Back with Who: Time Crash!

Presented by BBC TV presenter Terry Wogan (the man who made US 80's super-soap Dallas a huge hit in the UK) and bi-sexual hottie Captain Jack, was the following exclusive filmed for the Beeb's annual Children In Need charity appeal:


"You know what Doctor, you were my Doctor!"

Yes, that's the 5th Doctor played by Peter Davison, fresh from All Creatures Great and Small, complete with celery, cricket whites and trainers. And yes, he was my Doctor too! The one I too grew up with!

Stardust vs. Flash

After catching Stardust this weekend at The Grove, I understand why Joe was so upset at not meeting Neil Gaiman at this year's Comic Con. The movie is a wonderful, joyful fantasy romp, and certainly the best movie I've seen this summer. Please go see it, you'll thank me!

Having seen the trailer earlier this year, I went in knowing nothing more about the story except that Claire Danes plays a fallen star sought by a wicked witch played by Michelle Pfeiffer. With the likes of the LOTR trilogy, Legend and The Neverending Story being some of my all-time favourite flicks, Stardust seemed right up my alley (and hey, with Catwoman as a witch, surely you can't go wrong)! It seems however that I was one of the few who responded positively to the marketing, as with The Princess Bride 20 years ago, the studio just didn't know how to sell the movie (hence it sadly only pulled in just over $9 million this weekend).

Danes, with her spot on English accent, truly glows in her role. De Niro's effete, cross dressing Captain Shakespeare is a stud. Relative newcomers Kate Magowan radiates as the tethered princess while Charlie Cox' hero Tristan warms the cockles of your heart. There's even Harry Potter's Mr. Weasley who shows up as a human goat. Oh, and of course the wondrously vile nad deliriously decadent Ms. Pfeiffer, who, at almost 50 still has that twinkle in her eye under, or out of, all those prosthetics. The movies crackles to ever more exuberant life whenever she is on screen.

Still not convinced, read these reviews for yourself:

LA Times

IGN.com

Premiere

Ain't It Cool News

Hollywood.com

From the Balcony

The Sc-Fi Channel's reimagining of Flash Gordon on the other hand was a much a huge disappointment as Stardust was a joy to behold.

Let's face it, we all knew it was going to be bad when Sci-Fi announced that Queen's classic theme created for the camp yet cult 1980 Sam Jones movie would not be used in the show, but rather only for promotional purposes. Because of BSG I still held out some hope however, but just a few minutes into the show today, having discovered that Flash is now a runner (not a football star) and still lives with his mum, well I sadly tuned out.

For a round up of the critics rumblings check them out here on Ain't It Cool News.

It seems like we all want our Flash fun, fast and camp-filled... Max Von Sydow, Brian Blessed et al. you spoiled us!

Since I've Been Gone: TV Land

Rosie quits (after contractual negotiations brake down), and former Survivor chick Elisabeth is preggers. Poor Babs now has to find at least two new co-hosts for the surely beleaguered View this fall.

The pretty boy and his ditsy girlfriend (former season 9 racers Eric and Danielle) won The Amazing Race: All-Stars edition! Wasn't this the one team that no one wanted to win?

The second, and far superior, season of Workout seemingly focused less on Sky Sports owner Jackie Warner, and more on her ensemble family of trainers. The slow build towards the death of 44-year old hottie Doug Blasdell brought tears to hottie Brian's (and my) eyes!

Shear Genius is sheer genius (and I'm not the only one who thinks so)! With Jacklyn Smith, an eclectic mix of accented stylists, hair brawls, short cuts, final cuts and the stylist who brought us the 'shag,' what's not to love about Bravo's latest, and campest, Project Runway-esq reality show?

According to Edward James Olmos it seems that those Battlestar Galactica folks will reach Earth in the fourth, and final (or is it?), season of the show when it returns to the airwaves in '08.

Whitney, Lana's first BF on Smallville, is officially the Sci-Fi Channel's new Flash Gordon (not, as previously rumored, the stripper guy from The OC). Super hot Gina Holden will play his beau Dale Arden.

The best show of the 2006-2007 season, Friday Nights Lights, has been picked up for its sophomore season. Yeah! More of Connie Britton's terrific Texas twang!!!

And in an unprecedented announcement by a network, Lost will officially end in 2010! Only 49 more episode left to go!

(And now it's 3 hours of the Survivor:Fiji finale, and I'm currently rooting for underdog Boo!!!)

Since I've Been Gone: Back into Tivo Hell!

Why do I do this to myself?

Do I really need BBC America and the Game Show Network added to my channel lineup? Do I really want an unsightly digital cable box (that's too big for the compartments of our TV stand) and add to an already tangled mess of cables?

Is the trouble I've gone through over the past 24 hours, searching through my cupboards for that vital little IR Control cable, having to repeat "Guided Setup" multiple times to find the right channel lineup, getting up at 6am to repeat the whole process upteen more times (all in vain), all so we can watch one channel and Tivo another, is it all really worth it?

Is the $5.00 a month that I'll supposedly be saving really worth it?

At this exact moment in time, I think not!!!!

CELEBFLASH: Me?

Yes, that's me on Oprah!

Filmed at Spago exactly a month ago, the episode, A Tribute to Sidney Poitier, aired yesterday. Celebrating The Measure of a Man, Mr. Poitier's spiritual autobiography at a "Dinner of a Lifetime" were seven lucky viewers (and a cast and crew behind the scenes of hundreds).

I was lucky enough to be featured in the Spago overview bit towards the beginning of the episode (I'm the one standing behind uber-designer Colin Cowie, looking a tad befuddled if I do say so myself)
Next stop Survivor!

[ Note: Downloading the episode from Tivo to my laptop was a piece of cake. Capturing a screenshot not so easy! Matt in NYC has given me a couple of ideas, namely using VLC Media Player which captures it's own snapshot - still not great images, but better! ]

Goodbye Starbuck, Hello Flash!

So having just watched Maelstrom, the latest Battlestar Galactica episode and the one that leads, according to showrunner Ron Moore in his Chicago Tribune interview, to

"a fundamental and permanent change in the makeup of the show’s cast and of the show itself and how the show operates and what the show is about. It’s a very dramatic change of direction.”

And truthfully I was a little disappointed. The episode was Lost-like and flashback-filled, highlighting the psycological tourments suffered by Starbuck during her youth. The "Let me go/See you on the other side" death was a poor payoff for a character we've invested in, a character with an apparant destiny. I was somewhat expecting (hoping) the closing scene would be Starbuck downloading into her new body in one of those Cylon rebirthing tanks. But no!

"I am dead as far as I know,” claimed Katee Sackoff in her first post-Maelstrom interview (even with 3 years remaining on her contract). But with Starbuck's death Ron Moore may have made "a world class frak up," or at least a jump the shark moment. We'll wait and see!

In other Sci-Fi Channel news, it looks like Christopher Showerman will save every one of us when the cable network's new original series Flash Gordon premieres this July. Showerman is previously best known for his portrayl of George, in George of the Jungle 2, and as the Impossibly Hot Fireman on the now defunct O.C. (a clip of which follows):



And lastly, on NBC's Heroes, we've finally met the mysterious, pot pie eating Linderman, aka Malcolm McDowell, aka the man who killed Captain Kirk.

We know he's been collecting Isaac's paintings, got Niki/Jessica released from jail, and now he's guaranteed Nathan Petrelli an election win, followed by a chance at The White House.

But exactly what this all means... Well unfortunately we won't find out more until Heroes returns April 23rd for the final five episodes of this fantastic season.

"It's not a day out at Alton Towers, you know"

Each week I sit down in front of the telly, Tivo remote in hand, ready to immerse myself in my little bit of heaven, Eastenders.

Eastenders is a prime time British soap opera produced by the BBC. Now over 20 years old, Eastenders first aired February 19th, 1985, and to this day continues to be one of the highest-rated programmes in the UK, consistently viewed by 50% of the country's population, spawning numerous spin-offs and much water-cooler talk.

When I moved from DC I was concerned as to whether or not I would continue to get my weekly Eastenders fix. Thankfully here in LA! the local PBS affiliate, KOCE, airs two episodes a week, Friday nights at 7:00 and 7:30pm (with repeats in the early hours on Sunday mornings).

Set in the fictional London borough of Walford (complete with Tube station, Walford East, and postal code, E20), Eastenders centers on the strong, matriarch lead and seemingly incestuously interwoven families who inhabit Albert Square and frequent the local pub, The Queen Vic.

Now Eastenders may not be as flashy and sophisticated as some US shows (I’m thinking Battlestar Galactica and Heroes in particular), but it blows your common-or-garden melodramas, like Brothers & Sisters, Grey’s Anatomy and ER, out of the water.

Eastenders was conceived a a social realist drama. Yes there is still murder, arson, marital infidelity, young love and much gossiping (it is after all still a populist kitchen sink drama), but over the years the programme has dealt with the likes of domestic and child abuse, euthanasia, teenage pregnancy, racial prejudice, drunk driving, mental health issues and abortion among other issues.

A recent episode serves as an example of the programmes power, featuring only four of the characters and juxtapositioning their two stories. One of a son (former Spandau Ballet member Martin Kemp) confronting his dieing mother with the abuse she put him through as a child. The second that of a young wife, unable to cope with her new pregnancy, telling her husband that she plans on aborting their child. Great powerful televsion!

What the Frack!

Battlestar Galactic will be moving to Sunday nights when it returns to the airwaves in January (after it's Christmas hiatus). It'll still be on the Sci-Fi Channel at 10pm (and not on NBC as many rumoured), but no longer paired with those other now classic Sci-Friday shows Doctor Who and Stargate SG-1. Instead its lead in will be the new show based on Jim Butcher's best-selling novels, The Dresden Files, about a detective with Harry Potter-esq. abilities (i.e. he’s a wizard).

In it’s new timeslot Battlestar will be facing off against the stiff competition of ABC's Brothers & Sisters (And yes, I jest! Anyone’s who’s watched Sally Field and Calista Flockhart go at it as mother and daughter know the show will barely make it to the end of the season).

For more on the whys and wherefores of this move, click here.

I’m really just glad that Apollo, aka Jamie Bamber (recently featured in People’s 2006 Sexiest Man Alive issue), is no longer wearing the fat suit and is thin again!

Goodbye Sarah Jane!

Battlestar Galactica may be the best show on TV (that no one’s watching), but the real reason to stay home on a Friday night (or at least set your Tivos) is the new season of British cult classic Doctor Who.

The Doctor regenerated at the end of last season from the quirky leather-jacketed Christopher Eccleston to the "geek chic" styling and pinstripe suit wearing David Tennant. Tennant’s 10th Doctor is a little more austere and a little less fun loving that his previous couple of selves, a demeanor more reminiscent of my favorite Doc, #6, Colin Baker.

But let’s go back in time for a moment. One of my first television memories is that of the Doctor (#4, Tom Baker) leaving Sarah Jane Smith in Croydon when he is summoned back to his home world of Gallifrey. Fast forward to last Friday’s second season episode School Reunion which again reunited Sarah and the Doctor (and we learn Sarah was in fact dropped of in Aberdeen, not Croydon).

Current companion/assistant/love interest Rose is jealous of Sarah’s past relationship with the Doctor, reuminating about her role at the Doctor's side and speculating if she too will be abandoned and rejected like Sarah. Naturally the two butt heads throughout the episode until eventually realising how similar they actually are.

Returning to the role that she has embodied off and on for 30 years, Elisabeth Sladen, as Sarah Jane, brings satisfying closure to the character and her relationship with the Doctor. She finally gets to say "Goodbye," and is at last able to embrace her ordinary life. A very touching and tear emoting departure.

Yes, I squished!

(Sarah Jane will be back however, The Sarah Jane Adventures, a second Who spinoff, is set to premiere in 2007).

In other rumours, in his role as Krillitane turned Headmaster Mr. Finch, Anthony (Stewart) Head’s appearance in the series has only fueled fan speculation that he will eventually return as The Master, the Doctor’s longtime Time Lord nemesis. An inspired and perfect casting choice to be sure (and a definite improvement over Eric Roberts).

Unfortunately only time, and Russell T. Davies, will tell.

CELEBFLASH: Feed the Boy a Muffin!

Walking into the gym yesterday (yes, I'm back to the grind) I thought to myself "It's been a while, I'd love to see a celeb today!" And lo and behold, I did!

Though really hoping to bump in to some hottie (like Tom Welling or Jensen Ackles), instead my path was crossed by... none other than The WB's Gregory Smith!!!

Gregory Smith?

Who?

Greg played Ephram Brown, the permanently petulant doctor's kid on Everwood, the other show in which Brenda Strong died in the pilot and then appeared in flashbacks and dream sequences throughout the first season. Everwood also just happened to be one of the best, most heartwarmingly honest and real shows on television. Sadly it lost it's place on The CW's fall lineup due to the last minute renewal of 7th Heaven (the longest running family drama on US telly and the only show to air on The WB throughout the netlet’s 10 year existence).

Now Greg's not exactly the stockiest of WB actors, but he's at the gym, so at least he's trying, right? (Though he was having a little trouble benching the 35 lb dumbbells.)

Anyways, I point out my celeb sighting to Joe, who has no idea who this "skinny kid" is, and hence this entry's (full) title:

"For the love of god, feed the boy a muffin!"

Greg - Blueberry, Poppyseed or Bran?

CELEBFLASH: Tar-Jey!

Chunky Chips Ahoy!, for those early morning coffee breaks: $1.66

Ultra Clear Intense Sport Degree, for that extra protection when you need it the most: $2.39

Monster Trail Mix, over 2 lbs of chocolatey-nutty goodness: $5.99

Hem Dazon and other hard to find plastic Mos Eisley denizens: $19.92

Hunting for that matching Sterilite lid and container combination next to the "when did he get so tubby?" Boston Public alumn Michael Rapaport at the Target on La Brea: Priceless!

[ Ok, so maybe not as priceless as meeting say Sue Ellen Ewing, but still cool nonetheless]

Simply Known as The Doctor

Who!

That infamous British TV icon, "The Enemy of the Daleks" and (now) the last of the Timelords, Doctor Who!

Nine regenerations. Ten Doctors. Twenty-eight seasons! Doctor Who is the longest running Sci-Fi series in the history of television since first airing the day after JFK’s assassination in 1963 (take that Battlestar Galactica).

The series was a Saturday-teatime favourite when I was a kid, the type of nightmare inducing programme you peered at the screen from behind the sofa, marveling at the creepiness of the Cybermen, Ice Warriors, Yeti, Silurians, Sontarans, and those flying pepper pots, the Daleks! Suddenly in 1990 the series was put on hiatus. FOX tried to revive (and Americanize) it in 1996 to no avail. But then, in 2003 Russell T. Davies, the creator of the original Queer As Folk, came on board!

The new Who, with Christopher Eccleston in the title role, just finished it's Friday night run on The Sci-Fi Channel. Back "home" the BBC is showing brand new episodes of season 28 (or two, if you want), with the tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant. My favourite Doctor has always been the sixth Doctor, played by Colin Baker, in his most tortured and tormented incarnation as he was put on trial by the Timelords for crimes against Time.

Like so many "companions" before her, Rose (played by Billie Piper) will soon part ways with the TARDIS (now, apparently, a sentient being), and while most fans love her, I prefer Aussie Tegan, fellow Timelord Romana, K-9, and my particular favourite, that perky Yank, Peri.

According to the Sci Fi Wire, Doctor Who has averaged a 1.3 household rating and 1.5 million total viewers in its 9pm US timeslot, up a whopping 54% over the same period last year. For a show that US schedulers initially balked at for being way too cutesy and British, that ain't bad! Roll on season two!!!

CELEBFLASH: Back to the Cul-de-Sac

When I was at The Farm, my star sightings ran the gambit from Linda Gray and Sarah Michelle, to Breckin Meyer and Marcellous Reynolds. With my current 9-to-5 job these sightings have become fewer and much farther between (sad I know, but what can I do?).

Today however was a doozy of a CelebFlash. Four stars from that top-rated supersoap of the 90s, the spinoff that outlasted the original, and one of my mum's favourite shows, Knots Landing!

Gary, Valene, Karen and Abby! The stars of the show (well the first four listed on the Landing's IMDB entry anyway). All at one time, all in one place, and even some 13 years after the show had ended, all still friends! Very cool indeed!

I'd met Michele Lee, Karen, a couple of years ago at a Creative Coalition freebie Dish catered in DC. She is still looking awesome, and still wearing that designer cowboy hat.

Donna Mills' Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner is another one of those petite little things in person, so it's had to reconile her with that larger than life vixen-extraordinnaire she played on TV. That said, upon seeing her I stopped dead in my tracks, ready for a good slap on the face.

And then there's Ted Shackelford's Gary and Joan Van Ark's Val, still the hottest couple on the block, chit chatting together like old times (the times before Valene's multiple other marriages anyway).

When I met Cordelia at Wizard World she talked about recently seeing Angel at The Farm and how that had been the first time they'd seen each other since the show ended. That's sad!

Thirteen years on and the Knots' crew still hang! That's truly impressive!

KC: The Last Stand

May 31, 2006, the top story of the morning: after 15 years of early mornings, forever changing hairstyles, and the type of perkiness that only a mother could really love, Katie Couric steps down from her co-anchor role on TV's #1 rated Today Show.

Matt, Al and Ann paid numerous tributes to their co-star through montages, anecdotes, quips and of course the obligatory Tony Bennett tribute. Was three hours of "all about Katie" a little much? Maybe. But by the time Katie said her final "goodbyes" tears were unabashedly shed.

I may have been at odds lately with Katie's growing conservatism. I tried to change the channel, but ultimately kept coming back. Through 9/11, Columbine, the Oklahoma bombing, Katrina, the deaths of husband Jay, Princess Diana and JFK, Jr., numerous Olympics, live colonoscopies, fluffy interviews with B-list celebs, outdoor cooking demonstrations and maternity-wear fashion segments, Katie has held the nation's hand.

"Don't be a stranger, because if you do, I'll come calling." - Ann Curry

"I will miss that smile, and I'll miss the face, and I'll miss the spirit that you bring to this." - Al Roker

"I thank you for the laughs." - Matt Laurer

Upon waking this morning and switching on a Katie-less Today, the team has moved to a "temporary summer location," Ann is in the driving seat, and promos with Meredith abound. Katie has well and truly gone to that great CBS in the sky. But yes, ultimately we will miss the laughs!

[ Oh, and by the way, did you know that Sally Field is on Boniva to fight her osteoporosis? ]

“And coming up in the next half hour…”

That was Matt’s immediate response this morning after Katie Couric officially and finally announced that she would be leaving NBC’s The Today Show after 15 years as co-host as she would be moving on to the CBS Evening News, as the first solo woman anchor, and 60 Minutes. The crew burst into laughter, as they do after so many of Matt’s jokes. I myself also chuckled, all the while fighting back the tears of this sad news (OK not really, I’m exaggerating a tad).

Katie’s “passing” is however the end of an era. Like many others, I have not known an America without Katie, and though of late her cutesy perkiness has dwindled, replaced by some strange staunch conservatism, ultimately I will miss that twinkle in her eyes every morning (yes, my attempts to switch channels in the morning, as I said I would, have not exactly been successful.).

But now comes the most interesting part of Katie's decision however. Who will NBC get as her replacement? Will CNN's Soledad O'Brien, one-time host of Weekend Today, be lured back by the Peacock? Will Ann finally get a permanent seat next to Matt? Will the wonderfully appealing, classy, sexy and funny Campbell Brown be rightfuly given the top spot (yes, she's my choice)? Just one thing NBC, don’t let the rumors be true, please don't choose The View's Meredith Vieira!!!

Always Golden!

My blogging has been very lax of late, and for this I apologize. Though the reason for this may well be the terrible LA weather, which as I mentioned in a previous post, hasn't exactly been cooperating, the worst being the weekend that Marky Mark was visiting from Kansas City (or Missouri, or wherever). "Well, it is winter" I hear you all cry! I know, but still, I'm over it! Having to wear an overcoat once is one too many times here in SoCal!

Thankfully I think Marky Mark had a good time despite the weather. On Friday night we managed to snag last minute tickets (thank you Scott) to The Museum of Television & Radio's panel discussion for The Golden Girls, once the Saturday night surefire hit, now a Lifetime staple. The panel comprised of creator Susan Harris and her husband, a bunch of the writers (including Desperate Housewives' own Marc Cherry), a popular director of the show, and naturally, the girls themselves... well Blanch (Rue McClanahan) and "dear, sweet, innocent" Rose (Betty White). Dorothy (Bea Arthur) was suddenly taken ill and couldn't participate.

The discussion focused on how brilliantly the show was conceived and then written, how gracious and professional the "girls" were, and while Cherry regaled the audience with tails of run-ins with the ladies, the other writers kept encouraging him to dish the dirt on his current Wisteria Lane beauties. This prompted even the incredibly quiet Harris to chime in with a "I bet Teri is the worst" comment. Both Betty and Rue hammed it up with beautiful aplomb all evening, chitchatting away, and jovially baiting each other as they responded to questions from the audience. Though Betty answer it with her still keen wit, Rue was particularly dismissive of one question "If The Golden Girls was being recast today, who would you want playing your characters?" Yes folks, no matter what they tell you, there are such things as stupid questions!!!

Not Everyone's A Winner

So The Academy didn't end up embracing gay cowboys or a pre-operative male-to-female transsexual. Oh well, I suppose they can't win them all can they? As much as I did like Brokeback, I found it particularly flawed towards the end, and while I've not see Crash, everyone I know who has says it truly was the best movie of the year. Now while Philip Seymour Hoffman probably won for his body of work other than Capote, if Reese won for anything else other than that Johnny Cash movie (have you seen Just Like Heaven or Legally Blonde 2?) then that's a true travesty!

Other big non-winners this weekend:

My boy Branch took second at this weekend's other big event, the 2006 Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH. This 240+ lb freak (and I mean that in a good way) did take home the night's Most Muscular Award however, and many thought it a such a tight race that Branch only narrowly lost first place.

With the amalgamation of The WB and UPN into The CW, those Charmed Halliwell sisters will be taking their magical leave from the airwaves this May. After 8 seasons the Book of Shadows is finally being put on the shelf to gather dust.

My weight dipped again to 185.4 lbs... Yes, I'm wasting away! This stomach flu things seems pretty much cleared up, so now it's time to eat!

And in other news, I lost out on meeting both Cordelia and Angel when they were at the Farm for Sunday brunch (my old shift). Apparently it was like some cute little reunion when they started chatting about old times. It almost makes me want to throw up!

End of Week Errata

It's been a week since my last post, so I've either been very busy, very boring or just very apathetic. Here some thoughts:

Vonage - thank you for (finally) admitting that you don't work with TiVo (unless you're in New York).

TiVo I still hate you! It shouldn't be so difficult to find a bloody network adapter! Don't give me crap about finding them on ebay, just have them in stock! Or change your f**king networking requirements!!! [Yes, I'm still TiVo-less, and I'm dieing!!!]

"NJGROWN" we love you!

Take a ride in one of those iJoy chairs and enjoy a good massage for free at Plummers on Venice.

Don't have sex when you still have diarrhea. It ain't pretty!

Lost's Sawyer is a bad bad boy.

Auf Wiedersehen Nick! At least you looked pretty in pink!

Chief Chirpa revealed as Toy Fair 2006 opens in New York city. I can't wait for LA's ComiCon!

Why doesn't Ann ever get to go to the Olympics? At least she doesn't have to deal with Katie for a couple of weeks! [Katie move on over to CBS, I'm ready to wake up to Campbell Brown in the mornings]

Fridays just aren't Fridays without Wolfgang's lamb meatballs!

Note to people back in DC - it's 85 and very sunny!

CELEBFLASH ULTRA: BUFFY!!!

As regular readers will have noticed, I "catalogue" pretty much all my celebrity sightings here on Misadventures. I'm not necessarily a fan of these people, few of them really float my boat, it's just that I'm a small town boy from the England, who's always been enamored with television and the movies. I recognize them and (hopefully) make witty little asides. The list of "stars" I would really care to see is pretty damn short. Really!

Well, today I hit an absolute high. Maybe even the top of the ladder...

Buffy, the bloody, Vampire Slayer!!!



Sarah Michelle Gellar herself... in the flesh... no Freddie Prince (not that I care).

She's standing in line at the restaurant to get on the waiting list. I turn, see her and my knees go weak. I seriously cannot move!

Cut to: A bit later.

Her party is seated (she's with her mum and some friends), and I overhear her asking Natalie for crayons for the kid with her. It just happens today is the day we're crayonless, but being the manager I find some, take them over, and just start to gush!

It's all a blur, but it went something like this:

"I know this is unprofessional, and I've never done this sort of thing before, but I really wanted to say that I love your work. I just moved from Washington, DC and you were at the top of my list of people I wanted to see. I love everything you've done. I love Buffy! Thank you!"

Her friend makes some joke: "You think that's?... She's my cousin Bertha."

Sarah Michelle: "Big Bertha they used to call me."

Me: "Don't even kid with me on this one. My knees are knocking! Meeting you has just made my entire week."

I get a bunch of "Thank yous" and "You're so sweet" and I finally leave them to their lunch. My heart is racing, the knees still knocking, and I'm almost on the verge of tears (uh?).

Cut again to: Some time later.

I'm doing some managerial sorta stuff at one of the terminals, and Sarah Michelle's mum comes up to me and asks if I had anything I wanted Sarah to sign, Sarah was just wondering? WOW! Of course, no DVD, no MOC action figure, not even a decent piece of paper. I grab a pen, tear a bit of paper out of the receipt terminal and head on over.

Matt -

It was so nice to meet you.

Best wishes,

Sarah Michelle

I gush some more, say thanks and byes, and shake her hand.

And I'm floored. WOW again! How nice and sweet, and... well, that whole expereince just blew me a-bloody-way!!!

Now, if only Spike were to show himself....