h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I just bought some coffee, and thought the chap in front of me looked familiar - it was John Malkovich, looking very dapper in a light suit, and so normal I at first assumed it couldn't be him - I thought he must be an accountant working locally.
 

It is odd to spot someone like that. About an hour ago, I saw Jeff Van Gundy, the coach of the New York Knicks. It's odd--you don't know if you're supposed to acknowledge them or not, so I didn't. And, of course, coaches of basketball teams aren't really celebrities, which only serves to confuse the issue.

I don't think I'd know most celebrities even if they came up and asked me for directions. I sure wouldn't notice them on the street, really. I don't notice my own friends/coworkers on the street half the time. It would have to be someone really well known and really undisguised for me to see, I think. I just don't connect with it.

I'm the exact same way. In college, I worked at Tower Video, where I once spent five minutes helping Bridget Fonda find a rental movie she was looking for. I never noticed it was her; someone else had to tell me after she left. I guess I'm just not terribly observant about that sort of thing. In my defense, I did know Wallace Shawn was in the store just from hearing his voice a few aisles away. I think I've seen The Princess Bride and Clueless one too many times...

I'm usually the same as CrazyOne, but since working in London, I've spotted quite a number of famous people, although given the number of plays and shows in the vicinity, I've probably missed many more. So far I've seen (as well as John Malkovich): Tom Baker, Jack Dee, Neil Jordan, Stephen Wolley, Enn Reitel (OK, so famous is relative) and Douglas Adams.

Actually, now I come to list them, that's a pretty small number, especially considering I work for one of them.

Oh, I did see Terry Gilliam but that was at a book signing, so it doesn't really count.

Drifting off topic, a restaurant nearby does what may retaurants do, and has a few pictures in its window of famous people whi have dined there, and I'm always amused by the strange incongruity of seeing minor UK celebs Martin Jarvis and Gary Willmott alongside a picture of Marlon Brando.

I presume they weren't dining together.

Also, living as near Los Angeles as I do, there are a few celebrities here and there that you bump into. I do my best to be jaded and cynical about it, since it's simply not cool to act excited, but once I get on Sunset Boulevard, my head's whirling as I try and spot a celeb. It's a bad habit...

I once saw Dustin Hoffman acting suspiciously in South Molton Street. However, what I wanted to say was that I passed Ian Bleasdale (who plays Josh in Casualty) in the centre of Bristol one day and almost said hello, as if to a friend, as his face is so familiar. Luckily, I stopped myself in time, as he would probably have thought me mad. A strange hold that films and TV have over us!

And, delving into trivia, the guy I saw that you didn't outside Nero's was Thomas Wheatley - and I only know that because I saw him the next day in "The Living Daylights" and so looked up him on imdb...spooky.

When we were based in Camden, I did recognise a lot of character actors wondering around - but could never remember their names.

>Douglas Adams

Really?!

I saw Nigel Planer - I assume it was when he was in "Chicago". Er...is that the name of the play?

>Oh, I did see Terry Gilliam but that was at a book
>signing, so it doesn't really count.

I was prevented from working (along with a few others in the ST team) for about half an hour while Terry Jones and DNA screeched at each other during a photo shoot, if that helps.

Oh, and I've met Charles Simonyi and Paul Allen(*). Just Bill Gates to go now

Tim

(*) Man, that guy's a talker. Not.

You know, Shim told me he saw Douglas Adams once.

Didn't believe him for a second.

John Malkvich, eh? *Inhales to deliver obvious and inevitable speculation* Perhaps a bit of casting for the h2g2-movie going on, hm?