i have to admit something. even though i moved to LA under the auspices of a new “heal the world” job, i’ve always fantasized about being “discovered” in hollywood. with every other show on TV having to do with medicine or forensics and with a dearth of professionally-trained epidemiologist-actors, i figured it was just a matter of time before i was cast as a lead on one of those shows. But after 3 years in lalaland, i started to worry that my E! True Hollywood Story was not to be. And then it all changed. with her.
Dr Lisa Cuddy! somehow, my prayers were answered. i was about to get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet the most awesomest actress on the most awesomest medical show.
when i was told Dr Lisa Cuddy planned to visit our office in our quest to find a celebrity spokesperson, my heart nearly lept out of my ribcage. and while that could represent a significant medical emergency for the coco, i wasn’t remotely worried. i mean come on. Dr Lisa Cuddy would be there soon and she’d make sure House fixed it within 60 minutes (inclusive of commercials). no sweat.
i had 2 days to plan what to wear and what to say when i met Dr Lisa Cuddy. it was daunting. would i play it cool? would i gush? would i tell her about our manifest destiny? how we’d meet and become instant best friends. and how she’d come over to my humble apartment on Monday nights and we’d drink soju martinis and eat veggie burgers (my future bff is a vegetarian) while watching the latest episode of her show. we’d talk for hours about life and yoga and our close encounters with robb lowe. we’d go to runyon and the emmys together. she’d come see my small theatre productions and urge the HOUSE casting directors to call me in because how often do you find an epidemiologist who also can act? they’d come to the closing night of one of my shows, fall in love with me, and cast me as the talented yet mysterious Dr Coco Cornell. and then i’d be able to hang out with Dr Lisa Cuddy every day at craft services and in our trailers. she’d introduce me to Omar Epps and we’d fall in love and get married. Dr Lisa Cuddy would naturally be my maid of honor and all would be right in the world.
or perhaps that would be too much?
once the epic “meet Dr Lisa Cuddy” day arrived, i could barely contain myself. but i had decided earlier that morning i’d take the cool, calm and collected route when we met. i’d hide my adoration along with my copious piles of paperwork waiting to be filed and dirty coffee mugs. it was a solid plan. but when it was my turn to introduce myself, the well-rehearsed words were hijacked by a terminal case of verbal diarrhea. i commenced into a diatribe about her amazing work with differential diagnoses and infectious diseases and medical epidemiology and character development. she just politely nodded which just led to more words. and in those 5 minutes of coco idiocy, i saw my manifest destiny flat line.
so as i catch up on HOUSE episodes tonight on HULU, i choose not to dwell on what could have been. instead, i’m looking forward.
anyone know how i can get a hold of Meredith Grey?
happy almost weekend, y’all!



























