5 Things You Didn’t See on TV at the CNN Democratic Debate

Thursday’s CNN Democratic debate from the Brooklyn Navy Yard is New York’s first presidential primary debate in a generation.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders faced off in front of a jam-packed room of supporters and VIPs.

The heated discussions including moderator Wolf Blitzer grilling Sanders on releasing his taxes, Sanders hitting Clinton over Iraq and her willingness to take large sums from big banks, and Clinton hitting back at him for recently questioning her qualifications, were all aired live on CNN.

But what went on behind-the-scenes? TheWrap was on location and reveals five things you didn’t see on TV.

Also Read: Bernie Sanders Promises to Release Income Statement on Tax Day

Everyone is here … literally everyone
CNN has credentialed nearly 600 reporters, including all of the media world’s major players. Spike Lee, Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio were been spotted. The folks from Funny or Die are even filming a video in the crowd. One person who isn’t in attendance is CNN’s Don Lemon, who is back at the New York studio just in case something bad happens with the feed from Brooklyn.

The media room doesn’t react to anything
In sports, they say there is a “no cheering in the press box” unwritten rule. Well, the reporters covering the Democratic debate must follow the same code of ethics. When boos, cheers and laughter erupted from the debate next door it didn’t impact the mood in the media lounge one bit. Everyone is quietly typing, eating – or both.

Also Read: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders Set to Debate In Vintage Navy Greenhouse

Tad Devine walks around like a rockstar
Bernie Sanders’ senior advisor had a massive crowd around him in the Spin Room before the debate started. Media members surrounded him like fans used to swarm Michael Jackson in his heyday. Nobody drew a bigger crowd and reporters seemed to hang on his every word.

The view is gorgeous
The Brooklyn Navy Yard sits on the East River and CNN’s set is located with the Williamsburg Bridge in the background. If you turn around and face the other direction, you see a clear view of the new World Trade Center, making it one of the most stunning pieces of property in New York City. Sadly, the numerous security checkpoints make it too annoying to go back outside and take in the scenery.

Also Read: Hollywood for Bernie: Sanders Enlists Vampire Weekend, Spike Lee, Shailene Woodley

The media room is made for Brooklyn Hipsters
Brooklyn Roasting Company supplied free iced coffee in assorted flavors and media members were taking advantage. It’s strong and there is a ton of it.

“I’m a little too jazzed up,” a CNN exec who didn’t want to be identified told TheWrap.

The bathrooms were “luxury toilet trailers” that included framed art. Giant hipster-looking barrels and bags of coffee beans were around the warehouse-turned media room … it was unclear if they’re always here or it they were brought in as a prop.

Also Read: NY Daily News Endorses 'Warrior Realist' Hillary Clinton Over 'Fantasist' Bernie Sanders

To cap it off, gourmet food trucks line the outside of the media facility. Gorilla Cheese, La Bella Torte, Yankee Doodle Dandy’s and Deli & Dogs are among the highlights. Oh, we also spotted someone rolling a cigarette. Seriously.

People v OJ Simpson: 11 TV Personalities Who Got Their Big Break Covering the Case (Photos)

Click on to find out which famous hosts, pundits and bloviators owe their careers to the Trial of the Century.
Eliot Spitzer

When Spitzer was elected New York State Attorney General in 1999, he credited the win to his appearances on CNBC's "Rivera Live." Hosted by Geraldo Rivera, the show focused mostly on the O.J. Simpson trial. Spitzer then went on to become Governor of the Empire State in 2007, a term that ended a year later when he found himself embroiled in a prostitution scandal. In 2010, Spitzer joined CNN where he anchored a short-lived talk show with journalist Kathleen Parker.
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Nancy Grace

The host of HLN's "Nancy Grace" got her big break doing commentary on legal shows just as the O.J. Simpson trial started. She later hosted her own legal show alongside Simpson's lawyer, Johnnie Cochran. Grace has been hosting her nightly celebrity news and current affairs show since 2005.
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Dan Abrams

Abrams was a reporter for Court TV when the O.J. Simpson trial started, the exposure from which helped establish him a a top legal correspondent. He now serves as the Chief Legal Affairs Anchor for ABC News, and has founded seven websites, including the popular media blog Mediaite.
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Star Jones

A former Brooklyn prosecutor, Jones became chief legal analyst on "Inside Edition," where she led the coverage of the Simpson murder case. She was the only reporter to interview OJ during his civil trial. Jones later joined the original cast of ABC daytime talk show "The View," from which she was fired after nine seasons following a public feud with executive producer Barbara Walters. Today Jones is working on VH1 drama "Satan Sisters," based on her book about five female hosts of "The Lunch Hour."
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David Gregory

As a young NBC reporter, Gregory often subbed for Geraldo Rivera as the host of his CNBC show "Rivera Live." He eventually went on to become moderator of NBC's Sunday morning juggernaut "Meet the Press." But after a drop in ratings he was replaced with current moderator Chuck Todd. In March, CNN announced Gregory would become a political analyst for the network.
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Greta Van Susteren

Van Susteren appeared regularly on CNN as a legal analyst during the Simpson murder trial, eventually getting her own show on the network. "Burden of Proof" followed the Simpson civil trial on a daily basis, something for which Van Susteren has since expressed regret. Since 2002, she has been hosting "On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren" on Fox News.
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Jeanine Pirro

Pirro got her jumpstart as a talking head during the Simpson trial, becoming a regular on "Larry King Live" and "Rivera Live." She was on so often, a 2000 New York Times article called her "ubiquitous." Today Pirro, a former prosecutor, judge and New York elected official, is the host of "Justice with Judge Jeanine" on Fox News and serves as a contributor NBC's "Today" show.
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Gregg Jarrett

A former San Francisco trial attorney, Jarrett turned to television in 1985, anchoring the news for ABC and NBC affiliates in Maryland. He later joined Court TV where he became the main anchor for the Simpson murder trial on location in Los Angeles in 1995. Jarrett has been an anchor on Fox News since 2002.
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Jeffrey Tobin

A lawyer, author and legal analyst for CNN and The New Yorker, Toobin broke the story that O.J. Simpson's legal team planned to play "the race card" by accusing Det. Mark Fuhrman of planting evidence. He went on to receive a 2000 Emmy Award for his coverage of the Elián González custody saga. And, oh yeah, FX's "The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" is based on his book.
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Geraldo Rivera

Geraldo was already a household name before the Simpson story broke. But when the Trial of the Century began, he turned his nightly CNBC legal show, "Rivera Live," into the O.J. Simpson show, restoring his journalistic credibility after years in the Wild Wild West of daytime TV. Rivera continued covering the Simpson saga even during the years between the criminal and civil trials, establishing himself as the go-to guy for all things Simpson. His coverage of the civil trial verdict set an all-time CNBC ratings record for the the fledgling business network in 1997. In 2001, Rivera moved to Fox News.
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Harvey Levin

Levin was a young TV reporter for KCBS TV in Los Angeles when he shot to prominence thanks to coverage of the Simpson murder case. In 2005, He launched celebrity gossip site TMZ, which last month recorded 18.4 million unique visitors.