CELEB SIGHTINGS 21
Even for those of us in Los Angeles and New York, (and us bi-coastal peeps,) we find it interesting to see a celebrity in person. There’s often something so special about the experience. This was definitely a month of different celeb sightings, the first and last being my faves. So, let’s get to them:
Blair Underwood, who's actually so much better-looking than this! (Younger-looking, too!) Photo by Malcom Ali.
10/5/12 Blair Underwood at the after-party for the opening of Fraternity at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center. OMG!!! This guy just may be the nicest person, not even celebrity, I’ve ever met in my whole life! I cannot even put in writing how special he is. Forget warm; he’s on fire! Such a genuinely nice, warm, enthusiastic person has never existed in show business like this. [Note: previous to this, it was always Tom Selleck. But, I got off him when I found-out he’s an NRA guy.]
10/7/12 Not exactly the biggest of celebrities, but Val Kilmer got out of his car at valet parking for opening night of November at the Mark Taper Forum, looking like he hadn’t washed his hair in two years! And his older woman date was wearing jeans! To a theatre opening!!! What’s wrong with people?
Jimmy Kimmel and Jane Lynch. Photo by John Shearer.
10/10 /12 The top names at the Media Access Awards breakfast at the Beverly Hilton were host Jimmy Kimmel and Glee‘s Jane Lynch, but actors Scott Porter, of Hart Of Dixie, (on of may favorite sexual-tension shows,) and John Hawkes were also of interest to me. The latter’s upcoming performance in The Sessions looks award nomination material to me. (But he may need to change PR people; she could not have been more rude.) [Note on that last part: when I was starting out my show biz career, every PR firm in town was after me. I chose the biggest one, and couldn’t have been more honored to have them representing me. But, young as I was, I knew something was amiss the second I saw my personal rep be rude to someone at a telethon I was on. I dropped that firm immediately; having a rude rep makes it seem like you’re okay with it and is a major reflection on you.]
10/17/12 Jerry O’Connell was the only celeb I spied in what should have been an audience full of them on opening night of Seminar at the Ahmanson. Maybe the rest of them knew what a disappointment this play would be, so they stayed away. But Jerry had done the show on Broadway earlier this year, so I guess he felt compelled to show up. I just realized as I write this—I’ve never seen him in anything! Except a restaurant. But, somehow, I’m aware that he’s an actor.
10/25/12 At the lovely, and worthwhile, C5LA: Inspire The Dream event at Santa Monica eatery Tiato, I shared a booth for a little bit with Fringe‘s Lance Reddick. All four of us were polite enough to pay attention to the presentation, and I went in search of someone I used to know right after it, so we didn’t have a chance to chat. But I witnessed that he was lovely to his wife, something I’m always happy to report.
Regis Philbin. Photo by Karen Salkin.
10/28/12 The LA Ultimate Women’s Expo at the Convention Center was chock full of famous peeps! Most notable was Regis Philbin, whom it was weird to see on this coast. Walking around, I spied a few lesser ones than Regis, but celebs just the same: Deirdre Hall, Niecy Nash, Tia Mowry, and Felicity Huffman. (Hey, I just realized it was a Sunday—so why wasn’t that last one at the Taper, appearing in November???)
Yohan Blake, doing the Beast pose with my pal, Darrach McCarthy. Photo by Karen Salkin.
11/1/12 Olympic sprint medalist Yohan Blake at his own party at Sofitel. The funny thing is that this second fastest man in the world, (right behind Jamaican teammate Usain Bolt,) arrived over an hour late! He was so kind to all the press; I’ve never seen anyone stand on the step and repeat, (the backdrop with the sponsors’ logos,) for longer than Yohan did! He accommodated absolutely everyone! But he really perked-up when my Irish pal, Darrach McCarthy, suggested they both do his famous “beast” pose!
