New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Connecticut’s top sightings of 2021
Whether celebrities were visiting the state to film a movie, eat dinner or attend the Basketball Hall of Fame, Connecticut seemed to be the place to be this year.
Kanye West
Rapper Kanye West was seen visiting Grace Farms in New Canaan in October. As reported by Page Six and documented in a series of Instagram posts, West was seen walking around the grounds of the 80-acre farm along with social media influencer Chris Smoove.
Lil Nas X
Montero Lamar Hill, also known as Lil Nas X, was seen running out of the "Maury" show building in Stamford in November. He appeared on a parody episode of the "Maury" show to declare his love for his music video co-star Yai Ariza and confront his lover’s wife, Ashley. The fictitious storyline was a continuation of his music video for "That’s What I Want."
Simone Biles
Simone Biles and fellow USA gymnasts were seen across the Nutmeg State as they stopped to take pictures around Bridgeport and eat at Little Barn in Shelton during their “Gold Over America” tour in November.
Lights, camera, action!
The Hallmark movie “Christmas in Harlem” was filming at several locations in the city, including Hartford’s Union Station and the NY Market and Deli on the corner of Main Street and Linden Place. The Hartford locations weren’t the only stops used in the movie’s filming. On Sept. 20, Rocky Hill ice cream shop Scoops & Sprinkles shared photos on Facebook that gave a sneak peek into their involvement with “Christmas in Harlem.”
Christmas started in May when a Netflix movie crew shot the holiday movie "The Noel Diary," in Madison and Essex starring Justin Hartley (”This is Us”), Bonnie Bedelia (“Parenthood”) and Treat Williams (“Everwood”).
The Netflix film adaptation of Stephen King’s novella “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” starring Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Donald Sutherland began filming at Lockwood Mathews Mansion and on Washington Street in Norwalk in late October. "Mr. Harrigan's Phone," released as part of a collection of short stories in King’s 2020 book “If It Bleeds,” is summarized as the story of a young boy who works for an elderly man and purchases that man a cellphone.
Netflix moved into Stamford this April to film murder thriller “The Good Nurse,” featuring Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain. Stamford turning into a film set meant more than movie stars walking down Washington Boulevard. The casting agency also looked for paid extras to play everyday pedestrians.
Lifetime is making a movie in Connecticut. “The Christmas Fix,” starring actress and TV host Maria Menounos, began filming at the Mystic Seaport Village Green and at the Muddy Waters Café on Bank Street in New London in July.
'Real Housewives of New Jersey'
Fans of the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" may have noticed some familiar sites in the episode that aired on April 21 called "Sinking Ships." The cast took a trip out to Norwalk on Sept. 23, 2020, for a joy ride on the yacht belonging to Emily Liebert, the ghost writer for "housewives" Teresa Giudice and Margaret Josephs.
Christopher Meloni
Much of Gov. Ned Lamont’s Instagram account is filled with videos and photos on COVID-19 policy, jobs
initiatives and other policy plans. But in June, the governor posted an image following his “fun meal” with wife Annie as well as “Law & Order: SVU” actor Christopher Meloni and wife Doris Sherman Williams at the Good News Restaurant and Bar in Woodbury. In the caption, the governor noted that they “talked 'Law and Order' and then some” over their meal.
Basketball legends
Basketball legends came together at the casino for the 2021 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Mohegan Sun in May. Among some of the famous faces spotted were Charles Barkley, Bill Walton, Kevin Garnett and Vanessa Bryant, wife of the late Kobe Bryant. Shaquille O'Neal was spotted outside the ceremony having lunch at Tony D's Restaurant in New London on May 14.
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick
Two lucky goats received a new — and famous — home. In April, actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick stopped by Aussakita Acres Farm in Manchester to not only play with some baby goats but to pick out two that eventually went home to their family farm in Sharon.
Former 'Bachelor' spotted
Matt James from “The Bachelor” and Gov. Ned Lamont were seen at a Connecticut Innovations networking event at the newly opened Wheel restaurant at The Village in the South End of Stamford. The Wheel has a celebrity chef program and pop-up experiences in partnership with Jimmy Kimmel.
“American Pickers”
Many Norwalkers are familiar with the Norwalk Hour press building on Commerce Street, but folks across the country learned all about it in an episode of the History Channel's “American Pickers,” a reality series that follows the two hosts, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, as they travel across the nation searching for forgotten antiques.
On Jan. 25, the “Pumps, Prints & Pics” episode highlighted the history of downtown Norwalk and the Hour Press building owned by Nathan and Gloria Dillard.
Jeopardy!
Matt Amodio made his "Jeopardy!" appearance in July and made history with a 38-game winning streak until October. He played in two different seasons and surpassed previous "Jeopardy!" contestant James Holzhauer on the show's list of all-time consecutive games won and placed him behind Ken Jennings’ 74-game streak on the show’s Hall of Fame list. Amodio made a total of $1.5 million earnings.