So for those of you who don’t know Peter Stormare, he’s an actor that you may not recognize by name but his face tells it all.  He’s basically been in everything from commercials (remember those hysterical Volkswagen spots a couple years back?) to blockbuster hits like the Oscar-winning Fargo.  OK, OK maybe not everything, but you get my drift.  Anyway, I was out shopping in Hollywood for some last minute Valentine’s Day goodies and got a surprise of a lifetime!  Instead of picking up chocolate and flowers, I walked away with a smooch from Peter Stormare!!!  He’s not really on my list of celeb crushes, but he’s got quite a great sense of humor!  I don’t mind getting a kiss on the cheek from

anyone who can pull off wearing those crazy glasses!  Luckily I snapped my camera just in time — I have proof to tell you and all my friends at The Hollywood Wax Museum what happened!

Peter Stormare joking around with Gemma Arterton on the red carpet
Photo Credit: FameFlynet, Inc

The Swedish born actor is best known for playing a variety of international characters:  an American in Jurassic Park, a German in The Big Lebowski, an Italian in The Brother’s Grimm, a Frenchman in Chocolat, a Russian in Armageddon and the list goes on and on.  His latest U.S. movie is Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, which stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, released in January.  Might be a good date night movie?!

Great suggestion Joseph!  What will you be doing for Valentine’s Day?  Seeing a blockbuster hit, dining out or staying in?  Post your plan below!

It’s not every day you see a submarine breaking through cement at Hollywood & Highland center!  YES, you are reading correctly…I couldn’t believe my eyes either!  Turns out this was FX Network’s imaginative way of promoting its much-anticipated series The Americans that premiered last Wednesday.  After checking out the massive replica of a Cold War era Soviet submarine – complete with USSR propaganda and Russian soldiers – I immediately added the show to my DVR recordings.  It’s quite a thriller!!

Set in the 1980′s, Phillip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) appear to be a typical American couple living in Washington DC with their two kids.  In reality, they are both KGB spies!!!  Side note: Do any of you remember the WB hit Felicity starring Keri Russell?  Well let me tell you, she’s a far cry from a sweet and lovable character in “The Americans”!

I had just enough time to walk over during my lunch break from The Hollywood Wax Museum and snap some photos of the scene.  Felt like I was right in the middle of the Cold War – very eery with all those Soviet soldiers marching around the courtyard.  I’d guess the promotion was quite a success – it definitely caught my eye!!

Secrets, spies and lots of action…sounds intriguing, Joseph!  Thanks for the full report! Will you be watching “The Americans” tonight at 10pm on FX Network?

Tonight, lots of activity took place from 10 pm to 4 am, just one block away from The Hollywood Wax Museum at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.  Hollywood Boulevard was closed for the filming of “Caged”, which turned out to be a sneaky pseudonym for Iron Man 3.  The movie features the famous Hollywood landmark, that opened its doors in 1927, being blown to pieces during an action sequence.  Of course, the actual explosion will be simulated in the studio.

The scene is set to take place during Christmas time, so Grauman’s Chinese Theatre – soon to be called TCL Chinese Theatre – was adorned with holiday decorations.

Very exciting stuff and so close to top LA attraction  The Hollywood Wax Museum! Glad Hollywood Joe could give you the scoop!

Readers: Tell us what you love about the Iron Man series below!

You’ll definitely want to see how Bachelor Sean Lowe stretches the boundaries of romance and his personal discovery amidst the hundreds of facts and feats brought to life at the Guinness World Records Museum.

Hollywood Joe recommends a visit to the Museum along with the Hollywood Wax Museum across the street to get your own taste of fame. There’s still time to get an amazing deal on two tickets to both attractions from Google Offers, but only until The Bachelor episode airs on January 21!

Watch and tell! What’s your take on the episode and this season?

All of my friends have been raving about the PBS show Downton Abbey – heard of it?  I decided to check it out and see what the big deal was.  Well, I watched the first two seasons in ONE weekend and I am now an official fan of the series!  Very addicting!!

After finishing the last episode, I wanted to chat with the gang about the plot and all the interesting characters.  So sticking with the UK theme, I organized a meal at the famous British pub on Hollywood Boulevard called Pig ‘N Whistle. It’s right down the street from The Hollywood Wax Museum.  The place makes the best UK dishes in the area like bangers and mash, fish ‘n chips and shepherd’s pie…YUM!  On the way over, my friends started texting me that a huge crowd was blocking the pub’s entrance.  Guess it could’ve been anything – this is LA after all – and nothing surprises me now!

Once I arrived, I caught a glimpse of a podium and a bunch of photographers.  Low and behold, British superstar Helen Mirren was getting ready to make a speech.  Great timing!  I soon discovered that she was being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (star number 2,488 to be exact).  The Oscar winning actress mentioned she’d always wanted to lie next to Colin Firth (he played King George VI in The King’s Speech) and now she gets to be with him forever because their stars are side by side.  Helen also hopes nobody will spit on her new star – we all burst out laughing when she said that!

The actress received another type of star as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Prince Charles in 2003.  Basically, she’s a female knight!!  She’s starred in tons of movies, such as The Queen, The Debt and most recently Hitchcock as Alma Reville, Alfred Hitchcock’s wife.  Dame Helen Mirren is a London native and has played a queen SIX times!!

My friends and I put our appetites on hold for a bit to watch the ceremony and snap some photos.  Seemed like eating at Pig ‘N Whistle was impossible, so we booked it to another great spot called The Blue Boar Pub on Cahuenga Blvd.  Fish and chips never tasted so good!

Sounds like quite a royal feast Joseph!  Follow more celebrity encounters on Twitter!

Happy New Year Hollywood Wax Museum friends!  Like most of you, I’ve been busy thinking about the past year and making lots of New Year’s resolutions for 2013.  Know what I realized?  I’m one lucky guy for a bunch of reasons, including all the beautiful and talented actresses I got to meet in Hollywood this year. Here are just a few:

A few months back, I ran into Ashley Greene, who plays Alice Cullen (vampire sister to the iconic Edward Cullin) in all four Twilight movies. She wasn’t very hard to spot in that bright dress!

Ashley Greene with Hollywood Joseph

Just between us, I root for Team Jacob but kept that to myself during our quick meeting!  The series catapulted her into international stardom, along with her fellow cast members.  I found out she’s also made a recurring appearance on the TV show Pan Am…great series…too bad it got cancelled.  Ashley is a self-dubbed tomboy and daredevil – wonder if that means she’ll be playing an awesome action character soon??

Over the summer, I had chance encounters with two lovely ladies: supermodel-turned-talent agent Janice Dickinson and JT’s new bride Jessica Biel.

Janice was so cool. She was getting out of her car, and when I noticed who she was, I waved. Not sure if she thought she knew me (we did look like twins wearing white!), but she came right over and we took this picture together. How fun!

Newly married Jessica Biel poses with Joseph

Jessica’s new movie, Playing For Keeps, is out in theaters now. Looks like she’s keeping busy with recent hits like Total Recall and Hitchcock.  Mrs. Timberlake is certainly on a roll!

If I had to pick my top celebrity encounter of the last few months, it would have to be Emilia Clarke because she was super sweet AND she stars in the phenomenon that is HBO’s Game of Thrones as Daenerys Targaryen. Yes, I’m obsessed and counting down the days until Season 3 airs!!!  Also, the Brit landed the lead role of Holly Golightly in a Broadway production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  I can totally see her as Audrey Hepburn!

Naturally brunette, Emilia Clarke goes platinum for her role on Game of Thrones

What an amazing recap Joseph!  Hope you get to meet even more celebs in the new year!  Readers: What is your #1 resolution for 2013?  Post it below!

LA Laker Steve Nash with Hollywood Wax Museum employee Joseph

The point guard scored points with excited fans and the Hollywood Wax Museum staff as he posed for pictures and visited with owner Tej Sundher, who he grew up with in Victoria, British Columbia. The two played soccer and basketball together in high school and maintained their friendship while Steve has been playing in the NBA and Tej has been operating the longest-running wax museum in the United States. Tej’s grandfather founded the original world-famous Hollywood Wax Museum at 6767 Hollywood Boulevard in 1965.

LA residents who haven’t yet checked out the classic Hollywood attraction with current star power should grab this Groupon. Los Angeles Groupon subscribers have two days left to buy a deal for the Hollywood Wax Museum AND Guinness World Records Museum (across the street) for $15 for two people!

What a great way to have some fun over Winter Break. And, after posing with the stars in wax, you might even bump into a real live celebrity!

Tell us about your star sightings and celebrity encounters here or on Facebook.

Greetings!  I feel the need to start off my post with a question to all Hollywood Wax Museum fans:  do you know what a Pixie haircut is?  If they don’t offer it at Supercuts, I normally wouldn’t have a clue! But, the two famous starlets I recently ran into in Hollywood are sporting this trendy cut…and they can sure pull off the look!

My stomach was grumbling, so I took a stroll over to Mel’s Diner on Highland.  They’ve got great burgers… and did I mention the onion rings?  I avoided Hollywood Boulevard by walking through a back alley on my way, and,  low and behold, I happened to cross paths with Snow White herself, Ginnifer Goodwin, who posed for one magical snapshot with me!

Once Upon a Time is a huge prime time hit and Ginnifer plays one of the leading heroines, along with Jennifer Morrison (known for her guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother). Along with her cute style, Ginnifer is quite a talent!  She’s starred in the cable series Big Love and played parts movies like A Single Man, Walk the Line, and He’s Just Not That Into You.

After demolishing that burger, onion rings AND a milkshake, I woke up the next morning with quite a stomach ache.  Surprised??!  Good time for some Tums, so off to the CVS pharmacy I went – just a short walk down Hollywood Boulevard.  I quickly forgot all about my tummy when I caught a glimpse of another dark-haired beauty. Anne Hathaway was sitting right in front of me!  I am NOT making this up!

Even though I didn’t get to meet her, I did snap a pic. Just one of the things I love about walking around Hollywood. You never know what megastar (or ministar) you just might happen to see. Wonder if Anne will keep her Pixie hairdo for the Oscars?!

Are you a fan of the Pixie?  What’s your favorite haircut?  Tell us all about it below!

Bérénice Marlohe, Javier Bardem & Naomie Harris of Skyfall

The air is crisp, the leaves are falling and my stomach is grumbling.  Yes, I think it senses Thanksgiving is around the corner and there will be lots of turkey, stuffing and pie to devour!  Tonight it’s time for a scrumptious burger at 25 Degrees in the Roosevelt Hotel.  I leave the Hollywood Wax Museum – dreaming of a juicy burger and crispy onion rings – and make the short trip down Hollywood Boulevard.  The strip is bustling with lots of pretty people, shiny cars and interesting sounds – always exciting in LA!

As luck would have it, three superstars were right at the hotel as I arrived!  Skyfall’s Javier Bardem and “Bond Girls” Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe agreed to pose for a quick shot!  How fun is it to see such beautiful people so easily in Hollywood??

Skyfall, due out in November, stars the suave Daniel Craig as James Bond.  Javier Bardem plays Silva, a former MI6 agent who is releasing the identities of field agents to seek revenge.  Javier, a Golden Globe and Oscar winner, holds major roles in lots of fantastic movies such as No Country for Old Men (one of my favorites) and Eat Pray Love.  He’s also married to the very talented Penelope Cruz.

NOW to the BEST part – the Bond Girls!  The stunning Naomie Harris plays Eve in the 23^rd Bond film – did you know she was the scary Tia Dalma in Pirates of the Caribbean?  Crazy!!

My burger was delish and the night turned out great!  I definitely have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and I’m adding meeting these stars to the list!

Thanks for the post, Joseph. It was definitely shaken, not stirred!  Readers: Aside from great movies like Skyfall being released, what else are you thankful for this season?

Hollywod Wax Museum employee Hollywood Joseph took this picture of the outrageously funny actor at the premiere of The Campaign, and we thought,

“What the heck was he saying?”

So, now, it’s up to you! Submit the funniest, most clever, super-duperist caption you can muster, and you could win six tickets to the Hollywood Wax Museum of your choice in Hollywood, California; Branson, Missouri; or Pigeon Forge, Tennesee.

The Will Ferrell Caption Contest runs from The Campaign opening day, tomorrow, Friday, August 10 through August 24, so get your brain bubbling and enter!