I do a far amount of travel around the southwest, usually with my nose buried in a book because it's good, interrupted reading time. But last week I went to New York, through international terminals, and had a grand time people-watching and people-listening! (Yes, we writers DO get snippets of ideas this way).
Sitting at the Los Angeles terminal, I noticed a guy passing by, and did a wait-I-know-him thing. I watched him veer into the newspaper shop, and since I wanted a bottle of water for my flight, anyway, decided to covertly follow.
But one good glimpse and I realized he wasn’t my kids’ former soccer coach or the guy who doesn’t water his plants on the next block...but one of the guys from the TV show, Mad Men. (Cool!) Which happens to my husband’s and my new favorite show.
For those unfamiliar, here's a photo from the show:
And here he is, actor Bryan Batt. As “Sal,” the character he plays.
But no, I didn’t talk to him. I did enough celebrity gushing when I met author Janet Evanovich at the Romance Writers of America conference last summer to last a lifetime, thank you very much! I just bought my water behind him (he seemed nice to the sales person) and went back to my gate. And then texted my husband!
Fast-forward a few days, and I’m at the JFK terminal in New York, waiting to board a flight to San Francisco. And I see people taking pictures with some guy with bleached blond hair. I look at him and did another, “Oh, yeah, you’re somebody,” but I admit, I had to ask someone exactly who.
It was Guy Fieri, from the Food Channel, who hosts Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
I watched his show once, and really liked. But I went around craving fried hash brown potatoes and gravy for a few days afterwards--which wasn’t really in my best interest! Anyway, he was on my flight, and later the flight attendant mentioned to me that she’d traveled with him before, and he was a great guy. Always good to hear!
So now I was down to my last flight, San Francisco/LA. I was now too tired to check for celebs, but was lucky enough to get seated next to a TV comedy writer, who--no surprise--was sharp and funny. I ended up giving him a copy of one of my books because he said his good friend was trying to write a young adult novel.
I came home and wondered how many celeb sightings and interesting conversations I’ve been missing with my head in a book? Who knows?
So tell us...have you ever had a celeb sighting in an airport or on a plane? Or met a particularly interesting person seated beside you? Or like me, do you often spend your flights reading?
Tina
Tina Ferraro
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
How to Hook a Hottie
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys
www.tinaferraro.com
First off, I love Guy! If he had been on my plane I would have been that crazy passenger that would have been staring and asking for an autograph. Secondly, yes, I've seen many "celebs", but usually don't know who they at first.
How fun, Tina! I have to admit I usually have to be prompted into a conversation on the plane. I've sat next to a lot of smelly/weird people and usually have my open before they get their seatbelts on!
SIGHTINGS:
~ Years ago, on a work trip to Anaheim, I was getting off the plane and passed by Anthony Michael Hall in the breezeway. He had a bouquet of flowers.
~ Right around the time that movie DREAM A LITTLE DREAM came out, I saw Michael Damian (Danny Romalotti from Y&R) at the mall. What a hottie!! He shook and kissed my hand. Squee!
~ Met actor Jared Leto after watching his band, 30 Seconds to Mars, perform at a hole-in-the-wall joint called The Mason Jar. Got his autograph, too. Very cool guy. And major hottie up close! Squee!!! I so wanted to say "I loved you in MY SO-CALLED LIFE" or "What did it feel like getting the shit beat out of you by Edward Norton in FIGHT CLUB?" But I didn't. I refrained from saying something stupid. Barely.
~ Met Keanu Reeves after watching his band, Dogstar, perform at Alice Cooperstown. And I had just seen THE MATRIX at the movie theater the week before. It was a trip. I had him sign my concert ticket. Another squee!! moment, then, too. It was surreal meeting him. Very cool, down to Earth guy. But I think he was high on something. Don't know why I didn't bring a camera. Stupid me.
~ Saw Ice-T at Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall (in my hometown) years ago. We did the "w'sup" head nod thing.
~ Saw basketball player Grant Hill and his family at the local Original Pancake House a few weeks ago. I didn't realize he played for the Suns. Go figure.
~ Saw actor Dennis Farina sitting at the counter and the very same above location years ago.
~ Nearly melted into a puddle after being greeted by Barry White in an elevator. Actually, there were three of us ladies that nearly melted into a puddle. LOL. (This was on that same work trip to Anaheim, btw)
~ Met Stephenie Meyer at an authors panel at the indie bookstore here. Very cool, very laid back.
~ Met Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) when he came to the Phoenix ComicCon a couple of years ago. Actually, being in a Star Wars costuming club guarantees you a meet and greet with some of the actors from Star Wars. Eventually. If they do the ComicCon circuit, that is.
~ Saw Lou Ferrigno at the same above location a couple of years ago.
ALMOST SIGHTINGS:
~ Will Smith and Jennifer Garner when they came here to film THE KINGDOM.
~ The cast of WOLVERINE:ORIGINS when they had the film premiere party here.
Great post, Tina. I was the most start struck when I "met" Gwen Stefani. I don't usually get tongue-tied, but all I could think of to say is "Um,hi." And btw, she is beautiful in real life, and Gavin isn't too shabby either, haha
I was on Touched by An Angel so I met that cast (and Valerie Bertinelli was on at the time) as well as Jennifer Morrison who's now on House. Jennifer was awesome (I played one of her BFFs), very professional and talented.
And the most interesting chap I've ever sat next to on a plane was an extreme fighter on his way to Vegas. I'm glad I didn't have to go up against him!
Celise, wow--you're a celeb to me for all these sightings! Thanks.
And hey, Wendy, years ago, I stood behind Valerie Bertinelli in the supermarket line. She wrote a check for her purchases and the cashier asked her for her driver's license to prove her identity. I thought that was amusing!
I too just got back from from a trip (Orlando to Salt Lake) and all I saw was the inside of a Pediatrician's office and a positive H1N1 diagnosis. Ne celebs this time!
Ok, how weird! I saw the same Mad Men guy in NYC this summer! He was at Joe Allen's eating dinner with Laura, the redhead from an early season of Project Runway. He does have that - I know that guy - quality. ;)
Sorry your trip wasn't more exciting, Chuck...but Heather, too funny that we saw the same guy. So either he just stands out in a crowd, or he's our official Buzz Girls Mad Man!