Everyone knows that New York City is home to some of the biggest names in entertainment, but certain celebs prefer to live in Hudson County, where they have a little more space and can still head into the city when they need to. Not to mention that they get a fantastic view of the skyline and the chance to walk down the street unnoticed.Or so they think.
Reality show breeding ground?
While many celebrities spend years attending acting or music lessons, some have taken a quicker route by simply landing a spot on a reality show. There, a quirky personality can turn an average schmo into a star.
Many reality shows hold tryouts in New York, so it’s no wonder several of their competitors are from Hudson County.
Big Brother II’s Justin Sebik (remember the guy with the knife?) and The Apprentice’s Nick Warnock are both from Bayonne, while Mitchell Olson of Survivor II: The Australian Outback resides in Union City. Men and women from Hudson County have also competed on The Amazing Race, Forever Eden, and Fear Factor.
Jersey City resident “John B.” is among the male fashion victims featured on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, which films in the New York metro area. The Queer Eye guys, experts in all things chic, helped John clean up his act so he could propose to his girlfriend in style (she said yes).
The show’s “Fab Five” have visited many area clothing, furnishing, and food shops in order to refine their straight-but-slovenly subjects.
“Yesterday I saw Carson [Kressley] from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy on Washington Street,” said Karen Kauffman, a Hoboken resident who works in public relations, last week. The show was recently filming on the 700 block.
Robyn Jackson, a homemaker from Hoboken, recently spotted “that one guy from The Bachelor,” professional football player-turned-eligible hunk Jesse Palmer, in Hoboken. Palmer lives in the Tea Building on the northern waterfront, as does U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine.
Unfortunately, real life seems to have taken a toll on Palmer’s relationship with the show’s winner, Jessica Bowlin, a law student from California. The Giants quarterback and his sweetie recently “sacked” their long-distance relationship.
“The only one I know and have seen is Jesse Palmer,” said Hoboken resident John Causby, when asked what celebrities he’s spotted in Hudson County. “[He was] in the bar – the Madison – with a bunch of other football players.”
Those players might have included tall Giant tight end Jeremy Shockey, who lives on the West New York waterfront and has been spotted hanging out in Hoboken before.
Causby said he’s reluctant to approach famous people for autographs.
“I wouldn’t want to bother them, you know,” he said, “because I wouldn’t want to be bothered. I’m not shy; I just don’t care. If someone was famous like Ray Charles, I’d like to talk to them; someone who’s made a difference.”
Hoboken, home of Joey Pants
Actor Joe Pantoliano grew up in Hoboken. Pantoliano played Ralphie Cifaretto on the HBO series The Sopranos until the show’s fourth season, when he was memorably “whacked” by Tony Soprano.
Susan Icklan, a lawyer from Hoboken, has actually seen “Joey Pants” alive and well – unlike his counterpart Ralphie.
“I know Joey Pantoliano still lives here,” said Icklan. “I saw him over at Elysian Park. He was giving an interview – there was a person with a camera and a pad.”
Pantoliano’s publicist confirmed that he has an apartment in Hoboken, though she declined to say exactly where. Pantoliano also has homes in Connecticut and Los Angeles, but lives primarily in New York City.
Mike Smith, a carpenter from Jersey City, said he has heard that Pantoliano frequents Hoboken’s Malibu Diner, though he’s never actually seen the actor in person.
Bringing Down the House in Jersey City
Be on the lookout for Queen Latifah in Jersey City, where her recording management firm, Flavor Unit Management, is located, and where she has a home.
According to an employee at Flavor Unit, located on Morgan Street, Queen Latifah resides in several homes across the country, including in Jersey City.
Jersey City resident Mildred Canchani said she spotted Queen Latifah one day.
“She was driving in her car on Palisade and Griffith in Jersey City,” Canchani explained. She said that a young boy fell down and scraped his knees and head, and Queen Latifah stopped and asked Canchani where his parents were. Then Latifah drove the boy to his mother’s house two blocks away.
“I said, ‘Nice to meet you, Queen Latifah,’ and she didn’t even answer me,” Canchani lamented.
Maybe she should have scraped her knee, too.
Where’s John Sayles?
Filmmaker John Sayles, creator of such movies as Lone Star and The Return of the Secaucus 7, is rumored to live in Hoboken. According to Sayles’ Web site, he splits his residency between Hoboken and a home somewhere in upstate New York. However, it appears that Sayles packed up and left the Mile-Square City some time ago, according to Hoboken city spokesman Bill Campbell.
“That was in the ’80s,” Campbell says. “I think he moved out to California. I came here in ’84, and I believe he was still living here.”
“I saw The Return of the Secaucus 7 and The Brother from Another Planet, but I haven’t seen any of his new movies,” Campbell added.
Sayles has been involved with more than 30 screenplays to date. Some residents questioned at random didn’t know if he lived here, and some hadn’t heard of him.
Genoveva Faura, a Hoboken homemaker, didn’t recognize Sayles’ name, but said she was familiar with Sayles’ 2002 film Sunshine State, starring Edie Falco and Angela Bassett.
“I heard of that, but I didn’t get to see it,” says Faura. “They said it was a pretty good movie.”
Andre Velasquez of Jersey City, an intern for Presidential Records, has also heard of Sunshine State, but is unfamiliar with Sayles himself.
“Yeah, I heard about that. What, he lives here too?” said Velasquez. “I don’t really know who he is. I guess it’s convenient because it’s close to New York City.”
Stern sidekick draws diners
Artie Lange, a regular on The Howard Stern Show, lives in the Shipyard development on the Hoboken waterfront. He frequents the nearby Uptown Pizza on 14th Street, whose food he often praises on Stern’s morning radio show. Uptown Pizza owner Rich Turnvull couldn’t be more appreciative.
“If Artie likes it, I know it’ll sell,” Turnvull says, adding that he often asks Lange to sample the pizzeria’s newest dishes before they are added to the menu.
Turnvull says he’s had countless customers ask about Lange, who stops by about three times a week for a bite. Turnvull added that truckers who listen to Stern’s show in the morning have driven to the pizzeria during their lunch breaks, declaring that anything good enough for Artie is good enough for them.
Lange’s presence has attracted star-struck diners from Weehawken and Union City, which means big business for Turnvull.
“Last year, we had a [pizza] pie-eating contest, and Artie had a pie and a half,” Turnvull says. “Business filled up that day.”
Italian restaurants in Hoboken have drawn other stars.
“I see Danny Aiello all the time at Tutta Pasta,” said city spokesman Bill Campbell. “But I don’t think he lives here. He just likes to hang out here. He’s always at the same table at that restaurant. I’d say he’s there at least once a week.”
Ken Decker of Hoboken, a cameraman for Late Night with Conan O’Brien, said the only celebrity he’s seen outside of work is Today Show news anchor Natalie Morales, whom he has noticed in the Kings supermarket in Hoboken.
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