The Master Of Macabre Disguise

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that the gorgeous creature above, Johnny Depp, can effortlessly morph himself into the most interesting of characters so masterfully that he makes you forget how gorgeous he is. His character creations are legendary, beginning with Edward Sissorhands right through to The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.

Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, Sweeny Todd, no one can quite do just what Johnny does which is make the mundane become intriguing and macabre.

But it's his latest creation that's got me all a flutter, and here's the thing, I didn't even know I liked the guy! With this newest collaboration with Tim Butrton, "Dark Shadows" Johnny Depp has me intrigued and asking myself, "Who is this guy?"

Maybe it's because I remember the Dark Shadows TV shows from some where in my youth, and to see Johnny as Barnabus Collins not only took me back to my childhood, it intrigued the HELL out of me. Again, "who is this guy?"

I think I love him.

Not only is Johnny Depp the man a fine chunk of man candy, but his characters tend to incite a feeling from deep inside that is both exciting and exhilarating. If Johnny is in character, it's going to be worth the price of the ticket. And if it's been done right, "Dark Shadows" out May 11th will be a great ride.

Love him or hate him, you can't deny his talent. He is truly a Master of his art.

Hollywood Came Calling

I love this story.

Seems this average Joe, Bob Gray, and his girlfriend moved from Cleveland to LA earlier this year. When Bob signed up for a local cell phone number, he got one that changed his life. Bob inherited an old number of a famous and well connected Hollywood insider.

"The next day I get a text message," says Gray. " 'Hey man, I just saw your sh*t on TMZ.' " Surprised, he text back, "Whose number do I have?"

Gray quickly realized he had hit A List gold. He says he got a text from none other than Paris Hilton herself, inviting him to her celebrity birthday party and dozens of offers for Hollywood premiers and parties. He explained who he was and the situation to Paris, who immediately put them on her guest list. Gray says he and his girlfriend "rolled up" to the Hollywood Hills mansion where the party was in their rusted, old Dodge mini van. Security, ready to pounce, asks him for his name and then checks the list.

"He goes, 'Hang on.'

"We're wondering if we're really on the list.

"The guy comes back: 'Yeah. You're on the list.' I think he was amazed."

The phone, with all it's Hollywood connections, belonged to none other than Nick Swardson, and through the phone he has connected with Kathy Griffith, Andy Dick, Kevin Nealon and none other than Adam Sandler. Bob says a call came through with a distinctive voice her recognized to be Sandler. They had a few chuckles and then discussed writing a screenplay about the whole thing. Gray now has a talent manager and a screen writing partner and are hard at work on just that; this unbelievable story of fate.

Only in Hollywood can you make a dream materialize from a cell.