Here’s my favorite story of the week: there was a surprise visit to Chattanooga from two actors at the top of their game: funnyman Zach Galifianakis and actor Jon Hamm, best known as the suave Don Draper on AMC’s “Mad Men.”
Jon Hamm & Zach Galifianakis in a file photo
The two stars were en route from Manchester to Atlanta on Sunday afternoon, and decided to grab a bite at Tupelo Honey, the popular downtown restaurant at Warehouse Row. Both had attended Bonnaroo and introduced some of the acts. They’re filming “Keeping Up With The Joneses” in Atlanta, a comedy scheduled for theatrical release on April Fools Day 2016.
Kudos to these guys for being nice to bartender Abby Swartz. Hamm gave her his Bonnaroo wristband, which allowed her to enjoy great access at the Manchester music festival, and Galifianakis left behind an epic tip.
I love Jon and Zach’s work, and it’s good to know they went out of their way to make someone happy. Jon could have kept the wristband, which he struggled mightily to remove. Zach could have left the standard 15 percent tip (instead of an eye-popping 250 percent). They could’ve kept their heads down, avoided eye contact, and acted like big stars.
I get the feeling those guys are thankful for their fame and success, which did not happen overnight. Each were struggling actors for quite awhile. On this Chattanooga Sunday afternoon, they had a good time sharing some joy. They weren’t there posing for pics, or looking for publicity. (The pic I used above is a file photograph from a previous event. They’re longtime friends). I don’t think they expected their Tupelo Honey visit to make news, but I’m glad it did. I like them even more now.
