One staff member of the show doesn't care about ratings, just getting a break.
"I've been working non-stop," says the show's beleaguered Applause Sign.
The sign says that he gets used up to 500 times during each episode, an all time record in his three-plus decades in the industry.
"I thought it was bad when I worked for the Tony Danza Show," he said. "Turns out the 'Boss' was nothing compared to this."
While the sign admits that Lopez is nothing but kind to him and that in this economy he's happy for the work, enough is enough.
"Sometimes they'll do a bit or interview Wanda Sykes and they'll push my button while I'm still getting applause from the last line!"
Such over use is common in shows. Many applause signs end up getting burnt out and retiring from the business. Shows that have had this effect on their applause sign include: the Mike and Maty Show (1994-1996), The Magic Johnson Show (1998) and the first incarnation of the Wanda Williams Show (2009). Those applause signs all moved out of town and have not been working in the industry since.
For the George Lopez Applause Sign though, he considers himself a pro and doesn't get phased easily.
"For me, there is no option to retire. I remember 1998. It was the height of the Lewinsky Scandal and talk shows everywhere were hitting their applause signs. If you can make it through a year like '98 with just a few burnt out bulbs, then you can make it through anything."
While the long term fate of the George Lopez Show has yet to be decided, for the Applause Sign, he'll keep doing his thing and leave the ratings to executives.
"All I can do is hang above the audience day after day, keep my bulbs clean and make sure I'm ready for next Gordon Ramsey cooking segment," the Sign says.
When asked for his plans for the show's upcoming break, the Sign says he has simple plans.
"I'll probably just do some chores around the house. My wife has to work. She's the Applause Sign for the Charlie Rose Show, so she's got it pretty easy," the sign chuckles to himself. "Boy, what I wouldn't give to not have to light up for Jack Hannah every 15 seconds for one night of being on standby in case a leading political or cultural figure of the day needed applause. Charlie Rose. Must be nice."
