When a celebrity in person really underwhelms you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hung out with Madonna once (I am *not* cool, rich, or powerful - it was a friend of a friend of a friend thing)

She was nice but also odd. Had a strange affect. Said she loved my earrings and gave me the rest of her cocktail.

You are one of the people who have ever met Madonna. I love this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The one above about physically running into someone reminded me of a story. I interned at the White House in the late 90s. Once I was rushing into the west wing to bring some papers to someone and I literally ran smack into Al Gore’s chest. He’s a big guy and it knocked me backwards. We had all had training on what to do if we ever ran into any bigwigs so I kind of mumbled I’m sorry Mr. Vice President and he was very sweet and gracious.

Someone above also said kid rock is kind of a dick. I can corroborate this. My husband is from the same tiny town in Michigan where he lives or used to live or has an estate or whatever. Every now and then he will donate or make an appearance at an event in town which is nice in theory but he sort of expects to be catered to and worshipped and acts like a partier in his 20s.

Can you tell us more on the training of what to do when you run in to a VIP?

Sorry, just seeing this. Basically just what to call them (Mr President etc etc), not to ask questions unless they engage you, never physically block / distract a SS agent, etc.

[Anonymous]

Damn. Every time I see there's a new post I check to see if that Marky Mark poster finally came back to share the details.

Jeff, could you please let her know we're all waiting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But this is my best one, not underwhelming at all- One evening we were out for drinks at a small upscale bar near my office and I overheard a very distinctive voice in the group right next to us- it was Alan Rickman. He was SO nice and chatted with us quite a bit. He was in a play at BAM at the time. He just seemed like such a warm, joyful man, very full of life and just having a nice evening with a group of friends (none of whom I recognized, they were all about his age). I was about 14 weeks pregnant with my first child and had just told to my coworkers that day so I was just ordering a club soda. He heard one of them mention it and very warmly congratulated me. Just someone who puts a smile on your face.

I love Alan Rickman (RIP). So glad to hear he was a warm, joyful person when you met him!

Yes, so nice to hear about a celebrity you imagined was totally wonderful actual was!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But this is my best one, not underwhelming at all- One evening we were out for drinks at a small upscale bar near my office and I overheard a very distinctive voice in the group right next to us- it was Alan Rickman. He was SO nice and chatted with us quite a bit. He was in a play at BAM at the time. He just seemed like such a warm, joyful man, very full of life and just having a nice evening with a group of friends (none of whom I recognized, they were all about his age). I was about 14 weeks pregnant with my first child and had just told to my coworkers that day so I was just ordering a club soda. He heard one of them mention it and very warmly congratulated me. Just someone who puts a smile on your face.

I love Alan Rickman (RIP). So glad to hear he was a warm, joyful person when you met him!

Yes, so nice to hear about a celebrity you imagined was totally wonderful actual was!

Aw, this one makes me a little misty! I always loved him as an actor. We watch Die Hard every year around Christmas, and I love his initial entrance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rob Lowe is almost a Little Person. A hot Little Person, but so tiny!

I didn't find him tiny at all. But then I'm 5'2" He is probably one of the sweetest people I've ever met though - very charismatic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to work at an upscale hotel bar in the early 2000s.

Angelina Jolie came in frequently and was very gracious. (This was when she still had her “bad girl” image, but had adopted her first child. A colleague joked that she could call a tabloid and ruin Angelina’s reputation because we knew that she was actually a good & attentive mom.)

George Clooney shook hands with everyone he came in contact with and learned everyone’s names. He was incredibly genuine.

Lyle Lovett looks at you like he cares about everything you have to say.

That's because he does! Lyle Lovett is just the kindest man!

[Anonymous]

Anderson Cooper, seemed very normal, average height. But very focused on his work, even when walking from place to place. Jesse Jackson was tall, I said hi but he glared at me like he did not like me. G Gordon Liddy in the 80s. He was average height or less. But he looked tough. Glared at me. He was picking up his daughter at UMD. Henry Kissinger was very short with a big head. Did not speak with him though.

[Anonymous]

I lived on the Upper West Side in Manhattan in the 90s and used to run into celebrities all the time, some of them fairly often. Christopher Reeve was my neighbor. He was dating Dana back then and I used to see them all the time in the neighborhood and also at Sarabeth's Kitchen, a popular brunch spot back then. I remember him being very tall and very shy. Both were lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Patrick Dempsey stayed at the same hotel we did for a vacation. He was better looking in person. But looked super grumpy!

Hmm so rumors that he's kind of a jerk IRL could be true. Excellent that he looks even better in person!!

That’s what happens when you go from totally geek to totally chic....

This comment made my adult life! Thank you!
Signed,
a mid-40s mom who watched this movie about 800 times on my betamax!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anderson Cooper, seemed very normal, average height. But very focused on his work, even when walking from place to place. Jesse Jackson was tall, I said hi but he glared at me like he did not like me. G Gordon Liddy in the 80s. He was average height or less. But he looked tough. Glared at me. He was picking up his daughter at UMD. Henry Kissinger was very short with a big head. Did not speak with him though.

Jesse Jackson may have been having a bad day? He impressed me as very extroverted and personable when I came across him in my work place.

[Anonymous]

Colin Powell appeared slightly above average in height and down to earth. Really impressed me as a great leader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Madonna and Lourdes: I was on the beach in San Diego with my high school girlfriend and her family. I was flying a kite. Madonna approached me with Lourdes - who was probably 4 years old - and asked me if I could teach Lourdes how to fly a kite. We played for probably 30 minutes. She was with a massive male bodyguard and a butch female nanny/personal trainer/bodyguard who also looked like she could crush me. Madonna made small talk with me, but was incredibly aloof. Lourdes was a sweetheart and a typical 4 year-old. I remember the female nanny being much more involved with Lourdes. No one on the beach recgonized them.

Ironically enough, I met Guy Ritchie at the MTV Movies Awards just six months later when I was working as a seat filler. This was before he had met Madonna and he was doing press for Lock Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels. He's definitely a brooding artist. Also next to him were Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones, and the rest of the Lock Stock lads. Totally hilarious guys, they gave me (a 17 year-old) a bunch of drinks.

Kid Rock: sort of a dick.

Dustin Hoffman and his wife: lovely people who welcomed me into their UWS home. I knew their son in college, but didn't realize who his parents were. One day he invited me to his parents' UWS apartment for watching movies and family dinner I didn't put two-and-two together until I saw the Oscar statutes in his parents' bedroom.

Janet Yellen: Teensy-tiny and so soft spoken. She's the polar opposite of the typical DC blowhard.

Zoe Deschanel: utterly bizarre. I worked at a hotel restaurant in NYC and served her breakfast for an entire week. She seemed zonked out on medication. She would drink half a cup of OJ, half cup of coffee, and eat two bites of a single hard-boiled egg each morning.

Pierce Brosnan: total Irish lad. Gregarious, hilarious, a man of the people. Again he had a few meals at my hotel restaurant. He arrived in the late afternoon from JFK and wanted some beers and food after a Transatlantic flight. He sat with me for an hour while I served him beers at the bar and we just bantered back and forth. The paparazzi was waiting for him outside the hotel all day - we had a good laugh as we waved at them through the window. He had me send a keg of Brooklyn Lager to his penthouse hotel room. Great tipper.

Funny enough, I saw Pierce at the baggage carousel at JFK 18 months later. He totally remembered me and we had a laugh about the paparazzi.

Scottie Pippen: he came into my restaurant with a woman. He ordered everything for both of them, was sort of a curt dick, and he and his date basically did not talk at all through the entire night. Really awkward situation, neither looked happy to be there.

Very odd they let you wander through the parents bedroom on your first visit to a friend's house.

Janet Yellen’s kid went to my school. Extremely shy and introverted. Questionable hygiene. Very very smart.

[Anonymous]

Tim Russert in Union Station. Looked just like on TV. A little over weight. Easy going.

[Anonymous]

James Carvell (sp) appeared very thin, but dynamic and full of energy. Co-workers spoke with him and found him down to earth and very engaging.