years, Dale Stuckenschmidt says.
“I’ve always thought they were good kids,” Jan says, wondering what could have sparked Supernanny’s interest. “They’re cute as heck.”
Another neighbor describes the family as “quiet.”
Back across the street, Frost unexpectedly emerges from the car. She calls to her crew to offer hot tea to the shivering reporters waiting for their 10 minutes with her.
During a break in filming, Frost heads back to her RV. Inside she sits down with a cup of tea and a bowl of plump green grapes. Having donned the classic Supernanny gray suit, she talks rapidly about her job, her travels and the families she has met both in the United Kingdom and the United States.
She began her career as a teenage baby sitter and later, after college, became a full-fledged nanny. She has been in the child care business for two decades — helping with potty training, sibling rivalry, sleep issues, tantrums and numerous other family challenges.
Her trademark “Naughty Step” and “Your behavior is very naughty” have become national catchphrases.
In the interview, she explains her approach with the same directness and compassion she exhibits on the show.
Yes, she’s a TV star of sorts, but her mission is to help families. In addition to her show, which started in England, she has published two books through her Supernanny persona: “Supernanny: How to Get the Best from Your Children” and “Ask Supernanny.” In May, a third book, separate from the hit TV series, will be released: “Jo Frost’s Confident Baby Care,” which provides advice and suggestions for families in the first 12 months of parenthood. In addition to child-rearing issues, she helps families understand the changing family dynamic.
Her integrity is based on her work with families. That’s why the secrecy surrounding the location and identity of the selected family.
It’s important to be fresh and able to focus on the family issues at hand. Not only will her advice help a family of five in Lincoln, but may also be used by 16 million viewers across the country who tune in to the show.
“They are my main priority,” she says.
Reach Erin Andersen at 473-7217 or eandersen@journalstar.com.
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