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BEST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009 in Canda |
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Written by Hounds TV
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Tuesday, 05 January 2010 |
BEST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009
1. GEORGE CLOONEY
George Clooney earns HoundsTV’s title of BEST Signer to come through Canada this year. Besides starring in perhaps the best movie of the year, Clooney came to Toronto during September for the International Film Festival and was a signing champion to fans and autograph collectors – never refusing a signature request. Now, normally that wouldn’t have been too surprising as George is one of the nicer guys in the business. But his signing prowess was even more impressive – considering he was in Toronto with a banged up and bandaged signing hand. Clooney could have easily gotten off the hook from signing and everybody would have understood – but there he was – wading into crowds and signing away, often ignoring the pleas not to by his own people, security and publicists for fear of further injuring the hand.
2. JONAS BROTHERS
For another year running, the Jonas Brother were no strangers to Canada. They toured across the country – and even spent six straight weeks at a hotel in Toronto while filming a movie. And for hardcore JB fans and autograph seekers – it became no big secret where they were staying and crowds of people would congregate outside their hotel every day waiting for them. But the Jonas Brother proved to be fan favorites as they would routinely step outside their hotel to greet fans and sign autographs – not even caring if that particular signature might eventually make its way for sale.
3. MICHAEL JORDAN
Known for usually turning up on WORST signers lists – Michael Jordan earned a change in status this year after a visit to Oakville, Ontario during July for a charity golf tournament. A very large crowd of autograph collectors and fans turned out for the day following Jordan’s every move. Word on the course being that he would sign after his round. While the crowd swelled to hundreds chasing Jordan for that elusive signature, Jordan shocked many when he spent a good TEN minutes signing anything the hounds managed to get in front of him just before he departed the course. To the many collectors who chased Jordan for years to get that elusive signature – a sunny day in July on an Oakville golf course will be a day not soon forgotten.
4. TWILIGHT CAST (NEW MOON)
There was perhaps nobody more hounded (or famous?) to spend time in Canada during 2009 then the cast of Twilight – especially Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Since the pop culture phenom series is 90% shot in Canada the stars spent a lot of time in Vancouver and stories of autograph experiences with the cast are numerous. One collector extensively blogged from the scene of many encounters with the Twilight cast. While the main stars were often difficult to find – there is consensus that the signing habits of the cast was generally good during the filming of New Moon – the 2nd movie of the series (unlike the 3rd film – see below) Even Kristen Stewart when cornered by collectors outside a restaurant replied she understands the autograph hounds “had a job to do” and didn’t care about signing. As for heart-throb Robert Pattinson - he got good at speed-walking to sometimes avoid the crowds, but If you managed to get close – he was good about signing. Pattinson was even known to sometimes sign for the fans gathering at the filming locations (and that was after he had shot all day and night.)
5. SIDNEY CROSBY
It couldn’t have been a bigger year for Sid The Kid winning NHL’s top awards and the coveted Stanley Cup. No team had a bigger crowds of autograph collectors outside their hotel in whatever Canadian city they were in. Fortunately for the autograph hounds – Crosby was “doing it” more than not.
6. YUSUF ISLAM (CAT STEVENS)
Perhaps because he came to Toronto over the Christmas holidays – but Yusuf Islam’s (formally known as singer Cat Stevens) long-awaited return to Canada may have gone under-reported in the mainstream media – but his appearance in Toronto didn’t go unnoticed by the autograph hounds. It even brought a few top U.S autograph collectors to Toronto for the occasion. And Yusuf did not disappoint the astute collectors that managed to track him down. While he politely declined photo requests, Yusuf was kind and gracious in signing any and all memorabilia – even as most were Cat Stevens albums. He even would often add the inscription, “peace & happiness”
WORST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009
1. BRITNEY SPEARS
Ms. Spears graced Canada for a bunch of concerts across the country on her 2009 “comeback” Circus tour. We couldn’t find a single collector or fan that reported getting Brit’s autograph this year. Most hounds don’t even bother trying anymore as Britney continues to live up to her reputation of being terrible in public for signing autographs and greeting fans. For her multi-night stay in Toronto Spears was rarely even seen – using private entrances and decoys to secretly get her in and out of the hotel. As for getting Brit’s autographs? Not a chance – You would have been doing good to just spot her outside of the shows.
2. ELTON JOHN
Another tour with Billy Joel brought Elton John to Toronto and Montreal a few times this year. But numerous autograph collectors did report – it was the same old Elton. No signing for the “eBay guys” (as Elton likes to say.) The thought of his autograph being sold still seems to send chills up Elton’s spine – so he rarely signs them anymore. Too bad, if this list was for 1999 he would have been high up on the BEST side.
3. U2
Also former “BEST” signers that have slowly moved over to the dark side as each new tour brings the group to Canada. The tour years of 2001 and 2005 when Bono and Edge would stand outside their hotel for an hour greeting fans and signing autographs appears to be over. During their week in Toronto for the most recent tour saw the band staying at a private residence. Bono and Edge were routinely seen all over town – Bono signing very little. Edge nothing. Since Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton were practically ghosts and rarely seen, and refused autograph requests when they did appear – the consensus is that U2 have become BAD about signing autographs during their stop in Canada this year.
4. STEPHEN KING
A trip to Toronto during October for the reclusive horror icon Stephen King brought out the autograph collectors in droves. While King was in Toronto to talk about his new novel – he just wouldn’t sign any in public. King was approached many times by people with his book and pen in hand. He either refused to sign or simply ignored the request. Even at the event where King was reading from his novel the people in attendance were instructed that he would NOT be signing and instead, a lottery system was set up to distribute the few books King was willing to sign – away from the public and behind closed doors.
5. METALLICA
A wire story broke early in the year indicating a high percentage of Metallica autographs for sale on sites like eBay were fake. Reached for comment, the band said they were aware of the counterfeits and for that reason they don’t sign much anymore for people hanging around hotels and airports. Metallica later spent a few days in Toronto on their recent world tour. And while they were no strangers to walking the streets of Toronto. Autograph collectors reported that the main members of the group where very tough about signing (except Robert Trujillo – but you can’t really count him?) As for memorabilia like photos or albums – Lars and James just wouldn’t touch them on the outside. While 2009 may NOT have been a good year for collecting Metallica autographs – it was a good year financially for the band touring.
6. TWILIGHT CAST (ECLIPSE)
After filming New Moon earlier in the year, the Twilight cast returned to Vancouver during summer to shoot the third film in the series – Eclipse. Autograph hounds reported the signing habits of most of the cast had changed – and for the worst. Collectors reported hearing things like this said by minor co-star Cameron Bright, “I am only allowed to sign one and I have to put your name on it” (words I’m sure Summit Entertainment executives put into the casts head.) As for Rob and Kristen, the media attention on them became so overwhelming they practically disappeared and were almost like ghosts when not filming. While reports of new cast members like Bryce Dallas Howard were cool about signing – there is no question, the supply of autographs coming from the Twilight cast shrinked considerably when shooting the third movie.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 05 January 2010 )
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Autograph Article 
