NEWS: BEST and WORST Celebrity Autograph signers to come through Canada during 2009
December 31, 2009 by Richard Budman ·
(HoundsTV – December 31, 2009) Since our list last year was so popular – we had to rate the BEST and WORST autograph signers in Canada for 2009.
Who was good about signing? Who was bad? What were the memorable experiences?
Some quick notes about our surveying method – which we admit is based more on qualitative opinion – than quantitative fact. As well, we don’t include the hundreds of small indie bands and C-list actors that travel through the country. They are personalities not usually hounded by the pros in large numbers. So we kept the list to the biggies – the A-list stars, big bands, and pop culture icons that managed to have their passports stamped “Canada” at sometime during this year.
It is the A-listers which get the paparazzi, autograph hounds, and fans out in big numbers. And from where we culled our reports and opinions. So after thinking back to the year that was in Canada and hearing the opinions of autograph collectors coast-to-coast HoundsTV presents its annual BEST & WORST LIST…
RELATED: Virgin Radio 99.9 interview about 2009 BEST & WORST signers list
BEST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009
1. GEORGE CLOONEY
George Clooney earns HoundsTV’s title of BEST Signer to come through Canada this year. Besides starring in perhaps the best movie of the year, Clooney came to Toronto during September for the International Film Festival and was a signing champion to fans and autograph collectors – never refusing a signature request. Now, normally that wouldn’t have been too surprising as George is one of the nicer guys in the business. But his signing prowess was even more impressive – considering he was in Toronto with a banged up and bandaged signing hand. Clooney could have easily gotten off the hook from signing and everybody would have understood – but there he was – wading into crowds and signing away, often ignoring the pleas not to by his own people, security and publicists for fear of further injuring the hand.
2. JONAS BROTHERS
For another year running, the Jonas Brother were no strangers to Canada. They toured across the country – and even spent six straight weeks at a hotel in Toronto while filming a movie. And for hardcore JB fans and autograph seekers – it became no big secret where they were staying and crowds of people would congregate outside their hotel every day waiting for them. But the Jonas Brother proved to be fan favorites as they would routinely step outside their hotel to greet fans and sign autographs – not even caring if that particular signature might eventually make its way for sale.
3. MICHAEL JORDAN
Known for usually turning up on WORST signers lists – Michael Jordan earned a change in status this year after a visit to Oakville, Ontario during July for a charity golf tournament. A very large crowd of autograph collectors and fans turned out for the day following Jordan’s every move. Word on the course being that he would sign after his round. While the crowd swelled to hundreds chasing Jordan for that elusive signature, Jordan shocked many when he spent a good TEN minutes signing anything the hounds managed to get in front of him just before he departed the course. To the many collectors who chased Jordan for years to get that elusive signature – a sunny day in July on an Oakville golf course will be a day not soon forgotten.
4. TWILIGHT CAST (NEW MOON)
There was perhaps nobody more hounded (or famous?) to spend time in Canada during 2009 then the cast of Twilight – especially Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Since the pop culture phenom series is 90% shot in Canada the stars spent a lot of time in Vancouver and stories of autograph experiences with the cast are numerous. One collector extensively blogged from the scene of many encounters with the Twilight cast. While the main stars were often difficult to find – there is consensus that the signing habits of the cast was generally good during the filming of New Moon – the 2nd movie of the series (unlike the 3rd film – see below) Even Kristen Stewart when cornered by collectors outside a restaurant replied she understands the autograph hounds “had a job to do” and didn’t care about signing. As for heart-throb Robert Pattinson - he got good at speed-walking to sometimes avoid the crowds, but If you managed to get close – he was good about signing. Pattinson was even known to sometimes sign for the fans gathering at the filming locations (and that was after he had shot all day and night.)
5. SIDNEY CROSBY
It couldn’t have been a bigger year for Sid The Kid winning NHL’s top awards and the coveted Stanley Cup. No team had a bigger crowds of autograph collectors outside their hotel in whatever Canadian city they were in. Fortunately for the autograph hounds – Crosby was “doing it” more than not.
6. YUSUF ISLAM (CAT STEVENS)
Perhaps because he came to Toronto over the Christmas holidays – but Yusuf Islam’s (formally known as singer Cat Stevens) long-awaited return to Canada may have gone under-reported in the mainstream media – but his appearance in Toronto didn’t go unnoticed by the autograph hounds. It even brought a few top U.S autograph collectors to Toronto for the occasion. And Yusuf did not disappoint the astute collectors that managed to track him down. While he politely declined photo requests, Yusuf was kind and gracious in signing any and all memorabilia – even as most were Cat Stevens albums. He even would often add the inscription, “peace & happiness”
WORST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009
1. BRITNEY SPEARS
Ms. Spears graced Canada for a bunch of concerts across the country on her 2009 “comeback” Circus tour. We couldn’t find a single collector or fan that reported getting Brit’s autograph this year. Most hounds don’t even bother trying anymore as Britney continues to live up to her reputation of being terrible in public for signing autographs and greeting fans. For her multi-night stay in Toronto Spears was rarely even seen – using private entrances and decoys to secretly get her in and out of the hotel. As for getting Brit’s autographs? Not a chance – You would have been doing good to just spot her outside of the shows.
2. ELTON JOHN
Another tour with Billy Joel brought Elton John to Toronto and Montreal a few times this year. But numerous autograph collectors did report – it was the same old Elton. No signing for the “eBay guys” (as Elton likes to say.) The thought of his autograph being sold still seems to send chills up Elton’s spine – so he rarely signs them anymore. Too bad, if this list was for 1999 he would have been high up on the BEST side.
3. U2
Also former “BEST” signers that have slowly moved over to the dark side as each new tour brings the group to Canada. The tour years of 2001 and 2005 when Bono and Edge would stand outside their hotel for an hour greeting fans and signing autographs appears to be over. During their week in Toronto for the most recent tour saw the band staying at a private residence. Bono and Edge were routinely seen all over town – Bono signing very little. Edge nothing. Since Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton were practically ghosts and rarely seen, and refused autograph requests when they did appear – the consensus is that U2 have become BAD about signing autographs during their stop in Canada this year.
4. STEPHEN KING
A trip to Toronto during October for the reclusive horror icon Stephen King brought out the autograph collectors in droves. While King was in Toronto to talk about his new novel – he just wouldn’t sign any in public. King was approached many times by people with his book and pen in hand. He either refused to sign or simply ignored the request. Even at the event where King was reading from his novel the people in attendance were instructed that he would NOT be signing and instead, a lottery system was set up to distribute the few books King was willing to sign – away from the public and behind closed doors.
5. METALLICA
A wire story broke early in the year indicating a high percentage of Metallica autographs for sale on sites like eBay were fake. Reached for comment, the band said they were aware of the counterfeits and for that reason they don’t sign much anymore for people hanging around hotels and airports. Metallica later spent a few days in Toronto on their recent world tour. And while they were no strangers to walking the streets of Toronto. Autograph collectors reported that the main members of the group where very tough about signing (except Robert Trujillo – but you can’t really count him?) As for memorabilia like photos or albums – Lars and James just wouldn’t touch them on the outside. While 2009 may NOT have been a good year for collecting Metallica autographs – it was a good year financially for the band touring.
RELATED: Virgin Radio 99.9 interview about 2009 BEST & WORST signers list
6. TWILIGHT CAST (ECLIPSE)
After filming New Moon earlier in the year, the Twilight cast returned to Vancouver during summer to shoot the third film in the series – Eclipse. Autograph hounds reported the signing habits of most of the cast had changed – and for the worst. Collectors reported hearing things like this said by minor co-star Cameron Bright, “I am only allowed to sign one and I have to put your name on it” (words I’m sure Summit Entertainment executives put into the casts head.) As for Rob and Kristen, the media attention on them became so overwhelming they practically disappeared and were almost like ghosts when not filming. While reports of new cast members like Bryce Dallas Howard were cool about signing – there is no question, the supply of autographs coming from the Twilight cast shrinked considerably when shooting the third movie.
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Who the fuck are you to write Metallica doesn’t sign autographs for fans. I have loved this band for twenty years and have been fortunate a few times to meet the group at back stage meetings and they are always cool about autographs. If you are just trying to get their autograph to sell it – you are not fans and they don’t have to sign autographs for you. Fuck-you and your autograph list as their music is all that should matter.
EDITORS NOTE: This comment was originally posted on http://www.onlocationvacations.com/
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I find it interesting on both HoundsTV & here that people seem to say “I found so & so nice/bad” as an arguing point to whoever posts the list.
One encounter a list doesnt make IMO.
I have met Bono several times, always class….except last time I saw him. I would certainly not call him a bad signer because of 1 poor experience. People can change, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Just because someone was cool or a prick to you several years ago, doesnt mean they still are that way. Sometimes, people have a bad day. I dont think you can judge them on 1 encounter.
His list is IMO, a relatively decent list…not totally exact, because he uses Toronto as primarily the ONLY source, but says “thru Canada”. But still decent. Some of the worst signers deserve it, some of the best deserve it. A couple others I cant comment on, and a couple maybe changed since last time I saw them. My list would be slightly different, mostly because I had different interactions with some & didnt meet others. His title should have said “in Toronto” & just not included the Twilight cast on either case (unless he graded them on their merits at the MuchMusic events or TIFF appearances).
EDITORS NOTE: The following is an excerpt from atu2.com regarding the HoundsTV BEST & WORST LIST
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I can understand why the band has been cautious about the amount of autographs they offer. Within minutes of the U2 by U2 book signing in New York City a few years ago, some of the books were already up on eBay. The band, being clever fellows, started to sign things like “beautiful eBay” and “$” in some books of people they suspected weren’t really U2 fans. This tour in particular was horrible for fans and autographs because the band was doing runners. They would arrive at the stadium just in time for a soundcheck, and leave immediately after their performance. Very rarely were they staying within driving range of the stadium. This made meet-and-greets very difficult, and the ones that did happen were in locations where there weren’t many fans waiting. Many of the new stadiums have increased security by the backstage entry areas, making it next to impossible for fans to congregate. For what it’s worth, I don’t see this changing for the next leg of the tour.
http://www.atu2.com/news/column-off-the-record-vol-10-392.html
Shocker! Twilight made the worst list! NOT!!
Stephen King is a jerk-off, pure and simple. I hate his guts. His fans gave him everything. Must be difficult when directors have taken his third rate crap books and adapted them into superior movies.
James Hetfield was a complete prick when Metallica was in Winnipeg for the 2009 tour.
He would not even acknowledge fans & would go out of his way to avoid them.
He would not even pose for a photo even when only three fans were waiting for the band on multiple occasions.
I lost a lot of respect for him as a person.
Lars & Kirk however were both very nice & took time for fans.