The other side of the velvet rope
Weird one this, but bear with me.

Back in the early 90s, I worked for a charity that promoted water safety (RLSS). If any of you have your "Bronze Medallion" for jumping into a swimming pool fully-clothed and retrieving a brick, it would have been via these people.

Based on an idea I had, we did a tie-in with Sega, with "Ecco the Dolphin" teaching kids water safety. Produced a video with Chris Evans (cock, only did the work when given a stack of cash, even though it was for charity) and Baywatch.

Two of the stars of Baywatch - Yasmine Bleeth and Jaason Simmons - came over to the UK to promote the video, which was given (free) to every school in the country.

I got to stay with "the stars" in London during the week of promotional activities. At the time, Baywatch was the biggest TV show on the planet. 100 million viewers in 80 countries.

It was very strange seeing things from the other side of the fence, so to speak. Jaason was a lovely guy, but this was his first big break and as the new series featuring him in it (he was the Australian one with tattoos) had just come out, I was with him whilst he experienced his first moments of fame.

I remember us all having a meal at the Hard Rock cafe, and fans crawling under the table throughout the meal to emerge at his side to have their picture taken.

Spending 90 minutes in car, just myself and Yasmine Bleeth (at the time, one of the top ten most beautiful women in the world, according to the lads mags) and my God, she was boring company.

Getting so "refreshed" with Jaason that he had to crawl out of my room on his hands and knees to get to his bed.

Being guests of honour at Stringfellows and seeing the desperate wannabees there who would do anything to get into the limelight. At the end of the evening, I turned down the invite to a party with Paul Hutchence and Kylie etc. because I was so sick of the whole celeb. thing.

So it saddens me that the ambition of so many is to be "famous". I've experienced second-hand what it's like, and believe me, it ain't all that. They are people, just like us, with the exception of the more fame they have had, the less reality they know. It almost is as if the photographs do suck their soul out and leave a vacuum - Yasmine B. had been "in the industry" all her life and frankly was like an animatronic Barbie doll and really boring company.

Jaason came back to the UK to see me some months afterwards and was great company.

Fame though - aspired to by idiots, and generally achieved by the same.
( I_Was_Mordred, Fri 17 Apr 2009, 12:16, Reply)