Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

Yesterday morning, I was getting ready for work, and listening to Hot 89.9 on the radio.  I love listening to The Morning Hot Tub, and while I only get to tune in for about a half-hour, Mauler, Rush, Jenni & Josie usually give me something to laugh about – or at the very least, something to talk about - during the brief time I get to listen.  They are entertaining cats.

Yesterday morning they had a little segment discussing who they’d each invite to a “fantasy dinner for five”.  They had each made a list of four people that they wanted to have dinner with.  Any four people in the world that they wanted – the only stipulation was that they had to be people who were currently alive.

I found it really interesting to hear each of them reveal their lists, and the reasons behind their choices.  Names like Drew Barrymore, David Letterman, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Elton John, Jennifer Aniston, Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul McCartney, even Wendel Clark, were mentioned.

Of course, it got me thinking.  Who would I pick to have a fantasy dinner with?  I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating.  My first thought was four hot guys, natch, but then I realized that would be ridiculous.  I mean, this is more than just a five-minute meet-and-greet, snap a pic and grab an autograph.  These would be people I’d be sitting down to enjoy a meal with.  Perhaps a glass of wine or two.  There would be conversation.  There would be stories to tell.

The dudes would need more than just a pretty face, right?  And it would probably be smart of me to throw a woman in there, because if I’m just sitting around with a bunch of sexy boys, I’m probably going to be tongue-tied.

So …no.  It can’t just be me, Wentworth Miller, Ian Somerhalder, Adam Levine, and James Marsden.  I’d probably stop breathing.

Last night, I sat down with a notepad and just started writing names of people that I think it would be cool to meet and have a conversation with.  Channing Tatum, Kate Middleton, George Clooney, Daniel Alfredsson, Reese Witherspoon, Kyle Chandler, Prince Harry, Blake Shelton, Chalene Johnson, Stephen King, Bobby Orr, Connie Britton, Ryan Gosling… all names that appeared on that list.

Then I started whittling – trying to find a nice mix of people; people that I think would be fun, interesting, good story-tellers…People of whom I have questions for; people whom I think would be fascinating to talk to.  And also, people that I think would mesh well together.

Even as I started typing this post, I wasn’t sure who was going to make it into my Top 4.   But after analyzing and re-analyzing, I think I finally have my perfect mix.

Before I reveal my Top 4, I’d like to give one little explanation:  You are probably all going to be shocked that Wade Redden isn’t there.  But my reason for that is very simple.  I want Wade all to myself.  Much like Mauler’s explanation as to why he didn’t include Betty White (yes, Betty White) on his list – I want one-on-one time with Wade.  I want that to be a romantic dinner for two.

Plus, Wade doesn’t strike me as being an amazing conversationalist.  So yeah.  He’s not there.

Doesn’t mean I don’t love him.  Don’t ever doubt that.

Alrighty.  That’s enough jibber-jabber.  Here’s my Top 4!

Wentworth Miller

Okay.  This might be my silliest choice, because, as we all know, he is my boy du jour. 

A year ago, or even a few months ago, the “hot guy” choice would’ve been Ian Somerhalder or Channing Tatum.  So why give one of these valuable positions to Wentworth, when I’m likely going to be in love with some other guy in the not-too-distant future?

A) He really is smokin’.  B) From the interviews and behind-the-scenes stuff I’ve seen on the Prison Break DVDs, he sounds like a pretty intelligent fellow, and one who would have bits of wisdom to impart.  C) He’s not just an actor, he’s also a writer.  And his film Stoker, for which he wrote the script, is garnering plenty of critical acclaim.  So, he’d have more to talk about than just his fame as a TV star.  D) He’s vanished from the spotlight for the most part since his Prison Break days.  And there’s very little personal information out there about him.  I’d like to pick that boy’s brain.  Find out who he really is.

E) Did I mention he’s really smokin’??  I mean, c’mon.  I needed one hot guy.

 

Priscilla Presley

I’ve always thought it would be cool to have been alive when Elvis was ruling the world.  I would’ve loved to have seen him perform.  I would’ve loved to have just been alive to soak all of that up.  I’d have been one of his screaming fangirls, of that I have absolutely no doubt.

But I couldn’t pick The King for this fantasy dinner, because he’s dead.  And there’s no dead people allowed. 

So I asked myself, what’s the next best thing?

Ah.  The King’s ex-wife.

I want Priscilla to tell me the stories.  I want to know what it was really like to be married to Elvis Presley.  To have a child with him.  To know what he was like as a partner, as a father.  To know what it felt like to live through those highs and lows that he experienced.  To know what it was like the day she walked away from him.  And the day she got the call to tell her he had died.

That?  That has to be one fascinating conversation.

 

Ellen DeGeneres

I needed someone to bring the funny.  I like to laugh, and I don’t want this dinner to be completely serious & cerebral.

And who better to bring the funny than Ellen DeGeneres?

I almost gave this spot to Ryan Reynolds.  I mean, how could I go wrong with him – funny  AND sexy as hell.   Plus a fellow Canadian to boot. But I wasn’t sure how well Ryan Reynolds would fit in with Wentworth Miller or Priscilla Presley.  Ellen?  Ellen fits in with everybody.

I love Ellen’s show, I love her sense of humour, and I love all the she stands for.  Being yourself, and being kind to one another.  It would be a pleasure to share my dinner table with her. 

And who knows, maybe a dance party would break out – that would be the best day of my life.

 

 

Tom Cruise

A dicey choice.  I know.

But when I look back on my celebrity crushes, he was the first.  (OK, no, Chachi was the first, but I don’t think I want Scott Baio at my dinner… )

My sister loved Tom Cruise.  She’s six and a half years older than me, so a lot of her music, movie, and celebrity loves were passed on to me at a very young age.  We also shared a bedroom, so there were a lot of Tom Cruise-wearing-aviators pin-ups on my wall when I was just a little girl.  When I was about five or six years old, I would tell you Top Gun was my favourite movie, and it’s still one of my all-time favourites today.

But Tom Cruise divorced Nicole Kidman, he jumped on Oprah’s couch, he married a woman almost young enough to be his daughter, and he became the poster boy for Crazy Scientologists.  He was the laughing stock of Hollywood.  Even I was a little ashamed to call myself a fan…

But since he and Katie Holmes parted ways, he seems to be working hard to get his career back on track.  His upcoming movie, Oblivion, looks more like the kind of action movie he was once famous for.  And…well… I think that guy would be amazing to sit back and listen to.  Just imagine the stories he could tell…

***

Can you picture it?  Wentworth, Priscilla, Ellen, Tom & I?  Just hanging, having a bite to eat, chatting?

Strangely enough… I can.  I think it would be awesome.

Now, since this is a topic that clearly fascinates me, I need to know… Who are YOU inviting to your fantasy dinner?  Four people who must be currently alive…

And GO!