If you’re a high school student, prom season can be fraught with peril. Who are you going to ask? What if they say “no”? What if someone asks you? What if nobody asks you? If you do get asked, will it be someone you like, or will it be Denny, who still eats paste in 12th grade? Questions like these keep many a teen awake at night, so it’s no surprise when some of them decide to forego the process altogether. But one student had a solution that was unique, even for Alternative Prom types.
Last month, high schooler Allison Closs knew she wasn’t interested in taking a fellow classmate to the prom, because none of them could quite measure up to the most important person in her life: Taxi and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Danny DeVito. Because DeVito lives in Los Angeles, and is 73, Closs knew it was unlikely he’d attend the dance on her arm. So she did the next best thing and brought a cardboard cutout of him:
Photo Credit: Alice Closs
It takes a lot of work to get ready for prom, even for cardboard cutouts. Closs purchased the 2D DeVito online for about $100, and decorated it with a boutonnière and a borrowed necktie from her brother’s closet. She affixed a scooter to the bottom of the cutout, so she could wheel him around the dance instead of carrying him.
On her Youtube channel, Closs explained why she chose the actor and limoncello tycoon specifically: “I have always loved Danny. I love him on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I loved him in Hercules and Matilda. I love him in every form he takes. Danny was there for me when I really needed him. He treats me like a woman should be treated. I guess you could say we were made for each other.”
Photo Credit: Allison Closs
Allison and Cardboard Danny were a hit at prom, so much that Allison’s local news station picked it up. Eventually the story went viral, and word got back to DeVito himself. He was so impressed that he returned the favor, bringing a cardboard cutout of Allison to It’s Always Sunny main location Paddy’s Pub, even though she’s too young to legally drink. Co-star Rob McElhenney shared the photo on Instagram:
Photo Credit: Rob McIlhenney
The whole experience has been gratifying for Closs. Before going viral, she says she hadn’t experienced much popularity, and now she’s the talk of her school. She’s also an aspiring filmmaker, so getting a shoutout from a Hollywood legend is always appreciated.
As for DeVito, he could have taken the easy way out and simply retweeted the original story and called it a day. But going to the trouble of having a cardboard cutout of Allison made is far beyond what most celebrities would do, and it clearly made Allison’s year. As if we all needed another reason to like Danny DeVito.
h/t: UniLAD