Celebrity Oasis - "Spaced" Screening in NYC

Tonight I had the privilege of attending the screening and Q&A session for the DVD release of the British series "Spaced". I can't even remember how I found out about it. Various trollings of my favorite blogs and IMDb stalkage, I'm sure. But as soon as I did, I knew I had to go. Being the good friend that I am, I forced my friend Amy to stand in line for many hours in the sweltering New York heat while I slaved away at work so we could gain entry into the screening. Side note: Are you there, God? It's me, Pop Guru. Please stop boiling the earth. Amen. Anywho, most of you know my unhealthy obsession with the Brits... And by unhealthy, I mean completely believing that I am actually British and choosing to speak as much as possible with a British accent and saying things like "wanker" and "bollocks". One of the many British things that I am obsessed with is Simon Pegg. He just makes me giggle like a school girl. In the show "Spaced", Simon and Jessica Hynes play two best friends who have to pretend to be in a relationship to get a really cheap flat (that's an apartment to you Americans). The show has never been available in America, thus the DVD release (tomorrow, July 22) and subsequent tour to promote the DVD release.

I met Amy and the hundreds of hipsters standing in the blazing heat in East Village around 6pm. Shortly after this, I hear screaming and we turn around to a limo driving by and Simon Pegg hanging out the window waving and screaming to his fans. Then he and Jessica proceeded to walk down the line of fans and high five them, take pictures, etc. Now how many actors, especially someone who has escalated in celebrity like Simon since "Spaced", would spend time greeting their fans in such an exuberant fashion, truly excited to see them? No one. It was such a fantastic sight to see. And of course, I giggled like the bashful little girl I am as I got a high ten (that's right... double high five) from Simon! I mean, it's the least he could do after I got a maximum of 4 people to see Shaun of the Dead. You're welcome for all of that revenue, Simon.



We were finally ushered inside to the air conditioning and got to watch three episodes of "Spaced" that were voted fan favorites. From what I've read since I even heard about the show a month ago, it was sort of the "Arrested Development" of Britian with a cult following and undying praise for the series. I have to say, even without being a Brit (I can't believe I just admitted that), I found it extremely funny and definitely worth a watch. The people in the audience that were fans screamed at their favorite scenes and clapped for their favorite pop culture references. After the screening, Simon, Jessica, and Edgar Wright (director of "Spaced" and Shaun of the Dead) sat down to answer questions regarding the series. It was fun to see them recall the filming of their favorite scenes and just goof off together like old friends. Then they all went about their merry way after graciously allowing the audience to pick their brains.

Afterwards, we were leaving the theater and I gasped as I saw Bill Hader of "Saturday Night Live" standing outside the exit taking pictures with fans. Then I nearly fainted as I realized, PAUL RUDD WAS WITH HIM! I have searched high and low for Paul Rudd since the age of 12, and fate finally brought us together tonight, my friends. I mean, I even rented Over My Dead Body for him. They wouldn't even torture prisoners with that movie it's so horrible, but I suffered through it for Paul. I did get to take this picture with him and about half of my face made it in. That's Amy hogging my one true love. Although, I will say Paul seemed very annoyed but did take pictures with about a hundred people - which I'm sure he has to do everywhere he goes.



Bill Hader was extremely excited to take pictures with fans and was a very nice guy. Funny story... When I worked at Bravo, I was so mesmerized when I saw Bill one day in 30 Rock that I couldn't get my key card to work so I kept slamming my body into the door as I tried to open it... With Bill watching every move I made. Very embarrassing. But needless to say, he was a gentleman tonight and didn't bring up that very significant moment in his life.



Also there was Joe Lo Truglio, one of the cast members of "The State". "The State" was an amazing sketch show in the early 90's that came on after "Beavis and Butthead". I wasn't allowed to watch "Beavis and Butthead" but I would race to the TV to watch "The State" immediately after. I was like 10 or something at the time, but memory served me well and I had a flashback in college to that wonderful show. I became obsessed with it again and began researching everything I could, watching old scenes on YouTube, and forcing all my friends to watch Wet Hot American Summer on repeat. After stammering "I'm such a huge fan of 'The State' and Wet Hot American Summer," Joe excitedly responded "very cool" and obliged with my need to take a picture with him. Below is my picture with Joe and you can see Matt Stone from "South Park" in the background.



It was very clear that they were all friends just hanging out and attending the screening. I felt my heart pounding out of my chest as so many of my worlds collided tonight. It was an unbelievable experience. After going so long without seeing celebrities, my celebrity drought has ended!!! Here's to my finally finding my celebrity oasis in the middle of Manhattan!

So go rent "Spaced" tomorrow! Like you have anything else to do...

Bret and Jemaine, Stephanie Tanner, Farewell to Tammy Faye

My newest obsession? HBO's "Flight of the Conchords", a half-hour show that follows New Zealanders Bret and Jemaine trying to break into the music scene in NYC. "New Zealand's fourth most popular folk parody duo" spend their time finding love, meeting with their band manager Murray, and avoiding their "fan base", a woman named Mel. They spontaneously burst into song, making random observations about the world. In the first episode, Jemaine tells a girl, "You're so beautiful, you could be a part-time model... But you'd probably have to keep your regular job." It's random, it's funny, and it airs Sunday nights at 10:30pm on HBO. Check out one of my favorite clips.



Other stuff...

- Britney Spears is going to give OK! magazine all the juicy details about her bald head, rehab, FedEx, and various other things in this week's issue. Mags are going to fly off the shelves and OK! might finally get a little respect in America. Wonder how much they had to pay for that interview?

- What's a blog post without a mention of La Lohan? Sigh. I can't seem to stop talking about her. Lindsay was set to start filming the movie Poor Things when she smashed into a curb and had to go to rehab. The film, costarring Shirley MacLaine, was postponed until Linz made it out of celebrity summer camp. But now the movie has totally sunk and isn't going to be made at all. This was instantly blamed on Lohan's partying ways, but this is not true. Turns out the producers have gone crazy and spent way too much money, bankrupting the movie. Now LaLo is going to dance in a movie called Dare to Love Me. She'll have to learn to tango. We should get some good laughs out of this!

- Jodie Sweetin, best known for playing Stephanie on "Full House", got married last Saturday to a man named Cody Herpin. She didn't invite any of her "Full House" costars to the wedding. How rude. This is Jodie's second marriage. She has admitted to a past daily methamphetamine habit.

- Wow! I almost forgot about Benicio Del Toro. Last time I heard anything about him he was getting nasty with Scarlett Johansson in an elevator. But he's back and he's going to be playing Che Guevara in a new Steven Sodebergh film. Welcome back!

- The reunion of The Fugees is "dead", apparently because Lauryn Hill is too full of herself. Sad. I bet that would have been an awesome album.

- I know none of you care about this, but I'm ecstatic that "The State" is finally coming to DVD! David Wain says it's official that we'll finally get the gang on DVD, but there's no specific release date yet.

- Sad news. Tammy Faye Bakker Messner has passed away after a long battle with cancer. She made a final TV appearance on "Larry King Live" Thursday night and passed away the following day. When Larry King asked Tammy Faye what her fans would remember her for, she jokingly said, "Well, my eyelashes."

I'm sure you all spent your weekend reading the new Harry Potter book. Dorks. Peace out!