I rode the subway this morning sitting next to a well-known Law & Order cast member. Only, I didn’t know it was him until I got up to leave. I only knew I was sharing space with some older-ish gentleman in a really nice coat, taking up way more than his fair share of the bench. I should have noticed people staring at him, but I was busy being sleepy. When I got off at 14th Street, I did a double take. On quick inspection, he was much more silver up top than he appears on the tube (though those trademark eyebrows are pretty damn dark), and very nicely polished.
As soon as the coffee caught up to my brain, I told Brooke about my morning commute celeb sighting. He wasn’t all that impressed.
“You realize what this means, don’t you?”
“…”
“That I’m one step closer to achieving my ultimate goal!”
“Which is?”
“Becoming Mrs. Detective Elliot Stabler!”
Just saying the name made my heart start a-thumpin’ with SVU passion, but a cloud passed over Brooke’s face.
“Chris Meloni, dude.”
“Oh. For a girl who doesn’t like TV, you sure know a whole lot about it.”
“No. I know Detective Stabler.”
Brooke went back to his computer and I went back to my daydreaming. Please. What has non-ownership of a television to do with the fulfillment of my Five Year Plan? This is destiny we’re talking about. MFEO, people. MFEO.
I once bumped into Billy Crystal (as in physically bumped!) in New York… which in a 6-degrees of separation kind of way puts ME closer to my goal of marrying John Cusack!
We have such important goals!
You’re lucky our marriage is open enough for me to tolerate these fantasy husbands of yours.
I never realized that watching the teley could induce so much co-workerish bonding! It is practically required around here. Unfortunately McDreamy is already married and happy and all that bull so unless I can break a marriage up……I have been naughty with a celebrity though, no lies. My one claim to fame *sigh* and boy oh boy was that overrated! My high school boyfriend was better!
JFK Jr. stepped on my foot in a museum the spring before his tragic death. He was way more dreamy in person than any photo could ever boast.
what does ‘MFEO’ mean?!
I want to be Mrs. Jesse L. Martin (don’t know his name on the show).
My mom has a huge crush on Sam Waterson. I think he’s the “it” man of the over 50 crowd.
Man, you should teach a goal class. My mission in life is to find the perfect burger.
You have to be over 50 to have a mini crush on Sam Waterston? I’m in serious, serious trouble.
Oh how I wish I lived in New York so my celebrity encounters were more exciting.
My only brush with the famous (and I use the term loosely) is that I once waited on Geoffrey Feiger and Dr Jack Kevorkian (aka Dr. Death) when I was a waitress at Big Boys. Dr. Jack even brown bagged in his own lunch, so I only actually got to deliver Geoffrey’s food. At least they tipped well.
Since Eliot is technically an SVU guy and not a plain old L & O guy, aren’t you still the same number of steps away though? I’m not sure how you count the steps on that. Perhaps we need to consult the rule book.
I have an unnatural obsession for Keanu Reeves myself. And a super-cool Keanu collage that my supportive co-workers helped me make.
Keep dreamin’ girl ;’)
Gawd, I have SUCH an enormous crush on Eliot Stabler…and a little bit of a girl crush on Olivia too!!
MFEO = Made for each other
Once I swear I was sitting across from Alexandra Cabot (aka Stephanie March.) All I could think was, “There’s no way she’d ride the subway…that can’t be her!” I guess I was wrong
From This Fish: When I worked at a school in East Harlem, Ms. March came to talk to our kids. I offered to call her a car and she declined. She walked the ten blocks to the subway carrying her garment bag for an audition. So down to earth. Also? Prettiest skin I’ve ever seen. And so freaking nice.
I once waited on line for a hot dog in front of Roger Ebert.
SNAP! What if Richard Dean Anderson is helping Tom Selleck change a tire in front of your building when you get home from work? The universe will tear in half, that’s what. MFEO-pocalypse.
From This Fish: And then Lewis and Clark are resurrected and appear in front of the car and Chris Meloni comes walking down the street? I would collapse. That’s what.
My closest brush with the famous was seeing Dawson from Dawson’s Creek at a hotel bar in Southern NJ. It was weird: He was there all by himself and kept denying he was Dawson. Until he stopped denying it.
He was probably embarrassed at being spotted all alone in a hotel bar in Souther NJ…
Chris Noth is icky? yet another illusion shattered
Colin Firth and I once bought tomatoes together at the IGA. I am sure the ring is coming soon.
My only claim to fame about rubbing elbows with a celeb is the fact that I was a member of a church tour choir for four years with Wes Bentley (of “American Beauty” creepy neighbor and “GhostRider”). He is even hotter and sweeter in person than you can imagine.
Man! You met ‘the_man’. And rode the subway with him. I wish something like that could happen to me…
May I ask you something? How does he smell? Expensive cologne, or musky man? I’m so totally in love with Stabler. You’re a lucky girl
I’m with Susanna.
So Jealous.
Details, details!
From This Fish: Ladies, the silver-haired, big eyebrowed cast member is Sam Waterson. Unless that’s the fella you’re chomping the bit about… but I think you’re thinking of Chris Meloni. Who *sigh* I have yet to encounter.
You reminded me – I used to run into B.D. Wong on the subway a lot back when I lived in NYC – I noticed his lovely and expensive suit first too! Trains always lull me into a half sleep commute-coma. Odd that only encroachment of personal real estate and good tailoring rouse us…
You do get spoiled in either LA or NYC with the pretty and famous people. Good luck in the Elliot quest – fictional men are the best!
Ladies – as a public service announcement: Sam’s son looks just like him, but younger. Same gypsy moth caterpillar eyebrows too. Have at’m
Me? I’m more of a Munch girl myself.
(That sounds bad, doesn’t it?)
Belzer. Talk about MFEO!
Being a southern CA girl I just have to say that New York is definitely better for celebrity spotting. Whenever I visit New York the celebrities just pop up out on the streets. In L.A. it seems as though most celebs hide behind the tinted windows in their cars. I’m indeed jealous of your brush w/ Law & Order fame.
In the San Francisco area, I went to school with Timothy Hutton– he was a couple years ahead of me, and only stayed one year, but I saw him in a play. Tracy Chapman came to shop in the Berkeley store I worked for, as did Carlos Santana. We had a branch store in Palo Alto where Chelsea Clinton and Joe Montana came in (I wasn’t there personally, only saw pictures!)–and Bruce Sprinsteen’s wife ordered from us as well!
Drat! I KNEW I shouldn’t have decided to stay in Michigan……. (BTW, if you ever DO meet Richard Dean Anderson and Tom Selleck changing a tire (or Chris Meloni or Chris Noth or Keanu or – YUM! – Colin Firth, please feel free to give them my email address!!
)
Congratulations on being one step closer to the altar, Ms. Fish. In that whole karmic sense, you’ve brushed shoulders with Law & Order, so why SHOULDN’T Chris Meloni ask you next week?
Chris Noth IS a little bit icky, if purely for the fact that he blatantly hit on me at a bar at age 20 (me, not him).
But I had my Big moment…so I guess I can’t complain.
I envy all of y’all. I’m in SC where hardly any celebrity ever comes. I did meet Elizabeth Shue but I don’t count it until I meet a gorgeous, drool inducing hot guy!!
I did get to spend alot of my Costa Rica vacation with a LA bass player that claims to have played with YES.
I love Sam Waterston! The talent. The brains. The eyebrows. The way his voice cracks a bit when he’s questioning a witness. Or, another example, let’s say I make him waffles for breakfast. He might say: “You just whipped these up? In so little *voice cracks* time? Delicious!”
I saw Colm Feore (hot) at an outdoor shoot playing Pierre Trudeau (hotter). A double whammy! No doubt everyone’s jealous of me for that one. Best of luck with Chris!
My “star” sighting came inside Serendipity’s a couple of years ago. While waiting in line, Rob Morrow (NUMB3RS,Northern Exposure)came in to pick up his daughter from a party. He partially obscured his face when he came in but it wasn’t as easy when he left. I think someone recognized him once he got outside. I noticed him on his way out and pointed him out. He is MUCH cuter in person.
My only celebrity sighting in New York was about five years ago when I was eating with my ex at a Turkish restaurant on 47th Street. Christopher Lloyd walked in by himself, sat at the bar and proceeded to read a book. Not exactly John Cusack but I was still starstruck.
By the way Fish, I stumbled on your blog yesterday and I really enjoy it. It’s kind of like Sex and the City sans the annoying puns and the phrase “I had to wonder” worked into every paragraph. You are a brilliant writer, I can’t wait to read your next entry!
I’m way out here in Oklahoma, but I did have the interesting experience of sitting in a 12 step meeting with Mel Gibson. oohh la-la!! he still looks good!
Fish, you’ll have to fight me for Elliott! =) I was just looking at that show and saying to myself that this is the only show on where I absolutely love each character, all the way down to Tamara Tunie who plays the Medical Examiner. Such talent. Mariska needs to go back to the short hair, in my opinion. She was so hot back then.
Well, apparently Tom Selleck is much like Beetlejuice – my husband ran into him AGAIN in Bev Hills yesterday while we were all typing away ie calling him up. I will have to check to see if his name was typed three times…. Actually, I think he might be stalking my husband – he is always running into him, it’s gotten weird.
I am in So Cal too, LA to be precise, and I always seem to be tripping over the celebs, it’s kind of fun as you never know who it will be. Adds a strange and silly dimension to your day. I work odd hours and am somewhat industry, so maybe that helps.
Love him!
There was a murder in my neighborhood and I wished I had his cell phone number. I was going to let him sleep in my bed while he was solving the crime!
I agree about Mariska’s hair. I liked it so much better short. But boy, that Chris Meloni sure is hot.
Sigh. The only celeb I’ve met was a former Candadian Prime Minister and not the cool one who’s ex-wife had a fling with Mick Jagger. No, I get to meet the one that even us Canucks call “Joe Who?”.
Billy Corgan did grace my bookstore once, but not while I was there. The women-type employees were all a-twitter over it for days after. Nice guy apparently and bought a couple hundred dollars of used books which makes him tops in my view.
Hey Fish, just wanted to say hello…. found your blog a couple days ago (mostly by accident as I was searching for a top 100 list of fiction books) and even though I’ve never really been interested in reading blogs before, I have found myself to be hooked on yours…. i’m finding it very inspiring…lol
mostly wanted you to know that I have referred to your blog in my own… figured i should let you know…
WTG on your ultimate goal
I grew up in L.A., and worked in Hollywood for quite a while, so I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with big-name stars. But I’ll have to say, the funniest meeting was also the most embarrassing!
I was at work, alone. My boss handed me a package and said “Give this to Mike when he gets here.” Mike arrived, and he sat down and chit-chatted with me for about an hour. I think he caught on that I didn’t have a clue who he was. He asked me if I had ever heard of MC5. I said, “No, are they good?” He was a little shocked, but we put in a little more small talk, then he left. I called my friend later that day, who was a major promoter back in the 70s and 80s of the L.A. punk scene, and asked him – he was floored. “You were talking Michael Davis…” and proceeded to lecture me on how music would not be what it is today had it not been for them.
I met several more celebs over the years, and often didn’t have a clue. I did learn to be a little more subtle about my ignorance after that day!
Chris Meloni, unfortunately for all of us who dream about him, is happily married and has a house on a lake in CT. I would so break the law just to be arrested by him – of course I might have to resist arrest for a good tussle.
Love your blog Fish.
i live in austin, tx and see celebs a lot. matthew mchottiepants i’ve met a few times, and he told me i have gorgeous hair. he is shorter and greasier than i thought he’d be.
i’d rather meet stephanie klein, to be honest.
So, how does one of your avid, admiring male readers go about meeting you? What if that avid, admiring reader was going to be in NY next week? Hmmmm……
From This Fish Alas, I will not be in New York then. I’m a-travelin for the next 10 days.
Oh my God! I wanted to be Mrs. Mike Logan.
Or … Mrs. Big.
I share your enthusiasm for both Chris Meloni and Tom Selleck. But if I ever had the chance to run into Jesse L. Martin (Det. Ed Greene) I’d probably be unable to speak! He’s far and away my sexiest make-believe BF. Rarr! AND he can sing. Damn!
man I’m jealous.. but would definately like to meet the guy from Prison Break.. Wentworth… I once sat a table away from Tech-9 at a Gates BBQ for an hour and had no clue it was him until we were leavin and my friend decided to clue me in
Girls, hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but Mr. Big…isn’t. Think about that for a moment. Yeah. I was disappointed, too.
I have an extremely awkward fixation on Senator Fred Thompson (aka: Arthur Branch). So much so that when I see him on Law and Order, I tend to shriek at the television, “Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed THOMPSON!”
My husband is an extremely patient man.
I once waited on line for a hot dog in front of Roger Ebert.
Good thing you weren’t behind him, as he probably would’ve eaten the hot dog stand’s entire inventory and left nothing for you.
Chris Meloni / Elliot Stabler IS adorable. And I am SO jealous that you sat next the the incredibly talented Sam Waterston!
My personal fixation is Vincent D’Onofrio / Detective Goren from L & O: Criminal Intent. sigh.
Me, after reading this post: “Who’s Chris Meloni? Better google image him.”
FYI, a google image search of your future husband immediately brings up a lot of NEKIDNESS.
While I certainly would not kick Sam Waterston out of bed for eating cookies and leaving crumbs, it is Detective Mike Logan whom I’ve been dreaming of marrying since, well, I guess it was 1990, when Law & Order started. He is the celebrity man of my dreamsThe Best Man. I saw him coming and I said to myself, self, this is your one shot, don’t blow it.
So I tripped him.
Well, OK, not really, but I did stop him so he’d have to talk to me, if only for a second.
And he did. And that sexy widow’s peak and the pre-gelled cowlick… I tell ya, I nearly melted into the sidewalk.
Swoon, baby!
Does this mean that it’s officially ‘off’ between you and Eugene?
I’m impressed that actors take the subway in your part of the world. Taxis all the way, here
Whoops; so sorry about that extended link in my comment above… I must have neglected to close the tag.
I saw Chris Meloni at a Starbucks in Santa Barbara a couple of summers ago – I am SO with you on the Stabler crush. He’s hubada hubada, for sure. Except he was wearing a sleeveless shirt, which killed the crush a teeny, tiny bit. But still “yum-o”, as Rachel Ray would say.
Strangely, my only other celebrity sighting was another L & O-er: I saw Jesse L. Martin at the Cowgirl in the village a couple of months ago. The cameras don’t do him justice; he is H-O-T.
OK, so you were out of town when I was in NY last week, but J-Lo wasn’t. At least I got to see one of you. Just wrote about it in my blog.
Holy cow, Sam Waterston. I’ve had a crush on him since I was in junior high and he appeared in a PBS version of Much Ado About Nothing. And I’m under 50. Barely.
But I’d take Chris Noth if Sam wasn’t available.
What about Al Pacino? He lives in NY. Anyone ever encounter him?
He’s the one I’d love to run into even tho he’s in his 60′s.
If I could walk into the movie The Godfather and meet him as Michael Corleone that would be even better!