Justin Timberlake Gives a Great (NO) Show Thursday Night

Remember that game we used to play when were were little tykes called “Telephone”?  I think that this town has a tendency to play the adult version of that game.  That was prominently displayed on Thursday night when the infamous DC rumor mill’s headliner was “J.T.’s coming to Play!”  Wait - I am getting ahead of myself. Let me back up a bit.

(Pictured: Alan Cumming, Heather Graham, Sue Kramer at the screening of “Gray Matters” at the House of Sweden)

So, it was the evening of the intimate movie screening of Gray Matters (starring Heather Graham, Thomas Cavanagh, Bridget Moynahan, Molly Shannon, and Alan Cumming), directed and written by Sue Kramer. The screening was to be held at the gorgeous, stately House of Sweden, which sits right on the Potomac on K Street, next to the Washington Harbour.  Ambassador Gunnar Lund was there to say a few kind words prior the movie starting (he had just gotten off a plane from Sweden for this event), as well as TCC co-President Joe Pantoliano.  The members of the cast who showed were Heather, Alan, Rachel Shelley and Sue and her sister (the movie is based on her sister). 

Gray Matters is a cute romantic comedy about a woman who realizes she is in love with her brother’s apple of his eye (Bridget Moynahan).  The story’s “social” messages as explained by Sue Kramer, are about accepting who you are and being happy with it, as well as having tolerance with other people.  You will see why, when you see the movie.  The one thing I can say this movie had no tolerance of, was females who weighed more than say – a buck o’ five, and I am being generous. They may all be less than 100 lbs.  You could put two of Bridget and one of Heather inside my body and still have breathing room. 

Anyway, there was a cocktail reception after, and the word on the street being whispered was “When is J.T. coming to Play do you think?” or “Do you think he really IS?” and comments of that nature.  I was sure he wasn’t, but that’s why they call me an optimistic realist.  I am always positive that things are NOT going to happen.  The Play boys (Sharif, Tony and Mike, along with the other Mike) were going to BLT Steak for dinner and the cast ended up going too. 

We ended up going straight to Play, where upon reaching the top of the stairs at the entrance, we were greeted with about 150 + dolled up young ladies who obviously were expecting someone other than me.  I was thinking, what the heck is going on here?  It was about 99% female and the rest, dudes who I think were probably part of the staff.  Not my cup of tea on a night out. 

So, I inquired to a few of my friends, who immediately said “Is he coming? Is he here yet? What do you know about this? The only reason I came out is because of him! I am going to KISS J.T. tonight! I swear!”  uh oh.  And I also thought, my friend had to get in line for that last one, because by the looks of it, not only was every female in heat in there, they were not just kissing him, they were LEAVING with him.  hmmmm. I didn’t want to be there when they realized he wasn’t going to show.  So, I tried to distract them by saying “We went to this great movie, and I know Heather Graham and Alan Cumming are coming here after their dinner!”  Great, a hot woman and a gay man. 

So, that didn’t work.  We placated everyone and danced and had fun, til the big show came when the cast appeared and were sanctioned off in the VVVIP section.  They were totally quarantined so everyone could look and stare at them like zoo animals putting on a show.  They seemed fine with it, dancing, drinking -it was all fun and games. 

Then Mike showed up with a J.T. look a like. I was like what the heck? (Found out later they were his dancers)  And he introduced me to his cousin who was J.T.’s trainer, a large, built good looking black man.  I grabbed Mike and said “What is the deal, the girls in here are seething, can’t you feel the “heat”? if you know what I mean?” He said “He is in bed right now.” I looked at my cell phone. It was about 2 am.  That made sense. He should be, he had a big performance Friday night.  I said “ok”.  I turned around said to about 5 girls, “Sorry, he isn’t coming. He is in bed.” “Whhhhat!?!”  I ran off.  As they say, Don’t Shoot the Messenger.

The word on the street (as I started this entry, who knows what the REAL DEAL was - these are ALL rumors, and I acknowledge that!)  was, the tour buses showed up at the Four Seasons, and somehow, J.T. found out that people had heard he was going to be at this place, Play, and he was like “no way”.  Also, the other rumor I heard was he had had no intention of going because he was partying the night before in another city celebrating someone’s birthday. 

Ahhhh… remember that game “Telephone”?