Monday, January 26, 2009

Bringin' home the Bacon


Have you heard of the six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon?

It's a trivia game based on the concept of the small world phenomenon and rests on the assumption that any actor can be linked through his or her film roles to actor Kevin Bacon. The game requires a group of players to connect any film actor in history to Kevin Bacon as quiickly as possible in as few links as possible.

It's been around for awhile, but every now and then I find myself trying to connect myself to Kevin Bacon.

As the former entertainment editor at the newspaper, I used to interview a large number of somewhat famous people. (It really isn't as cool as it sounds. It's actually pretty boring.) Through them, I managed to connect myself to Mr. Footloose himself.

Ready, here goes: I interviewed comedian Larry the Cable Guy, who played "Mater" in Cars where Cheech Marin did the voice of "Ramone," Cheech Marin starred in the movie "From Dusk Til Dawn" with George Clooney; George Clooney starred in "Oceans Eleven" with Julia Roberts. Julia Roberts played in . . . dum da dum "Flatliners" with Kevin Bacon.

But it gets better. After doing a little more research, I discovered that I'm actually closer to Kevin Bacon than I thought.

Here's how: Singer/songwriter Max Carl (who so graciously offered to assist me with music industry research on Long Road -- thanks Max) has worked with Bette Midler, Bette Midler was in the movie "Hocus Pocus" with Sarah Jessica Parker, and...ta da! Sarah Jessica Parker played in "Footloose" with Kevin Bacon.

I know.

I'm in desperate need of better ways to spend my time.

I lead a sad, sad life.

But it was a fun diversion for a snowy Monday.

Now, you tell me. . .are you six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon?

Tell me about the most famous person you've met. Have you ever been star-struck?

11 comments:

About Me said...

See, I completely suck at six degrees of separation. I couldn't off the top of my head connect two people to save my life, let alone myself to a random person.

At least you spend your time keeping your mind active :)

Anonymous said...

I LOVE THIS GAME.

Me and my sweet hubby will play it while driving or soaking in the hot tub. It's sooo fun and so frustrating sometimes! LOL.

I am pretty much the LAMEST person on the planet. I've met very few famous people other than asking some sports figures for autographs for my sweet hubby.

I am in NO way connected to Mr. Footloose other than the fact that I've seen it over 200 times I bet. I've never really counted how many times I've watched it, but it's got to be close to 200. **smile**

I love this post. ... You are so interesting...every time you post something on my blog, I'm like, REALL? COOL!

Either you've interviewed someone I've mentioned or something fun.

So, here's a challenge. Two names, connect them somehow...not necessarily to Mr. Footloose, just somehow connect them.....

Michael Keaton and Kate Winslet.

I just picked two random names.....

Kathryn Hupp-Harris said...

OK. This was not easy, but I've done it, Lynn.


Michael Keaton was in "Beetle Juice" with Winona Ryder who was in "Heather's" with Christian Slater who was in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" with Alan Rickman who was in "Sense & Sensibility" with Kate Winslet

Anonymous said...

Okay So is my connection to Kevin Bacon through Kathy to Carl Max to Bette Midler to Sarah Jessica Parker to KEVIN BACON?? Incidently my hairdresser used to play golf with Garth Brooks..so is there any connection between Garth and Kevin? Hehe!

Anonymous said...

We found my connection! I have met Anne Rice who wrote "Interview With A Vampire" in which Brad Pitt is in and he acted in "Oceans Eleven" with Julia Roberts. Julia was in "Flatliners" with KEVIN BACON!! Wow....

Rosslyn Elliott said...

Kat, I've met enough Hollywood types to know that I absolutely had to be only two degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon.

Sure enough, in one of my low-level positions in NYC eons ago, I met Rob Reiner: Rob Reiner directed A Few Good Men, which featured KEVIN BACON.

I will testify, however, that the more Hollywood types one meets, the less attractive the film profession looks. :-) It tends to attract narcissists--go figure.

The only time I have ever been "star-struck" (as in, my mouth dropped open) is when my husband unexpectedly introduced me to one of the producers of Amazing Grace, which is one of my favorite movies of all time. Artistic achievement impresses me.

Anonymous said...

Kat, you did it! Wow, that was awesome.

This was a fun topic.

Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

**I've awarded your blog the Premio Dardos Award. Come see what it is: http://lynnrush.wordpress.com/***

KM Wilsher said...

Try this: Pick an actor and put their name and Kevin Bacon’s in google search – 9 times out of 10 it gives you the 6 degrees of seperation! Crazy!

I talked to Paula Abdul on the phone when working at the Airlines. She was married to Emilio Estevez. Estevez was in St. Elmo's Fire with Demi Moore D. Moore was in A Few Good Men with Kevin Bacon. That’s 3 degrees!

Well may be 100 degrees cause I just talked with her on the phone! That’s the closest I’ve come. You’re such a rock star Kat! What a life you lead!

I love your posts!

Kathryn Hupp-Harris said...

crimo -- no worries. I wouldn't be able to play this game without the internet movie database. (I know, it's cheating, darnit!)

lynnrush -- I figured you'd like this game. I love whenever you talk about popculture on your blog. Good times.

Jill -- Good thing you found another way because I wasn't going to let you use me. I'm a stinker that way. :-)

Rosslyn -- That's just it about the Hollywood types and why I never really enjoyed being the entertainment editor. It was fun for awhile, but after a few months, it was like that movie "Groundhog Day." I was just reliving the same interviews over and over sometimes. Oh well.

gzusfreek -- really, my life isn't all that cool. But Emilio...I used to have the biggest crush on Emilio.

JC Lamont said...

Too funny -- me and my brother and sister would play that game on long road trips as kids. I didn't know it had a name, or that anyone else ever did it.

I've not met anyone famous -- except for James Scott Bell (ABA suspense author) at a writer's conference. We sorta keep in touch -- he sent me an article on atheism one time, that was way cool.