ANY DAY
By IN LA BY HEIDI MANTEUFFEL
Well, I complained about it, and I got it. In answer to last week’s column about more “celebreality” shows, as VH-1 denotes them, my wish came true with Malibu’s newest hit series, “Eating with the Stars.”
At least that’s what it felt like on Valentine’s Day (plus one) with Pierce Brosnan’s British dialect resonating behind us.
Valentine’s Day on February 15 is a beautiful thing. There’s no heinous traffic you’re sandwiched in that makes for a more angry than lovey-dovey night. You also don’t have to wait in line behind 20 other couples and finally realize it’s not as cute when other people do it.
AND you get to hear Pierce Brosnan talk about being in “The Matador,” at least if you eat at Geoffrey’s.
“I just love that scene where you’re walking around (like a pimp) in your underwear,” exclaimed Ted Danson, who apparently is friends with Pierce, or at least enough to eat dinner with him.
“That scene is so overplayed by the media,” responded a nonchalant Pierce. “But I chose the role because there were so many twists and turns with the character that I never knew where it was going to take me.”
I never knew that a beef dinner would take me a table in front of Pierce Brosnan either. But I kept this fact to myself. And I imagined it would be weird if a total stranger congratulated me on something I’ve done.
“I just loved you in “Pavilions” when you bought three boxes of Lucky Charms for only $6. That was magical.”
I’m saying I haven’t done as much in my life as Pierce Brosnan. That’s why I let the ensemble eating cast praise him for his great role in “The Matador.”
Speaking of man-against-animal (as the title implies), Pierce talked about going to Africa to hunt game the old-fashioned way. “Only instead of killing the animal, you shoot it with a dart,” explained Pierce. “This lets you place on it a sort of locating device so you can see what your animal is up to, where he’s going and whom he’s mating with.”
Because, of course, elephant mating or what have you is something we’re all curious about.
While I really was trying to focus on a nice dinner with my boyfriend with a beautiful view of the ocean and stars, I couldn’t help but eavesdrop on the ones literally behind me.
And to my left, apparently, as Jonathan pointed out, Shirley MacLaine was at the table directly next to me.
Not quite as interesting to me, as I haven’t seen many of her movies. And let’s face it, she’s not James Bond.
“The name’s MacLaine, Shirley MacLaine.” Nope, doesn’t have the same ring to it.
She must have thought I was looking at her, though, as I caught her staring “back” at me. Really, I was just spacing out. I thought she of all people would understand that.
Knowing that the stars probably go to Geoffrey’s to not be bothered by random fans like myself, we wanted to be as “low pro” as possible. We tried to not bring attention to the photo we wanted taken of us by the waiter for Valentine’s Day. Then, of course, my being inconspicuous went out the window when I flashed a bright picture of the glassy fence which reflected in every direction.
Still trying to figure out the new camera I got for my birthday.
While I feel a little bad talking about what the stars have done, they’re welcome to eavesdrop on my conversations when they have the chance. Yet, I think I’m safe. Somehow a conversation about blueberry muffins, puppies and low-priced cereal might not be quite as compelling. (Heidi)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 21, 2006. Read the original PDF.