A Guide to Celebrity Encounters

When it comes to entertainment, New Orleans is a diverse city. With a storied music history, two major professional sports teams, and the new reputation of "Hollywood South," there is always the chance of a celebrity sighting. Each chance for a run-in with a celebrity presents a different set of circumstances, and each situation should be handled differently. Here is my attempt at a guide to who and what might be in store for us in New Orleans.

Master P
If we run into Master P, let's hope it's early in the evening. If we're of sound minds, we probably won't approach him. Later in the night, though, I'm probably stumbling through his entourage to ask him why he didn't make it to the NBA.




Archie Manning
Just close your eyes and listen for someone at the corner of the bar bragging about his kids.......aaaannnnnd we found him. I don't know if I could handle an encounter with Archie. He might be a great guy, but if Eli was my kid, I'd have disowned him by now.



Adam Haluska
Celebrity? Why not. I'm guessing all three of you would die to run into him while we're out on the town. I'd enjoy watching him try to socialize at a bar without ever using his left hand.





John Goodman
Goodman owns a house in Metairie, Louisiana, so I'm sure he ventures to New Orleans from time to time. We'll see him late night at the blackjack table. Join him at the table and dominate the dealer for a shoe, and we'll be best buds in no time.


Vlade Divac & Peja Stojakovic
One current and one former Hornet, these two Serbians are inseparable. They'll probably be blacked-out by the time we see them. If we just join in and act like we know the words to the Serbian songs they are singing, they'll love us for it.


The Neville Brothers
I say we tell them we are also brothers, and that we have traveled all the way to New Orleans for the sole purpose of fighting them. Or we try and have a normal conversation with them, except that we all talk in Aaron Neville's high-pitched voice.


Emeril Lagasse
BAM!!!! Emeril is a New Orleans staple, it being the home of his first restaurant and the headquarters for his corporation. Chances aren't good we'll cross paths, but you never know. Introduce him to the wine bomb on Friday, and maybe we have dinner comped at his restaurant on Saturday.




Drew Brees
Quarterbacks are a competitive breed, and the way Kyle Orton has been partying through his first few seasons, Drew can only try and keep up. Orton will be my ice-breaker, as will the mole I will have drawn on my face by this point.


David from the Real World
It's a little known, but often assumed fact that once the Real World: New Orleans wrapped, cast member David walked straight to the nearest street corner, began singing for money, and hasn't left since. I just want to stop on the corner for one rendition of "Come On Be My Baby, Tonight" and then move on.



Tom Arnold
In New Orleans filming Into the Mist, I'm sure he still does his fair share of partying. The Iowa connection will be reason enough for a round of shots, let's just pray he's not out with Tom Sizemore, who's also starring in the film.





Any other guesses at who we might see? Different ways to handle the impending situation? Thoughts welcome in the comments section.