Well, here's one way to get on CNN and E!: Trot on stage in lacey gold panties and ask Dennis Rodman to give you a wedgie.
Right, says Cincinnatian Mark Marsan, who did it at the recent Out of the Box Awards in New York. Marsan was one of five finalists in the search for the nation's most creative thinker.
He didn't win (a North Carolina woman name of Molly Barker did), but he's the one who hit TV.
“I went out in a diaper with six pairs of underwear under it. The diaper was to get their attention. Then I told them I was trying get into the Guinness Book of Records by getting the most wedgies ever at once. I asked each judge to give me one, but saved Rodman for last.”
Actress Marisa Tomei was the only one who refused. Rodman, who was not wearing a wedding dress and drop earrings, was delighted to do the deed, which showed up on two cable shows.
SEEN AROUND TOWN: That would be Alan Thicke, star of the old sitcom Growing Pains.He was bouncing around downtown Monday, then munched crab dip and mahi-mahi, not to mention margaritas, at a preview dinner at the new Palomino's.
He was here doing interviews to drum up interest in Chicago, the Broadway Series musical that opens Tuesday.
And to set up a hockey date. Seems he's a major fan who tries to play in every city. Broadway series manager Van Ackerman is trying to set up a spin with the Cyclones or Mighty Ducks.
In between time, he talked about his three sons — 24, 20 and 1 (it's not a typo; he's a newlywed) — how homesick he is after eight months on the road and favorite cities.
“As an appreciative Canadian, I've found something in every city that captivated me. Except one.”
He wouldn't say which, but everyone at the table thought Detroit. Thicke just smiled.
NEW CAREER?: So here are thirtysomething rock stars milling around backstage and whose autograph do they all beg for? And who do they keep nuzzling up to for a photo op?
Johnny Bench.
This was Saturday at Jingle Bell Rock with nine oldies acts, including Hall of Famers Sam Moore (Sam and Dave) and Bill Pinkney (The Drifters). Plus Baseball Hall of Famer Bench, there to read “T'was the Night Before Christmas . . . ”
Which he did, to plenty applause. Then he decided to sing the Dion song “The Wanderer” with the group Stormy Weather. More applause.
How well did he do? This well: Promoters Rob Riggsbee and Jim Richards now want to use him in a bunch of concerts with Stormy and call the act Rock and Baseball Hall of Famers.
They approached Omar Farag, the show's producers, who chomped at the bit, but have not approached Bench. But, as anyone who's been here more than 20 minutes knows, he loves to sing, almost as much as golf. New career brewing for Bench?.
Psst! appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim Knippenberg at 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.
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