Mark McEwen talks to all kinds of people, celebrities included, of course. And while that might be business as usual for Mark, he’s had a number of what he calls standout moments, “moments you take with you wherever you go,” with some very famous people . . .

When my Mom passed away, there were flowers at her funeral from John Travolta. It’s things like that you can’t forget, little slices of time that stand out. Like the night Steven Spielberg won his first Oscar for Schindler’s List. He was a little dry-mouthed backstage. I got him some water. I got water for Steven Spielberg!

The night Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won their Oscar for Good Will Hunting, Matt was about to do an interview, and he was sweating, so I pulled out my handkerchief and I was patting him on the head. He said, “Man, it’s hot. How do you do this?” and I said, “You get over it—you’re an Oscar winner.”  

George Bush, President Bush Senior—I had four interviews with him. We correspond. This summer I saw him behind home plate at the All-star game. So I wrote him a letter just to let him know [about] my sons, these brand-new babies. He wrote me back saying, “I hope you get the Orlando job.” Then he wrote on Kennebunkport stationery a note to my boys: “Dear Miles and Griffin, I used to be President of the United States, but now I’m       a friend of your dad’s and a proud father just like your dad.” That sort of thing—to my kids. And he signed it “President Bush 41.”

Garth Brooks gave Mark a ring, which he wears all the time.  “The ring says “Artist of the Decade 1990-1999” on top. On one side it says “Garth,” and on the other side it says “McEwen,” and he put my name on the inside. He gave three of these out, one to Nancy O’Dell from Access Hollywood, [one] to Jay Leno . . . and me. They were Superbowl-type rings he had made to commemorate being named Artist of the Decade. He gave [the rings] to his band and their friends and their family, and he only gave them to the three of us on the outside. I have the letter framed at home. [It] said something along the lines of, “You have always treated me and everything that’s important to me with great respect, and you have my respect.” Great guy. You know that old line “I’m a lucky so-and-so”? Well, I’m a lucky so-and-so.

At President Bill Clinton’s first inaugural. I’m interviewing Quincy Jones . . . Oprah is there, and Harry Belafonte gets out of a car with Jack Nicholson. I can’t believe it’s Jack Nicholson. I go up to him and I say, “Mr. Nicholson, I’m Mark McEwen with CBS News. I’ve been a fan of yours ever since Five Easy Pieces, and I just wanted to meet you.” He looks at me and says, “Nice to meet you, Marty.” I never corrected him . . . he’s Jack Nicholson!   S

 

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