Confusion on Hollywood Blvd.

[Tiberius Jim]

I'm hoping someone here, possibly someone who lives in Hollywood (doubleoh?) can answer this.

My girlfriend and I were in Hollywood yesterday on vacation, doing the tourist thing checking out Grauman's Chinese Theater. We're standing looking at the cement blocked for the TOS cast, surrounded by a fairly large crowd when all of a sudden this guy gasps and screams, "Oh my god!" and runs toward a man and a woman who were just standing on the sidewalk. As he does so, so does nearly every other person in the crowd, almost as if on cue. Cameras are out, people literally mob this couple. At this point, we haven't even seen the woman's face, but the man appears to be her security. I caught a glimpse of her face but didn't recognize her at all.

Someone then yells out, "Lauren, I love you!" Okay, so her name is Lauren. Lauren who? As a joke to my girlfriend, I said "Lauren, I don't know who you are!" This rather douchy fellow behind me hears this, and in a tone that makes me believe he thought I was living under a rock, he asks, "You don't know who she it?" I say no, and he continues to explain, "She's Lauren Yatko (sp?), she was on One Tree Hill and is in the new Twilight movie Eclipse. She's really cool, you should meet her!"

I assumed by "Meet her" she means "violate her personal space and treat her like the second coming of Christ." Meanwhile, the original "Oh my god!" Guy is jumping up and down, throwing a fit because "She touched me!!"

It was madness. These people were going batshit insane over this girl...and I had never ever heard of her. I like to think of myself as at least somewhat with it when it comes to that sort of thing, and even my girlfriend, a Twilight fan (sigh) didn't even know who the hell she was.

I decided to look her up and see what all the fuss is about...except I can't find any reference to a Lauren Yatko anywhere. She's not in any cast listing for One Tree Hill. She's also not on the cast of Eclipse. We saw the movie tonight (unfortunately) and nope, no sign of this Lauren in the film or the credits. No Laurens period, even.

So...why the hell were these people so excited to see someone who doesn't even appear to be a real celebrity? As it is, it was as if she was just standing there in front of the theater waiting for someone to notice her, and was prepared with security guy in tow.

Our first theory was that it was all staged; she's a new actress looking for exposure so she stages a scene where people are nearly shitting their pants at the sight of here on Hollywood Blvd. But why make up a story that she was on a show/in a movie that she isn't?

I'm just so confused...

 

[Spot's Meow]

There are theater groups that go around doing improv performances on the streets, usually in some funny or ridiculous way. One example (I heard on NPR) was of this group going to some little bar where an unknown local band was playing and acting like it was the greatest most moving concert they'd ever been to. They were cheering the guys' names and crying and dancing and the bar was packed. The band thought they were awesome, but of course when they later found out that it was staged some of them were majorly pissed.

Anyway, this incident reminds me of that sort of thing.

 

[flipjack]

There are 4 people with the name "Lauren Yatko" in the United States.

 

[scotpens]

There are theater groups that go around doing improv performances on the streets, usually in some funny or ridiculous way. One example (I heard on NPR) was of this group going to some little bar where an unknown local band was playing and acting like it was the greatest most moving concert they'd ever been to. They were cheering the guys' names and crying and dancing and the bar was packed. The band thought they were awesome, but of course when they later found out that it was staged some of them were majorly pissed.

Anyway, this incident reminds me of that sort of thing.

That sounds like a plausible explanation. As for genuine movie and TV stars, the only people in L.A. who go all ga-ga over them are tourists.

 

[sojourner]

hmmm, I am guessing it was a flash mob?

 

[Trekker4747]

I'm thinking along the lines of some-kind-of "street theater"/"Improv Everywhere" kind of stunt.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I suppose...I just don't understand why they would claim she was on/in a show/movie that she isn't. Because then people will go home, look up the cast listing, see she isn't there and think, "Well, that was stupid."

 

[Nerys Myk]

^Probably not their goal.

 

[propita]

Improve Everywhere does some neat stuff.

I've gone to their website. I like the idea of people in a supermarket suddenly breaking out in song, like in the old musicals. Cool idea.

 

[doubleohfive]

"It's just Hollywood Boulevard, Jake..."

I don't know what it was that was going on there, and really ... I think the number of times I've actually been to Hollywood Blvd since moving here is oh, three.

Lots of weird stuff happens there. Recently, the city has cracked down on the actors in costumes -- Batman, Captain Jack, Spidey ... and for being one of the biggest tourist spots in town, I'm not surprised something like this occurred. I do agree though, it's kind of nonsensical, but it is Hollywood, and if I've learned anything it's that most of the time, very little in this town makes a whole lot of sense.