When I think of Steve Guttenberg, I immediately think of Police Academy, and then after that, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, and then after that, Police Academy 3: Back in Training, and then after that, Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, and then after that I guess I think of the fifth movie in the series, which is unfortunate because he’s not actually in it. In fact the whole thing is kind of unfortunate, because as much fun as those movies can be if you’re in the right frame of mind, they’re pretty much considered bottom-of-the-barrel movies.
Of course if I think a little bit harder, I will recall some of Steve Guttenberg’s better works like Diner, The Day After, Cocoon, Home for the Holidays, and Short Circuit. And I’m one of those who really enjoys Amazon Women on the Moon, and happen to quite like his sequence in particular. Heck, I’ll even throw in Three Men and a Baby and its inevitable sequel Three Men and a Little Lady. And just because it has a Disney collection, I’ll even mention the notable but forgettable The Tower of Terror.
But I will stop there because once we get into the new millennium, there is certainly nothing to write home about. But that’s okay, the list above pretty much clinches him becoming someone I’d really enjoy meeting. I even chose to forgive starring with the Olson Twins in It Takes Two.
I had seen Mr. Guttenberg’s name pop up as a guest a couple of times at shows I was not attending, and whether he made it or not, I do not know. But happily he did in fact make it to the Fall Knoxville Fanboy Expo show on October 17, 2015. His prices were in those upper reaches that made me eighty-six the autograph and just go with the $30 photo op. I can’t even believe I’m saying that. $30 photo op.
If I were going to nitpick, I might mention that he had no line whatsoever when I approached him. Whether that was because of these high prices or because of It Takes Two, I do not know. But I’ll choose to dwell on the good: he was unfaltering in his friendliness. Of course when all you’re getting is a photo, there isn’t a lot of opportunity to chat, but I made all the small talk I could and he responded back in a very friendly fashion. He was however one of those fist-bump guys (translation: germaphobe). Perhaps he took his Police Academy line too seriously: “Thank you sir, I make everybody sick.”
But all joking aside, it was really nice to finally get to meet Steve Guttenburg.
Celebrity encounters of the Fall Knoxville Fanboy Expo will continue…
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