It pays to have friends in the TV business! One of my former co-workers now works at CNN in Atlanta and offered to give us a tour while we were in town.  The big news nerd in me knew that was too good to pass up!

It was a Saturday, and things were pretty slow.  But we did get to see the control rooms in action and it was just so impressive!

I had no idea the CNN Center used to be a theme park – but seriously, I”m not surprised.  The inside is so impressive to look at.  It also houses a multi-story escalator, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest freestanding (supported only at its ends) escalator in the world.

While you wouldn’t be able to get the special friend tour of CNN, they do offer tours for the public available at a small cost.  If you are a news junkie, I would think it’s totally worth it!

Inside the CNN Center.

Inside one of the CNN Studios.

CNN En Espanol

Hanging out with Christina, a former producer of mine here in Orlando!

Me in front of the mothership at CNN headquarters.

The boys in front of CNN Headquarters in Atlanta.

Patrick freaked when he found the Cartoon Network store!

The main control room at CNN.

I may have been very excited for the CNN Tour!

The boys hanging out at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

Brendan, on set at CNN.

Brendan has already nailed the “being talent” portion of the job.

This Humvee was used by Anderson Cooper.

So….many….monitors. This is where all the producers, editors, etc. sit inside the CNN Newsroom.

I mean – how amazing does this look?

Working away at the CNN Weather Center.

He’s got the whole world….

Patrick’s big prize from the cartoon network store.

Your future news anchor, Patrick.

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