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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: John Junk 2.0 on July 22, 2008, 12:05:01 PM

Title: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: John Junk 2.0 on July 22, 2008, 12:05:01 PM
Hey Everybody!!  Who was famous that you looked at and may or may not have looked back at you!?  I got two!

Saw Fabio (FABIO!!) standing outside of UCB L.A. last night.  I think he saw me too!

I saw John Stamos outside of a fancy hotel one time.  He looked like he had recently gotten punched in the face!  He seemed to be explaining it to a friend.  He is thinner and less "built" than you might think.  He totally looked at me for a second!  Woo hoo!!
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Omar on July 22, 2008, 12:17:09 PM
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2614478097_b6e99b7a5c.jpg?v=0)

Roger Osborne.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: dave from knoxville on July 22, 2008, 12:21:49 PM
Paul Simon, with Edie Brickell, at Tad's Steakhouse in San Francisco, January '91. I did not know they were an "item", I just assumed famous people hang out together. There were 3 enormously large bodyguards, more or less discretely seated at 3 corners of the dining room. The guy I was travelling with (for a math conference) kept saying he wanted to approach Simon and tell him how much better he was when he was with Garfinkel. I was ultimately spared me that humiliation, but it might have been to see him get rolled up in a rug and dumped into the bay by the security crew. Brickell had her back to us, but Simon was looking all around the place, all the time, and caught me looking a couple of times. My understanding later was that Simon was shooting the video for "Proof" the next day with Steve Martin and Chevy Chase, and they took advantage of crowds of war protesters (we had bombed Iraq to "defend" Kuwait a couple of days earlier) for some fake parade shots.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: jbissell on July 22, 2008, 12:25:22 PM
I almost ran into Doug Benson and Brian Posehn coming around the corner before a Comedians of Comedy show last year. They looked very alert.

I was pretty sure Dan Higgs from Lungfish sucked out my soul when he looked me in the eyes during one of his solo shows but he was really nice when I shook his hand afterwards, so maybe not.

Also when I was 12, Little Richard waved at me (or at least the group of people I was standing with) from his limo.

Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Turf Out on July 22, 2008, 12:30:51 PM
I almost ran into Doug Benson and Brian Posehn coming around the corner before a Comedians of Comedy show last year. They looked very alert.

I was pretty sure Dan Higgs from Lungfish sucked out my soul when he looked me in the eyes during one of his solo shows but he was really nice when I shook his hand afterwards, so maybe not.

Also when I was 12, Little Richard waved at me (or at least the group of people I was standing with) from his limo.



i saw dan higgs a few years ago sitting on a bench before a lungfish show and i felt the same way you did when i made eye contact with him.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Omar on July 22, 2008, 12:31:04 PM
Also:

(http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2007/04/02/willisx.jpg)

Kevin Willis. 
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Chris L on July 22, 2008, 12:42:13 PM
Shot Stephen Malkmus kind of a frowny look from halfway across the room at the last Sleater-Kinney show and he caught it. 
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: cutout on July 22, 2008, 01:16:47 PM
When I was 9, my mom took me to see David Copperfield at the civic center. Afterward he was giving autographs and I persuaded my mom to wait with me for two solid hours in a line that snaked around the building.

When our turn finally came, I looked up realized that Copperfield was sitting in a chair that was, no shit, about 15 feet off the ground. One of his assistants grabbed the paper from my hand, jumped up and handed it off to Copperfield, who signed it in a flourish, then passed it back to his assistant. The whole transaction was 2 seconds long at most.

I looked at the paper in my hands: he'd written a single cursive 'D'. When I looked back up at him with my little 9 year old's disgust, he looked down at me, cold, emotionless, with one giant eyebrow slightly cocked as if to say, "You dare question my autograph?". We looked at each other for a couple seconds and I was then shuffled through by security.






So to answer your question, no I've never exchanged glances with any celebrities.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: KickTheBobo on July 22, 2008, 01:36:27 PM
I used to pass Harmony Korine all the time on my way to work. This was when I was wearing pretty much the same outfit everyday: black chuck taylors, brown cords, white t-shirt, and a blue hoodie. He would shoot me this look like I was biting his style, when I was thinking that he was biting MY style.

It wasn't until I saw the movie version of SubUrBia and saw Giovanni Ribisi dressed in the exact same outfit and having the same attitude as I did at the time, that I realized what a cliche I was.

I just caught Novaselic's glance the other day while sitting on a stoop in downtown nyc. dude is TALL.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: yesno on July 22, 2008, 01:46:08 PM

It wasn't until I saw the movie version of SubUrBia and saw Giovanni Ribisi dressed in the exact same outfit and having the same attitude as I did at the time, that I realized what a cliche I was.


I try to dress all original like.  Blue dress shirt with an embroidered corporate logo, khaki pants, bluetooth earbud.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Sarah on July 22, 2008, 01:50:23 PM
This is one of my father's stories:  When he was a graduate student at Ohio State, he  and a crony mate spied James Thurber through the window.  They promptly flung it open and applauded him as his companion slowly led him past the building (he was completely blind by then).
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Fido on July 22, 2008, 01:58:33 PM
Michael Musto. Pretty sure he was checking me out on the street in SoHo.

(I'm not really worth checking out.)

And I was thinking, Michael Musto!! I love reading his columns!! But I really didn't want my enthusiasm to register on my face in any way whatsoever. An amusing moment.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: erika on July 22, 2008, 02:43:09 PM
(http://z.about.com/d/gaylife/1/0/E/8/carsonkressley.jpg)
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Bryan on July 22, 2008, 02:48:28 PM
Uma Thurman, at the Whitney. I stared at her, trying to place her, then moved on quickly once I realized she was a genuine A-list sleb. She seemed bemused - or at least not hostile.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Martin on July 22, 2008, 02:57:00 PM
I have this weird tendency to look for, and get, fleeting glances and knowing nods from famous DJs - at clubs and at concerts. Some strange impulse to acknowledge them, and to tell them, hey, I know what's up. Very silly. Can't help it though.

In an empty 30 Rock hallway, Fred Armisen and I stared at each other for more than a couple of seconds. He was probably between SNL rehearsals. He looked at me quizzically.

Also I was once brought up on stage by Prince Paul. But that was more of a close encounter.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: buffcoat on July 22, 2008, 03:08:06 PM
I saw Michael Jordan on the golf course, driving his cart like a maniac back down the 11th fairway towards the clubhouse (we were about to tee off on the 11th).  A 6'6" guy in dark red long shorts and dark red shirt cuts quite a figure, as you would imagine.  In addition to him being one of the most famous people on the planet.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Dan B on July 22, 2008, 03:12:36 PM
Uma Thurman, at the Whitney. I stared at her, trying to place her, then moved on quickly once I realized she was a genuine A-list sleb. She seemed bemused - or at least not hostile.
My brother and I saw her looking at a Realty office window near Washington Square Park.  We waited to see if it was her around the corner and then while she was walking behind us my brother made some remark about us acting like stupid tourists. When he turned around, she was laughing or smiling at us.  Then we went on a date with her.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: gravy boat on July 22, 2008, 03:19:23 PM
I was walking out of a restaurant holding a pizza box once, and I see these two kids followed by their, I suppose, moms coming in.  I hold the door open.  The kids rush past. The first lady, no eye contact with me, goes past. Holy moly, it's every guy my age's high school dream girl -- Phoebe Cates.  I just stare at her.  The other lady then comes through the door and says "thanks."  I turn to look at her and she's got this mischevious smile on her face, with huge dimples, as if she was saying "Busted -  you were just thinking about the pool scene in Fast Times."  It was Laura Linney.

Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Laurie on July 22, 2008, 03:31:47 PM
Elijah Wood, Paris Hilton (does she count as a celebrity?), Lindsay Lohan, Cynthia Nixon, Tim from LSF, one of the douches from Vampire Weekend, Paul Rudd (I melted), and... does Jarvis Cocker count? He's the one who made eye contact with ME! From stage! And he maintained it for 30 seconds, while I stood frozen with my hand over my heart, and he sang, "Girls like it too," and I will never stop telling this story.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Gilly on July 22, 2008, 04:01:13 PM
I've talked to a lot of athletes at ballgames. When I was 10 or so I offered Mickey Hatcher some Dots candy but he politely declined and he talked to my dad for awhile. Baseball is still the one sport where players are pretty accessible for the most part. When I was in high school, the Twins were really bad so my friends bought 1 dollar tickets and moved down to first row right in front of the bullpen and talked to some of the players sometimes. But, the Twins were really, really awful so none of them can really be called celebrity. I think Eddie Guardado was in the bullpen that year and Rick Aguielera for a couple months before he was traded. Latroy Hawkins was starting that year but it would have been fun if he was in the bullpen because he's known to be kind of a joker.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: erika on July 22, 2008, 04:11:55 PM
Oh and Jon Stewart. I was at a taping but for some reason I yelled something out in the crowd (before the show) and he laughed. I made Jon Stewart laugh! Yay.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: yesno on July 22, 2008, 04:13:26 PM
Crispin Glover

Grote
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Laurie on July 22, 2008, 04:28:28 PM
Ha ha, Grote, too. And Aasiv Mandvi. But those were actual conversations and stuff. Not so fleeting!
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Regular Joe on July 22, 2008, 04:30:32 PM
I got to chit-chat for a little while with Doug Benson and Jon Benjamin (on separate unrelated occasions) at the Bumbershoot festival here in Seattle a few years back. Other heroes of comedy that I said "you're awesome" to as I was passing by (but didn't speak to directly) were David Cross, Dana Gould and Aziz Ansari. For a comedy fan living out here where comedy dares not tread, it was like a dream with all the best cameos I could imagine.

To be clear, I didn't go seeking these people like some stalker comedy fan, but literally just bumped into them among the crowds. It was madness.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: todd on July 22, 2008, 04:31:21 PM
I had a conversation with Bono once!
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: jamesp on July 22, 2008, 04:43:44 PM
Michael Musto. Pretty sure he was checking me out on the street in SoHo.

(I'm not really worth checking out.)

And I was thinking, Michael Musto!! I love reading his columns!! But I really didn't want my enthusiasm to register on my face in any way whatsoever. An amusing moment.

Whenever I hear Spike call into the show, I always immediately think he looks like a fatter, shorter version of Michael Musto.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Beth on July 22, 2008, 05:20:50 PM
I used to live in Soho, and worked in this store called Girlprops. I rang up Rose McGowan one day. She was actually really pretty and very nice. Great skin. I think she was in the store with one of the Zappa children, but I can't remember which one.

Also exchanged glances with William Dafoe in the West Village. And a few weeks ago, I was in Manhattan and locked eyes with the fabulous Bernadette Peters coming out of Starbucks. Swoon.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: noise.light on July 22, 2008, 05:23:40 PM
- Michael Score from A Flock of Seagulls at the very first concert I ever attended.  My Dad was standing nearby and snapped a photo of him waving at me.  It was great because after he waved I immediately looked around to see if anyone noticed my awesome moment.  It was thrilling for 12-year-old New Wave me.

- Bill Murray.  I was walking around Manhattan and saw him emerge from a vintage poster store with a beautiful woman.  I stopped in my tracks and inhaled sharply.  He saw me and imitated my reaction mouthing the words, "I knooooow!"

- Martha Plimpton.  She clearly did not want to be recognized so I moved along.

- Patti Smith's daughter.  I was sitting on some steps with friends and Patti Smith walked by with her young (7 or 8-ish) daughter hanging onto her.  My friends and I just watched her walk by and the daughter saw us all looking and smiled.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: jbissell on July 22, 2008, 05:27:40 PM


- Bill Murray.  I was walking around Manhattan and saw him emerge from a vintage poster store with a beautiful woman.  I stopped in my tracks and inhaled sharply.  He saw me and imitated my reaction mouthing the words, "I knooooow!"


I'm pretty sure I'd pass out if that happened to me.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: yesno on July 22, 2008, 05:38:19 PM
joe queer
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: emma on July 22, 2008, 05:42:23 PM
Anne Murray!
That's cool, right?
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Rainer on July 22, 2008, 05:43:30 PM
Jason Grote and Yesno
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: TL on July 22, 2008, 05:44:34 PM
Count Violence and I got stuck in the Toronto airport during a snow storm last March along with Ray Davies.
I walked past him by the baggage claim, where we were both pretty much the last people waiting, looked him in the eye and shook my head saying, as I walked past, "Even the Great Ray Davies, huh?  It's a damned shame."
He chuckled and gave me one of those bemused, "I know, right??" looks.
I felt both proud and like a dummy for not breaking down and forcing a CD on him.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: yesno on July 22, 2008, 05:51:48 PM
rainer and I exchanged deep, soulful gazes, not merely glances.

Ick, sorry.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: buffcoat on July 22, 2008, 06:01:26 PM
I got to chit-chat for a little while with Doug Benson and Jon Benjamin (on separate unrelated occasions) at the Bumbershoot festival here in Seattle a few years back. Other heroes of comedy that I said "you're awesome" to as I was passing by (but didn't speak to directly) were David Cross, Dana Gould and Aziz Ansari. For a comedy fan living out here where comedy dares not tread, it was like a dream with all the best cameos I could imagine.

To be clear, I didn't go seeking these people like some stalker comedy fan, but literally just bumped into them among the crowds. It was Madness.

Well, they invented ska.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: samir on July 22, 2008, 06:46:00 PM
And Aasiv Mandvi.

Sure it wasn't me, Laurie?
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Rainer on July 22, 2008, 06:58:01 PM
Quote
rainer and I exchanged deep, soulful gazes, not merely glances. Ick, sorry.

Don't be.  And thanks for the JPEG.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: masterofsparks on July 22, 2008, 07:14:46 PM
Count Violence and I got stuck in the Toronto airport during a snow storm last March along with Ray Davies.
I walked past him by the baggage claim, where we were both pretty much the last people waiting, looked him in the eye and shook my head saying, as I walked past, "Even the Great Ray Davies, huh?  It's a damned shame."
He chuckled and gave me one of those bemused, "I know, right??" looks.
I felt both proud and like a dummy for not breaking down and forcing a CD on him.

I had a very similar experience except it was Luis Guzman and I didn't say anything.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: WavyGravy on July 22, 2008, 08:08:56 PM
I lingered around while Kim Gordon and Chloe Sevinininigne talked after the Sonic Youth show two weeks ago.  First Kim, then Chloe glanced at me, like I was trouble.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Jixby Phillips on July 22, 2008, 11:00:14 PM
DAN QUAYLE ANYONE???
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Denim Gremlin on July 22, 2008, 11:02:36 PM
I once parked behind a big balck suv in hollywood. out steps Method Man then he turns and looks in my window at me as if to say "if you even touch my car I will murder you"

needless to say i was thrilled
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: emma on July 22, 2008, 11:15:03 PM
You guys, I hate my phone so much. It cut out before i got the chance to have PFT not laugh at lame things I would have said!

The end of my story was that she (family friend) was like "Oh my god, you're Han Solo" and then she forgot she was holding a wine glass, and then she dropped it and splashed wine all over his shoes. And then backed away, apologizing profusely, as he stared.

Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Fido on July 22, 2008, 11:44:46 PM
Michael Musto. Pretty sure he was checking me out on the street in SoHo.

(I'm not really worth checking out.)

And I was thinking, Michael Musto!! I love reading his columns!! But I really didn't want my enthusiasm to register on my face in any way whatsoever. An amusing moment.

Whenever I hear Spike call into the show, I always immediately think he looks like a fatter, shorter version of Michael Musto.

You might be right about the likeness, if not the ethnicity.

I forgot about the time I was having breakfast with my dad at the University Club in DC.  My dad coolly remarked, "oh, there's Dan Quayle."  And there he was, at the table right next to us.  Neither of us was impressed.

I guess I've exchanged glances with a lot of politicians and politicos in DC, including Jesse Jackson, Bob Dole, New Gingrich (boarding the same flight at National Airport), and Barney Frank, who in a weird way reminds me of Michael Musto.  I went to the same gym as George Stephanopoulos and Andrew Sullivan, both of whom I saw pretty regularly. Somehow, these don't seem like real celebrities to me, but on the other hand, I did get pretty jaded about living in DC.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: iAmBaronVonTito on July 23, 2008, 02:25:21 PM
fourth of july weekend i was back in memphis and when i walked out of the airport to catch a ride, one of the good charlotte dopes looked me in the eye, clipped my shoulder...and didnt apologize.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: chrisfoll577 on July 23, 2008, 02:45:59 PM
He's been discussed on another thread, but this happened with Tim Harrington at the Pitchfork festival.  I was sitting in the grass eating lunch with my girlfriend at the time and he was walking with a camera crew jabbering away.  When our eyes met I honestly froze up like a deer in headlights knowing that this man could very well do anything.  When I was a kid, I was terrified of clowns... now I'm just afraid of insane unpredictable indie rock front men.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: eljezel on July 24, 2008, 01:03:12 AM
Living in New York City gives you lots of these opportunities, though lately I've been obsessed with seeing two rock legends specifically in Astoria, Queens which is where I live:

1. Mark Ibold of Pavement- I see this guy every 3 months and try not to bug out.  Once on his bike and twice on the train where he boards in Astoria.  Very cool.

2. Billy Ficca of Television (and a million other pickup bands)- I've seen him play in bands in small places in the city and I saw Television last year in Central Park, but there's nothing like sitting across fromn the dude who tore it up on "Little Johnny Jewel" not once, but twice on the N train.  I have to assume he also resides in the great borough that is Astoria.

I tend to stare at them both in a way that says "yeah...you the man".  I hope they get that vibe I'm radiating.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: mokin on July 24, 2008, 02:31:49 AM
Oh they definitely get a vibe from you.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Pat K on July 24, 2008, 09:14:07 AM
I shared an amazing subway ride with Dylan Baker once, AKA the pedophile from "Happiness"/the evil computer hacker in "Changing Lanes". It was electric.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Trotskie on July 24, 2008, 10:04:23 AM
This was maybe 15 years ago:

I was walking back to the train through Union Square Park carrying a big black baseball bat I had just purchased.  (This was before the re-emergence of kickball and I don't like the stingers you get from aluminum bats.)

Like others have described, I saw someone ahead that looked familiar.  But I just couldn't place her.  Then, just as we were about to pass by each other it clicked.  "Oh yeah", I thought to myself, it's Chynna Phillips from Wilson Phillips. 

Having filed it into the "who cares" section of my brain, I closed the encounter with a terse nod of recognition and a slight wave of my hand.  It was reflexive; how you react when you pass an acquaintance in the hall.  Unfortunately (for everyone) the hand I raised to wave was also carrying the bat.

She started screaming and covering her head with her hands.  At first I was stunned by the reaction and could not figure out what was going on.  Then it all made sense.  My apologies and assurances only made it worse, so I simply turned away and walked down to the train.

An honest mistake about which I felt awful for a good long time.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: TL on July 24, 2008, 10:14:18 AM
This was maybe 15 years ago:

I was walking back to the train through Union Square Park carrying a big black baseball bat I had just purchased.  (This was before the re-emergence of kickball and I don't like the stingers you get from aluminum bats.)

Like others have described, I saw someone ahead that looked familiar.  But I just couldn't place her.  Then, just as we were about to pass by each other it clicked.  "Oh yeah", I thought to myself, it's Chynna Phillips from Wilson Phillips. 

Having filed it into the "who cares" section of my brain, I closed the encounter with a terse nod of recognition and a slight wave of my hand.  It was reflexive; how you react when you pass an acquaintance in the hall.  Unfortunately (for everyone) the hand I raised to wave was also carrying the bat.

She started screaming and covering her head with her hands.  At first I was stunned by the reaction and could not figure out what was going on.  Then it all made sense.  My apologies and assurances only made it worse, so I simply turned away and walked down to the train.

An honest mistake about which I felt awful for a good long time.

LULZ!!

Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Emily on July 24, 2008, 10:27:17 AM
I met Lou Ferrigno in the Rome airport when I was a kid. He & my dad talked about how they couldn't stand all the smoke/smokers everywhere in Italy.

I also met Pavarotti on a plane to Italy when I was like 7.

I once saw Hillary Swank in a bakery in the city but I couldn't remember her name, so I just sort of stood there, with my mouth open, waiting to recall her name, but I couldn't think of it. She successfully ignored me and did not make eye contact.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Omar on July 24, 2008, 10:53:04 AM
Can't believe I didn't think of this one earlier.  Upon returning home from college for Christmas break, the first person I saw after emerging from the airplane bridge was Tupac Shakur.  He looked tired and distraught, probably because within the past two months he was arrested for shooting two off-duty police officers and sexual abuse.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: iAmBaronVonTito on July 24, 2008, 10:55:20 AM
This was maybe 15 years ago:

I was walking back to the train through Union Square Park carrying a big black baseball bat I had just purchased.  (This was before the re-emergence of kickball and I don't like the stingers you get from aluminum bats.)

Like others have described, I saw someone ahead that looked familiar.  But I just couldn't place her.  Then, just as we were about to pass by each other it clicked.  "Oh yeah", I thought to myself, it's Chynna Phillips from Wilson Phillips. 

Having filed it into the "who cares" section of my brain, I closed the encounter with a terse nod of recognition and a slight wave of my hand.  It was reflexive; how you react when you pass an acquaintance in the hall.  Unfortunately (for everyone) the hand I raised to wave was also carrying the bat.

She started screaming and covering her head with her hands.  At first I was stunned by the reaction and could not figure out what was going on.  Then it all made sense.  My apologies and assurances only made it worse, so I simply turned away and walked down to the train.

An honest mistake about which I felt awful for a good long time.

you always have the BEST stories
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: buffcoat on July 24, 2008, 11:04:39 AM
Can't believe I didn't think of this one earlier.  Upon returning home from college for Christmas break, the first person I saw after emerging from the airplane bridge was Tupac Shakur.  He looked tired and distraught, probably because within the past two months he was arrested for shooting two off-duty police officers and sexual abuse.

I knew he was still alive!
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: eljezel on July 24, 2008, 11:41:33 AM
This was maybe 15 years ago:

I was walking back to the train through Union Square Park carrying a big black baseball bat I had just purchased.  (This was before the re-emergence of kickball and I don't like the stingers you get from aluminum bats.)

Like others have described, I saw someone ahead that looked familiar.  But I just couldn't place her.  Then, just as we were about to pass by each other it clicked.  "Oh yeah", I thought to myself, it's Chynna Phillips from Wilson Phillips. 

Having filed it into the "who cares" section of my brain, I closed the encounter with a terse nod of recognition and a slight wave of my hand.  It was reflexive; how you react when you pass an acquaintance in the hall.  Unfortunately (for everyone) the hand I raised to wave was also carrying the bat.

She started screaming and covering her head with her hands.  At first I was stunned by the reaction and could not figure out what was going on.  Then it all made sense.  My apologies and assurances only made it worse, so I simply turned away and walked down to the train.

An honest mistake about which I felt awful for a good long time.

Am I the only one who thinks it was presumptous of Chynna to assume you were going to beat her senseless with a baseball bat in the middle of Union Square? 
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Martin on July 24, 2008, 12:12:02 PM
Thought of two more, in London. Diane Wiest in Kensington. Paul Thomas Anderson on the tube. (I'm 90% certain it was him.)

And I bonded with Jens Lekman thanks to Todd Barry.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Bryan on July 24, 2008, 12:27:09 PM

Am I the only one who thinks it was presumptous of Chynna to assume you were going to beat her senseless with a baseball bat in the middle of Union Square? 

I dunno. I think I'd be pretty jumpy if I had been in Wilson Phillips.

I also remember another one. Probably no big deal to you New Yorkers, but in London I saw Chloe Sevigny walking down the street wearing gigantic sunglasses and a ridiculous fur coat. She was soaking in the attention of the civilians, including me. I instinctively sneered at her, even before realizing who it was, just because she looked so obnoxious.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Turf Out on July 24, 2008, 02:39:10 PM
That rap guy Lil Jon just showed up where i work for a meeting.

Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: iAmBaronVonTito on July 24, 2008, 02:40:06 PM
That rap guy Lil Jon just showed up where i work for a meeting.



and where do you work
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Turf Out on July 24, 2008, 02:45:12 PM
That rap guy Lil Jon just showed up where i work for a meeting.



and where do you work

zazzle.com
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Martin on July 24, 2008, 02:47:25 PM
Rap Computer HQ
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Turf Out on July 24, 2008, 03:48:35 PM
Rap Computer HQ

i wish.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Fido on July 24, 2008, 03:56:08 PM
That rap guy Lil Jon just showed up where i work for a meeting.



I'd have paid to be there with Lil' Jon. Especially after his appearances on The Andy Milonakis Show.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: colonel panic on July 24, 2008, 04:07:56 PM
In high school, our band (school band) went to Disney World to perform and on the flight back to nodak I passed Leslie Nielson sitting in first class reading a script. I was smiling at the irony of seeing him on an airplane and we had a tender moment. i assume that he knew why i was chuckling.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Man Machine on July 24, 2008, 05:41:32 PM
- Martha Plimpton.  She clearly did not want to be recognized so I moved along.

I saw Martha Plimpton 12 years ago at a grocery store in Chicago. She was in town doing a play at Steppenwolf and apparently shopped for herself.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: John Junk 2.0 on July 24, 2008, 05:44:46 PM
- Martha Plimpton.  She clearly did not want to be recognized so I moved along.

I saw Martha Plimpton 12 years ago at a grocery store in Chicago. She was in town doing a play at Steppenwolf and apparently shopped for herself.

She can still afford groceries?
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Sarah on July 24, 2008, 05:51:21 PM
Coincidentally, Eye of God just popped into my head for no reason yesterday.  Isn't that just fascinating?  Maybe I should call the show next week to tell Tom about it.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: herbie on July 24, 2008, 05:58:38 PM
In my freshman year of college (in Philadelphia of course), two friends and I skipped out on English class one afternoon to get vegan cheesesteaks near South St. We got off the subway at 5th and Market and started walking toward South Street, passing Independence National Park. A van parks right ahead of where we are walking in the street. A guy gets out onto the sidewalk right in front of us (like, a few feet away). He is dressed in all black (black leather jacket, black t-shirt, black jeans, black shoes, black sunglasses, hair slicked back) and it is....

NICHOLAS CAGE!

I said, "Hey." He said "Hi." Then he walked across the street into the park where they were filming NATIONAL TREASURE. I still haven't seen that movie...
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Fido on July 24, 2008, 10:55:05 PM
Oh, I forgot about seeing James Van Der Beek and Nick Lachey, both around my neighborhood.  In case you consider that noteworthy.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on September 08, 2008, 11:39:30 PM
Ha ha, Grote, too. And Aasiv Mandvi. But those were actual conversations and stuff. Not so fleeting!

Shit, man, I must have been on the road during this!  I am actually good friends with Aasif, though at this point I just knew him because he was in a reading of mine before he got the Daily Show gig.  He and Laurie were both at the very first preview of my Off-Broadway debut, and I was so nervous that night that I forgot his name (along with like 3 other people that I know pretty well; it was scary, like an Alzheimer's moment) and I had to ask her what his name was.  We were both in a playwrights' workshop last year (he's also a very good playwright) so I know him better now.  He's a pretty awesome guy.

Also, Adam Clayton from U2 once winked at me from the stage in Madison Square Garden, and on another occasion I got so drunk that I almost hit on Marisa Tomei at the Film Center Cafe on 9th Avenue, but I've probably told that story a dozen times.  That, and Ron Jeremy when I was 9.

Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Patrick on September 09, 2008, 09:18:26 AM
i was on a "private" tour of the Dia:Beacon a few years ago, and guess who else was in the group.  if you guessed Paul Newman you would have guessed right.  i wanted to tell him how much i love his Fig Newmans, but could not muster the will. 

i also meet Yoko Ono, and Ted Leo.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: namethebats on September 09, 2008, 12:20:22 PM
Rollie Fingers - his son pitched for the ASU team, so you'd see him at games frequently.

Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Sarah on September 09, 2008, 12:28:28 PM
I was on the T (Cleveland Circle line) in 1982 when Michael Dukakis was running for governor.  He was glad-handing people like crazy.  By huddling against the door at the opposite end of the car from him, I successfully avoided an encounter.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Jennifer on September 09, 2008, 12:59:18 PM
Ha ha, Grote, too. And Aasiv Mandvi. But those were actual conversations and stuff. Not so fleeting!

Shit, man, I must have been on the road during this!  I am actually good friends with Aasif, though at this point I just knew him because he was in a reading of mine before he got the Daily Show gig.  He and Laurie were both at the very first preview of my Off-Broadway debut, and I was so nervous that night that I forgot his name (along with like 3 other people that I know pretty well; it was scary, like an Alzheimer's moment) and I had to ask her what his name was.  We were both in a playwrights' workshop last year (he's also a very good playwright) so I know him better now.  He's a pretty awesome guy.

Also, Adam Clayton from U2 once winked at me from the stage in Madison Square Garden, and on another occasion I got so drunk that I almost hit on Marisa Tomei at the Film Center Cafe on 9th Avenue, but I've probably told that story a dozen times.  That, and Ron Jeremy when I was 9.



That sounds like a good story. Or maybe not.

My last random encounter was in 1995 when John Heard (the father from Home Alone) showed up at my college's Halloween costume party.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Susannah on September 09, 2008, 01:01:45 PM
I got hugged by Janice Dickinson last week at my place of employment.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: dave from knoxville on September 09, 2008, 01:45:15 PM
I got hugged by Janice Dickinson last week at my place of employment.

You know when you hug somebody you are hugging everyone that they have ever hugged, right?
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: JonFromMaplewood on September 09, 2008, 03:51:56 PM
A band at CBGB's (forgot their name) was playing a cover of "For Artists Only" by Talking Heads.  David Byrne walked in and sat next to us.  My friend said "Nice timing, Dave."  David very nicely explained that he knew the guitarist who told him he was going to play it, and David lived right around the corner.  When they were done playing it, David walked out.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Emily on September 09, 2008, 04:51:39 PM
I'm almost positive I exchanged fleeting glances with Indie actor Jane Adams (Happiness) on the street on day this summer.

98% positive
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: Martin on September 09, 2008, 05:02:38 PM
I'm almost positive I exchanged fleeting glances with Indie actor Jane Adams (Happiness) on the street on day this summer.

Ooh, she's great.
Title: Re: Celebrities You've Exchanged Fleeting Glances With
Post by: John Junk 2.0 on September 09, 2008, 06:07:42 PM
The guy who plays the Mac in those Mac and PC ads walked into this Vietnamese restaurant I was eating at recently.  I think he noticed me noticing him.  Then I gave him a black eye.