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although he did not play a note on camera, there was a tuba player (in lederhosen) on the West Coast version of the show.

Confessions?

I assumed it was just someone they dressed up to look the part...

it looks like actors.
Originally, the show (or the show's casting company rather) asked my blasmusik band, The "Ja Ja Jas" to do the part. It was involved enough that we were asked to clear an entire week of scheduling for it. However, in the end they decided to have it be an older, more cliche polka look, and it seemed as it ended up not being a playing part.

The JaJaJas however, were just featured on ABC's World News Now a week ago. Here's that link (in HD!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UKjQzVtFfs

That stinks, would have been better with a real band...

...not surprised though, seeing how they blew so much $$$$ for all of the celebrity appearances on the show.

tubajoe wrote:snip

The JaJaJas however, were just featured on ABC's World News Now a week ago. Here's that link (in HD!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UKjQzVtFfs

Fun! I was at that very beer garden back in April 2007 when they finally got all of their lease issues solved - it had been a long fight with the landlord - free good beer and good food and a huge crowd...

for those looking for more JaJaJas click here and details about the restaurant here.