CELEB SIGHTINGS 70
Nicole Richie and Benji Madden. Photo by Karen Salkin.
Because I’ve spent so much time in the house watching sports this year, (college and pro basketball play-offs, National and World’s skating championships, and now the start of baseball season,) I haven’t been out and about enough to have spied tons of celebrities around town. But the ones I did spy are all fun ones. So let’s get right to them.
2/27/25 What a potpourri of disparate celebs were at the opening of 44: The Musical at the Douglas Theatre in Culver City! I spied TV personality Nicole Richie with her husband Benji Madden of the singing group Good Charlotte, Rhoda’s Ray Buktenica, singer Jon “Bowzer” Bauman of Sha Na Na fame, and Dancing with the Stars bandleader *Ray Chew, who even shot a photo of a trio of us! Whew. (If you missed my glowing review of the musical, here’s that link: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/theatre-44-the-musical.) *(That’s Ray Chew at the top of this article, photo by Karen Salkin, by accident. Her camera actually went off facing Ray as she was handing him her phone for him to take a picture of her!)
Kato Kaelin. Photo by Karen Salkin.
2/28/25 Seen at the Wow gifting suite in honor of the Oscars were a trio of not really celebs, but show business folks whom I believe people know for one reason or another. There was a recurring actor from Seinfeld, John O’Hurley, and old time Cuban actress Maria Conchita Alonso, who I think is best known for the ’80s movie Moscow on the Hudson. And then there was weirdo former O.J. Simpson pal, Kato Kaelin, who was involved in his murder case because he was freeloading living on Simpson’s property at the time. I haven’t laid eyes on him since the trial thirty years ago, and even more weirdly, he was still instantly recognizable. (You can read about everything that went on there right here: (You can read about everything that went on there right here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/gifting-suite-wow-creations-pre-oscars-gifting-suite-2025.)
Brandon Micheal Hall and Karen Salkin. Photo by Brandon Micheal Hall.
3/4/25 There was a plethora of fun TV stars at the opening night of a revival of Topdog/Underdog at the Pasadena Playhouse. And I was lucky enough to chat a bit with my three faves there that night, who were all grateful for the recognition. At intermission, first up for me was William Stanford Davis, who plays Mr. Johnson, the janitor, on Abbott Elementary. Then I got to tell Vella Lovell, who plays the sweet boss on the hilarious sitcom, Animal Control, how much I adore her and her entire show. But the best was at the after-party. I had met the star of the play, and of the recent TV series, God Friended Me, Brandon Micheal Hall, a few years ago, and I had a pic of us at the ready. So when I saw him that night, I asked him, “Would you like to see us in our youth?” He, of course, said yes, and loved it. So then he took my phone and took a bunch of new pix of us! What a night for me! (The play is over, but if you’re curious about it, here’s that link: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/theatre-topdogunderdog.)
4/16/25 This was a fun one for me. As my friend Marc and I were driving up Sunset Blvd. towards Hollywood, we were stuck in traffic in front of the store H. Lorenzo on Sunset Plaza. I noticed two casually-dressed guys—one very tall, one normal height—walking around the corner of the building to the entrance. The tall guy was rocking a hoodie over his head, (it was a tad chilly out,) a beard, and a big smile, so my eye was drawn to his face. And I realized that he was…LA Clippers star, James Harden! It was three days before the NBA play-offs were starting, so I guess he was cool and loose enough to shop a little, perhaps for his first game arrivals fit. Marc knows nothing about sports, but as soon as I told him that it was James, traffic started moving a bit, so he pointed-out, “And that’s his car!” It was parked right against the building, which is not really a spot. But it was James’s famous Bentley, so I guess he wanted it close. And safe!
Jame’s Harden’s Bentley Bentayga. Photo by Karen Salkin.
4/16/15 As my friend and I continued on to the Pantages theatre that evening, now along Hollywood Blvd., we came upon Ben Affleck at the premiere of his new film, The Accountant 2 at the Chinese Theatre. (We saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child that night, and here’s the link to my review of it: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/theatre-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child.)
