USA TODAY International Edition
Celebs’ ‘ meh’ factor
Not- so- famous actors aren’t exactly thrilling convention delegates
CLEVELAND When Donald Trump announced he’d have a star- studded Republican convention, we didn’t know exactly what that meant.
It could’ve meant having athletes Tom Brady and Tim Tebow. It didn’t. The celebrities who spoke on the first day of events in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena: Scott Baio, Willie Robertson and Antonio Sabato Jr.
The Happy Days actor, Duck Dynasty personality and soap opera star, respectively, aren’t exactly the Hollywood elite. So were convention- goers fired up about their speeches? Eh, not exactly.
“Joanie may love Chachi, but I’m not sure that I do,” said Leo Hantz, referencing Baio’s Happy Days spinoff show, Joanie Loves Chachi. The 58- year- old delegate from El Paso added, “I’m not sure what ( Happy Days) has to do with the political debate.”
Upon learning that Baio was speaking at the convention, Jeffrey Bodeck, 57, an alternate delegate from D. C., laughed. “When was the last time Scott Baio was asked to appear anywhere? We’re going back to the way- back machine. ... I’d like to see a broader range ( in speakers).”
Some in the audience did get fired up when Baio spoke in a prime- time spot Monday, though, cheering when he said, “Hillary Clinton wants to be president for Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump wants to be president for all of us” and “Of course, let’s make America great again, but let’s make America America again.”
Mike Redditt, 68, a guest from Houston, hadn’t heard of Baio before his speech but was excited about Robertson, the bearded reality- TV star. “Oh, of course. Great admirer of him. Don’t watch his program, but like his politics.”
Several other delegates and guests in Cleveland were excited about Robertson’s convention presence — once they were reminded which TV show he was from.
“Of course, Duck Dynasty. We love ( Willie Robertson),” said Marsha Yessick, 68, from Lookout Mountain, Tenn. “He kind of looks like my brother from Alabama.”
Robertson used his few minutes of podium time to detail reasons for boarding the “Trump train” and explain what he and the presumptive Republican nominee had in common: “We’re both successful businessmen, we both have had hit television shows, and we both have intelligent wives who are much betterlooking than we are.”
He continued, “If you’re looking for a job or trying to grow a business like I am, Donald Trump will have your back.”
None of the attendees USA TODAY spoke with was familiar with Sabato, a speaker chosen by Trump who has appeared in General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful and the competition show Dancing With the Stars. “My belief in this country and my faith in Jesus Christ has compelled me to speak now,” he said, as if to explain why he took the stage, seemingly out of left field.
But convention- goers had reasons for the dearth of A- list talent: For one, the GOP isn’t so enamored of stars. Celebrities “really wow the people on the left, but they don’t connect with me,” Hantz said.
Some attendees expressed concern over the lack of politicians — not celebrities — present. “One thing I’ve noticed is walking around we haven’t seen many members of Congress and other notables,” Bodeck said.
The stars aren’t shining any brighter in Cleveland for the rest of the week. Unless you’re a huge Cheers and soap opera fan, you likely won’t recognize these names: actor John Ratzenberger ( Cliff Claven from Cheers) spoke at a Nevada delegate breakfast Tuesday, and actress Kimberlin Brown was set to take the convention stage Tuesday night.