This is the one where we finally brought on our very first guest, and it had to be her. Episode 11 is a phone call with Heather Day, better known to a whole generation of Philadelphia kids as Princess, the standout regular from the show the two of us grew up on. It aired September 8, 2016, and it plays like three old friends who have not skipped a beat, because that is exactly what it is.
Princess joined us from back home in Philly while we were out in Vegas, and we went straight back in time: how she got discovered, how she got her name, and the Prince story we had honestly never heard her tell before. If you were a regular on Dance Party USA or you just watched it every day after school, this one is going to hit.
What you’ll hear in this episode
- How a teenager dancing on top of the speakers at a club called Pulsations got scouted for the show, and the very petty reason she said yes. [11:00]
- The real story behind the name Princess and the signature teardrop she swore she would not take off until she met Prince. [13:30]
- What it was actually like co-hosting with Bobby every week, and her final verdict on him after all these years. [18:08]
- The night she came shoulder to shoulder with Prince at a Philadelphia after-party, and the unspoken rule that kept her from saying a word to him. [27:04]
- Her teenage pilgrimage to Minneapolis to watch Prince kick off the Lovesexy tour in his hometown. [31:37]
- How she turned a lifetime of dancing into a second act with her Awakenings pole and aerial fitness studios, with a third location opening in New Orleans. [39:02]
- Marlon Dow’s heartfelt tribute to Gene Wilder, including the wild fact that Aerosmith wrote Walk This Way after watching Young Frankenstein. [42:30]
The whole call runs on the friendship, and nobody sells that better than Jason explaining why he needed this one:
“I’m hosting this little garage podcast with Bob, and you had an opportunity to host with him every day on TV. It drives me to drink a little bit.”
Jason, [17:31]
Then there is the Prince story, which is the heart of the episode. She was maybe fifty feet from him in a VIP room, spinning in circles trying to find him, when she finally bumped right into him:
“I turn around to say sorry or excuse me, and here it was Prince.”
Princess (Heather Day), [27:04]
She never did get to speak to him, because she knew the rule, you do not talk to Prince unless Prince talks to you. It is a small, perfect story, and it explains why so many people reached out to her when he passed in 2016. To a generation of viewers, Prince and Princess were practically the same memory.
About Heather Day (Princess)
Heather Day, known to a generation of Philadelphia teenagers as Princess, was one of the brightest regulars on Dancin’ on Air and went on to co-host Dance Party USA on the USA Network around 1989 to 1991. She was discovered dancing atop the speakers at a teen club called Pulsations, and her handmade wardrobe, her teardrop, and her open devotion to Prince made her the show’s biggest female star, with fan mail arriving by the hundreds every week. After the show she moved into fitness, was named Miss Philadelphia Fitness in 1997, and today she owns Awakenings Pole Fitness, with studios in the Manayunk and King of Prussia areas and a married mom of two life she talks about warmly here. She is one of the regular teens who became local stars, and one of the best stories in the whole where are they now conversation.
Original 2016 show notes
Official 80s royalty joins Bobby and Jason for this weeks episode. It’s the one and only Princess bringing lace, love and kisses to the podcast.
It’s time to talk memories as these three lifelong friends get down to sharing experiences and busting some myths that may surprise you!
Did Princess ever REALLY meet Prince?
What WAS the deal with that teardrop?
Was she ALWAYS Princess when she came on “the show”?
Her and Bobby share some co-hosting memories.
Jason gets on the couch and asks her for advice on how to deal with Bobby on a daily basis.
It’s as if time hasn’t passed and it was all just yesterday. 80s Time Travel Machine to the Max!
She continues to this day to share her love of dance and fitness with her ultra-successful pole fitness studios AwakeningsPoleFitness.com.
The guys don’t know what they’re missing. =)
Marlon brings it with his “Moment” and Bobby and Jason with a tribute to Gene Wilder and a “cheer-up” with Salma Hayek. He shares some of his memories of Princess as well.
80s Mailbag and your comments are in full effect.
Desperado, Issac Hayes, Pure Imagination and a dash of Erotic City…what more could you possibly want (or need) in your weekly dose of Bobby and Jason?
Be sure to check out Princess’ FB page and say “hi!”
Enjoy!
FAQ
Who is Princess from Dance Party USA?
Princess is Heather Day, a standout regular on Dancin’ on Air who later co-hosted Dance Party USA on the USA Network. She got the nickname from a roll call on the show and kept it.
What is Episode 11 about?
It is Bobby and Jason’s first-ever guest, a warm catch-up with Princess about getting discovered at Pulsations, hosting the show, her lifelong Prince fandom, and what she does now.
When did this episode air?
It was released September 8, 2016, as part of Season 1.
What does Heather Day do now?
She owns Awakenings Pole Fitness, teaching pole and aerial fitness in the Philadelphia area, with a third studio opening in New Orleans.
Where can I listen?
Play it right here on the episode page, or find Bobby and Jason’s Awesome 80s Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
