Celebrity food on the picket line
By Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
It started simply enough. On the first day of the writers guild strike, Jay Leno brought three boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts to the picket line outside his offices at NBC’s Burbank studio. Down the street, Rachel Griffiths went on a Starbucks run for the writers on the Disney lot. And elsewhere, Patricia Arquette sent Medium writers cookies.
But by the second day, the celebrity food stakes had already been upped Eva Longoria sent lunch in the form of Domino’s pizza and by day three, Jimmy Kimmel was providing a full spread of Mexican delicacies.
It cant continue forever, but for now celebrities have one or two ways of showing their support for striking writers: 1. Strike with them. 2. Send them food.
To see who sent what and when, read on. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Patricia Arquette
Date of delivery: Nov. 5
What she brought: Large cookies
How she did it: Arranged to have them delivered, but did not distribute herself.
Guesstimated health level: Big cookies? 2 out of 10.
What it says about her: She may be a big-time TV star, but this gesture has Mom written all over it. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Jay Leno
Date of delivery: Nov. 5
What he brought: Three boxes of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.
How he did it: From the back of his Harley.
Guesstimated health level: 1 out of 10
What the choice says about him: Leno was the first celeb out there delivering food. And the decision to bring doughnuts shows that he knows writers. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Rachel Griffiths
Date of delivery: Nov. 5
What she brought: Starbucks drinks
How she did it: On a break from filming Brothers and Sisters.
Guesstimated health level: 10 out of 10. Well, caffeine can be a necessity.
What this says about her: It was a thoughtful, if not grand, gesture. But still, a clear sign of appreciation. (Chris Carlson / AP)
Eva Longoria
Date of delivery: Nov. 6
What she brought: Domino’s Pizza
How she did it: On a break from filming Desperate Housewives
Guesstimated health level: 3 out of 10
What the choice says about her: Thoughtful gesture, but too little too late? The pizzas were delivered only after Julia Louis-Dreyfus led a team of strikers shouting We write the story-a, Eva Longoria. (Ric Francis / Associated Press)
Danny Bonaduce
Date of delivery: Nov. 6
What he brought: Girl Scout cookies
How he did it: A big box in the trunk of his car.
Guesstimated health level: Theyre cookies!
What the choice says about him: An appropriate gesture from a man who hasnt had lines written for him in quite some time. (Andrew Gombert / EPA)
Jimmy Kimmel
Date of delivery: Nov. 7
What he brought: Mexican food from a stand at the Farmers Market
How he did it: White van, team of assistants
Guesstimated health level: 5 out of 10
What the choice says about him: Only good things. This wasnt some cursory gesture -- this was a full meal. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Richard Belzer
Date of delivery: Nov. 7
What he brought: Hot sandwiches
How he did it: Holding a tray and shouting Hot sandwiches, hot sandwiches!
Guesstimated health level: Eh
5 out of 10?
What it says about him: He thought hot, and in the cold New York November weather, hot is key. (Scott Wintrow / Getty Images)
William Baldwin
Date of delivery: Nov. 7
What he brought: Starbucks
How he did it: In style from his black convertible on his way to the set of Dirty Sexy Money.
Guesstimated health level: As weve said, caffeine can be a necessity. 10 out of 10.
What it says about him: Nice gesture, made even nicer because he stuck around until he had less than 10 minutes until his call time. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
APA agents
Date of delivery: Nov. 7
What they brought: Capri Sun and Granola Bars
How they did it: Three employees showed up, passed it out.
Guesstimated health level: 6 out of 10
What it says about them: Things are slower in the literary department than usual and that they think of writers as fourth graders, but no matter. It was a nice thing to do. (Larry Crowe / Associated Press)
Ray Romano
Date of delivery: Nov. 8
What he brought: Bagels, cream cheese and fruit juice
How he did it: Pulled the bags from the back of his car.
Guesstimated health level: 7 out of 10
What the choice says about him: A solid guy brings solid breakfast food to the picket line. (Reed Saxon / Associated Press)
CAA Agents
Date of delivery: Nov. 9
What they brought: Churros!
How they did it: Carrying platters to the rally on the Fox lot, suits intact.
Guesstimated health level: -2 out of 10
What the choice says about them: Your business is our concern. Your weight is not. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
