David Burd, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – It’s not every day that you get an invitation to sit in seats that sell for $5,000 at the Kennedy Center Honors. That is definitely over my pay grade, as they say in the military.

But, I was lucky enough to have a friend who attends this gala every year who needed an escort for the evening — her regular escort was out of town and I was the fill in.

Can Dave do it? You bet your escargot-dripping fingers I can and did.

The seats were second row stage right — just under the podium — hence the 5-grand.

My friend is a mover and shaker in the entertainment business and has attended the event for the last 30 years so she has some pull with the producers of the event, who we sat with at the after-dinner party.

There were five honorees: Singer/songwriter Neil Diamond (whose daughter sat right behind me); New York singing legend Barbara Cook; jazz great Sonny Rollins; cellist Yo Yo Ma and actress Meryl Streep.

But the real show was going on in the aisles of the Kennedy Center before and after the show. It was the who’s who of D.C. as well as the entertainment world.

I sat across the aisle from ABCs Diane Sawyer and her husband, movie producer Mike Nichols. I must say that Sawyer looked even better in person than on television, and I was surprised at how short her husband is (about 5′ 8″ or 9″ by my estimates).

Alan Alda was the center of attention in my section. Everyone was coming up to him to chat — Senator John Kerry and his wife were doing their best to sidle up to Alda — me too.

Jennifer Nettles, one half of the country duo Sugarland sung “Hello Again” as part of the tribute to Neil Diamond. She was sitting across the aisle from me, as well.

But one of the biggest surprises of the evening was seeing Robert De Niro at the podium giving a tribute to Ms. Streep.

Since I had the expensive jewelry seats (five feet from the podium) I was surprised at how short he is. By my estimates he was about 5′ 8″ or 9″. But I’d never tell him that for fear of waking up in the trunk of a Buick.

At intermission we went backstage into the green room and came face-to-face with one of my all-time favorite people: Ms. Tracy Ulman. She introduced the segment on Meryl Streep.

Ms. Ulman was one of the nicest people I have ever met. We talked about her move to the States. She’s no longer a London girl as she lives in L.A. now.

I asked her to do her famous American accent (only the late Peter Sellers was as good as she is). She was very funny and made us feel like we were special.

After a three-hour show, we all assembled in the huge lobby of the Kennedy Center for dinner. It felt like we were on the set of a Hollywood movie.

I was tripping over stars just getting to our assigned table. One the way to the table I saw Broadway great Patti Lupone talking to Hollywood great Glenn Close.

I thought about going over to their table to introduce myself, but if I’ve learned one thing in the entertainment business (10 years with Capitol Records holding rock stars hands) I know never ever interrupt two divas when they’re talking. (I didn’t want to risk discovering a boiling rabbit on my stove a la “Fatal Attraction.”)

As I was getting near my assigned table I saw former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. I wasn’t planning on talking to her at her table, I was just passing through, but her eyes locked on to me and I felt like I had to say something. I said: “Good evening Madame Secretary, I can’t tell what kind of mood you’re in this evening because you’re not wearing a brooch this evening.”

She laughed (thankfully) and said she was trying putting one on now. She had one in her hand and was working the clasp.

I got to my assigned table with my friend. We sat with the producers of the show, who will also be producing the Oscars.

As we were sitting at the table, actress Anne Hathaway walked by our table — she looked incredible in her evening gown.

My friend said that she had always wanted to meet her. I said: “Sit tight, I’ll go over and ask her to come over.”

My friend couldn’t believe I would do this. I said: “All she can do is say no.”

I went over in my rented tux and boldly said the following to Ms. Hathaway. “How do I ask the most beautiful woman in the room to come over to my table?”

She said: “You just did.” She took my arm and I escorted her to my table where my friends had their mouths agape with surprise.

She spent three minutes (which in real people time was forever) at the table and was the nicest person I have ever met.

That was the highlight of my evening.

I will never forget the night that a Georgia boy, now a news reporter with WTOP spent a Cinderfella evening with the stars at the Kennedy Center Honors.

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