Looking Back at NBCU Page Program Memories

November 15, 2023

As we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the NBCU Page Program, hear from some former NBCU Pages on their favorite memories from New York's, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the Universal Lot in Hollywood, and beyond.

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^{Ria Gazdar with NBC CEO Bob Wright, An SNL Ticket from 1990}

Ria Gazdar

From watching Madonna during her rehearsal, attending the wrap party at the end of the season with A-List celebrities, or being on the 8H floor when Paul McCartney gave an impromptu performance, Ria Gazdar’s most memorable moments as a Page were the times she got to work Saturday Night Live.

One of her favorite SNL memories was working the show during the 1993 Storm of the Century. 

The Pages were asked to call upon their local friends / family to come in (to be in the SNL audience). I had my cousin and his friends come to the show,” Gazdar said. “We walked across 50th Street with snow up to our knees!

When Ria Gazdar and some of her fellow Pages were selected to work an event on the executive floor, they were introduced to NBC CEO Bob Wright.

I remember being wow'd by the executive floor, the catering, the views, it was all very
impressive.

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^{Matt Maggiacomo at the 2007 Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting}

Matt Maggiacomo

The Rockefeller Tree Lighting is one of the most iconic moments of the holiday season.

Matt Maggiacomo remembers shuttling the VIP guests – which included the cast of 30 Rock, which was in its second season at the time – through Rockefeller Plaza while working the Tree Lighting in 2007.

I specifically remember the moment when (after the performances) a carpet was rolled out onto the surface of the ice and all attendees of the party (including the Pages) were allowed to step out onto the surface of the ice to view the lighting from the base of the tree and fountain,” Maggiacomo said. “Totally spectacular, and a wonderful bucket list and bonding moment!

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^{Caroline Perez poses with her Page Cohort on Bryant Gumbel’s last day}

Caroline Perez

Caroline Perez and her Page Cohort had a special part in saying goodbye to former TODAY Show anchor Bryant Gumbel on his last day in 1997. The cohort gathered on the Plaza at 4:45 am and flipped over a sign that read “Thanks for 15 great years!”.

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^{Gary Hamilton at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2005}

Gary Hamilton

Gary Hamilton recalls working the overnightshift for the 2005 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He got to see Rihanna, Natasha Bedingfield, The Beach Boys, and Carrie Underwood in rehearsal before the big show.

It was magical seeing essentially an empty Macy's/Herald Square Park turn into this beautiful stage for all the world to see,”Hamilton said. “On the day of the parade, there was a magical feeling in the air, and we were all proud...I think it's evident by our smiles in the photo.

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^{Dan McNamee meeting Willard Scott}

Dan McNamee

Former Page Dan McNamee was featured in the pilot episode of a show called Willard’s World. It filmed in Studio 8G in front of alive studio audience. Though the show never made it to air, McNamee still remembers the experience, where Willard Scott asked him what his career goals were.

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^{Josh Weiner in the Page Program Brochure}

Josh Weiner

This brochure from the late 90s was distributed in the 30 Rock lobby and mailed out to anyone who inquired about the Page Program.
 
Josh Weiner and some of his fellow Pages got to be featured in the brochure. He remembers the pictured Pages were working in a variety of positions, from late night, to news production, to corporate functions.

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_{Dominique Roach at the premiere for The Fate of the Furious.}

Dominique Roach

While on assignment for the Universal Pictures Publicity team, Dominique Roach got to attend multiple movie premieres and screenings, one being for The Fate Of The Furious. 

I recall there being a lot of excitement that Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren were joining the cast for this installment,” Roach said. “Instead of a Red Carpet, there was a Grey Carpet to match the film's aesthetic-it was buzzing with a lot of energy every time somebody from the cast arrived.

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^{Jeff Lloyd meeting Jay Leno in Burbank}

Jeff Lloyd

In his 20s, Jeff Lloyd found himself on the guest list for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Attending the taping made him certain he wanted to become a Page. After the Page Program, Lloyd later became the Page supervisor for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for three and a half years!

I realized early on in my life I needed to be working on stage or in the booth on the production

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^{Page Program Diplomas}

Christina Noval

Every Page gets to celebrate their completion of the Page Program with a graduation ceremony. At the event, they are awarded with diplomas and hear from NBCU Early Career Leaders. Pages invite anyone at the company who has supported them throughout the year to the ceremony.