Jessica's Star Sightings
Friday, December 02, 2005
It's been ages since I've written. But now I'm back. Probably because I had what I consider to be the best star sighting ever yesterday afternoon.
I was taking a hike after work at Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills when I saw a man and a woman walking down the hill toward me. I squinted and then confirmed -- it was him. Luke Spencer (known in real life as Tony Geary). That's Luke of "Luke and Laura" fame from "General Hospital." You couldn't run into a bigger '80s soap star (except for maybe Susan Lucci). I was a GH fiend in the 80s. I'd run home from school to catch every episode. And here he was in front of me. Of course, I didn't say anything (they were both listening to iPods). But it sure made my day.
Friday, September 26, 2003
Haven't posted in a while. That's because I've been busy writing a new celebrity/gossip column for the Los Angeles Independent. So here's the quick run-down on who I've seen in the past couple of months:
- Phil Keoghan, the host of the Amazing Race at my friend Mike's birthday party. Check out his GREAT L.A.-centric blog, Franklin Avenue. You can read all about his Amazing Race-styled party there.
- Mackenzie Phillips walking her dog in Sherman Oaks near Senor Fred.
- Danny Bonaduce crossing Sunset Blvd. and chatting with drivers as he entered a club on a Friday night.
- Former Charlie's Angel Jacklyn Smith strolling down a terminal at LAX with her entourage.
- Actors Peter Dinklage and Bobby Cannavale, along with Director Tom McCarthy at a screening of "The Station Agent" sponsored by Creative Screenwriting Magazine.
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
Ever heard of Richard Hatch? I don't mean that guy who won the first season of Survivor. I'm talking about the star of that late '70s TV show Battlestar Gallactica. I saw him on Saturday. The American Cinematheque in Hollywood had a screening of the pilot movie that launched the series to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Hatch was there along with some other D-level celebrities from the show. The creator, Glen Larson, was also there. He created arguably some of the best shows of the 80s, such as Magnum, P.I. and Knight Rider.
The movie was hilarious. I had seen the TV show in reruns but had never seen the monster of a film that kicked it off. It also starred Jane Seymour, Lorne Greene and Dirk Benedict. Plus, it featured a very young Rick Springfield getting killed off in the first 15 minutes and, according to the credits though I never spotted him, Ed Begley Jr. as "Ensign Greenbean."
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Saw a screening of Sofia Coppola's new movie, "Lost in Translation," at the American Cinematheque last night. She (along with star Bill Murray) participated in a Q&A afterward. I thought the movie was just OK. It was a really slow film -- on purpose. But the pacing just didn't work. The acting was great, as was the cinematography, but it was really trying to be much more than it wasn't. It was all shot in Japan, and Murray has some good stories to tell about getting over jet lag. Maybe rent it. Don't pay full price.
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Went to a screening at the Sherman Oaks Galleria the other night of the not-yet-released film Love Actually, starring Emma Thompson, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant. I liked the movie -- my boyfriend hated it. The best part of the evening had to be the star sighting we had on the way out. Coming down the elevator behind us (with her arm tightly wrapped around another woman -- what's that all about?) was Ginger Spice herself, Geri Halliwell. Now what the heck was a Spice Girl doing at a Movie View screening? These are those "test audience" screenings that you hear a lot about. You watch the film and then fill out a questionnaire about it after it's over. The only catch is entertainment industry types aren't allowed to participate. So how did Geri get past the screener? Did no one recognize her on her way in? How did she answer the question "Are you in the entertainment industry?" "Er, not anymore"? Go figure.
Monday, July 28, 2003
We went to the American Cinematheque on Friday night to see the film Santa Sangre as part of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. Jeff (my boyfriend) was really excited about going because director Alejandro Jodorowsky was going to be doing a Q&A afterward.
We got in line at about 9:15 for the 9:45 movie and immediately found out that the film would be starting about 30 minutes late. Thirty minutes turned into 60. Then we found out that Jodorowsky wouldn't be doing a Q&A after the film because it was starting so late and would instead introduce the film beforehand. OK, we thought. That'll still be cool.
We finally got inside and actor (and film festival chairman) Edward James Olmos came to the front of the theater to introduce Jodorowsky -- in spanish. That's when we knew we were in trouble. Sure enough, Jodorowsky gets up and starts the introduction in spanish. We understood next to nothing. People sitting next to us started to translate, but it was like playing a game of telephone to try to understand what he was saying. A translator finally got up near the end of the introduction, which helped a little, but we still only understood bits and pieces.
Monday, July 21, 2003
It was a busy weekend. We went down to San Diego for the yearly Comic-Con Convention. It was a zoo. If you've never been to a "con" before, it's the place where seemingly normal people for 51 weeks of the year turn out to attend panels about anything remotely related to comic books and dress up like their favorite comic characters. Actually, I take that back. Not all of the characters are even featured in comics. Some people just create their own characters that have no relation to any kind of comic whatsoever. They're just that person's "personal" character. Odd? Yes. But definitely fun. Comic-Con is also the place where big studios send their stars to promote upcoming films. I didn't go to any of the big-star panels this year, but I had a few star sightings nonetheless. First, I saw the original hulk, Lou Ferrigno, being led out of the convention center. He must've just come from a signing of some sort. I also spotted Quentin Tarrantino signing autographs for a long line of fans. His was a surprise appearance to promote his upcoming two-part film, Kill Bill.
We stayed at the Marriott right on the water. Walking by the pool on Saturday I saw Paget Brewster. She guest-starred on Friends and was in the movie The Specials. And finally, at the breakfast buffet on Sunday morning we ran into Kevin Smith. Jeff had the guts to get his picture taken with him. Kevin was really nice and happily obliged.
The one star I missed, but I wish I'd seen? William Katt. Yes, the Greatest American Hero himself was there on Saturday signing boxes of a limited edition Greatest American Hero doll. You too can own a poseable version of Mr. H for only $69.95.
