Dan's Papers - March 14, 2008 - Twentysomething...By David Lion Rattiner

Last week I had the opportunity to go to The Rainbow Room in New York City where Guild Hall hosted its lifetime achievement awards. Four people were given the award - Joe Pintauro, David Salle, Robert F.X. Sillerman and Mel Brooks. As a HUGE Spaceballs fan, I was pretty excited to be there.

My Dad and his fiancé Christine invited me to the benefit, and I got to rub elbows with some pretty amazing people. When we arrived, I was starstruck by Alec Baldwin who was shaking hands with everybody. I was absolutely certain he had no idea who I was (why would he?) when I shook hands with him.

"It's great to see you," I said as a personal joke to myself.

"You too pal. How is everything?" He gave me a bear hug like we've known each other for years.

"I'm doing great, just great!"

This conversation took place in front of numerous photographers, who were all snapping pictures. Little did they know I was a nobody. But I didn't feel the need to give them an explanation.

While walking into the room, I bumped right into Robert F.X. Sillerman, who is pretty much the owner of "American Idol" (what?!), and he extended his hand and I did the same.

"My girlfriend is a huge fan of your show."

"She needs to get out more," he joked.

THEN, in walked the legendary Broadway producer Stewart Lane, who I am pretty much begging to read a musical I wrote about lifeguards in East Hampton. I sat down and was freaking out a bit. It was an honor to be there. Sitting next to me was national radio host Joan Hamburg. We began chatting and she turned out to be one of the most wonderful people I have ever met. I made a mental note to check out her show.

Then arrived Mel Brooks, the man, the legend. The guy who, when he walks into a room, you are like holy crap there goes Mel Brooks. I didn't have the courage to walk up to him, so I just sat there and felt blessed to be at this event.

After Mel Brooks gave his acceptance speech, dinner wrapped up and the evening came to an end. I ran into Barry Gordin, a photographer that I've known for a long time and who frequently attends fancy events like this. I walked over and said hello and we caught up a bit. He then told me he was going to take some pictures of Mel Brooks.

"Come on, let's go," he said.

We walked over. "Mel this is David Rattiner, go ahead and stand together," Barry said with an amazing cool but also with authority.

The flashing lights went off and I turned to Mel Brooks. "Thank you so much, I'm a huge, huge fan of Spaceballs."

"SPACEBALLS! Oh get out of here! People always talk to me about everything else. That's nice to hear. Hey Tom, SPACEBALLS! This kid over here likes SPACEBALLS."

"I LOVE SPACEBALLS!" I said.

"He wrote it with me."

"I'm Thomas Meehan."

"Dave Rattiner, may the Schwartz be with you."

"And also with you."

"I love the we're in now, now, scene where they go back and forth. Everything that is happening now, is happening now."

"Mel and I wrote that scene together."

And that was how I got to meet Thomas Meehan, writer of Hairspray and co-writer of Spaceballs. Mel Brooks introduced us.