A Q&A with local celebrities
By Marlena Chavira-Medford
James Chippendale: NBC-Ch. 5 “Last Call”
How did you end up in broadcast?
I founded CSI Entertainment Insurance, which provides insurance for many different things but mostly nightclubs and the hospitality businesses. I started an entertainment division for small to medium events, and we now do more than 2,500 events across the country. Because of that, I’ve gotten to meet a lot of celebrities – so that eventually led to talks with NBC 5 to host “Last Call”, which is about what famous people do when they are here in Dallas. The show airs Sunday nights as part of the “Out of Bounds” segment. I didn’t get the $2 million signing bonus or clothing allowance I asked for, but I still really enjoy it.
OK, drop some names of celebrities you’ve met.
I’ve met Beyonce, I know Chris Martin from Coldplay, I’m good friends with Sarah McLachlan, Ludacris is one of my clients – and we were involved in President Obama’s inauguration, so I got about a foot away from him, but I didn’t actually get to meet him. I was also at the Tour de France when Lance Armstrong won for the seventh time; that was a definite highlight of my life.
And what have been some of the highlights of your show “Last Call” here in Dallas?
I got to get in the ring with [boxer] Luis Yanez and have him make a fool out of me, which was fun. I also got into the rink with the Dallas Derby Devils. The highlight was definitely the dog pile with 30 Dallas Derby Devils. I also got to meet [musician and actor] Tricky with the Massive Attack, who is my idol. It was so cool to meet someone that I idolize and to find out he’s such a great, down-to-earth guy. You put these celebrities on a pedestal, so it’s refreshing when you learn they are humble people.
So what has it been like being on TV?
Well, it’s certainly fed my gigantic monster ego, which is great. Neighbors around here have started to recognize me, and some are taking note and tell me how much they enjoy the show. It’s been really rewarding in that sense.
What drew you to Preston Hollow?
I like the uniqueness of this neighborhood. Most of the homes where I live are older ’50s homes with a contemporary style; we don’t have any mansion syndrome here. And the larger lots are great, too. I can be at D/FW airport in 15 minutes; I can be in Uptown in 15 minutes; I can be Downtown in 15 minutes; yet I can still retreat here to my sanctuary on my big comfy lot.
Where are we likely to find you in the neighborhood?
I’m not married, and I don’t have any kids – Preston Hollow is not super-conducive to the single lifestyle, so I do venture out on Saturday nights. But if it’s not a Saturday night, I’m likely somewhere in the Lovers-Inwood area. I love all those little shops. I especially like Tempest Tea, Inwood Lounge, Shinsei, Fireside Pies and Mango, for Thai food.
Are there any causes or charities that are near and dear to your heart?
The cancer charity I co-founded, the Love Hope Strength Foundation. I was treated for leukemia a few years back. And when Mike Peters from The Alarm was also diagnosed with leukemia, a mutual friend put us in touch. Because I had been through it, we could relate to each other on a whole other level. We decided to start this foundation to help other people with cancer in developing countries. For example, in Nepal people live on less than a dollar a day, so something like cervical cancer will kill them, even though that cancer has an 80 percent survivability rate. The people we help often don’t know what cancer is, much less how to detect it, or have resources to fight it. We will send equipment to people out in these villages, or we’ll even send nurses out in a van to go do early detection testing in those remote areas.
How does it feel to be helping people who are facing the same disease you overcame?
It’s hard to describe how helping other people makes me feel. I guess it makes me feel like all I went through
