Anyone know what Alan Alda's like in real life?

[nolabear]

16. Had a great encounter at a signing.

The line was so long they had us group up alphabetically and they called us by letters. Let's just say my last name is far enough along the alphabet that we had a chance to chat with those around us. I was near, but a group ahead of, a very elderly, very talkative woman with a chair and an oxygen tank but no dearth of enthusiasm for Alan Alda. She went on and on about her name being Arlene "Just like Alan Alda'a wife's" but that when she was a kid a teacher had tortured her by calling her "airline" and she wanted to ask him if anyone ever called his wife that. Of course, when I got up to Mr Alda I leaned forward and said "An elderly lady will be here in a minute, and she'll tell you her name is Arlene like your wife's, and if you ask her if anyone has ever called her airline she'll think you're magic."

He looked at me for a minute and said "Is that what you people are doing back there? I need to be back there, not up here. It sounds like you're having fun." With a big smile, of course.

Sadly the handlers made me leave the immediate area but I did hear loud laughter a few minutes later and I hope it was her.