Auditions

Today had me in Hollywood extra early for the Last Comic Standing auditions. I couldn't believe how many people were in line. The sad part was that most of them were standing in line for nothing. They had already chosen the select few that would be passed to the next round the previous day. There were all types of "comedians". Were they all funny? The answer is "no". In fact, most of them were damn right annoying, which makes me realize why they are still trying to break out into this business by standing in a line for hours waiting for their big break on a reality show. Sadness.
The real highlight of the day was working with two of my favorite people from NBC, Oscar and Angela from The Office. These two are so much fun to watch in action. And I can honestly say they are super-delight in person. Even after winning a SAG award last weekend. They always remember your face, your stories and greet you with big hugs. As shallow as it might sound, it does add a little sunshine to your day when a celebrity thinks you are somebody worth remembering. Now, that's real sadness, isn't it? Oh yeah, and I met this hotness, too! http://www.dlisted.com/node/21611

MySpace Politics

So, living in LA means having to be part of a social network. It's commonly one of the first questions that gets asked in the first five minute of meeting somebody, "Are you on Myspace or Facebook?" If so, obviously, that person will check out your page, your pictures, "request" your friendship and have access to your web life. And those familiar with the website know that as soon as you enter somebody's page, you can see who their "top friends" are. I always find that a bit weird. I feel like I am transported back in high school, trying to get accepted into the cool "Top 12" group, or whatever. And if somebody has me on their top list, I feel it's my obligation to put them in my top list. Well, imagine my surprise when I was spying on other pages with a co-worker and he pointed out that I was the only person at work in my boss's top friends list. Something that had just been changed recently. So, immediately, I had to think long and hard on who I would remove from my top list and exchange it with my boss, in case she checked. I still scratch my head on what I did or how I made it there. But, I guess, like in high school, it's cool to just accept the invitation to be in the cool group instead of questioning why. Though, I am still left wondering, was there a motive behind this move. Damn these Myspace politics!

Sad news

I am sure it's no shock to anybody by now that the very talented and gifted actor, Heath Ledger passed away today. This kind of news always hits hard and I don't know why. We live in a country where soldiers are dying everyday for a war they are unsure they are fighting in the first place. You can't open a newspaper without reading of a tragic car accident or murder. I guess this one hits home because we felt like we actually knew Heath. I remember looking at pictures of him walking his daughter, Matilda, on the streets of Brooklyn and trying to decipher which parent she looked the most like. I remember reading quotes from him describing life as a father and falling completely in love with him all over again, like the feeling I saw 'The Patriot' for the first time. I think the biggest reason this hit home was the fact I felt I was welcomed into his life. He was a celebrity, I was supposed to know all the good and bad details of his life. And now, personally, I grieve for his family, the mother of his child, and most of all, his daughter. Heath left this earth, like many before him, too soon. And whatever the outcome is of how and why this happened, one thing is for sure, it's another tragic story of a gifted actor who expired too soon.

Rainy Dayz

The LA weather has been throwing us through a loop in recent weeks. I woke up early yesterday morning and played a great game of tennis, followed by a delicious breakfast in NoHo. It was the kind of day you wished would last all weekend. Sun makes me smile. Nothing more left to be said. 

Well, today, a morning hike had to be cancelled because it was simply downpour. If you would have told me that I was on an overnight tequila bender and ended up in Seattle, I would have believed you. Now, I find myself in sunlight, again. I don't know if it's global warming, Mother Nature playing a trick on us, or just simply January in LA. Regardless, LA is keeping me on my toes and throwing monkey wrenches in my plans. I guess that is what life is about. Isn't it?

Celebrities are Crazay!

Friends often ask me about my celebrity encounters. It's not uncommon to run into one from time to time at your local Starbucks. I recently had a friend tell me I should write down who I run into, so I won't forget. Well, I never took that friend's advice, so now I can't really remember who has graced me with their presence. I can say that most recently, I held a not so insane conversation with Paula Abdul at my local Borders' Books, where we talked shoes and fashion and the both of us were browsing her feature in the latest In Style Magazine. She appeared normal and friendly, if normal is having a very effeminate assistant answering your cell phone for you and ordering your dinner. But regardless, I was shocked to hear a mere few weeks later, Miss Abdul had a complete break-down in LAX regarding lost luggage. According to witnesses, she was crying hysterically and kept repeating the same three names over and over. And now this whole Britney mess. I really don't know how or where or when it happens, but I truly believe that celebrity does cause a form of insanity. Doesn't have to mean complete overboard hysterics, like Miss Spears or Paula, but celebrity cannot be the best thing for somebody's mental health. The constant need for acceptance and assurance from a mass population of people is not healthy. So, the more and more people that I come across in this town who are in search of being the next best thing has me scratching me head. Is it the money, the fame, the power that draws people into such a life? And if you are not looking for such a life while living in this town, are you considered settling in a way? I have been told many times that I should pursue my comedy career. I now find myself in the delicate position of being in a profession where my work gets credited, but not rewarded with massive amounts of money or attention and finding myself leaning more and more to the direction that there is something more out there for me and I really could break out in this town. The question is can I handle it? I guess I have to make sure my friends and family are there for me if and when I decide to take this wild and crazy quest for fame. I also count on these friends and family to keep me from releasing a crazy Scientology tape to the public. Which this tape seems to be this year's equivalent to the "celebrity sex tape". Be prepared for an interesting 2008.

I am back!

Due to popular demand, I have decided it was time to come back to my side job as a non-paid blogger. When I say popular demand, I mean two people, including my mom. Oh well. The truth is, I finally entered the 21st century and bought a new Apple PowerBook G4 and have no excuse to avoid blogging. 

The last blog I wrote was when I went to Scranton for The Office. Well, a lot has happened since then, and for that, I am thankful. How boring would my life be if nothing had happened? So, I'll just write down the cliftnotes. 

1) Spent Thanksgiving with friends in Huntington Beach and spent the following weekend with the friends staying at The Standard in Hollywood while clubbing, celeb style. 

2) Went to Costa Rica the following weekend for a week. Where we stayed in the isolated town of Santa Teresa, at the Southern tip of the Nicoyan Peninsula. It was an adventure getting there, but once we arrived, we were at a private beach and I was surfing waves that were considered the top five best in the world. 

3) A WGA strike took place, but luckily my job wasn't in danger. Instead, I was just covering crappy reality shows instead of great programmed shows :( It is still going on. 

4) I went to Portland for Christmas and hung out with the same friends I spent Thanksgiving with. I even had a white Christmas, as we stayed downtown. It was quite possibly one of the perfect holidays I had ever had. Good friends, good food, good drinks, and fun board games. It was hard to leave Portland. I will always consider it a second home. Or a close second, next to Santa Teresa ;)

5) I spent New Years with a friend in Los Feliz. We both decided it was better to stay off the road and watch the ball drop with Thai take-out, then brave the crowds at the overpriced clubs in Hollywood. I was happy with my choice.

6) I think everybody is caught up now. So, I promise I'll write more and more and try to find as many adventures as I possibly can to keep this blog entertaining.