2008 Woodie Awards
'Celebrities' bring taste of reality bites to Iowa City
Lauren Kamm - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 3/8/04 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
Some downtown bar patrons have experienced an unusual taste of reality this month after several special appearances by TV personalities, some of whom have inspired miniature shrines on the walls of female UI students.
A Thursday night tradition of sorts has developed over the past four weeks as reality-show celebrities visit downtown. On March 4 at the Summit Restaurant & Bar, 10 S. Clinton St., Christopher Tamburello - a.k.a "C.T." of "Real World Paris" - and Syrus Yarbrough of "Real World Boston" became the last reality-show celebrities to visit before Spring Break.
UI freshman Kelly Petruck, a "Real World" fan, has frequented the bars several times to see the celebrities, adding she has a Tamburello wall of fame at home.
"I came here last time to profess my love to C.T.," she said.
The rain on March 4 kept the crowds low until midnight, but a mass of admirers soon formed around Tamburello in the bar's back corner booth, seeking pictures and conversation.
Tamburello, 23, and Yarbrough, a "Hollywood 27," mixed well with the Iowa City 20-somethings. Mike Porter, the owner of the Summit and One-Eyed Jakes, 18-20 S. Clinton St., said the visits are relatively inexpensive. He plans to lure Sean Hayes from "Will and Grace" in the future.
Porter said the plan came from conversations with promoter Matt McCoy of SpecialInterestEntertainment.com, who started the business after meeting "Real World" cast members in Miami during Spring Break 2002. In the past, McCoy has booked Yarbrough for Malone's Irish Pub, 121 Iowa Ave.
"Iowa has been really good to me and supported me, so I like to do fun stuff for college kids my age," the University of Northern Iowa junior said.
"Why not give them something back?"
For now, while McCoy promotes his clients for the students' benefit, the cast members come for the atmosphere.
Tamburello also made appearances at Studio 13, 13 S. Linn St., a place where reality-show celebrities often stop, said manager Wade Schutte, adding that Ruthie from "Real World Hawaii" stopped by last year.
Tamburello, noting that Iowa City reminds him of his hometown, Boston, said, "Iowa City fans are a little more conservative" than other cities he has visited.
Porter, for his part, disagrees. A crowd nearly knocked the 6-8, 280-pound man over when they rushed Tamburello.
"It was like they were rushing the Beatles or something," Porter said.
Other reality TV celebrities that have visited the Summit include Leah from "Real World Paris", and Keith Cuda from "Paradise Hotel" in week one; Tamburello's first visit in week two; and Veronica from "Road Rules Semester at Sea" with Robin from "Real World San Diego" in week three.
Porter anticipates these will not be the last of the reality show celebrities, and thinks they will make appearances again following Spring Break.
E-mail DI reporter Lauren Kamm at:
lauren-kamm@uiowa.edu
A Thursday night tradition of sorts has developed over the past four weeks as reality-show celebrities visit downtown. On March 4 at the Summit Restaurant & Bar, 10 S. Clinton St., Christopher Tamburello - a.k.a "C.T." of "Real World Paris" - and Syrus Yarbrough of "Real World Boston" became the last reality-show celebrities to visit before Spring Break.
UI freshman Kelly Petruck, a "Real World" fan, has frequented the bars several times to see the celebrities, adding she has a Tamburello wall of fame at home.
"I came here last time to profess my love to C.T.," she said.
The rain on March 4 kept the crowds low until midnight, but a mass of admirers soon formed around Tamburello in the bar's back corner booth, seeking pictures and conversation.
Tamburello, 23, and Yarbrough, a "Hollywood 27," mixed well with the Iowa City 20-somethings. Mike Porter, the owner of the Summit and One-Eyed Jakes, 18-20 S. Clinton St., said the visits are relatively inexpensive. He plans to lure Sean Hayes from "Will and Grace" in the future.
Porter said the plan came from conversations with promoter Matt McCoy of SpecialInterestEntertainment.com, who started the business after meeting "Real World" cast members in Miami during Spring Break 2002. In the past, McCoy has booked Yarbrough for Malone's Irish Pub, 121 Iowa Ave.
"Iowa has been really good to me and supported me, so I like to do fun stuff for college kids my age," the University of Northern Iowa junior said.
"Why not give them something back?"
For now, while McCoy promotes his clients for the students' benefit, the cast members come for the atmosphere.
Tamburello also made appearances at Studio 13, 13 S. Linn St., a place where reality-show celebrities often stop, said manager Wade Schutte, adding that Ruthie from "Real World Hawaii" stopped by last year.
Tamburello, noting that Iowa City reminds him of his hometown, Boston, said, "Iowa City fans are a little more conservative" than other cities he has visited.
Porter, for his part, disagrees. A crowd nearly knocked the 6-8, 280-pound man over when they rushed Tamburello.
"It was like they were rushing the Beatles or something," Porter said.
Other reality TV celebrities that have visited the Summit include Leah from "Real World Paris", and Keith Cuda from "Paradise Hotel" in week one; Tamburello's first visit in week two; and Veronica from "Road Rules Semester at Sea" with Robin from "Real World San Diego" in week three.
Porter anticipates these will not be the last of the reality show celebrities, and thinks they will make appearances again following Spring Break.
E-mail DI reporter Lauren Kamm at:
lauren-kamm@uiowa.edu
