Brushes with fame are not brushes with greatness

So it seems that today, after all has been said and done, the media's biggest concern has to do with which celebrities have been spotted where. The biggest buzz surrounds the Super Bowl parties.

Even in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl Parties, the local media was hyping all of these parties. Who's going to be at the Playboy Party vs. Who's going to be at the Penthouse Party? So-and-so is hosting a party and so-and-so is supposed to be there.

Some of these parties cost $2,000 or more to attend, and apparently people were paying.

Then there was the Maxim deal. Maxim magazine was looking for hotties to add to their guest list, apparently to sweeten the scenery a bit. Local women were invited to send photos of themselves to the event's promoters.

Those that were accepted received an email congratulating them, and reminding them to dress like a skank for the party, as well as including this creepy statement:

If you would like to recommend another HOT Girlfriend, please have them submit a recent picture. Please do not attempt to bring any male accompaniment, they will not be admitted under any circumstance. Link to story

Even with that creepiness, apparently the party went well. Attendees were said to include such "A-listers" as George Wendt, Jim Belushi and Detroit Mayor Kwame KilPatrick.

I have always been cynical of these "VIP" parties. Any party that promises celebrities in exchange for money, except as a fundraiser, probably ain't gonna deliver.

I am basing this on experience. On multiple experiences, actually.

Experience #1 - Detroit Electronic Music Festival, a few years ago. Based on information from a friend, we crashed Spin magazine's DEMF party in a suite in the Ponchartrain Hotel. We snuck in for free booze, but there a lot of model wannabe's standing around, trying to look cool and trying to figure out who was famous. If I actually cared about any of these people, I would have pointed out that the famous people were in the plaza below, watching the music. I didn't care, though. So I didn't share. We just drank everything behind the bar.

Experience #2 - Severence Gallery, 2 winters ago? We met Perry Ferrell at an art opening. I had been overserved on a mixture of vodka and Tang (quite addictive actually, like vodka and Red Bull, only old school), so the first thing that came out of my mouth was a slurred, "Can I hug you?" Perry graciously said yes. He stood there with his arm around Nicole and chatted with all of us for a few minutes (that was before I had a camera... sigh), and then went to look at all the art. He was at the gallery until after 1 am.

What's the point of that story? He was supposed to be DJ'ing at this sheeshy cheezy bar where people had paid at least a $30 cover to see him. I strongly doubt he ever made it.

Experience #3 - The only time I paid to go to an event like this was when we went to a McCarty Cancer Foundation event that Darren McCarty was supposed to be at. He wasn't; I didn't care. It was a good cause and we all had a good time.

Besides, nobody is worth any amount of money just to share space with them. Paying money to see someone perform is one thing, but to actually think that anyone is so great that you should pay money just to be in the same building? I think you've got some issues regarding your own self-worth.

So if you were out and about this weekend, spending money on Super Bowl parties, you could have rubbed shoulders with David Spade, Rob Schneider, Jessica Alba or LL Cool J. As for me, I was plenty happy to be in my living room with my wife and a half dozen of my closest friends. We had three coolers full of beer and enough food for about 20 people. That was it. I think that makes my party one of the most exclusive of the weekend.