November 20, 2007

Swag survey

In this business of show, does wearing your own show’s merchandise make you a show-off??

Kevin Dillon, HBO’s Johnny Drama of Entourage says "yes". "I’m an actor – it’s arrogant. But, if I can get a shirt from wardrobe that looks good on the golf course …"

Producer Helen Pai, late of the Gilmore Girls has talked about making a quilt from all the show merchandise she and her husband, David Rygalski (Tonight Show writer/producer) have acquired over the years. “I really like some of the stuff I’ve gotten, but sometimes I think twice about wearing it. Sometimes opens the door for conversation and I’m not always in a chatty mood. But I love the black Gilmore Girls zip-up sweatshirt/jacket I got last year, super comfy.”

Marc Buckland, Emmy-award winning director, said “I got my wife to marry me by bartering a West Wing jacket.” Buckland says that “Earl” usually just took the pre-existing art work and turns it into “fleeces, jackets, jockstraps or socks.”

About his series of SNL sketches called “Bear City”, comic writer T. Sean Shannon said this: “I gave swag to all my bears. We designed them. I got baby tees for girls. I had different kinds. Made up a few baseball jersies, but they were too expensive.” Shannon is featured in “The Aristocrats” and is the writer/director of the upcoming “Harold” with Cuba Gooding, Jr. Shannon also confirms a common theme: the first show biz booty you get is magical, no matter what: “I still have swag from the first show I ever worked on. My Comics-Only t-shirt, I kept it.”

While "Entourage" creator Doug Ellin admits that his own merch makes him feel "a little uncomfortable,” he is willing to wear branded caps on a plane, because apparently you get "better service from stewardesses".

For the record, The Stylephile says wearing show swag is generally not cute unless, as noted above, you're flying...in which case, don't forget to tell the stewardess you'll make her a star (in return for a business class upgrade).

(Thanks to D. R. Stewart for supplying this story)

November 20, 2007 in FAME | Permalink

Comments

Why not wear/use something? It's recyling, and that's a good thing!

Posted by betsy b | Nov 21 2007 12:01PM

I agree with the Stylephile, especially when the show has something in the credits to the effect of... ..."Dick Van Dyke's wardrobe furnished by Botany 500"

Posted by Peter | Nov 21 2007 11:13AM