I See Famous People
I’m notorious for being unable to control my verbal diarrhea when I see famous people. One time, we were in Dupont and we were walking toward Christiane Amanpour and Jamie Rubin on the sidewalk when they parted to allow us to pass between them and I pretty much crapped myself and then told every employee at Kramer’s about it for the next hour.
I was at the Helen Hayes Awards because Josh was nominated for one of his plays, and we were at this party when Judd Hirsch walked by. And unable to control my own body, I pointed at him and screamed, “that’s Judd Hirsch!”
Which isn’t even the most embarrassing part. I DID THE SAME THING YEARS LATER TO PAULA DEAN. I was at BlogHer, sitting by a door, and she walked through it and I screamed, “you’re Paula Dean!” It’s like famous people are the reflex hammer and my mouth is an enormous deep tendon jerking out words I don’t intend to have leave my mind.
But I’d like to report that I controlled my internal monologue, even though the urge was there to yell out their names, when I met the Sklar Brothers last weekend at the EntryPoint DC performance.
In my head: “YOU’RE RANDY AND JASON SKLAR!”
We went with two other couples and we were all fairly giddy with the idea of being out at night like grown-ups. We had a great dinner at Commissary (where the Sklar Brothers stopped by our table to say hello pre-performance — so I actually almost crapped myself twice in one evening) and then saw the show (which was hysterical. If they’re ever in your city, you should go out and see them) and then went out to coffee afterward.
Before the show, we stopped into a VIP pre-party for the performance even though I am not a VIP. I am not even an IP. I am merely a P. But I was with Josh, and Josh is a VIP. And I decided that I wanted a picture with them.
A long time ago, when Josh and I were at Disney World, we kept bumping into this ten-year-old girl throughout the day. She would scream at her parents, “take my picture!” and then go and pose in front of the ride by placing her hands on her hips and doing a deep lunge. And Josh commented that one day she’d look back on those pictures and regret that she went through an entire vacation and does not have a single photograph where she is standing in a normal position.
So at dinner before the performance, I announced that when we went to the VIP party, I was going to pose like that with the Sklar Brothers — my hands on my hips, my body in a deep lunge. And we’d snap the photo, the boys smiling nervously because they couldn’t understand why someone would get into this pose. And my plan was to laugh apologetically and say, “I really don’t know why I did that. Could we retake the picture so I could be in a normal pose?” And then, when we got ourselves in a normal position again, right before the camera would snap, I fall back into a deep lunge, my head cocked to the side defiantly, the palms of my hands covering their face. And this would go on and on and on; and dozens of photos later (because in this plan, the Sklar Brothers were game for me to do this dozens of times), I would finally declare one of my deep lunges perfect. And we’d all go on our merry way.
But as you can tell from the picture above, Josh explained that this wouldn’t be amusing — at least not to the other subjects in the picture nor to the people at the VIP party. In fact, it just might mean that I don’t get invited back to another VIP party. So I controlled my inner monologue AND I controlled my posing ideas. I stood upright and bit my tongue and tried to appear like I get out of the house, when it is very very rare for me to get out of the house. One of the terrible perks of working from home.
*******
As we drove home, I mused that I didn’t really know why people took pictures with famous people they didn’t know. I mean, it would be one thing if we had emailed prior to that point and had some sort of connection. But those comedians didn’t even know my name and won’t remember me thirty seconds after the photo was taken. So why do we collect these pictures of ourselves with famous people? To prove that we were there? To prove that we closed the six degrees of separation between two people and physically stood in each other’s presence?
Or is it because we all have a bit of oral diarrhea and instead of shouting out the obvious, we click a picture instead. Since, for some reason, that’s more socially acceptable than screaming, “you’re Randy and Jason Sklar!”
Come on, dish. What famous people have you met? And did you take a picture?
63 comments
I live in Nashville so I see celebrities on a regular basis. They are just people to me and generally don’t care. But I did see Nicole Kidman at Whole Foods and was so stunned by her beauty I kept glancing at her. My favorite was probably meeting Jamie Denton from Desperate Housewives. He was so hot and nice!
Sorry but I don’t know who the Sklarr brothers are.
You are so speaking my language (you have no idea). I will stalk a celebrity like a champ. The more random (ex. Judd Hirsch…Oh how I did love Dear John) the better. I had a recent encounter while visiting my sister in LA on Runyon Canyon with Dr. Benson from ER. My sister and I giggled like idiots while we stuttered, “Oh my gosh, I love you Eric LaSalle” in a mix of high pitched but trailing off voices. The way we acted makes me want to cover my face even right now. I had a similar experience with Bill Clinton while walking down the street in NYC. Damn that Bill Clinton and his unexplainable sex appeal. I honestly think I have a sickness!
Well we did meet the President and took a picture. 😉 But other than that I can’t think of anyone. I’m too shy to approach one anyway. Nav’s seen a few because of USO tours, though no one in particular is standing out to me. He’s not too shy to get a picture.
My brother and mom were on a reality dance competition on Lifetime a few years ago hosted by none other than Steve Sanders (Ian Ziering).
I got to go see the finale and met him and got my picture with him. I barely said a word to him, but he rubbed my back while we were taking the picture which made my day.
http://public.fotki.com/brandyshea/2008/april/la–your-mama-dont-/la049.html
What’s sad is that my little brother had no idea who he was or why he was famous. That made me feel old.
Hahahahaha! I was there for the Paula Deen moment. It was amusing. (And I don’t think she looked back but her security people totally did.)
I totally disagree with Josh on the Mary Katherine Gallagher pose! I cry foul! Life is short and those guys are hiLARious! They would have gotten it. The picture you did get still kicks ass though. : )
I’m Huey Lewis in the Missoula airport, no photo but some awkward teenage stalking occurred. I did shake his hand. I met John Popper, who was so smooth with his compliments he left me speechless which made my husband laugh in amusement and disbelieve. (I wish he would have taken a few notes instead.) No photo. I met Jeff Ament at a charity event, he and his girlfriend were not very nice and I was really disappointed. Eh, they’re human. And I met John Lovitz who was not amused by my hilarity. His loss. The memory card got fried so the photo is only a memory.
I didn’t take a picture but I met David Copperfield (the magician) years and years ago. OMG his hair looks so lush and full on camera but it was all poofy and crazily thin in person. I had a little crush on him up until that moment when it ran out the door of my mind, screaming.
The only celebrity I’d ever want to meet is Sting 🙂 I LOVE Sting and would definitely scream “Holy shit you’re STING!!” if I ever saw him in person. I’m sure I would beg to have my picture taken with him. I’ve even had dreams of meeting him, chatting with him, and giving him a hug. *swoon*
Ooo awesome!
Met Bruce Willis & Demi Moore when they were still together…
Michael J Fox, Connie Britton and most important? You, Mel–you are famous 🙂
I live in LA and will admit to having an autograph book when I was young. I remember having Telly Savalas and Walter Mathau’s autographs. I don’t have or ask for photos with celebrities though.
Steve Martin filmed “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” on my high school campus. And Tom Selleck was the boyfriend of a tenant of my parents.
I ended up working in Burbank sandwiched between Disney, Warner Bros and Sony Pictures. I got to meet Mel Gibson (which was a biggee back then), Billy Crystal, Gene Simmons (a local radio station was in our building & he was in the elevator and agreed to come back with me to my office), James Denton (he is friends with friends of ours and does the play circuit here), Howard Stern (and I do have pictures with him), Corbin Bernsen, most of the cast of ER and Friends (yes!), Jane Kaczmarek, Fabio (and his white Bentley), and stood behind Madonna at an ATM in Santa Monica once.
Oh, and THE best was getting back stage passes to The Rolling Stones Voo-Doo Lounge tour and playing video games with Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood.
I second what JJ said. If I met you I’d totally post a picture of us (in full lunge pose, of course) and dedicate a blog post to it.
I live in Minnesota. There aren’t many famous people here. My list of famous sightings mostly consists of local news anchors. The most famous person I’ve ever met was Mike Modano from the Dallas Stars, formerly the NorthStars. I was 13 when I met him and had our picture taken together. Impressive huh?
This post total made my giggle. Just want to say thank you. I needed it today.
I do it because I enjoy having a memento to help me look back on a moment that was really exciting for me. When I look at the pictures, I remember how I felt, what it was like, etc. (though a lot of my encounters are a bit more than running-into-somebody-on-the-street, so I have the surrounding story to go along with it.)
sadly, I have to admit that I also don’t know who the Sklar brothers are.
(of course, in addition to all of the above, I’ve also said/done some impressively stupid things.)
When I was a teenager, my friends and I saw Danny DeVito on the escalators at Water Tower Place in Chicago – we were debating about whether or not it was him, and he must have heard us because he smiled and waved. When I was in my 20’s, I was walking down Michigan Ave right next to Luc Longley (who played for the Bulls during several of their winning seasons). This would have been fairly unremarkable to me, but for the fact that I’m 5’1″ and he’s like 6′ 10″. I came up to his waist – literally. So I had to look up to see whose belt buckle was at my eye level.
Other than that, I probably wouldn’t notice a celebrity unless you pointed them out to me. But my husband has pictures with Robin Williams from a visit he made to one of those -stan countries.
I’ve never met anyone famous, but I love the Sklar brothers! I listen to their podcast and just printed out my tickets for when they are here in San Francisco for the SF Sketchfest for their live Sklarbro Country Podcast Jan 30 @ 2pm (no, I’m not paid to plug their shows).
I would never ask a celebrity to take a picture unless it was the right setting, like a VIP room for an event. otherwise, I think they might want to finish their tuna fish sandwich in peace and not be disturbed every 5 minutes with fans. Or maybe I’m just projecting how I’d want to be treated if I were a celebrity.
Oh, except if I ran into you, Mel, I’d definitely want your picture. No matter where we were!
I met ALL of the Backstreet Boys back when they were famous. I didn’t know who they were until I’d played a few rounds of cards with them (it’s a long story) and I think that is why they let my play, because I was coming home from Amsterdam (yes, that kind of trip to Amsterdam) and could barely see straight. But it did get me out of customs, because our whole plane was rerouted to miss the throng of Spaniards waiting for them on the other side. That was awesome because, did I mention I was coming from Amsterdam? I also met Ryan Adams once. I’ve met quite a few comedians during SF Sketchfest but my best famous person by far is JOHN HAMM! He’s just as hot in person and also super nice. It’s almost annoying.
I am laughing so hard I can barely type! KMG pose!!! That is totally something I would do!!! Oh those inside jokes are just flippin hilarious!!!
I have to say, I always bite my lip but stare like crazy when I see famous people here. In Vancouver, they film a lot. So it’s not uncommon to see someone. I rubbed shoulders with Reese Witherspoon when she was pregnant with her last. We were both looking at the same make-up in a downtown boutique. I just enjoyed our moment together. Maybe she was wondering why I was so close??? 😉 But darn, is she ever cute in person…especially preggers.
I see lots of others but usually just elbow my husband in the gutt, he devels over in pain, and then we continue on while my eyes lock with ‘said’ celebrity.
However, I usually have to do some heavy breathing to get through the experience so that I don’t explode!
I’m still laughing. Let’s all agree that if we get the chance to meet Mel, we’ll do THE LUNGE!!!
We live in a small hick town so no celebrities in my vicinity! I saw Ty from Extreme Home Makeover in LAX once though. I knew my mom would FREAK if I got a picture with him because she loves him but I couldn’t find the courage to actually point, smile, let alone take a picture. I mean, he’s a stranger, and that’s just weird. I agree. If I had talked to him or had a reason to talk to him I would ask him for a picture but I had none. He doesn’t know me.
first of all, you are hilarious! as if the people don’t know who they are!
second, I think I want to hang out with Esperanza above. I love ryan adams. and jon hamm, but who doesn’t?
most of my famous encounters are musicians. I’ll relay my 2 faves. ready? the first was like yours. M and I were heading to london to visit my brother, who lived in a nice green suburb where the rockers retire. I told M on the plane to prepare because we would meet eric clapton when we got there. he said no, we would meet pete townshend (who shares my bday, btw). and we laughed. (so you know, M has a way of saying ‘oh look, it’s [so-and-so famous person]’ very quietly, but usually it’s just a lookalike and he’s joking, so I don’t even look and just say ‘yeah, right, whatever.’)
so the next morning, we were crossing the street on our way to the tube. and who do you think was crossing and heading right towards us? pete fucking townshend. with those UNbelievable crystal blue eyes, arms around a girlfriend, just 2 feet away. I was totally speechless. M squeezed my hand hard, like ‘can you believe this, see I told you!’ and I was all, ‘ohmyfuckinggoditsrockgodpetefuckingtownshend! andthosecrazyblueeyesarejusttwofeetaway!’ but that was my inside voice. outside, my jaw dropped to my chest, I grinned so hard it hurt, and I turned my head as far as it would go so I could just watch him as he passed. and guess what? he turned to watch ME and he LAUGHED! not meanly, but in a cute way, like, ‘ha! I just totally blew that girl’s mind!’ then M and I laughed giddily all the way to london…
ok, one more. back in the day, I had several jerry garcia sitings, but once I got to meet him. I know! I was 21 and at a benefit with a meet-and-greet before and he was just hanging out talking to people. everyone kept asking for his autograph, but it was clear he really just wanted to talk. he even said something to one guy like, ‘sure whatever man, but I’m right here, don’t you have anything to say?’ I was way too shy, but my guy friend/roommate started talking to him about ‘virtual reality’ which wasn’t yet available to the masses. eventually another dude I met at a show once had a camera and we asked if we could use his camera to take a picture. after jerry said sure, we had someone else shoot a pic of the three of us with him. I actually sat on his lap (well one of his legs) and put my arm around him. I could not believe his white hair was SO incredibly silky! in the pic, I am beaming, and then I got to give him a hug. afterwards, for fun my brother was able to edit out everyone else so it looks like it’s just me and jerry in the picture. funny bonus: the original picture made it’s way around my school and M had it hanging in his apartment (that he shared with his g-friend) before we got together a year or so later. ha!
Mel, I think that is exactly what I would do. The only exception is I usually gasp, then wide eyes, silence, and constant staring.
The only one time I did not do that was when I was staying in a hotel in Palm Springs and I met Leah Remini (pre King of Queens, post Friends guest spot). She was wearing a white sweatshirt and white sweat pants, no make-up, hair in a bun and she was beautiful. Prior to meeting her I had just drunk a 20 oz mocha freeze so I was feeling pretty brave. I said “You’re Leah Remini, right?” She smiled and said yes and I proceeded to recite back to her all the projects she had been in up to that point and told her how much I loved her. She was really sweet. I didn’t ask for her autograph because I had nothing to give her to sign. Had I not had 20 oz of caffiene I probably wouldn’t have been that brave.
My favourite Famous Person Story was when I met Ed Asner…I was 20 & he was, well, much older than me & I gushed to him how much I LOVED Mary Tyler Moore…he laughed & said I was way too young to even know of the show…we posed for a photo & I thanked him & started to leave but he said, “Wait wait, my turn” then asked the woman he was with to take a picture of us as well…so somewhere out there Ed Asner has a picture of he & I together!!
I was in an elevator with Tryo Aiken once. Sadly, I didn’t know who he was until I was told later because I was too scared to look at the large man next to me. Of course, I was 12 and was scared of perverts at every turn then, but it happens, right?
I used to work for a famous theatre company, so fairly famous people were around all the time. I met many of them, and basically was either normal or silent.
…and then there was the time that I saw Toni Morrisson across a crowded lobby at a dance concert. And I essentially mugged her. And she looked…not too thrilled.
And the friend we were meeting (who works for a famous dance company and sees famous people all the time) turned out to have seen the whole thing and will never forget.
I am the complete OPPOSITE of you. If I see a famous person, I turn the other way and pretend I didn’t even see them. It’s the fight or flight syndrome or something – I want to run away.
Because, you see, I’m terrified of being an idiot in front of them.
It’s bad enough that once, when I was safely in the seats at Fenway Park but had a good vantage point of my crush, Jason Varitek? My best friend said to me “HEY! There’s Jason, Karen. Go up and I’ll take your picture with him in the BACKGROUND!”
I nearly fainted from embarrassment. And Jason was literally maybe 50 yards away from the seats at that point.
It’s pretty lame.
Therefore? I have not met any celebrities. Nor have I gotten pictures taken with them either.
xoxo
When I went to a writer’s conference I knew Ron Howard was going to be there. I practiced in front of a mirror what I was going to say to him. I knew what I was going to say to him.
I literally slammed into him as I was leaving the rest room, nearly knocking him off his feet. I was mortified! I apologized and he took it in such good grace. He held out his hand and said “Hi, Nice to meet you. I’m Ron Howard.”
And then, in spite of all my practice, and all of my work my brain forgot to engage. I shook his hand and said “ME TOO!!!”
I kicked myself for the next N years.
Mel, if I saw you in person I would totally yell, “THAT’S MEL FORD” and then go pose by you in a deep lunging pose.
I’ve never met a famous person but Bruce Campbell was signing autographs at my college one time and the line was sooooo long so instead I was able to walk behind the table while he was signing and a friend took a picture of me. Then security noticed what we were doing and blocked the area. We looked like dweebs standing behind The Chin waving at the camera.
I LOVE your pose idea. I was cracking up. I think it would be hilarious to see someone doing that!!
I used to work in radio so I have met dozens of artists. I didn’t take pictures with them. I did go shopping with a few…and definitely drinking with some. I was a young, college, sorority chick which seems like three lifetimes ago. Good times.
Like serenity, I am the opposite of you: if I see a celebrity (even a minor local one, like a newscaster or athlete), I try to pretend I didn’t even notice them.
Years ago (fall ’98 or ’99), I came face-to-face with Christian Slater outside Barney’s on Fifth Avenue in NYC. He was wearing a Yankees cap pulled low and obviously trying to keep a low profile. We made eye contact, and my facial expression must’ve changed, because he gave me a little slow nod as if to say “Yes, it’s me, but please don’t make a big deal out of it.”
I also met Jay Leno at The Tonight Show in ’99. He lets select people from the studio audience come on stage during the warm-up, just before the show, and my gorgeous BFF got picked when she raised her hand and dragged me (and another friend) up with her. She still has the photo (Polaroid) that she show staff take for you somewhere.
P.S. I guess I am uninformed because not only did I have to google the Sklar brothers, I haven’t heard of about half the celebrities the previous posters mentioned meeting either.
I don’t know that I’ve ever really seen any famous people. The closest I’ve come is being stuck in the middle seat on a small airplane between Matt and a professional wrestler. But I didn’t know who he was, Matt did. And then we saw that same guy at the mall and at church and at that point, he recognized us too (Matt’s memorable with the height thing) and started waving at us.
And I saw a lot of UFC fighters in Las Vegas when we were there for UFC 100. I took pictures of them, but only so that Matt could tell me who they were later. (I was walking the baby in her stroller all over the bottom of the hotel, so that she would nap.) I could only tell they were famous by how other people were acting around them.
My parents were VIP-ish when we lived in England when I was in elementary school and they went to a party and met Charles and Diana. That’s the most interesting one I have and I wasn’t even there.
Oh, and I used to carpool to school with someone who is now in Twilight. Apparently. My sister figured it out. Have you noticed that I am kind of celebrity challenged?
I can’t stop laughing. I’m so glad I work at home, otherwise my boss would think my loony. You’re so funny.
Anyway, my closest brushes with fame have been attending BlogHer events with YOU. It’s all I can do not to shout, “You’re Lollipop Goldstein. YOU’RE LOLLIPOP GOLDSTEIN!!” over and over.
And great. Now I’m ALSO going to have to stifle the urge to LUNGE.
I met Lenny Kravitz at a fundraiser I crashed (on work travel no less… please do not judge). Pretty much salivated on his shoes. He was all gentleman. The same night I peed in a bathroom stall next to Joan Collins (80’s flashback!) and shook her hand at the bathroom mirror (awkward but she was TOO nice). And met Susan Lucci (same night) and talked about her haircare line for 15 minutes while she waited for her driver.
I also have a couple major celeb run-ins by tagging along with my Mom and Dad (they know e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e). They have flown on Mr. Trump’s jet. But not me. JEALOUS.
I have lots of celeb stories from years back when I traveled all the time for work. I chalked it up to hanging at the 5-star hotels/resorts when my company was rolling in the dough. You hang in the right places, you are bound to meet celebrities.
I am out of that scene now. It’s Super 8 Motel all the way now…. KIDDING. Ok, maybe just a plain old Sheraton.
When I was in the Army, I worked the Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament one year and met Kevin Costner, Bill Murray, Chris O’Donnell (he was big then – this was ’99), Craig T. Nelson, Jack Lemon, Alice Cooper, Kenny G….and some famous golfers, too (but who cares about them? This was way before Tiger…).
I got pictures with most of them, because I was working on the courses hours before they opened them to the public.
I never thought I was star-crazy, but I had absolutely no idea what to say to them, and probably looked like a star-struck idiot :).
They were all really nice except Bill Murray. I was completely courteous, and he was totally a douche. Oh well. No one else was around, so I can’t prove it…
I met Mikhail Baryshnikov and René Auberjonois when they were at Duke performing Kafka’s Metamorphosis. I was filling in backstage for a friend and came rolling in at the last possible second before the show because the Duke basketball game ran late. Oh yeah, did I mention I was in full face paint from the basketball game?
My sister and I were walking by the entrance to a restaurant in Santa Barbara when a guy rushed out and ran right into us. It was Anthony Edwards (during his ER stint). We were totally shocked, but he was really sweet, made sure we were both okay and then went rushing off. (turns out he was late for the opening of a play he was involved with at the playhouse – it was on the news the next morning) My sister and I chased him for a few blocks and watched him run into the back of the theater. It was so funny!
I also “met” Pope John Paul II. While traveling in Rome at Christmas, we went to Mass at the Vatican. When he was leaving, I snapped a picture and the flash startled him and he looked right up at me (I was a couple feet away). He smiled the most peaceful, benevolent smile at me and made a sign of blessing and walked away. That was probably the coolest. I do have that photo, but I’m not in it. =)
I”m delurking because this is one I have to share — when I lived in Missoula it was at a time when Andi Macdowell lived there — but as I recall she had everyone call her something completely different like “Elizabeth” or something — I can’t remember — but like the woman who saw Nicole Kidman at whole foods and was so stunned by her beauty — so too with Andi — though it was impossible not to hear her too — she had this drawl and whether you could hear her because you were straining to hear her –or because it was distinct — not sure — but no matter where she was you were drawn to her… the most shocking thing though, and G had to remind me that I’d told the story b/c I’d forgotten, but I was touring the local gym and happened to be touring the locker room when she walked out of the steam room starkers.
My others are just dorky literary things — like stalking Richard Ford and missing my chance to be a character in a New Yorker story…damn it 😉
During college, my friend met Rita Moreno on the city bus (she was performing at our theatre with Carol Channing). My friend noticed her and said “Pardon me, you look like Rita Moreno” and Rita Moreno whispered to her “Yeah, I kinda am”. So, she gave her tickets and a backstage pass to the show. And I went with her. And yes, after the show, we got pictures taken with Rita Moreno (whom I LOVE). And I had no idea what to say to her and I am sure what ever I mumbled was forgotten once we left.
I have also seen Quentin Tarrantino in Boston–he was walking past us as we walked to the theatre to see him in a play.
When I was 5 years old I met Bert Convey–he was singing with the symphony orchestra that my dad was a part of.
Oh, and I met YOU! 🙂
Hmm. I’ve talked to Rob Reiner (thanks to you), and got ushered into a VIP room with the family McCartney, sans Paul at Carnegie Hall, where I saw all of the who’s who of rock & roll. My mom’s BFF when I was a kid was the designer Joseph Abboud’s wife, so I’ve met him a few times. I got a picture with one of the guys from Entourage once. I met Jim Henson when I was a kid, and had no idea who he was until he did the Kermit voice. I met Marc Sommers from Double Dare fame. I dunno, a lot of b/c/d list peeps. One day I’ll meet my boyfriend and totally crap my pants and then go cry in embarrassment.
What’s really sad… since I am buried in the midwest I get all excited when I see newscasters and have about the same reaction
John Ritter, John Travolta, Pat Greene (country music singer) & Gavin DeGraw (singer)…I always try to play the part of the cool chick. you know, sort of “I see you there, but I know you’re just a regular person who doesn’t want to be mobbed by fans or asked 100 times a day to sign an autograph, so I’m not going to bother you”. For some reason, I think the celebrity will notice and appreciate how much I’m respecting his privacy and then come over to personally thank me…of course, that never happens 🙂
I saw James Carville walking into a Target and nearly peed my pants.
Ran into Val Kilmer at a museum in NYC and snapped a photo for my friend who was too embarrassed to do it. He yelled at me. Fair enough.
I got within 20 feet of Oprah when I was a new reporter and we were both covering the same event. She stood in the press portion where no one but me paid her any attention. I stared. For what seemed like forever. I couldn’t have screamed (or posed for a picture) if I tried.
And you totally should have done the crazy pose!
at least the crazy pose would have made you stand out as humorous. mostly i’ve met authors that i simply adore and i can’t string together 2 or 3 words to make a coherent phrase, let alone a sentence, or ask for a photo. but i have written authors who replied which is better to me since I know I can’t be reasonable in person.
I have to admit, I have no idea who the Sklar Brothers are — will have to do some Googling when I get off here!
For all the movies that get filmed in Toronto, I haven’t met or even spotted a lot of celebs. Most of the famous people that I’ve met are famous in Canada, but the names probably wouldn’t mean much to those of you south of the border. About the only one I can think of that I actually had my picture taken with was the singer Dan Hill (“Sometimes When We Touch”), backstage after a concert in Winnipeg when I was 17.
About 15 years ago, I spent my entire lunch hour (& then some) standing in line at the Eaton Centre to get Donny Osmond’s autograph. He was back in town doing “Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” for the second time around. As I stood there I kicked myself repeatedly for not bringing my camera. 🙁 He still looked gorgeous. : ) I told him I had waited 30 years for this moment, because the Osmonds never came to Winnipeg when I was growing up thereabouts. And he said, “I’ve been to Winnipeg. It was SO COLD!” lol Anyone else, I would have rolled my eyes, but because it was Donny, he got away with it. ; )
Who are the Sklar brothers? Being an actor, I’ve met a lot of famous people – and you know what – I don’t have a single picture with any of them. I kinda wish I had – so I could look back them when I am older, but it’s just not a cool thing to do when you’re working with them. It only works when you’re at a wrap party or something. I have met Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Belushi, Don Cheadle, Tom Robbins, Catherine Zeta Jones, Kevin Nealon, Kathleen Turner, Anthony Michael Hall, Ashley Judd, etc. I’ve yet to meet a celebrity that I had much to chit chat about. Meeting Maya Angelou was awe inspiring and I wish I could have said something meaningful to her but this crazy woman came over and hogged up all her time.
my husband is a rigging best boy and has worked WB for years. it is interesting to hear what celebrity is “nice” (meaning they actually acknowledge all the other people working around them BESIDES the famous people) and the “total a-holes.” some actors specify that crew are not to look directly at them at any time and definitely not to make eye contact. wtf i ask you.
i really don’t see celebrities all that often anymore, but when we lived in burbank it was pretty common. at the pizza restaurant, at vons, at the toluca mart, and definitely at bob’s big boy. but i have no pictures. i think i only ever talked to one (ed o’neil) because he talked to me first!
i do have pictures of the cast of “the mentalist” from the wrap party (one with me actually in the picture – simon baker – drool). i have video of simon baker singing the violent femmes (karaoke). more drool.
thats about it.
oh no wait! i gushed when i was seated next to ellen degeneres’ MOTHER at a GLBT business association awards dinner! poor woman. still no pictures. dang it.
xoxoxo texicali/mexicali
i forgot, i had a good time drinking jack and cokes with judd nelson one afternoon in melrose. at the “snake pit.” it was allll i could do not to talk about the breakfast club. which meant i hardly said anything because i couldn’t think about much else.
still no pics.
When I was 22 (yes, many, many years ago) I was working at a hotel in London and saw Steven Seagal in the lobby. I got such a fright that I stopped in my tracks and stared at him with my mouth hanging open (he really did look very damn sexy) until he had walked past. He actually looked at me and laughed, I must have looked like such a plonker.
In my work at that hotel I spoke to lots of celebs on the phone (I worked in room service). Some were real, complete and utter assholes, the one that struck me as the rudest was definitely Michael Bolton (soppy love song singer from the 90’s) without a doubt. Others were absolutely divine and friendly.
On a “spoke to a celeb” day, I used to skip home, all proud of myself and then wonder what the hell that was all about. Did I think some of their fame had rubbed off on me? Was I a more exciting person to be around because I placed a cappuccino order for John Travolta? Especially bearing in mind that a number of celebs are drug addicts, leading very much less than exemplary lives.
I think it’s not who they are, but how loved they are that we are drawn to. Deep down every human just wants total, unconditional adoration, and it appears to us that celebs get that…
Oh yes. And then my sister’s ex boyfriend’s sister was going out with one of the biggest music stars in history (whose name I shall omit) and we got invited to their New Year’s party. It was definitely a fascinating experience. Mostly to see how people were behaving around him, I realised it really can’t be great fun to live your life like that!
I get to see Paula all the time (you know, we do share a zip code!). 😉
When I worked at Disney, I met tons of celebrities, and I was always blushing.
That wasn’t the end of my comment, but a certain little person’s fingers pressed the big button!
Every time I met someone, I would blush and try to act humble, when my insides were DYING.
When I meet you, I’ll stand there and cry like I’m meeting the Queen or something…I mean, you ARE the Queen!!! xoxox
I totaally forget who is who. I mean I have the urge to wave to people because I know their face, most of the times I wave at moms I see at the schoolgate and now and then soemone happens to be famous 😉 I live in holland which is small so the chances of bumping into nationally famous people is a bit bigger. I once saw bert Visscher a famous comedian who lives in my hometown on a bike. A boy saw him stook out his arm and pointend while screaiming BERT VISSCHER. He got of his bike in a slapstick kind of way stook out his arm and pointed while screaming A BOY. He then junped on his bike a can and went his way..
I guess that will be my most hilarious famous people story ever. I can’t imagine anything getting more funny..
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