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Local teen adds to discussion on Nickelodeon show

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Hayley Hughes

JANESVILLE — Marshall Middle School eighth-grader Hayley Hughes' chose a big audience for her first film or theatre appearance: national TV.

Hayley, 13, had her time in the spotlight after flying to New York for taping of the Nickelodeon show "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee." The topic of the episode was "Some things I want my parents to know … But may not tell them."

Her route to the show came with a little luck.

Nickelodeon producers had contacted Marshall officials about its single-gender classrooms for an episode on the topic, but deadlines didn't shake out, said Marcia Schwengels, a learning support teacher.

Producers mentioned they were looking for students to participate in an episode of "Nick News," and Marshall teachers nominated two students, she said.

Based on phone interviews with students from across the country, Nickelodeon picked 10 students—five from the New York area and five to be flown in, said Jill Plenty, Hayley's mom.

Producers interviewed Hayley by phone twice, the first time mainly to get to know her, then asking specific questions to gauge her answers. After that, it was off to New York City.

"She's a very, very mature young lady, so it worked out perfect," Schwengels said.

Hayley flew out Jan. 6 for the taping, along with her mother and father, Tom Hughes, and several other family members.

The 22-minute episode took almost three hours to film.

"It was a long process but a really neat experience and really fun," Hayley said.

The show featured comments from parents. Host Linda Ellerbee, who sat cross-legged next to Hayley and nine other students, posed questions on topics such as a child's privacy, parents' views on their child's friends and the relationship between a parent and child.

"Linda was really nice," Hayley said. "Between takes, she would talk to us, and say, 'In show biz that means you have to...' She kind of gave us the inside scoop."

Hayley admitted she was nervous, and "I didn't really talk that much," she said.

That's unlike when she's with her friends, who were surprised to see her so quiet on the show, she said.

Hayley commented on several issues in the roundtable-type discussion, including how kids worry about parents just as parents worry about kids. She said she worries because her dad drives a lot for work.

"Especially like in Wisconsin, we have really bad winters where there's always icy roads or snow drifts … It's so easy to get into a car accident … It worries you," she said on the show.

The show aired Sunday night but is available online at www.nick.com.

While the topic was to talk about things kids didn't want to tell their parents, Plenty said nothing Hayley shared came as a surprise.

"She's a pretty good kid—open and honest," Mom said. "There weren't any surprises."