As smug a jerk as Sean Penn comes across on stage at the Academy Awards, I'm told he is quite nice in real life.

He has been filming in Baton Rouge recently. A young waitress who is a friend of our boys, and who has overnighted with us occasionally, waited on him at the restaurant where she works the other day.

She told Michael that she was a little nervous serving him and not at her best. Mr. Penn was gentle and undemanding, just as he should have been.

I didn't think to ask about the tip.

UPDATE: Johnny Depp is floating around Baton Rouge, too.