Shelley Long Signing Report!

As many long time readers know, I am in love with the 1980’s.  Not necessarily the parachute pants and leg warmers, but the entertainment of the 1980’s, films, music, etc… Well today, hopefully, my dream of meeting of my 1980’s idols will come to pass.  None other than Ms. Shelley Long is doing a very rare appearance at a reading in Beverly Hills.  I have wanted to meet Ms. Long for ages, and can still remember going to see Troop Beverly Hills, Outrageous Fortune, and all her 1980’s classics over and over again as a kid.  In fact I remember dragging my friends to see Troop Beverly Hills at the Southgate AMC back in Michigan.  Picture a group of pre-adolescent football players watching a movie about a Girl Scout troop… lol… It’s a funny mental image.

2:34 p.m. – Okay, well we just arrived.  My friend is here with me, and I’m nervously pacing around.  The one and only Ms. Shelley Long is inside this theatre!  God, I can’t believe it!

2:45 p.m. – I brought my Troop Beverly Hills original one sheet, my DVD insert, my Hello Again DVD, my Outrageous Fortune one sheet (folded) and my Money Pit one sheet with me (again folded).  Yep, I’m loaded to the gills… lol…  I also brought my friend Scott’s Up DVD for Ed Asner who is also here.

3:10 p.m. – Is it wrong to pace so much?  Is it?  Oh god, I’m so nervous… What the hell… I’ve heard Shelley is testy so I really don’t want a bad experience.  On my list of people to meet she’s number one.

3:21 p.m. – For my birthday my friends and I visited the original shooting location of Troop Beverly Hills in, where else, Beverly Hills.  LOL… M’Lou has the moment captured on video… It’s something to see I’m sure.  I’m too embarrassed to watch it!  Lol…

3:39 p.m. – There’s about… oh… 40 minutes left til Shelley graces the world with her presence and exits the main doors… god willing… I ran around the building to see if there was a back way, but I didn’t see anything…

3:45 p.m. – There are three other collectors here… I don’t expect it to be too crazy…

3:49 p.m. – Thank god it’s a gorgeous day… I mean it’s so pretty out!  A good Shelley omen…

3:54 p.m. – Oh, are there people exiting?  I’m running to the front… running…

3:57 p.m. – Nope, only a few stragglers…

4:04 p.m. – Did I mention my love for Troop Beverly Hills?  Did I?  Ah…. Classics…

4:05 p.m. – They recently did a stage version Rocky Horror style of Troop Beverly Hills at Cinespace… it rocked!

4:09 p.m. – I’m really making myself out to be a major dork here… hmmmmm I need to rethink this whole write up…

4:23 p.m. – It’s letting out… YAY!  People are pouring out… well pouring may be an overstatement… there are lots of walkers… lol…

4:28 p.m. – No Shelley so far, and the crowd is starting to thin out.  My friend who… let’s just say is ballsier than myself took a couple of my DVD inserts and went inside to look for Ed and Shelley…

4:31 p.m. – It’s very hard to sneak into an event holding a giant Troop Beverly Hills one sheet… There’s no hiding that people…

4:42 p.m. – There’s my friend, he said he tried calling me, but I didn’t answer… uh huh… lol… He got two things signed for me, but said Shelley was not the nicest and would not take a picture.  Sigh… The one time I really want a picture!  Grumble…

4:53 p.m. – Oh God, holy shit, there she is… Oh my GOD it’s Shelley Long!  In person… Oh God… She’s walking towards the door… The other collectors are letting me go first which is nice.  I see her heading to the door. And I say, “Ms. Long?”  She turns and doesn’t look happy.  I then say, “Would you mind if I get a really quick autograph?”  She is about to say no… I can feel it… then I add “I’m a huge fan, you have no idea.”  She warms up a tiny bit.  I mean I’m a six foot three guy standing there holding a giant Troop Beverly Hills one sheet, how can I not be a fan?  She says, “Okay.”  She walks over and I unroll the poster, and ask her to write to Mike.  She signs it, To Mike Keep Troopin’ love Shelley Long.  A beautiful signature.

Then I say, “Would you mind terribly if I get a quick photo with you?”  She says, “Yes, yes I actually do mind.  I’m in a huge hurry and now I see there are other people behind you that want something as well.”  I was like, “oh Okay, thanks so much.”  She signs for everyone, and one of the other collectors says, “Ms. Long if you can just take a picture with him, you’re his number one.”  She says, “Nope!”  And runs off.

4:59 p.m. – Not necessarily the perfect meeting, but still I was able to get her to sign.  It’s a beautiful signature and there’s always next time right?  And trust me; there will be a next time.  For the love of Getting Around there will be a NEXT TIME!

5:05 p.m. – Ed Asner just came out… he is the nicest man, just signing up a storm.  I get him on Scott’s DVD and on a couple photos for my friend.

5:10 p.m. – Oh Shelley, there will be a next time!

Check all of the photos from the Shelley Long signing!