Sunday, December 18, 2005

A Kamel for Christmas!!

Dear readers, working in *showbiz* as I do, one regularly bumps into other celebrities, sometimes at star-studded premieres and parties, sometimes in slightly less glamorous surroundings (see here). OK, most of the time, these encounters are either slightly weird (i.e. skulking behind supermarket shelves) or just plain embarrassing (getting tangled up in Kate Moss's daughter's pushchair). But sometimes, the magic kicks in and there's a real connection. Last night was one such occasion. It was about 1:30 a.m. and we were just leaving the bar when Noodle (whose celebrity antennae are as finely tuned as my own) turned round and hissed "Kamel Ouali!!" I realise that some of my *international* readers may not be completely familiar with Mr. Ouali's (that's pronounced "Wally") oeuvre. Those of you already in the know can skip the next bit:

For the last five years, he has been the resident choreographer/dance coach/all round good egg on "StarAcademy" - a *talent* show in which a group of more-or-less photogenic adolescents are locked up in a château (this being France and all) and subjected to regular helicopter visits by people such as Lionel Ritchie (?!) and Mariah Carey who tell them to "Hold on to your dreams!!" and "Never stop believing in yourself!!" Then after about 10 weeks or so, they whack up the reverb on the contestants' mics, so everyone says "My, haven't they improved? They must be following Lionel/Mariah's advice" and pretend that the candidate chosen by the record company has actually been voted the winner via premium-rate phone calls from viewers. Or something like that. Here's this year's winner. And every week, Kamel devises increasingly preposterous routines and removes more and more of his dancers' clothing in a bid to keep the ratings up. Recently though, he's been branching out into musicals, directing a French-language version of "Gone with The Wind" and now "Le Roi Soleil"

Anyway, overcome with vodka emotion, I screamed "You're Kamel Ouali and I claim my five pounds!!" Perhaps understandably, he seemed a little nonplussed by this, so I grabbed his hand and started pumping it up and down, saying "I really like what you do - keep it up!" before stumbling outside and spending the next five minutes squeaking "Kamel Ouali, Kamel Ouali" with Noodle, and having to explain to Mark who he was. What a great pre-Christmas present!! (What do you mean, is that it?)

27 comments:

Reluctant Nomad said...

Is that it?

Frog with a Blog said...

GAP FILL EXERCISE: Fill the gap in order to complete the following quote from Rhino75's famous blog:

"... so I grabbed his ____ and started pumping it up and down, saying "I really like what you do -keep it up!"

rhino75 said...

OK, Nomad, we can't ALL have tea with Joanna Lumley, ya know. Maybe you had to be there to feel the excitement. And Micke, you KNOW you're jealous, even though you've had tea with Miou-Miou...

Rob7534 said...

I'm Jealous Rhino!

I don't know him, but I'm still excited for you! :)

rhino75 said...

Thank you Rob hon. It's good to know there are people you can count on!!

rhino75 said...

Hmmm, one of my colleagues has just told me he's "had" him and shown me his mobile phone number. That's taken the wind out of my sails.

Anonymous said...

haha! i laughed out loud in my office when i read the part where you actually wrote "But sometimes, the magic kicks in and there's a real connection." I mean...c'mon! the guy stared at us with rolling eyes whispering "security..."!

still, a true celebrity moment

rhino75 said...

I think rolling your eyes and whispering "security" DEFINITELY counts as a connection :))

Frog with a Blog said...

So did your colleague give you any details? So how was he? I saw him at the gym a few months ago (last time I went to the gym that is), he's a real bitch who kept on saying very nasty things about Amanda Lear while stretching! He didn't call security when he saw me though...

rhino75 said...

Micke, you MUST be lying because we *showbiz* folk never say nasty things about each other, and it's surely tantamount to French gay crime to badmouth Amanda Lear? I don't know that I believe my colleague but apparently ... oh, no I couldn't possibly reveal that...

Frog with a Blog said...

TALK TO ME!

Reluctant Nomad said...

Now, talking about Amanda Lear, didn't she go and spend a few years in rural South Africa a few years ago? I remember reading that and finding it too weird for words.

*wink wink*....for mickelino

Frog with a Blog said...

*blush blush* nomad

rhino75 said...

purrrleeaze, if you're going to flirt, do it on your own blogs (and spare the rest of us) :))

Rob7534 said...

purrrleeaze, if you're going to flirt, do it on your own blogs (and spare the rest of us)

Oh that was funny! Because we all have BLOGS! HA! and there is so much cross-talk on the comments!

But Rhino is right. I know I would yell BLOODY MURDER if guys were flirting on my blog, and it didn't involve me! If I'm not getting ANY then noone's getting any!

At least at the World According To Rob.

Reluctant Nomad said...

wink @ rhino

wink @ rob

No more winking at mickelino as we eventually found a room! *big wink*

rhino75 said...

ah, at last! I was beginning to think you'd lost your touch Nomad :))

Reluctant Nomad said...

Touch? It will be much more than just a touch! ;)

Reluctant Nomad said...

I've just discovered that I'm the MOST POPULAR link leaving your blog! And old froggy is merely the third most popular...so there, mickelino! :-)

rhino75 said...

Crikey, I'll try and come up with a special prize...

Reluctant Nomad said...

I already know what it is - can I have mickelino?

rhino75 said...

awww Nomad, he's not mine to give, I'm afraid...I was thinking more along the lines of a badge, or something...

Reluctant Nomad said...

a badge of honour will do...ta xx

Frog with a Blog said...

I'm all yours Nomad
... and I come with a golden ribbon too! I also sing if you press the right spot.

Let's get back to "our private room" now will you! or the 2 drama queens are going to throw a fit again...

Reluctant Nomad said...

*looks for right spot*.....oh, it's that one that we all have! ;)

Rob7534 said...

And just exactly WHO are the "2 drama queens" Micke?

I had better not be one of them!

Frog with a Blog said...

Well, what were we REALLY talking about? 'cos we got a bit carried away here. So was Kamel any good?