The next Hollywood event we attended was more of an intimate gathering. Bill Maher one of my favorite political comedians was getting a star on Hollywood BLVD (actually it was on a side street next to the infamous Hollywood BLVD). We arrived early hoping to get a prime spot. Luckily we were able to score the front row behind all the photographers and video cameras. We were about five feet from the man-made stage built especially for the ceremony.
The star is located in front of the side entrance to the new W Hotel. Unlike the Easy A premiere, we only had to wait about an hour for the festivities to begin. Around 11am the celebrities started arriving but they all bundled up behind the podium. The crowd was full of comedians some famous some unknown and all personal friends of Bill Maher. Our crowd was a mixture of Autograph addicts, Super Fans, Tourists, and random people. Only one paparazzi was there. He stood 7-feet tall and when this giant would pivot his body to take a picture, he would completely block my view of all the action. Luckily right before the festivities began he had to move his car. He asked me to save his spot but the moment he left hordes of anxious fans stepped into his place. Since they were appropriately sized, I didn’t say a word.
Promptly the show began and it was a cross between a roast and a street-side gathering of comedians. I honestly didn’t realize how funny Larry King was. Seth Macfarlane gave a brilliant introduction making both political and religious jokes that were hilarious. As Bill Maher took center stage, I noticed a vulnerability that I had never seen before. No question about it, he was hysterical especially when he thanked Sarah Palin and George Bush for his star. Through his humor it was also obvious that underneath he was really touched and thankful to be standing there.
Once the ceremony was completed Bill and the other comedians signed autographs and took pictures with fans. The highlight of the afternoon for me was meeting Seth MacFarlane and taking a picture with one of my favorite character actors/comedians, Larry Miller. The strangest celebrity sighting of the day was Kato Kaitlin who apparently still has tons of fans. In fact as I walked passed, I heard one of them scream, “Kato you can totally crash at my place.” After my celebrity Hollywood adventure I definitely have more of an understanding of why normal people obsess and idealize famous people. It is easy to get sucked into the glitz and the glamour when the lines between fantasy and reality are blurred. Stay tuned for the final part of my Rachel Goes to Hollywood series.
