Celebs Pucker Up for Cabell Harris


Adman Cabell Harris doesn’t kiss and tell.

But on his trip to New York City last week promoting his new book, “Kiss & Tell,” a compilation of celebrity lip imprints accompanied by spit-swapping essays, Harris says he spent most of the night watching stars he didn’t recognize making out.

Harris, to be sure, was a bit out of his element. “They had a paparazzi line,” he says. “When I walk in everybody puts their cameras down.”

It’s been a whirlwind of fame and fortune for Harris, who conceived the idea for “Kiss & Tell” two years ago and pitched it to Macy’s department stores. Macy’s bit, and this month printed 70,000 of the books as part of its Kiss & Tell advertising campaign in the run-up to Valentine’s Day.

Needless to say, it was a bit of a coup for Harris, whose ad agency, Richmond-based Work Labs, dabbles in all facets of marketing and advertising. Macy’s had the celebrity pull and contacted star-powered publicist Lizzie Grubman for help. During the last few months, Grubman’s team set up shop everywhere the stars showed up — the Oscars, the Golden Globes — and pressed for kisses.

The resulting book has everyone from Jessica Alba, Katie Couric, Jane Seymour and Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas telling their best smooch stories. Harris only has one, maybe two regrets: He only wishes he could have landed Gene Simmons, with his famous cow tongue, or RuPaul, Hollywood’s most famous transvestite.

Neither showed up at the party in New York Feb. 2, the one hosted by Nicky Hilton. “If only I was younger, I would be kissing all those celebrities,” Harris says. “I’m a bit of an introvert. I can’t kiss and tell. My wife was with me.” S

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