As they spied him approach the escalator at "The Planet Hollywood" fans suddenly lost their cool in a long line that snaked around the foyer and excitedly jumped up and down shouting - "Rock" "Rock" "Rock".
Then - amid a swirl of publicists and bodyguards - Dwayne Johnson (one of the stars of "Get Smart") strutted onto the red carpet to meet the swarming press who descended on him like flies to sh**.
The Theatre had scheduled a special screening of the Steve Carell feature (lifted from the old TV show) as a charity fundraiser for - "Knapsack" - the project that Mr. Johnson supports.
Mr. Johnson plays a bumbling agent in the comedy spy thriller (?).Later in the day he received a star on Johnny Brenden's local Las Vegas "Walk of Fame". In the true spirit of the occasion, Mr. Brenden handed the "Rock" an oversize check in the sum of $2,500.00 for his cause.
Frankly, I've never seen the press gush so over a Hollywood celebrity.
But - before he had ventured halfway down the carpet to shake hands and answer questions put to him by the swirling paparazzi - he graciously slipped over to the screaming hordes and signed autographs.
A couple of media types followed the bankable movie actor to capture the adoration on celluloid - at which point - a rude female publicist in Johnson's entourage barked that they return to the red carpet.
Rock, the woman is bad for your image. Dump her!
Meanwhile, I stood on the sidelines surreptitiously listening in on the interviews.
A couple of cynical reporters warned me in advance that Mr. Johnson tended to be a bit full of himself; so with an open mind, I listened intently to determine if that was the case.
Well, he was gracious. And, articulate about the function of his charity. No, the ego wasn't too glaring, in spite of the fact he was all puffed up and his body language appeared to be transmitting the message:
"Yes, I'm Mr. Macho, aren't I?"
The press corps ate it all up.
After one female reporter finished up her segment and she turned in my direction, I noticed right away that her face was beet red!
"You sure are flushed," I laughed.
"Oh, it's so hot in here," she responded somewhat nonchalantly.
Or, was it your subject that got you all flustered, I teased.
"Caught me," she giggled as she started to wrap up her equipment.
An aggressive on-camera journalist in a sexy little number with a tiger print, dragged out a photograph of the "Rock" - naked from the torso up - and used her feminine wiles to wangle an autograph.
In spite of the fact it's rumored the "Get Smart" actor is trying to leave the "Rock" faze of his career behind, he scribbled his John Henry on the publicity still. And, she was thrilled.
Personally, I found the bodyguards a little unsettling.
One, had a quirky psycho look about him.
The other had a demeanor that was a cross between a Mormon and some character out of the horror flick "Night of the Living Dead".
Get rid of the goons, Rock. It's bullsh**.
Although he appeared cool on the surface, I couldn't help but notice that his hands were clenched and ill at ease.
But, his entrance was the greatest reveal of all.
When the Festival Director called out his name, he tripped over the curtain when he made his entrance, and stumbled into the room a bit clumsily.In view of the confident image he threw off on the red carpet, I surmised at this juncture, that he must be a better actor than I thought.
In fact, I have to hand it to him.
In view of the way he was treated by the fans and the press alike, I think that it is quite evident that in the Hollywood midheavens, Mr.Johnson is a mega star on the rise that may burn brightly for quite a while if he plays his bungling - um - punches right.
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