Nobody Tells This Wookie What to Do

The Force Arrests Chewbacca

Ever since I moved out here, I've been torn between hating and loving this stretch of Hollywood Blvd. The vibe is somewhere between a year-round Comicon and the breakroom of the world's lamest auto show. It's also an excellent barometer of the current face of pop culture. For a while there, the sidewalk was carpeted with Ewan-as-Obi-Wans and Young Anakins. Now, aside from a guy in smeary red and black face paint, there's no sign of Lucas' prequels.

I love the drama-geeks-gone-amok quality. It takes me right back to the shadowy wings of the Little Theater, listening to a freckled sophomore playing Henry Drummond like a 16-year-old Spencer Tracy, while the prop crew plays poker under the stage.

But there is a dark side. Some people get really into it--I've stood in line for coffee behind a Jack Sparrow who would *not* break character. Keep in mind, this man did not look like Johnny Depp and was an easy 50 pounds heavier than Depp. But he stepped up to that register, swayed, and with one disoriented finger, pointed to a cup and slurred "Barkeep, a medium cup of your finest mocha ice blended, sir!"

Speaking of which, I suspect Thomas Fox will be crying himself to sleep tonight:

"The city will do something eventually. Yesterday's incident probably shortened that time span," said Thomas Fox, wearing a pirate's suit reminiscent of Capt. Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean."

In a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Hollywood, an unhappy man in eyeliner is lamenting to a sweaty Darth Maul: "Reminiscent? REMINISCENT? Do you think Depp grew actual dreds for the part? DO YOU?"