|
| ||
| Name: Ryan Roe Email: prawnrr-rmv@this.com-yahoo.com Position: Movie / Television / Comic Book / Trivia Geek View Ryan's Personal Profile |
| ||
| I like famous people. Who doesn’t? I’m not the type to buy People magazine, or Us Weekly, or any of those similar periodicals that feature articles on what celebrities are wearing and what brands of clothing they’re buying and whether they like graham crackers. But if I’m a fan of a person’s work, and that person has managed to become famous doing that work, I can’t help but be fascinated by them. I could make a list of famous people I’d hope to meet. Yet, if I ever did meet them, I would have to hope desperately that I’d have something to say. One of my earlier celebrity encounters happened when I was 13 and I talked to impressionist Rich Little after a show he did in Branson, Missouri. I realize not many 13-year-old kids would ever want to attend a Rich Little show. In fact, most 13-year-old kids probably have no idea who Rich Little is, or they might think he sang Tutti Fruiti. But there I was in the autograph line, and it was my turn to face Rich Little, the man who had shaped America’s perception of Richard Nixon more decisively than anyone else except maybe Woodward and Bernstein. I said to him, in my cracking pubescent voice, “Um… I saw you on The Muppet Show. And… and you’re even funnier in person.” I had been rehearsing it in my head while waiting in line, but out loud it sounded incredibly stupid. “Well, thanks!” he said without sounding patronizing, which is to his credit. “Gee, that was a long time ago…” In fact, that Muppet Show episode had been produced before I was born, but I didn’t mention that detail. Then there was the time I saw TV’s Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood do a live improv show. It was at Corpus Christi’s Selena Auditorium, which as far as I know is the only theater named after a character played by Jennifer Lopez. I wasn’t expecting the Whose Line is it Anyway? stars to sign autographs after the performance, so I hadn’t had time to prepare anything clever to say to them. Still, I thought I should come up with something. So when it was my turn to address Mr. Mochrie, I looked him in the eye and said, “Hey, that was a great show.” Arg. Not what you might call “clever” or even what you might call “not stupid.” I had to redeem myself by saying something witty to Brad Sherwood. As I waited my turn I thought about it, and when I got face to face with him I said firmly, “Hey, that was a great show.” I probably wouldn’t have minded my brain’s sudden failure as much if it weren’t for Monty and his interactions with Colin and Brad. When it was his turn with Colin, he started to unbutton his shirt, as if he wanted the comedian to sign his chest. When it was his turn with Brad, Monty handed the man a signed piece of paper and said, “Here, you can have my autograph.” Not all of my celebrity anecdotes involve my own triteness. When I got singer Tony Orlando’s autograph, I wasn’t really worried about impressing him with my wit, so there wasn’t much pressure. He was a really nice guy. When he saw me, he said, “Hey, you’re tall! I bet you play lots of basketball!” “Not really,” I said. In fact, I take every opportunity in life to not play basketball. “I bet you can walk right up to the basket and drop the ball in!” he exclaimed, undeterred. “I’m going to give you a new nickname: Shooter!” I wanted to protest, to tell him that I have less interest in playing basketball than I do in recording a new version of Knock Three Times. But the man was just so excited… Without asking for my real name, he signed my program, “To Shooter! God Bless You! Tony Orlando.” So that was my new nickname. Shooter. If you know me at all, I don’t need to tell you that the nickname endured…until about two seconds after he came up with it. In October of 2004, I met Robia LaMorte and Iyari Limon of TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’ve already written about it here. But if that encounter was any indication, my awkwardness around famous people is fading, because I was cool, calm and confident while talking to them, even though they are attractive females from my favorite television drama ever. The next time I meet a celebrity, I’ll be so charming they’ll invite me out for drinks. Hmm. Maybe I shouldn’t be so assured… What if the next famous person I meet is someone I don’t like, like Howard Stern, Ashton Kutcher or Kim Jong Il? Now here’s the part where I ask you folks to talk about your celebrity encounters in the comment thingies below. Comments on this post are closed. |
| ||
| The only time I got someone's autograph was when I waited for hours before a Tori Amos show. I didn't get to talk to her though...there were enough crazy people at that thing begging to touch the holy Tori. I did get to talk to Michael Stipe of REM. During a show, I shouted, "I like your shirt!" to which he replied, "Thanks, it's Iggy Pop with an afro." And then I went to a theatre performance in London that was also attended by Jonathan Price (he of Brazil and those old Infiniti car commercials). I was too awed to talk to him though. |
| ||
| I met that football player Cris Carter once. I got his autograph for my little brother. It wasn't really very interesting. |
| ||
I never see famous people. Not even San Antonio Spurs or Tommy Lee Jones and everyone who lives in SA for any amount of time spots one of those. I do have experience with local celebs and almost famous musicians. I've been introduced or spotted local news people at school, starbucks, heb and a night club. I seem to see Sonny Melendrez (am local dj) everywhere I go. When I lived in the desert I had a knack for befriending and partying with almost famous musicians. Theres this guy named David Garza I think he's kind of made it...had a Blockbuster commercial. I've met him several times. The first time I was very withdrawn because he's very pretentious (sp?) but everytime I saw him after that I was intentionall indifferent. Theres also this chick named Susan Gibson; she wrote the Dixie Chicks song "Wide Open Spaces." Whats strange about her is I've partied with her a few times randomly and also found two small world coincidences. First, my neighbor in Alpine was her neighbor in Amarillo. Second, turns out my best friend dates her ex boyfriend. Oh and I met the playwright Edward Albee and he was a jerk. . I also supposedly had an im conversation with Etta James two weeks ago but I don't think it was legit. There are very few celebs I would get really excited to see in person; Condoleeza Rice and Willie Nelson would garner a big reaction from me. If I saw them at the same time I wouldn't know who to clamor over so I would yell "Condo-willie!! Condo-willie!!" until Condi's people would have to tackle me. |
| ||
| Anthony: I love that story. Justin: Don't forget, Sonny Melendrez also used to host the Disney Channel's "Mousercize," which is remembered fondly by anyone lucky enough to get premium cable back then. Somehow, though, I don't see Etta James as being a big instant messenger... I could be wrong. |
| ||
| I heard Condi's "people" totally got punked the other day in Africa or some such ungodly continent. When I was working at Wal-Mart, Mackenzie Phillips went through my register. She's mostly famous for her E! True Hollywood Story these days. I think she bought ora-gel or something along those lines. |
| ||
| Most of my celebrity encounters have been really disappointing. Matthew McConaughey(sp?) is a total jerk. I've discovered that I'm usually happier with celebrity encounters the shorter they are. I met Shawn Mullins in a guitar store in San Antonio years ago. I was playing with a couple of other guys and he just walked up behind us. He said "nice lick" and walked away. Very poignant. Also Willie Nelson was really cool. It's so much fun to be able to name drop in the name of a noble cause such as muujware comments! |
| ||
| My aunt played a round of golf with Gary Sinise but didn't know he was a celebrity until afterwards. My mom had a conversation with President Ford which consisted of, "good evening", to which he replied, "good evening." My dad ALMOST shook then Governor Bush's hand at a meeting in Austin. Liz Carpenter, Lady Bird Johnson's press secretary, is a cousin that I've met at family reunions. And yes, surely the highlight of my life must have been the time I shook the hand of one Hillary Rodham Clinton at John Nance Garner's House in Uvalde. Also Glenn Beck. |
| ||
| Years ago when my family still owned Evetts Bar-b-Que in Uvalde, Country singer Pam Tillis was driving through on her tour bus with her family and decided to stop and get something to eat at our restaurant. The shop was closed so they just walked up to our house (which was behind the shop) and knocked on the door. After my mom almost passed out from seeing Pam Tillis on her front doorstep, we opened up the restaurant just for her and her family (her husband and son then six years old) and she sat and played my moms guitar which sat in the restaurant for people to play on for fun. After eating they invited my sister to baby sit for her backstage and the Purple Sage, and my mom to come listen to the show. And do you know the only part of that story that sucks? I WASN'T THERE!!! I was on some stupid camping trip or something. What luck. |
| ||
| You weren't there? So you get home from your camping trip, and your family says, "Pam Tillis dropped by while you were gone!"... and you actually believe them? |
| ||
| Yeah, unfortunatly they had proof, signed tee-shirts, pictures, concert tickets and a signed guitar to top it all off. If only I could have denied the evidence my life would have been that much more fulfilling. |
| ||
| News News Archives Files Polls Journals Profiles Statistics Recent Comments |
| ||
All Journals
| ||