Jekyll or Hyde! Meeting Big Bang Theory Star Jim Parsons And He Was Over The Top Nice! Wha? Ha? Duh? Autographs! Photos! It All Started With… A Big Bang!
It’s so funny… This hobby… I thought for this week’s Jekyll or Hyde I would write up a rare encounter from last week.
See I’m a huge Big Bang Theory fan. You may recall my report about going to the set from last year and getting photos on the couch. EPIC!
Anyway, I’ve had some not so nice encounters with star Jim Parsons. I heard from people he’s hit and miss and others who said he was really nice, myself… I only had the nice Jim Parsons once.
So, when I heard he was doing a talk show taping, I was on the fence. Do I go? Do I stay home? And it just seemed like the universe was telling me to go. I didn’t have to drive from Santa Monica, I got all my work done, there was no traffic… I thought oh hell… I better check it out. If I don’t go he’ll do it, if I do go he won’t. Sigh…
Off I went.
6:11 p.m. – I just arrived and CB says that the person he was holding a spot for isn’t coming so I can stand with him. There’s like 15 people maybe here.
6:19 p.m. – There are a lot of the costumed guys from Hollywood Blvd. here too, which I’ve never seen waiting for someone before. I don’t think it’s everyday Superman and Thor wait to meet Sheldon.
6:24 p.m. – CB says that security told everyone that Jim Parsons would do it if we were lined up on the way out. I’ll believe it when i see it.
6:29 p.m. – I’ve been in front of Jim Parsons several times and I’ve not had the most pleasant times with him. Sometimes he flat out ignores people, even those with just DVDs or pieces of paper.
6:42 p.m. – I have a shit ton of stuff for The Big Bang Theory. I have mini posters, etc… But the main things I want signed are my Emmy promo diorama, promo laptop and promo board game. But let’s not get crazy.
6:46 p.m. – CB brought a photo he printed at the mini mart.
6:53 p.m. – If I get one thing signed I’ll be happy but I’m not holding my breath. I honestly have a good feeling about it but you just don’t know. I’m nervous, why am I nervous, I don’t get nervous? What’s wrong with me. Now, I’m babbling….
7:09 p.m. – Nothing yet… Come on brother…
7:16 p.m. – Oh… Oh… There he is. It looks like Jim Parsons is going to walk away but then comes right on over after we yell. He is very kind. Jim Parsons people said no photos but he still is doing some.
I have the oddest crap man… I’m trying to navigate a camera, a diorama, laptop and board game. LOL….
CB is getting very excited to meet Jim and is like, Mike.. Mike… Camera. I’m like I have a diorama, Laptop and board game in my hands. Lord…
I asked Jim to sign my diorama on the door and he was so nice and signed it beautifully, then he just signed my laptop as well.
He was going to sign the board game but I was like, “Oh wait, I have to open it.” Jim Parsons says, “Oh, I’ll wait.” I was like who are you? Why are you being so nice? LOL… It was just so awesome. He went down the entire line and was so nice to everyone!
I have to tell you, I was blown away! Blown away!
Jim Parsons was so kind to everyone waiting and really took his time. I am stunned!
On this day, the verdict was definitely Dr. Jekyll!!
For his awesomeness Jim Parsons is awarded the Happy Theo!
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I think I posted this awhile back, but I’ll post it again…I sent fan letters to Jim, Johnny, Kaley, Kunal and Simon via the filming address of The Big Bang Theory a couple years back (all separate) and Jim was THE ONLY one I heard back from. He not only signed and dedicated my photo with a hilarious message, but he also sent me a nice, handwritten note on a note card! Then, when I wrote to him while he was on Broadway, he signed another photo for me! Great experiences for me TTM. 🙂
I’m hoping that he continues to be cool! I love him!
He makes the whole show! Glad he is great to his fans.
If the worst you can say about someone is that they don’t always stop to write their name on a bunch of strangers’ stuff as a favour (bunches of strangers who do NOT always contain only respectful and patient indidividuals, often just want to sell it on eBay, and can act so irrationally excited or obsequious that it makes shy, grounded people very uncomfortable and unsure how to act) then it really seems over-the-top to talk about “not-so-nice experiences”. It makes it sound like he actually did something to you, and in both of your blog posts, and in the reports of the very few other people who’ve complained about Jim, I’ve found myself looking for the bit where he actually DID the rude thing that lead to the disgruntled reaction. And never find it, because he never did anything!
He’s a shy man who has early morning starts and prefers to go to bed as early as possible, as early as 8pm if he can. The fact that he signed after almost every Broadway performance over the course of two shows, suggests his reluctance to sign in certain other situations (e.g BBT tapings, or when it’s pouring with rain in New York and he’s from a part of the country that’s very hot all year-round) is determined by particular factors. Maybe the behaviour to be expected from the crowd (Broadway autograph seekers being more sane and respectful than average), maybe the time of night/early morning, who knows, but there are a few predictable patterns behind whether he signs or not, suggesting he has his reasons.
If you haven’t paid specifically for an autograph, then you’re not owed one. The fact that some actors do it at every opportunity, which is often merely a sign that they love having their ego stroked by the percentage of the crowd who can be depended on to be bum-kissers or star-struck, instead of being made uncomfortable by such non-casual social encounters as any normal grounded person would, seems to have give some people a sense of entitlement about it.
PS sorry if my comment above was unnecessarily hostile. Some irritation probably came out because the possibility of shy, awkward people being misunderstood as rude and then gossiped about hits close to home for me, it used to happen to me a lot. Thinking about it rationally, Jim himself doesn’t seem to let negative press bother him anyway, it just always hits a nerve for ME when I see anyone gossiped about when they’re not there to defend themselves. Though I do believe the points I made, I didn’t mean it to sound so defensive.
Hey Rachel-
I read your post.
This site is about being a fan. I wish nothing and I sincerely mean it… I want everyone to have 100% positive awesome encounters all the time. I don’t like it when someone isn’t nice or isn’t perceived to be nice.
The point however, is that even if a celebrity does or doesn’t sign an autograph, do a photo, or whatever, what that encounter is to each and every individual is an experience. It can be positive or negative, but it’s still an experience. That’s what this site is about. Individual’s experiences and writing about them. Someone can sign 5000 things and be cold and distant to me that’s not a fun experience even though I collect autographs.
Really, what we are is a collection of shared experiences. Many times they are contradictory, which is a characteristic I honestly love.
I’ve met or tried to meet Jim about 8 times some of which I’ve written about here. I’ve seen him do it twice. Does that make him a jerk? An ass? No… It honestly doesn’t. The nicest person can be a jerk and the “jerkiest” person can be nice. (that’s the point of the column this was written for actually) Honestly, in this article I thought it was overwhelmingly positive.
I honestly feel we’re very balanced here on MTF. I’m happy to publish contradicting reports and I’ve done it since the site started. Now, when I get 11 negative reports, I call a spade a spade, but even then if there was one report out of the 11 that was positive I would totally post that as well.
I LOVE the Big Bang Theory, I love Jim Parsons in it. He was really nice (again in my experience) in the beginning of the show and then changed a lot. Now, I’m hoping that this encounter is going to be the norm! I would love it!
I also understand you’re a fan (just like me) and want to defend him and I take all your points into consideration but since I’m one person and each of the people who write and submit their stories to my site are individuals we can only write about our individual experiences.
Feel free to submit your own encounter with Jim! I would love to put it up on the site! I even have a Big Bang Theory category for goodness sakes! LOL…
So welcome Rach, look around we’re a friendly bunch! Except CB… LOL…
🙂
Mike
So well said!
I don’t get the need why people get greedy. I understand you are a collector but seriously one thing should be the limit…… I personally do one thing sure I could get ten things signed but guess what I am not greedy…..Maybe that’s why Jim gets mad ever think of that greed??
Ummmm Maybe you didn’t read the article Joe. Where Jim offered to sign my board game and then even waited for me to open it so he could. I don’t think that pissed him off when he OFFERED TO DO IT! I’m glad you only want to get one thing signed, but when someone is willing and in this case EAGER to sign unique and rare items for someone who’s clearly a fan I don’t think that’s greedy.
I think we need a new column for Jekyll or Hyde commenters! Holy cow. It must be scary way up there on your pedestals Rachel and Joe.
Lighten up Francis…..and don’t call me Francis.
I’ve met him twice at Comicon and both good experiences…but of course it was at a tame signing so not sure how he is when the mob is out. It’s a hobby people (a livelihood for some) and its the impression you get. Remember you only get one chance to make a first impression so people will have different feelings on their first encounter with any human being. These columns just give you a glimpse into the Hollywood world…just a glimpse.
Mike: This was a wonderful write-up and I’m glad you posted this story.
I also wanted to attend this talk show taping, but decided not due to “the hit and miss reputation” of Parsons. I didn’t want to be disappointed considering how much I admire Jim Parsons’ acting capabilities. For all the people posting negative comments, this column is called “Jekyll or Hyde,” which posts stories of fan encounters with celebrities that “caught them off guard.”
It could very well be the “ridiculously nice celeb” who decided to just wave at fans after saying they would sign an hour earlier or the “nasty, rude and crude” celebrity deciding to be super friendly, posing for autographs and photos. The whole autograph hobby is hit and miss as everyone can tell you.
However, certain celebs have established horrendous reputations when it comes to fan interactions, regardless of the environment. Again, sometimes people are caught off guard on a “bad night” while others always have a “bad night.” It just depends on the person. You don’t know until you get to meet them andc tell your side of the story. Believe me I have met plenty of celebs who have “bad reputations,” but were some of the sweetest people I have ever met. Again, every fan interaction is completely different so don’t get offended if “your favorite celebrity” turns out to be the exact opposite of their public persona.
Just remember, there is a reason why some people say, “Never Meet Your Idol.”