I have a friend who loves to gossip about celebrities. If it’s celebrity related, he’s got the skinny on the latest celebrity news. One of his favorite sites is Perez Hilton’s “Celebrity Juice” blog. He spends more time on Perez’ site than on Google. He likens the Perez blog to that of the definitive Celebrity Gossip – In the News – Always on Top Things – one stop source.
I had reviewed the Hilton blog a number of times in the past, especially when I heard that the blog commands up to $18,000.00 for a top hand right column ad. The remaining ad buys go down to $900.00 for standard back pages (pages three and beyond). However, you can opt to go with a middle of the road ad for just $4,000.00 at the bottom of the right column.
Then there’s OMG which is the #1 celebrity gossip site (according to Alexa). One common theme is that both the Perez and OMG sites use PINK as their main color theme! I think “pink” all day along so, I must be onto something here. Another common element appears to be using large images of the stars. I reviewed Bloggrrl and of course, the majority of the images on Bloggrrl.com are all medium to large. I think my header works well as I’ve got those shades with dollar signs reflecting off the lenses. Maybe I was meant to write about celebrities and their everyday lives? Only thing I’m missing is content. Who and what to write about.
Let’s give it a try…
Not too long ago, I met John Hurt in Edinburgh, Scotland and asked him for an interview. He was sitting in the Sheraton Hotel lounge and I just walked up to him and asked him for a few minutes of his time. He was sitting with his wife and two other people but, all I saw was John Hurt. He asked me to give him five minutes and he would meet me in the hotel lobby (which he did).
We agreed (during our lobby moment) to meet at 7:00 P.M. that evening and I would bring my camcorder along to record my momentous interview. When we met that evening, I asked him questions for twenty-five minutes straight. The stupidest question I asked was how uncomfortable was the make-up he donned during the filming of Elephant Man, he looked at me quizzically like what did I mean? I reiterated the question and he told me that was just gossip that the tabloids had created. The very last question I had to ask was “what was your favorite film of all time in your acting career?”. He threw me a curve on that question and answered “Love & Death on Long Island“. I had seen the movie when it came out and it was disturbing, as much as it was one of Hurt’s best performances. Hurt’s co-star was Jason Priestley and surprisingly enough, he did a superb job complimenting Hurt’s award winning performance.
The following morning, I received a call on my cell from my friend that he was having breakfast in the lobby restaurant. He announced (excitedly) that he was sitting just five feet away from Sean Connery who was chowing down some high-fiber cereal while doing his daily crossword puzzle. My heart skipped a beat as I headed down the elevator. I thought I could ace an interview with Connery and basically kill two birds with one stone.
Two interviews with two of the greatest actors in the world all in just under 14 hours!
When I arrived at my friends table, he got up and gave me his seat, which was closer to Connery. I sat down next to him and watched as Connery munched away. In between every mouthful, he dutifully filled in a space on his crossword puzzle. He looked a bit tired, out of sorts and was not wearing a hairpiece. He looked nothing like James Bond, however, here we are years later and what could I expect? John Hurt always looks like John Hurt (except in Elephant Man) and Connery just looked like a guy eating cereal.
I decided (after ten minutes) of watching him munch and puzzle, it was time to approach him and ask him for ten minutes of his time. I only had five feet to walk to make it to his table and it was the longest five feet I had every walked. I got up and felt like a cat stalking its prey (not a good sign). I wasn’t thinking that Connery was anything less than the characters he portrayed in his movies and I always thought of him as affable fellow. I expected a kind smile, warm handshake and a “sit down and have a seat” sort of exchange.
I figured he could munch while I asked him a few questions.
Connery would have none of that. In fact, he looked up at me like he was confused as to who I was (and rightfully so). In all of my haste to break the Connery code, I overlooked one important rule, never bother a man (no less a Connery), during his early morning munch and puzzle. Not a good idea.
Connery looked up at me and stated “can you see I’m eating my breakfast?”. That’s all he said as I backed away five feet to my friend’s table and slowly took my seat. Every so often, Connery would look up from his munch and puzzle and give me a look that was none to friendly. I tried everything in my power to disconnect from his glare but, it was impossible.
When Connery commands attention, he does so whether you like it or not.
Needless to say, my breakfast lasted all of ten minutes and as walked away from the table (and right past Connery), he threw me one parting glance, which told me this was neither the time nor the place. Maybe in better circumstances I might have been able ask him a few questions that had some meat in them.
Everything I wrote above is absolutely true and I have the Hurt video to prove it. The sound quality isn’t that good but, I aced the interview with Hurt, blew the interview with Connery and walked away knowing what to do and what not to do when in the presence of a celebrity.
Now, here’s the test. Did you find this blog entry amusing or interesting? When you first read the name John Hurt, did you want more? When I relayed what happened with Connery did you feel for me or, did I get what I deserved for interrupting Connery’s chow down? In any event, my thirst for breaking into the celebrity chatter market should prove one thing, all bloggers can write about their own personal experience and/or reviews of celebrities, their latest films and their greatest performances to spice up their blogs and possibly become the next OMG or Perez Hilton!
