What made Nielsen so funny in Airplane was all the prior roles he had that were so deadly serious. He made a great leap from dramatic actor to comedian.
In this line of work, it's not uncommon to come across the famous, infamous and everything in between. Here's a most incongruous list of those I've encountered, including (1) Robert Hays of "Airplane!":
2) Lorenzo Lamas
3) Lance Alworth
4) Tony Gwynn
5) Roosevelt "Rosey" Greer (football;grabbed Sirhan Sirhan)
6) Ben Bradlee (editor Washington Post, Watergate Era)
7) Gloria Steinem
8) Dwight Yoakam
9) Wynnona Judd
10) Naomi Judd
11) Stanley Myron Handelman (Stand-up comedian '60s-'70s)
12) Heather Locklear
13) Dave Mason (Traffic, rock Hall of Fame)
14) Billy Ray Cyrus
15) Edie Adams (singer, siren for Muriel Cigars)
16) John Lithgow (TV, stage actor)
17) John Schneider (Dukes of Hazzard)
18) Billie Jean King
19) O.J. Simpson (I shook "The Hand")
20) Lyle Waggoner (Carol Burnett Show)
21) Markie Post ("Night Court")
22) Virginia Mayo (actress of the Golden Age)
23) David Crosby (Crosby, Stills & Nash)
24) Nick Reynolds (Kingston Trio)
25) Barbara Billingsley (Beaver's mom)
26) George Christie (when he was Hell's Angels President)
27) Stunt guy, stood in for Redford when jumped off cliff
27) Dead-on lookalike of Jackie O., worked as her stand-in
28) Lived two doors down from Frank Bompensiero's widow
MORE I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT:
29) Country Dick Montana (of the Beat Farmers)
30) Johnny A (sublime guitarist)
31) Former San Diego Mayor and right-wing radio host, Roger Hedgecock
32) Former Padres pitcher Randy Jones
33) George Will (at the GOP Convention in San Diego)
34) Buck Owens, sort of (I asked him to play "I got the Hungries for Your Love" at his Crystal Palace and he did, saying 'Boy, that's going back a ways.')
35) Dickey Betts. I got to shake his hand.
I always thought the tv series NAKED GUN:FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD were way funnier than the movies, not that i disliked the movies at all, they were great.
Dave...Lasagna makes you misquote movie lines?
Billie, being a country music fan, #8 & #14 on your list would be VERY cool. With that being said Night Court was one of my all time favorite shows, so #21 would have to be the one that jumped out most on your list. Mind if I ask HOW exactly you had the opportunity to meet those 3 peeps? Also when exactly did the meeting of #19 take place, and for your own protection, were you wearing a suit of armor at the time? :)
I'd have to dig out my files to make a list, but just off the top of my head...
in my past line of work, these contacts were all phone interviews:
1 Brittany Spears (one of several, at one, her mother finished the interview because Brittany was "tired")
2 O.J. Simpson
3 Ty Pennington
4 President George W. Bush (as candidate, 2000)
5 Al Gore (as candidate, 2000)
6 Doug Flutie (San Diego)
7 Vince McMahon (he announced his hope for his XFL Did an online show with him every Wednesday night. The night he announced the XFL, my producer - also on the phone told McMahon that we would set up a new show for that. I remember saying under my breath, but they heard it, "I'm busy that night.").
8 Robert Redford (produced the Legend of Bagger Vance)
9 Rich Gannon (Raiders)
10 US Olympic medal winners at the 2000 Sydney games. Our contract with NBC called for an interview no later than 2 hours after the medal was awarded. I believe between all of us, on that project, we interviewed over 90 medal winners. The ones that stand out:
Tom Nolan, swimmer
Vince Carter, basketball
There is a long list of authors, TV, film,radio personalities, and athletes. I did these interviews once or twice a week for several years.
lol, the O J call was just before all hell broke out in his life. He talked about how he enjoyed his time in Buffalo.
Ah, Vince! I got to the point where I dreaded Wednesday nights. The guy was loud, abrasive, and could get quite nasty. I had three events on Wednesday nights. An entire HOUR with Vince. Then we did a 1/2 hour with someone who was pushing a book - those were fun. Then a hour trivia event (sports).
From 1995 to when I retired two years ago, I was an online moderator for a dot com. They had a department for special events, and I was a member of that team. I did a lot of work for cable TV networks; major corporations; and after Hurricane Katrina, we provided social networking for Tulane University so they could keep in contact with personnel; students and parents while they tried to get back on their feet.
On 9/11, we were the moderators for NBC's news chat room.
That was a horrendous event. We provided 24/7 moderation.
I was one of the hosts for the premier of Planet Earth. We had ten rooms open with 50 people in each room for the first night of that series. People could watch the show and talk about it at the same time. It was one of the first interactive events we did. Later in that series, we had an opportunity to do an interview with the people behind the scenes. We did the same with the with the guys who filmed the March of the Penquins.
Another interview series was Deadliest Catch. That was fun too.
For four years, I hosted the east coast and west coast feed for "Trading Spaces" on Saturday nights. People could watch and discuss the show at the same time.
On Sunday nights, for four years, I co-hosted the ESPN Sunday Night NFL Game. Many who came for that event were Americans living overseas.
This work was done at home, which I loved.
I worked for the company in California, for a while, as a project manager in web design.
2000 was a busy year. We spent almost six months preparing for the Olympics. We provided the web pages for NBC, in the US, and one each in Canada and Australia.
There was a great deal of content to organize before the games. We had three live web cams in Sidney which could be operated by people coming to the site. Because of the time difference, almost all of our interviews were conducted in the middle of the night (for us).
Immediately after the Olympics, we opened news chat rooms for several TV networks for the election. Those rooms were busy 24/7.
About a week before the election, we interviewed the candidates. These events were well attended.
Bush and Gore were both good interviews. I remember telling someone that I dressed up my normal at home work apparel by adding pearls to my ratty bathrobe and jammies.
Yep, it was "Late Night with Bea" lol
Tim: in the movie airplane, the stewardess and Leslie Nielsen's character were trying to figure out why half the people on the plane had food poisoning and half did not. She said something like: The choices were steak or fish, the flight crew all had fish. He said: I remeber, I had Lasagna.
Billie, you met Heather Locklear? Oh yeah...........
Yes, I met Heather Locklear briefly as she was exiting a chain store called New York Bagels. It was in Thousand Oaks, Calif., a posh bedroom community near the Ventura-L.A. countyline with lots of behind-the-scenes denizens of filmdom -- scriptwriters, costume designers, set designers, location hunters, and some stars.
Most of my encounters were fleeting, but I did interview several people for newspapers and a country radio station I freelanced for in San Diego -- KSON.
Heather is tall, very slender with huge blue eyes and a youthful energy. She was gorgeous without makeup, wearing faded jeans, wedge sandals and a skimpy summer top.
Re: Dwight Yoakam. I did a phone interview for his debut album "Hillbilly Deluxe," and it was published in the Los Angeles Times. Then I met him backstage after a performance in San Diego. He was lanky, wore that ever-present hat, a long Native-American woven overcoat, and had a tall, leggy, young blonde beauty waiting for him in the wings. He is extremely focused, articulate and he lives in the Hollywood Hills and makes yummy muffins. He plays a total ass in "Slingblade" and he adored Buck Owens (Yikes! I met him in Bakersfield, but need to add him to my list!).
Re: Billy Ray Cyrus. This was a phone interview back in his Achy Breaky Heart heyday, replete with that gawdawful mullet. He struck me as a nice, polite phony, who's about as country as a Senator's son could be. Bet his aunts didn't dip snuff.
Re: Markie Post. I met her at the gala going away for the UCLA Chancellor circa 1997. It was at the main campus and it was very extravagant. No port-a-potties at these wingdings -- They rent these well-appointed, specially outfitted trailers with toilets, mirrors, accoutrements, etc. She was fidgeting with her outfit. Everyone at these things tend to think they are "on" even if they aren't. She has a great bod and didn't seem stuck up.
I was with Billie for meeting Billie Jean King, Virginia Mayo and Tony Gwynn (though I'd met him previously myself).
I was not there, sadly, for Heather Locklear.
In addition, I've met
Nate Colbert, Dave Campbell, Jerry Coleman, Nick Lowe, Eric Show, Roger Hedgecock, Midge Ure, Country Dick Montana (left off Billie's list, but should be there, I believe), Buddy Blue (ditto), Dave Alvin, Larry Linville, Randy Jones, Chip and Tony Kinman, Johnny A, Chuck Muncie (only Charger I've met, and that was after he retired), Johnny Miller, George Will.
Also, if you watch comedy central, you've been seeing ads for Doug Benson's new show. I went to high school with Doug (we were in Drama and Journalism classes together).
Behind the scenes in Hollywood are high school chums Michael Addis (screenwriter) and Charles Maynes (I knew him as "Bruce," and together we founded one of San Diego's first punk rock bands, "The Allies." He's a special audio effects editor who has worked on a number of Academy Award winning movies -- though I'm not aware of him actually winning one himself ... he was special audio effects editor on HBO's current documentary Wartorn, which I highly recommend). If you've ever seen the movie "The Last American Virgin," there's a scene with a dork wearing tape on his glasses -- that's Brian Peck. We were in HS drama together.
That's an impressive list of celebrities, Billie, Bea and Howard. I have brushed up against very few famous people. My most memorable is a lot more anti-social than yours. While in Jacksonville, FL during the early 80's, Larry Csonka was the GM of the USFL Jacksonville Bulls. I got into a verbal altercation with him that almost led to blows, which would have ended painfully for me, I'm sure LOL. I was tossed by security, he gave me the finger on my way out and I saw his super bowl ring. LOL. He was a total ass, I was not much better back then. A lot of others are similar, I should be embarrassed to admit.
I think the most fun is when you run into a someone when you least expect it.
Years ago, when I worked at Batavia Downs, three men walked into my office just as I was ready to leave for the night.
They had purchased a horse and wanted to get the paperwork out of the way.
Now, I was anxious to leave and really not processing their names as I did the work. I did notice that they were big guys.
So, I asked Walt Patulski, Dennis Shaw, and Joe DeLamielleure if they played basketball!!!!
Basketball? I couldn't believe that came out. I knew better.
Another time, I asked a George Strait, what he did for a living, too.
After that, I learned not to ask that question.
Some friends of my parents have a daughter and son-in-law who live somewhere near George. Their son took riding lessons at a nearby stable. Every time he'd come back from lessons, he would talk about his friend George. They'd ride together, brush their horses together, etc. George was a great guy, the boy said, but mom never met him. Then one day they're watching the Grammys and out comes Strait to sing a song, "There's my friend, George, the boy shouts."
I have a rule about meeting celebs -- I never ask for an autograph or a picture ... I want nothing from them. I thank them for entertaining me, etc.
I learned somewhere along the line, no matter how famous you are, a little appreciation goes a long way, and so often, fans just want something.
Autographs get lost (and the celeb thinks you just want to sell them), and pictures fade -- but the memories of meeting somebody you admire lasts a life time.
When Billie and I met Billie Jean King, we were in London (all expense paid trip in 2000 because I was speaking at a "virtual community" conference). Billie and I went to go see a play with Richard "John Boy" Thomas. After we sat down, we noticed Billie Jean sitting a couple of rows behind us (this was Wimbledon time of year). Billie (my Billie) saw her first. That was cool, we thought.
After the play, we went out the front door, not thinking much about Billie Jean. Then she walked in front of us on the sidewalk outside and I said, "Hello, Ms. King." Her companion turned around on her heels and if glares could kill, I'd be dead. But Billie Jean stopped and said hello and I reached out my hand and said, "I just wanted to tell you how much my wife appreciate all of your accomplishments." The companion's features immediately softened. Billie Jean was quite nice, asking all about our travels, etc. And then we each went on our way -- all of about three minutes of conversation that will always be more valuable to me than an autograph.
I don't think I've asked for an autograph.
When I lived in Chesterbrook, the Valley Forge Playhouse (or whatever it was called back then) was just down the road. Most of the people who performed there stayed at Guest Quarters which was just up the walk from where I lived.
A group of us met there on Monday nights to watch the football game. Kenny Rogers would come down to be with his people, and everyone knew who he was. No one bothered him. He would joke and kid with everyone as long as they treated him like one of the guys.
William Shatner stayed there when he was the host of the Devon Horse Show. He was another person who liked to be with people. This Guest Quarters had a singing bartender and Shatner liked to sing along.
Florence Henderson and her husband stayed there while their house was under construction across the valley on the Valley Forge National Park side.
There were quite a few acts that called Guest Quarters home at that time, while they performed in the area.
It wasn't uncommon to see Chubby Checkers in the local drug store. His home was about a mile from mine.
Chesterbrook was a neat planned community. My only complaint was the hours some of the stores kept. I could walk down the path to the dry cleaners, but it was never open when I reached it. One day, I took the day off and made a special point of going there in the morning.
I complained that I couldn't get to them with my work schedule. I was told, with a sniff, that "around here, the 'help' takes care of things like that.". The bank didn't have lines. It had a wall loaded with books and comfortable chairs to occupy yourself while you waited. You sat with the teller when it was your turn.
Almost as good as living in CA where they had WebVan. I loved that. You did your grocery shopping on line and they delivered at the time YOU wanted them to be there. The delivery person would bring the groceries in, put away anything that needed to be refrigerated.
Wow, was I spoiled.
I'm really bad with names & faces.
Worked a private duty case in Waikiki. Front desk called and asked if we were accepting visitors. Few minutes later in walks Don Ho. Few minutes after that I ask him why he looks so familiar. He takes my hand in his and asks if I have ever heard the song, Ting Bubbles.
A month later the mayor of Honolulu stopped in for a visit. I mistook him for a local news anchor.
Recognized the Governor but addressed him as Governor Brown,(California).
Few years before when I worked nights at a hospital on Oahu there was an actor who had a popular t.v. show admitted under an alias. He was a real hottie and we all were dying to be his nurse. Long story short I was reassigned to the nursery, given strict orders not to leave that unit. Hospital security had been briefed not to let me on the second floor. To put it kindly I was told not to pull any of that New York nonsense.
Went out for one last smoke at dawn on the third floor Lanai. Caught a lite off of said actor who looked nothing like the character he portrayed. Realized it a month later when his nurse, my room mate & I were talking over breakfast.
Sitting in LAX when a very very tall man in a nice suit wandered through with airport security. He had a great smile. I thought he looked familiar. Everyone in the concourse turned to look and then elbowed each other. Magic Johnson, is what the guy sitting across from me with a you gotta be kidding me look on his face said.
I'm sure there's more but I'm bad with names & faces.
Brenda,
I can't put faces to names either.
Even worse, there are many celebs that never really registered with me because I'm not interested in whatever genre' they represent. I could run right into them and have no clue.
A good example is the reality shows (DWTS, etc.). My friends give me strange looks when I have to ask who these "stars" are.
I can remember coming home from work and telling my husband that some old guy named Randolph Scott came through the office. lol, I had no idea who he was, but I know everyone made a big deal over him. I guess he was an old cowboy star. Since my ex was much older than I (winking at him if he is reading this), he knew exactly who Randolph Scott was.
I loved Randolph Scott movies as a child. I thought he was so handsome and dashing, always the hero.
Howard forgot to mention that he met Richard Gere. They were on the same airplane, but of course Richard was in First Class. Howard recognized him and at some point told him how much he enjoyed his movies and to keep up the good work. Gere smiled broadly and said thanks.
The thing that stuck in Howard's mind was how this mega star could have such yellow teeth. Surely he can afford whitening treatments, and he is a "leading man." Who knew?
Billie,
I'll have to look up Scott's filmology one of these days. I totally forgot about that incident until we started talking about people we've met.
Another one I forgot about was Joel McCrae, who came to the racetrack one night. My only impression was that he had high blood pressure because his face was very, very red.
In it's heyday, the Downs attracted many celebs. I only met a few since my office was off the beaten path.
It's a small world. In the aforementioned City of Thousand Oaks, Calif., the Western star Joel McCrae had a 3,000 acre ranch. The homestead is still there and is now a museum. Most of the land has been parceled off and sold, but a few acres are still intact.
He made more money in real estate than he ever did in films.
His wife lived there until she died a few years ago. She was an actress named Frances Dee and they were married 57 years. She was a great beauty who aged so well that she still turned heads well into old age.
The couple donated 1,200 acres to the Conejo Valley YMCA and there's a park in "T.O." named after Joel.
The area, before it became incorporated, was heavily used as a place to shoot westerns. Cowboy "Crash" Craddock owned a steakhouse there and Ronald Reagan, who had a ranch in neighboring Agoura Hills, used to frequent a butcher shop on TO Boulevard that also sells beef BBQ.
The M.A.S.H. TV series was filmed in Agoura Hills.
That whole area looks rugged, with low hills, rocky bluffs, lots of oaks, scrub oaks and chaparral and the smell of sage.
what about The Poseidon
what about The Poseidon Adventure?
"Surely you must be joking."
"Surely you must be joking." "No I'm not and stop calling me Shirley" This has to be one of the most quoted movie lines ever. LOL
Howard, can you please post
Howard, can you please post that video on why Airplane was made? It was fantastic.
We're all counting on you
We're all counting on you
Airplane and Zero Hour
Airplane and Zero Hour
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q__vuyH1JEI]
Background here:
http://blog.mises.org/14797/
Thanks, Howard. Appreciate
Thanks, Howard. Appreciate it.
That was great Howard,
That was great Howard, Thanks. Hey, Bea if you have some time take a stroll around the von Mises website.
Y'all watch too many movies
Y'all watch too many movies LOL. Course I may be old but Zero Hour was before my time :P
Dave, I already
Dave,
I already follow
http://blog.mises.org
on my website
http://bataviablogmistress.blogspot.com/
For another fun look at TV, try Star Trek Meets Monty Python.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luVjkTEIoJc&feature=fvw
Nielsen was classic in the tv
Nielsen was classic in the tv show Due South. His father was a mountie in real life.
Dave, I believe the quote
Dave,
I believe the quote is:
"Surely you can't be serious." "Of course I'm serious and don't call me Shirley."
...or something to that effect.
What made Nielsen so funny in
What made Nielsen so funny in Airplane was all the prior roles he had that were so deadly serious. He made a great leap from dramatic actor to comedian.
I believe you are right
I believe you are right Randy, I stand corrected. I had lasagna
In this line of work, it's
In this line of work, it's not uncommon to come across the famous, infamous and everything in between. Here's a most incongruous list of those I've encountered, including (1) Robert Hays of "Airplane!":
2) Lorenzo Lamas
3) Lance Alworth
4) Tony Gwynn
5) Roosevelt "Rosey" Greer (football;grabbed Sirhan Sirhan)
6) Ben Bradlee (editor Washington Post, Watergate Era)
7) Gloria Steinem
8) Dwight Yoakam
9) Wynnona Judd
10) Naomi Judd
11) Stanley Myron Handelman (Stand-up comedian '60s-'70s)
12) Heather Locklear
13) Dave Mason (Traffic, rock Hall of Fame)
14) Billy Ray Cyrus
15) Edie Adams (singer, siren for Muriel Cigars)
16) John Lithgow (TV, stage actor)
17) John Schneider (Dukes of Hazzard)
18) Billie Jean King
19) O.J. Simpson (I shook "The Hand")
20) Lyle Waggoner (Carol Burnett Show)
21) Markie Post ("Night Court")
22) Virginia Mayo (actress of the Golden Age)
23) David Crosby (Crosby, Stills & Nash)
24) Nick Reynolds (Kingston Trio)
25) Barbara Billingsley (Beaver's mom)
26) George Christie (when he was Hell's Angels President)
27) Stunt guy, stood in for Redford when jumped off cliff
27) Dead-on lookalike of Jackie O., worked as her stand-in
28) Lived two doors down from Frank Bompensiero's widow
MORE I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT:
29) Country Dick Montana (of the Beat Farmers)
30) Johnny A (sublime guitarist)
31) Former San Diego Mayor and right-wing radio host, Roger Hedgecock
32) Former Padres pitcher Randy Jones
33) George Will (at the GOP Convention in San Diego)
34) Buck Owens, sort of (I asked him to play "I got the Hungries for Your Love" at his Crystal Palace and he did, saying 'Boy, that's going back a ways.')
35) Dickey Betts. I got to shake his hand.
I always thought the tv
I always thought the tv series NAKED GUN:FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD were way funnier than the movies, not that i disliked the movies at all, they were great.
Dave...Lasagna makes you misquote movie lines?
Billie, being a country music fan, #8 & #14 on your list would be VERY cool. With that being said Night Court was one of my all time favorite shows, so #21 would have to be the one that jumped out most on your list. Mind if I ask HOW exactly you had the opportunity to meet those 3 peeps? Also when exactly did the meeting of #19 take place, and for your own protection, were you wearing a suit of armor at the time? :)
I'd have to dig out my files
I'd have to dig out my files to make a list, but just off the top of my head...
in my past line of work, these contacts were all phone interviews:
1 Brittany Spears (one of several, at one, her mother finished the interview because Brittany was "tired")
2 O.J. Simpson
3 Ty Pennington
4 President George W. Bush (as candidate, 2000)
5 Al Gore (as candidate, 2000)
6 Doug Flutie (San Diego)
7 Vince McMahon (he announced his hope for his XFL Did an online show with him every Wednesday night. The night he announced the XFL, my producer - also on the phone told McMahon that we would set up a new show for that. I remember saying under my breath, but they heard it, "I'm busy that night.").
8 Robert Redford (produced the Legend of Bagger Vance)
9 Rich Gannon (Raiders)
10 US Olympic medal winners at the 2000 Sydney games. Our contract with NBC called for an interview no later than 2 hours after the medal was awarded. I believe between all of us, on that project, we interviewed over 90 medal winners. The ones that stand out:
Tom Nolan, swimmer
Vince Carter, basketball
There is a long list of authors, TV, film,radio personalities, and athletes. I did these interviews once or twice a week for several years.
If I had to interview O.J. I
If I had to interview O.J. I would prefer that to be a phone interview too. Its hard to murder someone over the phone. Smart choice Bea :)
#'s 6 and 7 in my opinion would be VERY COOL.
If you don't mind me asking, what was your past line of work?
"Late Night With Bea McManis" :)
lol, the O J call was just
lol, the O J call was just before all hell broke out in his life. He talked about how he enjoyed his time in Buffalo.
Ah, Vince! I got to the point where I dreaded Wednesday nights. The guy was loud, abrasive, and could get quite nasty. I had three events on Wednesday nights. An entire HOUR with Vince. Then we did a 1/2 hour with someone who was pushing a book - those were fun. Then a hour trivia event (sports).
From 1995 to when I retired two years ago, I was an online moderator for a dot com. They had a department for special events, and I was a member of that team. I did a lot of work for cable TV networks; major corporations; and after Hurricane Katrina, we provided social networking for Tulane University so they could keep in contact with personnel; students and parents while they tried to get back on their feet.
On 9/11, we were the moderators for NBC's news chat room.
That was a horrendous event. We provided 24/7 moderation.
I was one of the hosts for the premier of Planet Earth. We had ten rooms open with 50 people in each room for the first night of that series. People could watch the show and talk about it at the same time. It was one of the first interactive events we did. Later in that series, we had an opportunity to do an interview with the people behind the scenes. We did the same with the with the guys who filmed the March of the Penquins.
Another interview series was Deadliest Catch. That was fun too.
For four years, I hosted the east coast and west coast feed for "Trading Spaces" on Saturday nights. People could watch and discuss the show at the same time.
On Sunday nights, for four years, I co-hosted the ESPN Sunday Night NFL Game. Many who came for that event were Americans living overseas.
This work was done at home, which I loved.
I worked for the company in California, for a while, as a project manager in web design.
2000 was a busy year. We spent almost six months preparing for the Olympics. We provided the web pages for NBC, in the US, and one each in Canada and Australia.
There was a great deal of content to organize before the games. We had three live web cams in Sidney which could be operated by people coming to the site. Because of the time difference, almost all of our interviews were conducted in the middle of the night (for us).
Immediately after the Olympics, we opened news chat rooms for several TV networks for the election. Those rooms were busy 24/7.
About a week before the election, we interviewed the candidates. These events were well attended.
Bush and Gore were both good interviews. I remember telling someone that I dressed up my normal at home work apparel by adding pearls to my ratty bathrobe and jammies.
Yep, it was "Late Night with Bea" lol
Tim: in the movie airplane,
Tim: in the movie airplane, the stewardess and Leslie Nielsen's character were trying to figure out why half the people on the plane had food poisoning and half did not. She said something like: The choices were steak or fish, the flight crew all had fish. He said: I remeber, I had Lasagna.
Billie, you met Heather Locklear? Oh yeah...........
Billie's list is far more
Billie's list is far more impressive. What wonderful opportunities. :)
...and just think, one or more of them remember meeting Billie, too.
Yes, I met Heather Locklear
Yes, I met Heather Locklear briefly as she was exiting a chain store called New York Bagels. It was in Thousand Oaks, Calif., a posh bedroom community near the Ventura-L.A. countyline with lots of behind-the-scenes denizens of filmdom -- scriptwriters, costume designers, set designers, location hunters, and some stars.
Most of my encounters were fleeting, but I did interview several people for newspapers and a country radio station I freelanced for in San Diego -- KSON.
Heather is tall, very slender with huge blue eyes and a youthful energy. She was gorgeous without makeup, wearing faded jeans, wedge sandals and a skimpy summer top.
Re: Dwight Yoakam. I did a phone interview for his debut album "Hillbilly Deluxe," and it was published in the Los Angeles Times. Then I met him backstage after a performance in San Diego. He was lanky, wore that ever-present hat, a long Native-American woven overcoat, and had a tall, leggy, young blonde beauty waiting for him in the wings. He is extremely focused, articulate and he lives in the Hollywood Hills and makes yummy muffins. He plays a total ass in "Slingblade" and he adored Buck Owens (Yikes! I met him in Bakersfield, but need to add him to my list!).
Re: Billy Ray Cyrus. This was a phone interview back in his Achy Breaky Heart heyday, replete with that gawdawful mullet. He struck me as a nice, polite phony, who's about as country as a Senator's son could be. Bet his aunts didn't dip snuff.
Re: Markie Post. I met her at the gala going away for the UCLA Chancellor circa 1997. It was at the main campus and it was very extravagant. No port-a-potties at these wingdings -- They rent these well-appointed, specially outfitted trailers with toilets, mirrors, accoutrements, etc. She was fidgeting with her outfit. Everyone at these things tend to think they are "on" even if they aren't. She has a great bod and didn't seem stuck up.
I was with Billie for meeting
I was with Billie for meeting Billie Jean King, Virginia Mayo and Tony Gwynn (though I'd met him previously myself).
I was not there, sadly, for Heather Locklear.
In addition, I've met
Nate Colbert, Dave Campbell, Jerry Coleman, Nick Lowe, Eric Show, Roger Hedgecock, Midge Ure, Country Dick Montana (left off Billie's list, but should be there, I believe), Buddy Blue (ditto), Dave Alvin, Larry Linville, Randy Jones, Chip and Tony Kinman, Johnny A, Chuck Muncie (only Charger I've met, and that was after he retired), Johnny Miller, George Will.
Also, if you watch comedy central, you've been seeing ads for Doug Benson's new show. I went to high school with Doug (we were in Drama and Journalism classes together).
Behind the scenes in Hollywood are high school chums Michael Addis (screenwriter) and Charles Maynes (I knew him as "Bruce," and together we founded one of San Diego's first punk rock bands, "The Allies." He's a special audio effects editor who has worked on a number of Academy Award winning movies -- though I'm not aware of him actually winning one himself ... he was special audio effects editor on HBO's current documentary Wartorn, which I highly recommend). If you've ever seen the movie "The Last American Virgin," there's a scene with a dork wearing tape on his glasses -- that's Brian Peck. We were in HS drama together.
Of course, many of us could
Of course, many of us could add Bill Kauffman to our lists.
I gotcha Dave, and you are
I gotcha Dave, and you are absolutely right. Its actually playing right now on AMC :)
That's an impressive list of
That's an impressive list of celebrities, Billie, Bea and Howard. I have brushed up against very few famous people. My most memorable is a lot more anti-social than yours. While in Jacksonville, FL during the early 80's, Larry Csonka was the GM of the USFL Jacksonville Bulls. I got into a verbal altercation with him that almost led to blows, which would have ended painfully for me, I'm sure LOL. I was tossed by security, he gave me the finger on my way out and I saw his super bowl ring. LOL. He was a total ass, I was not much better back then. A lot of others are similar, I should be embarrassed to admit.
How could we forget Bill?
How could we forget Bill?
I think the most fun is when you run into a someone when you least expect it.
Years ago, when I worked at Batavia Downs, three men walked into my office just as I was ready to leave for the night.
They had purchased a horse and wanted to get the paperwork out of the way.
Now, I was anxious to leave and really not processing their names as I did the work. I did notice that they were big guys.
So, I asked Walt Patulski, Dennis Shaw, and Joe DeLamielleure if they played basketball!!!!
Basketball? I couldn't believe that came out. I knew better.
Another time, I asked a George Strait, what he did for a living, too.
After that, I learned not to ask that question.
Bea, here's a great George
Bea, here's a great George Strait story.
Some friends of my parents have a daughter and son-in-law who live somewhere near George. Their son took riding lessons at a nearby stable. Every time he'd come back from lessons, he would talk about his friend George. They'd ride together, brush their horses together, etc. George was a great guy, the boy said, but mom never met him. Then one day they're watching the Grammys and out comes Strait to sing a song, "There's my friend, George, the boy shouts."
I have a rule about meeting celebs -- I never ask for an autograph or a picture ... I want nothing from them. I thank them for entertaining me, etc.
I learned somewhere along the line, no matter how famous you are, a little appreciation goes a long way, and so often, fans just want something.
Autographs get lost (and the celeb thinks you just want to sell them), and pictures fade -- but the memories of meeting somebody you admire lasts a life time.
When Billie and I met Billie Jean King, we were in London (all expense paid trip in 2000 because I was speaking at a "virtual community" conference). Billie and I went to go see a play with Richard "John Boy" Thomas. After we sat down, we noticed Billie Jean sitting a couple of rows behind us (this was Wimbledon time of year). Billie (my Billie) saw her first. That was cool, we thought.
After the play, we went out the front door, not thinking much about Billie Jean. Then she walked in front of us on the sidewalk outside and I said, "Hello, Ms. King." Her companion turned around on her heels and if glares could kill, I'd be dead. But Billie Jean stopped and said hello and I reached out my hand and said, "I just wanted to tell you how much my wife appreciate all of your accomplishments." The companion's features immediately softened. Billie Jean was quite nice, asking all about our travels, etc. And then we each went on our way -- all of about three minutes of conversation that will always be more valuable to me than an autograph.
I don't think I've asked for
I don't think I've asked for an autograph.
When I lived in Chesterbrook, the Valley Forge Playhouse (or whatever it was called back then) was just down the road. Most of the people who performed there stayed at Guest Quarters which was just up the walk from where I lived.
A group of us met there on Monday nights to watch the football game. Kenny Rogers would come down to be with his people, and everyone knew who he was. No one bothered him. He would joke and kid with everyone as long as they treated him like one of the guys.
William Shatner stayed there when he was the host of the Devon Horse Show. He was another person who liked to be with people. This Guest Quarters had a singing bartender and Shatner liked to sing along.
Florence Henderson and her husband stayed there while their house was under construction across the valley on the Valley Forge National Park side.
There were quite a few acts that called Guest Quarters home at that time, while they performed in the area.
It wasn't uncommon to see Chubby Checkers in the local drug store. His home was about a mile from mine.
Chesterbrook was a neat planned community. My only complaint was the hours some of the stores kept. I could walk down the path to the dry cleaners, but it was never open when I reached it. One day, I took the day off and made a special point of going there in the morning.
I complained that I couldn't get to them with my work schedule. I was told, with a sniff, that "around here, the 'help' takes care of things like that.". The bank didn't have lines. It had a wall loaded with books and comfortable chairs to occupy yourself while you waited. You sat with the teller when it was your turn.
Almost as good as living in CA where they had WebVan. I loved that. You did your grocery shopping on line and they delivered at the time YOU wanted them to be there. The delivery person would bring the groceries in, put away anything that needed to be refrigerated.
Wow, was I spoiled.
I'm really bad with names &
I'm really bad with names & faces.
Worked a private duty case in Waikiki. Front desk called and asked if we were accepting visitors. Few minutes later in walks Don Ho. Few minutes after that I ask him why he looks so familiar. He takes my hand in his and asks if I have ever heard the song, Ting Bubbles.
A month later the mayor of Honolulu stopped in for a visit. I mistook him for a local news anchor.
Recognized the Governor but addressed him as Governor Brown,(California).
Few years before when I worked nights at a hospital on Oahu there was an actor who had a popular t.v. show admitted under an alias. He was a real hottie and we all were dying to be his nurse. Long story short I was reassigned to the nursery, given strict orders not to leave that unit. Hospital security had been briefed not to let me on the second floor. To put it kindly I was told not to pull any of that New York nonsense.
Went out for one last smoke at dawn on the third floor Lanai. Caught a lite off of said actor who looked nothing like the character he portrayed. Realized it a month later when his nurse, my room mate & I were talking over breakfast.
Sitting in LAX when a very very tall man in a nice suit wandered through with airport security. He had a great smile. I thought he looked familiar. Everyone in the concourse turned to look and then elbowed each other. Magic Johnson, is what the guy sitting across from me with a you gotta be kidding me look on his face said.
I'm sure there's more but I'm bad with names & faces.
Brenda, I can't put faces to
Brenda,
I can't put faces to names either.
Even worse, there are many celebs that never really registered with me because I'm not interested in whatever genre' they represent. I could run right into them and have no clue.
A good example is the reality shows (DWTS, etc.). My friends give me strange looks when I have to ask who these "stars" are.
I can remember coming home from work and telling my husband that some old guy named Randolph Scott came through the office. lol, I had no idea who he was, but I know everyone made a big deal over him. I guess he was an old cowboy star. Since my ex was much older than I (winking at him if he is reading this), he knew exactly who Randolph Scott was.
I loved Randolph Scott movies
I loved Randolph Scott movies as a child. I thought he was so handsome and dashing, always the hero.
Howard forgot to mention that he met Richard Gere. They were on the same airplane, but of course Richard was in First Class. Howard recognized him and at some point told him how much he enjoyed his movies and to keep up the good work. Gere smiled broadly and said thanks.
The thing that stuck in Howard's mind was how this mega star could have such yellow teeth. Surely he can afford whitening treatments, and he is a "leading man." Who knew?
Billie, I'll have to look up
Billie,
I'll have to look up Scott's filmology one of these days. I totally forgot about that incident until we started talking about people we've met.
Another one I forgot about was Joel McCrae, who came to the racetrack one night. My only impression was that he had high blood pressure because his face was very, very red.
In it's heyday, the Downs attracted many celebs. I only met a few since my office was off the beaten path.
It's a small world. In the
It's a small world. In the aforementioned City of Thousand Oaks, Calif., the Western star Joel McCrae had a 3,000 acre ranch. The homestead is still there and is now a museum. Most of the land has been parceled off and sold, but a few acres are still intact.
He made more money in real estate than he ever did in films.
His wife lived there until she died a few years ago. She was an actress named Frances Dee and they were married 57 years. She was a great beauty who aged so well that she still turned heads well into old age.
The couple donated 1,200 acres to the Conejo Valley YMCA and there's a park in "T.O." named after Joel.
The area, before it became incorporated, was heavily used as a place to shoot westerns. Cowboy "Crash" Craddock owned a steakhouse there and Ronald Reagan, who had a ranch in neighboring Agoura Hills, used to frequent a butcher shop on TO Boulevard that also sells beef BBQ.
The M.A.S.H. TV series was filmed in Agoura Hills.
That whole area looks rugged, with low hills, rocky bluffs, lots of oaks, scrub oaks and chaparral and the smell of sage.