Author’s Note: I’m not much for conducting interviews with celebrities, given their massive egos, “off-limits” question restrictions, and evasive answers. But when a colleague of mine was called out of town on an emergency, I reluctantly agreed to step in and interview singer-songwriter-actress Lady Gaga. My recollections from that memorable, surreal evening follow.
I met Gaga in a restaurant in Walla Walla, Washington. (The exact location was hush-hush.)
Given her busy schedule, I figured it was fifty-fifty that she would even show, but she arrived bursting with energy. “Hello, hello!” she said.
We began by ordering dinner. I had steak tartare; Gaga had mahi-mahi with couscous, which she said was just “so-so.” “I should have ordered the pupu platter,” she lamented.
As Gaga nibbled on bonbons, I began the interview.
“Favorite rock band?”
“The Go-Go’s.”
“Biggest musical influences?”
“B. B. King, Dee Dee Ramone, and Yo-Yo Ma.”
“Favorite movie?”
“La La Land.”
I was beginning to detect a pattern.
“Favorite art style?”
“Dada.”
“Favorite dance?”
“I have two. The cha-cha and the cancan.”
“Favorite place to visit?”
“Bora-Bora,” she said, with a twinkle in her eye.
“Biggest fear?”
“Coming down with beriberi.”
The coquettish Ms. Gaga was clearly playing with me. Nevertheless, I persisted.
“Favorite comic book?”
“Tintin.”
“Favorite Star Wars character?”
“Ha ha. Easy. Jar Jar.”
It was time to try a different approach.
“Tell me about the outfit you’re wearing.”
“It’s half muumuu, half tutu, quite froufrou.
“What are those things on the sleeves?”
“Pawpaws.”
“And the handbag?”
“Coco Chanel. Very chichi.”
I searched for words.
Well, well,” she said, looking at her watch. “It’s 10:10. I’ve enjoyed our little tête-à-tête, but it’s time to say ta-ta.”
“One more question before you go. What is your one guilty pleasure?”
“Ho Hos,” she said with a laugh. “But I’m also cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.”
Though she left my head spinning, I ended the evening goo-goo for Gaga.
John Ficarra, former editor of Mad magazine, recently tested positive for immaturity