CELEB SIGHTINGS 50!
Even though this appears to be my first Celeb Sightings column of 2017, (which in actuality it is,) I’m really finishing-up the surprising number of ones from just the second half of December 2016! Then, with the very next rendition of Celeb Sightings, we’ll move right on to this new year.
But now, let’s see just who was out and about in mid-to-late December:
Common, wondering what the heck his fellow songwriter, Justin Hurwitz, (who wrote the music for LaLa Land,) is going on and on about, when Common came up with his song for the documentary, 13th, in about a nano-second, and recorded it in one take! Photo by Karen Salkin.
12/12/16 Common! He was absolutely adorable! I love this story: A pal and I had just been at a screening in a theatre in West Los Angeles. I had also been invited to the Evening Of Best Song Contenders right after the movie, but we were tired, and wanted to go home. I, being the Empath that I am, felt bad that so many people were leaving, and told my friend that maybe we should stay, because I didn’t want Common and the other two songwriters to feel bad. But she made me leave, anyway. We went to the restroom first, and on the way back to the exit, who did we come upon but Common! He was heading into the theatre with the rest of the speakers for the event. He and I looked at each other for a second, and he smiled and said, “Hi!” It took me by surprise, but I composed myself enough to say “Hi” back, and congratulate him on all his success. And then, I don’t know what possessed me to do this, but despite being bundled-up with even gloves and a scarf, I told him we were going in to hear him speak! He thanked me, and then, because I did not want to have lied to Common, I made us go in and listen to his Q-and-A! It was really interesting, especially now that he’s my New Best Friend. [Note: That’s Common on the right in the big pic above, taken by Karen Salkin. On the left is Eddie Arkin, who wrote the title song for Rules Don’t Apply, and in the middle is Justin Hurwitz, who wrote all the music for the God-awful LaLa Land.)
Amy Poehler. Photo by Karen Salkin.
12/14/16 Amy Poehler at a pizza place in West Hollywood. She was just sitting at a window seat by herself, eating and reading. (I could not have posed her better myself– she’s showing that she’s eating pizza and reading, just as I reported!!!)
P 12/14/16 Amy Adams, in West Los Angeles, speaking at an industry screening of her film Arrival. She was already scheduled to appear, but the timing was perfect because she had just got nominated for a SAG Award that very morning! It would have been awkward if she had not received the nod.
Amy Adams. Photo by Karen Salkin.
12/15/16 Shirley Jones at the opening night of The King and I at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. It was good to see her out and looking great, a little over a year after the death of her husband. (You can read my review of the show, which is going on tour around the country, here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/theatre-the-king-and-i.)
12/16/16 Marion Ross, everybody’s favorite mom from ‘70s TV, waiting in the chilling wind, for her car from the valet, after the opening night of Amelie, a New Musical, at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown LA. (You can read my review of the show, which is now headed to Broadway, here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/theatre-amelie-a-new-musical.)
Ken Davitian. Photo by Karen Salkin.
12/23/16 This is a funny one. Borat’s Ken Davitian at Norm’s Coffee Shop in West LA, at 6AM on the penultimate day of the eatery’s forty-seven-year existence. When we noticed each other, (because we’ve met several times over the years,) we were probably both wondering what the other was doing there, especially at that early hour!
12/27/16 Oscar winner Lou Gossett, Jr. at a restaurant reception in Westwood for Ava DuVernay’s powerful documentary, 13th, which everyone in this country needs to see, pronto!
And, that’s finally it for 2016! Whew. That’s a lot of celebrities. I guess it pays to live in Los Angeles!
[Note: Speaking of celebrities and living in Los Angeles, this Sunday night I will be live-tweeting the Golden Globes for you. If you don’t already follow me, this might be a good time to start. @Majorcelebrity. And you never know—I might even have some nice things to say about the proceedings! (Actually, I probably will—the Globes telecast is usually a pretty good show. And I actually have high hopes for it again this year, with Jimmy Fallon hosting, and honesty always encouraged there.)]
