If you want an autograph from Mario, wait

foodnetworkaddict.com · 01-28-2008, 11:11 AM

I love this quote from Mario Batali from today's Washington Square News:

"I'm happy to sign autographs and do all of that, but there are times when I'm just trying to eat breakfast with my kids and the person I ask to wait for an autograph calls me an asshole. I'm not going to go off, though, like some celebrities, and punch a paparazzo or anything."

Mario took some time off to talk to students of the class, "Celebrity: A Cultural and Historical Exploration of Modern Fame" at his restaurant Otto.

And while he may lament the change in the network's new focus on fast & easy, Mario seems to be able to recognize the positive:

"At the end of the day, I'm happy to have anyone cook anything - I'm more against Arby's and McDonald's than people who cut corners and whatever to get dinner on the table."

[Photo via Washington Square News]

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Food Network Fan · 01-28-2008, 12:24 PM

If you don't want to give autographs live a private life. The fact that people even want his autograph makes him what he is today.

MayQueen · 01-28-2008, 01:44 PM

People sometimes ask for my autograph after a concert. I find it creepy. Why would anyone care about that.

Food Network Fan · 01-28-2008, 01:47 PM

They want to say ... I saw her when ... after you are a world wide star.

BerryBaby · 01-28-2008, 03:15 PM

MayQueen, what do you do performance-wise? Would we know you?

MayQueen · 01-28-2008, 04:23 PM

I'm a classical pianist. No, I don't think you'd know me. I work mostly in Europe since I went to Conservatory there.

BerryBaby · 01-28-2008, 07:31 PM

Wow! Good for you...what an accomplishment! I'm envious.

Wish I had kept taking piano lessons in 7th grade. Gave it up for cheerleading instead. Cheerleading, in the real world, doesn't get you very far.

As the saying goes, "If I knew then, what I know now, things would have been different."

bakerman · 01-28-2008, 08:27 PM

I would personally find it rude if someone asked for my autograph while I was obviously having a meal with others, if I was famous of course. But the autograph thing is a downside of fame, and I suppose getting interrupted is inevitable.

I really respect his quote about people at least making an effort to cook, even if they take short cuts, I feel the same way.

MAC

radiodugger · 01-28-2008, 10:07 PM

Please, don't laugh, but it has happened to me. When I worked for the Oldies station, I made many appearances, including introducing acts like The Grass Roots and Three Dog Night. I did a few TV appearances, and that's when it went nuts.

People can be RUTHLESSLY rude, when they want something. They don't care if you're eating ( I was, with my parents at a Taco Bell), they burst up to you, breathing like they've just run a marathon, shove a napkin in front of you, even going so far as to push your food aside! "...Oh, you don't have a PEN??? You should carry a PEN"...yadda yadda "...my daughter listens to you every night, and she likes....oh, and my husband fishes on Sunday during your Doo-Wop show!! Yadda yadda..."

It's only happened a couple of times where people were really rude...Now, these days, HA! LOL! Haven't been even recognized...haven't signed an autograph in a long time. I think I like that...so peaceful...

Radio Doug

isilzha · 01-30-2008, 08:13 PM

I don't know, I can see both sides of it. But people shouldn't be rude to celebrities if they told them to wait. My friends knew where the WWE stars would go after the shows and they would go and get autographs. The stars were always real nice about it and I think they had very positive views of the guys.