Not even rain could dampen the mood of the latest stars being inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.
All of the latest inductees walked the red carpet outside the Hummingbird Centre Saturday afternoon as they unveiled their stars as part of the ninth annual ceremony.
This year’s inductees ? Pamela Anderson, Alex Trebek, Paul Shaffer, Eugene Levy, Robert Goulet, Jann Arden, Brendan Fraser and skiers The Crazy Canucks ? bring the total number of stars on the Walk of Fame to 101.
All the inductees were thrilled and most were a little surprised to receive the honour.
“It’s always great to have honours bestowed on you, but especially when it?s from your native land. I have got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as you know, but this one is probably going to rank just a little higher,” Trebek of Jeopardy fame told andPOP after unveiling his star.
Shaffer, the long-time musical director for David Letterman, said unveiling his star was a moment he’ll never forget.
“They’re making such a big fuss over me and all the rest of us ? but you don?t feel like you really deserve something like this,” Shaffer said.
And what does Letterman ? who dedicated a top 10 list to Canada’s Walk of Fame recently ? think of Shaffer’s newest accomplishment?
“Dave is tired of me getting honours. He says ‘I get nothing; you’re always being honoured, and I get nothing,’” Shaffer joked before turning serious. “And I have had so many wonderful things happen to me in my life, you know, I am blessed. I don?t take anything for granted. I (just) have so much fun playing music.”
Hamilton native Levy said he is especially honoured, considering he had never planned to get into show business.
“I feel pretty damn good. I feel very, very, very excited ? this is way beyond what I ever imagined. This is about as good as it gets ? being honoured and recognized by your country; boy, it doesn?t get much better.”
 Watch Eugene Levy talk about his path to fame.
( Real Audio ) |
Jennifer Coolidge, co-starring in Levy’s new movie “For Your Consideration,” was on hand to present Levy with his honour. What did the American think of Canada’s Walk of Fame?
“I think it’s fantastic and I have to say, I actually think it’s much more glamourous than Hollywood Boulevard,” she said.
Fraser spent a good hour standing in the pouring rain before his star was unveiled, signing autographs for the fans that came out to see the stars despite the weather. Before walking down the red carpet, he even signed autographs and posed for pictures with members of RCMP and Metro Toronto Police officers that were off to the side.
“Elated, humbled, a but damp and very Canadian,” the actor said when asked how he was feeling.
Fans gathered at the gates in hopes of catching a sight of their favourite celebrities. Fraser didn’t disappoint, signing autographs for almost an hour.
Fraser said he doesn’t come home to Canada often enough. He usually only returns to work and to attend the Toronto Film Festival, which he says is one of the most important in the world. When asked if while playing characters like Encino Man and George of the Jungle he ever thought he would end up with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, the actor laughed.
“I don?t think it was invented at the time I was doing (those films). I thought that I would be probably driving Pauly Shore (around) in those days,” he said.
Calgary native Arden said she felt the honour was a little unusual.
 Watch Alex Trebek talk about his star.
( Real Audio ) |
“I feel really kind of strange and overwhelmed and I didn?t know I was famous until today ? no one told me. You know, I live two miles away from where I grew up ? my life hasn’t really changed that much, but I’m very honoured. I’m such a proud Canadian,” she said.
The singer said she brought her parents with her to see her star unveiled.
“She said, ‘well that’s great. I hope you find something to wear,’” Arden said, breaking into her trademark voice she uses when speaking like her mother.
“It?s just a surreal day. I feel kind of drunk without drinking, I’m just floating around and I’m trying to enjoy it,” Arden said in a moment of seriousness, before adding one of her trademark quips. “I don?t even know how you get voted into this. I have no idea. I didn’t sleep with anybody to get here because that wouldn’t have worked.”
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