Well, that was rad.
I'm still glowing and internally squeeing a bit, actually. Because it was MICHAEL PALIN. And I met him!
I barely made the 4:59 train to the city, but thank God I did. By the time I met up with Renee in Logan square and we walked across the street to the library, the line stretched from the door, down the street and around the corner. Renee and I quickly joined the line and began chatting in dorky fashion about Python and Palin and fan dorkdum.
We managed to make our way into the main auditorium, which we soon realized was a feat since there were so many people there that some people were forced to watch his reading/talk in separate rooms via video feed.
The reading was quite good. Michael Palin was very funny (duh), or maybe we were quite keen to laugh. Either way the whole thing was rather enjoyable, being crammed tightly into a rather pretty auditorium with many Python fans, warm and laughing as Michael read bits from his diaries and answered our questions. Most of the questions were good, asking about Brazil and his world travels. Of course some were a bit predictable, such as "What is your favorite Python sketch?" He listed the Cheese Shop (incidentally, the first Monty Python sketch I ever saw) and the Fish Slapping Dance as his favorites, and even minced around on stage a bit ala Fish Dance. (Renee and I may have clutched each other and giggled. Shut up.) And he also did a bit of "The Minister for Overseas Development," another one of my favorites.
The weirdest moment of the night came when Michael fielded a question from a woman, who might as well had a neon flashing sign above her head reading "INSANE GUSHING FAN PERSON." The entire auditorium became uncomfortable as she gushed on and on in semi-broken English and begged Michael Palin to bring Monty Python to China because as she said, "there are many people there."
On and on she rambled, every other phrase being "I just love you." As she was winding down she asked Michael Palin to answer her husband's question since he was too shy to ask it himself.
This led to her dragging her husband out of the row, up to the stage and practically tackled Michael Palin with several hugs. Michael was such a good sport and managed to get quite a good laugh out of the whole thing. Figuring that no one else could top that "question," Michael Palin closed the talk by singing a verse of "The Lumberjack Song" in German. Renee and I nearly died with glee.
Then came the mad crush and confusing route to get in line to get our books signed. Renee and I ended up in the tail end of the line, but the wait was generally pleasant. It was a long wait though, and more than one fan punked out before getting their books signed.
Wil Wheaton wrote about convention behavior for celebrities/promoters/fans and I am pleased to tell you that Michael Palin followed all the rules for celebrities signing autographs. He smiled at me, said my name, gave me a brief moment of his attention, was kind and gracious. Not that I expected anything less from him, but at that point in the evening (nearly 10pm, after signing books for close to 2 hours) I wouldn't have blamed him if he had been grumpy or rude. But he's true to his title, he is "The Nice One."
Renee and I were worried about acting like goobers when we finally got our moment with him. I had a brief terrorizing flashback to meeting Michael Showalter because, really, what does one say to a comedy idol? You want to be witty, smart, and charming, but you only have 5 seconds. You want to convey how much joy watching their silliness has given you, how when you're feeling down you can watch their show and instantly feel brighter, how you choose your friends based on if they understand “I fart in your general direction” or “I’m outta heeeeere.” And then all of the sudden they’re RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU AND ZOMG WHAT DO I SAY?
The library worker took my book and slid it across the table to him.
Thus ended my moment with Michael Palin. Still, it was a pretty fab 5 seconds, and what about YOU? I bet you’ve never spent 5 seconds with Michael Palin, so there. Renee and I headed back out to Suburban Station and to our respective trains, happy and content with the night.
Next on our Python Stalking List? Terry Jones.
I'm still glowing and internally squeeing a bit, actually. Because it was MICHAEL PALIN. And I met him!
I barely made the 4:59 train to the city, but thank God I did. By the time I met up with Renee in Logan square and we walked across the street to the library, the line stretched from the door, down the street and around the corner. Renee and I quickly joined the line and began chatting in dorky fashion about Python and Palin and fan dorkdum.
We managed to make our way into the main auditorium, which we soon realized was a feat since there were so many people there that some people were forced to watch his reading/talk in separate rooms via video feed.
The reading was quite good. Michael Palin was very funny (duh), or maybe we were quite keen to laugh. Either way the whole thing was rather enjoyable, being crammed tightly into a rather pretty auditorium with many Python fans, warm and laughing as Michael read bits from his diaries and answered our questions. Most of the questions were good, asking about Brazil and his world travels. Of course some were a bit predictable, such as "What is your favorite Python sketch?" He listed the Cheese Shop (incidentally, the first Monty Python sketch I ever saw) and the Fish Slapping Dance as his favorites, and even minced around on stage a bit ala Fish Dance. (Renee and I may have clutched each other and giggled. Shut up.) And he also did a bit of "The Minister for Overseas Development," another one of my favorites.
The weirdest moment of the night came when Michael fielded a question from a woman, who might as well had a neon flashing sign above her head reading "INSANE GUSHING FAN PERSON." The entire auditorium became uncomfortable as she gushed on and on in semi-broken English and begged Michael Palin to bring Monty Python to China because as she said, "there are many people there."
MICHAEL PALIN: Well, my obvious question would be, would they understand it?
INSANE FAN GIRL: Oh yes, I've acted it out for my family.
MICHAEL PALIN: You translated it into Chinese?
INSANE FAN GIRL: Oh no. My family is American.
On and on she rambled, every other phrase being "I just love you." As she was winding down she asked Michael Palin to answer her husband's question since he was too shy to ask it himself.
MICHAEL PALIN: No, love. I don't do family bookings.
INSANE FAN GIRL: He's right here! Will you say "hi" to him?
MICHAEL PALIN: No. I refuse to acknowledge his existence. Tell you what: If you can get him up on stage, I'll say hello to him.
This led to her dragging her husband out of the row, up to the stage and practically tackled Michael Palin with several hugs. Michael was such a good sport and managed to get quite a good laugh out of the whole thing. Figuring that no one else could top that "question," Michael Palin closed the talk by singing a verse of "The Lumberjack Song" in German. Renee and I nearly died with glee.
Then came the mad crush and confusing route to get in line to get our books signed. Renee and I ended up in the tail end of the line, but the wait was generally pleasant. It was a long wait though, and more than one fan punked out before getting their books signed.
Wil Wheaton wrote about convention behavior for celebrities/promoters/fans and I am pleased to tell you that Michael Palin followed all the rules for celebrities signing autographs. He smiled at me, said my name, gave me a brief moment of his attention, was kind and gracious. Not that I expected anything less from him, but at that point in the evening (nearly 10pm, after signing books for close to 2 hours) I wouldn't have blamed him if he had been grumpy or rude. But he's true to his title, he is "The Nice One."
Renee and I were worried about acting like goobers when we finally got our moment with him. I had a brief terrorizing flashback to meeting Michael Showalter because, really, what does one say to a comedy idol? You want to be witty, smart, and charming, but you only have 5 seconds. You want to convey how much joy watching their silliness has given you, how when you're feeling down you can watch their show and instantly feel brighter, how you choose your friends based on if they understand “I fart in your general direction” or “I’m outta heeeeere.” And then all of the sudden they’re RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU AND ZOMG WHAT DO I SAY?
The library worker took my book and slid it across the table to him.
ME: Michael Palin! I’m so excited to meet you!
MICHAEL PALIN: I’m very excited to meet you, Katie.
ME: Well, you’ve helped form my bizarre sense of humor, so…Oh, can you sign this for my friends Jim and Stephanie? They really wanted to be here, but couldn’t.
MICHAEL PALIN: Where are they?
ME: Chicago. They’ll really appreciate it. Oh, you’re so kind. Thank you so much, you must be so tired and exhausted.
MICHAEL PALIN: Thank you, dear. I am rather tired.
ME: Well, I bring you hope. The end of the line is coming, I swear. Thank you!
Thus ended my moment with Michael Palin. Still, it was a pretty fab 5 seconds, and what about YOU? I bet you’ve never spent 5 seconds with Michael Palin, so there. Renee and I headed back out to Suburban Station and to our respective trains, happy and content with the night.
Next on our Python Stalking List? Terry Jones.
Labels: Dorkdum, Happy Things
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