I’m sorry, I just didn’t like him. In Alex Haley’s TV mini-series Roots, he played the central character Kunta Kinte, an African who was stripped away from his homeland and brought to the United States in slavery. He was amazing in the role and to coin a pun, I was rooting for him every step of the way. Later on, Levar Burton was the presenter of the children’s series Reading Rainbow. I’m all about rooting for helping kids read. It was probably when he graduated to the Star Trek series- playing Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation – that he became a jerk. Star Trek tends to do that to actors sometimes. Am I complaining too much?
OK, here are the facts. I had a great photo from Roots that had already been signed by Ed Asner – for free, no less – though the mail. I wanted to add the signature of Levar Burton to this great photo. I couldn’t care less about the Star Trek connection, which always seems to drive up the cost of autographs. His fee for the signature at the Chiller Theatre show in Parsippany, New Jersey on October 30, 2010, was $30. Pricey, but I can deal. The clincher was that I wanted a picture with him – which I do for all of the autographs I collect as of late. The price of this was $40. Money, it seems, also has a Roots connection: it is the root of all evil.
Granted, the $40 fee got you a professional photo of you with the celebrity. These have been offered at autographs shows for a few years now – and admittedly, they are nice. However, I didn’t know if I’d be in a long line for someone else, or otherwise unavailable to make she scheduled appointment, so I requested from the handler that I get a photo taken with my camera as a backup just in case I missed the portrait session. He didn’t want to allow me to do this, so naturally I argued. I’m doing a lot of arguing lately. Levar overheard this and impatiently snapped at me to “make a decision” on which photo I wanted.
What an ass. What nerve.
I opted for the professional photo. Afterall, for $40, I’d better be getting something special. And you’d think he’d be extra nice after someone shelled out that much. But clearly, those years of oppression, even if it was only in a TV series, made him a little bit grumpy.
He signed my photo and laughed at the Ed Asner inscription (which I repeat, was signed for FREE). Later that afternoon, I went to the photographer’s hotel room and lined up with about ten other fans to get the picture taken. Maybe if he had charged – oh, say $10 – he could have gotten a 100 fans, probably more, to get pictures with him. You do the math, helmsman. I’ll never root for you again.
Claiming my picture in a cheesy hotel room photo studio
Celebrities of the Fall 2010 Chiller Show will continue…
How did my Dad get in the picture from Roots???
Aaron
July 1st, 2011
Your Dad is black?
Brad
July 1st, 2011
Aaron – Ed Asner really
does look like your dad in this picture!
Mom
July 1st, 2011
I agree $40 is way too much, but maybe I’d give him the benefit of the doubt that he was just backing up someone who works for him when he overheard an argument stirring. But being a “jerk” is probably more accurate.
Bev
July 12th, 2011
I came across this a little late, but I thought I’d add a comment to put some perspective on it. As a guy who makes a living as a dealer at cons, I know how they work on a lot of levels. The $40 you were charged was, in all likelihood, not decided on by Levar Burton but by his agent and more importantly the shows promoters.
Some high profile guests get a free booth, but most have to pay for a booth. Also, most cons have tier amounts that they want guests to charge for autographs, photos, photos w/autographs ect.
I can’t speak to why Burton was sharp with you. He may have been tired or had some personal stuff. He may have gotten aggravated that you were making such a fuss and holding up other people. It’s a poor excuse, but a valid one.
In the end, I agree that the price for these celebrity photos/autographs are crazy
expensive. You already pay a price to get in the door. The photo/autograph is separate (unless the promoter offers a package deal). For many of these celebrities, these con appearances are income to make up for a dwindling career. For others, it’s genuine fan appreciation. Either way, the celebrities usually have little to do with the cost as many will gladly take photos and sign autographs outside of cons for free and no fuss.
Joe
November 28th, 2015
You’re right. I ran into Levar Burton tonight in Portland attending one of his readings. He’s a rude arrogant jerk. Enough said
JP
May 5th, 2018