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September 6, 2019
What was the most memorable close/random encounter you’ve ever had with a non-music celebrity from any other field, and what were the circumstances?
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Toby Knapp, WASH: The most random has to have been at Cabo Cantina, on Sunset, in Hollywood, when then-WLLD APD Scantman and Entercom SVP Programming/San Francisco Brian Figula and I did shots with Tommy Lee – which HE sent us. Still an epic story from an epic time. Dom Theodore, Radio Animal Media Strategies: One of my favorite moments…I’m sitting at a little diner in NYC and James Gandolfini walked in.
Jon Zellner, iHeartMedia: Tough to answer without sounding like you’re name-dropping but when Patty and I were having dinner in Venice, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw sat at the table next to us. I think they got better service. Fish, WKRZ: When I was a kid we were vacationing in Stone Harbor, NJ, and we were walking down the outdoor shopping area and my dad spot’s Michael Keaton, so I made sure I brushed up against him as he passed.
Randi West, WMTX: I don’t know if it was memorable but it certainly was random. I once did a meet and greet with Prince and Carrot Top was there. So there I was backstage with Prince, the guys from 98 Degrees, Carrot Top, and the people from the station…pretty random group there. Max Volume, KOZZ: One of my favorite encounters was meeting Patrick Swayze backstage at a Rod Stewart concert. Patrick was a sweetheart and he was super cool to everyone. Rod was dating Kelly Emberg and I sat next to her. She was “dripping with diamonds.” She smelled heavenly. I really grasped the concept of “out of my league” that night.
Kevin Kash, WWEG: Random hang with Katherine Heigl when I was programming Mix XM. She showed up to support then-boyfriend Josh Kelley. Talked some Grey’s Anatomy with her as the show was beginning to take off. |
Erik Bradley, B96: Michael Jordan. It was on the night the Bulls were retiring Scottie Pippen‘s #33 jersey at the United Center. I booked Brian McKnight to sing the National Anthem. Brian asked me to go to “a suite” to watch the rest of the game against the Lakers (Kobe was playing). It was MJ’s suite. Needless to say much of that was a blur but it was incredible to be around him for a couple hours!
Jagger, WKSS/WKCI: Back in 2016 my friend was the assistant athletic trainer for the Cleveland Indians (my favorite baseball team) and at Yankee Stadium when the Tribe were in town he had me come down to the field for batting practice. I got to meet a couple players including Jason Kipnis and Jason knew who I was because my friend talk about me all the time and Jason said, “Hey you’re the big radio guy in New York aren’t you? I heard all about you.” What a thrill that was! Matt Johnson, KSLZ: When I was back in college, I was out with friends and we had a few, then I was at a pizza place and they called my name for my two slices and I almost dropped them…on Donovan McNab who said, “Hey buddy, don’t drop that pizza!” I don’t remember any of it, but all my friends swear it happened.
Mike “OD” O’Donnell, WKRZ: I was the DJ at a Shriver/Kennedy birthday party in Hyannis Port in 1996. The attendees were a veritable who’s-who of celebrities. As we were setting up speakers on the patio, all of a sudden, we hear a familiar voice and we turn around and it’s Arnold Schwarzenegger as he said, “Hey, is this where the party is?” He was holding a tuxedo in his hand! Matt Talluto, WBYR: Met Dennis Rodman when he was a rookie for the Detroit Pistons in the 80’s. My friends and I rented a limo for the game (not sure why). We asked Dennis if he wanted a ride…he said yes! He claimed it was his first ride ever in a limo. Got pics to prove! Todd Lyons, KATS: I ran into Hall of Fame pitcher Randy “The Big Unit” Johnson at a Tom Petty concert in Seattle at Key Arena and then, many years later, again at the Black Crowes/Jimmy Page show at the Greek Theater in L.A. Lenny Bronstein, Heavy Lenny Promotions: I used to get invited to all the major press screenings and came to the big celebrity Broadway premiere of Myra Breckenridge, sitting surrounded by dozens of major stars. Ran to the men’s room before the lights went out and the doors of the men’s and ladies’ rooms were adjacent. I came out of there and literally bumped into Raquel Welch. Years later, I frequented a Hollywood restaurant and every time I went there, Raquel was sitting two tables over staring at me quizzically, as if she could not place me. |
![]() Rod Phillips, iHeartMedia: I met (stalked) Jaime Lannister (aka Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) at the ACM Awards show. I used my backstage pass to run him down like it was my job. He nicely agreed to a pic which only made me cool if you were a true Game of Thrones superfan. Josh Wolff, WAEB: I was 4 years-old and spotted Mr. Rogers walking on the street and proudly informed him that I knew how to tie my shoes. He was gracious, friendly, and genuinely interested.
Chris K, The End: Shaquille O’Neal came to our Jingle Ball in 2006 when he was on the Heat who were in town to play the Kings. He came out to meet Rihanna backstage and I walked up to him and said, “What’s up man?” I walked him in to meet the Pussycat Dolls (who were also on the bill). So I have a picture with Shaq, me and the Pussycat Dolls, and my eyes are closed in the picture (pre-smart phone days so no retake). A real fun random moment. Sassy, WKXJ: I was at a rally back in the nineties for Bill Clinton when he was campaigning for a second term. He was walking through the crowd and saying hi to everyone else and my friend and I wanted him to take notice of us, so we chanted really loud, “Bill and Gore, four more!” He heard us start it, and then the entire crowd started chanting it. He came over to us (with several Secret Service guys) and talked with us for a minute and allowed me to take a selfie with him. R Dub! Z90: I was a bus boy at a resort in Tucson when the Dalai Lama visited. He walked right by me. I was only 16 and had no clue who this guy in the robe was!
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Next Week’s Question Of The Week:
What three songs best define the summer of 2019?
e-Mail your responses to: jodorisio@fmqb.com or bburke@fmqb.com