How I fed Sean Hannity (Vantiy)

ILBBACH | 11/23/03 | ILBBACH

[ILBBACH]

I have to share my Sean Hannity experience with my fellow FReepers.

Sean and Laura Ingraham were in Kansas City on Saturday for Sean's "Hannity in the Heartland" tour and two of my friends and I went.

The three of us work at a fried chicken joint that is frequented by Rush and that sells t-shirts that have "we choke our own chickens" on the back. We thought it would be fun to give Sean, Laura, and (especially) Flipper, a t-shirt.

They signed books at the end of the event and so we figured we'd give them the shirts at that time. Laura was first and she really liked her shirt. (She also told us that we need to lobby the local station - 710 AM - to get her show on the air so we need to get on that!)When we got to Sean, he signed our books and the conversation went something like this:

ME: The three of us work at a restaurant that Rush goes to whenever he's in town and they have great t-shirts that we thought you'd like Flipper to have (showed him the shirt and he laughed).

SEAN: That's great...so what kind of food is it?

US: Homestyle, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy...

SEAN: How far away is it?

ME: Five minutes.

SEAN: Do you think they would deliver it to the plane?

ME: WE'LL deliver it to the plane!

SEAN: Okay, let's set that up. That's my favorite kind of food.

So then one of his handlers gave us the phone number to the plane (private jet), told us they needed dinner for nine people and that they would give us Sean's credit card number when we get there.

We called in the order, picked it up, called the plane, and finally got there at about 5:30. We parked in front of the general aviation terminal, walked in with all the food (it was A LOT!) and said that it was for Hannity & company. The guy behind the counter said, "There's his plane out there...go ahead."

So we just walked out to the plane (Gulf Stream 2) got on board (no escort or anything), and there was no one there. We were FREAKING OUT! Of course we took pictures and I thought it'd be funny if we all used the toilet too, but they didn't want to.

We set up the food and eventually the pilots came on board and we chatted with them while we waited for Sean...about 15 - 20 minutes.

Finally everyone arrived and Sean started walking up the steps to the plane and before he got on board, we heard him yell, "I SMELL CHICKEN!"

He came on board and was practically jumping up and down. He said, "On the way over here I was thinking 'I hope they remembered the chicken' I'm starving!" (REMEMBERED?!)

Laura was with him and she was really pleased as well. She gave me a hug and said we were great and Sean talked to us for a little bit - asked us if we were married and had kids, what we do, etc. Then we took some pictures with him and he got our names and said that he would give us a mention on the air today!

It was all very exciting and I have to admit to you that I did forget one important thing. Please don't be angry, but I forgot to tell Sean that FREEPERS RULE!

[ILBBACH]

That's my story and I thought you'd like to hear it. He is so nice, genuine, and personable. He didn't want to hear us praise him, but seemed truly interested in us.

I just hope I get a chance to meet him again, and if any of you ever get the opportunity, TAKE IT!

[abner]

That is great! What a cool story.

[netmilsmom]

Great story!
Can we see the pictures?

[buffyt]

WOW, cool story! The whole story, the book signing, the shirts, delivering the chicken dinners! Wonderful, real story about REAL people. Isn't America great!

Three cheers for ILBBACH!!!!

[areafiftyone]

OOOOO you lucky Freepers! If you get the pictures please post them. Sounds like you had a special day!1

[PaulJ]

Great story! Thanks.

[stevio]

Cool. Fun story.

[Incorrigible]

A conservative, classical pianist working in a chicken restaurant with a burlesque motto.

OK, like Sean, I find this interesting too!

[50sDad]

Contrast this honesty and humanity with the slick, lying gloss of x42.

[bigfootbob]

Stroud's?

[lormand]

Awesome. Good story and descriptions too.

[BufordP]

Lucky son(?)-of-a-buck!

[Eva]

Great story, bump!

[ILBBACH]

One of the girls e-mailed me the photo of us with Sean on the plane, but I don't know how to post it - I don't have a URL for it or anything. Maybe someone more resourceful can help?

[ILBBACH]

OF COURSE!!!

The best fried chicken in the country (world)!

[Paradox]

Hey, this story kicks a$$! Sean comes across as a pretty cool guy to hang out with. I know he is conservative, but he as a slight libertarian bent to him, so he is not all uptight about stuff. Laura is, well I think she is cute. Ok, ok, she is smart too..

[FourtySeven]

Sean Hannity is a stand-up guy, who's not a snob. This is another proof of that. Sounds like fun! Wish I had a chicken shack.

I'd also love some of those t-shirts......hehe......you should get the place to go online, and sell 'em. I'll bet they'd sell.

[dep]

we need to lobby the local station - 710 AM

great story -- except for this part, because it means that whb has fallen. many is the afternoon that i delighted in johnny dolan's show, which is surely long gone.

but, except for the part that makes me feel positively elderly, great story!

[bigfootbob]

As a former long haul trucker, that's a big 10-4!

[axel f]

Man. I was thrilled with my Sean/Laura experience, but I have nothing on yours!!!

I too thought Sean and Laura seemed extremely nice and really happy to see us.

We should have a freeper gathering at your restaurant. Sounds good!

[Sunshine Sister]

Great post! Thanks you for telling the story!

[ILBBACH]

I think you can get them here.

[JETDRVR]

Was that MKC or MCI?
Im glad that Sean charters American made :) Nothing like the old G1159 Grumann ironworks rule!

[Blzbba]

". We parked in front of the general aviation terminal, walked in with all the food (it was A LOT!) and said that it was for Hannity & company. The guy behind the counter said, "There's his plane out there...go ahead."

So we just walked out to the plane (Gulf Stream 2) got on board (no escort or anything), and there was no one there. We were FREAKING OUT! "



I'm FREAKING OUT too - reading how easily you guys just walked out to his airplane without any security clearance or escorts, etc.

While I'm 100% certain of you guys' noble intentions, it's still amazing that, post-9/11, you can still just saunter out to a celebrity (or anyone's) plane without being checked-out at all. If I were Sean, I'd be a tad more concerned about my security. Some DU-nutcase carrying food would've been able to board that plane as easily as you. Or worse, some flight-school-trained Arab.

[ILBBACH]

We should have a freeper gathering at your restaurant.

That sounds great! I'm playing tonight at the one on 85th and Troost, if you want to stop in, I'll have my pictures and the other girls will be there too!

[jonalvy44]

awesome...congrats

[Riley]

You've got Freepmail.

[ILBBACH]

reading how easily you guys just walked out to his airplane without any security clearance or escorts, etc.

That's exactly what we all thought too. It was a little surreal considering all the crap we have to go through to fly commercial.

[bonfire]

So did you get a tip? :)

[ILBBACH]

It was just outside of MCI at Executive Beechcraft.

[ILBBACH]

So did you get a tip?

LOL! And BTW, his dinner was comped - we didn't get his credit card number!

[Rebelbase]

Did you eat a wing on the way over there so you could claim Hannity and Ingraham have eaten your leftovers?

[MarkL]

Well, regarding this restaurant, I'm going to chance the wrath of the moderators, but I'll name it!

It's STROUDS! Best fried chicken on the face of the earth! And country fried steaks! And pork chops (pan fried or broiled in garlic butter!)!!! And EVERYTHING!!!! Amazing mashed potatos and gravy!!!!!!!

If the trip to Strouds was 5 minutes from the airport, it must have been Strouds North, a place I've never been... I've only been to "the original" Strouds, under the bridge at 85th street and Troost... It opened in the 1930's, and it's been there ever since. The building looks it too!

Wonderful place to eat. If you get there after about 5:30PM, be ready for at least an hour wait, probably longer, every night I have no doubt that everybody in KC knows this place, and for what it's worth, if you live as far away as Des Moines or Omaha, yes, it's worth the drive!

Mark

[firebrand]

Chicken bump

[axel f]

ILBBACH: Can't make it tonight. I live an hour away from KC. Are you there on the weekends?

MrB: Maybe we could have the gathering you mentioned at ILBBACH's restaurant. Sounds fun.

[aculeus]

Congrats!!!!

[ILBBACH]

It's STROUDS!

Yeah, I didn't want the thread to get pulled for being an "advertisement."

BTW you can change your tag line now...10-1!!!

[TroutStalker]

Kansas City bump for ILBBACH and Strouds.

I LOVE Strouds chicken! Am I hungry now. Congrats on providing some for Sean to try.

[ILBBACH]

I'm at the one up north on the weekends (I-35 and Vivion Rd.) Freepmail me if you need directions.

[Red Boots]

I'm FREAKING OUT too - reading how easily you guys just walked out to his airplane without any security clearance or escorts, etc. Me, too. And especially sorry that it had to be posted on the internet, so the whole world can now know. It was a great experience for you guys, and I'm happy for you, but I wish a little more caution had been excercised, both in the terminal and here.

[hannityforpres08]

Great story!! Hannity from coast to coast in an hour.

[Riley]

So...who's who amongst this bevy of stunning ladies?

[Lee Heggy]

I live about five minutes away from the original Strouds. Funky little roadhouse of the sort that barely exist anymore. There's a piano there that is usually being played by one of the great local talents. Great food and one of the oldest operating saloon style bars in the area. Love that place!

[skeptoid]

No sweat. I'm betting the Stroud's people didn't fit the profile. The Quiz explains it. Please review:

http://www.mikeonline.com/events/terroristquiz.html

[Blzbba]

I'm betting the Stroud's people didn't fit the profile."


Which is exactly why I'm stunned that they didn't arouse security. According the the FAA's observed policies, only little old white ladies and other non-Muslims are to be searched!

[MEG33]

What fun!

[MrB]

Sounds great. Stroud's north would be my preference.
Someone volunteer to be an organizer.
ILBBACH - don't think I've met you, probably a bunch of new freepers I haven't met.

We talked to Sean a bit while getting our book signed. Very genuine person. I was surprised that he spent the (little though it was) extra time to talk with us just a bit after he signed the book.

[fishtank]

"So then one of his handlers gave us the phone number to the plane (private jet), told us they needed dinner for nine people and that they would give us Sean's credit card number when we get there."

Was Arriana Huffington on the trip "since the plane was going there anyway"?

[b4its2late]

Great story. Hope to hear the story today and the shirts sound great. What did Flipper do? Flip out? Did you tell her the chicken was free range chicken? LOL.

But he was in a private plane? It must've been going there anyway..... LOL!!!!

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

I want a chicken choker t-shirt.