Living in Los Angeles and working in the entertainment industry, I do have celebrity encounters every once in a while. I've seen Tim Allen more than once in my local Starbucks. I've run into Neil Patrick Harris at that same Starbucks and at my grocery store.
By nature I don't really get star stuck as in my opinion these are simply people who are just doing their jobs. The difference between you and I and these folks is that they do that job in public and they are recognizable to most people. Yes, some of them are very talented at what they do and most of us could not do what they do. And, there are some of us, like me, that admire what they do but have no desire to to it. (I have mentioned before in this blog that I rather like my anonymity.) Sure, I would like to make that kind of money and earn accolade after accolade for just doing my job, but I will settle for a more private career where I earn respect for my work as well as a paycheck that does not make me feel incredibly guilty about people who have less than I do.
I've explained all of this to let you know that, well, as my friends tell me, it's not easy to impress me. OK, I sort of agree with that. But, there are some 'stars' that do make me take notice. I use the word 'stars' because these are the people that I categorize as true 'stars' of their medium. There are not in my mind 'celebrities' which I think has become a truly different animal with reality television and all. It seems anyone, and lately the more notorious the better, can be a celebrity, but really not every one is a 'star'. Actually, can we invent a new word for talented, hard-working people who are famous for those traits rather than their notoriety? 'Star' doesn't really seem fitting anymore. Really, in my mind, "Dancing with the Stars' should be called something like "Dancing with the Notorious" or "Dancing with Semi-Famous People in need of a Career Boost" or "Dancing with People Who Might Bring in High Ratings for Our Network". I could go on and on here. The word 'star' used here seems woefully out of place. Do you agree? So how about we work on a finding or creating a new, appropriate word for people for are incredibly talented, and famous for their had-work who are in the entertainment industry, ok?
Ok, so back to my story.
I was working as a writer At ABC and had a meeting with a network executive there. All of the bigwigs at ABC work on the 10th floor in their building in Burbank. There is a large lobby on this floor and rather than a receptionist, there is a security guard at the main desk.
When I arrived I gave the security guard my name and who I was meeting. He told me to have a seat.
I took a seat.
About a minute later, a woman walks in and my heart races a little bit.
She walks to the desk and says, "Hi. I'm Carol Burnett and I'm here for a meeting with....."
No entourage, just Carol Burnett.
I expected people to rush out to meet her, but no, the security guard told her to take a seat and wait.
Guess who is sitting in the ONLY chair in this big lobby? That would be me.
There was a moment of eye contact between us. Then we each smiled a little.
I almost laughed. Was this some sort of joke? ONE CHAIR!
I couldn't just sit there. I got up.
"Please." I only said that one word and motioned to the chair.
She looked at me and said, "Oh no. I'll just stand over here."
I wanted to scream, "YOU'RE CAROL-FREAKING-BURNETT! I'M NOBODY. TAKE THE CHAIR!"
My mind raced. I blurted out, "Really, I have to make a quick call. I'm going to go over there."
She smiled again. "Really you don't have to do this."
Now I smiled. "M'am. I want to do this."
With more sincerity than I had seen in a long time in Hollywood, she touched my arm, looked me directly in the eye, and said,"Thank you. I appreciate your kindness."
She sat down for a bit while I was wondering, 'What smuck thinks they're so big that they can keep Carol Burnett waiting?' Finally, not one but three executives, rushed toward her, whisking her away. She waved at me as she headed into an office.
My moment with the legend was over.
Carol Burnett. Not only is this woman one of the funniest women in the history of television, but she was a pioneer in the medium as well.
And I had heard a story about her that made me respect her even more.
When she was first starting out in the business she struggled, as many actors do. Someone quite famous loaned her $500, which at that time was a significant amount of money. The donor told her never to give out his/her name. This person only told her to do the same for someone else someday. And she's done that, and so much more, for many people in the entertainment industry.
Now that's a true star!
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