Hey, if you get the chance, be sure to check out Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (in theaters).

I know this seems like an odd recommendation from me, but hear me out for sec.

This film contains 3 of my Biz "heroes": Diedrich Bader, Sandra Bullock, and (of course) William Shatner.

Diedrich Bader is one of those hilarious, hard-working actors who inspires me in my profession. With a career that spans at least 17 years, a few dozen (each) TV and film appearances, and forays into the Producer and other roles, Bader is most known for his stint as Oswald on The Drew Carey Show. He's a prolific and diverse OC and VO talent, and does a stellar job as Joel in MC2, playing with g a y stereotypes, without being irritatingly cartoonish -- not an easy thing to do.

Sandra Bullock, besides being an Austin resident, just amazes me. I'm humbled by folks that can do such big-gun acting in so many genres -- drama, comedy, and action -- and pull all of them off. I also like to see people who are so stunning in front of the camera choose to go behind the lens, and she's done an amazing job on the Producer front. I'm particularly grateful to her for her bringing George Lopez to network television. And she's tried her hand at writing, directing, and composing. Neato.

Ah, William Shatner; how I long to know him well enough to call him "Bill". More than a hundred film credits. Two-hundred-plus TV credits. Producer. Director. Writer. Spokesperson. And, yes (I'll say it), talented singer (Has Been is one of my current favorite albums). This guy is talented, diverse, driven, and has fun with himself. MC2 has a bunch of digs against his singing, which I suspect for which he himself pushed. (In response to a reason to kill his character, an actress says, "I mean, the man can't sing, but is that a crime?") I like a guy who's this good, and apparently this comfortable in his own skin. Be sure to check out my "Great things by which to be inspired" blog about him from last October, when I first bought Has Been.

So check out Miss Congeniality 2 if you get the chance. It's an entertaining flick, and a snapshot of cool people doing well. And, no, Warner Bros. didn't pay (or coerce) me into doing street advertising for them.