Mercy Premiere at The Egyptian

Tonight (5/3/2010) was the premiere for the film "Mercy". Arrivals began shortly before 7:00 pm so we missed James Caan, who signed on his way in to the theatre. Erika Christensen arrived, telling us that she would sign on her way out. The film let out around 9:15 and Troy Garity signed for collectors. Monet Mazur signed quickly before rushing out. Baltazar Getty signed for collectors and also posed for photographs with fans. He milled around the courtyard so their were ample opportunities to get his autograph. Mike O'Malley also signed for collectors.

Christopher Titus At The Icehouse Comedy Club

Just got home from the Ice House, a comedy club in Pasadena. Tonight's headliner was Christopher Titus, an actor and stand-up comedian, best known from the self-titled FOX comedy "Titus" (2000-2002). Christopher had shows at 8:30 and 10:30, so my sister and I waited before the first show until 9:00 with no sight of him. My sister had to work so we left and I returned a little after 11:00. That late show didn't wrap up after 12:30 and Titus came out to the courtyard afterwards, to a table where he was meeting and greeting fans. A small line of about ten people were waiting to meet Titus, who had a couple of DVDs for sale at the table. Titus was extremely friendly, signing the 5 photographs I had brought along. Christopher already had a silver Sharpie marker and made comments on my photos. One particular photograph featured a somber-looking Titus wearing a suit. "Look how serious I look in this one," Titus joked as he signed it for me. Titus asked me if I sold the signed photos, not in a mean way but a curious, conversational way. I told him that I lived here in Pasadena and collected autographs. Titus posed for a picture with me, shaking my hand and thanking me for coming to the event.

Seth MacFarlane of "The Family Guy"

Seth MacFarlane was appearing on a national television program so I went to get his autograph, as I had never had the opportunity to meet him previously. Just to show that you never know who you might run into when you are graphing in Los Angeles, Penn Jillette of the magic duo Penn and Teller, showed up unexpectedly, signing an autograph for me. Former NBA player John Sally also exited from the studio, posing for a photograph and signing an autograph for me. Soon a limousine pulled up and Seth MacFarlane exited, with the security guard telling us that MacFarlane would sign on the way out. There were only two of us waiting so it was a bit disappointing that MacFarlane did not take the time to sign at that point. After an hour or so in the studio, Quaid exited the building, signing and posing for a photo with each of us. About 5 minutes before Seth MacFarlane's show wrapped up taping, a rush of about a dozen collectors showed up. Having hoped that MacFarlane would do "The Family Guy" sketches for us, this was now doubtful as the rush of collectors now included super aggressive dealers. Sure enough, MacFarlane exited the building, grabbing a blue Sharpie marker. Seth signed my piece of blank art paper but ignored my request for him to draw "Brian" a character on "The Family Guy". Most collectors got 1 signature, a few got 2 but I actually ended up with 5 autographs. Besides the art paper, I also got 4 stills from "The Family Guy" signed. The autograph on the art paper was a very complete "Seth MacFarlane" but the photos looked more like a "SM", typical of MacFarlane's more recent signatures.

You Better Work!

RuPaul appeared on a radio talk show tonight so I was there, waiting for him to arrive. About 9:45pm a red Volvo pulled onto the street and past the studio, as it is a bit difficult to recognize. I saw right away that it was RuPaul. He turned his car around and I waved him into the correct driveway. He got out, came over, taking my blue Sharpie and signed my photo, one each for the two other collectors and then my four other photographs. He asked, "Do you want me to just sign this?" Since I didn't need it personalized. I replied, "Yes." It was cold today and even colder tonight. Forgetting this, I flipped my photos, accidentally smearing 3 of them in the process. A rookie mistake that happens to all of us from time time but a lesson re-learned nonetheless.

Courtney Loves Shows Me Some Love

Courtney Love appeared on a radio talk show 4/20/2010, promoting her upcoming release from the revamped "Hole" lineup. Love did not sign on her way going into the studio so there were about 20 collectors waiting when she left after midnight. Courtney exited the door, heading straight over to collectors. Unfortunately, some of the most aggressive dealers here in Los Angeles were also present, so it quickly escalated into chaos. Pushing and shoving ensued, so it soon became a battle just to get an autograph. Courtney signed several autographs but soon said that she was going to give priority to "newer" photographs. It was also obvious that she gravitated towards signing vinyl, LPs and records over photos. Love was great to me, signing 7 different items. I was elated as most collectors got 2 or 3 signed, with one of my friends scoring 4 signed photos.

Meeting "Sublime With Rome"

During 1996-1997, one of the biggest staples of Modern Rock radio stations was the band Sublime. "What I Got" soared to #1 on the Modern Rock Chart, followed by "Wrong Way", "Santeria" and "Doin' Time" from their popular self-titled release in 1996. Unfortunately, just two months prior to the trio's major label release of their most successful selling album to date, Sublime's front man, Bradley Nowell died from a heroin overdose. Surviving band members, bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh had no interest in continuing Sublime, thus Nowell's death effectively marked the end of one of the most successful ska-punk bands to date. Sublime has sold 17 million units and even as a post-humous band, remain one of the most popular bands of the 1990's.

After a 13 year absence, Wilson and Gaugh reunited, bringing Rome Ramirez as the new lead singer of Sublime. A court battle ensued with the deceased Nowell's family and eventually the new incarnation became known as "Sublime With Rome". Getting ready to begin a North American tour and eventually traveling overseas for a European tour, "Sublime With Rome" appeared on a radio talk show4/19/2010 here in Los Angeles. I arrived at the studio a few minutes before midnight and soon the band members came out for a smoke break. I didn't bother them, as I knew that they would be leaving the studio in the next few minutes. The band went back in for a final segment and about 5 minutes later came out of the studio. I asked if they would sign some autographs for me and they obliged. Rome Ramirez took my silver Sharpie, signing the two photos I had of the "Sublime With Rome" lineup. Next Bud Garaugh signed these two photos, as well as three photographs of the vintage "Sublime" lineup that included Nowell. When Garaugh finished he handed the pen to Wilson who inked all five photos with no problem. I was the only collector there to meet them, so I thanked them for their time and left.

Smokin' with Cheech and Chong

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, more commonly referred to as the stoner comedy duo of "Cheech and Chong", are still smokin' after all these years. At the height of their popularity in the late 1970's and 1980's, they teamed up on several albums, pairing with one another in a succession of "buddy films". Many of these films, such as "Up in Smoke", centered on their fondness for weed. By 1985 the two each split off on their own, with Marin finding success with the comedy "Born in East LA". In 2008 the two reunited for their first comedy tour in over a decade. Cheech and Chong continued touring in 2009 and 2010, appearing tonight on a national radio talk show to promote the release of their new DVD. Most guests generally arrive sometime between 9:30pm and 10:00pm. However, when we got there collectors informed us that Cheech and Chong had arrived before 9:00, signing autographs and taking photos with fans. So we stood around waiting, not sure if they would be leaving earlier or at the normal time of midnight. The taping ended as normal at midnight but it took Cheech and Chong a little longer to leave. Eventually, about 10 or 15 minutes past 12:00, Tommy Chong emerged, followed by Marin. Chong was already holding a black Sharpie marker and began signing for collectors. Cheech Marin came up to collectors, taking a blue Sharpie marker from a collector and began signing for collectors as well. Marin signed 5 photos for one person so I geared my attention toward getting Chong's autograph. My sister did particularly well, completing 4 pieces by both Cheech and Chong. She commented that if she had more items that she could have gotten even more things signed. I got 2 Chongs and 1 Cheech autograph before both stated that they had to be somewhere early the next morning so they had to leave. It was a bit disappointing but both rushed off without taking any photos with collectors.