Tonight Show visits Valley family

Valley Life editor

Who are Alaska's most interesting people? Perhaps it's Joel and Mindy Stefanski, but we'll find out for real tonight.

Joel and Mindy Stefanski were visited last week by comedian Tom Green, who was in Alaska filming for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno's "Most Interesting Person" search. The Stefanskis, along with their children, Rhowe and Saige, showed Green how to throw axes and climb 50-foot poles.

"They got our name somehow and found out that we did lumberjack shows and exhibitions," Mindy Stefanski said.

The Tonight Show is going around the country, alphabetically, to find the most interesting person. While in Alaska, the show taped at Chilkoot Charlies and the Musk Ox Farm, among other places.

The show was scheduled at the Stefanskis last Friday, but they ended up arriving Thursday.

"They called and said they were coming, and so I called Joel and he left work early," Mindy Stefanski said. "We had to dust off the axes because we hadn't thrown them since last year."

When taping began, Saige Stefanski, 10, hit a bulls-eye, after having problems hitting the target in the hour the family warmed up. Then, Joel Stefanski hit a paper sign Tom Green was holding.

Joel Stefanski then flew up a 50-foot pole -- which is in the Stefanski yard -- using spikes, and Green decided to give it a try.

"He had quite a hard time," Mindy Stefanski said. "He got about three or four feet up the pole, and that was it. Then he couldn't get back down."

To help him down, Joel Stefanski bent over and Green sat on his back, which gave the rest of the cast a good chuckle.

The segment is scheduled to air tonight, and as of Wednesday morning, the Stefanskis had not heard back from the show's producers. The talent deemed the "Most Interesting Person" is invited to that evening's shows.

"Who knows if they picked someone else or if they are waiting until the last minute, like they did when they came out here?" Stefanski asked. "Either way, it should make for some pretty funny footage."