Jesse Eisenberg

Apparently I spoke too soon...I wasn't done receiving replies for 2011! Today I received MY LAST reply for 2011 from the incredibly talented Jesse Eisenberg, who is known for his performances in Adventureland (my personal favorite), Zombieland and The Social Network.  The Social Network was the first film of Eisenberg's I had seen, and needless to say, I was hooked. He was so good, so captivating, as Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg that I knew I had to see some of his previous films.  Zombieland was great, but it was Adventureland that really resonated with me. It was a great coming-of-age film and, dare I say it, Kristen Stewart was actually tolerable to watch! Her onscreen chemistry with Eisenberg was spot-on...the girl's actually got talent! But Jesse's character was so innocent and he played the role perfectly. I highly recommend it.

But what I really admire about Jesse is how much he has accomplished at such a young age. I mean, the man just finished writing, directing and starring in his own play, Asuncion, alongside Justin Bartha of The Hangover.  The show received great reviews and I was ecstatic to receive my two photos back signed from him on this final day of 2011. Thank you very much, Jesse Eisenberg, and Happy New Year to you all! Thank you for helping me surpass 10,000 blog views within my first year -- wow, that's awesome -- and I look forward to another wonderful year of sharing my stories and autograph replies! Ta ta for now.

2011: A Year in Review

As the year comes to a close, I thought it would be enjoyable to spend my day off ranking my favorite autograph replies over the past 12 months. While I will say this year was incredible for autographs, I have picked my Top 5 favorite replies (I thought a Top 10 list would be too easy) which can be seen below.

5. Brooke Shields

Date Received: Tuesday, September 6

I received Brooke's autograph on my 21st Birthday, which is why I consider her reply to be so special.  As mentioned in my original post, I loved her on Suddenly Susan and thought she was hilarious at this year's Tony Awards.  Brooke is truly America's sweetheart and I am thankful she signed my Morticia Addams photo since I am quite the fan of The Addams Family.

4. Marina Sirtis

Date Received: Monday, December 12

This is a pretty recent reply, but I was so excited to receive my photos back from Deanna Troi herself, Marina Sirtis.  As mentioned in my original post, I was planning on attending the 2012 Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas with hopes of purchasing both Marina's autograph and a photo with her, but now that I have two signed and dedicated photos for a lot less than they would have cost me out in Vegas, I am undecided whether I will be attending the convention.  Troi has been one of my favorite characters since first watching The Next Generation within the past few years (I love her accent) and, although I really would like to meet Marina in person, these two signed photos are keeping me at bay for the time being...and I stress 'for the time being.'

3. Joy Behar

Date Received: Tuesday, April 5

So what?! Who cares?! Well, I care!! You know I'm in love with Joy Behar and watch The View religiously, so you can understand how excited I was to receive a signed photo from Ms. Behar. Plus, now that her HLN show, The Joy Behar Show, is now a piece of history, the photo is even more special.  The co-hosts of The View are on vacation this week and I'm already going through withdrawals only three days into their mini-break.  Joy continuously brings the humor both on the show and on Twitter (follow her @JoyVBehar), and it only helps that I agree with her political views 99.9% of the time.  Again, so what?! Who cares?! :)

2. Jim Parsons

Date Received: Saturday, July 16

Oh, Jim Parsons.  I don't think I need to reiterate how much of an enormous fan I am of The Big Bang Theory and how much I absolutely love Jim's performance each week as the one and only Sheldon Cooper, but I actually quit our summer series of Rochester Survivor just so I could see the photo waiting for me at home.  I mean, the man has had an incredible past couple of years (winning a Golden Globe AND two Emmys) and I only hope he continues his flawless work on The Big Bang Theory in the coming seasons. 

1. Dame Julie Andrews

Date Received: Thursday, June 23

Words cannot truly express how absolutely thrilled I was to receive my copy of Dame Julie Andrews' autobiography Home signed and personalized after almost nine months of waiting.  She has been one of my all-time favorite actresses since first seeing Mary Poppins as a child, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have received her autograph since she rarely signs photos or other items.  Today, my book is proudly displayed on my entertainment center in my bedroom.

"Godspell"

Today I received what might possibly be my last reply for 2011...a playbill signed by the Broadway cast of Godspell.  Thanks to my father introducing me to the wonderful soundtrack when I was a child, I have always loved the upbeat music (Day By Day, anyone?) and thought it would be neat to add the playbill to my collection.  The show stars Hunter Parrish of Weeds fame, although I know him as the awkward Earl Gornicke from RV with Robin Williams, so I made sure to request his signature on the playbill since I am a fan of what productions of his I've seen.  This brings my playbill collection up to some crazy number -- I never know how many I have until I take the time to alphabetize the newest addition -- but I do think they're pretty cool to collect.  Once the show ends, there will never be another playbill, or another cast, quite like it!

If, in fact, this is my last reply for the year, I look forward to seeing you in 2012. However, if I do receive an unexpected surprise in the mail, I'll be sure to post it here! Enjoy! Happy Holidays to you all!

Marina Sirtis & Angela Bassett

Received two great responses to start out finals week today...

Marina Sirtis is best known for her performance as Counselor Deanna Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG).  Troi has been one of my favorite characters since I first started watching TNG within the past couple of years -- admit it, she was a hottie back then and still looks amazing today -- and I was planning on attending the 2012 Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas with hopes of getting a photo with her.  However, now that have TWO dedicated photos in my collection, I find myself rethinking the decision...

In addition, I received my photo back signed and dedicated -- as well as a playbill from Broadway's The Mountaintop with Samuel L. Jackson -- from the elegant Angela Bassett.  She has appeared in such wonderful films as Malcolm X and Akeelah and the Bee, and was most recently seen in the summer blockbuster, Green Lantern, with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.  Today, however, she is starring the aforementioned Broadway play, The Mountaintop, alongside Samuel L. Jackson; the show has received AMAZING reviews and both Angela and Samuel are poised to win Tony Awards for their excellent performances.

As always, I am THRILLED to add these photos from two great actresses, two of my favorite actresses at that, to my growing collection.  Happy Holidays to you all! :)

Kim Cattrall

The dryspell is over once more! I received an amazing reply today from the incredible Kim Cattrall, who is known for her sultry performance as Samantha Jones on Sex and the City (including six seasons on HBO and two very successful motion pictures), as well as Lieutenant Valeris in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and Linda Romanoli in Meet Monica Velour.  This is the second reply I have received from Kim; the first being from when I wrote her during the filming of Sex and the City 2.

The cast of Sex and the City, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon and Cattrall, ranks as one of my all-time favorite ensemble casts in television and movie history, and I pray for a third film reuniting the girls (well, if only I was a praying man).  Some may say the second film was garbage or had no heart, but in my opinion, those who diss the second film are not true fans of the series.  If you were true fans, you would welcome any opportunity to see the girls reunited once more.  She was HYSTERICAL in the second film and had me laughing every moment she was onscreen!

In addition, Kim was great as Vulcan Lieutenant Valeris in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.  She and Leonard Nimoy had great chemistry together (well, as far as the script is concerned), and I was debating on sending her a third photo -- a Star Trek photo -- but decided three pictures was too many and instead sent the two Sex and the City photos seen above.  Now here's the cool part...when I opened my envelope this afternoon, there were three photos enclosed: my two Sex and the City photos and a black and white photo of her from Star Trek! She must have read my letter! I am THRILLED.  And since it's a 4x6" photo, I may just frame it and put it on my Star Trek wall...I think it would look great next to my other autographs. 

Thanks Kim! Now bring on Sex and the City 3!

The Ship of Dreams

Rarely has a movie touched so many audiences as did Titanic when it first hit theaters in December 1997.  Now, nearly 15 years later, Director James Cameron is rereleasing the motion picture masterpiece for the first time in 3D on April 6, 2012 in correlation with the 100th Anniversary of the maiden voyage of Titanic.

As you may or may not know, Titanic ranks as my fourth all-time favorite movie and, frankly, I cannot wait to see it in theaters and in glorious 3D (I missed out on it in 1997, obviously).  In addition, I am eager to see the marketing campaign constructed surrounding its rerelease...Will there be ANOTHER red carpet premiere with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet? What will the redesigned posters look like? (I always love a good promo poster) And will Titanic finally make its Blu-ray debut around this time next year to coincide with the holiday season?

At this point, there are so many unanswered questions surrounding this motion picture event.  But one thing is for certain...the debut of the official trailer Tuesday morning has fans across the globe ready to go back to Titanic once more.  I've posted the trailer below for your viewing pleasure.

Hailee Steinfeld

Received a nice reply from up-and-coming actress Hailee Steinfeld, who is known for her Academy Award-nominated performance as Mattie Ross in the Coen Brothers' remake of True Grit.  I thought the movie was excellent and her nomination was much deserved.  Next, she will be seen in the 2012 remake of Romeo & Juliet as Juliet herself.  I would write more if I had more time, but schoolwork is keeping me quite busy! Can't wait for Thanksgiving break and a week off -- it's right around the corner now!

Pat Carroll

Received a great Halloween response from the lady behind the voice of the villainous Ursula in Disney's The Little Mermaid...Pat Carroll! For as long as I can remember, The Little Mermaid has been one of my all-time favorite Disney movies (a true classic) and Ursula has been one of my top three favorite Disney villains as well (along with Jafar from Aladdin and Scar from The Lion King).  In addition, some of you may know Ms. Carroll from her appearance as Lily Feeney in the television classic, Laverne & Shirley.  I watched that show religiously in syndication as a child -- along with The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island -- and I'll never forget the great theme song.  Y'know, there's a serious lack of great theme songs these days; aside from The Big Bang Theory, where are they?! But that's tangential to this post...anyways, I'm thrilled to add Ms. Carroll to my autograph book! I tell you, I'm getting closer and closer to filling my second book of 5x7"s -- I'm hoping to have it completed by the end of this year.

Rachel Griffiths

This is another one of those great successes that makes me thrilled to have started this hobby.  Yesterday I received my photos back signed and dedicated from the lovely Rachel Griffiths, who starred as Sarah Walker on ABC's Brothers & Sisters for five years until its unfortunate cancellation this past spring (the writing during the final two seasons just was not up to par with the first three).  Anywho, Rachel did an amazing job and Sarah was my favorite character until the end, so naturally I knew I had to write when it was announced she would be joining the Broadway production of Other Desert Cities (Sound familiar? That's how I received Stockard Channing's autograph this past February).  The show officially opens this Thursday at the Booth Theatre and I'm amazed at how fast I received a response (especially during the hectic time of preview performances) -- it only took NINE days! Awesome!

In addition to signing and dedicating my photos as requested, Rachel also left some nice messages on the exterior of my envelope.  She added "Do Not Bend" on the front of my envelope (which is always a nice thing to do) and also commented on my nice penmanship on the back of my envelope.  Rachel is the umpteenth celebrity to have complimented my nice handwriting, in addition to Joel McHale, Zach Galifianakis, and Chris Pine, to name a few.  And for those of you who have seen my handwriting, you better agree...because I certainly do take my time to make it look Purdy. :)

Eddie Kaye Thomas

FINCH!!! Today I received my photos back signed from the hilarious Eddie Kaye Thomas, known for his performance as Paul Finch in the American Pie trilogy and the upcoming American Reunion (which features the entire original cast!).  For years I have been a fan of American Pie and I cannot wait to see what's in store for the gang when Reunion hits theaters next year.  Recently, Eddie has appeared Off-Broadway in The Submission with Glee's Jonathan Groff and True Blood's Rutina Wesley.  The play closed this past Saturday after an incredibly successful limited engagement.

When I was writing my letter to Eddie, I tried my hardest to pick my favorite Finch moment, but I simply could not do it...there are just too many laugh out loud moments! For instance, his bathroom scene in the first film (after Stifler gave him laxatives), any scene between him and Stifler's mom (played by Jennifer Coolidge), and the entire feud between him and Stifler in American Wedding to try and score with Michelle's younger sister (resulting in Stifler eating dog poop).  Sure, my more mature readers may not find this sort of humor as hilarious as I do, but these were three great, "coming of age" films with insanely talented actors.  These movies really made you feel part of the group of guys depicted onscreen, and as previously stated, that's why fans cannot wait to see what happens next in American Reunion.

Ann B. Davis

THE DRYSPELL IS OVER! Today I received a very nice, heartfelt reply from Ann B. Davis, who will forever be known as Alice from the iconic television series, The Brady Bunch.  I, like millions of others spread across the planet, am a HUGE fan of The Brady Bunch and Alice provided great entertainment during the half-hour block (My favorite Alice moment, which I mentioned in my letter, occurred when the Bradys were set to film a commercial for laundry detergent in their kitchen.  Alice, of course, prepped herself beforehand and when it was her cue to enter, she came twirling out of the family room with her hair curled and eyelashes batting for the camera.  Hilarious!). 

In addition, I was also a HUGE fan of the Brady Bunch movies made during the '90s (with Shelley Long and Gary Cole) that, in essence, made fun of the Bradys as they adjusted to life in the 20th century.  Well, not really adjusted, but the classic storylines from the 60s/70s were applied to the 90s and they were GREAT.  Most of the original cast members made cameo appearances in the first film, and Ann appeared as a truck driver who consoles a runaway Jan.  Which leads me to the photo I sent to be signed...since I could not find any high resolution shots from the original series, I decided to make my own! I reconstructed the classic grid with shots of everyone from the movies (except Alice) and inserted a nice photo of Ann in the center.  Beneath the grid, I added the tagline, "Some things may change, but there will always be one Alice Nelson," and a line for her signature.  I think it turned out great and Ms. Davis even commented on how clever it was on the back of my picture.  Needless to say, I'm thrilled!

James Remar

I've been waiting for this one for awhile now, or so it seemed...Today I received my photo back signed and dedicated from the fantastic James Remar, who is known for his roles in television hits such as Sex and the City (Richard Wright, anyone?) and Dexter (as Harry Morgan, Dexter's mysterious father).  Sex and the City is an all-time favorite of mine and I've become addicted to Dexter over the past couple of months now -- heck, I just realized I received my photo on the eve of the highly-anticipated sixth season premiere of Dexter tomorrow night.  Y'know, I'm always amazed at how these things work out.  But back to Mr. Remar...remember Mortal Kombat: Annihilation? While not the most well-received film by critics, I thought it was awesome and James kicked you-know-what (remove the 'gr' from 'grass') as Rayden.  I watched that movie nonstop as a child -- and when I say, "as a child," I actually just watched it a couple weeks ago (I'm 21 years old and I still consider myself a child, haha) -- and while James actually replaced a different actor as Rayden in the second film (a move that usually never yields a good result), I think it totally paid off. 

So, Dexter...what a compelling show! I bought the first four seasons when they were on sale back in July and was almost finished with season one when school started and my free time diminished to almost nothing.  So I'm stuck on episode six or seven and I am eager to see what Jimmy Smits and John Lithgow bring to the show when they join in seasons three and four, respectively.  Once again, James has done a fantastic job each week on Dexter and I cannot wait to see what is in store for Harry Morgan.  If only I had time to find out!

"Priscilla Queen of the Desert"

Received a cast-signed playbill today from the Broadway production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.  As you may or may not remember, I was tempted to request a signed playbill after receiving my cast-signed Sister Act playbill last month.  Well, that's exactly what I did and, like most cast-signed playbills in my collection, the request was fulfilled incredibly fast.  While I would have preferred a color cover, it is customary for a long-running show to start printing black and white covers after the first few months of performances.  Needless to say, I am always thrilled to receive a reply and am certainly not complaining -- add another one to the basket!

Rob Reiner

Received my photo back yesterday signed and personalized from director Rob Reiner.  I have been a huge fan of Mr. Reiner's work ever since first seeing his performance as Michael "Meathead" Stivic on All In The Family back in the day, but now have great respect for him as a director.  He has directed numerous films since appearing on All In The Family, including The Bucket List, When Harry Met Sally..., Misery, Sleepless In Seattle, A Few Good Men, Stand By Me (with Ensign Wesley Crusher...Wil Wheaton himself!), and my personal favorite, The Princess Bride.  If you have seen any of the aforementioned films, you know Mr. Reiner is an artistic visionary and, well, he knows how to tell a great story! I sent my request towards the end of July and am quite pleased with how soon this was returned to me.  He even added a piece of sturdy backing to prevent the photo from getting bent -- how thoughtful!

Christopher Plummer

You may recall me mentioning at the end of one of my posts awhile back (my Chris Noth success, I believe) that I had received two signed and dedicated photos from the incomparable Mr. Christopher Plummer, but they were signed in silver and returned smeared beyond recognition.  I resent to him soon after, this time enclosing two photos that would not warrant a silver signature, and yesterday received them back signed and dedicated...and in black permanent marker, too. Woo! Now here's another pair of beautiful photos to add to the autograph book.  I'm telling you, this second autograph book is getting close to being full!

Christopher Plummer is a legend in the entertainment industry, both on stage and on film.  For me, he will always be known as either Captain Von Trapp from The Sound of Music with Dame Julie Andrews (and you all know how much I love her) or General Chang from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, but his phenomenal performances in Up and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus also deserve recognition.  Both were great movies.  This winter, he will appear in the highly-anticipated film adaptation of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo with Daniel Craig and Jennifer Lawrence.  Although I have not read the books, the teaser trailer had me on the edge of my seat and I cannot wait to check out the film this December.

Overall, I am thrilled to be able to add this man's signature to my collection.  Now I have two photos signed by Christopher Plummer and two books signed by Dame Julie Andrews.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would possess their autographs.  This is an extraordinary hobby and, although you must have patience to be successful, the returns are the greatest things in the world.

Brooke Shields

WHAT a fantastic way to celebrate my 21st birthday! I came home from class and renewing my driver's license to find an envelope from the one and only...Brooke Shields! Suddenly Susan herself! At first I was getting worried because other members on my fanmail website were receiving a different signed photo instead of Brooke actually signing the photos they sent (her photo was an 8x10" and my envelope only held a 5x7", so you can see the dilemma at hand).  But alas, the fanmail gods are in my corner once again! Details in a moment... (insert Julie Chen/Big Brother angle change)

But first, here's the backstory...I have always been a fan of Brooke since I first saw her on Suddenly Susan back in the day.  While the characters and plot are a bit fuzzy (its been years since I've actually seen an episode), I remember her and Kathy Griffin were GREAT together.  Plus, the theme intro was pretty sweet.  Additionally, her involvement at the 2011 Tony Awards was PRICELESS -- just check out the video below to see what I'm talking about! So, naturally, when I heard she would be replacing Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia Addams in the Broadway musical centered around the gothic family, I knew I had to write. Anjelica Houston did a phenomenal job in the movies, and I think it's the character of Morticia Addams in general that attracts me to The Addams Family.  I can only imagine Brooke is doing an amazing job.  You go, Brooke!

Mackenzie Crook

Today put an end to my dry spell of autographs for which I've sent requests.  I received my photo back signed from British actor Mackenzie Crook, who is probably best known for his performance as Gareth Keenan in the U.K. version of The Office or as Ragetti in the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films (that's how I know him).  He was appearing in the Tony award-winning Broadway production of Jerusalem, which closed this past weekend after an incredible run -- so, naturally, when I noticed his name on the cast list, I knew I had to send a request.

While I thorougly enjoyed On Stranger Tides, the fourth installment in the Pirates franchise, Mackenzie's absence and the lack of his character's humor was noticeable and could have aided the film in being even better.  I sent my request to Mackenzie at the end of June, and while it was a little bit of a wait, I was fully expecting for him to reply to my request after the play ended (it seems more and more people are doing that these days).  Currently, I don't have too many pending requests -- Jerry Stiller, James Remar and Brooke Shields, to name a few -- but the new Broadway season is just around the corner with an AWESOME lineup of people I plan on writing (including Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Rachel Griffiths and Eddie Kaye Thomas), so stay tuned! I'm looking forward to it!

Helena Bonham Carter, Helen McCrory & Jason Isaacs

As usual, another autograph dry spell has foresaken me...autographs for which I've sent requests, that is.  Luckily, I've still been able to advance my Star Trek and Harry Potter autograph collections via reputable sellers from across these United States.  Since my "Star Trek Wall (Updated)" post below, I was successful in adding a signed card of Jonathan Frakes (Will Riker) to my collection, which now leaves DeForest Kelley and Wil Wheaton to be had.  Unfortunately, I think it might be awhile until I publish another Star Trek-related blog post, as those two names have been pretty hard to come by as of late.

After seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II multiple times this summer, I was inspired to add the signatures of two of my favorite 'Potter' actors to my collection: Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange) and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy).  I came across a signed 4x6" agency photo of Helena and began brainstorming possible display ideas for her and Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy), who I had already received through the mail last year.  I decided on matting the signed photos with two other Harry Potter-themed studio shots and name plates, which can be seen below.  And of course, a HUGE 'thank you' goes out to my incredible father for helping cut the mats and frame the finished products. I LOVE them!

Jason Isaacs has been another favorite of mine for quite some time now.  He did an extraordinary job as both the sinister Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the villainous Captain Hook in the 2003 film version of Peter Pan.  I actually wrote to Mr. Isaacs requesting an autograph at the beginning of 2009, but I'm afraid that request will be left unfulfilled (I have yet to receive a reply, but as my Julie Andrews success taught me, NEVER discount ANY pending requests).  However, I started looking at other ways to obtain a signed photo of this talented actor.  He appeared at this year's San Diego Comic Con to promote his new NBC drama Awake (premiering this fall) -- of course, what better way to promote your particular movie or TV series than by signing autographs for the loyal fans?! And that's exactly what I've added to my collection.  Pictured below, I have added an 11x17" Comic Con exclusive Awake mini poster signed by Jason Isaacs to my wall.  Sure, it's no Lucius Malfoy print, but I've always wanted to add some signed mini posters to my collection, and this Awake mini poster is pretty cool.  So here's to the start of a new venture!

"Sister Act"

You all should know by now that I am a HUGE fan of Whoopi Goldberg -- my day is incomplete without watching her and Joy Behar on The View -- because of her amazing performances in The Color Purple, Ghost, Rat Race, The Lion King, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Toy Story 3 and Sister Act to name a few.  I mean, Whoopi, Dame Maggie Smith and Kathy Najimy -- three of my all-time favorite actresses -- in one movie?! Pinch me, I must be dreaming! Therefore, I think it goes without saying (although I'm going to say it right now) that when it was announced the stage version of Sister Act would be heading to Broadway, I knew I had to write for a signed playbill.  Having said that, I had no idea how extraordinary the Broadway show would turn out to be.  Led by Ms. Goldberg on the creative team (she is a producer of the show and was a vital part in securing its Broadway stint), Sister Act was nominated for five Tony Awards this year including Best Musical, but lost to The Book of Mormon.

I sent my request to the stage manager on July 28 and received this reply a little over a week later! That means another playbill to add to the colorful collection (I absolutely adore the various covers).  This response gives me inspiration to send to the cast of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, another Broadway musical produced by the Divine Miss M herself, the one and only Bette Midler. 

Alan Dale

While the name Alan Dale might not immediately ring a bell in your mind, I know you have seen at least one of his many films or television shows.  Trust me.  From his performance as Charles Widmore on Lost to Bradford Meade on Ugly Betty, Caleb Nichol on The O.C. to Praetor Hiren in Star Trek: Nemesis (my two personal favorites), I must once again reaffirm that this man has had one incredible career and certainly shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. 

I watched The O.C. religiously when new episodes were airing on FOX back in the day, and I must admit, it was quite easy to dislike the character of Caleb Nichol.  Alan did a great job as the conniving businessman, but once he and Julie Cooper were married, you longed for the episode when something shocking would happen that would break them up.  Unfortunately, that came in the form of Caleb's death...and then Mischa Barton died and the show tanked during its fourth and final season.  But you all know that story, I'm sure.

Ironically, I was just watching Star Trek: Nemesis for the first time this past weekend and was wondering if and when I would hear back from Mr. Dale.  I sent my request back at the end of April and, as is the case with every autograph request fulfilled, I am thrilled to add these signed photos to my collection. :D

Star Trek Wall (Updated)

Since my great Walter Koenig success arrived in April, I've managed to acquire a few more signed pictures of key characters from Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Here's a breakdown of my current Star Trek autograph subcollection:

The Original Series (TOS):

• William Shatner* / James Kirk
• Signed 8x10" photo
• Leonard Nimoy / Spock
• Signed trading card
• James Doohan* / Montgomery Scott
• Signed 8x10" photo
• Nichelle Nichols / Uhura
• Signed 8x10" photo
• George Takei / Hikaru Sulu
• Signed trading card
• Walter Koenig / Pavel Chekov
• Two signed & personalized 5x7" photos (view earlier post for photos)

The Next Generation (TNG):

• Sir Patrick Stewart / Jean-Luc Picard
• Three signed & personalized 5x7" photos (not pictured)
• Brent Spiner* / Data
• Signed 8x10" photo
• Michael Dorn* / Worf
• Signed 8x10" photo
• LeVar Burton / Geordi La Forge
• Signed trading card
• Marina Sirtis* / Deanna Troi
• Signed 8x10" photo
• Gates McFadden / Beverly Crusher
• Signed 8x10" photo

Star Trek (2009):

• Chris Pine / James Kirk
• Signed & personalized 5x7" photo (not pictured)
• Zachary Quinto / Spock
• Signed 11x17" character poster
• Signed 8x10" photo

* = These signed photos were obtained after my Walter Koenig success back in April.

As of now, there are only three autographs I would like to add to my The Original Series and The Next Generation collections: DeForest Kelley (sadly deceased, Leonard "Bones" McCoy), Jonathan Frakes (William Riker) and Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher).  In addition, it would be nice to add John Cho (Hikaru Sulu) to my Star Trek (2009) collection -- hopefully I will be able to acquire a signed photo if they ever make a second film as originally intended!!

Jim Parsons

Received another great success from Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jim Parsons.  Known as the one and only Sheldon Cooper by fans of CBS's hit comedy The Big Bang Theory, Jim has created one of the most unique and comical characters in recent television history.  From his quirky, all-too-frequent Bazingas to his blunt remarks regarding Howard's negligence to obtain his Masters Degree; Leonard's obsession with coidus over physics, comic books, and superheroes; Penny's community college "achievements" and Nebraskan, backwoods upbringing; and Raj's demeanor as an awkward, silent foreigner from India living in California, the writing and Jim's delivery is ALWAYS on point and has made the show the great success it is today (hence the Emmy and Golden Globe wins, both for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy).  Both Jim and co-star Johnny Galecki (of Roseanne) were nominated for Emmy Awards based on their performances this past season, and the show was nominated for Best Comedy again this year.

Jim has been in the Tony award-winning Broadway play The Normal Heart since April (which marks his Broadway debut) -- starring alongside Ellen Barkin and John Bejamin Hickey (who both won Tonys for their performances) -- and the show closed this past weekend after a very successful run.  I sent my request in late April once I knew the show would be there to stay and am SO glad I heard back from him once more.  I received my first success from Jim back in March 2010 via The Big Bang Theory filming set on the Warner Bros. lot and out of the entire cast of five, Jim was the only one who replied to my letter.  He not only signed and personalized my photo and added a humorous caption, but also sent me a nice note as well.  This is a man who truly appreciates his fans, and it shows.  He is absolutely incredible at what he does and I look forward to seeing many, MANY more hilarious, Sheldon-filled episodes of The Big Bang Theory.

Chris Sarandon & Jason Wingreen

I tell you what, I could really get used to these two autographs a day-type days.  Today I received another autograph for my collection of The Princess Bride photographs from Prince Humperdinck, Chris Sarandon.  But for me, his work as Jack Skellington in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is what I will always remember him for.  'Nightmare' is one of my all-time favorite holiday-themed movies and I try and make a point to watch it at least once or twice during the Halloween and/or Christmas weeks.  Chris was appearing off-Broadway in Through a Glass Darkly with Carey Mulligan, so I sent my request via the New York Theatre Workshop last Thursday and am so glad my request made it in time.

In addition, I also received a nice reply from Jason Wingreen, who is known for providing the original voice of Boba Fett in the Original Trilogy of the Star Wars franchise.  Of course, as I'm sure you know, George Lucas likes to alter his once flawless films quite frequently as new technology becomes available, and Jason's voice was replaced by Temuera Morrison's (Jango Fett).  Buuuuuuut, I really wanted to add Jason to my collection because I've also got Jeremy Bulloch, who was the "body" of Boba Fett.  As with my request to Chris, I sent my request to Jason last Thursday and received it back today, along with a nice note about how he actually nabbed the position of Boba's voice (he originally auditioned for the voice of Yoda, but Frank Oz got the part instead).

Dame Julie Andrews & Mandy Patinkin

I've been going through another small dry spell recently regarding autographs -- but WOW (!!), no one could have predicted what arrived in the mail today.  I received two of my longest withstanding requests from two great legends in the entertainment industry.  I received my copy of Dame Julie Andrews' Home signed and personalized to ME!!! Words cannot even begin to describe how absolutely over the moon I am right now.  Just peruse my post below about how much I admire Dame Julie and you'll quickly get my drift.  I wrote to her in mid- to late-October, so while it was a lengthy wait, I'm definitely NOT complaining because now I have TWO autographs from my all-time favorite actress. :)

In addition, I also received my photo back signed and personalized from Mandy Patinkin, who might very well be best known for his amazing performance as Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride ("Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!") When I was a child, I could never really tolerate the film until recently when my father and I started watching it together (a real bonding experience for sure; it has always been a favorite of his).  I quickly discovered the writing is genius and the ensemble cast is brilliant -- I'm hooked!  And for those wondering, I sent my request to Mandy via his Off-Broadway play Compulsion back in February -- so really, not a bad wait at all.

Point of View (May 2011)

Here's our latest episode...be sure to check it out!
Point of View (May 2011)

Ashley Brown

Since my incredible Julie Andrews success below, I heard back from Robin Williams' SECRETARY -- that's right, I received my photos signed by his secretary instead of him (quite disappointing) -- but today I received a nice reply from Broadway's own Mary Poppins, Ashley Brown. 

Ashley originated the role of Mary Poppins in the Broadway show and, after a few years away, is currently in New York for a limited run. She has done a fantastic job (I can only imagine Dame Julie Andrews would agree) and I've embedded a video clip below of "Step In Time" from the Broadway production, so be sure to check it out.  In addition to signing and dedicating both of my photos, Ashley also sent me nice postcard with a sweet note. 

Dame Julie Andrews

This will forever be one of the most cherished autographs in my collection.  Dame Julie is an absolute treasure.  Ever since I was a young lad, Mary Poppins has been my all-time favorite Disney film.  All it took was one viewing and I was hooked! The musical numbers are one-of-a-kind (A Spoonful of Sugar, anyone? I think we all wish we could tidy our rooms with a simple snap of our fingers.) and because of this film, we will always know what to say when we are at a loss for words: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  Her phenomenal performace as the 'practically perfect in every way' Mary Poppins earned Dame Julie her first Academy Award for Best Actress in 1964 (an award that was, of course, very well deserved).  The film also features the talented Dick Van Dyke as Bert and the late Ed Wynn as Uncle Albert (who provided the voice of the Mad Hatter in the animated version of Alice in Wonderland). I know I say this rather frequently in some of my posts, but if there is ANYONE reading this who has yet to see Mary Poppins, STOP reading and find yourself a way to watch this movie as soon as humanly possible. It is excellent and you will thank me later. :)

In 1965, Dame Julie delivered another extraordinary performance, this time as Maria Von Trapp in Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music.  As was the case with Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music boasted a truly beautiful story and an incredible soundtrack.  The film also features the legendary Christopher Plummer as Captain Von Trapp and celebrated its 45th Anniversary last year with a release on Blu-ray HD for the first time ever -- it looks stunning! (Y'know, if you are planning on picking up Mary Poppins, might as well pick this one up, too. You will not regret it!)

And now, to the autograph...well, I had sent a copy of her memoir to be signed in October last year and have not heard back (I've still got my fingers crossed, however).  But I was perusing some sites dedicated to book signings and noticed she had a few coming up throughout the United States -- Minnesota in particular.  After making it past the unknowledgable cashiers, I had a lovely conversation with the woman in charge of booking/scheduling the signings.  We gushed over how absolutely amazing Dame Julie is and because she could quickly tell I was a true, devoted fan, she said she'd make sure to have a book signed and shipped to me.  How absolutely awesome! And while it sounds simple on here, I've come to understand she signs a VERY limited number of books at each event, so I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be one of the lucky few to receive a signed copy.

Thank you for reading what I consider to be my most heartfelt post.  I hope you have come to understand why I adore this woman, her films, and her unmatched talent.  She is true British royalty and while I am almost 100% confident she will never read this, I would like to thank you, Dame Julie Andrews, from the bottom of my heart for the years of happiness and enjoyment you have brought me and my family. 

And here's to many, many years more.  xoxo Andrew

Margaret Colin

Gossip Girl here, your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite. 

Oh, how I love me some Gossip Girl.  It is truly one of my few guilty pleasures.  I usually never watch the new episodes when they air, but rather purchase the season sets and catch up during the summer months when television programming really sucks.  But today, I received quite the nice reply from Eleanor Waldorf herself (Blair's mother), the great Margaret Colin.  As I think I have mentioned before, I am usually always more interested in the supporting cast of characters than the main characters themselves, and Gossip Girl is no exception.  On the show, Eleanor is married to Cyrus (played by the brilliant Wallace Shawn) and the two have great chemistry onscreen.  The Thanksgiving and Seder episodes set in their suite are two of the funniest episodes I have seen.  In addition, I cannot wait to see what season four brings to the drama-filled lives of the 'Upper East Siders' as soon as the DVD set is released in the near future.

Ms. Colin is currently appearing in the Broadway production of Arcadia alongside Billy Crudup (Almost Famous, Watchmen) and Raúl Esparza (Law & Order: CI, Pushing Daisies) at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.  I sent my request on March 17th and was beginning to worry I would not hear back -- but alas, I am so glad I did.  FYI: the play is set to close on June 19.

I am anxiously awaiting replies from Jim Parsons, Robin Williams, and now Kendra Wilkinson (after her recent boot from Dancing With the Stars).  Of course, I will keep you up-to-date regarding my latest autograph ventures, so stay tuned!

Walter Koenig

Received a great success from one of the few Star Trek actors of the "main crew" known to sign through the mail in addition to signing at conventions (another that comes to mind: Sir Patrick Stewart), The Original Series' Walter Koenig.  For those who do not know, Mr. Koenig played Pavel Chekov in Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) and in all six TOS films.  He is one of the nicest men in the business -- heck, he'd have to be a true gentleman to sign free through the mail when he could solely charge at conventions -- and I am truly grateful to add these two signed photos to my ever-growing Trek collection.  I wrote Mr. Koenig in early November 2010 and while I was expecting to wait, I was certainly surprised to see his envelope in my mailbox this afternoon.

Here is a photo of my Star Trek wall (as I like to call it). I currently have autographs from the following "main crew" Star Trek actors and actresses:

The Original Series

• Leonard Nimoy / Spock (signed card)
• George Takei / Sulu (signed card)
• Nichelle Nichols / Uhura (signed 8x10)
• Walter Koenig / Chekov (two signed & personalized 5x7s)

The Next Generation

• Sir Patrick Stewart / Jean-Luc Picard

         (not pictured -- three signed & personalized 5x7s)

• LeVar Burton / Geordi La Forge (signed card)
• Gates McFadden / Beverly Crusher (signed 8x10)
• Marina Sirtis / Deanna Troi (not pictured -- signed 8x10)

Star Trek (2009)

• Chris Pine / Kirk (not pictured -- signed & personalized 5x7 w/ nice note)
• Zachary Quinto / Spock (signed 11x17 poster & 8x10)