During an event held in conjunction with Phoenix Books, present were
Maria Conchita Alonso, who has starred in Desperate Housewives as the
mother of the character played by Eva Longoria, as well as in Azteca
America's hit reality show La Academia USA; baseball great Jose
Canseco; Gene Simmons, leader of the rock group KISS and star of
reality show Family Jewels with his partner Shannon Tweed; Elliot
Gould, star of "Ocean's 11"; Ed McMahon, and Emmy award- winning
producer Carl Reiner.
Other luminaries were Dick Van Patten, best known for his starring
role in "Eight is Enough"; Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin; and
Knott's Landing star Joan Van Ark.