And 3, 2, 1…and we’re rolling. As the audience rises from its seats with a round of applause, Anderson Cooper and his co-host of the day, Stacy London, stride onto the Anderson Live set, settle in to their posts, and dive right into the episode’s First 15. Talk hops from the hot dog, beer and peanuts-flavored Ballpark Gum, to the dapperly-dressed Menswear Dog, to a love note between two smitten 8th grade students, and to Unicorn Poop cookies.

Following the fun fluff, it’s on to Anderson Live Alert about revenge porn, a growing phenomenon that sees scorned exes post sexually-explicit photos of their former girlfriends or wives on websites. After hearing from two victims and their lawyer, Anderson brings in a legal expert as he speaks over the phone to the webmaster — who shields his identity with an alias and distorted voice — who operates the porn site.

The show wraps up on a lighter note, with the always-affable Today co-host Hoda Kotb dishing on her new book, 10 Years Later, which chronicles how adversity transformed the lives of six inspiring individuals, and the highlights of her career — winning an Emmy, a Murrow and of course, getting Anderson drunk.

But what shakes down on the set of Anderson Live when the cameras aren’t rolling?

Before, during and after taping each episode, there’s plenty of smiles, laughter and memory-making shared among the team.

As Anderson prepares for show in his private quarters (where spiffy suits seem to line the walls), the show’s guests are graciously escorted into their dedicated dressing room at CBS Studios, where some snacks, water, a television and a release form await them. Before long, an Anderson Live team member leads each to the land of the glam squad, where Kristi whips hair into masterpieces and Travis works his makeup magic.

All along, producers bounce around, briefing the Blogger of the Day and prepping guests for their specific segments. Before descending a few floors to the set, the audio team straps a mic pack to the waistbands of all on-air participants, asking for a speedy sound check before giving them the green light.

Under the bright spotlights of the studio, a center-stage perch awaits Anderson, his co-host of the day and guests, as executive producer Terence Noonan and his trust pet pooch, Nico, settle into the side-stage setup, which broadcasts a steady stream of Anderson Live-related tweets on a display board. The studio audience is already settled into the cushioned seats, chuckling at the wisecracks of Dena Blizzard, the comedienne charged with warming up the crowd each taping.

Even after the episode gets under way, commercial breaks provide a breather: producers pop on and off to provide Anderson with notes and props; the hair-and-makeup team dash in to tend to touch-ups on both the hosts and guests; and Dena calls for impromptu dance-offs among the studio audience.

After it’s all a wrap, Anderson scurries over to his in-studio photo booth, where he snaps candid shots with his guests, audience members and the Blogger of the Day before disappearing down the halls. As the staff swiftly tidies up the set, guests are ushered back up to the dressing rooms to pick up their personal belongings. Then it’s ta-ta (for now), as each is chaperoned to an awaiting car service just outside of CBS studios.

How did you land this sweet gig?
I love when people ask me what they’d have to do to get my job. What I usually tell them is you only have to work in crappy bars in Philly as a waitress getting beer splashed on you for about six years.

That’s it? Something had to come between warming up for Anderson and serving PBRs.
I started doing standup ten years ago. I had just had my second baby and my husband Jimmy, who was in the army reserves, was sent oversees after 9/11. I was home with the kids all the time and the only time I talked to grown-ups was when I was doing stand-up routines at night. Then I got this call from a friend who was working for Paula Deen in Savannah.

The Paula Deen?
Yup. I was asked to warm up her audience for a show called “Paula’s Party,” which was shot in her brother’s restaurant. It was not your average talk show, so I came up with a really conversational, loose way of warming up the audience. I’d just talk to them, ask them questions. I’d invent games they could play on the spot that made no sense. I’d be like, ‘I need two balls and a monkey,’ and see what people would come up with.

You’re not like any “warm-up” coach I’ve ever seen (I went to a few tapings of “The Jon Stewart Show” in the ’90s). You’re much more personal and interactive. You’re also a woman.
I’m actually the only warm-up woman working full time in New York. Before Anderson–who is wonderful, by the way–I worked for Nate Berkus and Emeril. There are only about six of us with warm-up jobs right now in New York. Comedy is really a boys club. I’ve actually been recommended for a job and turned down when they found out I was a woman.

Their loss. This is your calling. What’s your psychological tactic for making people dance to Ke$ha at 7 in the morning in a freezing cold studio?
I like to get people feeling comfortable with each other, because if you’re comfortable you’ll really be able to enjoy yourself. So the first thing I do when people sit down in the studio, is I have them introduce themselves to their seat neighbors. Then suddenly everyone starts to loosen up. I also like just finding out about people in the audience. Did you see that priest with the dance moves today? That was a first for me.

You’ve got three young kids. Do they think you’ve got the coolest job ever?
Everyone thinks I’ve got the coolest job ever, including my kids. I brought my daughter to the set of “Anderson Live” last year on Take Your Kid to Work Day. She loved it. But when it comes to doing my stand-up, my kids never see that. It’s too dirty.

Right, you have a night-career as a comedian that’s far less FCC-friendly, than your morning persona.
Weekends were when I used to do stand-up. With “Anderson” I’m working from four in the morning, five days a week, and I feel guilty working on the weekends because then I don’t get to see my kids. So I’ve actually being doing less of that, but I still have a one-woman show, and I’ve posting sketch comedy videos to my website. I’m also hosting one of the preliminary events for Miss America.

Is it true you’re actually a former Miss New Jersey?
I was a Miss Jersey before my kids ruined everything.

Last question: can we be friends?
It’s on!