Thanks to Joe Bua for pointing this one out to me: it's a list by The Guardian's Anna Pickard of the Top 10 TV celebrities (real or fictitious) to be trapped in a lift with. I'm not sure whether that means all at the same time or in 10 separate lift-trapping incidents, but meme of the week is to list your 10 celebs, either in the comments below or at your own blog, leaving a link below.
Here are mine, in no particular order:
- Dr Tom (from Being Erica): he'd have solved all my troubles, provided a quote for the occasion and created an exit door from the lift, all before the emergency services got there.
- Joanna Page: to keep our spirits lifted and to fill us all with a sense of happiness in case Dr Tom didn't show up. Plus she's only 5'1" so she wouldn't use up much oxygen. And just because.
- Derren Brown: who'd convince us it was all in our minds
- Neil Burnside (from The Sandbaggers): because whatever needed to be done, he'd do it, no matter what the personal sacrifice was or who he had to kill to do it, as long as it was in Britain's best interests.
- Stephen Fry: because all such lists have to include Stephen Fry and for the conversation, even though he'd use up twice as much oxygen as everyone else – except Joanna Page who, now I think about it, can talk like the clappers when she's nervous.
- Peter Parker: because, well – I know this is a secret but – he's Spiderman, and thus obviously very useful in such situations.
- Ali Larter: just because. And because she's very fit, which is always useful in a "scaling your way out of the lift and up the cable" scenario. And who knows? Maybe she does have super powers. Which would be useful (see 6). But mainly just because.
- Jill Goodacre: because then I could call Joey and tell him about it in our secret code.
- Tina Fey: because she's bloody funny, and it's better than being stuck in a lift with Sarah Palin.
- Jonathan Creek: because he'd find the secret panel at the back that would let us all out. Bloody Creek. Why didn't he tell us about that sooner?
If 10 seems like too many, you can just name a few instead. Or if you'd like to be trapped with more, fair enough, although remember the oxygen and weight issues.
I have actually been stuck in a lift in real life – in the Hoover Dam, halfway up, with 40 other people, in the dark, without aircon, for nearly an hour. Electricians had to abseil down the lift shaft to rescue us. It wasn't fun, and I didn't get to choose any of the people in the lift with me.
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February 9, 2009 | Reply
Oooh, haven't had a good meme in ages. Okay, my 10 are up: http://danowen.blogspot.com/2009/02/top-10-celebs-to-be-stuck-in-lift-with.html
February 9, 2009 | Reply
Done mine too. Predictable but hey...
Rullsenberg's Celebrity Lift Sharing
February 9, 2009 | Reply
Gawd knows I need ideas for my blog (I'm doing NaBloPoMo for February) but this is short: 1. David Tennant. 2. Eight people too overawed and shy to actually speak to him. (Are you available, Marie?)
February 9, 2009 | Reply
Mine is complete, although it was much harder than I thought it would be. Reverted to cliche in the end....
http://fazzinchi.co.uk/2009/02/09/the-lift-list/
February 9, 2009 | Reply
"Gawd knows I need ideas for my blog (I'm doing NaBloPoMo for February) but this is short: 1. David Tennant. 2. Eight people too overawed and shy to actually speak to him. (Are you available, Marie?)"
BWAH!! - oh that's hilarious. And whilst I am sure to count as overawed if I ever did get a proper meet, I'd really want to join the squabble for him...
February 10, 2009 | Reply
Can I be another of the overawed eight??? (My nearest glimpse of the man himself was the back of his head after seeing Love's Labour's Lost. For rasons best known to himself, my husband only thought to point out he'd seen David Tennant once he'd walked past the window to which I inconveniently had my back...)
February 10, 2009 | Reply
"Can I be another of the overawed eight??? Are you blond, Jane/Jules? No blonds allowed.
February 10, 2009 | Reply
Aww, you guys haven't met DT yet?
He's a lovely bloke, sure I'm judging that based on a three minute conversation plus his television work, but he was good enough to stop and chat with me when I met him in the Bay last year and he didn't have to do that.
Anyway, I'm half considering doing this 10 celeb elevator thingy as well. But would people want to see mine?
February 10, 2009 | Reply
I'm working on my list.
One thing I know is that it includes people to look at, people to talk with, and someone to get us out of the whole mess.
I'll come back and let you know who they are.
Is it just people currently living, or can we delve into history, too?
February 10, 2009 | Reply
"Aww, you guys haven't met DT yet? He's a lovely bloke, sure I'm judging that based on a three minute conversation . . . ." That does it, Rev-Views, you're not getting stuck in my elavator. (Oh dear, that doesn't sound right, does it?)
February 11, 2009 | Reply
""Can I be another of the overawed eight??? Are you blond, Jane/Jules? No blonds allowed."
Ha. Coffee cup moment of the morning. I am sadly not at all blonde Persephone(though mysteriously I have blonde children). Perhaps I should start dying my hair. Then, maybe next time I have my back to a restaurant window and DT walks past he will automatically turn his head my way.
Rev-Views. Of course we want to read your list. I will be reading everyone's avidly as a completely vital work avoidance activity. Oh, and at some point I'll be doing mine, but I seem to have got stuck with far too many characters from Spooks, all of whom I'm sure could blow/shoot our way out of trouble...
February 11, 2009 | Reply
Why not.
February 11, 2009 | Reply
No blondes allowed? That's not a lift I want to get into.
February 11, 2009 | Reply
My sister's met him - sort of. I keep having to dodge Rusty in Cardiff Bay whenever I'm there.
As for your list, we've shown you ours, now you show us yours.
February 11, 2009 | Reply
Sigh. Persephone isn't entirely without merit deciding that those who have had encounters shouldn't really be allowed in her lift, even as spectators! Oh Rev/Views: this is why some of us wish we had been living in Cardiff for at least part of the last few years. The best I managed was being at the stage door last year at Stratford... not as that wasn't wonderful but it's hardly a (3 minute) conversation.
Then again, I'm not Marie either...
But yes, ultimately, a list please. Same goes for you Jane, with or without an overdose of Spookage!
February 11, 2009 | Reply
You ask, I provide.
http://rev-views.blogspot.com/2009/02/top-ten-celebs-id-like-to-be-trapped-in.html
As for living in Cardiff, I won't be here much longer. 2 more weeks and I move! To a few miles outside Cardiff (So not a big move really).
February 11, 2009 | Reply
"No blondes allowed? That's not a lift I want to get into."
It's Persephone's lift with David Tennant in it, not your Ali Larter lift
February 11, 2009 | Reply
I'm just saying that if she wants some people in a lift with her who aren't in the slightest bit interested in David Tennant, I'd have been happy to oblige, provided she could have guaranteed me Ali Larter and/or Joanna Page. That's all.
February 11, 2009 | Reply
""No blondes allowed? That's not a lift I want to get into."It's Persephone's lift with David Tennant in it, not your Ali Larter lift
"
Oh dear. I am now far too sidetracked by this hilarious conversation to even begin to think about my own list properly, till at least tomorrow. Lisa I will try my best to get something up before the end of the week, but am seriously squashed timewise this week. I haven't even managed a Sitting Tennant caption...
February 11, 2009 | Reply
"I'm just saying that if she wants some people in a lift with her who aren't in the slightest bit interested in David Tennant, I'd have been happy to oblige, provided she could have guaranteed me Ali Larter and/or Joanna Page. That's all."
Yeah, Rob. Two dishy blonds stuck in a lift with me and David Tennant. That'll work...
February 11, 2009 | Reply
"Yeah, Rob. Two dishy blonds stuck in a lift with me and David Tennant. That'll work..."
a) I'm sure DT is neither a bounder nor a cad and JP is married and AL is engaged. I'd get to talk to them through married persons' prerogative.
b) I'd employ cunning and sophisticated blocking manoeuvres to stop him if necessary. Woo hoo. There was a point to all that rugby practice when I was younger.
February 11, 2009 | Reply
Sorry to have been so distracting Jane!
Though I do like Rob's reasoning for having Ali L in the lift and how he would use both his married person's status and skills from rugby to work the situation to all of our mutual benefit!
February 11, 2009 | Reply
Now I want to get stuck in a lift with DT, JP, and AL, if only to see Rob's cunning marital prerogative rugby moves. It sounds like something out of Gavin and Stacey...
Hmmn. Cunning Marital Prerogative Rugby Moves. We could start an indie band.
February 11, 2009 | Reply
"Now I want to get stuck in a lift with DT, JP, and AL, if only to see Rob's cunning marital prerogative rugby moves. It sounds like something out of Gavin and Stacey...Hmmn. Cunning Marital Prerogative Rugby Moves. We could start an indie band."
More like Torchwood. But the band's a good idea.
However, I can't help but notice that I inadvertently seem to have volunteered for some live action slash fic for you and Rullsenberg. What will my excuse be, I wonder? I did it for the blondes? Still, if it works for them, too...
Oh dear. I seem to have gone to a very dark place there.
[Whistles]. 10 TV people you'd most like to share a lift with? Anyone?
February 12, 2009 | Reply
Well, Rob. If you broaden this meme to include people obsessed with TV characters as well AS TV characters, it seems to me we nearly have a perfect ten. The lift should include: DT, AL, JP, with Rob on Rugby Marital wotsit duty and Marie, Persephone and Lisa fending off the blondes, and you'd better also have Captain Jack to get the band going properly and a stupid Torchwood alien to be the obligatory hate figure in the lift.
OTOH, I have posted my real list here!
http://maniacmum.blogspot.com/2009/02/top-ten-tv-characters-to-get-stuck-in.html
February 12, 2009 | Reply
I have been too busy to comment, thinking up my favourite nine David Tennant characters to be stuck in the lift with me. David Tennant himself would be number ten, of course.
February 12, 2009 | Reply
"Marie, Persephone and Lisa fending off the blondes"
See, that's not right. That's my job.
I'm now inclined to take advantage of Persephone's discriminatory policies and set up a lift right next door to Persephone's "no blondes allowed" lift.
"What's that Monica Potter, Katherine Heigl, Tricia Helfer, Kelly Rutherford, Elizabeth Banks, Sarah Chalke and Kim Raver? Persephone won't let you in her lift? Don't worry. Come and join Jo and Ali in this one over here. There's room for all 10 of us."
Much better all round.
February 12, 2009 | Reply
I'm sure there's room for Teri Polo and Yvonne Strahovski as well.
February 12, 2009 | Reply
"I'm sure there's room for Teri Polo and Yvonne Strahovski as well."
If Teri got there on time, she'd be allowed on but I was originally saving the last place for Amy Smart, Beth Riesgraf or Hudson Leick, depending on who got there first.
But the lift will be operating a strict "30 and over" policy, so Yvonne would have to take the Stu lift, I'm afraid, no matter how well she high kicks.
February 12, 2009 | Reply
I Did It For the Blondes 9pm, Sats
Follow the hilarious escapades of motivational speaker Rob Buckley as he battles to keep his marital vows in a stuck lift full of thirty-something famous blonds. (Guest appearance by David Tennant as the harried celebrity shouting witty advice from neigbouring stuck lift.)
February 12, 2009 | Reply
Sign me up now.
However, if DT acts like he did on Derren Brown's series finale, he'll be getting all of you lot in the other lift to help him build some kind of bridge over to mine. It'll be your job, therefore, to resist and to stop him. Pin him down if you have to.
February 12, 2009 | Reply
"Pin him down if you have to."
Can I volunteer for that task?! please!
God, this conversation really has gotten out of control hasn't it?! In the best way possible.
And Rob, don't think I didn't spot the dark places you were going to...
February 12, 2009 | Reply
""Pin him down if you have to."Can I volunteer for that task?! please!"
All right. I'm counting on you, though.
"God, this conversation really has gotten out of control hasn't it?! In the best way possible."
All it needs is one more comment and it'll be the joint-second most popular comment thread in the blog's history.
"And Rob, don't think I didn't spot the dark places you were going to...
"
I don't know what you're talking about... [whistles nonchalantly]
February 12, 2009 | Reply
."All it needs is one more comment and it'll be the joint-second most popular comment thread in the blog's history."
Happy to oblige Mr Rob. You've all kept me well entertained this week...
And Rob, don't think I didn't spot the dark places you were going to...
"I don't know what you're talking about... [whistles nonchalantly]"
I can't imagine someone of the upstanding moral calibre of Rob and his Rugby Marriage Guidance Motivational Speaker Abilities EVER going to the dark places to which Ms Rullsenberg was referring. Yours Shocked of Surrey.
February 12, 2009 | Reply
"I Did It For the Blondes 9pm, SatsFollow the hilarious escapades of motivational speaker Rob Buckley as he battles to keep his marital vows in a stuck lift full of thirty-something famous blonds. (Guest appearance by David Tennant as the harried celebrity shouting witty advice from neigbouring stuck lift.)"
This sounds like A Must Watch programme. Oh damn. You say it's not real?
I vote this the funniest comment on a very very funny comment thread...
February 13, 2009 | Reply
I second Jane's vote: Persephone has a knack for making great comments!
February 13, 2009 | Reply
Me too. This is my favourite thread ever. Also, wherever this building with all the well-stocked lifts is, I totally want to work there.
February 13, 2009 | Reply
I fourth (?) it.
February 13, 2009 | Reply
Now you're just trying to get the tally up to forty comments for this post, aren't you? Which posts are in the top three for comments, Rob? I'll bet they're reviews of Doctor Who episodes. (Take that, Armitage's Army!)
February 13, 2009 | Reply
"Now you're just trying to get the tally up to forty comments for this post, aren't you?"
No, no, that's just a fortuitous coincidence. It really was the funniest comment. Credit where it's due.
"Which posts are in the top three for comments, Rob? I'll bet they're reviews of Doctor Who episodes. (Take that, Armitage's Army!)"
The most commented posts are always available in the "Popular" tab in the sidebar (or would be if it were working properly. Curses. I'll add that to the maintenance list), but for the record they are:
1. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and what can Santa Rob bring you for 2008? (40 comments)
2. Meme of the week: Top 10 TV characters to be stuck in a lift with (39 comments)
3. What bit of Doctor Who history for series four? (34 comments)
4. Coming soon... (34 comments)
5. Review: Doctor Who 4x12 - The Stolen Earth (32 comments)
6. Wednesday morning's eye-opening and independent news (30 comments)
7. Review: Doctor Who 4x7 - The Unicorn and the Wasp (30 comments)
8. And the next Doctor is… (28 comments)
9. Review: Doctor Who 3x6 - The Lazarus Experiment (27 comments)
10. Review: Doctor Who 4x2 - The Fires of Pompeii (26 comments)
So good guess, but not quite. And this is comment 40. Hoozah! ;-)
February 13, 2009 | Reply
Of course, a 41st comment would take it into pole position...
February 13, 2009 | Reply
"Of course, a 41st comment would take it into pole position..."
One might almost say it's taken the express elevator – or even lift – to the top floor. Thanks!
February 13, 2009 | Reply
"Of course, a 41st comment would take it into pole position..."
Which reminds me of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj55mHD2Pes
Only their uncle knows!
Nothing to do with lifts.
February 13, 2009 | Reply
Ooh, you read my mind. Or put the thought into it, I don't know which.
Am debating whether to offer a place in my life to Ainsley Hayes from The West Wing. I knew I left someone off.
February 13, 2009 | Reply
"Am debating whether to offer a place in my life to Ainsley Hayes from The West Wing."
Ten celebrities to be stuck in your *life* with? That's a whole 'nother meme.
February 13, 2009 | Reply
"Ten celebrities to be stuck in your *life* with? That's a whole 'nother meme."
Am unsure whether that was a typo or a Freudian slip.
Oh Ainsley...
February 14, 2009 | Reply
I quite like it as a line, anyway. "I'm offering you a place in my life. Take it or leave it. There's a lot more air in here than in my lift."
February 15, 2009 | Reply
"Oh Ainsley..."
But wouldn't her voice drive you mad? And the constant Gilbert & Sullivan?
February 16, 2009 | Reply
"There's a lot more air in here than in my lift"
You don't feel that has more than a few undertones of "my life revolves around ready meals for one" to it?
February 16, 2009 | Reply
Her voice is part of her charm. I'm not sure she sings Gilbert & Sullivan so much as has it sung to her, so we should be safe unless she brings her iPod speakers with her - or there's been a drastic mistake with the choice of lift musak.
Still, if people complains, she'll just have to stand aside for Julie Benz. It's a tricky one, but harsh choices might have to be made. Not sure whether to go for Julie Benz, Julie Benz as Darla in Buffy, Julie Benz as Darla in Angel or Julie Benz as Rita in Dexter. Any ideas?
February 17, 2009 | Reply
darla in Angel -- gets much more to do.
February 17, 2009 | Reply
Although YOU may have a thing for the school-girl look...
I wouldn't presume...
February 18, 2009 | Reply
In general, no - there's a reason why it's the thirtysomething and fortysomething blonde lift. But Julie Benz does make it work in Buffy.