Two Truths and THE Lie: #5

Did you guess correctly?

Previously on Two Truths and a Lie…

• I played Fussball in Joey and Chandler’s apartment on the set of Friends.

• I was in the Thriller dance sequence from 13 Going On 30. Blink and you’ll miss me in the back row on the right behind Judy Greer.

• I was with Leonardo DiCaprio on a private plane and there was terrible turbulence and all I kept thinking was that I would be known as "Leonardo DiCaprio and Others" if the plane crashed.

What’s your guess? Keep scrolling to find out the truth…

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Truth #1: We were filming Wild Wild West on the stage across from Friends, and the legend about their tapings going so long into the night that they'd do two audience seatings on film days? Totally true. We were also shooting late on Friday nights, and Katie, one of our ADs, was friends with one of the ADs on Friends and he’d invite us over. So, we’d go watch the end of their tapings and hang out after. I distinctly remember an episode involving a regatta gala where Rachel was trying to impress a new guy. You can probably hear my dumb laugh on the track. (I just looked it up and it’s called The One Where Ross Moves In.

After the audience left, the crew would hang out on set, imbibing drinks and decompressing—which included playing foosball in Joey and Chandler’s apartment. It’s wild to think how much access we had to everything back then, before 9/11 and the rise of camera phones. Since it’s not documented, it’s one of the many reasons I’m grateful to be reminiscing now, so I can read all of this when I’m in assisted living!

The Lie: I was not part of the infamous Thriller dance-off, however, I was on set that day! I was working on the film on the studio side, and my friend Daren invited me over because she knew how much I loved ‘80s music and wisely knew it was going to be a fun day. Watching it all unfold, I had no idea how iconic it would become. 

A fun fact I like to share when guests come over for dinner is that I proudly have the signed photo from Madonna herself! It’s the one she inscribed to Jennifer Garner’s character in 13 Going on 30, with the words, “Jenna girl—margaritas anytime.” And every time I show it off, I can’t resist saying, “I know Madonna?” just like she says in the movie!

From: 40 Delightfully Nostalgic Facts You Never Knew About '13 Going on 30'

Our music team was working with Maverick since Crazy for You was featured in the film, so they had Madonna sign the headshot. It’s probably one of the only props I have from any of the movies I worked on (don’t even get me started on how I turned down an extra “Wilson” volleyball from Cast Away because I didn’t understand the appeal of talking to a volleyball!). This photo is easily one of my favorite pieces in my treasures.

Truth #2: Yes, I did ride on a private plane with Leonardo DiCaprio—and I genuinely thought we were going to die! I was Shannon Elizabeth’s plus-one to a poker tournament in Vegas (I barely made it through one whole table with Paris Hilton!). After the event, the organizer grouped us with Leo and his friends on a jet back to Burbank, but we were delayed a few hours because of bad winds. 

When they say the wind in Vegas is bad, they’re not kidding. The plane was tiny, and the back end kept whipping side to side while we were in the air. To this day, it remains one of the scariest flights I’ve ever taken. It was just Leo’s two friends, the guy from My Name Is Earl, Shannon, and me. The whole time, all I could hear was La Bamba playing in my head, imagining the headline: 'Leonardo DiCaprio and others perish in plane crash'—and I’d forever be remembered as 'an other.' Or worse, 'bye bye another American Pie!' Tip your waiters, folks!

Click here for photos from the 1st Annual Jet Celebrity Poker Tournament

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On the next edition of Two Truths and a Lie:

• I struck up a whirlwind 48-hour friendship with Natalie Cole that culminated in seeing her live in concert in Memphis.

• I was the fifth wheel at Neve Campbell’s dinner party when she was dating John Cusack, and John and I bonded over our shared torment from insomnia.

• One afternoon while hanging out in Kevin Kline’s trailer during the filming of Wild Wild West, I managed to convince his wife, Phoebe Cates, to teach me how to Shag.

“Two Truths and a Lie: A Storytelling Challenge!”
Join me in a fun guessing game where you’ll determine what’s true and what’s made up from my life experiences. Your guesses will inspire fresh writing prompts for future stories, blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Let’s see where your imagination takes us and stay tuned for the stories!