Planet Billy Bob

The day after Christmas, Billy Bob shared with his two Webmistresses his insidious plan to invite all his loyal Planeteers to the wrap party for THE BAD NEWS BEARS.  While sworn to secrecy, Webmistresses Sage and Amélie were allowed to drop one fat hint to the Planeteers:  Billy Bob's audio greeting available only to members of Planet Billy Bob noted that he wanted to "invite every damn one of you!" to a special concert shindig soon.  Toward the end of January, Amélie announced to Planet Billy Bob that any Planeteer who wanted to fly out to California and find local lodgings would be treated to a bona fide Hollywood wrap party and a full concert by Billy Bob and his band.  

Thirty eight Planeteers braved the worst Los Angeles storm season in 22 years to fly in to town, some visiting the City of Angels for the very first time.  They came from twelve different states and all walks of life, running the gamut of professions:  sign language interpreter, robotics operator, jewelry sculptor, music teacher, popsicle manufacturer, folk musician, working actress, sporting goods salesman, ordained minister, special ed instructor, mother of twins, bookseller, barber, make-up artist, photographer, teenager, defense contract purchaser, even a Floridian goddess.  Christian, Buddhist, Pagan, Jewish, and Atheist, bohemian and traditional, blue state and red state, men and women, young and old, Southerners and Yankees, all of them are Billy Bob's die-hard fans.

On Saturday night, Planeteers gathered at the Best Western Carriage Inn in Sherman Oaks, California (mere yards away from a flooded-out dam basin) to meet each other--many seeing each other face-to-face for the first time since Planet Billy Bob's first gathering in 1996 and most connecting for the first time ever.  Tears, squeals, oohs over new coiffures, and exclusive event lanyards were exchanged. After posing for group pix, the Planeteers boarded two shuttle vans and caravanned to the historic El Rey Theater located just east of Beverly Hills in the Miracle District.  

With such fancy Tinseltown hors d'oeuvres as satay chicken, vegetarian nachos, cheeseburger tartar (no, we are not making this up), two very busy sushi stations, and a generous open bar for the grown-ups, the Planeteers mingled, chowed down, and enjoyed the elegant, old-style movie palace ambiance of the El Rey.  

At 9:00 p.m., Billy Bob and his band (lead guitarist Randy Mitchell, drummer Matt Laug, keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, bass player Chuck Garric, and guitarist Damon Johnson) took the stage, launching the set with Jimmy Don Thornton's popular Emily.  As the Planeteers gathered at the foot of the stage, Billy Bob and Company delivered high-energy renditions of Island Avenue, The Desperate One, Smoking in Bed, and a fine cover of Long, Black Veil, all while the kids from the cast of THE BAD NEWS BEARS jumped up on stage, flashed team signs (at least we hope they were team signs) at Billy Bob, and mosh dived into the crowd.  Billy Bob acknowledged and thanked the Planeteers for their support over the years and boosted Dylan Ferrero's American Spirit cigarettes from him during one of Randy Mitchell's scorching solos.  Billy Bob tossed drumsticks to the kids in the audience, swung a few of the smaller boys around on stage, then launched into a cover of Alice Cooper's I'm Eighteen.  A few Planeteers, long-familiar with Billy Bob's set lists, glanced at each other in curiosity--why this song?  The answer became apparent by the second verse, when a menacing figure emerged from the wings and stepped into the spotlight with Billy Bob.  'Twas none other than Alice Cooper himself(!!!!), minus the black eye shadow, but looking killer bee in torn jeans and a brown leather jacket (does this man never age?). When the band cranked up School's Out, the entire El Rey went wild (even the little kids who played the Bad News Bears could relate to this mother of heavy metal songs).  The Planeteers thought they had died and gone to heaven--a party and concert with Billy Bob, and Alice Cooper, singing School's Out too?!?!?  House brought down, mission accomplished.  A group sing along of Hang On Sloopy closed the act.

After the band's set, the filmmakers unspooled an entertaining reel of the BNB cast and crew in action.  Billy Bob managed to chat with a few of the Planeteers before retiring to his trailer to look after baby Bella.  Desserts too decadent to mention (oh, okay, we will mention the mini lemon meringue tartlets) circulated among the throng, and people took to the floors to dance (especially fun to watch were lovebird Planeteers Eddie and Julie De Verna--Eddie has been Billy Bob's stand-in on several films).

The next day, Billybobapalooza 2005 continued with a crèpe breakfast at Amélie's house (where Planeteer Cheryl showed off an array of her beautiful jewelry), then a caravan into Hollywood to visit the Walk of Fame (where Billy Bob's star, alas, was cordoned off by hyper-vigilant police, in preparation for the next weekend's Oscar ceremony).  Still, the Planeteers saw the star, visited the immortal concrete shrine at the Chinese Theater, partook of the eclectic street life (including a very large boa constrictor), and visited the Kodak Theater Complex, which was gussying up for it's big night on February 27th.  All the Planeteers can say is that Billy Bob made them feel like a million dollars, baby!

	Planeteers run the gamut from left to right! Back Row:  Pat "Patster" Blyler, Cheryl Harris, Tom Cox, Lani Pottle, Jessica Moore, Dana Moore, Beth Dickson, Vickie Cox, Vicky Prestridge, Mystery Planeteer Center Row:  Kari Kluting, Michele Long, Tami Ortizaleman, William Ortizaleman, Judi Fryer, Dee Ann Cotton, Claudia Paul, Michael Paul Front Row:  Steve Lopez, Sage Ferrero, Joe Perez, Amélie Frank, Carl Cotton, stylin' Diana Dail, Dylan Ferrero Outside, probably smoking a damn cigarette:  Lionel Rodriguez, Patrice Gerrior, Richard Modiano, Rick Lupert, Addie Lupert, Shelly Petersen, Lynne Dickson, Jim Ryder, Eddie De Verna, Julie De Verna, Joan Blair
Just a housewife living in Northeast Boston: Planet Billy Bob's official songstress, Patrice Gerrior (Massachusetts) stands on Oscar's red carpet.	A highly coveted item: The personalized photo I.D. tags  worn by Planeteers who attended Looza 2005.
Planet Billy Bob's Three Graces:  Diana Dail (Alabama), Judi Fryer (Florida), and Pat Blyler (Pennsylvania).	West Coast Meets East:  Michele Long (California) and  Pat Blyler aka "Patster" (Pennsylvania)
Cheryl's showing off her jewelry!!?!?!  Vicky Prestridge (Louisiana) and Billy Bob's own cousins, Carl and Dee Ann Cotton (California).	Reserve met!  Planet Billy Bob's most resourceful EBay collector, Lani Pottle (Maryland).
Alamo reunion!  Joe Perez (who played Colonel Juan Morales in THE ALAMO) with Webmistress and Alamo tattoo flag bearer Sage.	No More Mr. Nice Guys:  Alice Cooper, Billy Bob, and  Teddy Andreadis (on fire for the Lord, as usual).
Surprise guest Alice Cooper with bassist Chuck Garric, BBT, and Damon Johnson (guitar); not pictured are guitarist Randy Mitchell, keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, and drummer Matt Laug	Billy Bob leads THE BAD NEWS BEARS in a sing along.
Photos courtesy of Pat Blyler and Joe Perez; concert shots courtesy a very naughty, non-Planeteer insider.   Amélie made the photo IDs, including one for Hisfineself.