How does actress and Wilmington native Aubrey Plaza celebrate her recent crowning as the “Most Famous Delawarean” in a Delaware Online/The News Journal poll?
With a First State-themed episode of a national television show, of course.
The Ursuline Academy graduate was the guest on “The Drew Barrymore Show” on Oct. 10 and was surprised with a home state-themed show.
“This is like a Delaware fever dream,” said Plaza, currently starring in Ethan Coen’s off-Broadway play “Let’s Love.”
First, fellow Wilmington native and actress Valerie Bertinelli (“One Day at a Time,” “Hot in Cleveland”) surprised her on the set with not only a yellow “Most Famous Delawarean” sash, but also a box of Grotto Pizza, which they shared with Barrymore.
And then Kathy Buterbaugh, the production manager for Wilmington Drama League, was revealed as another surprise guest. She led the community theater group when Plaza first walked through its doors at the age of 12, starring in “Hansel and Gretel.”
The only thing that could have made it more Delaware-centric would have been a visit from President Joe Biden himself.
While Biden didn’t make an appearance, Plaza did bring him up – continuing her comedic razzing of the former president for losing to her both times the poll was conducted, including this past summer.
“He even lost to me when he was the sitting vice president,” she said with a devilish smile on her face. “I beat him every year. And it tortures him inside. I’m sure that’s all he thinks about at night.”
Plaza, who wore a witch hat while promoting her latest children’s book, “Luna and the Witch Throw a Halloween Party,” happily declared, “I will reign as queen of Delaware forever!”
Wilmington’s best: Valerie Bertinelli and Aubrey Plaza meet
When Bertinelli walked on set, Plaza gasped before Bertinelli put the sash over Plaza’s head.
“I could have taken this from you 40 years ago,” Bertinelli joked. Plaza agreed: “They didn’t do the poll 40 years ago, but you would have won.”
Bertinelli also had a somehow still-warm Grotto Pizza pie in her hands and Plaza exclaimed, “Oh, my God, is that Grotto’s?!”
While Plaza knew the brand just from seeing the colors on the box, Bertinelli may have her Delaware card revoked for admitting, “I’m not a very good Delawarean because I don’t know this place.”
Maybe that’s the reason Bertinelli landed in 10th place in the poll, behind everyone from Dave Tiberi, Biden and E.I. du Pont to Elena Delle Donne, George Thorogood and Jamie Wyeth.
Bertinelli, who has also hosted cooking shows and authored cookbooks, redeemed herself when she said the pizza was good after tasting it, so maybe she can keep that Delaware card after all.
Barrymore was also impressed with Grotto Pizza even before she took a bite as she looked at the pie’s famous sauce swirl.
“I have to give it up to Grotto’s for the way they sauce,” the actress and daytime TV host said. “There’s a lot of love in that swirl.”
Kathy Buterbaugh does ‘Barrymore’
Buterbaugh told Delaware Online/The News Journal that she traveled to New York on Oct. 8 for the taping – her first time doing a joint television appearance with her stand-out alumna.
She said she marveled as she watched Plaza handle the swirl of attention around her after the show.
“Aubrey is just still Aubrey. There we were in the dressing room, surrounded by producers and personal assistants and security. And Aubrey is just still as genuine as she has always been,” Buterbaugh said. “I think that’s part of the reason she’s such an amazing performer. Her acting and her interacting come from an authentic place inside. It’s a great part of why I love her and I’m so proud of her.”
For her part, Plaza also piled compliments on Buterbaugh on the program before her mentor was revealed as another surprise guest.
“She changed my life. She taught me all my witchy ways and my acting ways,” Plaza said.
After all these years, Plaza and Buterbaugh are still close. Plaza even co-headlined a fundraiser for the theater company with fellow Wilmingtonian Johnny Gallagher Jr. in 2017 as a favor to Buterbaugh.
“She’s never forgotten where she comes from,” Buterbaugh said. “She’s always been a comedic masterclass.”
Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at [email protected] or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).
