The Red Carpet

If there's one thing people love in this industry, it's death and/or destruction. But if there were to be two things, the other would be famous people. For some reason, it just seems cool to see someone in person that you've been watching on TV (except for reporters, they aren't that cool). Fame is a strange thing, and it brings with it strange people.

Last night was my first experience working the dreaded Red Carpet, also known as one big clusterf*** where everyone is trying to get everyone else's attention. Fun times.

It was the Second Annual California Hall of Fame awards, where famous California natives are appreciated in a museum in downtown Sacramento. Working something like this can be a double-edged sword. It's cool to interview famous people, but it sucks when autograph hounds are knocking your camera around throughout the entire interview. "Hey man, back off. We're media, damnit".

Despite the moron gawkers and the sore back from standing around all night, we had a good time rubbing shoulders with people that are better than me and you. The event was being put on by Maria Shriver, who attended with her goodly husband Arnold and their lovely daughter.

Many persons of note, both dead and non-dead, were recognized this evening, including John Wayne, Willie Mays, John Steinbeck, Elizabeth Taylor, and the ever-popular Tiger Woods.

Also swinging by our setup was former California governor Gray Davis, although it was unclear as to whether or not he was crashing the party. With his appearance, I think he was looking to say "Oh, that old recall thing? No biggie. I was ready for a vacation anyway, we don't even think about it anymore." What a guy.

Hanging on the Red Carpet, or the "RC", as we call it in the biz (probably), was an interesting adventure, but in the long run it makes me happy that I don't live in LA, where this crap would be a daily chore and the fans are much more rabid. However, it beats Eugene, where we'd only every once in a while get someone famous passing through...

...and even then, it wasn't all that cool.