You may be familiar with the theory of "Six Degrees of Separation" (or its recently better-known correlation, "The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"). For those not familiar with the theory, it goes something like this: Every person in the world is connected to every other person in the world by no more than six people. For example: If I know a guy named Bill who lives in Bora Bora, and Bill knows a gal named Sally in Walla Walla, and Sally's old college roommate is Susie from Kokonino County, and Susie's hairdresser's mother is the cleaning lady for your mom, then you and I are separated by six degrees, or six people: Bill, Sally, Susie, Susie's hairdresser, Susie's hairdresser's mom, and your mom.
This theory has always fascinated me, and I've decided to put it to the test using the magic of the Internet. Below I've listed nine people -- some famous, some not -- who I want you to ask to contact me. What's that you say? You don't know any of these people? Well that's okay, because chances are you know someone who knows them. Or someone who knows someone who knows them. Or someone who knows someone who knows someone who... well, you get the idea.
So if someone on the list lives in California, for instance, and you know someone who lives in California (or you know someone who knows someone who lives in California) contact them and start getting the separate degrees together. Have the final person -- someone from the list below -- contact me via e-mail through this Web site. And be sure to keep track of all the people who lead from you to the final person, because I plan on posting any successful connections right here on this page!
1. Jill Hennessey -
An actress whose resume includes
the TV series "Law & Order," the Ron Howard film "The
Paper," and "I Shot Andy Warhol." Last I heard (from an article
in the New York Daily News), Ms. Hennessey was living in New York City where,
in addition to acting, she was playing in a band.
2. Paula Cole -
A singer/songwriter who I first
heard on Peter Gabriel's latest live album. Ms. Cole's first album, "Harbinger,"
blew me away, and her second album, "This Fire," is just as good,
if not better. Her single "I Don't Want to Wait," became extremely
popular as the theme song to the TV show "Dawson's Creek."
3. Kevin Bacon -
What the hell? Maybe I'm closer
to him than, say, Mel Gibson is. (Although probably not -- Mel Gibson was
in "Maverick" with Jodie Foster; Jodie Foster was in "The
Silence of the Lambs" with Scott Glenn; Scott Glenn was in "Backdraft"
with Robert DiNero; and Robert DiNero was in "Sleepers" with...
Kevin Bacon! Jodie + Scott + Robert = 3. Mel is only 3 away from Kevin.)
4. Alicia Witt -
I don't know much about Ms. Witt,
other than that if her character on the now-defunct sit-com "Cybil"
was a real person, I'd be in love! Her most recent role was in the horror
movie "Urban Legend" which, despite what you might think, I haven't
seen yet!
5. Ryan Stiles - 
A great improv comic who I first saw on the hit British TV show "Whose
Line Is It, Anyway?" Mr. Stiles can now be seen on the hit American
TV shows "The Drew Carey Show," and "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?"
(Um... which is an American version of the British show...) I'm guessing
he lives in or around Hollywood, California.
6. Harold Ramis -
A gifted screenwriter who's penned
such classics as "National Lampoon's Animal House," "Stripes,"
"Ghostbusters," and "Groundhog Day." He has also directed
and stared in many of these films, and others.
If you are, or even know, one of the people on the list above, and you've found your way here through a chain of people between myself and yourself, please contact me now. I can't wait to hear from you!