Movies, TV, & Stars,What is you favorite and least favorite?

when i lived in nyc, i mostly tried not to notice people if they were just living there lives. Last May, on a trip there, i was having brunch w/my DH in a restaurant and i arrived before him, and was seated at a table where, directly in my line of sight, sat Jane Krakowski, having brunch with a couple of other people. i kept trying NOT to look at her, but it was kinda hard...

Lost is my favorite TV show, hands down.

I couldn't pick a least favorite, but I have to admit that I can't stand sitcoms. I could get thru "Friends" and "Seinfeld" now and then, but that's about it...nothing it recent years.

One thing I hate is that when the new Fall shows come out, the networks really don't give them a chance to catch on. I hate to get hooked on one, only to have them pull the plug on it after a handful of episodes. There was actually a show I read about in TV guide that I was interested in checking out, and they yanked it before they even showed one episode!

Okay, Amy, I'm showing my complete lack of knowledge of celebrities... but who is Jane Krakowski? Since I don't watch much TV, I would only know the names of old-timers from my childhood, lol. And if she's an old-timer, then I'm REALLY showing my ignorance, lol!

I guess lots of today's celebs wouldn't have to worry about ME ruining their lunch by asking for an autograph, lol!

Aguane, that must have been a cool place to grow up! Living in Fairfield County, we do see our fair share of celebrities here and there, but I'm sure your area was much more glamorous!

Back in the 80's I lived on the Big Island & worked at a 5 star Hotel as a cocktail waitress. This place attracted only the wealthy due to cost, and was regularly frequented by the Hollywood/entertainment industry elite, professional athletes, politicians & International CEO's.
My best memory was taking care of Bob Newhart, his wife & their guests. He was genuinely kind & gracious, not just to me, but to everyone he dealt with.

The other was one of those "why on earth did I say that?" moments:
I looked up to see a couple with their young daughter in tow walk through the water feature in the outside lounge. For whatever reason, my mouth opened & out tumbled, "Opie! You grew up!" It was Ron Howard & family (1984): I couldn't help it - he looked just like an older Opie. He laughed, & when I apologized, he teased me about being older than him. One of my less than stellar moments.

So many of these people are regular joes - they just have different jobs than the rest of us. How they handle being famous determines how they respond to the general public. Most value their privacy because their lives are "on display" all the time. But some thrive on whatever attention they can get, & get it they will, just like spoiled children.
I prefer being unknown & in the garden.


Most just wanted to get away from their fishbowl lives so they could relax.

She is on 30 Rock and was on Ally McBeal. She also does B'way, and won a Tony when she was in the revival of Nine a few years ago.

That is some coincidence, Aguane! He had the reputation for being a nice guy (as does Bob Newhart and Opie!). I saw him do a radio show live and exchanged a few pleasantries with him afterward.

I am not one to bother people either. I never ask for autographs. Might ask for a photo with them if I have a camera, but mostly leave them alone. I met Ernest Borgnine in NH. Saw Robert Vaughn twice. 'Bowser' from Sha Na Na about five times. Al Pacino. John Cassavetes. A few more actors. Wayne Gretzky (no one else recognized him!) and a number of sports people. A number of news people as well.

YOU MET JOHN CASSAVETES? *on my knees*

Al Davis (Raiders)
Eddie DeBartolo (49ers)
Al Michaels
John Brody
Willie Mays
Len Gabrielson
John (Juan) Carlos
Angela Davis
Tennessee Ernie Ford
.. other people good and not so good.....
lots of NFL / Baseball players just 'cause of the proximity in SF. I lived on the Peninsula...
I'll stop... I make myself sick. Just met too many people because I lived in LA and SF
Red Skelton, Bing Crosby, Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Leon Uris, Michael Ovitz, etc., Gale Storm.
Long time ago!!!

Wow! Some list.

Red Skelton?! ; Bing! ; Bud Abbott & Lou Costello?!!! ☺!

Good night and god bleth!

Red Skelton was one of my favorites. I watched every week with my Dad. It was one of our 'dates".

Favorite cartoon was Bugs Bunny - another one of my wise guy idols.

My one and only was Joe Frasier - saw him in a restaurant, and everyone was talking to him and taking pictures. I didn't pay any attention to him. He ended up coming over and sitting at my table and talked to me. I really don't know why.

I would have liked that. I loved boxing and he was a favorite. I would have loved to meet Ali. I forgot to mention I met and talked with Art Carney when he was filming Going in Style with Strasburg and Burns. They filmed part of it in a house down the block from me.

Nice stories. I don't really have any brushes with greatness or rest of the story.

By the way Gale Storm's real name was Josephine Bonnell and that's the name she always used.
Shirley Temple Black, Edward Norton, Willie Shoemaker, Betty Grable (both at Santa Anita), Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Spent a Xmas day with him. Vince Edwards (Dr Ben Casey-had dinner at my house a few times), Sheree North (Actress and double for Marilyn Monroe, was my step aunt, my dad was married to her sister).

Natalie Wood was really Natasha something and they wanted an easier sounding American name for her. I remember reading in her bio that she didn't like the name "wood."

Anyone else know, are actors still thinking they have to change their real names?

Julia Roberts was actually Julie. I don't know of others.

I once ate in the same restaurant with Eddie Murphy. He is short! Had a friend who worked for Lily Tomlin - so I met her in LA when she was doing her one woman show.

I was fortunate enough to meet a number of Jazz greats back when I had a Jazz musician friend in LA. The one I will never forget is Elvin Jones. When I shook his hand, he made it seem like it was his privelige to meet me.

WOW, that is a truly great person (who would shake your hand like you were important upon first meeting)!!!

I guess I had a couple of brushes. Mike Wallace and Ernie Anastas shopped in my store(not at the same time). Mike had a body guard. Dom Delouise got ice cream at the carvel I rode my horse to. Everyone egged me on to get his autograph. I refused. I had lunch at the Russian Tea Room one day and Rex Harrison walked in. That man has Presence. And then there was the infamous Bam Bam Bigelow. One of my employees jumped out his skin. I still don't know who he is. And for any Jets fans, Joe Klecko was a regular. Another time I was having lunch at the Polo Club and the husband of Debra Winger was sitting next to us. Jerry Brown (?) Moonbeam(??) I'm still waiting for JD to show up.

Al, It has to be easier on the coasts to brush with fame (although I haven't) Sarge Shriver was about it. we were at a bar together. He was picking his kid up at Yale

I worked for L.L.Bean at the call center during the holiday season a few years in a row. When a celebrity calls in your not supposed to yell or get excited, but I admit it was hard not to be intimidated while talking to John Travolta and realizing I have his credit card #'s in front of me. Hee hee

Do you still have it?!! I saw him at the Met game last year with Robin Williams.

Heck no! I don't want to share the cell next to you in Sing Sing! Although im sure we'd have a lovely garden!

I'm surprised he didn't have 'people' do those trivial things for him.

Victor, I agree. Bugs Bunny rules.

I did a few rugs for: Donald Trump, Marlo Thomas, Don Henley. Saw in the office showroom: Ellen Barkin, Mariah Carey, Catherine Zeta Jones, Billy Crystal, Luther Vandross, Sigourney Weaver, Yoko Ono..

Also met in other times: Bill Clinton (got lost inside his jacket), Phil Collins, Darryl Hall and John Oats... can't remember any more right now.

The rug Trump wears?!!! Please explain the Bill Clinton one!

Ha! You're not the first to make that joke, Victor.

I was walking past a church with some secret service guys out front. When I asked about their presence, they said Bill Clinton was about to come out. So I waited 5 minutes and a small crowd formed. When he came out, he shook my hand and then reached above me and into the crowd to greet others. I was cucooned inside his jacket, smelling his armpit. For a hot day, he smelled pretty good!

That's funny. I'll refrain from the obvious Clinton jokes...

WAIT - did you say CZJ???!

I think I just saw your eyes pop out of your head. Yes, I did say Catherine Zeta Jones. I told you about this. She was newly married and pregnant. Just as I was walking past her, she bent down to feel the rug and fell. A very graceful fall.

I don't remember that, and that was not my eyes.

Well I can't stand watching Burt Reynolds, Cameron Diaz, Jean-Claude Van Dame just to think a few off the top of my head...

My favourite shows these days would have to be Cold Case, Bones, Criminal Minds and sometimes CIS - however that show just hasn't been doing it for me lately.

As for the Stars I love Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon, John Travolta, Julia Roberts, Jody Foster, Angelina Jolie are just a few that come to mind.

I CAN'T STAND PARIS HILTON!!!

LOL, Sofonisba!

Hey, how could I forget this one? (Well, okay, it's from my TV days, which shouldn't count, but this is one of my biggies)

I met Elmo!

Yes, Elmo! I was working for a national talk show, and we had - geez, I can't even remember if it was all the Muppets, or some of them, or even why. But I happened to be walking through the studio when they were doing lighting/mic checks, etc., and the funny thing was, even though this was just rehearsal/tech checks, there was still a little wall up, and I never saw a human, just Elmo, behind the wall. Elmo was the only er, uh, person, in the studio. And it was Elmo talking back to the director, who was on the intercom. Not the human, but Elmo, asking if the director could hear him, should he move left or right, etc.

Then Elmo noticed that I was walking through, and said hi to me. It was at the same time the most surreal thing and the most ordinary thing that ever happened to me. I mean, I KNEW there was a human lying on the floor, and I KNEW that this thing was a cloth puppet, so it was strange that ELMO was talking.... but then again, it WAS Elmo after all, so it was perfectly natural that ELMO should be talking to me, that I should be hearing ELMO's voice, not someone else's.

And to be honest, while I thought it was a bit odd, I'm glad the puppeteer kept in character and out of sight. It helps me maintain my little fantasy that Elmo is real, lol... and that I met him!

This message was edited Jan 12, 2008 10:03 PM

Cute story about Elmo. What I would give to have met Kermit the Frog.

I was wondering when the CZJ would hit.
And Miss Piggy.

Dave - You're right about that. I have some autograph's from the GMO in Milwaukee, John Daly,Curtis Strange,Justin Leonard.

Dee - did you tickle him?

Dee, what kind of work were you doing for a talk show?

DH has a friend who does the "not live" segments lighting for SNL and some of the NBC specials. We also got to work with the guy who programmed the moving lights for the film Chicago, and does them for the David Letterman show too...

No Victor, I didn't tickle him. I have to admit to being a little overawed by him, lol. I was never any closer than about 30 feet. I admired from afar, lol.

Amy, on that particular show I was working the character generation unit - a Chyron, if you know the lingo, but a cheaper imitation of a Chyron, lol. I would input and control all the words that would be keyed onscreen - titles under people, any word graphics, credits, etc., and some photos. Sometimes I also worked a still-store machine, which is just what it sounds like - a machine that stores still photos until needed for the production.

The great thing about live TV is its over and done - no retakes. If you make a mistake, you move on. An hour show is an hour, not three.

Robin Williams-"Good Morning Vietnam!" just watched it yesterday. I had forgotten what a good movie that was. Watched "Patch Adams" a few days ago too, love his older movies!!