With Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” still stuck in our heads, we continued our trek south. A few stops for filters, several naps, and one viewing of Ocean’s Eleven later, we arrived at the Santa Monica pier. Unfortunately, the crowds were less enthusiastic than we would have hoped (or maybe it was just too hot); nonetheless, we managed as always to have some great conversations, most memorable of which revolved around six year-old beach campers Maeve, Zoe, and Nick, and their commendable counselor, Wyatt. Over the course of our discussion we learned that Maeve is concerned there aren’t more girls on the bus, Nick’s Lunchables don’t contain meat, just ham, and that Zoe calls her grandmother Grandma. Oh, and Andy happened to see Calista Flockhart filming a movie or something. She’s still too thin, he says. Harrison Ford was nowhere to be seen.

Next, the Big Green Bus braved some Brutally Gruesome LA traffic to hit Sunset Drive in time to meet up with Brant Rose ’92, currently running his own agency in the Hollywood Hills. In his office at the Crossroads of the World, we spent the rest of the afternoon discussing future plans for Crank’s busumentaries, learning about life in Hollywood, and discussing the rise of serials (like Brotherhood on Showtime, watch it!) on television today. Sadly, even Brant couldn’t tell us why Mitchell Hurwitz gave up so quickly on Arrested Development. Perhaps the world will never know.

That night Elliott’s cousin Katie and her husband Rob (the creator of Veronica Mars, among other things) were gracious enough to feed and house the twelve of us in their Hollywood Hills home. Crank and I got to roll with our homey Brittany Murphy via her driveway intercom, Brian rediscovered the joys of the arcade game Asteroids, and we all got to the chance to catch the newest Entourage. E, we told you Tory would be trouble. We also watched a bit of MTV’s the Hills while soaking in a hot tub… in the Hills. (Don’t worry, we spent the next night in a roadside truckstop). But the night couldn’t last forever, especially since we were up at 6AM the next morning, waiting in line for the opportunity to COME ON DOWN!!!

That’s right. The Big Green Bus was the next contestant on The Price is Right! Well, our very own Andrew “Legal Name” Wright was, to be more specific. I can’t get into the details for legal reasons, but let’s just say Andy won an island. Tune in on October 11 th to find out what kind...

While the rest of us were down at CBS’s Television City wangin’ out with TPIR pages Chuck, Ashleigh, and Brian, Elliott coasted through Beverly Hills like Luke Perry in his prime to meet with Ellen Harrington ‘85 at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Ellen’s position with the Academy actually requires her to walk down the Oscar’s infamous “Red Carpet” every year. As Exhibitions Curator and Special Events Coordinator, Ellen has traveled the globe creating events that range from a career tribute to Sidney Poitier to the 20 th Anniversary Labyrinth screening, to which she graciously provided us tickets. It was a fitting end to our stay in Tinseltown. Thanks so much, Los Angeles. You remind us of the babe. What babe? The babe with the power. What power? The power of voodoo. Who do? You do. Do what? Remind me the babe!

- Forrest