I have been devasted since I heard the news of the death of Clarence Clemmons. Fortunately, I did have an interesting experience meeting him several years ago.
He was doing a signing for a solo record he had just released and was appearing at a bookstore on the The Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. I don't remember if it was actually during the summer, but it was very hot outside that day. I had this idea for a picture with him that I thought would make a great Christmas card.
I waited patiently in line until I finally got to meet him. Naturally, he was bigger than life and all smiles. He was very gracious when I asked him if I could take a picture with him. "Sure," he replied with a big old grin and stood up to pose with me. It was then that I whipped out my black leather jacket that I had been carrying around in the heat all day. I don't think Clarence even got it at first, but the rest of the crowd sure did as they errupted in laughter. I asked Clarence if we could do the "Born To Run" pose and he was more than willing to accomodate me - once I reminded him which side he was supposed to be standing.
You certainly made my Christmas that year!
R.I.P. Big Man
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
There's More For Your Life - at Sears!
I just heard on the news that Sears will no longer be selling porn on their website! Now where will I go for all of my hard core needs? Doesn't this major corporate decision raise more questions than it answers?
I know I was not aware that Sear was selling adult dvds. This was not a case of some disgruntled employee slipping a copy of "Wanda Whips Wall Street" into a "Mulan" case. Some corporate genius decided that it would be a good idea for Sears, an established retail icon with a large conservative clientele, to start selling a controversial item that is available everywhere else on the internet!
Did anyone know Sears was selling porn? "Well, as long as I'm shopping for a new washing machine...let me see if I can find some porn while I'm here."
And who would think to look for porn on the Sears website? Isn't that like saying, "Gee, I'm in the market for some Craftsman Tools - the first place I'm looking for them is at the Carvel Ice Cream Store!"
Once upon a time, the Sears catalogue was as close to porn as a 14 year old buy could get, but not only are those days long gone, I wasn't even sure Sears was still in business!
I know I was not aware that Sear was selling adult dvds. This was not a case of some disgruntled employee slipping a copy of "Wanda Whips Wall Street" into a "Mulan" case. Some corporate genius decided that it would be a good idea for Sears, an established retail icon with a large conservative clientele, to start selling a controversial item that is available everywhere else on the internet!
Did anyone know Sears was selling porn? "Well, as long as I'm shopping for a new washing machine...let me see if I can find some porn while I'm here."
And who would think to look for porn on the Sears website? Isn't that like saying, "Gee, I'm in the market for some Craftsman Tools - the first place I'm looking for them is at the Carvel Ice Cream Store!"
Once upon a time, the Sears catalogue was as close to porn as a 14 year old buy could get, but not only are those days long gone, I wasn't even sure Sears was still in business!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Baldwins
I just realized it was Thursday night so in honor of the NBC "Must See" TV line-up...I thought I'd write about my experience with two of the Baldwin Brothers, Daniel and Alec.
I worked with Daniel Baldwin once on a movie in Texas. Daniel Baldwin has had many well publicized stints in rehab over the years, but I saw no sign of any trouble during this shoot. He was not exactly a "ball of laughs," but he was professional and kept to himself. The most interesting thing I remember about working with him was actually not really about him, but more about his assistant. We had no idea he was bringing an assistant until he showed up on set with a guy who introduced himself as "Sky Vermicelli!" I don't care if that wasn't his real name. That was how he introduced himself and that's what we called him for the next 6 weeks!
I encountered Alec several years when I was working in a book store in Studio City, California. The store was very popular with celebrities because of its close proximity to several major studios. The store was actually a converted movie theater. It was part of the "Barnes & Noble" family, but because of its limited size we didn't have a music department or a cafe. We were a book store that only sold books!
It must have been around Christmas because the store was packed. The cash registers were right by the front door and I distinctly remember there was a long line of customers. I was waiting on one of these customers when I suddenly heard this deep, booming voice ask,
"Do you sell DVDS?"
The voice came from the front of the store and didn't seem to care that there was a long line of other customers patiently waiting their turn. My first thought was, "Great, who is this jerk with the distinctive voice." It actually didn't register for me at first that it was Alec Baldwin, but as soon as I looked up there was no mistaking that this guy who had not even bothered to say, "Excuse Me," was a very imposing, charasmatic figure. There was no way you could miss this guy even if he was not famous. I told him we didn't and continued to complete my transaction with the customer in front of me.
He must have decided to look around anyway because a few minutes later he was standing in front of my register with his daughter. Yes, the daughter that had been at the center of a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Kim Bassinger, several years before and several years later would be the recipient of an angry, embarrassing rant from her father. I rang up his purchase and now we're at the point where I was required to ask if he had "Barnes & Noble" discount card.
He thought for a moment and his reaction was priceless. He looked over at his daughter and said to me, "I...I think her mother might have one somewhere."
I played a long as I was required to do and asked, "Would you like me to look it up by a phone number?"
He really thought about it for a moment and then shook his head.
"No."
It was obvious, in so many ways, that he didn't want to go there!
I worked with Daniel Baldwin once on a movie in Texas. Daniel Baldwin has had many well publicized stints in rehab over the years, but I saw no sign of any trouble during this shoot. He was not exactly a "ball of laughs," but he was professional and kept to himself. The most interesting thing I remember about working with him was actually not really about him, but more about his assistant. We had no idea he was bringing an assistant until he showed up on set with a guy who introduced himself as "Sky Vermicelli!" I don't care if that wasn't his real name. That was how he introduced himself and that's what we called him for the next 6 weeks!
I encountered Alec several years when I was working in a book store in Studio City, California. The store was very popular with celebrities because of its close proximity to several major studios. The store was actually a converted movie theater. It was part of the "Barnes & Noble" family, but because of its limited size we didn't have a music department or a cafe. We were a book store that only sold books!
It must have been around Christmas because the store was packed. The cash registers were right by the front door and I distinctly remember there was a long line of customers. I was waiting on one of these customers when I suddenly heard this deep, booming voice ask,
"Do you sell DVDS?"
The voice came from the front of the store and didn't seem to care that there was a long line of other customers patiently waiting their turn. My first thought was, "Great, who is this jerk with the distinctive voice." It actually didn't register for me at first that it was Alec Baldwin, but as soon as I looked up there was no mistaking that this guy who had not even bothered to say, "Excuse Me," was a very imposing, charasmatic figure. There was no way you could miss this guy even if he was not famous. I told him we didn't and continued to complete my transaction with the customer in front of me.
He must have decided to look around anyway because a few minutes later he was standing in front of my register with his daughter. Yes, the daughter that had been at the center of a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Kim Bassinger, several years before and several years later would be the recipient of an angry, embarrassing rant from her father. I rang up his purchase and now we're at the point where I was required to ask if he had "Barnes & Noble" discount card.
He thought for a moment and his reaction was priceless. He looked over at his daughter and said to me, "I...I think her mother might have one somewhere."
I played a long as I was required to do and asked, "Would you like me to look it up by a phone number?"
He really thought about it for a moment and then shook his head.
"No."
It was obvious, in so many ways, that he didn't want to go there!
Brush With Greatness....David Letterman
David Letterman used to have a segment on his show called "Brush With Greatness" where studio audience members would tell about various encourters with assorted celebrities so in honor of Dave himself....I thought I'd begin this series with "My David Letterman Story."
I interned for him many years ago when he was still at NBC. I was assigned to the "Visuals Deptartment" who were responsible for all of the special graphics he used to use on the show back then. Ironically, one of my bosses there went on to be the announcer for "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, Ed Hall. I was only there two days a week and most of my time was spent outside of the office running around town picking up stock movies and celebrity headshots. This was in the dark days before the internet. I had little direct contact with Dave the entire semester I interned there. Some of the other interns there with me went on to work for the show, but not me because, I believe, they had more opportunity to stay at their desk and shmooze.
I interned the following semester in the NBC Travel Department and then managed to get a temporary job for the summer as a NBC Telephone Operator. Believe it or not, they still had a live switch board 24 hours a day at NBC, but it was slowly being phased out even back then. Fortunately, both the Travel Department and the Telephone Room were on the same side of 30 Rock as the "Late Night" office so I would still run into people from the show on the elevator.
One day I found myself on the elevator with several older women who worked with me in the phone room and David Letterman. His office was located on the 14th floor and the Telephone Room was located directly above him on 15. It was almost the end of summer and one of the operators asked me what I was planning on doing once this temp assignment ended. Dave stood there silently listening.
"So," one of them said, "Have you started looking for another job yet? Do you have any plans?"
"No," I replied, "I just thought maybe I might get into selling crack to school kids."
Obviously, I was joking because crack was a big deal in the news at the time. They chuckled, but Dave remained silent.
The doors open on 15 and that's when I realized Dave had forgotten to get off at his stop so I turned to him as I exited.
"I think you missed your floor, Dave" I said.
"I forgot," he replied, "I was so busy listening to your story."
I smiled as the door closed behind me. I had actually gotten a laugh out of David Letterman!
I interned for him many years ago when he was still at NBC. I was assigned to the "Visuals Deptartment" who were responsible for all of the special graphics he used to use on the show back then. Ironically, one of my bosses there went on to be the announcer for "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, Ed Hall. I was only there two days a week and most of my time was spent outside of the office running around town picking up stock movies and celebrity headshots. This was in the dark days before the internet. I had little direct contact with Dave the entire semester I interned there. Some of the other interns there with me went on to work for the show, but not me because, I believe, they had more opportunity to stay at their desk and shmooze.
I interned the following semester in the NBC Travel Department and then managed to get a temporary job for the summer as a NBC Telephone Operator. Believe it or not, they still had a live switch board 24 hours a day at NBC, but it was slowly being phased out even back then. Fortunately, both the Travel Department and the Telephone Room were on the same side of 30 Rock as the "Late Night" office so I would still run into people from the show on the elevator.
One day I found myself on the elevator with several older women who worked with me in the phone room and David Letterman. His office was located on the 14th floor and the Telephone Room was located directly above him on 15. It was almost the end of summer and one of the operators asked me what I was planning on doing once this temp assignment ended. Dave stood there silently listening.
"So," one of them said, "Have you started looking for another job yet? Do you have any plans?"
"No," I replied, "I just thought maybe I might get into selling crack to school kids."
Obviously, I was joking because crack was a big deal in the news at the time. They chuckled, but Dave remained silent.
The doors open on 15 and that's when I realized Dave had forgotten to get off at his stop so I turned to him as I exited.
"I think you missed your floor, Dave" I said.
"I forgot," he replied, "I was so busy listening to your story."
I smiled as the door closed behind me. I had actually gotten a laugh out of David Letterman!
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