2008 Star Gazing
posted by on August 29 at 17:55 PM
Photo by Eli Sanders
Also on the flight back from Denver, the three of us tallied up the celebrities we and our friends saw at the Democratic National Convention.
There were the political and/or media celebrities—people like Al Sharpton, who probably qualifies as both and is pictured above walking away from the convention hall on Wednesday as everyone else was filing in to watch the roll call vote and the Bill Clinton speech.
This sort of recognizable politico/media face was a dime a dozen in Denver: Anderson Cooper chatting on the CNN Grill patio; George Stephanopoulos riding the down escalator in the convention hall, reaching across to touch the arm of Washington Senator Patty Murray, who was riding up; Wolf Blitzer dancing at Mile High with Donna Brazile; Gavin Newsom holding court in a Pepsi Center hallway with a beautiful woman on his arm; John Aravosis of Americablog having afternoon cocktails at the Media Matters party; Walter Mondale pulling up on a busy downtown street, opening the door to his SUV, not noticing a pile of police-horse-shit right beneath him, getting warned by some passers by, and moving on; Markos Moulitsas of DailyKos holding a press conference outside the bloggers’ Big Tent; Harold Ford at a shmancy party at the Denver Art Museum, accompanied by a hot white woman of exactly the type he got attacked for associating with in that famous commercial; Charles Schumer, in awful boat shoes and bad khakis, doing a rendition of “Lipstick on My Collar” for a group of attractive women at the same party; Nebraska Senate candidate and New Yorker Talk of the Town hottie Scott Kleeb, smoking outside the Rolling Stone party and complaining about how The New Yorker drew him with his jeans tucked into his boots, which is not how he wears them; and on, and on.
It was somewhat interesting to see these sorts of semi-celebs outside of the electric boxes they usually inhabit. But far more interesting—because less numerous, more eclectic, and less intimately connected to the subject at hand—was the collection of actual celebrities who popped up here and there in Denver, going about their conventioneering business.
Our list, compiled from sightings with our very own eyes or those of our Denver friends:
Charles Barkley on the Pepsi Center floor watching preparations for the Hillary Clinton speech; Spike Lee strolling through downtown; Susan Sarandon being introduced to RZA outside a performance by Bill Maher; two actors from Mad Men who, having just finished up shooting their last show of the season, and having then immediately jumped on a jet to get to Obama’s speech, were rushing into Mile High Stadium; Wendell Pierce from The Wire headed toward a security checkpoint; Joe Pantoliano of The Sopranos at the above-mentioned museum party; and a bunch of others whose activities couldn’t be remembered at the moment: Steven Spielberg, Ken Burns, Matthew Modine, Cornel West, and, finally, Annette Bening.
Not a bad for four days at a political function.
Eli, man, you're killing me.
Which two actors from Mad Men? I'm assuming Jon Hamm wasn't one of them.
~GC
Photo credit please. Great shot.
Yeah, I want to know which actors as well. I don't know *why* I want to know, I just do.
@2: Photo is by me.
Besides Samantha Bee, did you run into anyone else from The Daily Show?
Oh, man, I'll add or augment your list. I was on the floor with the Montana delegation and saw quite a few folks pass by the New Yorkers...
Spike Lee hanging out with the NY delegation, then on Thursday night, filming Obama's speech. Shrugged off a NH delegate's request for a picture.
Matt Modine, visiting the New York and New Hampshire delegations. Taking pictures with everyone, and plugging a bicycle org. (Can't remember the URL.)
Jamie Foxx whisking down the aisle between delegations, his family (presumably) tugged along behind in a kind of human chain.
Jesse Jackson with entourage strutting down the aisle between delegations.
Ted Koppel in the "digital darkroom" in the basement of Invesco field, sat down next to me to make a personal call on his cell phone. As soon as he finished the call, a conga line of admirers asked to take their picture with him. In each picture, there's a tired-looking Montana blogger in the background.
Rush Limbaugh in Press Box at Invesco field. Fatter than he looks on television. Won't make eye contact.
Daryl Hannah in the Big Tent introducing a panel on alternative energy. Tall. Too much makeup. Saw her being interviewed for the Colbert show afterwards. Did that ever air?
Enrique Murciano gliding, head down,towards the floor exit of Invesco field on Thursday.
Of course, a bunch of Senators and Governors and too many Representatives to count. Had one (Tester) call my mom on my cell, who's a big fan of Jon's.
My favorite -- besides Tester -- was George Lakoff in the Media Matters tent. An interesting and very personable guy. New West's Bob Struckman has just interviewed him; haven't seen it up yet.
Oh, man, I'll add or augment your list. I was on the floor with the Montana delegation and saw quite a few folks pass by the New Yorkers...
Spike Lee hanging out with the NY delegation, then on Thursday night, filming Obama's speech. Shrugged off a NH delegate's request for a picture.
Matt Modine, visiting the New York and New Hampshire delegations. Taking pictures with everyone, and plugging a bicycle org. (Can't remember the URL.)
Jamie Foxx whisking down the aisle between delegations, his family (presumably) tugged along behind in a kind of human chain.
Jesse Jackson with entourage strutting down the aisle between delegations.
Ted Koppel in the "digital darkroom" in the basement of Invesco field, sat down next to me to make a personal call on his cell phone. As soon as he finished the call, a conga line of admirers asked to take their picture with him. In each picture, there's a tired-looking Montana blogger in the background.
Rush Limbaugh in Press Box at Invesco field. Fatter than he looks on television. Won't make eye contact.
Daryl Hannah in the Big Tent introducing a panel on alternative energy. Tall. Too much makeup. Saw her being interviewed for the Colbert show afterwards. Did that ever air?
Enrique Murciano gliding, head down,towards the floor exit of Invesco field on Thursday.
Of course, a bunch of Senators and Governors and too many Representatives to count. Had one (Tester) call my mom on my cell, who's a big fan of Jon's.
My favorite -- besides Tester -- was George Lakoff in the Media Matters Lounge. An interesting and very personable guy. New West's Bob Struckman has just interviewed him; haven't seen it up yet.
Great shot of the Rev., Eli.
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