It's time to get...

Buckwild! I didn't have time to post these before I left to see Nick Lachey in concert last night, so before we get Buckwild, let's get caught up. There are two pop singers and 2 reality show stars within these 3 successes.

Nick Lachey - In Person: 9/29/06. I had a chance to see Nick in concert last night and meet him before the show. Due to time constraints his meet & greet rules were: 1 autograph per person, he does not personalize the autograph and you can take a picture while he's signing your stuff but no posed photos together. We'll I snagged a personalized autograph on my cd insert, another personalized one for a friend, a signed photo for myself and was in a posed group shot with Nick. None of this would have been possible if not for my friend Monica who invited me to go to the show. Thank you Monica, I had a great time. I like Nick's song "What's Left of Me" and enjoyed the show (which included that song and even some 98 Degrees songs).



Nick Lachey signed cd insert & photo (above & below)




Cyndi Lauper - Sent: 3/23/06 Received: 9/29/06. I had given up hope on this. Cyndi did a play earlier this year in New York and I saw a few successes come in towards the end of the play and when mine wasn't one of them, I figured it wouldn't happen. I haven't seen many successes posted since so it was a pleasant surprised when my cd insert arrived back signed. I've seen Cyndi in concert three times (opening for Cher each time) and I really enjoyed her set.



Cyndi Lauper signed cd insert (click to enlarge)


Becky Buckwild - Sent: 9/20/06 Received: 9/29/06. If you watch "Flavor Of Love 2" you will know "Buckwild" (aka: Becky) from the show. She's the white girl everyone accuses of acting black. I like "Buckwild" though and I know my friend like it when I imitate "It's time to get buckwild". But Becky seems like a cool chick. She sent me a signed photo with a cool inscription, a 'Buckwild' window cling sticker and a one page handwritten letter. My favorite 'Buckwild' moment was when she gave her clock back because "New York" was being put back in the competition. I like a girl who stands up for her principals. You rock Buckwild!


Becky Buckwild signed photo (above) and personal reply handwritten letter (below).

Super Nanny, Super Autograph

Today's success is no ordinary success, it's a "super" success

Jo Frost - Sent: 4/5/06 Received: 9/28/06. I watched a marathon once of the "Super Nanny" and I got hooked. I know she basically dishes out the same advice to every set of parents but for some reason, that I can't quite identify, I find the show amusing. I wrote to "Jo Jo" in London and today received a signed photo.



Jo Frost (click to enlarge)

One I thought I got ripped off on

Last year when I was really getting going on my 'Grease 2' autograph collection I sent this next request out. The bad news was I knew I was going to have to purchase the signature (on an item I provided) from Scott Stander & Associates. I had heard horrible stories about this company and about how they run their business and things they have done to other collectors. I'm here to tell you, they're all true. Since paying for this autograph (which they cashed the check on May of 2005) I've contacted them via e-mails which were never replied to, have called them (which I knew I was getting the run around as soon as they found out what I wanted. The person who took care of that department was conveniently never in when I called. They wouldn't tell me the employees name and I never received a call back). My friend Lee actually met Scott Stander at an autograph show and told him to his face (in front of William Katt, another client of his) how he would never purchase an autograph from him because of what he did to me. Of course Stander offered the "Gee I don't know what's happened. I'll check into this" typical (cover up) response which he never did (nor return any phone calls/e-mails). So please view my first and last purchased autograph from Scott Stander & Associates.

Dody Goodman - Sent: 3/15/2005 Received: 9/26/06. Dody played "Blanche" in "Grease" and the sequel "Grease 2". The lobby card I sent is from a deleted scene from "Grease 2". It was kind of funny that I received this today. Before getting my mail today I purchased a "Grease 2" DVD as a gift for a friend. Despite the effort, hassle and having to pay for it, I'm very happy to have it in my collection. Dody turns 91 years old in just over a month from now.



Looks like Eve Arden is stopping Dody Goodman from "spilling the beans" about the lack of customer service from Scott Stander & Associates in this "Grease 2" photo.

Beautiful mail

Not one but two beautiful women arrived with today's mail.

Kristin Davis - Sent: 4/29/06 Received: 9/25/06. In early May Kristin spent a week performing a play in London. I wrote to her via the venue and today received my photo and index card back signed and personalized. (This thing must have traveled because the postmark was Columbia, SC). I was very excited to get this back because I loved her in everything I've seen, especially "Sex & The City". Not only a great actress but a classic beauty, reminiscent of a modern day Jaclyn Smith.



Kristin Davis signed photo (above) & index card (below)




Rebecca Romijn - Sent: 9/5/06 Received: 9/25/06. Beneath the blue make up, body paint and appliques in the "X-men" movies lies another beautiful woman - Rebecca Romijn, who plays "Mystique". She wasn't in much of "X-men 3" but she did make the most out of her on screen time. This was my fourth attempt and first success at getting her autograph. Many times I've watched other people get a success from her at the same address I used while mine went unanswered. I have to say it's nice to finally get my turn. Rebecca has been on many movies, TV shows (including her own, "Pepper Dennis"), is an accomplished model and was once married to actor John Stamos.



Finally a success from Rebecca Romijn (click to enlarge)

Field day

Before I get into today's success I did receive an e-mail from Actress/model Frederique Van Der Wal in response from an autograph request I e-mailed. She said she would be happy to provide a signed photo if I sent her a SASE. That was mailed out yesterday to the address she provided, so here's hoping to see a success from her on these pages soon.

Sally Field - Sent: 7/5/06 Received: 9/21/06. Today I received TV & Movie Star Sally Field's autograph. Sally began her acting career 41 years ago on "Gidget". Since that time she's been involved with many memorable projects like "The Flying Nun", "Smoky & The Bear", "Norma Rae", and some of my personal favorites "Steel Magnolias", "Soap Dish" and "Mrs. Doubtfire". I sent Sally three photos which she signed and personalized with very nice inscriptions. Nice to see a star this big still responding to her fan mail.



Sally Field signed my three photos (shown above & below)

Something to talk about

I dedicate this post to my friend Wayne. He helped me out with a big project tonight and also solved the mystery of the inscription that was on the autograph I received today.

Bonnie Raitt - Sent: 3/13/06 Received: 9/18/06. I have to tell you this inscription stumped me. I could read the "To Ryan- Hope to see you" part and the "Thanks for digging what I do" part but not what was written in between. I showed it to a friend online - he couldn't tell what it said. I showed it to a co-worker, she didn't know what it said either. I posted it on the Star Archive message board, many people thought it said "in the summer". I show it to my friend Wayne and he knew what it said right away. It reads "To Ryan- Hope to see you in Wisconsin- Thanks for digging what I do- Bonnie Raitt". How clearly it all makes sense now. Great photo and inscription from Bonnie Raitt! Thanks Bonnie!



How do I "raitt" getting a cool autograph from Bonnie Raitt?

Excelsior!

I was beginning to think this week was going to end up becoming a bust.

Stan Lee - Sent: 9/5/06 Received: 9/16/06. This was my 4th attempt and first success for Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee. Stan Lee put Marvel Comics on the map by creating characters like Spider-man, The X-men, The Hulk and The Fantastic Four. You might recognize him from the cameos he'd made in those movie adaptations or from his voice over work narrating many Marvel cartoons. The photo I sent him is from his cameo as "Willie Lumpkin" in the "Fantastic Four" movie. I wish he had personalized the photo to my name but with as many unsuccessful attempts as I've had with him I'm getting over that minor detail fast.



Stan Lee as "Willie Lumpkin" delivering the mail at the Baxter Building. (Hey any autographs in there for me??)


Janice Dickinson - Sent: 8/29/06 Received: 9/7/06. RTS. Anyone have an address suggestion?

I'm so glad we had this time together

FLASHBACK - CAROL BURNETT

My friend Brian let me borrow his Carol Burnett Show DVDs which inspired me to chose Carol for this month's "Flashback" feature.

Carol Burnett - Sent: 12/8/03 Received: 8/30/04. To me Carol Burnett is the funniest woman ever (Lucy's great but I like Carol just a bit better). Some of my favorite sketches and characters she's played include "Went With The Wind", "Mrs. Wiggins", "Stella Toddler", "Nora Desmond", but my all time favorite is "Eunice" from the "family" sketches which later became "Mama's Family". Very early in my collecting days I found this unsigned photo of her as "Eunice" so I bought it and sent it to her. After I got Lynda Carter (my #1 most wanted autograph), Carol became my #1 most wanted that I didn't have at the time. It took 265 days but it was well worth it. I'm also glad I achieved this success when I did as I hear due to the high volume of mail she receives Carol is unable to keep up with it and doesn't sign much anymore (especially items that are sent to her). If you do get a success from her it's usually one of her own head shot photos. Carol Burnett and I also share the same birthday (but different years just in case you had to ask!)

Thomas time

Yesterday I scored a success from someone who had a recurring role on "Cheers". Today I do the same thing.

Jay Thomas - Sent: 7/11/06 Received: 9/6/06. Jay Thomas played "Eddie LeBec" on several episodes of "Cheers", but it was his "Jerry Gould" character from "Murphy Brown" that I've always enjoyed. I sent Jay a photo which he didn't sign (or return) but instead sent me two photos both signed. The first, a headshot photo reads "Ryan - Thanks for your kind words - I wish you all the luck I wish myself - Jay". The other photo is a "Cheers" print out photo personalized to my name.



Jay Thomas (above & below)

Somebunny sent me their autograph

More mail arrived today.

Frances Sternhagen - Sent: 3/9/06 Received: 9/5/06. Being a fan of the show "Sex & The City", I wanted to get Frances Sternhagen because I loved her performance as "Bunny MacDougal" on the show. When I first started watching I thought it was Anne Haney playing that role. (I still mix both of those ladies work up sometimes). I found an address that had successes for Frances, but not since 2001. I decided to try it anyway and it turned out to still work. Besides "Sex & The City", you might remember Frances from "ER' or "Cheers" where she had recurring roles on both shows.



Frances Sternhagen (click to enlarge)

Twice as nice mail day

It's been a while since I've had multiple successes in the same day, so it was nice to find two envelopes in today's mail.

Eddie Mekka - Sent: 4/29/06 Received: 9/2/06. Eddie Mekka is best remembered for being "Carmine Ragusa" aka "The Big Ragoo" on "Laverne & Shirley", (or as "Lenny" and "Squiggy" called him "The Big Raccoon"). I wrote to him in Las Vegas where he was doing a performance of "Hairspray". I know sometimes he does convention appearances (where you can buy autographed pictures and even jars of "Ragu" sauce from him) but I haven't seen many through the mail successes on him so I wasn't sure if he would sign for free. But not only did he sign the photo I sent he included a signed playbill from "Hairspray".
















Eddie Mekka from his "Laverne & Shirley" days (above) and a playbill from his more recent "Hairspray" performance in Vegas (below).




Rita Moreno - Sent: 8/16/06 Received: 9/2/06. My second success today comes from an Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy award winner - Rita Moreno. "Electric Company" was probably the first place I remember seeing her work, even though she had been working at least 25 years before then. I also really enjoyed her in the TV series version of the movie "9 to 5".















Rita Moreno (click to enlarge)