The Hollywood Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony: Unicorn Sightings Amongst the Stars

This year there will be twelve more celebrities honored with a terrazzo and brass star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, joining more than 2600 other inductees. A homegrown 1950s Hollywood Chamber of Commerce project, the popular tourist destination began as a way to celebrate the entertainment industry's geographic origins as well as encourage the revitalization and redevelopment of Hollywood Boulevard. 

After the initial installation of 1500 stars, there were many years of no one being added and/or very little fanfare being exhibited when someone was. To address this decline of interest, the requirement was added in 1980 that each recipient must attend the induction ceremony to encourage media coverage. And, whatever entity/sponsor nominated the celebrity would also have to pay a substantial fee to fund the Walk of Fame's upkeep. Today that price is set at a whopping $40,000. No small change, even by Hollywood standards. 

These ceremonial enhancements not only drew attention to a once low-profile event, but provided agencies, theater owners, recording labels, studios, managers, and fandoms with an opportunity to promote their professional talent or celebrity fav. Naturally, good PR became one of the high profile benefits of agreeing to participate, along with selling the het narrative of the moment by making sure spouses and children would be photographed in cute poses whenever possible, and even co-stars/colleagues (whether former or not) would appear, alongside famous friends. Today, it is the latter two categories that are of particular interest for Narnia enthusiasts because what better way to hide a closeted OTP in plain site? In other words, why would the public question other colleagues/longtime friends being in attendance when the official ready made explanation would be to simply demonstrate support and to honor the recipient in a very platonic way, of course. Nothing to see here. Not a thing.

Like let's say a Michael Bay induction ceremony. The manly man and director of such blockbuster releases as Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and Transformers. Someone so notoriously known for his explicit homophobia and demeaning sexism, that GLAAD singled him out not only for his filmography in general, but Transformers: Age of Extinction in particular. A movie they recognized as one of the 5 most offensive films of 2014.  Especially because of "the character with the 'limp-wristed handshake' who Mark Wahlberg's character proceeded to 'inexplicably intimidate and bully', calling him 'snakeballs.'"

Michael Bay and his dog, [of course his name is] Rebel

 May 23, 2017

And what close, close friend made a point of being there? Someone who is known for being the exact opposite of Michael Bay. A nice guy and devoted father, then "married" to the sexy, cool singer of the Black-Eyed Peas, Fergie. That's right, Josh Duhamel, aka Colonel William Lennox in the lucrative Transformers franchise. Bay's go-to guy for eleven years.

Interesting how Bay has pretty much escaped the public and industry scrutiny from the #MeToo; Time's Up movement, don't you think? It certainly can't just be his clout in the industry because other behemoths have fallen. Maybe, just maybe it's because some of that very well-known sexiest, homophobic reputation is part of his cover.  Sort of like the widely distributed stories about Duhamel's infidelity with the $10.00 stripper.  Yes, that's right, a ten dollar stripper. Or, for that matter, all the other highs and lows of this very public "relationship." You know, all those well publicized rumors that E News wanted to memorialize for the record after their "divorce" last year. Just in case you missed them. How kind of them to be so considerate.

 The Sweet Highs and Scandalous Lows of Fegie's and Josh Duhamel's 13-Year Relationship

Ryan Reynolds and Nathan Fillian

Ryan Reynolds and Nathan Fillian form our next loooong-time "bromantic" friendship, their professional beginnings dating back to the 1990s and a twenty-something ABC sitcom set in Boston, "Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza". Although Nathan's character, Johnny Donnelly didn't arrive on the scene until the second season, his belated arrival didn't seem to hamper the bond forging between these two inseparables throughout the years. The show ran for only four seasons, from 1998-2001, but both men have subsequently experienced successful careers. Romcoms, superheroes, leading man roles, all images requiring certain female arm candy to be by their side and to ensure the right message was being projected to the public. Whereas Ryan's "conquests" throughout the years have been more intentionally famous and high profile, Sandra Bullock, Jessica Biel, Alanis Morissette and, of course, Blake Lively, Nathan Fillion's liaisons have remained low-key and C-listed. Strategically, starting out his career playing a Casanova character on One Life to Live, his management team has allowed Nathan to avoid tying the knot thus far, but in exchange has made sure to pad the old dating resume just in case any inconvenient rumors start to poke their heads too far into the light of day. After all, art imitates life sometimes as well.

Not convinced yet? Well, grab a beer and open that bag of chips. We are going to be here for awhile. Rollcall please!  

1) Felicia Day 
2) Vanessa Marcil 
3) Perrey Reeves 
4) Stana Katic 
5) Kate Luyben 
6) Christina Ochoa 
7) Mikael Hoover 
8) Krista Allen  

And, articles never forget to remind readers that Krista Allen is a "Baywatch Babe" (not as predictable as a Victoria Secret Vixon), but then a splashy heterocentric headline is all that matters. Who cares if she has angel wings when she actually has official ex-husbands!!! Oh, and did we forget to mention that Krista used to "date" George Clooney? And, that rumor has it that Nathan has been "engaged" three times? Oh, and that Krista has been twice divorced. And we can't forget the obligatory use of social media to imply just how manly Mr. Fillion really is when it comes to the ladies.

dinameyer. @NathanFillion and I make a delicious @KristaAllenXO #selfie sandwich .... Just for you. Want a bite?

 
What a man. A man who just so happens to have a best friend who plays the game as well as anyone in Hollywood. Who makes sure to bring the entire family with him on his special Hollywood Walk of Fame Induction day to capture his blissful domesticity and fatherhood. In fact, there were so many "happy couple" shots taken that day, that no one even questioned the gazillion photos of Ryan Reynolds with a certain gentleman friend. Someone who just a year before used social media to introduce Ryan Reynolds to the Twitterverse. A well-timed act perhaps to get the public use to the idea that he and Ryan were pals even after all these years. 

Hard to believe these two even had time to bromance given the number of women that passed between them through the years. Then again, maybe they sent out a postcard or two in between all that virile canoodling. 

December 15, 2016

Just regular guys being guys taking a gazillion pics to memorialize the day. You know. Just like two buds do when there's no major sports event to enjoy on TV.

Geesh, Ryan. Was this star for you, or for you and...? 

Although recently "divorced," another celebrity pair who figured out a more indirect way to hang out together for years, without nary a word or shadow cast upon their very special friendship, is that of Jason Bateman and Justin Theroux. 

 

That's right. Jason Bateman and Justin Theroux. In this particular case, the third wheeler just might be the more high profile member of the well-known ménage à trois. Someone who made sure to have such a notorious and humiliating breakup early in her career that a never ending fountain of public sympathy was assured, as was a plausible reason for her lack of a dating history over the years. A dramatic technique used by Sandra Bullock quite effectively after the Jesse James "scandal" strategically hit in 2010, just in time for Bullock's Oscar Acceptance speech for The Blind Side. Someone who just happens to like to openly hanging out with her 'gal pals' during holidays and various sundry occasions à la Leonardo DiCaprio and his same sex 'Wolf Pack'. Hiding in plain site, indeed. Someone by the name of Jennifer Joanna Aniston. As you probably can guess by now, Jason did indeed attend Aniston's induction ceremony on July 7, 2011. Even though she was not engaged to Theroux yet, he was there as well. (The engagement would happen the following year, another three years before an actual marriage would be publicized. After all, brokenhearted Jennifer didn't want to rush into anything.) In any event her special friend, Justin Bateman was there for all to see and no doubt to provide Justin Theroux with some much needed male companionship.

Funny how Aniston's bestie, Courtney Cox, was nowhere to be found that day, yet somehow Jason Bateman received an invite. Maybe this was a concession to Justin to get him to show up.  LOLLLLL!   

And, last but not least, let's end this post with one of our favorite OTPs. Adam Levine's special day for his induction ceremony was February 10, 2017. And, where would he be without his guy by his side. 

And, besides being there, Blake also made sure to give a speech. Heartfelt and befitting of an honor for his very special guy. Because despite the machinations, the stunts, deceptions, and lies, celebrities are people too and just like everyone else, having those nearby, who mean the most, at important moments in their lives, is worth the effort.

Imagine my disappointment when I found out this wasn't a roast," Shelton joked in the very beginning of his speech before opening up about his dear friend. 

"If you would have told me that this guy would end up being one of my best friends, I would have called you crazy," he said reminiscing on the very first time they met and getting a little choked up. "But I have seen a lot of ups and downs, and I have never had a more honest and loyal friend than Adam Levine through my personal journey."

"We all know he is a huge star with music and movies and television, but I am happy to see him get this, because he is my friend and nobody is more shocked -- I mean proud -- than I am that he is going to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame forever. Congratulations, brother," he sweetly concluded. "I love you."

Four different sets of friends and buds, four histories of companionship, four chosen invites to attend the Hollywood Star Walk of Fame.  Four sets of mere coincidence or hiding in plain sight?
  
pic sources:  imdb, Just Jared, Vanity Fair
our playlist:  Sleeping With a Friend - Neon Trees
                     If You Were Here - Cary Brothers
                     I Knew You Were Waiting - Aretha Franklin and
                                                    George Michael