Kris and Adam don't hate me and I love Lee, Tony and Anoop
Meeting the Publicist
So I've been trying to get interviews and contacting publicists and artists. Today was a big day. I finally got a breakthrough with a publicist at 19E. I might get an interview soon -- but what was great about today was I finally talked to the publicist face to face! We talked about a few things and one of the most gratifying was learning that Kris Allen and Adam Lambert aren't mad at me after all! Yay! I shouldn't have listened to the fans. I don't understand why some of them are so evil. And even to this day, some of them are still harassing me.
Hopefully, I will have an easier time getting access this Summer with the Idols. Again, before the haters start yapping away: these are the same people behind the scenes from last year. I'm very happy that I'm now in contact with them because they've told me how great a job I've done promoting American Idol all these years and not just Season 9. I guess I'm slow to pick up, but I'm here now -- and I hope good things happen for the rest of the year.
So yes... @god make the interview/s happen!
Anoop Desai, Part 1
Anoop Desai was in town to promote his CD at Barnes and Noble at Lincoln Center. I rushed to get there at 5:30 and saw some of his fans from Twitter in the audience. I stayed at the back because I was going to leave early as I wanted to catch Lee DeWyze leave the NBC studios at 6:30. He sang a couple of songs on his CD and by 6, he was signing stuff. There weren't a lot of people there, at most probably 30 and easily 1/3 of those were just browsers who probably didn't know who he was. Needless to say I was not optimistic that I could leave and return before everyone was gone -- but maybe the fans will chat with him endlessly so who knows.
So off to NBC at 6:10 ...
Lee DeWyze, Alex and my favorite bodyguard Tony
I arrived at 6:25 at the door. At about 6:35 the publicist came out and gave me a tip that Lee was exiting from the other entrance at 50th street - he had to take a flight back to LA so was not going with Lee. So off I go to the other side. To my surprise - two fans followed me! WTF. They even ignored me but it was obvious that we were waiting for the same thing. At least say "Hi" right?
Anyway... Lee DeWyze came out and I had a picture with him! Very exciting. But what was more exciting was seeing Tony the bodyguard! Hahaha. This is like three years in the making to finally be able to interact with him. I think Lee may have given me a "why is this guy going nuts over my bodyguard" look.
I thanked Alex from FOX -- she accompanies all the Idols when they come to New York and she has taken every single picture of me with the Season 9 Idols. And then I shook Tony's hand! He thanked me too. Woohoo! I was so happy.
Anoop Desai, Part 2
Because I shall not be denied, I took a cab back to Lincoln Center with hopes of catching Anoop. I got back there at 6:50 or so -- and everyone was gone! I was so depressed. I tweeted some fans if they could stall but apparently they got my message too late. I even tried to tweet Anoop.
So I stood there in the corner of Broadway and 61st being sad, checking my Twitter every once in a while for something.
And then at 7:10 pm -- I spot Anoop crossing the street with a suitcase! WTF.
It was time to call out his name.
"Anoop!" "Anoop!" "Anoop!!!!!"
He noticed me and he stopped in front of the subway entrance waiting for me to cross the street.
I crossed and he told me that he was taking the subway to the airport. *Gasp* "Can I go with you?" "Sure."
How exciting!
So we talk on the subway platform. I tell him about my adventures and near fail (which now has turned into an epic win) over the past hour. I show him my HTC EVO and he gasped.
The subway arrived and we talk a bit about his career. He'll be releasing "All Is Fair" as a single on radio in the Southeast. He asked what was new on the blog. I told him Lady Gaga just released a new video.
I told him that he should take the LIRR to JFK instead of the subway because it's faster which he agreed to. I asked if we could record a video on the HTC EVO while he's on the subway. We recorded, but then we missed Penn Station! Argh. We got off at 23rd Street and crossed the street to get the subway going back -- and it was perfect timing because a train arrived just as we got back in.
At Penn Station, I helped him get a ticket to the LIRR and it was perfect timing again because the train was just about to leave. And then one more picture before he left.
Anoop flew into New York at 1:30 pm, had lunch with a friend at 3:00 pm then went to Barnes and Noble at 5:30 pm -- meets Rickey at 7 pm (this is important) -- then flew back to NC at 9:30 pm. I was surprised that he chose to take the subway/train but he said he liked it. Hey, if it's good enough for the Mayor of New York to take everyday to work -- it's good enough for Anoop! (And thank @god he did because I probably wouldn't have had time to talk to him).
So there. Epic win Tuesday.