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MEETING
JOHN...TWICE!!
by
Lindsay
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#1 Monday October 1st, 2001 at the Wadsworth "Sing in for America" OK...here is the story of one of the best nights of my life!
I'll start by telling you that John Ritter is my favorite actor and I admire him more than anyone, so after hearing about a charity event called the Sing-In for America and that John was going to be hosting it, I decided that I had to go! It also sounded like a great event that was raising money for the Red Cross and I was really excited to go. It was on a Monday night and luckily I had the day off school (it was meant to be, otherwise I probably wouldn't have been able to go!) I'm only 16 and I live about an hour from LA so my mom said she would go with me, obviously not wanting me to go by myself. She knows how much I love John and we were both really excited.
When we got there and began watching the event, we could not believe how good it was! I mean it was all of the Broadway stars! Every act was different and the voices were incredible! So then came time for the intermission. We had been sitting in the balcony and decided to move down to the front because we saw some empty seats. When we went down, it was right before the intermission and we were about 10 feet from the stage and John was right there...I couldn't believe that he was standing right in front of me...the same guy that I watch for hours on "Three's Company" and admire so much! At intermission my mom told me to try and get on the stage and find John cause he was probably signing stuff for fans. I didn't just want to walk onto the stage though, because audience members weren't really supposed to. Well, right as I decided that I might as well take a chance, a little girl about 9 years old was asking if anyone knew where John Ritter was because she "loved him!" Some guy told her he was in his dressing room and we could try on the other side of the stage. I just kind of followed her, hoping she (because she was small and cute) could get us in. When we got to the other side, the girl was describing how funny she thought John was and how much she liked him...it was kinda funny...cause she sounded just like me! Then a lady came out and said that John was preparing for his last act and couldn't really come out of his dressing room right then. So we waited inside by the stage for a little bit and then Amy, John's wife, walked right by me...it was so weird! Then the lady took the girl's hand and pulled she and I into his dressing room! It was really small and he was right there and Amy was too. When he saw the little girl he said "hi cutie...how are you!!??" and gave her a hug. It was really cute. Then she told him how much she like "Three's Company" and he signed her book she had. The whole time I was just standing behind her...my hands were totally shaking, and my heart was beating faster than it ever has! Then she walked out and he got up and shook my hand and said a friendly: "Hi!" I managed to get out a "Hi, I'm such a big fan..." (how original) - I was so nervous i couldn't think of anything else to say but that I couldn't believe that I was meeting him and how crazy it was. I told him my name was Lindsay and he got a piece of paper to sign for me...after asking the spelling of my name, he began writing. I told them that I had just been watching "Problem Child" the other day and I thought it was hilarious. There was kind of a pause and then I said, "Oh, I'm coming to see you in "J for J," (he was still signing the paper) and Amy said, "that's a great play" and John also commented, "yeah, it really is good." Then I kind of glanced at the lady who had brought us in and she looked as if she was saying "ok..that's enough," so I decided I'd better go. Still nervous, I said, "thank you so much for taking your time to do this." And then he said with a big smile and a wave, "Bye Lindsay!!" That was the best day of my life...I couldn't believe that I actually met him..my mom said that when she saw me walk out..she immediatley knew I had met him because I had the biggest smile possible on my face ! I wish I would have said something better..but I just couldn't get it out..I was too nervous to think...so John if ya ever read this, just know that I thought you were the best on "Three's Company" and your physical comedy always makes me laugh! You are my idol and thanks so much for showing me what comedy is about! Actors rule! Jeez...maybe I should make this thing into a book...sorry it's so long...but I mean if I'm gonna tell the story..I better tell the WHOLE story! Thanks guys...bye!
Lindsay : )
Now read on:
#2. Saturday November 3rd, 2001 Rubicon Theatre "J for J" . Hey I went to the play and it was so good! John played his character so well, and even though the play was sad, it was so great. The theatre was really small, and after the play was over, and everyone started getting up, I saw Matthew Perry stand up...it was so weird...I never expected him to be there! Then I asked someone if I could see John, and they told me they would tell him that someone wanted to see him. After waiting a while, I saw John walking out the back door, wearing his USC hat on, with some other people, and I jumped out of my seat to talk to him before he left. So needless to say it wasn't that long of a meeting, because he was on his way out. First, I called out his name, and when he turned around I first asked if he had gotten my letter. He had a kind of confused face and asked "letter...umm...letter...uhh?" Then I responded with, "I guess that's a no." So then, I was really kinda sad that he hadn't gotten it, because I was hoping that he would have already read about how much I admire him and that I'm studying acting, hoping to be in comedy just like him. He humorously said that he's having all his letters tested for anthrax first. I'm still sad though cause I wanted him to read it...I wouldn't know where else he could get the letter. He asked me if I had something for him to sign, and I said "oh ya, I have my cool Three's Company book here." When he asked for my name, I said 'Lindsay', and then I said that I had met him at the Sing-In, but that he probably didn't remember me. He thought for a minute and then said "Oh ya, at the Wadsworth! Right, you were in my dressing room with me and my wife!" Then I said "ya, we kinda snuck in... : )" I shook his hand and told him that I admired all of his acting and that I love "Three's Company". Then he signed my "Three's Company" book and we took 2 pictures! He said good-bye saying, "Bye sweetie," and giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek! Oh my gosh, I was grinning! He is so cool, I wish that I could know him as a friend. I'm so excited that I got to meet him again, but I'm sad that it's over, I wish he could know how much I admire him. The play was so awesome.
Lindsay
