From: atropos@mac.com   
      
   On Feb 9, 2026 at 7:56:17 AM PST, "Rhino"    
   wrote:   
      
   > On 2026-02-08 3:45 p.m., shawn wrote:   
   >>  On Sun, 8 Feb 2026 15:33:51 -0500, Rhino   
   >>   wrote:   
   >>   
   >>>  On 2026-02-08 2:12 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:   
   >>>   
   >>>>  So the girlfriend and I went to see Don "American Pie" McLean at the   
   Saban   
   >>>>  Theatre last night and who should end up sitting next to me?   
   >>>>   
   >>>>  Gary Cole - aka Bill Lumbergh from OFFICE SPACE. Also TALLADEGA NIGHTS,   
   >>>> VEEP,   
   >>>>  DODGEBALL, TRUE BLOOD, and literally hundreds of other stuff you've   
   probably   
   >>>>  seen him in.   
   >>>>   
   >>>>  I had to resist making a joke about having to get the TPS reports   
   finished.   
   >>>>   
   >>>  What is "L.A. protocol" for such situations? In other words, if you   
   >>>  happen to recognize someone like Cole (or perhaps someone of much   
   >>>  greater or less familiarity) in close proximity is it considered rude to   
   >>>  approach them, speak to them, ask for autographs, etc? Or are you   
   >>>  supposed to keep your distance and wait for them to approach you? I   
   >>>  realize that all sorts of people WILL approach them - and sometimes the   
   >>>  celebrity will expect you to approach them and welcome it - but is there   
   >>>  some sort of general understanding of the right way to handle that   
   >>>  situation? Of course I'm speaking of the general public, as opposed to   
   >>>  someone who is SUPPOSED to interact with them, like an interviewer.   
   >>   
   >>  The official protocol is to genuflect and say "Greetings and   
   >>  salutations, Mr. Cole".  LOL   
   >>   
   > I just wondered what the standard behaviour was among people from   
   > longtime residents of LA who must encounter these situations all the   
   > time, as opposed to tourists or paparazzi who presumably show less   
   > restraint.   
   >   
   > I remember an interview with Paul Newman where he said the thing that   
   > made him stop signing autographs was when someone hit him up for a   
   > signature in the men's room while he was literally taking a whiz. I can   
   > imagine something like that making you erect some boundaries....   
      
   Eliza would only sign autographs and pose for pictures at planned appearances.   
   When we were at a restaurant having a meal or shopping or something on her   
   personal time, she'd politely decline, unless it was a kid. She always made   
   time for children. It did get to be tiresome when you're out at dinner and   
   some 30-year-old dude just walks up, interrupts your conversation, and asks,   
   "Hi, I'm a big fan, can I get a picture?" And he expects her to stand up from   
   her meal, pose with a total stranger and hand *me* the camera and ask me to   
   take the picture for him. And for this to happen a half-dozen times over the   
   course of the meal.   
      
   >>>  For what it's worth, I have no idea what "TPS Reports" are. I knew Cole   
   >>>  best from Midnight Caller and a one-season wonder called Wanted,   
   >>>  although I've certainly seen him in a number of other things like The   
   >>>  West Wing.   
   >>   
   >>  Yeah, the first thing I can recall seeing him in was MIDNIGHT CALLER.   
   >>  Wow, I just looked up the cast and Wendy Read is now a lawyer in   
   >>  California. As for the TPS Reports its a bit that comes from the movie   
   >>  OFFICE SPACE where Cole plays a manager who is always coming around   
   >>  asking about the TPS reports. Some sort of useless bit of paperwork   
   >>  that the management is concerned with.   
   >   
   > I figured it must be something like that but I never saw Office Space so   
   > I thought I'd ask.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)