Talk about a weird coincidence...

[Melissa P]

If you watched Jeopardy last night, then you saw the final question:

This star, director & writer who won an Oscar for his 1996 film was called “the Hillbilly Orson Welles” by Robert Duvall

None of the three finalists got it, but I would have known the answer even if I had not had a brush-with-greatness the day before.

Here's what happened:

This week I won tickets from the Washington Post for the rock band Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters, at the Atlantis (the show was moved from the Lincoln Theater).  

Something went wrong, and I had the wrong time for the show.  So, my friend and I were standing in front of the Atlantis discussing what to do when the door of a bus parked on the street opened -- and Billy Bob joined our conversation!  It was a delightful conversation.  We must have chatted for at least 15 minutes.   When I mentioned that we had met in 1993 on the set of Hearts Afire, he said "I remember you."  Now, how is that possible I asked.  He responded, "I have a great memory, and I remember everyone."  Yes, he remembered my friend Andrew from those days who had at least once played pool with him.  (I'm not sure I really believe that he's one of those people with a super memory.)  I knew he was from Arkansas, and I mentioned that I grew up in Memphis.  Turns out he knows the husband of a high school classmate, and even though I had not had any contact with the wife since graduation, I had seen them fairly recently because they gave me and another classmate a ride to our most recent high school reunion.  Because they own a Memphis landmark, I won't mention the name (which does have an Elvis connection).

The encounter turned out to be the highlight of the evening.  By far.  Because I don't think I'll be a fan of Billy Bob and the Boxmasters anytime soon.     

[Bob F]

I looked up some of their songs and picked one (after the NASCAR race). Whatever.     B

MelissaP, July 25th, in part: