--GRETCHEN (WEBMASTER)'S ENCOUNTER--
American Dreams Screening of "The Long Goodbye" (wasn't aired in Kansas City) - Jan. 3rd, 2004
Pictures below!
Here's how this whole thing started. So I won't have to keep repeating it!! lol Kansas City didin't get to see the "Long Goodbye" epsiode on Nov. 30th, because the big NBC was planning to show a repeat instead. Just at the last minute, they changed their mind to show a new one. Our NBC already made plans to air a movie instead. Already paid sponsorship,etc. So the article in the Kansas City Star explaining the problem was on Dec. 4th, 2003. On Dec 30th, the article about the screening was printed. (
You can view it here). Anyway, both mom and I were trying to figure out how to get into the screening. Oldies 95 were giving away passes. My friend Jen, found out about this too and while I was at work this same day, I noticed she has called me. I called ASAP and she was asking me, "What are you doing Saturday night?" AH! I just knew what she was going to say!! She won the tickets from the radio station!! This was all such a short notice!! So I hope I explained well lol I dont know how I forgot to add this in the review!
1.3.04 - Where do I start? lol I got off work at 5 - then I went home to change and get gas. I was planning to get there at 5:45 but got there around 6. Jen (my friend
who won the tickets) kept calling me, to see if I'm close yet lol It only took me about 20-25 min to get there. She called 10 min after and I just KNEW
what she was going to say - she saw Will!! My heart started pounding right after that! lol I was so excited that I called my other friend lol Anyway,
I finally got there, it was REALLY easy finding the place. Screenland had a sign that said "American Dreams" - how cute!! I got a pic of that. lol I opened
my car door and started gathering my things. I looked towards the door and there was Will coming out of it! He saw me, he didn't glanced, just stared
for like 5 secs *thud* lol I think he was liking that youngins were coming too! He was w/ his mom, and some guy from the place. He was getting a tour
and they went into another door. Who knows what's in there lol He was all dressed up in a suit!! Nice looking! Anyway, I go in, found Jen and met her
aunt and uncle - whom are really nice people. Its just soo cool to meet other AD fans, when you're used to talking to them online!!! I was pretty starstruck
for awhile, till he came back in lol The atmosphere of the place was set in the era before 1960s - More like 1940s! We looked at these posters - this is the
place for film festivals. As I was walking back up towards the front, the door opened and there was Will again!! When he saw me, I waved and smiled - he
did the same! Aww. He went into the lobby area. I called mom right after that and she reminded me to tell Will about my friend who was in the "Rescue Me" episode.
I was planning to anyway! lol So we just stood around and talked to my friend's aunt and uncle. Her uncle talked to Will! We also talked about the show.
Not a whole lot of people were there yet. We just watched Will being interviewed by NBC. Not sure if its our NBC or the big one. They had no title on the camera.
I started taking pics - without the flash and it was kind of blurry. I just didn't want to bother w/ the flash while he's talking. He wasn't talking very loud so I dont know
what he talked about. Then this guy came up to us to say hello and said that Will be signing autographs and take pictures!! YAY!! hehe.
Will walked to a table and saw photos that he's going to sign! I've brought in the People article that Will was in last Jan. He had a NBC publicity photo,
says AD on it and all. I was the 3rd in line!! I go up to him, he stands up, says 'Hello, I'm Will', and I said 'Hi, I'm Gretchen', as we're shaking hands. He did that with
EVERYONE. He couldn't spell my name (I knew that was going to happen lol) I spelled it out to him, and he continued to sign it. I told him that I have
a friend who was in an episode with him. He asked what his name was - Mat Hostetler - I said "He was in the "Rescue Me" episode". He asked if he was one
of the marines, I said yea, and he was like "Mat, yeah!" Then he asked how I knew him. I just said that he's my childhood friend and that I met him 20
years ago. He was like "20 years ago? How old are you?!" lol I said, "25", he said "Me, too" He shook my hand again and said "Thanks for coming."
I asked if I could get a pic w/ him - he said "Sure! Let's stand by this picture" (Its this cardboard advertisement from the 1940s lol). He wanted me to
go on his left. After the picture, I told him that he's one of my fave actors. He said "Thanks!" He went back to sit and my friend got her autograph, then
I took the pic of them w/ her camera. When this was happening, we were being filmed and cameras flashing! I wonder where all of this is going lol
We got out of the way, stood around and talked. Took some pictures and videos. I called Mat about it but he wasn't available, so I just left a message.
I can't wait to hear from him about that! We went into the seating area, and tried to find her aunt and uncle. We went back in the lobby area. That's
when I kept recognizing this woman, who I think is Will's mom. So after she was done talking, I went up to her and asked if she was. Yep! lol So I told
her I saw pics of her online - wireimage.com and a premiere. She mentioned about Celebrity Jeopardy, cause she has a pic w/ Will and his dad. She asked
how I knew he was going to be here lol She also asked if I've been to Will's website and I told her that I have a site on him. She thought that was cool and
I asked if he's going to stay after the show, so I can tell him about it. Plus I wanted to tell him about this big fan from Australia and get her an autograph.
His mom asked if they've showed AD there yet. She thought it was interesting how they call it 'Our Generation' instead of AD. She said she and Will were in
London for New Years and said they didn't see it there. I forgot why they were there. But its cool tho! They had just gotten back and was asked if he would come,
so they turned right back. They flew in the morning. So he was here for the holidays before that. She had to go because her nephews has come in. More people were showing up
and the line for Will's autograph has gotten a bit longer. She said it was nice talking to you. Aw. Then we went on the other side of the table and took
more pics. Will saw his cousins and hugged them. How sweet!
The NBC guy came by and told us they're ready to play the show! YAY!! We go in, found our saved seats. We were about 6 rows back. The same guy was up
there, thanking everyone who was involved, especially the editor who wrote the article about it. He introduced another guy, who was asking him questions earlier
and that guy introduced Will. I started videotaping then. I didn't get the whole thing, because I thought he was done! LOL Oh well. Anyway, he joked that he wasn't
going to sing lol Because they were playing the soundtrack before the show. He said he watches the show at home. Mentioned about his mom's family living in Kansas,
was coming here when he was young and its great to be here. Said its really great to see you guys come out to see the show and thinks its really cool. Then he said thanks
for coming out. Then he talked about filming in Vancouver - I can't remember more about it. Then he asked if we're all ready to go?! (to watch the show) Everyone was
applauding for Will. I thought that was pretty cool! There were about 50-100 of us. They had 52 winners. We watched the show - had the opening credits! Everytime I watch
AD, I sing along to the theme song lol Instead of commercials, we had black screens for 30 sec lol There were some people crying, of course about JJ going to war. Its just too
weird to be watching the show and knowing that Will is sitting in the back lol This episode will always be memorable!! I feel different when watching the show. A GOOD different lol
Anyway, Will came back up and answered questions from the audience. I wanted to ask him a question but I didn't know what to ask lol They were asking some interesting questions -
someone asked when he comes home from Vietnam lol He said next year! I also got a video of it too.
They started giving out prizes to the winners. 2 autographed posters by the whole cast and my friend got one! Right when she was going up there, Will cheered for her! Aww! Then
they gave away the soundtracks. They mentioned that Will was going to sign more autographs, etc. Right when we got back into the lobby, the NBC guy wanted to get a pic of us w/
Will and the poster! Her aunt and uncle used our cameras. Her uncle was using my camera and he didn't push down hard enough, instead he got our feet! LoL Both Will & I noticed that and
Will told him to take it again. He said you have to hold down harder on the button with those digital cameras. He talked to more people and said goodbye to my friend's aunt and uncle.
We stayed around for awhile longer lol I just didn't want to leave yet!! After Will had no one to talk to, I went up to him to mention about the Australia fan and I printed out a pic of him -
he remembered it! He signed it and I told him about having a website of him. He said thanks and I asked if I could make a welcome video of it. He said sure. After I told him the site name, which is
"Amazing Will", he was pretty flattered LoL. He was like, "Aww Thanks" and put his hand on his heart. hehe We had to start over again. He was like, "You're gonna put it on there aren't you? And just not leave it out there in the
open?" He was either teasing or something, both Jen and I can't remember lol But he was nervous about it being out all over the internet cuz he laughed.. aww He was being interrupted and after
he was done, I asked if he wanted to try again. He said sure and we got it! lol I told him it was so nice to meet you and he said you too!!
He was looking for someone or something, because he was getting ready to leave. Jen wanted to get another picture with the poster because it didn't come out on her camera. So we bugged Will one last
time LOL He didn't mind tho. He said sure. I wasn't about to be in the pic but he told me to come in lol His family member was taking it for us. Then Will told Jen to make sure we got it. Then I told him Happy
New Year, he said you too and thanks for watching the show!
So there is my long review lol I had a blast and it was soo great to have short convos w/ him! He is soo sweet, funny and really polite!! I hope everyone will get a chance to meet him. He's by far the best
celeb I've met and I'll never ever forget about this experience! I'm SO happy my dream came true!!!!!!! Thanks to Jonathan Prince for giving us this gift and Will for coming to the screening!!!!
PS: Thanks to my friend, Jen, for winning the tickets and inviting me!!!!!!!! :) *hugs*
PSS: Will on TV & in Pics doesn't do him justice!!! He's such a cutie patootie!!!
Credits to wireimage.com
Credits to nbcmv.com
