Rebecca Serle’s new book The Dinner List introduces the concept that the main character has a birthday dinner with Audrey Hepburn and three important people from her past. The book is on my TBR list, but hearing about this idea spurred on my own thoughts about which guests, living or dead, I would invite to a dinner party. To fit with the theme of my blog, I narrowed down my list of most desirable guests to five celebrities I’d most want to invite for a meal.
Although I’m sure I could compose an endless list of writers, historical figures, and musicians I’d love to talk with over wine, the simplest solution for now was to pick those who fit within the most traditional idea of celebrity to me. As a result, I have a TV reporter and an actor/composer on my list, but I picked these top five based on what combination of people would create the most enjoyable environment.
My top dinner guests also came about because I would also want my grandfather there. He passed away more than seven years ago, and there’s no doubt in my mind that if miracles happened and this kind of opportunity was feasible, I’d want him right there with me at this table of stars.
Jimmy Stewart
You know I love me some Jimmy Stewart. I’d inevitably be so starstruck and flustered about him at my dinner table that I’d be a little shy to talk to him. That’s when my grandpa comes in — I think they’d get along so well! Jimmy Stewart was more than 20 years older than my grandpa, but I feel that they would bond over many generational and personality similarities. Both fought in World War II, and, just like my grandpa, Stewart always came across as an old school gentleman.
Of course, there’s always the weird logistical question in these debates about what age the dead dinner guests would be. I’d be happy with Jimmy Stewart at any age, but definitely not complaining if it was 1930s-’40s Stewart.
Mindy Kaling
I spent the last half of 2017 devouring The Mindy Project and falling in love with Mindy’s career and how she evaluates herself and represents modern rom-com stories. Based on what I’ve read in her books and interviews, I’m convinced that we’d become best friends if we met and got to chat extensively. I think she knows how to celebrate and would be great at instigating interesting conversation in a dinner party setting. Plus, I’d love someone in my life that I can finally rave about all things Nora Ephron with.
James Corden
I adore James Corden. If I ever end up on a trip to L.A. someday, I’m booking tickets to one of his show tapings ASAP. I instantly feel comfortable when I find someone in a group that I can talk about London with, and James could be our residential U.K. expert at this party. As seen on his talk show, he can chat with just about anyone and has a great sense of humor. I also think he has the most infectious laugh ever, which never hurts.
Hoda Kotb
Hoda is a sunny delight and could concoct a killer playlist for background noise at dinner. She’d also understand the value of other guests’ stories and really help each of us recognize the incredibility of that moment. Plus, on a much deeper level, I admire her so much for her positivity despite many personal setbacks. She won me over as an eternal fan when she adopted a baby on her own in her 50s last year. While she had the support of her boyfriend and he is her daughter’s father, motherhood was her own little dream that she assumed wasn’t in the cards for her after a divorce and a bout of breast cancer. She went out and made her dream come true in an unconventional way, and I respect and love her so much for it.
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Duh. Who wouldn’t want this guy at a party? Lin manages to be endlessly inspiring and humble in the public eye, and he also seems like one of those people who knows a little bit about everything. I’d love to talk to him about writing and our favorite musicals and just soak in his stories about his crazy past few years. He and Hoda could definitely start a mean karaoke session, just saying.
