I have to go back over 20 years to tell this story but it’s still one of the best of all times. It goes back to my first days in radio when I was a rookie. I was young, single and having the best time of my life in radio. Julia Roberts had just come on the scene as a budding actress in the movie “Mystic Pizza”. The movie stars would go around to various radio stations to promote their movie and whether they were just getting started or already a known Hollywood Hit, they did it to promote the movie and get people talking. Plus, they picked up a lot of frequent flyer miles in the process. Well, Julia Roberts came down to the station one morning when I was on Power 99 to promote the movie. She was awfully cute back then, by the way Meg Ryan also made an appearance on Ruperts while I was there but I’ll save that for another blog. Any who, The minute she walked into the studio with her publicist, we kind of noticed each other. Come on, when you’re young, anythings possible. She stayed for a while and in between her time on the air promoting the movie, we chatted on the side about more personal things. I found out her likes in music and it just so happened that one of her favorite artists were in town. Who you ask? We’ll go over that and what happened next……
The legendary George Michaels was in town after he had just come out with ” You gotta have Faith” and “I want your Sex” and it just so happened that I had 3rd row seats to the concert. After chatting in between songs in the control room we exchanged phone numbers, she got my phone and I got her room number at her hotel in town. Needless to say I was charged about going to the concert with her. I called her about 2 that afternoon and her publicist answered the room and said she was taking a nap after the long and grueling morning show swing that day to all the shows in town. Well, I thought it was not going to happen and I was getting blown off, but low and behold about 3:30 I got a call from who, yes, Julia Roberts. Unfortunately she had to leave that night to head back to L.A and could not go to the concert but she was extremely nice, we had a great talk and will always remember the opportunity I had. I went to the concert that night with a friend and spent more time wondering what it would have been like had she went with me. It wasn’t so much a “Movie Star” kind of thing, but more of a “we connected” for a moment and probably would have had a good time. Would I have tried to kiss her good night? Who wouldn’t? I’ve encountered a lot of celebs in my Radio and TV time and among them all, she is by far the one who stands out the most. It’s not because she’s so famous now, but because she was real. It’s no wonder she’s been so successful. I have my Mystic Pizza movie at home and watch it every once in a while and wonder “What if”…………
