The 10 Celebrities Every Fan Should Meet: George Clooney at #1, of course!

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TUESDAY, 05/28/2013

The 10 Celebrities Every Fan Should Meet (in My Expert Opinion!)

by Jessica Radloff Email me

West Coast entertainment writer. Always trying to make each interview more fun than the last. Obsessed with the St. Louis Cardinals, Scott Speedman, Sprinkles cupcakes--and apparently the letter S.

I LOVE lists, but putting together what 10 celebrities everyone should meet? Yeah, not so easy when you've met hundreds and, for the most part, love them all.

But there are a few stand-outs and ones who deserve recognition. Mind you, this list is based only on the celebs I've met on numerous occasions and have had the opportunity to get to know. So don't hate me for not putting the Ryans Gosling or Reynolds on this list—haven't interviewed them yet! Drumroll, please!

1) George Clooney
Why: No one has made me lose it quite like meeting the guy who puts star in movie star. When he hugged and kissed me, I got bronzer all over his tuxedo, but he brushed it off (literally!) like it was no big deal—even joking with me that he'd send me the dry cleaning bill. Class act all the way around. Click here for the entire encounter.


2) The Talk's Sharon Osbourne
Why: Every time I go on The Talk, as soon as I sit down next to Sharon, she makes sure no bra straps are showing, my top isn't wrinkled, and my hair is looking good. She's maternal in the best way possible, sweeter than anything you'll find at Dylan's Candy Bar, and honest without ever being mean. Everybody needs a Sharon in their life, but all the ladies of The Talk are right up there with her.


3) Modern Family's Ty Burrell
Why: Being on one of the most popular sitcoms in TV history hasn't changed Ty Burrell one bit, and that's rare in this business. I've met too many actors who are amazing in season one, and then they are a nightmare come seasons two, three, etc. For Ty, that will never happen. There's no ego, no entitlement, no thinking that he's God's gift to the comedy world. Plus, every time I see him, he always asks about my parents and wants to talk St. Louis Rams football. That's down-home love.


4) Parenthood's Monica Potter
Why: In case you're hoping Monica Potter is anything like Christina Braverman, think again. She's better. She is funny as hell and says it like it is. My favorite line? "I'm a size 8, and it's great!" That, and the fact that she'll deflect attention off of her and want to focus on you. Most actors want to make the most of their press opportunities, but what makes Monica so memorable is that she doesn't want it to always be about her. Sharing the wealth...that's a Glamour Do.


5) Jerry O'Connell
Why: Let's start off with this particular story of when I went on The Talk and brought my parents to the set. We were all hanging out in my dressing room when Jerry O'Connell walked right over, knocked on the door, and introduced himself. No one has ever done that before, but he wanted to. And then when he heard my parents were visiting from St. Louis, he expressed his condolences on the loss of baseball great Stan Musial. (If he were single, I think my dad would have declared him his son-in-law on the spot.) And then he posed for the photo above backstage after his segment. Plus, everyone who works with him will tell you that Jerry is the nicest, sweetest, and funniest guy. Check him out in his new show, We Are Men, airing on CBS in the fall.


6) Bubbly Beauties: Ellie Kemper and Beth Behrs
Why: These two have to be included together because I'm convinced they are long-lost sisters. Always bubbly and always happy to see you, these are the girls you want as your BFFs. Genuine to the core, hilarious in every way, and both are die-hard baseball fans (Beth roots for the Baltimore Orioles, while Ellie is my St. Louis Cardinals buddy.)


7) Kelly Clarkson
Why: Kelly could easily be the cute waitress you meet at a country bar serving up barbecue chicken wings and beers as much as the megawatt pop star who keeps us addicted with her catchy tunes. She's genuine to the core, she's an open book to all, and after all her crazy success, the only thing that's changed about her is her hair. Well done, Clarkson.


Valerie Harper
Why: There isn't much that I can add here that I didn't say the day she announced her cancer diagnosis to the world (click here to read), except I hope—and feel—that if anyone is going to miraculously turn this thing around, it's Val. Upcoming actresses or actors (or anyone, really) should take a page from her book.


9) Ian Somerhalder
Why: His last name should be "Smoldering-halderm," and his nickname should be "Trance," because that's what he puts you in when he looks at you with those sexy, mesmerizing blue eyes, mischievous smirk, and raise of an eyebrow. When he talks to you, it's almost as if he's aware of what he's doing (he probably is), and that's fine. But charm aside, he's one of the good guys in this business—philanthropic, giving, and just as obsessed with his fans as they are of him.


10) New Girl's Lamorne Morris
Why: You guys already know I love Lamorne (and, no, it has nothing to do with the fact that he's setting me up on dates); it's that he's the funniest guy I've ever met, and it's why he's made Winston as lovable as he is. Plus, I have to share this story of the day I walked into a cafe in L.A. and spotted a guy taking photo after photo with tourists. Whoever that guy is, I thought, is a gem. He just gets it. And then he turned around, and it was Lamorne. He's the guy who will pick you up at the airport at midnight or (in my case) help you find a good guy.

But WAIT! Because I can't end this list at only 10...

11) The cast of ABC's Scandal:
Why: OK, so sometimes you'll meet the cast of a show, and they have to pretend to be just as excited about their story line as you are. That's a major bummer. But the cast of Scandal? Never. They love their show, and they are just as addicted as you are. They'll geek out with you (check out THIS video) and then brainstorm ideas about what Shonda Rhimes has up her sleeve next. Bellamy Young, Katie Lowes, Josh Malina, Tony Goldwyn, Kerry Washington, Jeff Perry, etc....I can't get enough of you guys.


12) Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman
Why: She became a household name when she won gold in London, but I fell in love with her on Dancing With the Stars for more reasons than I can count. Whether it was her view on body image ("I think there's way too much focus on people's weight. [We] should be focusing on how everyone is beautiful in their own way."), her class (she handled herself beautifully ever after a shocking fourth-place finish on DWTS—and was the only finalist outside of Kellie and Derek to do all press), or her energy, drive, and sweetness, this is one gal we can't wait to watch for years to come.

Now, tell me who would be on your list!